Page 37 of The Billionaire Babe

“What a shark!” Brady laughs, as do all our friends. The girls holler and hoot at Val, and the boys are either in shock or laughing as well.

“I didn’t spend all my time at college studying…” She smiles like the cat that got the canary.

“If you tell me some rich dude from Yale taught you how to play pool and had his hands all over you in the process, this night is not going to end well,” I murmur, feeling jealous of a dude I don’t even know exists.

She laughs. “No. I worked in a pool hall in my senior year,” she says, and I balk.

“You worked while at college?” I ask.

“Yep. I didn’t need to, obviously, but I wanted to.” She totally surprises me.

“Okay, out of the way. It’s our turn, lovebirds,” Simone teases as she jumps down from her stool and pulls Jimmy over.

I grab Val by the waist and maneuver her over to the leather lounge chair that Jimmy vacated, and I take a seat, pulling her on top of me to sit on my knee.

“You know I can sit on the stool,” Val says, looking over my shoulder as I pull her back to sit on me properly. My hands curve around her waist, and I rub my thumb up and down her lower back.

“I know, but I want you here,” I mumble, feeling my dick thicken in my jeans. Maybe this wasn’t a good idea.

She gives me a playful smile, her lips glossy and shining in the lights as her hand rests on one of mine. She relaxes on me a little, still sitting up straight as we both look over at the game, watching Simone and Jimmy. My eyes home in on her ponytail that is right in front of me, and I lift my hand, grabbing it lightly at the top and running my hands all the way down the length. It is so fucking soft, I can’t even believe it is hair. I do it again, but this time, I roll my hand so it wraps around the hair and pull through it slowly. Her head falls back a little in the process, and I see my dream come to life as her body arches a little, her ass pressing into my hips, and I run my other hand up her side, following her curves.

Fuck me. I want this. I want her. I clear my throat as I let go of her hair, and her head rightens to look back at me.

“You like the ponytail,” she murmurs.

“Oh, I like it all, sweetheart,” I grit out.

“I like you too, AJ.” She leans back, her body hitting my chest, and I wrap my hands around her waist again, keeping her close. My lips meet her soft skin on her shoulder, and we sit together like a couple as our friends banter.

Val chuckles at something her friends do, and I notice Brady looking at me. He stares at me seriously and nods, giving me his best friend approval. I take a deep breath and let the stress dissipate, wondering briefly if I could be lucky enough to have Val in my life.

19

VALERIE

“You’re all sharks,” Brady says as we step outside. Each of us girls beat the boys at pool, and they aren’t happy about it.

"We won, fair and square,” I tell him.

“Yeah, don’t blame us because you don’t know how to handle a stick,” Simone quips.

“Alright, time to go,” AJ says, breaking up the debate as we walk out into the cool night air.

“Party pooper.” I pout, and he squeezes my waist where his hand has rested all night. I have enjoyed myself here at Jordie’s. It isn’t a place I ever thought I would come to, but AJ is taking me out of my comfort zone more and more. I love it.

“Give Simone your keys,” he growls, and I look up at him and frown.

“I can drive. I only had one beer,” I tell him, seeing his eyes shimmer with something that looks like adoration.

“I know you can, but I want to drive you home on my bike.” My frown lifts into a small smile. We have been together all night. If anyone was to look at us, they would automatically think we are a couple. AJ had his hand on me the entire time and didn’t once let me go. The feeling is mutual. I enjoy being with him, having him hold me. From the kiss to my forehead in greeting when I arrived to the kisses he sprinkled on my bare shoulder, I’m almost melting into a puddle at his feet.

“Not ready to get rid of me yet, huh?” I tease.

“Keys,” he demands, and I grab them from my purse.

“Simone. You okay to drive the beast? I’m going with AJ,” I ask her, and she smiles.

“Sure. Just don’t be out too long, you two… You have a fight tomorrow, remember?” She smirks, taking my keys, and I kiss my friends goodbye as they jump into my car.

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