The leather groaned as I sat forward, legs spread and forearms resting on top of my thighs. Things had escalated between last night and today. He needed to get on board now.
“Please,” I whispered, tone slightly begging but forceful too. “Please tell me you’re done questioning her, that after the last twenty-four hours, you see she’s not a danger to us.”
Jerking his gaze away, he sealed his lips shut, toeing the line of shutting me out.
“Fine, not a danger to us in the way you were protecting us from. And, Lang, she’s not a danger to you or me in any other way either.” His gaze cut to Juno, features softening just a fraction. “I want this to happen.” I pointed at her, then him before tapping my sternum. “You feel it. I know you do, or you wouldn’t be holding on to her like you’re afraid someone might take her from you.”
“So?” The single word rasped past his lips, barely a sound, but I heard it loud and clear.
I huffed in a mix of annoyance and disbelief. “So, you want her, but you’re not sure how to take that next step. Last night was the most fun we’ve had on a date in months, maybe ever, and I’m not just talking about what happened in the storage closet. You haven’t smiled that much in years, Langston.Years.”
The corners of his lips turned down. After a few moments of silence, they parted to respond when the most adorable squeaking noise pierced the silence, stopping him.
Our focus turned to Juno as she shifted against Langston, slowly waking up. Those long dark lashes fanned up and down, blinking several times as her beautiful eyes took in her surroundings, stilling when they focused on me, then widened when she tipped her face upward at Langston.
“Um, what’s going on?” she murmured, pushing off his chest, clearly confused. “What happened, and why am I on Langston’s lap?”
When she attempted to slide off his thighs, Langston tightened his hold around her waist, keeping her in place. Mouth hanging open, Juno gaped at his smug expression like he’d grown two heads.
I choked back a stifled laugh at the hilarious scene playing out in front of me. “Juno, you fell asleep on the way here, and the big guy currently holding you hostage on his lap carried you inside and has since refused to put you down.”
“It would’ve woken her up, asshole,” he growled.
“And how about now? I mean, sheisawake, so why not let her go?” I asked, gesturing to Juno, whose wide-eyed gaze volleyed between us.
“Shut the fuck up.” Turning his attention to Juno, his eyes narrowed. “Do you make it a habit of falling asleep in cars with strangers?”
“I, um….” She shot me a pleading look for help.
Leaning back with an exasperated sigh, I pointed at my friend. “Langston, stop being an asshole. We’re moving past that phase, remember?” I emphasized the last word, making him huff in disagreement. “We are not strangers, especially after last night.” I waggled both brows suggestively. Juno’s cheeks reddened before she twisted to bury her face between Langston’s shoulder and jaw, hiding her embarrassment. “You should take it as a compliment that she felt safe enough with us to fall asleep instead of chastising her for not being on high alert.”
The color bled from his lips with how hard he pressed them together as he considered my words. At his slow nod, the best I would get to him agreeing with me, I tossed both hands up in the air in victory.
Fucking hell. Making this work between the three of us just might kill me.
“You’re not very comfortable.” Juno pushed off Langston’s chest and poked at his thick bicep. “Not soft at all.”
“Sorry?” I snorted a laugh at his confusion. “Why are you so tired?”
My chest tightened uncomfortably at the clear worry in Langston’s tone.So he does care.
“Um….” Juno chewed on her lower lip until he pressed the tip of his thumb against it and tugged, releasing it from her teeth. “Well, I don’t know. I’ve never actually done that before. I’mnormally not that….” Her disheveled hair shifted with the tilt of her head as she considered her words. “Comfortable.”
“Well, then I am definitely taking you napping with us as a compliment.” I smirked, and shot her a wink, but it was short-lived knowing the heavy conversation ahead. “Are you ready to talk about who that was in town, the two coming to see you?”
Her responding groan echoed around the room as she dropped her head back to stare at the ceiling. “No, not really. But I guess we need to so you understand why I freaked out. But first things first, I have to pee, which means I need you to release me before I wet my pants.”
Hands around her waist, Langston cautiously lifted her and stood, not releasing his hold until he was positive she wouldn’t crumple like she had in the alley. At her first retreating step, he countered with a step of his own, hands extended, ready to steady her if needed. Brows pulled in tight, Juno shook her head in utter confusion and took another step back, Langston again matching it.
“Seriously? I’m okay. It’s not like I suffered a head injury or anything. I can make it to the bathroom.” She gave Langston a pointed look. “By myself,” she added. She whirled around and took one step only to pause and look over her shoulder at me. “Um, where is the bathroom?”
“I thought you could make it by yourself,” Langston said in a playful tone I rarely heard. “Come on, I’ll show you.” When her lips parted, he held up both hands in surrender. “And will leave you there, alone.”
Stepping to her side, he pressed a large palm to her lower back to guide her toward his bedroom and the adjoining bathroom. A few seconds later, he emerged, leaning a shoulder against the doorframe of his room. “We have a serious problem.”
“What the hell happened in the five seconds it took you to show her to the bathroom?” I exclaimed. “Giving directions works too, by the way. She didn’t need an escort.”
He just shrugged as if what he did was normal and not oddly possessive. “The problem is that I need to know who that Eric asshole is to her, but if I find out he hurt her….” His jaw worked back and forth while his chest heaved with deep breaths. Once he had his anger controlled, he continued. “How much bail money do you have saved up?”
