The Bet (The Bet #1)(50)

“We were ten.”

“It still counts.”

“I cried afterwards!” Kacey pushed against his chest, but his arms held her braced against him.

“I don’t want you to cry this time,” he murmured in her hair, and then kissed her neck. His lips were warm and soft as he took her skin between them, gently sucking. “Let’s go.”

He pulled away, leaving Kacey completely shaken.

He expected her to walk in her condition? She’d just shared her innermost secrets with the man, he’d kissed her, and now she’s supposed to climb down a ladder without falling on her head?

She slowly crawled to the hole where the ladder hung and nearly fell out of the tree house completely when she lost her footing.

“Sure you aren’t drunk?” Travis laughed.

Kacey glared and continued climbing down. Once she reached the last rung, her leg slipped through the hole in the loose rope ladder, and she toppled to the ground, her leg still caught.

Embracing the moment, she laid her head against the grass and closed her eyes, lacing her hands behind her head.

“Comfortable?” Travis hovered over her.

“Immensely. I did that on purpose, by the way.”

“It was so graceful it had to have been on purpose.” He winked and held out his hand. She reached up and pulled him down on top of her, not that it took much effort.

Travis leaned over her, straddling her. “We’re out of the tree house now.”

“Yes, yes we are.” Kacey’s voice was shaking.

“So I guess I can kiss you now.”

“You guess?”

“I want to kiss you now.”

“That’s better,” she murmured as his lips descended toward hers.

It felt strange that such a simple kiss could make her entire body tremble with need. But his kisses did that to a girl. His tongue reached out and parted her lips as he opened his mouth to her. Muscled arms wrapped around her body, pulling her off the ground enough for her to arch into his embrace. Kacey pulled at his neck, wanting to bring him down to the ground. Heck, she wanted to roll around with the guy if he’d let her. Moaning, he pushed her to the ground and pulled her shirt out of her jeans, his hands just barely touching the ground.

“Damn,” he murmured.

“Huh?” Kacey said breathlessly.

“Grass, damn grass!”

“What?” Kacey wasn’t sure she was catching on. Why was he cursing the grass? And why did he stop kissing her?

Travis’s lips formed a smile as he pulled back. “I’m allergic to grass.”

Kacey lifted up onto her elbows and grinned. “Pretty sure everyone’s allergic to grass.”

Travis shook his head and looked away, a slight blush staining his cheeks. “No, not like this. We need to get some Benadryl.”

“You’re kidding.”

“I wish I was.” He showed her his forearms, and sure enough they were beginning to welt.

“You’re going to let me drug you with Benadryl?”

“Kacey, I swear if you tell anyone I willingly allowed you to drug me—”

“Your secret’s safe with me.” Kacey crossed her heart. Knowing the whole time she was lying.

“You are such a little liar.” Travis cursed and began scratching his arms. “I can’t believe the one time I get you all to myself, and I get an allergic reaction.”

“At least you didn’t stutter,” Kacey offered.

“Wow, that was so incredibly helpful. I feel like such a man.” His scratching continued until finally he yelped and pulled off his shirt.

Kacey covered her mouth with her hands to keep from laughing out loud. His entire upper body was turning puffy. Poor guy. “Let’s go get you some drugs.”

He rolled his eyes and held out his hand to pull her to her feet. “So much for being romantic.”

“Who says Benadryl isn’t romantic?” Kacey asked once they were walking back to the house.

“Who says it is?” Travis countered.

“Watch, you’ll see.”

“Not sure I want to see, but alright.”

****

The itching was getting worse. Travis was about ready to play the part of a small child and rub himself in calamine lotion. Anything to get rid of the itching and red welts.

He’d never felt more unattractive.

Kacey made him take a quick shower, which at first he was more than excited about, but then he discovered she meant alone.

Well, as alone as a person could be when one’s skin decides to become a puffy monster. It was as if he was turning into two very swollen people.

When he was finished, he sat dejectedly on the downstairs couch and waited. Kacey came rushing in with some sort of concoction, no doubt meant to torture men.

“What is that smell?” He pulled away, but she slapped him across the shoulder.

“Sit still.”

Kacey gave him a glass of water with a pink pill, then began meticulously rubbing the gross-smelling paste onto his body.

“You’re trying to get even with me, aren’t you?” The foul-smelling paste began to burn on his arms. Good God, she would be the death of him.

“It will make everything numb,” she explained, massaging it into his arms, which felt quite nice until the word numb began to penetrate his senses.