Page 48 of Pucking Bad Boys

“Gen, I don’t think the game required to reenact the scene fromDirty Dancingwhen Baby carried the watermelon.”

I try to push her away and get some much needed breathing space, but her hold on me is tighter than a vise.

This is uncomfortable and confusing. I’m not interested in Genevieve that way. Not anymore. I wish she could go dance with Mack and I could take Talia in my arms and get to know her better.

My body, on the other hand, reacts to Gen’s proximity by sending a rush of blood all the way south.

“Hmm.” Gen giggles. “I think you love dirty dancing with me, babe.”

I’ve never given the expression “saved by the bell” much thought, but I understand the feeling when the music stops and Gen turns to look at Mack and Talia.

“Switch,” she demands.

“Veto!” Mack bites out, dashing my hopes of breaking free from his ex-girlfriend’s grip.

Genevieve’s eyes narrow at his refusal. “Fuck off, Vaughn.” She snarls when Vaughn and his partner ask to switch. “Veto. I’m staying with Becks. Right, sweetie?”

“What?” I didn’t even notice that Vaughn had asked for a switch. I’ve been looking at Talia.

Maybe I’m reading her wrong, but I could swear that she’s been looking at me and Gen, and she doesn’t like to see us dance together.

“Hey!” Gen snaps. “I’m your partner and your date. Eyes on me.”

Fuck. Talia looks so beautiful, I can’t take my eyes off her. When she’s near me, the rest of the world loses focus.

“Becks! I’m talking to you.” Gen raises her voice, but I hardly notice. I need to get the chance to dance with Talia before this party is over.

But not paying attention to my date is a fatal mistake. I’ve known Genevieve since we were kids; I should know that she doesn’t like being ignored. She wants to be the center of attention at all costs.

Her hand cups the back of my head, her stiletto shaped nails grazing over the skin of my neck.

“Gen, I—” I’m about to apologize, but she cuts me off, pulling my face to hers and swallowing my mouth in a sloppy kiss.

“Hey!” The DJ interrupts the music. “The song didn’t change. You weren’t supposed to kiss. You’re eliminated.”

Her move shocked me into a frozen stupor, but the DJ’s voice brings me back to my senses.

I haven’t been kissing her back, and I have no desire or intention of going there with her.

My high school self would have paid to kiss Gen again, but the truth is that I’ve been over her for a while now.

I grab her skinny, sinewy biceps in the fruitless effort to pry her off me.

Rather than getting the message and releasing me, Gen tries to push her tongue inside my mouth.

“What—” trying to protest was the stupidest thing I could have done because it gave her the opening she was looking for.

Her tongue enters my mouth, swirling in an aggressive frenzy. There is nothing sexy or pleasant about it.

I don’t want this, and I’m still refusing to participate, focusing every effort into pushing Gen away.

“Woohoo!” the DJ chuckles into his microphone. “I guess it’s a kissing competition rather than a dancing game. The winner is the couple who lasts longer.”

What does he mean? I manage to spin us enough that I catch what’s happening to our right.

Mack and Talia are kissing, too.

Jealousy burns through me, hot and bright.