His Reverie (Reverie #1)(26)

We don’t speak for what feels like an eternity but really is only two minutes tops. I hear the horses rustling around in their stalls, the buzz of an airplane flying overhead. A soft little sigh escapes Reverie and she tucks her hair behind her ear, running her fingers through the rest of it so it flips out behind her shoulder.

I catalog every little thing about her. The tiny gold hoop in her ear, the thin gold chain bracelet around her right wrist and the ring on her middle finger. It’s a simple gold band with a single pearl in the center and tiny diamond chips flanking either side.

This girl likes jewelry. Gold jewelry. Her clothing isn’t fussy. No crazy patterns or frills or lace beyond what I spy on her bra. She reeks of money and class, of a girl who could have everything she could ever want. While I’m a guy who struggles for every little thing, who can never, ever have what he wants.

And right now, what I want is…

Her.

“You’re staring,” she whispers, startling me.

I smile sheepishly. “Busted.”

“Did you know that was my first?”

“Your first what?” I’m frowning again. Damn this girl is making my head spin, how she keeps changing the conversation.

“My um, first…” Her voice trails off and I watch her struggle. “My first kiss. From a boy.”

I’m shocked. Then again, I’m not. From what I can figure, she’s lived a sheltered, protected life. She hasn’t done much. Lived much. She’s terribly shy but so achingly beautiful it hurts for me to watch her too long.

And I’m the one responsible for her first kiss. A really crappy kiss too.

“Really?”

She nods but doesn’t answer.

“Huh,” I finally mutter because I don’t know how else to respond.

“You think I’m lame,” she says flatly.

“No.” I shake my head. “Not at all.” That is the last thing I think of when it comes to Reverie.

“Pitiful then.” She throws her hands up in the air and whirls on her heel to start walking away from me. “Pitiful Reverie Hale, never been kissed, never gone on a date, never done anything but live vicariously through books and movies like some sort of big loser.”

Speaking of big losers, I’m losing my chance with her here. Despite my earlier promise to myself, I’m chasing Reverie one more time, grabbing her by the crook of her elbow so I can spin her around to face me again. “You’re not a loser,” I tell her.

She blinks up at me. “I’m not?”

“No. I’m the loser.” I jerk my thumb at my chest. “I’m the one who gave you a crappy first kiss.”

“It wasn’t crappy,” she murmurs.

Well, what else does she have to compare it to? “I can do a lot better than that.” I sound way more confident than I feel but come on.

I can absolutely do a lot better than that two second kiss.

“Oh really?”

“Yeah. Definitely.” I’m crazy. Flat out losing my mind if I think I’m really going to get this girl to kiss me again. She should shove me as hard as she can and run. Or I should walk. This isn’t right, playing around with her. She’s a girl who deserves someone better than me. Some respectable kid her father approves of.

Not me.

“Okay then.” She pauses and my gaze meets hers. Watch as her gaze drops to my mouth and lingers there.

“Okay what?” My blood heats at the way she’s looking at me, and my hands itch to grab her. Pull her to me and show her exactly what kind of kiss I can really give her.

“Prove it.”

15

Daring: adventurous courage; boldness

July 8th

Prove it.

She’s practically daring me and I’m not one to back down from a dare. Provoking me while I’m all sweaty and dirty, still feeling a little irritable, the girl is flat out playing with fire.

And I think she likes it.

“Come here,” I tell her, my voice deceptively soft while inside, I feel anything but soft.

Reverie takes those last remaining steps toward me and I grab her hand, pulling her to me. She gasps when I maneuver her into the position I want her in. Her back is flat against the wall and I’m standing in front of her. We’re a short distance from the horses and they’re watching us, a built in audience for Reverie’s new first kiss.

“Wh-what are you doing?” she asks shakily.

“I’m going to give you a redo on that first kiss,” I say as I brace my hands on the wall on either side of her head, caging her in. She inhales sharply and some of my bravado crumbles at that telltale sound. “I’m probably all sweaty,” I mutter, immediately wishing I never said that.

“I-I don’t mind,” she admits quietly.

Okay. This girl is just…f*ck. What is she doing to me? “I should put my shirt on.” I don’t even remember where it is. Inside? Outside? I honestly don’t know.

“Don’t.” She shakes her head, then tentatively reaches out to settle her hand on my shoulder. Her touch is electric, her nails grazing my skin and making me shiver. “You’re hot.”

Hell yeah, and so is she but I think she’s meaning literally. “Keep that up and I’m going to get hotter.”

“Oh.” A shuddery breath escapes her and my gaze drops to her chest, watching as her tits rise and fall with her quickened breathing. Slowly I let my eyes wander up. Along her shoulders, her throat, her chin, my gaze settling heavily on her mouth for a beat too long before I finally look into her eyes. I tuck one stray strand of blond hair behind her ear, let my finger trace the tempting curve. She closes her eyes, lush lips parting in anticipation and my blood heats just looking at her.