Page 9 of Changing Rules

“I cried like a baby,” I murmur, pulling her closer. “Do I get a reward?”

She blinks, then bursts out laughing. “You already got it.”

“Just one kiss?” I pout, feigning disappointment. “That wasn’t enough.”

She narrows her eyes at me, but the expression breaks the moment I slide my hand to her ass. Her focus drifts to my mouth.One, two, three…

The ding of the oven shatters the moment.

I sigh, sulking for real this time.

She cups my face and kisses me quickly. “Thank you.”

“That wasn’t even a kiss,” I goad her. “You owe me a real one.”

“How about I give you a mind-blowing experience later, when it’s just us?” She grins over her shoulder on her way to the oven to check on her strawberry pie.

“Such as?” I keep my eyes trained on her, the warmth in my stomach expanding.

“You’ll need to agree first. Otherwise, I can’t promise anything.”

She’s taunting me, and I’m not too proud to admit it’s working.

“So? Ready to go in blind?”

“Do I have a choice?” I laugh, wiping my hands down my thighs. “I’m in. With you, I’ll go into the deepest of waters, the darkest of woods…wherever you want.”

“And that’s why they say if you meet a bad boy who is also a good man, you should never let him go.” She holds my gaze. “I’m not letting you go, Xander. Ever.”

“Bold words from someone who doesn’t even want to give her boyfriend a kiss. What if I scoop you up and take you to our bedroom? What then?”

“I’d love that, but”—she falls quiet, glancing at the clock on the wall—“we don’t have time.”

I inhale deeply, ready to object, but a knock at the door silences me. Our guests are here.

“Would you get that?” she asks with a smile.

As I open the front door, I’m greeted with a huge bouquet of beige and pink peonies. “Hey, Walker,” Ben says over the top of them.

“Hey.” I step back. “Come on in.”

“Tom and Mom will be here in thirty,” he says as he walks past me. “She forgot something at home and insisted one of us take her back to get it.”

“Okay.” I close the door. “How are you?”

“Good, I’m good.” Ben looks around, his expression tentative. “Where’s Bella?”

“In the kitchen.” I shove my hands into my pockets, flexing my muscles.

Based on his flat tone and the strange look on his face, I’m pretty sure the story about Millie forgetting something at home is made-up. Maybe Ben wants to get me alone?

“I’ll take you to her if you want,” I say, turning on my heel.

“Can I ask you something?”

Looks like I’m right.

Stomach tightening, I spin back around. “Of course.”

---