It all started with a game

Chapter 14

I took ragged breaths, trying to get my head to stop spinning. I ran a hand through my hair, loosening my tie, trying not to look at Beatrice because the way she looked in that dress was really not helping. I have to stop thinking like this. I dunked myself into the pool water before my thoughts took a different turn, submerging my entire body, clothes and all, beneath the surface. The entire world seemed to still, going entirely silent, complete tranquility. I wondered what it would be like if I just stayed there forever, but eventually I started to get lightheaded. Everything rushed back the second I came up for air.

I brushed hair out of my eyes, it practically fell back down like a wet mop. My entire suit was drenched, weighing down on me like an extra layer of skin.

The water rippled around me, Beatrice's head popping up beside me. "Ryder?" She whispered.

I shook my head. Staring at the night sky, filled with stars. "I'm glad you came today," I spoke softer than she had, needing to say it aloud but begging that she wouldn't hear me.

Why in the world she would willingly jump into a pool with her clothes on, I had no idea. But here she was, soaked from head to toe, her dress and makeup completely ruined, and yet she's standing beside me.

My mouth fell open as a wave of water smacked me directly in the face. I wiped my eyes, finding a very suspicious Beatrice standing in front of me, a chaotic gleam in her eyes.

"You think you're funny?" I laughed.

She nodded triumphant. "I do, yes, glad you noticed." She grinned.

I slapped my palm against the surface, the water nailing the side of her cheek. It became a fight to the death, each of us taking hit after hit, leaving both of us more soaked than before. My coat and tie had been lost somewhere in the water, after the two of them were slowing me down immensely.

I caught her by surprise, the water going directly into her mouth, before taking the opportunity to toss her over my shoulder. I could tell just by the sound of her voice that she already knew what I was planning.

She giggled, pounding my back desperately. "Ryder, put me down!" She tried an endless amount of attempts to splash me with water, not managing to do much damage.

I grabbed her waist, causing her to squeal in anticipation, before tossing her towards the deeper ends of the pool. She popped back up, spitting the water at me, before swimming closer to me. The two of us were laughing like a pair of crazy people, treading the water beside each other.

But the nighttime was not the best temperature for a swim and by this point, Beatrice was shaking violently, her teeth chattering. I grabbed my sopping wet coat, which had drifted beside me, draping it around her shoulders. I figured it was better than nothing.

She gripped the sides of it pulling it closer to her and then moved closer to me, as if to steal my body heat. Everything was fine when her head was level with my chest but when she looks up and our eyes meet, I'm screwed.

Her body slowly starts to stop shaking while she just stared up at me with her doe like eyes. Neither of us looking away, just staring at each other and I begin to wonder if the cold is making me sick because my stomach begins to feel queasy and it's incredibly uncomfortable. I try to look away, but it's like my eyes are glued to hers. And then she's moving in closer, closing the distance between us, her lips pressing against mine.

And obviously, because I'm the dumbest human being alive, I just sit there, nearly forgetting that I have to tread water to stay afloat. I don't move a muscle, not even closing my eyes.

She pulls back, her eyes frantic, her face now matching the color of the lipstick Tanaka had made her wear the other night. "I, um, I-" she stutters. "I didn't, um-"

She just—

And I—

We—

I'm an idiot.

She couldn't get a full sentence out either. "I wasn't, um—"

I cut her off, taking her face in both of my hands and crushing my lips to hers. Unlike me, she doesn't take long to respond, threading her fingers through my hair, pulling me even closer. And then we're sinking, the water quickly filling above our heads but I don't care because her lips are sweeter than honey and I'm getting drunk off the taste of her.

She wraps her legs around my waist, her entire body pressing against mine as we hit the bottom of the pool. Maybe it was the lack of oxygen to my brain but I could no longer think about anything other than how soft her lips are.

I've done this before and yet it felt like a whole new territory because I wasn't trying to take her clothes off, or slide my tongue into her mouth, or coax her into bed with me. This was completely different, because I was simply enjoying the feeling of her. Just her.

She broke away first, desperately kicking up to the surface and grabbing the collar of my shirt to pull me up with her. I don't think I would have come up for air if she hadn't. We made it back up, both of us gasping as if we didn't already know we couldn't breathe underwater.

I bring my thumb up to press the bottom of my lip, which is slightly tingling.

This might be a problem...

A/N
Hi lovies!
So um, that just happened. What did we think?

Did we like the kiss or did we hate it?

How did we feel about the chapter overall?

Also I haven't sold any copies of It All Started with a Dare in like a week so I feel like I should focus on that but also writing this is a lot more entertaining so maybe not.

How were your guys weekends? Do anything fun?

I hope you guys liked the chapter! I have mixed feelings about it but I was excited to write an underwater kiss, definitely on my bucket list.

Lots of love,
Rachelle <3