Page 39 of The Keeper

“Don’t leave on our account,” Xavier said.

I poked him in the side. Hard.

“Ow,” he chuckled, rubbing his skin. “No poking the product.”

I mouthed sorry and climbed off him. Buttoning up my jeans, I turned to see two sets of highly entertained eyes and two humans failing miserably at trying not to laugh.

“What are you both doing here?”

“He was literally in your pants just now, wasn’t he?” Killian snorted out a laugh.

“What are you, thirteen?” I smoothed out my hair and folded my arms. “Why are you here?”

“Well, Victoria, if you must know, someone promised they’d be back by four so we could go into town for some,” he looked at Maxim, “what was it? Oh right. Bonding time on our last evening here. In case you forgot, we leave tomorrow.” He smirked, looking at his watch. “It’s almost five-thirty. But I can see how you lost track of time.”

I felt Xavier stand up behind me. Max covered his mouth and looked away. Killian stared because that’s what Killian does when he sees attractive men. I turned to look at Xavier and almost lost my footing.

There it was, straining against his jeans. The outline of an erection that was beyond conspicuous. The man it happened to be attached to didn’t seem to give one flying fuck about it and casually put his t-shirt back on.

“You must be the friends,” he said, draping an arm over my shoulders. “Apologies for keeping Victoria later than planned.”

He sounded so natural, almost blasé. Like getting caught with his thumb on a clitoris and a raging boner in his pants was just a regular Sunday. Honestly, it was a turn on.

“Yes. That’s us. The friends.” Killian smirked.

I rolled my eyes. “Xavier, meet Killian and Maxim. Boys, this is—“

“Mildly hot,” they finished in unison.

“As usual, my reputation precedes me,” Xavier quipped in a lighthearted tone. “Thank you for dropping the mid-life crisis bit. Not really sure where that part came from anyway.”

Killian grinned. “I like this one. Not in that way. Well, maybe in that way because holy shit have you seen yourself.”

Xavier laughed in his unaffected way, drinking in the adoration like I’d seen him do at last night’s event. And then the floodgates opened and Maxim joined Killian as the three of them talked around me like I didn’t even exist.

“Do you live in town?” Maxim asked.

“Yes. Just up the road a bit,” Xavier answered.

“You must be loaded to live in these parts.” Killian let out a low whistle. Max swatted him on the arm.

“Don’t be rude,” he scolded.

“How am I being rude? I’m pointing out a fact. Rich people live here.”

I felt Xavier’s hand go from my shoulder to my waist. “I have some savings,” he said dryly. “You two are flying back to the States tomorrow?”

“First thing in the morning.” Killian looked pointedly at me. “That one will have the house all to herself until she leaves.”

“Subtle, Killian. Very subtle.” I narrowed my eyes.

“Alright then,” Max hushed all of us. “We found our girl. She’s in good hands.”

Killian snickered. Max elbowed him. “Enough already. We’ll head back to the house and order dinner. Xavier, you’re more than welcome to join us.”

His fingers pressed into my waist. “I’ll consider it. Thank you.”

The boys left with the same zeal as when they arrived, bickering back and forth, their voices echoing until I heard the front door shut.

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