Higher (The University of Gatica #3) Read Free

season competing, and then the next time we hung out,” she said, using two fingers on each hand to emphasize the word, “was just before NCAA indoors for me. Then I had a training camp down in Alabama and right after, outdoor track season started. I guess things got kind of busy.”
    “That didn’t stop me from thinking of you.”
    Sigh. Score a point for the swimmer. “You thought of me?” She knew she was smiling and couldn’t get her mouth to stop.
    He moved to the next area to clean, almost disappearing into the kitchen, just his legs and half his back were visible.
    Jani didn’t mind the view.
    “I did,” he said, talking a bit louder so she could hear him. “I came by your place once too. Linda said you were out.” He stopped talking. His legs disappeared from her view and water began running. He appeared again, wiping his hands with a clean towel. Carter leaned against the wall that framed the corner of the kitchen and living room. “She also made it clear you weren’t interested.”
    Jani stood and marched over to him. “She told you that?”
    He nodded.
    She shook her head emphatically. Some friend and teammate Linda had turned out to be. “I never said that! I figured you weren’t interested. In me!” She nearly laughed out loud at the irony. “I wasn’t going to go and chase after you if you weren’t into it.”
    He stared at her, trying to figure everything out. “Well, ain’t that a bummer?” His blue eyes danced as they flitted back and forth at hers.
    “Big time.” She stared back at him, a silly smile pasted on her face as well. Why were they acting so cheesy? And worse, why did she like it? She hated sappy stuff and she was pretty sure Carter wasn’t into it either.
    “So, what do we do now?” Carter glanced down at her lips.
    “Hmmm…” She ran her tongue over her lips and enjoyed watching him swallow hard. His Adam’s apple dropped down and then back up again. Even the muscles in his neck were strong. The chemistry between them felt about to boil over.
    Carter crushed the distance between them in a heartbeat. His arms wrapped around her, drawing her body tight against his. His fingers sank into her dark hair as he brought his head down to kiss her.
    Jani opened her mouth to allow his tongue access. She ran her hands up the sides of his long torso, enjoying the heat she could feel radiating off his hard toned abs, even his intercostal muscles were defined along his ribs. She moved her hands to slip them under his shirt.
    Soft skin over powerful strength.
    She tugged at his shirt, not realizing she had urged him to pull it off until he pulled his lips away from hers to get the material over his head. She gasped and tried to catch her breath, only to have it catch when she stared at his naked upper body.
    Carter dropped his hands to his sides and let her stare.
    She raked her eyes over his dark hair that hung slightly into his eyes. She had the urge to run her fingers over it and pull it back over his head the way he usually wore it. She held back, knowing if she touched him she wouldn’t get this chance again to look at him so openly. She watched his chest rise and fall in a steady rhythm over his insanely well-developed pecs and rib cage. She swore he had muscles inside his muscles. No one should have that many abdominal muscles. There had to be eight, no ten. She couldn’t be sure because his black jeans covered part of them. If she reached over and unbuckled them…
    A heavy panting sound caught her attention. When she realized it was coming from her, she forced her lungs to inhale deeper, slower breaths.
    Carter, apparently amused by the reaction his half-naked body had created in her, gave her a sexy grin. “Do you want to chill out on the couch? Watch a movie or something?”
    She did not want to watch a film. Without saying a word, she entwined her fingers in his and sauntered to the couch. Using both hands, she pushed Carter down onto the sofa. He fell gracefully