Page 100 of Always You

“You sure?” I squint my gaze, placing my hand on the back of her neck, giving it a light squeeze.

“Positive. Now tell me all about your LA life.” Her head moves back and forth between Jason and me with a beaming smile. I shoot her a look, telling her silently I know she’s full of shit, before I lean forward, resting my elbows on my knees, then nudge my chin at Jason.

“Jay is better at storytelling than I am.”

Jason mimics my stance, rubbing his hands together like he’s been waiting for this moment the entire day, and I roll my eyes with a chuckle as I take another sip of my drink.

An hour later, Jason has listed all the girls he slept with in the past two months while my head gets foggy as fuck and I’m hammered.So maybe one drink became a little more.I figured it would help keep me occupied from getting into Charlotte’s space, but that’s backfiring. The more I drink, the more confident I am around Charlotte, and I can’t help touching her while we are still sitting on the couch, listening to Jason’s excessive stories.

A brush of her hair there.

A touch of her knee here.

A stroke of her arm.

If I can find an opening, I’m taking it, even though the brief touches are becoming scorching, fueling the need to drag her to the bathroom and kiss her until she sees stars.

“Wait, so you didn’t realize they both offered themselves to you? Together?” She blinks at Jason with an amused grin on her face.

“No! I thought I was working both of them, figuring one of them would end up in my bed, eventually. Little did I know my dream would come true.” He brings his hands together in a thankful gesture, looking up at the sky.

“They gave you your first threesome?” She chuckles.

“It was marvelous!” he groans with excitement, dramatically throwing his back against the couch.

She laughs at his theatrics, and I marvel at her smile, soaking it up like it’s the sun on a cold winter day. She grounds me. Panic already surges through me, thinking she’ll leave again in a couple of days, and I rest my palm on her neck, just to remind myself she’s real. She’s here.

Her eyes slowly find mine, piercing and breathtaking. It’s like the air grows thicker as she studies my face, while my thumb brushes up and down her skin. Automatically, my gaze drops toher lips, tempting me to lean in and take them as mine. But a loaded exhale flies over her mouth, curling in a strained smile.

“Well, on that note. I think I need to use the bathroom.” She gets up, breaking our connection and walking toward the stairs. I watch her every move until she’s out of sight, and Jason gives me a rough push, followed by a fist on my leg.

“What the fuck, man?” I growl as an athletically built guy walks up the same stairs, his eyes following Charlotte before turning his head with a wide grin.

“Don’t even think about it, Jensen!” Our third roommate strolls toward us, then reaches out his hand to both of us.

“She yours?”

“She sure ain’t yours,” I counter, taking another sip of my drink. He flops his 6’1” bulky frame on the couch on my left. His dark hair is longer on the front, dancing a little around his forehead before his cheeks curl.

“That doesn’t answer my question.”

“It’s his best friend,” Jason answers for me, and I shoot him a death glare, because that’s not the full explanation I want Jensen to pick up on. Charlotte might not be mine, but there’s no way in hell I’m going to let Jensen near her. Or any guy, for that matter.

“Oh, shit.” He tilts his head in disappointment. “That’s your girl?Thegirl? The one you left at home?”

“That would be her,” Jason mutters under his breath. “She’s nothis, though. Something Hunter seems to have forgotten for the last hour.”

“Shame.” Jensen smirks. “She’s fucking hot.”

“Shut the fuck up and stay away from her!” I snap.

“What are you doing?” Jason yelps with wide eyes, throwing his hands up in frustration. The disapproval is dripping from his tongue, and I don’t even bother to seek out his glare. Instead, I close my eyes.

“What are you talking about?”

“Charlotte!”

“What about her?” I’m not sure why I’m acting all coy, but at this point, it’s all I got.

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