Page 108 of Broken Skulls

He drops his head in embarrassment. “Don’t ever tell the guys I did this.”

When our pinkies wrap around each other, he looks up at me and grins. My heart mends a little more.

“Never. I will guard your secrets with my life,” I promise.

We stare at each other as a quiet feeling of safety blankets us both.

Someone knocks on the door interrupting the moment. The little growl he releases as he reluctantly gets up from the floor makes my stomach take a little dip.

“I’ll make this little intrusion up to you tonight,” he says, giving me a quick peck on the cheek before he goes to open the door.

“You don’t need to make up for anything, but I’m not going to pass up whatever you have planned.”

This makes him laugh loudly as he opens the door.

“Damn, dude. Why you so happy to see me?” Brody teases. He gives Jacob a big, exaggerated hug.

Jacob pushes him away. “Get the fuck off me.”

Brody steps around him, coming to wrap me up in his big arms. “Elizabeth,” he says, picking me off my feet.

Lexie follows him in, awkwardly standing by the door as Jacob shuts it.

“Do you like pizza?” he asks her.

She nods shyly.

He places his hand at her back and gently pushes her toward the table. “Go on. Help yourselves. We don’t worry about manners around here.”

Brody drops me for the food. “Shit yeah!” He rubs his hands together.

After we gorge ourselves on pizza, Jacob and I pick up the dishes. Lexie and Brody argue over the movie we’re going to watch in the living room.

“I think we should leave these until tomorrow,” I tell him as I set the plates in the sink.

He rests his hands on each side of my head and pulls me toward him. “I fucking love you,” he whispers over my face before kissing me.

His tongue is slow and sure, and makes me wish we didn’t have guests.

Chapter Forty-Three

Elizabeth

When Brody leaves, Jacob makes up a bed for Lexie on the couch. “I’m sorry all we can offer you is a couch right now. We’ve got a spare room, but it’s filled with plants. I’ll have to figure out a place for them, and then we can get you a bed set up in there.”

Lexie’s mouth falls open. “Oh, oh, you don’t have to do that.”

He continues to tuck a sheet over the cushions. “Lex, you’re welcome to stay here anytime you want. Besides, that’s what that room was initially supposed to be. It’s no problem.”

“I don’t know why you guys are so good to me.”

I give her a side hug as we watch Jacob. “Because you deserve it,” I tell her, knowing she probably won’t believe me.

She makes a pained face, tugging on her pajamas.

“There,” Jacob says, waving his hand over the couch, proud of himself.

Gently, I push Lexie to sit on it. “Help yourself to anything in the kitchen, and we’ll see you in the morning.”

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