Page 43 of Now Streaming

Min was going to have a lot to answer for when they were alone.

Hayden, however, didn’t seem to know the danger he was in.

“The hotel has excellent French toast,” he said blandly. Brittany’s eyes flew to Min, wide.WTF??Min pretended to take a sip out of her empty glass and ignored her. Hayden continued, “How has your con been going?”

Min managed to elbow Gus in the gut. Robbie’s older brother was always quiet, preferring to listen rather than to engage. But he was a good person and knew how to take a hint, thank god.

“We’ve been enjoying the floor. Hit a few panels, talked with some streamers, and then were watching the tournament. It’s always a lot, but it’s nice to run into people out here, the ones you don’t see every day, you know?”

Hayden nodded. “Definitely.”

It’s then that Robbie came back, dropping off all the drinks he had been carrying with the skill of a working bartender. He slid Hayden’s bourbon toward him while handing Min her rosé. He then pointed to a spot across the room.

“Some seats opened up, but we need to move fast.”

Brittany was off like a shot. The competition for seating at Kickoff was fierce no matter where you were, from panels to restaurants. Min tracked Brittany’s blonde ponytail until she got to the small table right before another couple and slapped her hand on it with victory. She didn’t even blink at the other couple’s disappointment, just turned and waved the rest of them over. Brittany was competitive, and her favorite thing in the world was winning.

“Holy shit, she’s fast.” Hayden was clearly impressed.

Min smiled. “She’s got many skills.”

The group slowly made their way toward her, but as they got closer Min’s stomach dropped. There were only three chairs.

“Um, guys?”

Robbie had claimed a chair and Brittany had already plopped into his lap, taking a sip of her cosmo. She waved a well-manicured hand.

“Min, just pick a lap. It’s fine. The boys won’t mind.”

Min wasn’t so sure about that. She looked at Gus, who had a sparkle in his eye that said he was enjoying her discomfort. She had known him for about as long as she had known Robbie. He and Min had always been friendly when they hung out, thrown together by Brittany and Robbie’s relationship. Whereas Robbie was friendly, the way a golden retriever was, Gus was more of a lone wolf type. Classically handsome, with olive skin, a hard jaw, and well-kept dark hair, Gus was steady and reliable in a way that could often go unnoticed if you didn’t pay attention. Min had always wondered if he actually enjoyed hanging out with Robbie and Brittany, considering how extroverted they both were. But he always showed up when invited, and he seemed like the kind of guy who wouldn’t be anywhere he didn’t want to be.

Before she could say anything she was tugged, hard, losing her balance and landing right in Hayden’s lap, her hand automatically going to his chest for balance. She blinked at him, shocked.

“Hayden, what the fuck?”

His face was closer than she had expected, so his eyes were only inches from her, blazing with a darkness that took her breath away.

“If you think you’re sitting in another guy’s lap right in front of me you are severely asking for punishment.” He was speaking so low he was practically growling.

Min was caught, couldn’t look away, his heat and the smell of his clean aftershave surrounding her. In a possessive gesture, one of his hands slid from her knee up to her outside thigh and tugged her closer to him, settling her. Her side burned as it came into firm contact with his chest.

“Punishment? Like you’d put me in time out?” Her outraged voice was barely a whisper.

His other hand had been on her back, but now it slipped lower, down her spine to the top of her buttocks, and he gave her a quick smack that jolted straight through her.

“Among other things.”

Min felt her mouth gape open but he was apparently done talking about it, turning instead to her friends, who barely seemed to notice Min and Hayden. Brittany, however, gave Min a look that made it very clear they were going to have some words about this.

But Brittany was soon distracted by the menu. She was someone who took food very seriously. “I need something hot and fried. Min, want to split some fries?”

Min tried to pull herself out of whatever haze Hayden had created around her, but she was slow. “Um, sure.”

Hayden grabbed a menu and held it up for them both to stare at, but Min couldn’t read anything. She was too focused on every single part of her body that was touching every single part of Hayden’s. Her breathing turned uneven with the memory of everything that body had done to hers last night, and she squirmed a little. In response, his hand on her thigh gripped her tighter.

“Stop.”

“Your legs are going to fall asleep.”

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