Fuck. I should say something cute, like a fox. She was definitely sly like one, but that wasn’t what she’d call herself. No, she liked to stay inside, curled up, and not move for hours. That was how she got her best work done. Hell, it was even what she did for fun, plugging into a book for hours at a time. What fucking animal did that? A slow smile pulled at the corner of my lips. “A sloth.”
As soon as I said it, the table erupted, and everyone gave me shit for my answer. But disbelief filled Sid’s face, and I knew I’d won.
“Okay, you win, Jax.” She rolled her pretty green eyes, trying to look unaffected, but she was snuggled in closer, and her fingers tightened into my shirt.
“He what?” Alex and Mia shouted, but I ignored them.
I slid my fingers along her jaw and tilted her face to mine. “What was that?”
When she didn’t automatically say it, I thought she was going to fold, but she surprised me when she lifted, bringing our lips closer, mirroring the seconds before she kissed me, and said in a low, seductive voice that went straight to my cock. “You win, King.”
Fuck. If we were anywhere else, I would’ve had her laid out in front of me. She said it like a challenge, but she didn’t know I picked King because I wanted to be called by her last name.
Several hours passed, and we were all a little glassy-eyed, winding down from a night full of laughter. I looked at Sid, who was still leaning against me. “I really liked you being at my game tonight.”
“You were pretty spectacular out there.” There was a little wonder in her voice, and she nestled into my chest. She was spinning her red hair elastic I wore on my wrist. She’d left it at my place the other night, and I’d been wearing it ever since.
“Yeah, you think so.”
“Don’t push it.” She pinched my side, making me jump.
I didn’t want to call it a night, even though it was long past time to leave. Everyone else was already up and getting ready, but I took note that Sid was in no hurry to go either. I idly drew circles on the soft skin of her forearm before slowly sliding my hand down until my fingers grazed hers. Goose bumps crawled up her arm as I worked my fingers back gently, interlacing them with hers—
“Alright, hot stuff, let the girl go,” Mia said with a laugh. “She and I have to get back before our cab turns into a pumpkin.”
Sidney moved away from me, no longer in the trance that held us both here. She smiled when she noticed I was still looking at her, making me want to drag her back to my side. Instead, she grabbed onto Mia’s hand and turned in the exit’s direction.
“I’ll walk you out.” I scrambled from my stool and placed my hand over the base of her spine, not ready to let her go. Our gazes met a little too long, but her eyes turned serious, and she glanced away. Disappointment flooded me when their cab was already waiting for them outside. Talk about a lesson in wanting something you couldn’t have. Taking a deep breath, I let it out, but before I could say anything, Sidney lifted on her toes and kissed just next to my lips. “See you Monday, King.”
Monday had never sounded so appealing or felt so far away. Piper came up beside me as I watched them leave. She was practically bouncing with repressed excitement.
“Don’t start.” I gave her a warning glare, but it just made her smile wider.
Fuck, I was utterly and completely screwed.
SIXTEEN
SIDNEY
The clock flipped from 1:59 to 2:00 a.m. I’d gotten home hours ago, but every time I closed my eyes, I swore I could feel Jax’s lips pressed against mine. It was like he was seared permanently in my brain. He hadn’t tried to kiss me tonight, instead slowly flaming the fire growing within me. He did it with the smallest of touches, making me come undone. I felt every nerve ending come alive. I’d wanted to get as close as possible until his body melded into mine, but I had to settle for adjusting myself on his lap. The scruff of his two-day-old beard against my neck sent shivers down my spine when he pressed his nose into my hair, inhaling deeply. If we weren’t in public, I would’ve straddled him, pulling his mouth to mine. I squirmed, unable to get comfortable, the buzz of excitement keeping me awake. I groaned and flipped over, covering my head with a pillow.
Just go to sleep.
My phone vibrated on the nightstand. It was late, and fear lanced through my chest at the late hour, but I knew Mia and Anthony were already home.
Jax: Caleb is an asshole.
Oh my god, oh my god. Oh my fucking god. My neck warmed, realizing Jax was reading my favorite book. I thought he was kidding when he’d asked me about it. My cheeks flamed as I tried to breathe through my embarrassment. It was okay—there was nothing to be ashamed of. Smut was perfectly normal, empowering even. No guy was going to tell me differently. But he was not saying anything bad. He was actually freaking reading it. A thrill bubbled in my chest as I pictured him in his room, flipping through the pages.
Jax: Sid?
Shit. I’d waited too long. He was probably worried that it freaked me out or something. Well, I was freaked-out, but not because he was reading it.
Me: That’s kind of the point. Bad boys and all that.
Jax: If anyone treats you like this, I’ll fucking kill him.
I ignored the tingle that traveled down my spine. It was at this moment that every feminist molecule in my body died because I freaking loved that. Overprotective, possessive, jealous popular hockey player? Yep, sounded like my type of guy.
Me: I promise to only like book assholes.
Jax: He handcuffed her to the bed, Sid. And not in the kinky way.
My grip tightened on the phone, and I kicked the sheets off my hot skin. I honestly didn’t think he’d read it, and if he’d gotten that far, he’d passed… Jesus. I stared frozen at the screen, having no idea what to write back, and startled when another message popped up.
Jax: I was sitting next to Alex when it got to the shower scene. Could’ve fucking warned me.
Images of Jax hard on the couch, reading next to his friends, had an ache burning low in my stomach. The shower scene had her on her knees, swallowing the main male character’s cock down until tears pooled in her eyes. I wanted to feel controlled like that when I read it. Owned like that.
Me: Where’s the fun in that?
Jax: You don’t have to reply to this, but… I’ve never been so hard in my fucking life. You and your favorite book did that to me.
Heat flooded between my thighs as I reread his text. I did it? Was he thinking about me when he read it? I wanted him to tell me. Tell me exactly what he thought of the scene.
Me: Do you like it?
Jax: Yeah, I fucking do.
My lungs burned with the force of my sucked-in breath. This was new and dangerous territory. After everything that had happened between us… this needed to end, but I didn’t want it to stop. My body begged me to block out my mind. Just this once.
Me: Tell me.
Jax: Fuck.
I swore I could feel how turned on he was through his messages.
Jax: I like the way she spreads her legs apart and her panties are dark where she’s soaked through them.
I could hardly breathe reading his messages. Thank god he didn’t need a response to keep going.
Jax: How the smooth skin of her thighs feel under his palms as he brings his hand to her cunt. Would you be wet for me, Sid?