“Crap,” she muttered, getting down on her hands and knees to pick them up.
I automatically did the same, and I started helping her collect them. Some rolled around the counter, and before I knew it that was where we both were—on our hands and knees behind the counter—and she laughed as we both reached for the same tomato and end up squashing it between our hands. Tomato juice was everywhere; oozing down our hands and between our fingers, and we were both laughing when we heard the kitchen door slam open.
“Laney?” Gauge’s rough voice called for her, and she looked at me with worry in her eyes. She placed a finger against my lips and it took everything I had not to suck that finger into my mouth. She stood up, the kitchen counter hiding me from view.
“I’m here,” she said, lifting the squashed tomato up. “Dropped one,” she laughed.
“Fuck me, jailbait,” Skinny called out with a wolf whistle. Red rage almost blinded me as I thought of him looking at her like that, and Laney must have sensed it too because she pushed her leg up against my side, practically tucking me against her, and her smooth skin and the scent of whatever lotion she rubbed down those beautiful legs wafting over me was the only thing the stopped me from standing up and ripping Skinny’s throat out.
“That’s my fuckin’ kid, brother!” Gauge growled.
“I know that. If she weren’t, I’d have her over the counter already!” Skinny laughed back. “But mmmm, you’re going to have to watch your back with this one, Gauge. She’s got trouble written all over that body of hers.”
“Get the fuck outta here before I shoot you in the motherfucking head,” Gauge snapped back, and moments later I hear the door swing open and closed again, the tail end of Skinny’s laughter growing quieter.
“Where’s Silvie?” Gauge asked, his footsteps coming closer.
“I don’t know, she left,” Laney huffed out.
I looked up at Laney, watching as she reached for the knife again and started chopping the remaining tomatoes. Her leg was right by my face, and I swallowed and reached out my hand until it was touching her calf, the skin so smooth that I almost groaned loudly and gave myself away. I saw the small smile on Laney’s face as I slid my hand over her bare skin, though she tried to act like I wasn’t there.
Fuck knows why I was even hiding, it’s not like we were doing anything wrong, at least not before. Now I was thinking the dirtiest thoughts that any man could have and ready to blow my load in my boxers.
“I won’t be home until late tonight, so I’ll get a prospect to drive you home.”
“I can stay here until you’re ready to leave.”
“Fuck that, no kids are allowed!”
“I’m not a fucking kid!” Laney snapped.
“Yeah, you are. And watch your mouth!”
“You’re an asshole!”
Gauge chuckled. “Yeah, an asshole that don’t want no kid still up when I bring some bitch home later. So be a good girl and be in bed.”
“You’re disgusting.”
Gauge was eating something because I couldn’t make out his next words—or maybe I couldn’t hear them because the blood was rushing too loudly in my ears as I stroked my hand higher, reaching to the back of her knee and watching her try her damndest not to grin again.
Another tomato rolled off the counter, almost hitting me on the head before it landed on the floor, and she put down her knife.
“Shit,” she murmured.
“Language,” Gauge replied.
“Fuck off,” she snapped back before casually leaning down to get the tomato. Her eyes met mine and she leaned in with a smile, and then she surprised me by placing a quick kiss on my lips, stealing my breath away before she stood back up.
I thought I was going to pass out from my desire for that woman, and I had to let go of her leg before I really did cum in my pants. The door swung open again and I heard Silvie come back into the kitchen.
“Where’ve you been?” Gauge asked.
“Potato salad,” Silvie said, putting her groceries and keys down on the counter and going around to stand by Laney. She glanced down, her eyes widening when she saw me on my hands and knees by Laney’s legs. “I got more beer—it’s in my car. Can you help me grab it, Gauge?” she asked, heading back around the other side of the counter.
“Sure thing,” he replied, and then the door swung open and closed as they headed out of the kitchen.
Laney looked down at me and I finally stood up, my body invading her space.
