“Girls’ night in.”
“Oh, where’s Peter?”
“Mum and Peter are in Hervey Bay, having a dirty weekend.”
He made a noise in his throat, smirking. “I’m sure that’s exactly how they described it.”
“I know how to read between the lines.”
“So it’s just you and Bree?”
“Not anymore. You’re here.”
“Should I go?” he joked.
I grabbed his arm and dragged him into the kitchen. “Don’t be silly. We’ve been expecting you.”
“Hi, Ben,” Bree chirped, putting a plate away.
“Hello. Did I miss dinner?”
“We saved some for you.” She opened the oven. “It’s lasagne.”
“My favourite.”
I know. If only I was old enough to buy beer.
He ate with a smile on his face while we finished doing the dishes. Bree used the whisk as a microphone while I drummed a bit of Black Eyed Peas against the bottom of a pot.
“Hey, Bree, can you go and get the box off my bed, please?”
“Yep.”
She scooted off as I took a seat in Ben’s lap. “How was your day, dear?”
His hands came around my back. “Superb. How was yours?”
“Wonderful.” I placed one arm around his shoulders and the other on his chest, slipping my fingers under his collar.
“Is Stewart going to come over and check on you?”
“What for? We’re capable of looking after ourselves.”
“I know. But if you were my sisters, I’d be here.”
And that was one of the things I loved about him—his protective instinct. “You’re here now.”
“I won’t want to leave tonight.”
I fell into his crystal blue stare. “So don’t.”
“What about Bree?”
“She sleeps like a log.”
He opened his mouth to reply, but I cut him off by laying one on him. His fingers gripped me tighter as he tilted his head and leaned into the kiss.
“Here—” She stopped as she caught sight of us. “Are you guys gonna be like this all night? Because I don’t want any lifelong scars.
I hopped up and held my hands out for the box. “Thanks. Are you ready to play?”
“Can I spin the wheel?”
Perfect. “Yep. Let’s see how flexible Ben is.” I twisted my head and gave him a wicked smile.
“Is that Twister?”
“Yes indeedy.”
“I haven’t played that since I was eight.” I couldn’t tell if he was looking at it with amusement or distaste. His mouth was twisted to the side, eyes unsure.
My smile dropped. Oh, God. I’d let my teaching aspirations bleed into my relationship. He was a man, not a child.
“Maybe you can spin the wheel and Bree and I can play?”
“No, I’ll have a go.” He rose to his feet.
“Okay.” I opened the box and spread out the plastic sheet covered in coloured spots before handing the spinner to Bree.
“Left foot, yellow,” she called out.
Ben and I stood on opposite sides of the mat, mirroring our moves and our grins.
“Left hand, red.”
We both bent, me to the left, him to the right.
“Right hand, blue.”
I bent forward, arms spread wide, and my left leg bent to the side. He had to cross his arms to reach his target. I took in the way his shoulders and back stretched to accommodate the move. The guy was built like a tank. I fucking loved it. His gaze targeted my cleavage. It was pretty clear by the glow in his eyes that he liked what he saw.
Several moves later, his arm was across my back, and my leg stretched between his. I hadn’t thought this through. It was tempting to wriggle my butt against him, but Bree was watching. This was getting weird. His breath brushed my ear. Hair-raising tingles spread along the backs of my thighs as his jeans rubbed against me. My mind went straight to the gutter, picturing this position, but naked and without a witness. I couldn’t take it. I collapsed, laughing at myself. How ridiculous. My seduction plan had backfired on me.
“Can we watch a movie now?” Bree grumbled.
“You don’t want a turn?” I stood and pulled my shorts out of my bum.
She moved towards the TV. “Nah. I’m bored with it already.”
I bent to grab the mat and his hand trailed up my thigh, landing on my arse cheek. I snapped upright, checking to see that Bree was concentrating on the DVD collection and not what Ben and I were doing. Music still filled the room with primal beats fit for a dance club. Angling my head, my nose pressed into his jaw as he placed his chin on my shoulder. His hand slid inside my shorts, a finger hooking into the back of my G-string. “I was wondering if you were wearing any undies at all.” The words came out as a low rumble like distant thunder. A warning of an impending electrical storm.
“Now you know.”
His other palm landed flat between my hip bones, holding me in place. He moved his hooked finger down, pulling my underwear away from my skin until his knuckle hit moist flesh. “You’re wet. I thought so.” Tugging the strip of fabric upwards, he made it rub against my sensitive opening. “Does that feel good?”
I sucked in some air through clenched teeth. Fuck, yes.
“Do you enjoy it when I torment you?”
I leaned against him, slipping my hand behind me to find his arousal hard. Giving him a gentle squeeze, I answered, “Yes.”
“I’ve gotta go sit down before she sees my issue.” He aimed for the big armchair at one end of the lounge, his hands working under his T-shirt to adjust his pants.
I dashed over to the stereo remote and shut off the music before grabbing the throw rug off the back of the couch. Offering it to him, he shook his head and patted his lap for me to sit. Carefully lowering myself across his thighs, I made sure to give
