My gaze dropped to her lips, and my skin prickled with want. I was the guy who had to try everything once just to experience something. It was a part of my personality. A pro and a con. And the curious part of my soul was begging.
I wonder what she’d taste like.
Kiss her. Try it. What’s the worst that could happen?
The rational part of my brain was nowhere to be found. I wanted to kiss my best friend.
13
IVY
Facts were firing off in my mind like fireworks on Fourth of July. My body was in full defense mode, about ready to overheat. Callum looked at my mouth like he wanted to kiss me. Which was absurd. I couldn’t think of a justifiable reason for him to do that. It was Callum.
I didn’t have a lot of experience, and he was the guy who craved adventure in all areas of his life. For just a fifteen-minute ice bath, my axis was tilted. This was a heavy conversation, and now he was staring at me like that. I snorted and rolled my eyes. “Knock it off, Callum. You’re looking at me like you want to kiss me.”
His eyes flashed a grin.
“Maybe I do.”
What.
What.
Suddenly, I was very aware of his large and wet body under me. Before, with my back to him, I could share hard truths without his probing gaze boring into me and seeing my secrets. His hand still cupped my face, and his jaw flexed a few times.
“No. No you don’t.” I shook my head, my pulse racing so fast I could actually pass out. “Come on, Callum.”
He pressed his lips together as his nostrils flared. His thumb remained on the middle of my bottom lip as a torn look crossed his face. He blinked, and all the heat left his face, his eyes clear of lust. “Sorry.” He dropped his hand from my face and gently nudged me around, so my back was to him again. “Only a few more minutes, Ivy.”
What.
Just.
Happened.
He sighed as he wrapped his arms around me again, resting his chin on my shoulder as his body relaxed. His breathing was heavier than before but nothing like mine. My pulse still raced from that zing.
Callum had stared at me like he’d actually wanted to kiss me. I had never seen that expression on his face directed at me. Other girls? Yes. All the time. We’d go to parties, and once I found a friend to hang with, he’d take off with someone. But at me? Never.
Heat flickered in my core, a feeling I hadn’t had in months. The thought of kissing Callum was so off-limits it felt naughty even entertaining the idea.
Fact: there was science proving that opposites really did attract.
“Two more minutes. Almost done.” His voice seemed slightly off, which appeased me. I wasn’t the only one having a moment after that almost-kiss. Talking about the ice bath was safer.
I’d get out, dress, and run home. Then tell Esme everything.
“I don’t even feel the cold anymore,” I said, my voice a little husky. “I watch people do this every day, and I had no idea how it actually felt. Just the research around it.”
“Now you know, so you can sympathize with us more. Work on that bedside manner.”
“Hey, I have great bedside manner.” I tried to elbow him, but our skin just slid together, causing another warm sensation in my stomach. “Jerk.”
He chuckled and clicked his tongue. “Okay, time. Let’s get out.”
I stood, gripping the side of the tub, but he hopped out first. Water dripped from his hair onto his face, down his neck, and over his chest. Ripples of moisture formed against his stomach and over his skintight black shorts. Holy shit. He shook his head, water droplets flying everywhere as he pulled the black material from his thighs.
The sun hit his skin, making it glisten from all the water, and my feet rooted themselves to the grass beneath my toes. I was breathless. Utterly, breathless at his beauty.
