“Sorry, I don’t mean to sound ungrateful. Your help would be great, thank you.” I plucked a few pieces of popcorn off my lap and tossed them into my mouth. “I want to be ready for anything, anyone, just in case.”
That stony expression came back in full force.
“Anyone, or someone in particular?” I shrank into the couch, sinking deeper into the cushions as he stepped around thesmall coffee table, cutting the distance between us. “That isn’t a rhetorical question, Juno.”
I blinked up at him, heart racing at the way he loomed over me. What would it feel like to have him reach down, scoop me off the couch like I weighed nothing, and toss me over his shoulder? To have his strong, protective arms wrapped around me in a way that made me feel so utterly safe, I could let my guard down for a few minutes, knowing nothing could get to me?
“Juno?”
Soft brown curls shifted along my shoulders with the sharp headshake it took to clear those crazy thoughts.
“Yeah, yeah, reactive training would be great,” I muttered, picking up the discarded controller. “Thanks, West. You’re a good friend.”
His responding annoyed huff as he fell into the armchair by the couch had me eyeing him in confusion. With a shrug, I fixed my attention on the screen, where the other player’s character was celebrating his victory by dancing over my dead body.
Classy.
“I can’t even win virtually,” I muttered under my breath, tossing the controller back onto the couch.
“What was that?” West asked, leaning forward as if actually waiting for my answer.
“Nothing. So, did you guys get everything worked out with Brandon in your meeting?” Out of the corner of my eye, I caught him stiffening as if he was uncomfortable with my question. “What happened? Wait, did Langston put up a fight about helping me with the information for the scheduling software?” An annoyed groan vibrated past my lips as I shoved off the couch. “He is such a raging asshole, you know that? I know you guys are”—I waved a hand in the air while I paced from one side of the room to the other—“whatever you are and?—”
“You can ask me for details, sweet cheeks. I’ll gladly tell you all about our relationship and all it entails.”
My toe caught on the edge of the rug, sending me stumbling forward. Or at least I blamed the rug and not me being so caught off guard by the dirty visions his sultry voice and words created that I forgot how to walk. My palm slapped against the wall, keeping me upright before I fell face-first to the floor.
West’s deep chuckle filled the small living room. I glared at the sexy bastard, but he just smirked in return and leaned back in the chair like he was enjoying teasing me.
“That’s not what I was getting at,” I rasped, throat dry as those visions of them together continued to play out in my mind.
“Wasn’t it?” he asked, arching a dark brow.
“Fishing,” I blurted, shoving off the wall to stand up on my own.
That cocky smirk fell, taking his dimples with it. “What?”
“That’s what I need from Langston. My idea is that when clients book online, they’ll also have to choose from a drop-down box on their experience level. That would help Langston when he’s preparing for the group, or I assumed it would.”
West rubbed at his jaw, studying me. “It would. I can’t tell you how many times he’s come home ranting about not having the right gear for the experience level of the person he took out. That’s good thinking, Juno—ifthe person booking self-selects their experience level correctly, of course.”
I nodded and tucked a piece of dark hair behind my ear. “That’s why I need Langston’s help, so no one has to guess where they land on a 1-10 scale. The drop-down will be specific, and I can make it very clear why this information needs to be accurate to ensure a great outing for everyone.”
Excitement about the program thrummed through me. Hurrying over to my laptop, I swiped it off the couch and perched on the arm of the chair West occupied. The laptopwobbled on my knee when I opened the screen. Holding it with one hand and typing with the other, I didn’t expect West’s move until his arm curled around my waist and tugged.
A loud, surprised squeak escaped my lips as I toppled onto his lap. Eyes wide, I twisted around and blinked at the grinning man.
“This seemed easier for you,” he said. The arm around my waist tightened when I shifted to get up. “You wanted to show me the changes, right?”
I looked at my laptop, my gaze slowly sliding lower to where my ass sat on his thighs. Heart hammering, breaths suddenly shallow, simmering heat pumped through my veins, making sweat slick along the back of my neck. I wet my lips and tried to swallow to relieve my desert-dry mouth. I took a deep breath to calm my crazy hormones and erratic pulse, then quickly realized that was a huge mistake when West’s masculine scent filled my lungs, ramping up the steady throb between my thighs.
With a single finger, he shifted my hair to one side in a gentle caress and pitched forward, resting his chin on my shoulder.
“Everything okay?” His words whispered along my neck, causing goose bumps to rise in their wake.
Not trusting my voice, I nodded, jerking my focus back to the laptop. I gazed at the screen, working to get my rapid breathing under control.
This was insane. I had never reacted to a man like this, in such a physical, demanding way. It had to be more than me simply needing an orgasm or two; I felt the vibrating energy between us deep in my very being rather than just in my needy core.
