Page 17 of The Hooker

“Want to watch a movie? Talking about retiring is depressing, and I don’t want you obsessing about your pup,” Jamie says calmly, as if he didn’t just kiss the corner of my mouth and call me pretty.

With trembling, sweaty hands, I tuck hair behind my ears. “What about your card game?” When we have a game outside of Auckland, he always plays a card game with Suli and whoever else is around.

“Nah. I like it better here.”

“Okay. What do you want to watch?” So we’re ignoring what happened. I can do that. Probably. Maybe not, but if that’s what he wants, I’ll ignore it until he leaves and then remember his lips on the corner of mine. In detail.

“You have your laptop? We could watch Westley’s namesake,” Jamie suggests, getting more comfortable on the bed until he’s propped up with two pillows.

I haven’t been this close to him since he hugged me when we were looking for Westley. I’ve missed feeling him close. Feeling how warm he is and wishing I could burrow into his chest.

“You’d watchThe Princess Bridewith me?”

“Sure. What’s not to like? Cool swords, revenge.” He smirks. “Hot blondes.”

My lips tip up. “Oh, Jamie, I didn’t know you’re bi. Cary Elwes is definitely a hot blond. And he does whatever Buttercup wants. The perfect man.”

He snorts. “I meant Robin, but Cary has his moments. Totally knew what he was doing with the whole ‘as you wish’ business. Can’t go wrong with that. So, you wanna watch it? I’ll even get off this comfy bed to find your laptop and put it on.”

“I’d love to watch it with you.”

“As you wish, Daisy.” He grins at me and grabs my laptop from the desk.

A shiver runs down my spine when he says that, and I rub my arms briskly to get rid of the goosebumps he inspired. If he wants me to forget the press of his lips, quoting my favourite movie—with a love confession no less—is not the way to dry the wetness between my legs or stop the clenching in my cunt. I’d take Jamie over a blond any day. I’d even take him over Westley, the character not my dog.

Jamie hands me the laptop and lies on the bed beside me. I set the laptop on a pillow between us and click play on the movie and settle into the bed beside him. He wraps an arm around my shoulders and tugs me closer until my head rests on his chest. I sigh and can’t stop myself from nuzzling my face into him and inhaling his intoxicating scent. I ignore the implications of having one of the players in my room and enjoy it.

Sage texts that Westley’s fine, and exhaustion hits me.

My eyes become heavy, and I shut them to the sound of Westley rolling down the hill yelling ‘as you wish.’

* * *

I’m on my side and shift my hips back, wriggling in the tight hold. Heat runs through me and pools between my legs. My hands fist the covers, and I sigh when a hand drifts down my stomach and rests on my pubic bone, fingers spread wide, pinky finger not quite where I want it but close enough to drive me crazy. An arm is banded around my breasts and there’s a wall behind me. A very warm wall. My hips shift restlessly, hoping the fingers will dip lower, and I encounter something hard pressed against my ass. My brow creases, and I roll my hips experimentally.

There’s a groan above my head. “If you keep doing that, I’ll either disgrace myself or shift my hand lower.” His voice is husky with sleep.

I blink my heavy eyes open and frown in the darkness. There’s some light coming from the bathroom and I’m in bed, under the covers, with Jamie wrapped around me. We must have fallen asleep during the movie. From what I can tell, I’m still in the leggings and jumper I was in when Jamie showed up at my door. I swallow thickly and realise what he said.

And I want it.

I want him to move his fingers. I want to roll over and tug his pants off and feel him between my legs and the heat of his mouth on mine. He’s my friend, but he’s more than that. He means so much to me. This might be my only chance to kiss him. What with working together and the fact I don’t know if he’s interested in me long term…

Unless he is? He’s the one that changed our handshake to include a kiss and came to my hotel room.

“Sorry, I’ll leave. Didn’t mean to make you uncomfortable.” His hand drifts to my hip, but I catch it.

“You should,” I say, and ignore the tremble in my voice.

“Do what?”

“Move your hand lower.” I roll my hips again, teasing his erection pressed against my ass. “Or the other thing.”

Jamie clears his throat and turns his hand under mine to link our fingers. “Really?”

“Yeah.” I shift to my other side so I can see his face, and our chests press together. His arm stays under me and the other grasps my hand as soon as I’m settled. “I’d like that.”

It’s hard to see his face in the dark despite the light from the bathroom. I can see a tiny furrow between his brows and feel his breath on my face. I release his hand to run fingers up his arm to his shoulder and draw back when I encounter hot skin under mine instead of material. “You don’t have a shirt on.”

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