Page 163 of The Snowball Effect

And now, she was working insistently at Emma’s neck. She’d dragged her lips down Emma’s neck, before moving to the other side to plant open-mouthed, wet kisses that were slowly driving Emma fucking crazy.

Her head was back against the wall, her mouth open as she panted out quiet sounds. Soft whimpers and choked-off moans, and –

“Oh, wow!” Kimberly’s voice broke into the lust-addled haze that had fully clouded Emma’s mind.

Her hands tightened on Regan’s ass, before she hurriedly released her, dropping her hands listlessly to her sides. Regan’s mouth on her neck froze, before she whipped her head up, and they both turned toward the large entryway.

Emma felt her cheeks burn as the mortification worked through her veins, dampening the arousal that was thrumming through her. “I… um…”

She could barely even catch her breath, still! What could she possibly say in her defense!

Regan’s dark eyes looked glazed over and her pillowy lips were red and swollen, and – Emma immediately looked away, because looking at Regan when she looked likethatwas not good for her nervous system.

“And here I was, thinking you were a reliable babysitter; that’s what your gram always proudly reported to me,” Kimberly drawled, arching a look at Emma.

Guilt mixed with the embarrassment, and Emma dropped her head into her hands.

“Both Eva and Everly were up in bed before we did this!” Regan jumped in, somewhat helpfully. “We played board games all night; they’ll vouch for us.”

“I’m sorry,” Emma finally managed to get out. She rolled her shoulders back and looked up at Kimberly, feeling the effects of this double-whammy.

Not only had she besmirched her perfect babysitting record, but she’d been caught by hermothermaking out like a teenager.

“I really am, I…” She trailed off, confusion taking over as she saw the wide smile on Kimberly’s face.

“You don’t need to apologize.” Kimberly waved that off, clutching her purse with both hands as she grinned at Emma so excitedly, she’d almost think it was Christmas morning. “Emma Bo Bemma! I got to walk in and catch you making out with your girlfriend while you’re babysitting your sisters?”

Her tone was awed, matching the way she perched one hand over her chest.

“I mean… Ineverthought I’d have this moment,” she continued, and her eyes were so wide. Were theretearsin them?! “And you felt so comfortable, to do it in my house?”

Regan let out a peel of laughter, before Emma saw her slap her hand over her mouth out of the corner of her eye. “Sorry. I just…” She cleared her throat, shaking back her hair. Which was a little tousled, because – apparently – Emma’s hands had also worked through her hair, as well.

Emma couldn’t believe the laughter she felt bubbling up inside, but there it was. She almost felt high, with the rush of endorphins and attraction still flooding through her, with the shock of being caught by Kimberly, and then the incredulity of her mom’s reaction to this…

Yeah, she couldn’t help but laugh at it, feeling her shoulders relax with it.

Kimberly sighed, staring at Emma like she’d made her dreams literally come true. “By all means, you can keep going. I won’t interrupt again.”

It made Emma laugh harder, even as she tried to get some control over herself. “Um, no. That’s okay; we should go home.”

“Well, if you ever need a place…” Kimberly shrugged, gesturing around them.

Emma couldn’t believe her mother was offering her house as some sort of a hookup pad for her and Regan. She couldn’t believe she’d actually just been walked in on by her mother. And, amidst it all, she didn’t feel like she was going to be sick to her stomach.

She felt the tentative brush of Regan’s fingers against the back of her hand, and she moved without thought to interlock their hands together.

“I think we’re good. But thanks.”

twenty-five

Reganhadto wonder if she was on some sort of practical prank show, as she pulled open the door to a bar that Audrey had asked her to meet her at.

Actually – no, she hadn’t asked. She’d dropped Regan a pin along with the text:

Come and meet me . !

Even though they’d been on much better terms for the last month, Regan had never met Audrey to get a casual drink in their entire lives. Sure, they were texting more frequently, and it was amicable but there was no way she would have possibly anticipated Audrey wanting to meet up with her for a casual hangout after work.

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