Page 32 of Into the Woods

Linc nodded and gestured to the screen. “Hell yeah. I mean, Bex is hot. Tight little body. Awesome rack. She should be getting orgasms on the regular from places other than her own fingers. Fucking shame to hide all that pretty away.” His gaze cut to me, suddenly serious. “Unless he’s a douche, in which case, I’ll be on the first flight to bury his ass.”

Maddie groaned. “Linc, can you just not?”

“What? I’m giving her compliments,” he argued. “I’d tell you the same thing, but I know—for a fact—that you get dick on the regular. And judging by the screams, it’s good dick. I’m proud of Ryan.”

“I am literally begging you to shut up,” she pleaded, turning so red it bordered on purple.

Linc straightened as a smirk pulled at his lips. “Kinda like the way you were begging Ryan last night for—”

Maddie exploded out of her chair, this time slapping Linc’s chest. “I swear to God, Linc, I’ll kill you. Better yet? I’ll tell Ryan and let him kill you. Slowly. Graphically. Starting with your dick.”

Linc dropped a hand to cover his crotch. “I was just kidding.” He backed away. “But maybe invest in a ball gag if you don’t want everyone—” He spun and ran out of the picture as Maddie lunged for him.

“Asshole,” she huffed, collapsing into the chair as she shook her head. Then she turned and looked at me. “Any chance I can come stay with you in Paris?”

I laughed. Yeah, my face was still flaming hot, but something about their exchange made my heart clench. I missed my friends and their crazy. “I mean, we have four guest rooms, and you have a standing invitation.”

She ran a hand through her long blonde tresses. “Seriously, what was I thinking, insisting that the guys move in with us? It’s like having children. And without Court here, Linc is like a puppy without a playmate.”

My insides tightened. “Where is he?” The question fell from my lips before I could help myself, and I immediately tried to take it back. “Not that I care. But it’s weird.”

Maddie gave me a knowing look. “He’s traveling for Phoenix with Rook and Bishop. I don’t know the details, and honestly? I told Ryan I’m good being on a need-to-know basis with that stuff.”

That stuff being the international company her husband and his friends had started to help people, namely those hurt by their asshole fathers. Court’s half-brothers were also heavily involved, and while I didn’t know all the details, I knew enough.

Enough to know that Court traveling with two of his former military brothers wasn’t about sweet-talking new investors.

It was dangerous. Maybe even deadly.

Suddenly a kiss didn’t seem like such a big deal.

“Bex?”

I jerked, my gaze finding Maddie.

Her face softened. “He’ll be okay. It’s mostly recon, from what I gathered. Minimal danger.”

“That’s… good.” And yet, my heart didn’t seem to get that memo.

No. No. No.

This was exactly why I’d been going out with Eric all week—because I refused to spend any more time hung up on Court Woods.

“So, about tonight,” I started, pushing onward.

Maddie’s expression said she knew I was trying to change the subject, but because she was my best friend, she let it go. “Why is tonight the night?”

“Isn’t it weird that we’ve been on five dates and haven’t kissed?”

Her lips pressed together. “I don’t think there’s a timetable on that, B.”

“Says the girl who got married to her husband after knowing him for a few weeks,” I pointed out.

She lifted a finger. “One, we were engaged before we ever met. Two, we were being forced into it because of our psycho fathers. Three… I mean, have you seen my husband? He’s gorgeous. Of course I locked his ass down.”

I laughed, my head falling back. “Right.”

Still smiling, she shook her head. “Seriously, Bex, don’t force this because… Just because.”

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