An Angel's kiss.

Chapter Six

I swallowed hard. Of course, I knew who Colt was.

Who didn't?

As a senior, Colt had already made a name for himself as one of the football varsity's biggest stars—the team's MVP. He was the kind of guy people noticed the moment he walked into a room. Girls admired him from afar, while others boldly chased after him, hoping to catch his attention.

I'd seen him around campus a few times. I'd also seen him hanging out with Jacob and Noah after football practice... and even earlier tonight.

But I'd never really paid him much attention. I wasn't the type to swoon over handsome guys. Sure, I could admit when someone was attractive, but that was as far as it went. I was too busy chasing the future my parents had always dreamed of for me.

Besides, it wasn't like he even knew I existed. He'd never once looked my way.

I clenched my hands into tight fists. I couldn't chicken out now. Everyone else had gone through with their dares, no matter how ridiculous they were.

I took a few deep breaths as my heart pounded wildly against my chest.

"I'll do it."

The room erupted into cheers the moment the words left my mouth.

"And remember," Noah added with a grin, "just like everyone else, the kiss has to last at least five seconds."

I cleared my throat.

"Sure."

I only hoped my voice didn't betray how nervous I really was.

I squeezed my eyes shut and took one last shaky breath.

When I finally opened my eyes, my gaze landed on Colt.

He was exactly where he'd been all night, occupying the far end of the couch with his headphones on, completely detached from the chaos around him. While everyone else laughed, shouted, and cheered each other on, he looked as though the party didn't exist.

Even sitting in complete silence, he commanded more attention than everyone else in the room who was desperately trying to be noticed.

His crisp white polo hung loosely over his broad frame beneath a black leather jacket that looked as though he'd thrown it on without a second thought. There was something effortlessly put together about him, as though he hadn't even tried to stand out.

The room suddenly felt strange.

Maybe it was the alcohol. Or maybe it was the realization that I was actually about to do this.

The music faded into a dull hum. The colorful lights blurred together, and the people around me became nothing more than moving silhouettes. It felt as though I were underwater, every sound muffled, every movement painfully slow.

My stomach twisted into knots.

“Just walk.”

I forced my trembling legs forward.

On the way, I bumped into a few people. One barely acknowledged me. Another shot me an annoyed glare before muttering something under his breath. Someone else stepped aside with a confused look.

I didn't hear a single word.

My heartbeat drowned out everything else.

With every step, it grew louder until it echoed inside my ears.

"I can do this."

"Five seconds..."

"Then it'll all be over."

I repeated the words like a prayer.

Before I knew it, I was standing in front of him.

My knees nearly gave out.

Slowly, I lowered myself onto the couch beside him.

Even sitting down, Colt seemed impossibly big beside me. His broad shoulders, long legs, and solid frame made me feel unbelievably small.

Yet he didn't even spare me a glance. His attention remained fixed on the game, completely unaware that I was sitting only inches away.

My hands trembled.

Swallowing hard, I reached up with hesitant fingers and carefully slipped one side of his headphones off his ear.

I leaned in, close enough to catch the clean, subtle scent of his cologne.

Fresh.

Masculine.

Strangely intoxicating.

For the briefest moment, it threatened to cloud my thoughts.

“Focus. I wasn't here for that.”

"I'm sorry," I whispered, my voice barely audible. "But I have to do this."

Only then did he move.

Slowly, he turned his head toward me.

Our faces were suddenly much closer than I'd expected.

For a heartbeat, neither of us spoke.

His expression remained unreadable. He simply looked at me with quiet indifference, as though trying to figure out why a complete stranger had suddenly invaded his space.

My breath caught.

I'd never noticed his eyes before.

They were mesmerizing—so light they seemed to change with the light around us. One moment they looked gray, the next they carried the faintest hint of blue... and then, just as quickly, a touch of green.

“Beautiful.”

Yet impossibly cold. They revealed absolutely nothing.

Without meaning to, my gaze drifted down to his lips.

They were full, well-defined, and naturally rosy—far redder than any guy had the right to have.

Soft-looking.

Almost inviting.

I swallowed hard and forced my gaze back to his.

A faint smirk tugged at one corner of his mouth.

It was so subtle I almost wondered if I'd imagined it.

Heat rushed to my face.

Just like that, it felt as though someone had dumped a bucket of ice-cold water over me.

Panic surged through my chest.

Before I could lose my nerve, my hands gripped the front of his collar. I drew in one shaky breath.

"Just five seconds."

That was all this stupid dare required.

I squeezed my eyes shut and, before I could talk myself out of it, leaned in.

Our lips met.

The world seemed to fall silent.

The music.

The laughter.

The cheering.

Everything melted into the background. All I could think about was the unexpected softness of his lips.

They were warm...

Far softer than I'd imagined. For the briefest moment, my mind went completely blank.

“Focus, Angel.”

I started counting in my head.

One...

Two...

Three...

Four...

Five.

That was it.

I should pull away. This had already gone far enough. Before I completely lost my nerve, I started to lean back.

Then I felt it.

“Did he just... smile?”

Before I could make sense of it, his hand rose to the back of my neck, his fingers settling lightly against my nape.

Then, with the gentlest pull, he closed the distance between us once again.

Our lips met.

I froze. very muscle in my body went rigid.

My eyes flew open.

“Wait...? He was kissing me.”