Page 61 of Home Tears

Jonah grinned. “How’s that?”

“I’m sleeping with you. My ex-fiancé is in town. My childhood boyfriend is jealous, and he’s engaged to my sister.”

Jonah snorted. “That’s not a mess. That just sounds like a small-town soap fest. It’s something Aiden would love to hear. You’d make her day if she got ahold of your drama. She’d sit for hours and help you fix everything, and in the end, you and I would be married in my sister’s fantasy.”

“I’ve never done the friendship thing.”

“What do you mean?”

“Isn’t that what someone’s supposed to share with their friends? All their problems?”

“I guess.” Jonah shrugged. “I talk to Trenton sometimes about issues, but they’re usually about work. Hawk’s not exactly the ‘emotional-sharing’ type. He likes sex. He thinks that’s his entire reason for being on this Earth.”

“He sounds stellar.”

“Hawk has good qualities. If I ever need anything, he’ll drop everything to help.”

“Even a threesome?”

Jonah barked a laugh. “Aiden called me tonight. She wanted me to remind you that they have their Friday Night Poker Showdown this week. I’m supposed to drive you. I think Aiden wants you to get drunk.”

“That might be a possibility.”

“Oh, and to warn you, Jake was invited. That means Julia will be there. I guess it’ll be pretty big because some of her new friends were invited, too. Aiden doesn’t even know who all is coming, but she’s planning for thirty.”

“How many play poker?”

“Eight tables are set up. Everyone watches until the winning table faces-off against each other. It takes all night, so plan on sleeping it off the next day. Most people just go to drink, laugh, and lose some money.” Jonah ran a hand over his face, yawning. “It’s pretty fun. Aiden and Kate wore these ridiculous hats last year. They pretended they were the next generation of Red Hats. They wore red and purple all night. Even their poker tables had to have a red or purple tablecloth.”

Dani could imagine it.

Jonah tugged at the end of the blanket. “Not to change the subject, but to change the subject.” He leaned closer, his eyes darkening. His voice dropped low. “Are you naked under there?”

Her heart spiked, and she felt a coy smile tug at her lips. “Maybe.”

Jonah stood and moved to her. Sliding his hands underneath the blanket, he made an approving sound as he felt silky skin underneath his fingertips. He lifted her legs to wrap around him, and he stood between them. Her body grew warm. Her blood started to buzz, and she felt a tingle spreading right where his hands were moving. They went under her thighs, and he pulled her tight against him.

He bent, kissing the corner of her mouth.

Dani was beginning to ache for him, and she couldn’t help but ask out loud, “How do we fit?” She wasn’t talking about their bodies. She knew exactly how they fit, like perfection.

“We just do.” Jonah pressed another kiss, hard, to her mouth.

She slid her hands down his back, delighted in the shiver he couldn’t suppress. “Is that it? We just do this without rules?”

“No.” Jonah bent and met her lips again. He murmured against them, “When something happens and we need to clarify rules, we do it then. Until then, I’m all for just having fun.” He hoisted her up in his arms, her legs wrapped more firmly around his waist. He asked, “How about you?”

“I’m thinking I like how we fit.”

Jonah walked them inside and to the bedroom. He laid her down, pulled the sheet free, and leaned just above her with one knee braced on the bed. His other leg was still on the floor. He held his weight, resting on a hand next to her shoulder so he was half over her, half holding her captive. Her heart was picking up speed. She wasn’t so sure about the ‘captive’ part. Biting down on her lip, she fought against pulling him on top of her. Her eyes darted to his.

“I like how we fit, too.” He traced her lips with his thumb, then cupped the side of her cheek. He lowered himself down at an aching pace until his lips softly found hers.

Dani slid her hand down his chest, savoring the hard contours of him. He was hard in all the right spots. She felt his strength, especially how he was still holding himself above her. Smoothing her hands down to his waist, then around and up, she felt his back muscles rippling. They were shivering from her touch, and she wrapped one leg around his thigh. The ache was there and growing deeper each moment he held himself away from her. She started to pull him down with her leg.

Now.

This.

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