Page 7 of Pucking Bad Boys

“Thank you, Talia.” I really like the sound of her name on my lips.

There’s a moment of silence, and it’s probably time for me to leave, but I don’t move.

“You’re welcome; it’s the least I could do.” She looks at me for a couple of seconds as if she were debating something. “Since you won’t take any money, I think I have another way to thank you.”

If she’s gonna kiss me to thank me, I swear I’ll never ask the universe for anything else ever again.

Of course there’s no way I’m that lucky. Talia turns around and pushes on the tips of her toes, attempting to reach the top shelf.

The way she jumps to reach what she wants is adorable, but before I can even think about what I’m about to do, my feet carry me behind her.

“Can I help?”

“I was trying to get the bottle of Don Julio. Can you help me?”

I don’t hesitate but step closer to reach above Talia’s head.

Truthfully, I’m tall enough to get it easily, but I step a lot closer than necessary. I don’t stop until my chest is flush with Talia’s back and she’s effectively trapped between my body and the shelf.

In hindsight, maybe this wasn’t a great idea because… damn. Talia’s body is toned and soft at the same time. She’s warm, and she smells incredible. Her blonde hair smells sweet and fruity, like watermelon and something else I can’t quite identify.

As I lean forward to grab the bottle of tequila, Talia’s ass is pressed against me and I have to hold my breath to keep things under control. Getting a boner right now would be too risky.

“Here,” I murmur, and she turns around so that we’re chest to chest.

“Thank you.”

Fuck, she’s so pretty. Her blue eyes have green flecks in them, and her lashes are long and full.

My eyes go down to her soft, pink lips, and I’m really, really tempted to lower my head and brush my lips against hers.

And usually that’s exactly what I would do. Many of my hookups have been initiated when I knew the other person even less than I do Talia.

But this is different. On my old campus, despite the shaky ground the hockey team had been left on last year, I was still more popular than average, even as a freshman. Women would offer even before I had to put in any effort more often than not.

The difference is that back then I didn’t care if I misread someone’s intentions. I would apologize and immediately back off, of course, but I wouldn’t lose sleep over being shot down because there were always more pretty girls willing to have some fun with me.

I really like Talia, though. I want to get to know her better, and I don’t want to fuck up before I even get the chance to really speak to her.

For some reason, she looks vaguely familiar, but if I had seen her before, I would remember her, right?

Her hands land on my chest and for a torturous second, I think that maybe she’s going to push on the tips of her toes again and kiss me.

She doesn’t. She takes the bottle from me. “You wanted some of this earlier.” She says softly, “Let’s have a drink. God knows I need one.”

That’s my cue to step away from her.

I immediately miss her warmth as I lean with my elbow against the bar, watching Talia pour some of the amber colored liquid into two short tumbler glasses.

“Ice?”

Good tequila doesn’t really need ice, but I nod anyway. Allowing my drink to cool down will buy me some extra time with her.

Our fingers touch when she hands me the glass, and I fight the urge to pull her closer.

Talia isn’t a bunny at one of those parties my teammates threw after home games. She’s been friendly, but it might be because it’s literally her job to be nice to customers.

I don’t want to do anything to offend her until I know for sure if the attraction I feel is mutual.