Chapter 62: 62 | The Rules of Engagement [CASTLE BONUS]

"Sorry," Jordan said automatically. "That was—"

Chloe cut him off by kissing his cheek. A quick press of lips against his cheekbone that lasted maybe half a second.

Then she pulled back and looked at him with a challenge written all over her face.

Jordan blinked. "Did you just—"

"Payback," Chloe said.

"For what?"

"For kissing me without warning."

"You kissed me back."

"Because you started it."

A grin split Jordan’s face. The argument was ridiculous, and Chloe’s cheeks were bright pink. A pleasant heat spread through his chest, settling deep in his bones.

He leaned up and kissed her other cheek. Slower this time. Let his lips linger for a full second before pulling away.

Chloe’s flush deepened. Red crept down her neck and disappeared under her hoodie.

"That’s two," she said.

"You counting?"

"Yes."

"Why?"

"Because I’m competitive."

Before Jordan could respond, Chloe pushed herself up on her elbows and kissed his forehead. Then his temple. Then the corner of his jaw.

Three quick kisses. Each one left a small, hot print on his skin.

"That’s three for me," Chloe announced. "Your turn."

Jordan laughed. Actually laughed. The sound came from somewhere deep in his chest and escaped before he could stop it.

Chloe smiled down at him. A real smile. Not the Calypso smile she used for subscribers. Not the neutral campus smile she wore in Econ. Just pure Chloe looking happy and ridiculous and way too pretty for her own good.

Jordan cupped her face with both hands. His thumbs brushed her cheekbones. Her skin felt impossibly soft under his palms.

He kissed her nose.

Chloe’s eyes went wide. "That doesn’t count."

"Why not?"

"Because it’s my nose. That’s a neutral zone."

"There are rules now?"

"Yes. Face only. No noses."

"That’s stupid."

"Those are the rules."

Jordan kissed her chin. "Does that count?"

"No! Still neutral territory!"

"You’re making this up as you go."

"I’m establishing boundaries."

Jordan shifted his grip and kissed both her cheeks.

Chloe gasped. "That’s cheating!"

"How is that cheating?"

"You can’t use both sides!"

"You didn’t say that was against the rules."

"I’m saying it now!"

Jordan was pretty sure his face was going to split in half from smiling. His cheeks hurt. His stomach hurt. Everything hurt in the best possible way.

Chloe narrowed her eyes. "You think this is funny?"

"Little bit."

"I’m gonna win."

"Yeah?"

"Yeah."

She planted her hands on either side of his head and lowered her face toward his. Slow and deliberate. Her dark eyes locked onto his mouth.

Oh.

She was going for his lips.

Jordan’s pulse spiked. His hands slid from her face to her waist, fingers digging into the bare skin exposed above her leggings.

Chloe’s breath hitched. Just barely. Just enough for Jordan to hear it.

She leaned closer. Closer. Her lips hovered half an inch from his.

Jordan could feel the heat radiating off her face. Could count her eyelashes. Could see the exact moment her pupils dilated.

Then he tilted his head at the last second.

Her lips landed on his cheek instead.

Chloe pulled back. "You moved!"

"You were too slow."

"I was building suspense!"

"You were stalling."

"I was not!"

Jordan grinned up at her. "Try again."

Chloe’s jaw set. That stubborn line appeared between her eyebrows that showed up whenever she got serious about something.

She dove in fast this time. No warning. No slow approach.

Jordan turned his head. Her lips caught his other cheek.

"Jordan!" Chloe’s voice went high and frustrated. "Stop moving!"

"Make me."

Wrong thing to say.

Chloe’s eyes flashed. She grabbed his face with both hands, fingers splayed across his cheeks, and held his head still.

"Don’t. Move," she commanded.

Jordan froze.

Partly because her grip was surprisingly strong.

Mostly because the way she looked at him made his entire nervous system short-circuit.

Chloe lowered her face again. Slower than before. Her eyes never left his mouth.

Jordan’s heart hammered against his ribs. His hands tightened on her waist. His breathing went shallow.

She was going to kiss him. On the mouth. This wasn’t a game anymore.

Chloe’s lips parted slightly. Her breath fanned across his face. She smelled like the vanilla shampoo she used and leftover fried chicken and something distinctly her that Jordan couldn’t name.

Half an inch.

Quarter inch.

Her bottom lip brushed his top lip. Featherlight. Barely there.

Jordan closed the distance.

Their mouths met soft and careful. A proper kiss this time. Not the frantic, desperate kissing from last night. This felt different. Tender. Like they were both afraid of breaking something fragile.

Chloe made a quiet sound against his mouth. Something between a sigh and a whimper that went straight to Jordan’s gut.

He parted his lips. Chloe followed immediately. Her tongue swept across his bottom lip before slipping inside.

The kiss deepened.

Chloe’s hands slid from his cheeks to his hair. Her fingers tangled in the strands at the back of his head and tugged gently.

Jordan groaned. The sound vibrated between their mouths.

His hands moved up her back under her hoodie. Bare skin stretched warm beneath his palms. He traced the line of her spine. Counted vertebrae. Mapped the curve of her ribs.

Chloe arched into his touch. Her chest pressed harder against his. Her hips rolled forward.

Friction.

Heat.

Way too many clothes between them.

Jordan broke the kiss. "Chloe—"

"Don’t stop," she breathed against his lips.

"We’re supposed to be napping."

"Fuck napping."

"You said you were tired."

"I changed my mind."

She kissed him again. Harder this time. Her teeth caught his bottom lip and pulled.

Jordan’s hips bucked involuntarily. His hands gripped her waist tight enough to leave marks.

Chloe gasped into his mouth. "Mmph—"

The sound unlocked something in Jordan’s brain. Some primal part that had been sitting quiet and patient until now.

He rolled them over in one smooth motion. 𝐟𝗿𝐞𝚎𝚠𝐞𝚋𝕟𝐨𝚟𝐞𝕝.𝕔𝕠𝚖

Chloe’s back hit the couch cushions. Her legs spread automatically to make room for him between her thighs. Her ponytail splayed out behind her head like a dark halo with that blue streak catching the afternoon light streaming through the windows.

"Hi," Chloe said. Her voice came out breathy and soft.

"Hi."

Jordan settled his weight on top of her. His hips slotted between her legs like they were made to fit there. The position pressed his growing hardness directly against her center.

Chloe’s eyes widened. "Oh."

"Yeah."

"You’re—"

"Yep."

"That was fast."

"You’re lying under me wearing basically nothing and making sounds. What did you expect?"

Chloe’s flush spread from her cheeks down her throat. "Fair point."