“What did you say?”
I lifted a shoulder. “That we were just friends.” What was I supposed to say?
“Liam asked me about us,” she said.
I swallowed hard. “He…what?” I should’ve expected it, yet it still caught me by surprise. Considering the way he’d been joking around tonight, I figured he’d already dismissed the post’s claims. Besides, he thought I was sleeping with Tits McGee, not that I was going to tell Wren about that. And I never would have imagined he’d confront Wren about it.
“Yeah. You know the other day, when he ‘happened’ to pop over for pancakes?”
I nodded, feeling as if her voice were coming at me through a tunnel. Or maybe I was underwater.
“He asked if we were sleeping together.”
My chest tightened. “He… What did you tell him?”
“I told him to mind his own business. But when he pushed, I swore it wasn’t true.”
“Fuck.” I sank down onto the couch, dragging a hand through my hair.
“Ugh,” she huffed, pacing. “This is why I didn’t tell you. Because I knew it would stress you out. And you’ve already been stressed enough as it is—between your house and work.”
My eyes flashed to hers. “You should’ve told me.”
“No.” She practically stomped the floor. “No.” She shook her head, and I wondered how much she’d had to drink. “I’m sick of Liam’s double standards. He can date. I can’t. He can fuck whoever he wants. I can’t. Fuck him and his rules!”
Fuck…That word from those lips.
I groaned when my dick stood up and took notice. Not like I wasn’t already hard any time she was near. But the way she was getting, so fired up. It was sexy.
“Are you…” She laughed, the sound incredulous. “Are you…excited?”
I shifted. “Of course I am. You’re talking about blow jobs. And throwing around the word fuck like confetti.”
“Can I see?” She peered down at my crotch, and I bit the inside of my cheek. She took a step toward me, wobbling slightly.
“How much have you had to drink?”
“Just a little.” She held up her thumb and forefinger. “Liquid courage. But not too much that I don’t know what I’m doing.”
“You’re sure this is what you want?” I asked when she placed her hands on my thighs, her eyes glued to my crotch.
She met my eyes, sliding her hands closer to my dick. “Yes. Teach me.”
“But…”
“We’re both adults, right?” She inched closer. “And what we do when we’re together is no one else’s business.”
“But it doesn’t go any further, right? I mean, this can’t be anything more.”
“Obviously,” she sighed. “Look, Bennett, I’m not under any illusions here. I know what this is and what it isn’t.”
“And what’s that?” I asked, wishing she’d clue me in.
“Temporary. You living here—coaching me.”
The problem was, I didn’t want it to be.
But I was already so hard at that point, I wasn’t thinking clearly. I never was where Wren was concerned.
