“As if. You’re a sap.”
“Nope.” He directs the elevator to the penthouse as his eyes glide over me, heating on the way. “Then you’d yell at me for making you carry it, and I’d tell you to get over it and stop acting like a princess.” He steps into me, lips sweeping my jaw, pausing at my ear as he slips a hand below my top. “Just to push your buttons a little further, get you all riled up.” He grabs my hand and tows me out of the elevator, down the hall, and inside his condo. “Couch or bedroom?”
“Couch,” I answer breathlessly as he pulls his shirt over his head.
He yanks my leggings down and I fumble out of them, gripping his forearms while he walks me backward, wearing that self-righteous smirk I love/hate.
Garrett spins me around and shoves me over the arm of the couch, his chest against my bare back when he tugs my shirt off. “And when you were good and angry, I’d bend you over the couch, just like this.” Pushing my panties aside, he swipes two fingers along my slit. I’m embarrassingly drenched from a few simple words, and God, I fucking want him. “And I’d fuck you right…here.”
I shoot forward with a gasp, clawing at the leather as his fingers pierce my entrance, and Garrett spends the next hour showing me exactly what I’m missing with my no-sex rule, and how lucky his future girlfriend is going to be when she’s on the receiving end of his body, his attention.
Garrett steps out of the bathroom, shaking his shaggy hair out in a towel while I pull my panties on. “You hungry?”
“I should go, no?” I’m starving, but I’ll order in when I get home. I don’t want to overstay my welcome now that the naked fun is done.
“Nah. Why? There’s a game on, and we’re playing the home team this week.” He tosses a hoodie and a pair of sweatpants at me. “Let’s order pizza and watch.” He strolls from the bedroom, where we wound up somewhere between the third Big O and the shower, right out to the living room, not sticking around to let me overthink the simple invite.
So I’ll overthink something else, like his clothes in my hands. I should put on my own. But he offered, didn’t he? So it’s not weird, right?
His sweats swallow me whole, engulfing me in warmth. They smell like him, this homey, comforting scent, like fresh laundry and cedarwood. It’s nice, and I make my way down the hall, pulling the strings at my waist tight.
Garrett’s still shirtless, sweatpants hanging low on his hips, showing off those dips right above his perfect hockey butt as he roots through his pantry. “Pizza will be here in forty,” he mumbles around a mouthful of food as he turns toward me. “But I couldn’t wait.” He holds up a blue box and swallows. “Want one?”
“What the hell are those?”
His expression is a perfect mix of confusion and disgust. “Pop-Tarts?”
“No, I know they’re Pop-Tarts, but…” I take the box from him. “Cinnamon Sugar Pretzel? I’ve never seen these ones before.” I yank another package from his other hand. “And Dunkaroos? I haven’t had these since I was a kid! I didn’t think they even made these in Canada anymore.”
“They don’t. Bev gets them for me.”
“Bev?”
“Yeah, Beverly; Adam’s mom. She lives in Denver. She’s my snack dealer.”
“You get your friend’s mom to send you snacks from the States?”
“Fuck yeah, I do! They got the best shit.” He gestures at his pantry. “Check out my stash.”
I root through the bags and boxes of foreign cereals, special edition cookies, candy I’ve never heard of, stopping when I get to a yellow bag. “Flamin’ Hot Funyuns…” I wrinkle my nose. “These sound horrendous.”
Garrett tosses his head back, moaning. “They’re fucking amazing.” When I gag, he grins. “Don’t knock ’em ’til you try ’em.
I nab a package each of Pop-Tarts and Dunkaroos, and Garrett follows me to the couch. “New rule: no Funyuns before we make out.”
“Fine, but they’re free game after I’ve rocked your world, sunshine.”
He stretches out on the couch, pulling me down between his legs as he turns on the hockey game. I peel back the wrapper on my Dunkaroos, and Garrett shoves his fingers inside, stealing a cookie and dunking it in my frosting.
“Oh hey. Can you tickle my back?” I ask.
“Tickle your back?”
“Please.” I shove the snacks into his hands, place a pillow on his chest, and flop onto my belly. Shifting his hoodie up my back, I guide his free hand there. “It feels nice and helps me relax before bed. My mom used to do it when I was younger.”
Garrett places a Pop-Tart between his teeth, pushes a frosting-covered mini-cookie between my lips, and winds his legs around mine before trailing the tips of his fingers up and down my spine, around my shoulder blades. “Yeah?”
“Yeah.” I sigh, nestling my cheek into the pillow as I wrap my arms around him.
“Look at us,” he boasts. “Killing the whole friends-with-benefits thing. Knew we would.”
I hold my fist up, and he bumps his against mine.
“Nailed it!”
CHAPTER 14
HI, MOM. I RUINED THE CARPET
GARRETT
I’m a goddamn genius.
Friends with benefits with the hottest girl I know, no strings attached? Come on. I’m reaping all the benefits of an exciting, new relationship without all the boring crap that comes with a long-term one when the novelty wears off and things start to get mundane.
Besides, the mundane stuff is kinda fun with Jennie. Like watching TV, eating pizza, and tickling her back. I didn’t even mind when she fell asleep in my lap. And when she woke up an hour later, sucked my cock like a queen, then told me it was time for her to go, I didn’t mind then either. I walked her to her door, gave her a kiss, and got to sprawl out in my own bed all alone.
You know what you can’t do when you’re in a relationship? Sleep diagonally.
Sure, the no-sex rule was a little disconcerting at first, but exploring all the adventurous ways we can get each other there is fun as fuck.
And best of all? I don’t feel so lonely anymore when my buds immediately pull their phones out to text their wives postgame. Even Adam has a text from Olivia, who’s currently pup-sitting Bear for him while we’re away. He proudly flashes us the attached photo of Bear and Dublin sprawled out together in front of the fireplace.
Hiding my smile, I open my own waiting message.
Sunshine: Tough loss, big guy. No congratulatory BJ for you.
Me: Consolation BJ? Lieutenant Johnson is sad and only u can cheer him up sad emoji
Sunshine: Not sure it’s in the cards for you.
Me: I checked, and it is. Gonna fuck ur mouth when I get home later this week, then I’m gonna eat dessert.
Those three little dots pop up before disappearing, reappearing, then disappearing again. I love watching this side of Jennie bloom. She’s bold as hell but a little hesitant in the bedroom. The more time we spend together, the more confidence comes roaring out. She’s up for anything, eager and willing to learn. Also? Watching her walls slowly drop is really cool.
She’s still working on the sexting though. There’s something about seeing the words that leaves her a bit speechless.