Page 43 of The Boys Next Door

“Just came to say congrats. With a little more privacy. You were amazing tonight.”

“Thanks.” Blushing, she shook her head, self-conscious now as Brendan sat down on her bed. The mattress sank under his weight. Diana noticed a brown paper bag in his hand. Her skin began to tingle, aware of his long body close to hers. He put his hand on her knee, and the tingles turned into prickles.

“Good book?”

Diana glanced down at the open book still in her hand. “I couldn’t really tell you. I’m just too excited to sleep,” she confessed.

“Yeah?”

Brendan was rubbing her knee gently through the covers. Heat poured outward from his touch.

“You know.” Her voice caught. “It’s been such a busy night. A lot of people and attention and now— I guess I don’t know what to do with myself.”

Brendan squeezed her knee. “I heard I was here this morning,” he said softly. “Figured I should make it true.”

So Ian had given him the rundown. Diana wondered just how much he’d shared. Of course, he’d told her at the beginning that he and his brother didn’t have any secrets from each other. She shook her head. “My mom wanted you to stay for breakfast. She was probably hoping to talk your ear off.”

“Any time.” Brendan leaned in, the paper bag crackling, and tipped up her chin. Startled, she opened her lips to his. He’d caught her off-guard, but his warm mouth felt so good that she couldn’t think any further.

“Brendan, I— oh.” She broke off when his tongue slipped into her mouth. She could taste the faint overlay of beer on his breath. Yes, he’d been out. And what about Ian?

Deftly, he unhooked her glasses and set them on her desk without breaking the kiss. One large hand massaged its way over her bare shoulders. Of their own accord, her hands wandered to his hair.

“You taste good, Di,” he murmured.

“So do you.” Flustered, she pulled back and glanced down at the bed. The covers were sliding down her breasts, but there wasn’t much point in pulling them back up in front of Brendan. “What's in the bag?”

“Your graduation present. From both of us.”

“You shouldn’t have.” Now she was really feeling hot. “I thought you guys were going to take me out.”

“That’s the second part.” He grinned at her. “This is the first part.” Her skin popped into goosebumps from the cool night air and the suggestion behind his smile. When his eyes traveled down her body appreciatively, she realized that the covers were slipping further down over the swells of her round globes. She stared at the brown paper bag in his hand, looking so innocent and making her so nervous about what might be inside. “Now close your eyes and open your hand.”

Good thing this was Brendan, because she’d never risk doing that with Ian. Who wasn’t here.

Slowly, she closed her eyes. She opened her hand.

Something smooth and narrow pressed into her palm. Her fingers closed over a firm, slender shape: bulging in the middle, tapered at one end, flared at the other.

“Whatisthis?” Her eyes popped open.

Brendan started to laugh. “Something you’ll like.” He began rubbing her leg again, sending a shiver through her.

Diana turned the shiny pink silicone over in her hand, perplexed. She recognized the material, at least. “A weird, less-satisfying dildo?”

“Try again. I don’t think it’ll be less satisfying.” A teasing smile played over his face. And Diana couldn’t believe she’d gotten to the point with Brendan where she could actually talk about these things with him.

She peered at the toy again — it had to be some kind of toy — feeling very naive. It didn’t look completely unfamiliar. Yes…she had seen a shape like this when she bought her dildo online, scrolling through the website with her fantasies spiraling out of control — in the dead of night, of course, while procrastinating on a paper. Suddenly, she knew.

“Oh my God. Brendan—“

They’d bought her a butt plug. Why did they— How could they— She didn’t know where to look, so she forced herself to stare right at Brendan’s amused hazel eyes, embarrassment and excitement running down her body. “I don’t believe you guys. Is this a joke?”

“Completely serious, Di. Ian told me how much you liked having your ass played with.”

“That was private,” Diana blurted, her cheeks even warmer.

“It was?” Brendan’s hand paused on her thigh, his eyebrows raised. He didn't look bothered; just surprised.

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