Page 69 of Neighbors With Benefits

“Since you walked in on me in that bathroom.” He pointed toward the hall. “The very first day.”

“Wow. You’ve done a good job hiding it.”

“Yeah, well, you’re my neighbor. A lot can go wrong if it ends badly.”

“I’m already thinking about which plants I’m going to burn,” I replied.

He gave my ass a loud, satisfying smack. “Don’t even joke about plant arson.”

“Sorry. Didn’t realize it was too soon.” I sighed happily. “I’m so glad you came back over.”

Bash chuckled. “I was standing on your porch for over a minute, trying to muster the courage to knock. Then I heard you shout in pain. I guess I kind of barged in, didn’t I?”

“We’re good friends,” I replied. “You can come inside without warning, especially if I’m screaming.”

“Oh Icame insideall right,” Bash said. “Though I did warn you.”

“And I was screaming—in pleasure!” I added.

The two of us laughed, and he squeezed me tighter in a hug. “Should we move somewhere more comfortable?”

“I’m happy right here on the table,” I replied. “Are you not?”

“I’mextremelysatisfied right here.”

“The only thing that would make this better is food,” I said. “The nachos and fries were good, but I could still eat.”

“We worked up an appetite,” Bash murmured, kissing my hair. “What snacks do you have?”

“Nothing good. Past-Jazz, the one who did the grocery shopping, was trying to be healthy.”

“I have chips and hummus at my place,” Bash offered.

I immediately pushed him away and slid off the table. “Say less. That’s exactly what I want. Are you coming?”

He sat on the edge of the table and watched me. “Give me a minute.”

“For what?”

“I’m enjoying the view.” A grin spread across his face while his eyes caressed my body.

I gave my boobs a little shake, then grabbed his arm and pulled him away from the table. “You can ogle me while I eat chips.”

“But you’ll be clothed. Unless you walk to my house naked.”

“Counter-offer,” I said. “I put my clothes on, we go over to your place, and then I get naked again.”

Bash was following me in the blink of an eye. “I accept.”

We got dressed and went next door, arm-in-arm. There was a dark shape across the street walking a small dog; it looked like she was watching us.

“That’s Linda,” Bash whispered to me. Then he raised a hand and called out, “Hi, Linda!”

“I can’t remember which tier she was in,” I said as we went inside.

“She’s the walking phone book. Super nice, but she’s B-tier instead of A-tier because she usually let’s that Chihuahua off leash. We’re lucky he didn’t run across the street and bite our ankles.”

“Is she going to gossip? About seeing us together like that?”

---