Page 222 of Snap Shot

That tips me over, every spent muscle tensing through the peak as I explode around him. He bottoms out with a sated laugh, adding to the sticky mess trailing down my inner thighs. Not yet pulling out, Landon positions us, my back against his heaving chest, lip-locked in a mind-numbing kiss.

“You make all my dreams come true,” he says into the seam of my mouth. “I love you so fucking much.”

Dad's welcome upon our return fades quickly, switching a curious gaze between us as I fix my sexed-up hair. Landon clears his throat. We both burst into a furious blush.

“Stop embarrassing them, Rahul.” Mom smacks him with a kitchen towel.

“I know that look.” He narrows his eyes with an easy grin, curling an arm over his wife's shoulders. “Your mum and I were young once.”

My mouth turns and my sisters voice our communal disgust from the formal living room without looking up from their phones. “Yuuuuck!”

“There's nothing wrong with having a snog.” Dad pecks Mom's temple, then her cheek and jaw. The last one lingers.

“Yeah,uh huh,” I reply. “Caught us. That's what we were doing. Mom, you need help in the kitchen, don't you?”

Nik scoffs. “Not that you could do anything about it if she did.”

“Hey, I know how to cook now!”

“Only salty khichdi.Bleh.” Esha sticks out her tongue. “Landon, do you know how to cook? Because this one” —she points her thumb at me— “is smart, but not domesticated.”

“Mom, do something!” An ineffective protest.

She slinks off to the kitchen, hands over her ears. “Girls!”

My dad and Landonwhewin chorus.

The daily squabbling between the ladies of the house doesn't prevent me from overhearing Dad's suggestion in the entryway. “This isn't gonna end anytime soon. How 'bout I call up some mates and we have a friendly rugby match?”

—————

Butterflies flit and flicker in my belly the entire elevator ride up.

I've been to Landon's penthouse hundreds of times. I shouldn't be nervous, but I am. The suitcase wheels whir across the marble until I stop outside the double doors. Keypad beeps accept the entered code, and my hand twists the handle open.

It's completely dark.

“Hmm.” I wonder to myself, positive Landon said he'd be here, then retrieve my phone from my pocket to check the time and turn on the flash. When I locate a nearby light switch, the most raucous sound has me jumping out of my skin.

“Surprise!”

The rest of the lights flash on as a gaggle of familiar faces whoop, holler, and blow noisemakers. I spot Gabe, Bea, Sheena, and Akhil, along with the full Regents' roster. A giant, white,Welcome Home, Indi!banner hangs behind them. Tears blur my vision, though my face splits into a ridiculous smile.

Landon emerges from the middle, arms outstretched, hugging and kissing me so hard I float above the hardwood. “Hi, baby. Were you surprised?”

“How'd you know? I was supposed to surpriseyou.”

I peer over his shoulder at Wade, who forms a halo above his head with both hands. He's the only one on Landon's side who knew. There's something endearing about the goofy goalie. Something beyond this dumb, playboy jock, sex idiot persona he masks behind. I don't want to jinx it, but he's growing on me. Wade is innocent.

But Bea dons a guilty smile. “Behraz!”

“Would you believe me if I said it was an accident?”

“No.” My forehead taps Landon's chin in apology. “Wish I could've been the one to tell you.”

His arms hook around my lower back. “Tell me anyway.” A smirk dimples one stubbled cheek.

“I'm moving in.”

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