Page 73 of The Leaving Road

It wasn’t that I didn’t want to go out with Sloan, because I did. But this was a small town; was it so wrong that I wanted us to stay wrapped up in our little bubble where no one could interfere?Maybe. As if he could sense my internal turmoil, he placed one hand on my thigh and gave it a tight squeeze.

I couldn’t help the way one touch from him set me on fire, and I had to hold back a moan thinking about what we got up to in the kitchen once Lexie was gone. My face involuntarily blushed at the thought.

“What are you thinking about over there, Magnolia?” The gravel in his throat let me know he hadn’t missed the way my face heated up and the tensing of my thighs, trying to ease some of the ache that was starting.

“The kitchen.”

The fruit he ate off my stomach, the whipped cream…the chocolate sauce he poured…

“Magnolia, behave please, or I won’t make it through tonight.”

“That’s okay.” I snuggled closer to him and started to kiss my way up his neck. “We can always go home.”

Instead of his agreement, I was met with a laugh. “I know what you’re trying to do, you little minx. Get back into your seat.”

I huffed at his rejection, a little bit annoyed he caught on so easily.

“Don’t worry, I’ll punish you for that later.” He smacked my thigh lightly but enough that it still stung. He lightly rubbed the tender spot, causing my body to react in an almost sinful way.

“Not fair,”I ground out.

“Payback, baby, payback.” He grinned at me while he pulled the car into our destination.

He turned the car off and quickly rounded to my side, opening the door for me and offering me a hand to help me out. I couldn’t help the rightness that washed over me at what was happening, and I gave him a smile. He pulled me close to him. “I feel the same.”

Without words, he knew everything I was feeling.

“Let’s go inside.”

He grabbed my hand and walked a little bit in front of me, grabbing both doors that led into the place, and I found myself looking for Lexie once inside. I caught her sitting at a table with Jace, Dexter, and unfortunately, a somewhat disgruntled-looking Lydia.

I looked over and Dexter gave me an apologetic shrug while we greeted everyone, and they greeted us back—minusLydia, that is.Her eyes kept darting over to the door.That’s odd.

I shook the thought and Lydia off, and let the conversation wash over me.

“So, what did you think of the office?” Sloan asked Lexie, clearly trying to make peace.

“It’s actually a pretty cool space. I liked the open concept, especially the team break room where everyone can unwind. You put a lot of thought into it,” she answered him, popping a chip with salsa into her mouth.

“Don’t sound so shocked.” Jace feigned being offended.

“She probably can’t understand how thetwoof you came up with such a good concept. You’re basically both Neanderthals.”

“You wound me.” Jace grinned at Sloan, but Lexie wasn’t falling for it.

“You aren’t fooling me,roomie. Don’t try and butter me up so I don’t accidentally mix one of my red socks with your white laundry.”

“You wouldn’t dare.”

“Try me,roomie.”

“Why do you keep calling him roomie?” Lydia asked. It was the first thing she had said to us all night, and she said it with such an attitude that even Dexter looked at her sideways.

“Becausehe,”Lexie pointed at Sloan, “carried my best friend off to bed last night,kept me up all night, woke me up with the dogs this morning, and then brought his stuff to move in.Roomie.”

Lydia made a sound like she was choking on her tongue, then excused herself to the bathroom.

“That was weird,” Jace said while looking questioningly at Dexter, who could only shrug, half open-mouthed, letting us know he had no idea what that was.

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