Page 16 of Year-End Bonus
"Why did you quit?" Paul asks, and I can't be the only one who hears the hurt in his voice.
Skylar swallows a forkful of pasta. "I wanted to try something new, I guess." She looks at each of us with a sad look in her eyes that makes me want to pull her into my arms.
"So, how long have you guys known each other?" Skylar asks, changing the topic, but the smile that brightens her face when we all laugh together makes me want to let it go. For now.
Surprisingly, Paul is the first to respond. "My parents sent me off to boarding school right before starting eighth grade. These guys were my roommates."
"Ooh, like Hogwarts?" Skylar grins at us.
"Without the magic, so no, nothing like Hogwarts," Mark says.
Skylar shakes her head in disappointment.
"Although I'd be the Ron Weasley of the group,” I offer. “These guys would come to my house so my mom could make us a decent dinner."
"Hunter's mom taught me to cook," Paul offers.
Mark's eyes flick to me like a silent thumbs-up signal.
"Why didn't you learn?" Skylar asks, turning to me.
I lift my shoulders in a shrug.
"She tried to teach him," Mark offers. "But he made us a cake using salt instead of sugar, and that was the last time Mrs. Warner let him into her kitchen."
I nod. "Yep."
Skylar laughs, making a face as she pictures the salty cake. "Were the professors all cool? Who was your favorite teacher? I mean, a Snape-like guy is pretty hot, but I'm guessing you liked a Professor Trelawney-type." She wiggles her eyebrows at Paul.
“I prefer McGonagall myself,” Paul jokes, then clears his throat and gets up to put away the food.
Mark and I raise our eyebrows at each other. It's rare to get Paul joking like this. Man, Skylar has done a number on us.
Oblivious to how her presence has entirely changed our dynamic for the better, she slides off her stool and brings herplate to the sink. She rinses it off and pops open the dishwasher—something Paul has asked in vain for Mark and me to do when we stay over.
"Don't worry, I've got it," Paul says. Their fingers brush as he takes the plate from her. Skylar's eyes widen in surprise, and she smiles shyly before walking back around to the other side of the counter.
Paul freezes for a moment longer, then bends to put the dish into the dishwasher. Mark and I bring our plates to the sink and follow Skylar's lead, handing them to Paul, who puts them into the rack neatly. When he closes the dishwasher, we all turn to stare at Skylar, who has removed her dress and stands completely naked in the middle of the kitchen.
"All right, boys. Somebody better replace this butt plug with a dick right now, or I'm out of here."
Chapter eight
Mark
"Is this your room?" Skylar asks Paul, looking around as we guide her into a large bedroom. It's painted deep green with dark wood.
"No, it's a guest room." Paul walks to the chair in the corner and sits down.
"The bed looks comfortable." Skylar nods toward it, trying to get him to join in.
"Paul prefers to watch tonight," Hunter tells her as he pulls her into his arms, and none of us miss the flicker of disappointment that flashes across Skylar's face.
I glare over at Paul, who chooses to ignore me.
"Okay," Skylar says brightly, running her hands up Hunter's chest.
I move behind her, sandwiching her between us as I kiss her neck. We didn't let her put her bra back on downstairs in the office, so her hard nipples have been teasing me through her dress for the last hour.
