Page 78 of Sass

My heart kicked up at the thought of Leon’s grunty machine. “Awesome.”

“And pack some clothes.”

I arched a brow.

“You’re staying with me tonight. I want to wake up with you in my bed.” He waited on my answer, even though it hadn’t really been a question. Staying the night in his space was a step, and we both knew it.

And eventually I nodded. “All right. But I get the left side, same as here. It’s a law, like gravity. What can I say? The stability of the universe depends on it.”

“As long as you’re next to me, I don’t give a rat’s arse where I sleep.” He took my hand and kissed the palm. “I’ll do what I’m told.”

I graced him with a suitably lecherous grin. “Then we’re gonna get along just fine.”

* * *

“I’m sure I set the alarm.” Leon stared at the control panel as I closed the back door to Flare.

We’d stopped by to grab Leon’s spare set of leathers for me to drown in before we hit the road for Piha Beach. The sun was out, but an icy southerly licked at any skin it could lay its mitts on, and I’d spent the ride into town with my face smooshed into Leon’s back and my hands up the front of his shirt. Okay, so that was hardly a hardship and not necessarily down to the weather, but I preferred to keep my skin attached to my body if we had an accident, and leathers would certainly help.

“You were a bit distracted.” I grabbed his hand and pulled him around to land a smacker on his lips.

“Mmm.” He deepened the kiss and his hands sneaked under my jacket to cup my arse. “Maybe we could just stay here. There’s a bed upstairs with our names on it.”

“I like the way you think.” I licked a stripe up the side of his face and palmed his dick. “But you promised—”

“Well. Well. Well. What do we have here?” Rhys’s all-too-familiar chuckle floated over Leon’s shoulder.

Shit.I jolted from Leon’s arms, but he grabbed my hand and just as quickly pulled me back, locking me into place. I tried to be mad and failed.Well, okay then. I guess we’re doing this.“Goddammit, Rhys, do you have to be so fucking sneaky?” I shot my friend a glare, which he dutifully ignored, grinning from ear to ear like the cat who’d got the cream.

“I go away for two weeks and look what happens.” He leaned back against the door. “The United Nations have got nothing on me.”

I groaned. “But what are you doing here?”

He looked around. “If I’m not mistaken, I own the place.”

I huffed in annoyance. “Yes, yes. But you only flew in at some godforsaken hour this morning, right? Shouldn’t you be jet-lagged or something?”

“Six a.m. to be precise.” Beck appeared behind Rhys, his equally amused gaze flitting between us and my shoulders slumped.

“Oh, god, not you too.”

Beck grinned broadly. “Aw, such a touching welcome. And yes, we’re both jet-lagged. But someone—” He tipped his head sideways at Rhys. “—was too wired to sleep, and so here we are.” He glanced at our held hands and Leon’s grip tightened around mine like he was worried I’d drop him like a hotcake, and okay, the thought wasn’t without merit.

“A good call, as it turned out.” He kissed Rhys on the cheek. “I wouldn’t have missed this for the world.”

Rhys smirked. “I told you, I have the best ideas.”

“Oh look.” I nudged Leon. “It’s Tweedledum and Tweedledee. Shame we can’t stay and chat.” I tugged Leon forward, but Rhys put out a hand to stop me.

“I’m sure Leon can grab whatever it is on his own.” Rhys’s eyes danced with humour. “I think I need a word with my manager.”

Leon snorted and planted a kiss on the corner of my mouth. I startled and then glared at him for all of two seconds before groaning and kissing him back. “Don’t be long.”

Leon turned to Rhys as he passed. “Leave him in one piece, okay?” Even with an attached smile, it sounded almost a threat, and when I caught Rhys’s surprised look, I poked my tongue out at him.

“And I think that’s my cue to wait in the car.” Beck headed to the front door.

And suddenly it was just the two of us left. Rhys bundled me into the office, shut the door, and shoved a Coke in my hands from a six-pack he had sitting on my desk. Then he took my damn chair.

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