23. Dahlia
DAHLIA
Felix and I jump around the party. Everyone wants to talk to him and congratulate him on the game.
And I’m happy to stand at his side and watch him take it in.
In all honesty, he’s far more humble than I expected him to be.
He takes their kind words and changes the subject, asking about them, if they’re someone he knows or, if not, he defers to one of his teammate’s performances.
I’ve heard how Teddy ran in a thirty-two-yard touchdown with three guys sprinting after him no less than five times.
Tonight, Felix’s dark hair is covered by a black hat, turned backward, and he’s wearing another plain T-shirt—also black.
His wardrobe isn’t very creative. It’s all plain, one-colored tees and jeans.
And yet, I wouldn’t change a thing. His clothing highlights just how handsome he is by not pulling your attention away.
When I asked for the full Felix Walters experience, I’m not sure I knew what I was getting myself into.
He’s barely touched me any differently than the other nights we’ve hung out, but something has shifted between us.
His words are freer, so are the scorching glances he sends my way in three, two, one…
My stomach flips when our eyes meet. Every few seconds he turns his attention back to me.
He looks at me like he’s ecstatic that I’m here.
I wonder if that’s how he makes everyone feel.
Maybe this is just part of the experience.
It wouldn’t surprise me. He has charm for days and that smile…
damn that smile makes me forget my own name.
His hand slides around my waist and he hooks his thumb through a loop on my denim shorts.
“It was good to see you, man,” he says to the guy in front of him. “We’re gonna head in. My girl needs a fresh drink.”
“Lucky guess or using me as an excuse to get away?” I ask as he pulls me toward the house.
“I didn’t like the way he was looking at you.”
“He wasn’t looking at me at all.”
“Oh, he definitely was. You were just too busy staring at me to notice.”
My cheeks heat. He stops, thumb still attached to my shorts, and tugs me closer.
“Don’t be embarrassed. I pulled you away so I could stare back at you.” His gaze locks on my lips and holds. “I’ve never been so annoyed that people want to talk to me.”
“Woe is you.” I laugh and rest my arms on his shoulders.
He turns his head and playfully bites my bicep, then kisses it. “Do you want another seltzer? I put an extra case in my room for you.”
Goosebumps run down my spine from his lips on my skin and the thoughtfulness of his action.
“Yeah.” My voice is quiet and breathy.
His stare locks onto my lips again, but then he steps away. “Come on, hot stuff.”
In his room, Felix shuts the door and then goes over to a mini fridge next to his desk and pulls out a beer for him and a seltzer for me.
“Thanks.” I take the cold can and hold it in both hands. The air conditioning is blasting and I shiver, goosebumps dotting my arms.
“Cold?” He sets his beer on the desk and then rubs both of his hands down my arms.
“A little.”
Moving a step closer, he continues to warm my cool skin by running his palms up and down from shoulder to forearm. The music and noise from the party drift faintly in, but it’s just the two of us all alone, and he’s looking at me like he can’t decide if he’s going to let himself kiss me.
I will not beg, even though I really, really want nothing more than to feel his lips on mine again.
“Stop looking at me like that, hot stuff,” he warns in a low voice that sends another round of goosebumps popping up along my bare skin.
“Like what?” I can’t drag my stare away from his mouth.
“Fuck,” he mutters under his breath as he finally drops his head and brushes his lips over mine. He lingers there. A low groan vibrates in his chest. “You have no idea how bad I want to do all the things you’re thinking right now.”
“Then do them. I know what this is between us.” I know that this is all temporary. Pretending to be together and his feelings for me. Will I be sad when both are over? Absolutely, but it’s not enough to stop me.
He chuckles softly. “That’s good because I sure as hell don’t anymore.”
With another soft kiss that does absolutely nothing to quell the desire blooming inside me, Felix backs away. He goes to his closet and comes back with a black hoodie. “My lucky sweatshirt.”
“You have a lucky sweatshirt?” I take it from him and hug the fabric to my chest.
“Absolutely.” He takes it back and lifts it over my head and then down over my body.
I work my arms through and he tugs the hem so it covers my torso. It’s too big. The sleeves hang over my hands and it’s so long that it looks like I’m not wearing any pants, but it’s so comfortable, I’m already dreading taking it off.
“Does luck transfer to the person who wears it?”
“I’m not sure. I’ve never tested it. You’re the only person to wear it.” He scans me from head to toe. “We should get back out there. You can test out your luck with some flip cup.”
I lift both brows as I smile back at him. “I was thinking more along the lines of it helping me get lucky.”
