Page 137 of There's No Us Without You
I quickly dry myself, then throw on a dark-grey T-shirt and black yoga pants. Before I leave the bathroom, I take one last look at myself in the mirror. My cheeks are flushed from the too-hot shower I just took, so I fan my face with my hands and take a deep breath before heading downstairs.
I’ll just play it cool.
Hell. Who am I kidding? There’s no such thing as playing it cool with those two.
When I reach the bottom of the stairs, the boys’ conversation stops abruptly.
Were they just talking about me?
“Hey, baby,” Emerson says, waving me over to the couch when I reach the lounge room. “Any suggestions for movie night?”
I lift a shoulder as I plant myself next to him and curl my legs underneath my bum. “Footloose?”
Will groans from the opposite couch and throws his head back. “I am not watching that crap again.”
Emerson snorts and leans forward to snatch the TV remote from the coffee table in front of us. “Oh, we’re definitely putting it on now.”
Will pins him with a dark glare. “Try it, and that’ll be the last thing you ever do.”
I cover my mouth and pretend to cough. It’s all I can do to mask the laugh threatening to escape my chest.
Will is adorable when he’s threatening Emerson.
And sexy as hell.
“Easy now, tiger.” Emerson holds his hands up, and with a wink in my direction, a half smirk lifts one side of his lips. “Although, I would like to see you try and stop me.”
Oh, I see what’s happening. Emerson is taunting his best friend and if he keeps going—evident by the look on Will’s face—all hell is about to break loose.
I’m here for it, though.
When Will pushes up from the couch and launches himself at Emerson, I clench my thighs together and squeal.
He lands on top of Em with a grunt and straddles his hips. “Be a good boy and give me the remote, Emerson.” With a hand now wrapped around Emerson’s throat, Will squeezes just a little, while attempting to snatch the remote from the hand above his head.
“And make it easy for you?” Emerson licks his lips before planting a quick kiss to Will’s mouth. “I don’t think so—Eden, catch.” Then he nips at Will’s bottom lip—obviously a distraction—when he hurls the remote in my direction.
I’ve never had great hand-eye coordination, so when the item lands in my hands, I squeal in surprise until I realise I’m now Will’s main focus.
He growls, and reaches for me, so I jump off the side of the couch—almost face-planting when I trip over my feet—and race towards the stairs.
There’s no time to contemplate what I just witnessed between the boys, so I keep moving in an attempt to stop my growing arousal.
“If you’re running, Sunshine,” Will calls out, “you better hide because if I catch you, you’re mine.”
“Run, baby,” Emerson yells from the couch. “He’s not kidding.”
Oh. Fuck.
My heart hammers in my chest—not only from the effort of running up the stairs, but because Will is right on my heels, grabbing at my ankles as I scramble on all fours.
Muscles burning, I manage to reach the top and race for my bedroom. Stupid idea, I know, but it’s the best I’ve got. I’ll just lock myself in there and pray Will won’t break the door down.
“Where are you running to, Sunshine?” Will says, his breathing heavy. “I know every hiding place in this house.”
I glance over my shoulder to find him stalking towards me—that fast walking only serial killers in movies do and somehow always manage to keep up.
I’m out of breath, and when I find my door left open, I dart inside and attempt to slam it shut. Only I’m not quick enough, and Will shoves against the other side, sending me backwards onto my arse.
