Page 78 of Hot Shot

I go very still, running my tongue along the inside of my teeth. “Uh. Well.”

“So? You two are hittin’ the skins?”

Cade laughs and I frown. “Hittin’ the skins? What are we, the Flintstones?”

“You know what I mean.”

I grin. “Yeah. Bumping fuzzies.”

Beck lifts an eyebrow. “That might be telling us more about Carrie’s personal grooming habits than we want to know.”

My grin disappears. “Fuck you. Never mind her personal grooming habits. She’s fucking perfect.”

Beck’s knowing smile makes me want to punch him. “Okay, we have an admission.”

“I’d say so,” Cade agrees. “This is interesting.”

“It’s just sex,” I say.

“Hey, I get it.” Cade lifts his hands. “Nothing wrong with that.”

Beck rubs his mouth. “I have to disagree.”

“With what? Sex?” I smirk.

“The ‘just sex’ part.” Beck’s forehead furrows. “Carrie is Hayden’s best friend. Women don’t do ‘just sex’ very well.”

“That’s completely sexist,” Cade points out. “Women want to be equal. They want to own their sexuality. Lots of ’em have no problem with ‘just sex.’”

“You sure about that?” Beck gives Cade a long look. “How about that chick who showed up here last week crying because you wouldn’t return her call?”

Cade winces. “Yeah, Brynn got a little carried away. Look, I’m honest with them all. I can’t help it if they tell me they’re fine with it and then change their minds.”

Beck shakes his head. “I don’t mean to be sexist, but I think it’s well known that women’s hormones get involved when they have sex and they get attached.” He turns his stern look on me, and I shift in my chair. “If you break Carrie’s heart,I’mgoing to be fucked, and not in a good way.”

“This has nothing to do with you and Hayden.” I lift my chin, although I’ve had the exact same misgivings.

“Keep talking. Maybe eventually you’ll say something intelligent.”

“Hey!”

“Come on, man, you have to see the risks here.”

“She’s leaving in four weeks. We’re both well aware of that and know what the deal is.”

“Four weeks. But who’s counting, right?”

I growl. “Look, I’m telling you we know what we’re doing.” I reach for the bottle and refill all three glasses. I lift mine in a toast. “To stringless sex.”

Cade and Beck both crack up laughing. “Stringless sex? That sounds really . . . unpleasant.”

“No-strings sex. That’s what I mean.” I take a mouthful of tequila and let the heat slide down my throat. “Don’t worry, dude. I got this.”

“Sheishot,” Cade notes.

“Eyes off her.” I glare.

“Another bad sign,” Beck mutters. “Territorial.”

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