He smiled. “Exactly. We both win,” he said and gave her a wink. “So what do you say? A kiss or the loser has to answer every single question the winner asks.”
That wasn’t about to happen. “Fine. A single kiss. That’s it.” She put out her hand as though this was really going to prevent things from getting out of control. But it meant she was drawing the lines. One that she hoped she didn’t cross.
Ethan practically inhaled the cake, and then went back for a second slice. She barely touched hers. Ever since he mentioned a kiss, her stomach had been doing flips. It also didn’t help that they had been sitting at the same table that was in her dream. But thankfully, he had been too busy eating to even notice.
“You ready to get started?” he asked.
She thought she was, until the prize was determined. Her fight, her drive to win, vanished. I don’t think I have it in me to stay up all night playing games again.”
“Wow. I never thought you’d give up so easily.”
“I’m not giving up. I’m just…tired.” She was too. That nap didn’t rejuvenate her at all. If anything, she was more tired than before.
He leaned over and said, “Then before you go to bed, I guess there’s just one last thing to do. Pay up.”
Now only inches apart, so close she could feel the heat radiate from him, his lips touched hers. The instant they made contact she felt her body react. It felt like a wave of electricity rushing through her veins. The hunger that had been in her dreams, now a reality. She willed herself to pull away, to break the sweet contact, but instead she found herself melting into his embrace. Kollette lifted her hands to rest them on his shoulders as her lips fought to hold back. But when his tongue urged her to open her mouth she didn’t resist. She wanted to taste him. But he didn’t taste like coffee, instead, sweet chocolate. As their tongues played and danced, a moan escaped her lips.
She needed to slow this down. This was supposed to be a simple kiss, but it was quickly building into something more. This was crazy. Her heart was racing. But the thought of this kiss ending so soon, sucked.
But this wasn’t about what she wanted. It was about what needed to be. This had to stop. Right now she was here at Potters Peak under false pretenses. Not that she lied, but the omission of the truth was just as bad.
Slowly she began to pull away. When she opened her eyes, and met his, she saw her desire reflect in him. It would’ve been so much easier if he had just shrugged it off and walked away. But instead Ethan raised his hand and stroked her cheek.
“Sweet dreams Kollette.”
Her voice was shaky as she said, “Sweet…dreams Ethan.”
She practically ran out of the kitchen and back to her room. There wasn’t a lock on her door, but even if there was, it needed to be on the outside. She wasn’t afraid of him, but more of her own response to him.
As she laid on the bed, she knew it was going to be another sleepless night. And her dreams, well they didn’t even come close to being as sweet as the real thing. That didn’t mean they weren’t going to come and provide a sweet torture for her anyway.