Pulling Isla against my chest, I looked down at her. “You were incredible.”
She wrapped her arms around my waist, her neck arched back to look up at me. “You weren’t too bad yourself.”
“Are you talking about the game or the kiss?” I asked playfully but hoped to get a read on her thoughts.
She gave me a cheeky grin. “Both.”
Gosh, I wanted to kiss her again. It wasn’t weird to want to kiss your friend, was it? I mean, as good as Isla was at kissing, it wasn’t really my fault for wanting more.
I arched one brow. “Not too bad? I guess I’m going to have to up my game, then.”
She slowly pulled out of my arms, walking backwards with a sly look on her face. “That would probably be for the best.”
Her words had raised both of my eyebrows now. “Is that so?” I slowly stalked toward her, matching her pace.
She bit her lip, a mischievous glint in her eyes. “I mean, I wouldn’t want your so-called reputation to get ruined.”
I almost laughed at how she was teasing me but still kept the predatory stare on my face. “I hope you know what you’re asking for.”
She looked me up and down. “And I hope you know how to give whatI’masking for.”
I loved when her flirtatious side came out, even if this was all pretend.
In a low voice, I said, “You’d better run.”
Her eyes went wide as she let out a squeal, turning and running out of the pool room with me hot on her trail.
10
Isla
Slate’s big, strong arms wrapped around me from behind, pulling me back into his chest. “Funny how you thought you could outrun me.”
“Are you sure I was trying to?” Sometimes I didn’t recognize the amorous side that he brought out in me, but I liked how it made me feel bold and confident.
He chuckled as his nose skimmed along the side of my neck, pausing at my ear. “I think we’re having a little too much fun with this.”
He was probably right. I was having more fun tonight than I’d had in a really long time. Maybe ever. Being with Slate and his friends didn’t require any work. It was effortless between Slate and I, and things simply fell into an easy groove when we were together. I didn’t have to worry about what I said or how I acted. Not like I’d had to with Josh, to avoid him being either upset or annoyed with me. The ease I felt meant I could be myself around Slate, and it was a much needed reprieve. He actually seemed to enjoy it when I teased him.
I’d been messing with him and just having fun when I’d told him he needed to step up his kissing skills. It was actually quite the opposite. I’d almost melted into a puddle right there next to the pool table when he’d been kissing me.
Even though it had been fake, it had been the best kiss of my life. I didn’t have a ton of other men to compare him too since I’d only kissed a handful of guys before I’d started dating Josh, but Slate’s kiss was not even in the same realm as what I was used to.
Was it bad that I was more than okay with keeping up this charade for an unprecedented amount of time just so I could keep kissing him? Yes, he was that good.
We walked over to the bar. After ordering two sodas, we joined the group back at the table.
“How did the game go?” Wilder asked.
“Good. We had a lot of fun.” I smiled as I glanced at Slate.
He rested his arm on the back of my chair. “Did you see little pansy Josh running out of here with his tail between his legs?” He nodded toward the exit. “Isla totally schooled him at pool.”
“Nice.” Wilder nodded with a smile.
“I wish I could have seen that,” Scarlet said. “Sweet revenge.”
“It felt pretty great,” I admitted, remembering the look of embarrassment and fury on Josh’s face before he’d run off.
