Page 88 of Scotch on the Rocks

That would be the extent of it, I’d promised myself. Tea and conversation.

Juniper had the startling ability to make me lose all common sense the moment I got within ten feet of her. She’d given me free rein of her body back at the fairy pools, I knew it cost her something to trust I would give usbothwhat we needed. But I wanted more than trust over her pleasure.

I wanted her to trust me with her heart.

Trust that every cheesy word out of my mouth was more than lines to get her into bed.

So … Tea. That trust would begin with tea.

“Do you have a favourite movie?”

She looked at me like I’d grown a second head. “Not really.”

Great start. “Season?”

“Spring.”

“Sport?”

She blew on her tea. “I hate sports.”

Yeah. I’d known that one. “Dream job as a kid?”

“Vampire.” Her brow flicked up. “Do these questions have a purpose beyond hacking my online banking?”

I sighed. “We’re getting to know each other.”

“Oh, then please continue.” She swung a knee over the other, settling in. “I can’t wait to tell you my favourite sexual position.”

Struck stupid. My mouth opened then closed. “What’s your favourite—No—”I held up my hands, backing away until my hip hit the counter. “I don’t want to know. This is a non-sexual discussion.”

Her teeth flashed. “It’s a good one.”

Fuck.I broke like a twig beneath her boot. Rounding the kitchen island to haul her into my arms.“Tell me.”

The command had barely passed my lips when my phone lit up. The camera at the front door picking up movement. I flicked open the app and Alistair’s face filled the screen. Hood up, water ran off his dark green raincoat in rivulets.

My breath caught. Bringing a finger to my lips, I turned the phone for Juniper to see. The widening of her dark eyes was her only outward reaction. The tip of the iceberg, I knew.

Alistair knocked. “Callum, open up! It’s pissing down.” His voice filtered down the hall.

I’d left the door unlocked. We had mere seconds until hediscovered that for himself. Still clasped together, we stared one another out, like a fucking game of chicken.

The handle rattled.

Neither of us blinked.

The door creaked.

Juniper smirked.

Boots hit the tile in the porch.

My fingers dug into her arse.

“Callum?”

I broke. Scooping her into my arms, I threw her over my shoulder, striding quickly through the door at the back of the kitchen, leading to my bedroom and home office. Her victorious laugh was muffled, teasing and hot against my neck. Inside my bedroom, I set her down, pressing her to the wall beside the door. “Think you can keep quiet, harpy?”

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