Page 174 of Naughty & Nice

“Really?” Hendrix deadpans, his eyes dropping to Noelle’s neck. “The hickies would suggest you weren’t paying attention.”

“I could see the screen when I gave her those. The others not so much.”

“I told you to be good,” Hendrix mock chastises.

“Oh, we were very good…” Noelle agrees. “Let me show you just how much...”

She rolls on top of him and drags his hands up her thighs.

“Good?” she asks, continuing to lift them higher.

“Better,” he groans once he has two handfuls of her breasts. “Is there a game on?” he asks.

“No idea, Bro. No fucking idea.”

42

NOELLE

We’ve been back at school for two weeks, and it’s been pretty quiet in terms of gossip.

Wilder’s teammates, or at least those he’s close to, know what’s going on. I mean, it was pretty obvious when he all but moved out of the team’s house and in with us.

Then he invited Benny and a couple of others over for drinks to watch the semifinal playoff games.

It was a great night with the games streaming on two different screens so they could keep up with the action.

To begin with, I expected Wilder to keep his hands to himself. We hadn’t discussed how we’d act with guests in the house, but from almost the moment they arrived, it became clear that nothing was different for him.

He continued touching and kissing me just as he would if the three of us were home alone, and Hendrix wasn’t any different.

If Wilder’s friends were confused by how our setup was working, then they certainly got a front-row seat to understand it.

They were awesome. Told us not to worry about anyone else and just to live our lives in a way that makes us happy. Havingtheir support meant everything to Wilder, and in turn to me and Hendrix.

And it seems that the Titans are a tight-knit team who look after their own because, since that day, others have both waved and smiled at me from a distance. Others stop and talk when we pass in the hallways.

I feel like I’ve been welcomed into a whole new family. It’s nice.

Speaking of family... Lori and Kian turned up at our front door—as expected—almost as soon as they touched down from their vacation.

While the guys hadn’t filled their sister in on what was happening between us all, I had, and she turned up with the biggest smile on her face and huge hugs for everyone.

As our stand-in mom, she could see the difference in all of us. She knew we were happy and that the dynamic we’d found was working. That’s all she wants. They stayed for two days before they had to return to Chicago for work. They had a fantastic vacation—as did we—but we’ve all agreed that next year, we’re going to be together, whether it be at home or away. It was just too weird being separated.

Hitching my bag higher on my shoulder, I follow the stream of students out of the lecture we just attended.

Wilder has been with the team and Hendrix is in a meeting with his academic advisor.

My plan is to grab a coffee and make a start on the assignment I’ve just received.

I’m barely out of the door when I discover that plan has been shattered.

“Rebel,” Wilder calls.

I search through the crowd in front of me to find him. It’s not hard, seeing as he’s taller and wider than most.

My eyes find his before dropping to the wide smile on his lips and then the very fitted long-sleeved Titans t-shirt he’s wearing.

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