Page 138 of Bend

“And publicly?”

I lean back enough to look at him.

“What about it?”

“You know what I mean.”

I do.

“If you kiss me downstairs, I’ll kiss you back.”

His expression doesn’t change.

“In front of everyone?”

“Thorne, you’ve already had your hands all over me in front of half the team.”

“Different.”

“How?”

He looks irritated that I’m making him say it.

“Because fucking around is easy.”

Ah.

There it is.

“But being together isn’t fucking around anymore.”

“No.”

His fingers tighten at my waist.

“I don’t want us acting like this upstairs and then pretending it’s nothing downstairs.”

I stare at him for a second.

Then smile.

His eyes narrow.

“Why are you smiling?”

“Because you just asked me not to hide our relationship.”

“Fuck off.”

“I’m serious.”

“Wolfe.”

I kiss him.

He tries to stay annoyed for about two seconds before kissing me back.

When I pull away, I’m still grinning.