Instead, I shrugged. "I don't hate it," I said.
Dare gave a slow shake of his head. "Guess I'll just have to try harder."
I gulped. I wasn't sure I could handle that. If he upped his game even a tiny degree, I was sure I'd melt right through this loveseat.
"It's okay," I said quickly. "You can just go back to doing what you were doing."
Dare's eyes smiled, and as he lowered his mouth to my neck, there was a slight sucking sensation and a hint of tongue, which caused my eyes to roll back, before he straightened.
"You mean like this," he said.
I met his gaze. "Yeah, that's nice."
"Nice?" he repeated. "There you go challenging me again."
"It wasn't a—"
Dare's next kiss was to my temple. It cut off my words as surely as if he'd gripped my heart in his hand. He made a trail of kisses from there, over my cheek until he was just at the corner of my lips.
"Flower?" he said in question. I could hear the hoarseness in his voice. "Can I—"
My answer was to kiss him.
There'd been enough talk and hesitation, at least from my end. Though I might regret it later, I had to feel his mouth on mine at least once more before it was too late. Dare seemed surprised for a whole two seconds. And then he was all in, kissing me back like his life depended on it.
I couldn't believe we'd waited so long to do this again.
Our first kiss was amazing, but this…oh God, this was on another level. My hands glided across Dare's shoulders to his back, one moving down his front again to his chest. I couldn't get enough of touching him. And he seemed to feel the same about me. With the next breath, Dare had picked me up, my legs closing in reaction about his waist. I didn't realize he was walking until my back was pressed against the wall.
And still, we kissed.
Dare's mouth moved with mine in a rhythm we created together. If this was a symphony, our harmonies would've melded perfectly. It was beautiful. He was beautiful. I couldn't get enough. And I realized as he kept kissing me and kissing me and kissing me that I never would. Never get enough of his lips caressing my lips, his hands flexing as they gripped my thighs, his scent filling me up. It was like we were in our own little bubble…
….which burst when someone cleared their throat.
"Excuse me for interrupting, but what the heck is going on here?"
I knew that voice, and it wasn't my dad's.
Dare and I froze. Definitely caught—but by the wrong parent.
Goodness gracious.
"Viola Martha Carole Rogue Kent," Mom said again.
Meeting Dare's eyes, he slowly lowered me to my feet.
"It's nothing, Mom," I said. "Dare just came by so we can go to the party together."
"Oh, did he?" she said. Dare's eyes widened. He'd heard the warning in her voice, too. And that was before she added, "Young man, you need to step away and turn to face me in the next five seconds. Or else."
I could almost see Dare considering whether to defy her, but I shook my head.
"You should do what she says," I murmured. "My mom's awesome, but you don't want to cross her."
Dare stared at me a moment longer then turned to face my mother.
Mom lifted a brow. "I'm guessing you're Dare Frost?"
"Yes, ma'am, I am," he said, and I gave him side-eye.
"Too late for the polite act. I've already walked in on you kissing the life out of my only child." Mom obviously felt the same way I did about the ma'am thing.
Dare's mouth pulled to the side in a playful grin. "Can you blame me? You have a lovely daughter, Mrs. Kent."
Wrong thing to say.
Mom's eyes narrowed. "Oh yes, she's wonderful, and I absolutely can blame you. What were you two thinking? Making out in the living room where anyone could see?" Her voice quieted as she said, "You're lucky it was me who came in and not her father. There's a good chance he would've went all Hulk on you."
"Do you really think Dad would do something like that, though?" I said, trying to lighten the mood. "Dare's his star player after all."
"And you're his baby girl!" She threw up her hands. "You father would've ripped his legs off—and he probably wouldn't even stop there."
Dare winced at that.
"Not to mention what all the uncles would do if they found out," she murmured. "So again, what the heck were you thinking?"
I tugged the bottom of my shirt and shrugged. "I guess I wasn't. We just got a little carried away."
"Don't be mad at Viola, Mrs. Kent," Dare said. "It wasn't her fault."
"Oh, I know." Mom ran her eyes over him. "Trust me, I know my daughter. We tell each other everything."
Her gaze settled on me next, and I could see the confusion and hurt there.
"Or at least, I thought we did."
Ugh, it felt like a punch to the gut. The three of us were in the middle of the most awkward staring contest ever, and I was this close to telling her it was all pretend—though that kiss had felt so very real—when Dad walked out and tossed an arm over her shoulders.
"What's going on?" he asked. "I thought I heard arguing."
Nobody answered, and Dad looked from Mom to me and finally to Dare.
"Frost," he said in surprise. "What are you doing here?"
"Just dropped by," Dare said.
Mom lifted a brow. "Viola and Dare are supposed to be going to a party."
"Oh, that's great," he said. "Hope you kids have fun."
Mom scoffed as Dad threw Dare a wink.
"But not too much fun."
A blush
