Page 99 of Melting the Ice

Punk.

“Uh, I was working on it before I left to get you from the airport. Must’ve dropped it when I picked up Micah’s keys. Not sure how it got under a book. Anyway, thanks for finding it. Let’s go get some lunch.”

I snatched the picture from Ray’s hand and headed toward the door. “Coming?” I threw out behind me.

Hopefully, I could make it through lunch without any other issues.

Chapter 20

MICAH

She should not look that hot eating a sandwich. There was a bit of some sort of sauce on her finger; she licked it off, and my dick got hard.

Fucking hell.

Then she dabbed her lips and gave me a wink. Was she trying to rile me up for completely freezing when Ray found that picture? She’d explained it away easily enough, but we’d been living together for over a month now. Would Ray stumble across something else?

And once again, I felt like a dick for wanting him to.

“Not good?” Ray asked, eyeing my half-eaten sandwich.

“Sorry. Got distracted,” I muttered, not looking at Josie. She’d be smirking for sure.

“Man, there’s more than just thinking about hockey. I swear you live, eat, and breathe it,” Ray said.

“It’s my job, and I love it. But I wasn’t thinking about that.”

He chuckled. “Sure, you weren’t.” Then he turned to his sister. “So, dirty pics, huh? Not that I really want to think about you drawing them.”

She laughed, and the sound washed over me, making my chest expand.

This time, I looked directly at her because I knew how much she loved her work, and seeing her cheeks flushed with happiness when she talked about it was absolutely beautiful.

“They’re very popular with readers, and I’ve been getting more requests for them. Authors like to add them as incentives to their newsletter subscribers or in their hardcover special editions. And they’re more fun to draw than just an author avatar or something. Plus, I get to read spicy romances before other people do, and the authors give me ideas to sketch out.”

“Well, from the little I saw, it’s good.” He cleared his throat. “Anyway, it’s great that you get to do what you love. I know we give you shit about all your jobs, but everyone should be fulfilled with their careers. And look, all three of us are,” Ray said.

“Thanks, Ray. It’s always nice when something enjoyable can also pay the bills,” she said, her smile brilliantly gorgeous.

Fuck. I wanted to tug her into my arms right now and bask in her happiness.

***

Micah: I gave Ray keys to the gym upstairs, and he’s soaking in the sauna.

Josie: Information I probably didn’t need.

Josie: And good morning to you, too.

Micah: Get your ass down here. I miss you.

It’d been two days since I’d kissed her before we’d had lunch with her brother. And three days since she’d been in my bed. Jerking off in the shower while thinking about her was not enough.

It wasn’t like I hadn’t spent time with her. We’d done lunch and dinner. Ray and I had stopped by Tipsy the night she was working. But it wasn’t the same as being able to touch her or tease her like the real fucking couple we were.

At least, I thought we were.

And doubts had crept in, but I shoved them aside.

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