Page 112 of Plaything

It was a shame that I would probably never see Elora or her husband, Dane, again. She was a sweetheart; if they hadn’t lived out of state, I could’ve seen us being close friends.

“How was your day?” Niko asked, wrapping his arms around me and resting his head on my shoulder. He and the others had just gotten home from work.

“Good!” I giggled at his touchiness while reaching for a cup in the kitchen. “Dominic had a doctor friend and his wife come over; she was nice. They left, we finished two Harry Potter movies, and I got homework done,” I gave a quick rundown of my day. “You?”

“Doctor Arwien? Yeah, he’s a nice guy. Way too much plastic surgery for his age, obviously.” He chuckled. He gently swung me in his arms. “It dragged, Cariño. I spent the day insanely jealous of Dominic,” he admitted before placing a big, sloppy kiss on my cheek.

“I second that,” Wyatt agreed as he entered the kitchen, placing his work bag over the stool. “You look beautiful today,” he complimented with a smile.

“Think so? The skirt’s new,” I did a small twirl, basking in their attention and flattery.

“Mhm,” Wyatt hummed his response. He was leaning forward against the counter, using his arms to support his weight as he stared at me.

“Are you guys hungry? I could make dinner—”

“No!” Aiden called from the other room.

“I think Niko was going to cook,” Wyatt commented with a smile.

“We appreciate the offer, Cariño,” Niko started. “You relax, I’ll cook,” he insisted.

I knitted my brows together. “Okay?” I mumbled as Niko practically ushered me out of the kitchen. The pasta salad I made last night was delicious, and they all enjoyed it, so I knew my cooking wasn’t bad.

Chopping it up to Niko really enjoying cooking, I entered the living room with Aiden and Dominic. I moved to sit next to Aiden on the couch, but before my movements came to fruition, Aiden grabbed me by the waist and pulled me onto his lap. “Do you know how many times I tried to wake you up this morning?”

“At least four?” I guessed sarcastically.

“You are not a morning person, Babydoll. You told me to fuck off three times.”

My eyes rounded, and I turned to look at him. “I did not!” I defended. I didn’t curse like that, half asleep, drunk, or sober.

“You absolutely did,” he smirked. “I can’t remember if you snored more after the first fuck off or the second, but you definitely drooled more after the third.”

My cheeks flushed red for the split second when I believed his lies. “Aiden!” I flicked his shoulder. “You’re not funny,” I scolded, despite my laugh.

He chuckled. “You did tell me to fuck off, though.”

“I meant it, too,” I shot back playfully.

“Oh really?” He placed a lingering kiss on the back of my neck, sending a shiver down my spine. “Because I think you want me,” he teased.

My heart skipped a beat, but I had to stay strong and not crumble. “Where did you get that idea?” I kept my eyes locked on whatever sport was playing on the TV, not daring to look at his surely smirking lips. “I don’t want you,” I teased.

“The goosebumps on your skin say otherwise.” His hands moved to my sides, where his fingertips gently dug into my middle. “Say you want me,” he ordered in a playful tone.

“Or what—” my snappy response was cut short as he started tickling my sides. Then, the struggle began.

I pressed my lips together, trying to pry his hands off me. “Aiden!” I shrieked, holding my laughs back as I squirmed in his arms.

“Say it, and I’ll stop,” he taunted, continuing his attack on my stomach.

Fits of giggles and breathless laughs finally escaped my lips. My hands were wrapped around his fingers, trying to pry them off me, but it was futile. Even when I’d fallen over onto my back, he’d just repositioned himself over me, now tickling my thighs, too.

“Three little words,” he chuckled.

“I’m—I’m gonna pee!” I was laughing so hard that my voice came out high-pitched and squeaky. I had no choice other than to use my legs. It was very unladylike with a short skirt on, but I pushed his body away with my legs. For the second I caught him off guard enough to actually move his body away from mine, I rolled off the couch.

I quickly stood, holding my sides and remembering how to breathe, recovering from the tickle torture. Aiden placed one of his legs down, his foot flat on the floor, ready to pounce any second. I narrowed my eyes at him. He wouldn’t dare. I’d escaped! That meant I won.

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