Page 84 of Up In Flames
“Fiiiiiine,” he says dramatically. “Let me go change.”
I swat his ass as he turns toward our room.
Our room?
Yeah, I’ve got it bad for this fucker, but for once, I’m just going with it. It’s unpredictable, unstable, and unconventional…all things I tend to avoid.
But when Taylor comes back into the living room, his button-up having been replaced by a boho-style sweater that matches the colors of the painting we made earlier today, with sequins woven into the fabric, I know I don’t want to avoid those things anymore.
He’s put on light blue eyeshadow that’s subtle against his eye liner, his hair is back to hanging over one eye, and he has a smattering of stick-on, light blue rhinestones on his cheeks.
“I can’t wait to get you home and peel you out of these clothes,” I growl in his ear.
He chuckles. “I might have something on underneath that I think you’ll like very much.”
I jerk back, my hands flying to the button on his jeans. “Let me see before we go!” I shout, making Taylor laugh as he bats my hands away.
“No! It’s more fun to make you wait.”
I’m so much bigger than him that it’s easy to grab him by the waist and trap him against me. I playfully tug at the waistband of his jeans, trying to pull it out far enough to see what he’s hiding.
His laughter grows, making me feel like I’m getting this thing right.
“Fun for who?” I ask as he continues to squirm in my arms.
“Me!” he chokes out, unable to catch his breath from laughing so hard as he twists his hips to break my hold.
I let him go, willing to play along if it keeps the smile on his face.
“Fine, but as soon as we get home, I’m ripping off whatever is under there…with my teeth,” I tell him as we head for my truck.
“Works for me!” he sings happily.
It doesn’t take longfor my friends to swallow Taylor up once we arrive at Phoenix’s. They’re good-naturedly giving us a hard time about being fifteen minutes late, going straight to sex jokes,which thankfully, is a comfortable space for Tay, and he gives as good as he gets.
It’s not long before I hear Shannon ask, “Does anyone know when Cassie’s getting here? I’m way outnumbered by testosterone here.”
Jake teases back. “Shan, we’re all gay, which is basically like hanging out with a bunch of women.”
“Speak for yourself!” Dylan yells, clearly outraged.
“Yeah, Jake. My balls are offended,” Phoenix chimes in.
“And you know what happens when Phoe’s balls are offended,” says Walker, coming down the stairs of the wraparound front porch to kiss Phoenix.
Leaning into me, Taylor whispers, “Thisis your friend group, and you didn’t realize you might be into guys until you kissedme?”
Yeah, I knew Taylor might find them attractive. It’s a hazard of being friends with these idiots, but I try to put him at ease.
Pulling Tay into me, I kiss the side of his head. “Yes, thisismy friend group, and they’re a bunch of asshats that I’ve never once thought of as anything other than my band of misfit brothers and best friends.”
Unfortunately, I say it loud enough to catch Phoenix’s attention.
“Except that time you did a body shot off Dylan,” Phoenix yells, laughing. “Admit it, you were definitely thinking naughty shit then.”
“Jesus, can you let that go already? It was months ago,” I grumble, uncomfortable that he’s bringing that afternoon up in front of my…boyfriend?“Youmademe do it. It’s not my fault you never learned how to properly do a body shot.”
“That wasn’t just a body shot,” Phoenix argues. “That was paying homage to every caramel-colored inch of our resident Mexican god.”
