As soon as those words left her mouth, the four elders in the room quickly made their way out.
"Kids these days, they're just too liberal!" one of them muttered.
Molly found herself in a bind; she’d rather face anything than do a sports drill.
Chad hadn’t expected this turn of events and hesitated before saying, “No way, if we have to bargain, it’s just for one.”
Molly pouted, “Nope, ten.”
Chad, ever the negotiator, laid out his terms clearly, “A peck on the cheek counts as 0.5, a kiss on the lips is worth 2.”
No sooner had he finished than all the elders retreated to their bedrooms.
Feeling outmatched, Molly fumed, “Chad, you sly fox. Back off, I’m done.”
Chad, quick to leverage his position, threatened, “I’m calling Andre right now.”
Molly, gritting her teeth, conceded, “Fine, let’s just do this.”
Chad released her, triumphant, and couldn’t resist reminding, “Choose wisely which kiss is worth it.”
Molly, kneeling on the yoga mat and wrapping her arms around Chad’s neck, aimed for his cheek, but Chad turned, making their lips meet.
Molly recoiled instantly, her eyes flaring.
With no one else in the living room, Chad sat down on the yoga mat, pulling Molly close with a mischievous grin, teasing her with the math, “If it’s a lip kiss, you owe me 20 more. But if it’s the cheek, you’re in debt for 90.”
“Can I pay in installments?”
Chad responded, “Interest usually applies to installments.”
“What kind of interest?”
Before she knew it, Molly was drawn in again, this time acutely aware of the masculine scent invading her senses, the wild conquest.
The grip on her waist tightened, the pain from the kiss intensified, Chad’s breathing grew heavier, his arm veins bulging more prominently, and his Adam’s apple bobbed with each swallow, as if he wished to devour Molly completely.
At the right moment, Chad released Molly. Observing her flushed face and bitten lip, he chuckled, “Better pay off the ‘principal’ soon. I’m all about compounding interest.”
Molly’s cheeks burned with embarrassment, her lips still tingling with his presence, “That’s illegal, and here you are, a police captain.”
Chad, wiping his own lips, left behind a hint of their intimacy, adding to their flirtation. Molly’s ears reddened at his reply, “Compounding is perfectly legal.”
He then lay on the yoga mat, “Molly, hold my knees. It’s time for your fifty sit-ups.”
Molly’s embarrassment deepened!
She knelt by Chad’s feet, pressing down on his knees, watching him effortlessly complete the sit-ups, “1, 2, 3, … 19, 20, 21, … 49.1, 49.2, 49.3, … 49.99, 50”
Chad not only finished the set but added a bit extra. Then, in one swift move, he had Molly beside him on the yoga mat, mindful of their surroundings. His breath warm, he warned the girl beneath him, “Pray you survive the night.”
He got up, adding, “I’m off to shower.”
At dinner, the Byrne family enjoyed a harmonious meal. Coleen, curious about the outcome, asked, “How many sit-ups did Chad end up doing?”
Chad glanced at the silent woman beside him, “Mom’s talking to you.”
“Which ear of yours heard Mom call my name?”
Comments
The readers' comments on the novel: Sweet Mischief's Rollercoaster Romance