Page 96 of A Lucky Shot

“But … naked sex? Not here!”

If location was a problem, he could fix that. “Your bedroom it is. Get your jacket.”

Guilt creased her features, and she pinched her eyes shut, palms flat to his chest. “No, I love these people. I’m not leaving dinner for a booty call.”

A booty call? His chest twisted. Fuck, he deserved that. Because that was exactly what he was treating her like. And she deserved better.

Besides, next time—and there would be a next time—she was making the first move.

“Okay, beautiful, have it your way.” He ignored the insistent throb in his jeans as he dropped a kiss on her forehead. “Let’s go downstairs and eat Christmas Eve dinner like I didn’t just make you come in front of a poster of the Jonas Brothers.”

CHAPTER TWENTY-ONE

CASS

“You might want to clean up before heading down,” Josh said, sweeping his gaze over her with a guarded smirk.

For the millionth time in her life, Cass wished for poker straight hair and a poker face to match. Something she could run her fingers through and whip up into a bun to look put together at a moment’s notice, instead of her curls telegraphing she’d just gotten laid when, well, she’d just gotten laid.

Whether or not her clothes were on.

“Do I look that bad?”

Josh looked completely unruffled, his hair put back in place with a swipe of his fingers and sweater straightened in a second. The light flush on his cheeks could easily be blamed on the heat still rising from the kitchen.

The only signs he’d been doing anything other than politely admire Libby’s dance trophies was the bulge straining against the front of his pants and a smudge of her lipstick on his mouth.

A sound of dissent left his throat. “You look fucking gorgeous,” he said. “But everyone is going to know.” He leaned in to tug her shirt back into place, and let his lips whisper over her ear one more time. “But a part of me thinks that’s exactly what you want.”

The light in the room grew brighter. He was right. The thought of someone catching them, with his hands all over her and her biting back her groans had made it even hotter.

The heat blooming under her ribs wasn’t embarrassment.

It was thrill.

His filthy little slut.

Unlocking a new kink had not been on her Christmas Eve bingo card that morning, yet here she was.

The front hall mirror showed she’d rearranged herself as well as she could manage. She waved as she walked briskly past Libby’s parents in the kitchen and into the living room. Josh dropped into an armchair by the fireplace, while Libby and Stephen sat cuddled on the couch.

Stephen looked Cass up and down and shot Josh an admonishing glare. “What the fuck, man,” he said under his breath, low enough Libby’s parents couldn’t hear, and Josh returned the look with a bored expression.

The expression Libby wore, however, spoke volumes. I know that look on your face. Are you sure about this? And the inevitable, you are going to get hurt. Cass swept the looks her best friend was giving her aside.

Because that look was on her face. She wasn’t sure what was happening. And she just hoped she wouldn’t get hurt again, but she was willing to take that chance.

Cass glanced around for a place to sit. There was no room to squeeze in with Josh on the armchair. If he had taken the other end of the sectional, she could have sat beside him.

“Here,” Stephen said, holding out his arm. She dropped down on Stephen’s other side, and Josh stiffened a fraction.

The fire flushed cheeks, and she stared into the flames. She shouldn’t like the little possessive streak, especially when there was nothing declared between them to be possessive about.

Whatever game they were playing had rules she couldn’t keep up with.

“Dinner will be ready in a few minutes, kids,” Libby’s father yelled from the kitchen, and the crew dutifully filtered into the kitchen to bring the food out.

“If you don’t like someone else handling your woman, then make sure she can sit with you,” Libby hissed as she passed Josh.

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