Page 84 of The Stud

Giggles are unfortunately bulldozed by banging on the door. “Snowman!” Cap’s voice has her eyes instantly widening in surprise. “We leave in five!”

Damn.

We truly do not have time to do anything about the wood she’s made me grow.

Not even a blowie.

Hell, I’m pretty sure I couldn’t even jerk it fast enough to get back to Texas on an empty load.

The disappointment drives a boyish pleading to leave my lips right above a whisper, “Show me your tits one more time.”

Arden stops reaching for her device cleaning kit to toss me a scolding stare. “Tanner.”

“What?” My shoulders innocently bounce. “It’s a long flight home.”

“Okay!”

“Really?!”

“No.” She snatches the objects off the counter. “I’m not gonna show you a little t simply because you asked.”

Half-hearted pouting gets her giggling again.

“However, youdiddo something unprompted and unconventionally sweet and uncharacteristically thoughtful-”

“There were a few too many un words in that compliment.”

“-so for that…” my Slayer – fuck, I can hardly believe I get to actually say that – abruptly lifts the edge of her sweatshirt to flash me the pair of brown beauties I can’t wait to get my mitts back on, “you should be rewarded.”

“Modanohearmenow, I cannot wait to have those in my mouth again.”

Two more pounds are delivered to the room blockade. “Four!”

Cap’s unnecessary counting results in her dropping her hoodie back down, spinning on her heels, and hastily collecting the few other scattered items she has.

Quickly getting dressed isn’t a difficult task for either of us.

And neither is getting past our team leader’s scrutinizing stares over the surprise reveal we were forced to have a slumber party due to the hotel’s fuckery.

Fuckery that I am inclined to leave them a stellar review regarding considering the consequence of their actions gave me the dub I’ve been dreaming about since last season.

On the team plane, Arden doesn’t hesitate to drop down in the seat next to me or to shove her work phone in front of my sleep deprived face. “Bloodyhell, Hoss.Any closer to my complexion and you’ll be able to count the number of scratches I have from last night’s game.”

To be honest, the scratches are fromher.

Just like the bruises she’s hiding with the collar of her hoodie are fromme.

“I’m sitting here because I have the worst job in the world,” she announces in a familiar fashion, “like cutting rugby fields with safety scissors would be better-”

“That’s not a thing.”

“-but since that position got filled before I could apply-”

“That’s not a real thing.”

“-I’m here, asking you, who – other than me – do you like to sit beside when you fly?”

“That’s easy.” I remove my blanket from my travel bag. “Cap or Hedgie.”

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