CHAPTER 34
APRIL
The ties of my calf-length twill coat hung loosely at my side. I adjusted the belt one more time, before closing the coat to reveal a heavy amount of cleavage, while hiding the silky number beneath.
I held my chin high and winked at myself one last time before sauntering out the door. I tried not to wobble on my four-inch heels. As much as I adored the way my legs appeared shapelier, and my posture changed to enhance the perkiness of my ass, the numb feeling in my toes had started creeping in. If this little stunt had the desired effect I thought it would, I wouldn’t be on my feet for very long anyways.
The elevator doors slid open and I paused, taking in Mr. and Mrs. Norrister from three floors up. Pushing down my embarrassment, I stepped in and turned my back to them. I jabbed at the button to Josh’s floor and wished I could disappear into the mirrored walls of the elevator. Jesus Christ. Of all the people I had to run in to in mypretty-woman-state, was the Norristers. They were the quintessential, polished couple with sweater vests and pearls. Her, not him.
A few seconds later, the elevator dinged and she all but dashed out of the doors, practically dragging him behind her,as if they were fleeing from a villain. Why had I thought the hooker-trench-coat thing was a good idea? Right, because it was my turn to do for him, what he did for me. I had overheard Carlos and his locker-room chatter with Milos, doubting Josh was seeing anyone. That wasn’t fair. I needed to prove he was. His bet was just as important as mine was.
As I got to Josh’s floor, my heart hammered.Was I about to do this?Damn right, my little vixen’s voice echoed in my ears. I exited and began my walk down the corridor. My heels clicked against the porcelain tiles with each strut toward his door.
Before knocking, I smoothed out the front of my jacket, the knotted straps fell loose, so the jacket opened slightly, revealing just enough of the barely-there outfit hidden underneath.Here goes nothing.
Two raps on his door and I heard his voice call out, “One second.”
Quickly, I leaned against the frame of his door and opened the coat wider for a full view, then began twirling one of the straps. My entire body trembled with a mix of anticipation and nerves, waiting for him to open the door.
The latch clicked and there was a low gasp. He just stood there, blinking at me. Shock was the first thing that registered. Then his mouth twitched into a smile that could have melted the panties right off me in the doorway before he yanked me inside and pinned me against the wall.
Well damn, this worked.
His mouth was on mine, fast and heavy. He tasted like beer as we hungrily devoured each other.
Then in an instant, he stopped. His body stayed pressed to mine as he loudly growled, “Out!”
My eyebrows knitted together in confusion, until I heard the scraping of chairs on the floor.
Oh.
My.
Fucking.
Christ.
He wasn’t alone.
It was like everything moved in a sequence of slow motion. I watched as Jake, Carlos, Kev, and Milos stared at us, slack-jawed, as they passed covering their eyes.
“April, Josh. Have a good night.” Jake smirked on exit.
My face was buried deep into Josh’s chest, who hadn’t moved in the time it took them to vacate the room. Which was good to know that in a fire, they could.
The door shut and Josh’s eyes found mine. He slowly stepped back and stared at me. “Are you trying to kill me?”
“I—I forgot…poker,” I stammered, completely unable to formulate a sentence. I had. I had thought I was going to tempt him before he went out, not that it was athisplace.
“If any one of them caught even a glance at you, I’ll kill them myself.”
Shit, the protective and possessive Josh was damn sexy.
“Don’t like to share?” I teased.
“Is that funny?”
“A little.”
