Trick Me Twice - Becca Steele Page 0,58

my head. “What do you think?”

Before I could even formulate a response, he closed the final bit of distance between us, and his lips came down on mine.

The kiss went from zero to a hundred in the space of about two seconds. Eventually I tore myself away, breathing shakily, my lips swollen. He stared at me, his eyes black, then lunged forwards again.

“Wait.” With an effort, I held a hand up, pushing at his chest. A frown appeared on his face, and I rushed to continue. “I haven’t forgiven you for the way you treated me.” He tried to shut me up with a kiss, but I ducked away, fumbling behind me. My hand closed over the water balloon. “Show me your body.”

“That’s supposed to be a punishment, is it?” Without any hesitation, he pulled off his T-shirt in one swift movement, and my breath caught in my throat as I raked my gaze over his hard lines. “Like what you see?” A smirk tugged at his lips.

Before I could second-guess myself, I slammed the paint-filled balloon onto his chest. It burst on impact, spraying us both with bright blue paint.

His mouth fell open in shock, and I couldn’t help the laughter that poured out of me, even as I was wiping the paint splats from my face. “Oh, you’re going to pay for that,” he warned in a dark tone, lunging for the remaining balloons. I scrambled for them, but he managed to grab one. Taking my T-shirt in his hand, he ripped it down the middle at the point I’d placed my strategic rip earlier and retaliated by marking me in the same place. I gasped as deep purple paint ran down over my breasts, soaking into the black fabric of my bra. It took me a moment to register that he’d ripped my top in half.

He stilled, tracking the paint as it trickled downwards with his hot, hungry gaze. I took advantage of his momentary distraction to reach up and slam the remaining paint bomb on top of his head.

The rich brown of his hair disappeared under the burst of lime-green paint that ran down the sides of his face and dripped to the floor. I grimaced, looking at the mess I’d made, torn between laughter and fear of his reaction. He stared at me, and then a tiny smile appeared on his lips. In one swift move, he picked me up and pushed me backwards on the desk, dragging his paint-covered head across my stomach and making my cry out with laughter.

Then his head went lower, and all laughter stopped.

“I want you, Raine.” He raised his head to meet my eyes. “Will you let me touch you?”

He must’ve read the hesitation in my eyes, because he straightened up, pulling me upright. “I’m sorry for…” His hand scrubbed across his face, smearing paint everywhere. “Fuck. Sorry for everything. Does that cover it?”

Our eyes met, and unexpectedly, I saw a tiny hint of vulnerability in his gaze that completely threw me. Instead of replying, I wound my arms around his neck and pressed my lips to his. He growled, biting at my bottom lip and tugging me closer. Our paint-slicked torsos slipped against each other, and I laughed as he pulled away. He looked at me from under his lashes. “Fuck. Do you want to get out of here? Clean up a bit?”

I stared at him for a moment, then made up my mind. “My aunt’s working an overnight shift.”

He reached down, swiping his T-shirt from the floor and tugging it over my head. After picking up my keys and phone, he grabbed my hand, pulling me towards the door. “My truck’s outside.”

25

Carter had given me space. We’d showered all the paint off separately, and he’d told me to wait for him on my bed. Naked. Apprehension flooded me as I heard the shower turn off, and I huddled under the covers. What was he going to think of me? He was so experienced, and I was…the opposite. Should I even be doing this after everything? I growled with frustration, burrowing into my pillows, trying to silence the voices inside my head. Of course, he had to walk out of my bathroom at that point, rubbing his damp hair with a towel, his paint-splattered T-shirt covering his torso and his jeans slung low on his hips. For a moment I forgot everything, just drinking the sight of Carter Blackthorne, the football god and king of Alstone High, in