He blanches like he can’t believe I said that. “Fucking hell, hot stuff.”
Felix doesn’t drop my hand as he pulls me out of his bedroom and back to the party. Jane lifts her arms over her head when she spots us. “All my favorite people are finally in one place!”
Daisy and Jordan are sharing a seat, and Violet is sitting in another chair while Gavin stands next to Jane. The two of them are on a team against two of Gavin’s roommates, Noah and Jenkins. And some of Jordan’s hockey teammates are gathered around watching.
All my friends glance to my hand, where I’m still holding Felix’s.
“Hey,” he says, jutting his chin to the guys. “You made it.”
“Wouldn’t miss it.” Jordan offers him a hand. “Congrats on the game.”
“Same to you,” Felix says. “Heard you beat ASU.”
“We destroyed ASU,” Jordan’s teammate and roommate Liam says as he drapes one arm around his boyfriend’s shoulders.
“And Jordan got a hat trick.” Daisy beams with so much pride it makes the rest of us smile back at her.
“You are my hat trick, baby.” He kisses her so hard, I can practically feel it.
I want someone to kiss me like that. Like I’m their everything. Maybe that’s too much to expect from a guy I’m fake dating, but when I catch him looking at me, the intensity in his gray eyes makes it seem not so crazy.
After Gavin and Jane finish their game of beer pong, we decide to play flip cup. I think Felix gets off on watching me kick everyone’s ass. It’s me, him, Jane, and Lucas, against Daisy, Jordan, Violet, and Gavin.
Daisy calls off after two games, which is what I should do, since my body tingles from the alcohol, but I’m having too much fun.
Jordan goes with her, and Brogan and Archer take their spots. I like Felix’s teammates. Especially when they start fighting over me. Brogan and Lucas are currently playing rock, paper, scissors to decide whose team I get to be on.
Felix wraps his arms around me from behind and nuzzles into me, nose running along the column of my neck. “Everybody wants you, hot stuff. Not sure how I feel about that.”
“It must be the lucky sweatshirt. I think it’s working.”
His hands slide under the bulky material. Cold fingers tease the bare skin along the band of my shorts. “It’s definitely working.”
I turn in his arms. Maybe it’s the alcohol, but I feel braver in my actions around him tonight. I rest one hand on his bicep and squeeze the hard muscle. “I like your arms.”
“Yeah?” He seems amused by my admission.
“And your eyes. And mouth. And the way that one piece of hair always falls onto your forehead.”
His smile grows. “That’s a lot of things. Sounds like you might like me.”
“I do, but not because of any of those things.”
His forehead knits in confusion.
“You’re a good guy. A great guy, actually. You’re talented and you work hard, but you know how to have fun too. I like a lot of things about you now that I think about it. Want the full list?”
His mouth falls into a straight line and his throat works with a swallow. “I don’t feel like such a good guy right now. All my thoughts are very, very bad.”
His hands around my back slide up and under my tank top.
My face flushes at the contact.
“Tell me.”
His answer is to flick my bra clasp open. I let out a little gasp. My nipples harden as the material loosens around them. Calloused, outstretched palms glide up higher on my back. His thumbs inch around until they brush side boob.
No one can see anything, except that Felix has his hands up my sweatshirt, but the fact he’s touching me where anyone can see is hot.
“Are you two gonna keep playing or make out?” Lucas asks.
Without tearing his gaze from mine, Felix says, “Make out.”
My pulse races and my heart is hammering in my chest.
“To be clear,” he says as he brings his mouth closer. “This isn’t part of the Felix Walter’s experience.”
“No?”
“Uh-uh. This is the Dahlia Brady effect. Totally different thing. You drive me completely fucking crazy.”
I’d doubt his words if he wasn’t looking at me like he can’t tear his gaze away. I lace my arms around his neck and bring my body flush against his. His rough palms continue to caress my back and sides as he slants his mouth over mine.
A moan slips from my lips and he swallows it, letting out one of his own as he deepens the kiss. It’s slow and sweet. He takes his time, unhurried, almost reverent.
My fingers twist in the hair at the nape of his neck and I lean up on my toes to kiss him harder. The frantic need building inside me wants to savor, while at the same time it shouts for more.
I’m vaguely aware of Jane catcalling behind us, but I just smile and keep on kissing Felix.
He grunts as he finally pulls away. He drops his forehead against mine as we catch our breaths.
“Wow,” I say, my heart refusing to slow even as the world starts to come back into focus. “The Dahlia Brady effect is strong.”
His hands lower back to the top of my shorts and he presses a kiss to my temple. “You have no fucking idea.”