Page 46 of Hotshot

What the actual fuck? Sloane’s brain melted, then she shook her head. “What if the agent comes back?” This was how photos got out into the world and rumours got started.

Ella tilted her head. “I’m not asking you to have sex with me. Just to lie on the bed. I thought your foot might like the break.”

She was thoughtful, too. Sloane did as Ella wanted, and lay next to her. Her heart started to race. When she turned her head left, Ella wasrightthere. With all of her charm, her beauty, her hair. There was still an awful lot of hair.

“What do you think? Strong, flexible and able to withstand pressure, like the best football defence?”

Sloane snorted. “Does everything come down to soccer with you?”

“You can equate most things in life to it. In life, you need a strong team around you to succeed. Friends, family, colleagues. You can try to do it on your own, but you won’t achieve as much. Just like football. Team sports are always more fun.” She paused. “And that’s not just because of the naked showers afterwards.”

“They’re a nice bonus, though.” Sloane immediately pictured Ella naked in the shower. Heat travelled down her body and settled between her legs.

She had to think of something to take her mind off her thoughts. What had Ella talked about before the naked shower part? She eventually landed on it.

“Do you have the team you want in your life?”

Ella took a breath and turned to face Sloane. “I have some good friends and family, but I don’t see them as much as I’d like. Luckily, my colleagues are lovely and make up for them.” She licked her lips. “There’s one in particular who has a funny accent, and just keeps following me around wherever I go.”

“She sounds like a nightmare.”

“Totally.” Ella held her gaze. “But seriously, I like having you in my life. I feel supported. Like you’re my new cheerleader. Coming to see a flat on your own is daunting. It’s good to get a second opinion.”

“I’m glad to be here, even if I do talk funny. But you have to admit, not as funny as that agent.”

Ella laughed. “What about you? Do you have the right support team in your life?”

Sloane clicked through her life snapshots. “Same as you: everyone who counts is a little distant right now. But new people have come into my life, and that’s brilliant.” Her fingers touched Ella’s by accident. Sloane flinched then glanced down but didn’t move them.

Neither did Ella.

Slowly, tentatively, she moved her fingers closer, then wrapped the tips around Ella’s, as small sparks of heat raced up her arm. Her mouth went dry, and her heart clashed like a kid with a cymbal.

All the things she’d thought about this not being the right time when they were in the living room? They’d flown out of her head now they were horizontal on a bed. It would be so easy to roll over and lay a kiss on Ella’s lips right now. Actually, not that easy when she was wearing an orthopaedic boot and literally couldn’t get her leg over. She couldn’t help but smirk at that.

“But you know what would be great to complete my team? A significant other. Someone I could share things with. Someone to stand at my side. Someone I could count on.” Ella exhaled. “I’ve been doing this life thing solo for quite some time and it’s tiring.”

Sloane’s heart turned its volume up as loud as it dared. “It’s also tiring when you have the wrong significant other.” She stroked Ella’s hand a little more. Epicentres of pleasure popped all over her body, but she kept her breathing steady.

“Maybe we should both work on finding the right person to be on our team.” Ella locked gazes with Sloane. She went to say something, but the words got stuck in her throat.

Sloane just nodded. “Maybe we should.” Should she lean across? It would be the easiest thing in the world. Was what Ella just said a code to let her in?

Fuck it, she was going to do it. On this rented bed in a Salchester suburb. It wasn’t the fanciest of locations, but it was right. Sloane pushed herself upwards on her elbow and turned to Ella. She brushed her cheek with her fingertips. A surge of glitter streaked through her.

She was just about to press her lips to Ella’s, when the front door slammed.

“Sorry! That was another client and it was very urgent. But I do apologise!” Northern vowels and consonants spanked the air.

Sloane jumped backwards and would have fallen off the bed had Ella not jumped too, and grabbed her waist.

When the agent appeared at the door, it probably looked like they’d just been making out. If only they had. Sloane closed her eyes and shook her head.

“I see you kept yourself busy, mind!”

She wasn’t going to be able to look at this agent for the rest of this viewing, was she?

CHAPTER18

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