Page 57 of Thoroughly Pucked

My cheeks flame. I glance behind me even though no one is watching. Even though no one knows. But I reply with the truth.

Aubrey: Yes, they’re great to hang out with.

When my honeymoon companions return a little later in their workout clothes, sweaty and muscly and all kinds of manly, I’m thinking about the other kind of hanging out.

Which means we need to set some rules, not just break them.

26

THERE WILL BE FOREPLAY

Dev

Why food?

Seriously, like why is food even necessary?

We’re heading to the upscale Italian restaurant by the sea, my stomach growling, but all I want is to make a meal of Aubrey.

It’s not the way she looks in that little skirt as she walks down the street that’s making me ravenous. Or those sheer black thigh-highs that make me just want to peek under that fucking skirt. Does she have on garters too? My dick is offering up hopes and prayers that she does.

But more than that, it’s how sheisthat’s been winding me up all afternoon. The way she lifted her chin in the woods and demandedkiss melives rent-free in my head and will for days. Hell, for weeks. Maybeeven years. Nothing twists me up faster than a woman who knows her mind.

Last night, I forced myself to stay in the fun zone so we wouldn’t push her. But now that she’s made the first move, hell if I can hold back.

Instead, I’m holding the door open for Aubrey, letting her lead the way into the restaurant. As much as I want to bring her to bed and spread her out on the covers, I fucking love the seduction. I love taking a woman out, seeing her enjoy a meal, flirting with her at the table.

Making her feel good in every way.

It’s like foreplay was made for me. Just like I’m certain I was meant to be a goalie, I’m certain, too, I was meant to work up a woman all night long. I’m not even sad there’s no hockey on this honeymoon since there will be this—the celebration of this woman.

Together, Ledger and I hold out the chair for her at the table. The twin gesture isn’t lost on her. She’s grinning but seems to be trying to rein it in at the same time. She sits. “Thank you. You two make quite a…team.”

There’s a wink and a nod in her tone that tells me she’s enjoying this shift too.

“Just glad you like the partnership,” Ledger says, but then the server appears and does a quick double take before he rearranges his features and asks for drinks.

We order wine and he leaves us with menus. I file away that the servermayberecognized us but also said nothing about it. Once we get through the business ofordering and trying the pinot noir he brings, Aubrey looks to Ledger, then me, then back. That’s a little new. This shy side of her. She dips her face, and ah hell.

I only want her to feel good. I slide a hand under the tablecloth, touching her knee. The server can’t see that. But Aubrey sure must feel it since her breath catches. I roam my fingers along the silky, sheer fabric. “I like these,” I say.

“Yeah?” She sounds breathy.

I nod toward my friend across the table. Ledger’s dark gaze is fixed on her as well.

“He does too,” I say.

“Do you speak for him?” Aubrey counters.

“No. I just know they drive him wild,” I say with a knowing shrug.

She’s quiet for a beat, strands of auburn hair framing her face. “I noticed he did. In the parking lot the other day. Outside the convenience store.”

“When I was cutting your skirt,” Ledger confirms, not even bothering to hide it.

“You seemed a little distracted,” she says to him.

“I was way more than distracted,” he admits, rolling up the cuffs of his black button-down. She watches him reveal a little forearm. “Just like Dev at the high striker game.”

---