Page 86 of Up In Flames
“Don’t you need that hand for riding?” he asks the rodeo champion.
“Eh, I’ve got two,” Walker says playfully with a shrug, sending a wink at me.
“I’m not above cutting thembothoff, DeVille.”
“Oooh,threats,” Walker whispers just to me. “He must really be in to you.”
Walker is only two years older than me, and Phoenix is only two years older than him. Perhaps because of their ages, Knox keeps a close eye on our interactions, not understanding that yes, they’re hot, butsonot my type.
Everyone slowly makes their way back to the fire. It’s still hot in the evenings, but the fire keeps the bugs away, making it prime real estate as the sun goes down.
Knox takes the chair we started in and wastes no time pulling me back down onto his lap, nuzzling his face into the crook of my neck.
“Do you know how hard it is to be around you and not touch you?” he asks against my skin.
I laugh, turning to face him. “No, and neither do you.”
He bites the flesh where his face was just buried, causing me to jump. “That cornhole game lasted for an hour,” he pouts, making me laugh again.
“That entire best-of-five series took ten minutes at the most,” I scoff.
Knox tightens his arms around me. “Let’s go inside. I want to see what’s under here.” He discreetly brings his hands to the button on my jeans. “It’s all I’ve been able to think about since we left the house.”
“Taylor, help me carry this in, will you?” Phoenix asks as he stands, breaking through mine and Knox’s moment.
Knox’s forearm immediately snakes across my waist, holding me to him.
“No fucking way. Taylor’s a guest. Ask Walker,” Knox says to Phoenix.
“Damn.” Phoenix chuckles. “Down, Knox. I just want help carrying the leftovers inside.”
“I’ll help you then. Let Taylor relax.”
I turn to put my hand on Knox’s chest. “I’m not a child, remember? Let me help. I want to contributesomethingsince he cooked me dinner.”
Knox eyes his best friend. “If he’s not back in my lap in five minutes, I’m coming to find him.”
Hudson laughs across the fire. “Shit, you sound like Jake.”
“Yeah, well, Jake’s reactions make more sense to me these days,” Knox replies.
I’m gathering that Jake must be possessive as hell, too. And honestly, he should be. I’ve stolen more than one glance at his husband tonight. The guy is total fire.
I lean forward and kiss Knox. I mean for it to be a quick peck, but I get lost in the man until Phoenix’s voice rings outrightnext to our faces.
“Any day now,” he says with his cheek damn near pressed against Knox’s.
Knox and I pull apart. I’m laughing my ass off, and Knox throws a hand back to smack Phoenix’s head.
“I will end you,” Knox threatens.
Although he’s been relaxed most of the night, I notice his tone is slowly becoming more somber, and I can’t help but wonder if that has something to do with my leaving on Monday.
Climbing off Knox’s lap, I take the casserole dish Phoenix hands me and begin making my way up the porch steps when I feel Phoenix’s hand land on my lower back, acting as a guide. Just like last time, Knox’s voice rings out in the night air.
“Goddamnit, Phoenix. You and your fiancé need to learn to keep your hands to yourselves.”
The man behind me chuckles and says in a low voice only I can hear, “Oh, having you around is going to besofun.”
