Page 9 of Hitting the Gap

She ducked back into the closet, and he pulled out the next handful of books. As he held the books, he looked back into the box. His gaze landed on a long wooden box. He was just lifting the lid of the wooden box when Bailey whipped out of the closet like the room was on fire. “Don’t open that,” she yelled.

Too late, he’d already lifted the lid. And there was no way he couldn’t look. Jesus. Bailey had a box of sex toys. His head snapped up as Bailey dove across the room. Her palm crashed against the lid before she ripped it out of his hands and held it against her chest.

Bailey closed her eyes. Her normally freckly white skin turned as red as her hair. “Please tell me you didn’t see what was inside the box.”

“What? You mean your little erotic toy box? Nope, didn’t see a thing.”

She shoved the box in the bedside table and stood with her back to him.

“That’s where I’d keep it, too,” he added helpfully.

“Oh my god, shut up,” she groaned.

“What? I saw your books. Of course, you need a little wank while you’re reading,” he teased.

She flopped onto the mattress and covered her face with her hands.

Shit. He pushed himself off the floor. Was she really upset he’d found her sex toys?

Her shoulders started to shake, then Bailey made the most unladylike snort he’d ever heard. She slapped her hand over her mouth and continued to giggle.

With a laugh, he dropped onto the mattress beside her and slung his arm over her shoulder. “Bailey, Bailey, Bailey,” he chanted.

She glanced over at him, tears streaming down her face because she was laughing so hard.

He squeezed her shoulder, pulling her body against his side as he did. “I’ve never been more proud of you.”

Bailey threw her head back and barked out a laugh. “You are the only person I know who’d be proud of me for having sex toys.”

He grinned back at her. “With the shit you gave me in high school about wanking, how could I not be thrilled that you finally admit to doing it?”

“I didn’t use to do it.” She laughed.

“You didn’t sell that story back then and now that I’ve seen all this, you sure as shit aren’t selling it now.” He eyed the bedside table. “So you gonna let me properly look in the box?” he asked and wiggled his eyebrows up and down.

“Nope.” Bailey giggled, then dropped her head against his shoulder. “God, Gonzo, I’ve missed you so much.”

He pressed a kiss against the top of her head. “I’ve missed you too, Bay.” He took a deep breath. This felt nice. Too nice. It was Bailey. He cleared his throat. “What about now?”

Bailey shoved into his shoulder with hers as she sat up. “No. A girl’s got to keep some secrets.”

“Yeah, that ship has sailed,” he snickered.

Her tooth dug into her bottom lip as she glanced over at him. “You really don’t think it’s weird I have a box of sex stuff?”

“I think it’s fucking outstanding.” That was kind of the problem. He wasn’t supposed to think about Bailey and sex at the same time. He’d worked hard to keep them separate in his mind. Now he couldn’t.

“Really?” She seemed so unsure when she looked back at him.

“Of course. Why wouldn’t I?”

She worked her tooth into her bottom lip so hard he was worried she was going to break the skin. “Bay?” he pressed.

“Brad just thought it was wrong to have toys when I had him. It pissed him off when he found out I had them.”

Gonzo snorted. “What a dick.” He looked over at Bailey. It pulled at him how she suddenly looked so unsure of herself. “I’m just gonna throw it out there that any guy who’s confident about what he brings to the bedroom doesn’t need to be jealous of a toy.”

“Mmm, maybe,” she mumbled.

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