Chapter 9
Call her crazy, but Layla felt the need to break the ice across the board and get all this kissing out of the way. It felt like each of them was going to walk on eggshells until they’d kissed her, as if it were of vital importance to their entire existence.
And in a way it was.
Nile looked confused when they caught up with the others. She couldn’t blame him. This was the wildest thing she’d ever done. She dropped his hand as everyone turned around, pausing.
She went toward Gatlin and slid her hands up his biceps, somewhat shocked to find out how solid he was. “Kiss me,” she demanded as she rose onto her toes.
His eyes went wide with shock, but he didn’t look away. “Okay…”
She didn’t give him time to think. She set her lips on his.
Gatlin’s hands came to her hips, his grip firm, his fingers extending down her butt.
Twelve hours ago, she’d had not one clue what it would be like to kiss someone, and now she was tripling her total number of partners. Perhaps it was reckless and naïve of her, but she wanted to jump over this hurdle. In the long run, it would be important.
She didn’t need to know every detail about these men to figure out if they had chemistry. She just needed to feel their power, taste them, look into their eyes.
Gatlin was hesitant for a moment, but he finally tipped his head to one side and kissed her like he meant it. Like she’d seen on television. Damn, he was good at this.
Her head was spinning a bit when she forced herself to release him and step back. She held on to his biceps to keep from swaying. “Thank you,” she murmured.
He grinned. “Any time.”
She released him, patted his chest, and turned toward Ledger.
Ledger reached out and pulled her into his arms. He didn’t hesitate to slide his palms up her back and fully embrace her. “Saved the best for last?” he joked.
She flushed, still trying to find her brain cells from the previous two kisses.
Ledger didn’t go for her lips. He set his mouth on her neck and nibbled a path toward her ear.
She was trembling when his warm breath hit her earlobe, and then he whispered, “You sure you want me to kiss you?”
She nodded against him, unable to speak. Three people, including her sister, were watching, and she didn’t care.
“If we’re still game show contestants, I’m about to win,” he murmured.
She vaguely heard the other two men groan. She was pretty sure Ariel giggled.
She gasped when one of his hands slid to her butt, pressing their bodies tightly together.
His lips continued to nibble on her ear. “Did anyone warn you that I’m a bit dominant?”
She shook her head. That must have been what Nile tried to say, but she hadn’t understood. She still didn’t fully grasp his meaning, but the way he held her, the way his hands moved over every inch of her, the way he consumed her… All of that gave her a pretty good idea about what she could expect from Ledger.
She was panting when he finally kissed a path from her ear to her mouth, and her lips parted before he reached his destination.
He kissed the corner of her lips, teasing her mercilessly. “Is this what you want, princess?”
“Mm-hmm.”
Ledger leaned back an inch, just his face really. Their bodies were still totally in line. He met her gaze. Searched it. It was intense, and her knees would have buckled if he hadn’t been holding her upright.
While he stared at her, she finally understood Nile’s words. “Ledger,” she begged without being able to stop herself.
He didn’t hesitate another moment. He kissed her as if the world was going to end any moment and they would never get another opportunity. He consumed her.