Page 59 of Play the Game
Oh honey, I know everything.
Pam
You’llget used to it.
Also, don’t bother bringing pajamas for Christmas Eve. I already bought family pajamas.
Me
You really don’t have to buy me pajamas. It’s enough that you’re cool with me crashing Christmas at the last minute.
Pam
You’re in my family now, and that means you wear the pajamas.
Amelia
Don’t bother arguing. She even buys pajamas for Elliot’s dog.
Pam
And she looks adorable in them.
Me
Can I bring anything that isn’t pajamas?
Pam
Just bring yourself. We can’t wait to meet you.
CHAPTER EIGHTEEN
COOPER
“No.” Evan’s voice is firm as she stares me down from the passenger seat.
“Rhodes, I know what you taste like. My dick has been inside you. You’re literally pregnant with my child and you didn’t get that way by us keeping our distance. We can share a damn bed.”
“One hundred percent no. I’m not sharing a bed with you at your parents’ house. I’m sure there’s a guest room I can sleep in. A couch I can sleep on. Somewhere far away from you and all the parts of you that have been inside of me.”
Evan takes a bite of the grilled cheese I brought her for the road and lets out a little happy hum. She’s been able to eat more over the last week or so, and it’s my favorite thing. I’ve only ever cooked for myself, and it turns out I’ve been missing out on so much. The way it feels to feed her, to watch her eat something I made for her, to take care of her in this particular way, means more to me than I ever could have realized.
And also, she looks so fucking cute in leggings and athis is what a feminist looks likesweatshirt, her hair tied up in a bouncy blonde ponytail as she tries to convince me that she can’t sleepin my room. I want her to be comfortable, so if she wants the guest room, then that’s what she’ll get, but the fight is fun.
I reach behind my seat and grab a cold can of seltzer from the cooler I left on the floor back there, handing it to her. “Give me one good reason why you can’t sleep in my room.”
She pops open the seltzer and takes a long sip. “Because I’ve never met your parents. And we’ve never shared a bed before. It feels weird to share a bed with you for the first time in your parents’ house.”
I chuckle. “Do you think my parents don’t know how babies are made?” I glance pointedly down at her stomach where her sweatshirt hides the tiniest little baby bump. “I think the jig is up, Ev. Or maybe you’re afraid you won’t be able to keep your hands off me.”
She snorts, taking the last bite of her sandwich. “I’m not the one who’s been yanking you into random closets and dark, empty conference rooms at work for the last few weeks.”
I grin at her because yeah, I have done that. We’ve done a lot of hooking up in random places all over the office. But the one thing we haven’t done is had actual sex in an actual bed. I haven’t even been to her apartment again since the first time I was there, and she’s never been to the brownstone. The thing is, I’m ready for more with her. I think I may be ready for everything with her.
It has to be her choice, but I’m not above using all the tools at my disposal to tip the balance in my favor. Hence, A Very Wyles Christmas because my family is my best thing, and I think Evan is dying for some real family.
“Listen Rhodes, if you think I won’t take every single opportunity to get my hands on you, you’re out of your mind. But one of these days, I’m going to do it in a bed where I can spread you out and taste every single inch of you with absolutely nothing between us. Where I can take all the time I want to and listen to your moans and hear you beg me for more. Where I can finally sink inside you again and fuck you so well that you’ll never forgetthe feel of me.” I glance over at her, thrilled at the pretty pink flush staining her cheeks. “Of us.”
