Page 91 of A Little Complicated

“Commissioner's rules,” I confirm. “I guess I can make an exception for tonight.”

“Oh, you do, do you?” Her pouty lips tilt up as she watches me scoot closer to her. “How diplomatic of you.”

“I’m very diplomatic.”

“You never answered thewhoquestion, by the way,” she adds.

I frown. “Who?”

“Who you had a crush on in the group…or is ithave?” She taps her finger against her chin as if deep in thought.

“Not sure it matters,” I point out.

“Why not?”

“Because dating anyone in the group is a bad idea, don’t you think?”

“I mean, seriously dating, sure,” she concedes. “I can see how it could make things messy if things didn’t work out, but hooking up for fun in secret?” Her shoulders lift. “I can see the appeal.”

“If I was gonna cross the line with someone in the group, I’m pretty sure my parents would want it to be serious. And so would her parents.”

“Mm-hmm. You make a good point. Her parents are probably pretty protective. But what about her older brothers?” she asks.

I know what she’s doing. She’s baiting me. Curious to see if I’ll throw her a bone and confirm whether or not she’s the girl I’m interested in since she’s the only one of her friends without over-protective brothers watching her every move.

“Funny,” I mutter. “I don’t think Archer had to answer these questions.”

“Archer is…Archer.” She shrugs. “He doesn’t play games.”

“And I do?”

“You love games,” she murmurs. Her tone is laced with amusement as she peeks at me again. “You love the chase, Maverick. The competition. The rush. The question is…what happens when you win? Do you move on to the next thing without appreciating the spoils, or do you bask in the glory?”

“Since you know me so well, you tell me,” I reply.

She nods, inching even closer. “I think it doesn’t matter. Not if you and the girl are on the same page.”

“And what page is that?”

“Let’s find out.” The scent of flowers invades my space and clings to her messy waves, but I don’t pull away. The organ in my chest pounds faster and faster as she shifts her upper body until she’s fully facing me. She wets her bottom lip, and her eyes fall to my mouth. Without hesitation, she kisses me. Fuck, she feels like silk. All soft and supple. Unsure almost. It only turns me on more. Grasping the side of her face, I tug her into me further, dragging my tongue against the seam of her lips, and she opens for me, letting me taste her.

A soft groan rumbles through my chest as I lay her down on the blanket and press my weight against her when a tiny voice of reason echoes in the back of my mind.

Eighteen.

Family friend.

Archer’s best friend.

Fuck.

My fingers flex against her jaw, but I let her go and roll off her. Subtly, I shift my throbbing cock in my jeans, well aware of the blue balls I’ll be sporting by morning.

Pressing her fingers against her lips, she watches me carefully, a fog of wariness clouding her amber eyes.

“Why’d you stop?” she asks.

“I’m not gonna fuck you here.” I shake my head. “Not gonna fuck you anywhere.”

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