Page 133 of Off Camera
“I’m blamingyou for our tardiness,” I say to Reid as we walk down the hall to Dallas and Maven’s apartment. “This isyourfault.”
“Yeah, because you really hated the second orgasm I gave you,” he draws out, and I blush. “I’ll never do that again.”
I elbow his ribs. “Don’t withhold sex from me, Duncan. I like your dick too much.”
He tips his head back and laughs. The sound echoes down the hall, and I laugh too. “We’ll both claim responsibility. You, for your perfect pussy. Me, for being easily distracted.”
“There’s the holiday spirit.” I smile. “Nothing says Christmas like a perfect pussy.”
“Falalala, I want to eat you out later.”
“There’s the holiday spirit. Hey, speaking of holiday spirit. How are we going to act around our friends?”
“What do you mean?” he asks. “Are they aliens or something?”
“Are we going to be affectionate? Ignore each other? Send messages back and forth on our phones?”
“I can smell you on my hand, Avery. It’s going to be impossible to ignore you.”
“Okay, well.” I blush and fix my skirt. “I haven’t told Maven and Emmy we’re sleeping together. Okay, that’s not true. I haven’t told them we’re sleeping together again. Maven knows about the first two times before Vegas.”
“Really?” Reid frowns and stops outside their door. “I told Maverick and Dallas.”
“What? You did? When?”
“Months ago. The night you came over after book club, actually. Maverick could tell I was hiding something, and being honest about what was going on in my life was easier than trying to lie. I’m a shit liar. Is it okay that they know?”
“Of course it’s okay. They’re your best friends.”
“Maven is your best friend, and you’ve spent time with Emmy. Why haven’t you told them? I don’t care that you haven’t. I’m just curious.”
“I don’t know,” I say, and it’s the truth. “I’m not embarrassed of you or anything like that.”
“You think I’m a nerd, don’t you?”
“I’ll tell you you’re a nerd to your face,” I say. “I guess I didn’t want it to be this big thing. I wanted to have a sexual relationship with someone without all the meddling. Without people asking when it’s going to turn into a relationship. I want to tell them now, though. I don’t want to keep it a secret anymore.”
“Yeah?” He grins and bands an arm around my waist. “I’d be shocked if Maven didn’t already know. She and Dallas tell each other everything.”
“I guess we’ll find out soon.” I nod to the bag of gifts he’s holding. They’re all for June, and there has to be close to a dozen in there. “Want me to take that?”
“So you get all the credit? Fuck, no.”
Reid walks into the apartment and I follow behind him. We take off our coats and shoes and head toward the laughter and loud voices coming from the living room. Our friends aregathered around a tray of nachos and pizza, and they all cheer when they see us.
“There you are!” Maven jumps up and hugs me. “I was starting to think something happened to you.”
“Sorry,” I say.
“We got caught up with work,” Reid explains. He takes a seat on the couch next to June and hands over her presents. “It’s Avery’s fault. She lost track of time. Told me to keep going and she didn’t want to stop.”
I glare at him. His grin is beautiful, a wicked display of happiness that pangs in my chest, and I know I could never be mad at him. Not really.
“It’s exhausting having to tell someone multiple times how to figure something out.” I sigh and put my hands on my hips, smirking when Reid narrows his eyes. “They just don’t get the hint.”
“Let’s get you a drink,” Maven says, and she drags me from the living room. I flip Reid off before I round the corner to the kitchen. He pretends to catch it and tucks it away in his pocket. “What sounds good?”
“Anything,” I say. I’m still on edge and turned on after he felt me up in the parking garage. He slid my underwear down my legs and tucked them in his pocket. He didn’t give me a third orgasm, not yet, and I’m buzzing with anticipation and need after his teasing. “Alcohol. Lots of it.”
