Page 94 of Royally Rivalled

“Um… so much. Odette is frightened.”

“Odette is older?”

“Odette is… precious. Nervous,” Astrid explained. “Ingrid read my book collection. Ingrid was able to label everything. Odette, heaven help us. If you thought I was remedial… yeesh.”

“I never thought you were remedial, Astrid.”

I leaned forward and rolled onto my stomach. Running my fingers through her hair, I said, “You were anything but remedial. Untested, but also fun.”

“You’re kind.”

“Mmmm, I’m not that kind.”

She rolled over to kiss me, our mouths meeting awkwardly. I pulled her around. Pinning her to the bed, I took her in. Her hair was laid out all around her. She smiled at me playfully, biting her lip, wondering what I was about to do.

“What do you want me to do to you, Astrid?”

“Literally anything right now. I am putty,” Astrid whispered.

Suddenly, however scarred I was, it didn’t matter. I kissed Astrid’s neck and began to push her legs apart when there was a beating on the door to the bathroom. The girls were back at it again. Astrid bent her head backwards towards the door.

“Go away!”

“Astrid, we just?—”

Odette walked in, followed by Ingrid, who looked somehow interested in the fact that they had managed to catch us somewhat in the act again. That did it. I was done for. I dove under the covers. Astrid, still looking at her sisters upside down, shouted.

“I said knock and ask! Then you came in? After I told you to go away!?”

“I need help with my outfit,” Odette burst into tears. “And you don’t care!”

“Odie, please.”

“No! No! You don’t care about me. You’re too… desperate… or whatever!”

Desperate.We were—a bit.

Odette rushed out. Ingrid stuck around a moment later.

“I told her not to do it. I told her—it’s just like Rick says. Fuck around and find out.”

Ah, that phrase! I now had someone to attribute it to.

“Go away, Ingrid!”

“Fine. I’ll deal with Odette. But maybe you all should keep it in your pants?”

“We weren’t having sex!”

“You were about to!”

No one denied that.

“Well, now no one is having sex, and I’m blaming you both!” Astrid shouted.

I snickered, “Astrid, they’re kids. They don’t know better. Ashleigh is scarcely older than Odette, and she’s never had a real boyfriend. I would imagine they’re still missing you. You’ve only been back a bit. Give them some grace.”

“Since when areyouMr. Nice Guy, Parker Westfall?”

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