Page 139 of Faking the Goal

I take a step back without thinking, then another, until my back presses against the bookshelf.

"We're going to be spending a lot of time together," he says. "Holding hands. Going on dates. Making out."

There's the slightest emphasis on the last two words, and my stomach does something embarrassingly fluttery.

"S... so?"

Goddammit, that stutter again.

His smile deepens.

"So that's a lot of physical contact, Trouble. You really think there's no chance one of us starts feeling something?"

He takes another small step closer, leaving barely any space between us. I have to tilt my head farther back to hold his gaze, suddenly far too aware of how easily his body could be pressed against mine if either of us moved another inch. There's this low, teasing heat in his eyes that I've never seen from him before, and suddenly my pulse is jumping, my chest feels too tight, and my stomach is full of frantic little wings.

Why the fuck is he looking at me like that?

"What happens," he asks, lowering his voice slightly, "if you end up falling for me?"

Excuse me?

I lift my chin, refusing to give him the satisfaction of seeing how weirdly fast my heart is beating.

"Why am I the one falling for you? Between the two of us, you're clearly at greater risk here." I give him my sweetest smile. "I'm hot, I'm funny, I'm fantastic company, and when I'm not insulting you, I can actually be very lovable. I'm pretty fucking easy to fall for, Azuma."

Besides, I'd rather lick the ice at the hockey rink than fall in love with Kentaro Azuma.

His smirk doesn't disappear.

If anything, it softens.

His hand comes up between us, and before I can figure out what he's doing, his fingers settle beneath my chin. The touch is so light he's barely holding me at all, but my entire body reacts like he's put his hands everywhere.

Oh.

His thumb shifts slightly against my jaw, and his eyes stay on mine for another moment before dropping to my mouth. That stupid flutter in my stomach immediately turns into a fucking riot.

"Then I guess I'm the one at a disadvantage here," he murmurs. "You might've made that rule a little too late."

My heart practically trips over itself.

What does that even mean?

Is he fucking with me?

Since when does he talk like that?

And since when did Kentaro fucking Azuma develop this smooth, teasing side to him? There's something almost dangerously charming about it, like he's suddenly figured out exactly how to look at me and what tone to use to make my pulse go haywire.

Is he possessed?

Because I'm seriously considering throwing holy water at him.

My eyes dart away from his, landing on the shelves beside him, then somewhere over his shoulder, then back to the books because apparently looking anywhere is preferable to looking at him right now.

I clear my throat. "So... we're clear on the ground rules of this fake-dating pact?"

"Crystal."