Page 89 of Force Play

I’m her dad. I know her walk face. Suck it biology.

Indie:

You’re a weirdo is what you are.

Yours:

Your weirdo.

Indie:

“Weirdo,” I tell Ronnie with a laugh, clipping her leash on and letting her pull me through the door. Even from across the country, he managed to make me smile and lift the grumpy hazy I was stuck in, just like he always does.

“Wait, he did that in the garage?” Delilah whispers between a fit of giggles, her cheeks pink as we huddle around a table at Buns & Roses a few days later.

I nod my head, heat crawling up my cheeks at the fact that I actually just shared that, but I got caught up in the moment. They were goading me about how mind-blowing the sex must be if I’ve gone from being annoyed by his every move to anxiously awaiting his return. Only they don’t know it’s so much more than that. My heart must have doubled in size since I moved here because right next to Poppy and the girls, Dom has carved out his own spot. One he earned each day by making me smile when it felt nearly impossible.

“Maybe don’t throw stones in glass libraries, Lilah,” Mia says, lifting a dark brow at the blonde who’s now hiding her face behind her hands.

“I admit nothing.” The words are muffled as she avoids all the watchful eyes.

“Why doesn’t anyone ever rail me into next week in interesting places?” Willa asks, sounding dejected beside me.

“I can’t be sure, but maybe it’s because you’re either home, studying, or here,” I guess. The girl is dedicated, that’s for sure, and hot enough to have people banging down her door, but she’s not giving out her address.

“Have you considered studying in the school library?” Poppy chimes in. “The book I’m narrating has a scene where the hockey player goes down on his study table partner in the stacks. When his teammate catches them, he stays to watch.”

I almost choke on my coffee, and Mia pats my back knowingly.

“Just a few more months until graduation and then maybe I’ll have time for sex. In the meantime, send me all your best toy recommendations.”

“You came to the right place,” Poppy says, rubbing her hands together, looking positively giddy.

The bell above the door chimes, drawing Lilah’s eyes there. There’s a squeal, and then she blows past me with a gust of air. I pivot in my seat. The sight of Dom standing in the doorway steals my breath. His still-too-long hair is framing glowing amber eyes which are zeroed in on me. My knuckles turn white as I grip the table. It’s the only thing keeping me from sprinting across the lobby and making a scene like my friends are right now.

None of the other couples seem to notice the standoff we’re locked into. They’re all too busy with each other to see that neither one of us has moved.

All it takes is a smirk and a crook of his finger for my resolve to turn into a pile of rubble at my feet. Pushing away from the table, I’m halfway across the lobby and in his arms before I have time to second guess the decision.

“That’s better.” His deep voice shoots straight to my soul, soothing all the unsettled parts. He lifts me by the backs of my legs and turns, walking us out of the coffee shop without stopping to say goodbye.

“My phone and keys,” I manage to say between kisses.

“How bad do you really need them?” His steps slow, but he never stops.

I pause, seriously considering leaving them behind, and then I remember the call I’m waiting for.

“I got it,” he says, bringing me along for the ride and pocketing both before returning to his mission to get me out of here.

“Leaving so soon?” Poppy asks, from where she’s tucked into Hendrix’s side.

The two-finger salute I give her behind Dom’s back only makes her burst out in laughter.

“Just try to make it inside the house this time,” Willa calls as we push through the door.

“Were you bonding over how well I dicked you down the other day?” he asks, the shock and amusement mixing as he sets me down in front of his car. Only instead of opening the door, he pins me there with his hips, waiting for me to respond. With his mouth hovering just above my lips, he surrounds me. The spicy scent that always clings to him wrapping around me and his hair falling in manly curtains around my face, making it feel like we are in our own bubble, not a busy downtown street.

“Maybe.” I nibble on my lip. “Is that a problem?”

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