Page 16 of Nothing At All

“Middle school.” EmmaLee snorted.

Lydia lifted her beer in a salute. “High school.”

“Sorority life.” I patted between his shoulderblades. Most of my sisters were great. Some weren’t.

His brows twisted together. “How did I miss this?”

“Studying history and nerd stuff all the time.” Lydia shrugged. “Hanging out with Chuck and us.”

“You’re just taking the master class late.” EmmaLee peeked in the stock pot and took a big sniff, closing her eyes in an euphoric expression. “You’re smart and a quick study. You’ll be fine.”

“Lesson one.” Lydia held up a finger. “Don’t trust her.”

“Lesson two.” EmmaLee perched on an island stool. “Tell your girlfriend everything.”

I nodded at him, amused and feeling ridiculously supported. When we broke up, I was keeping his sister and her best friend, because this was another practice relationship and we eventually would. I’d love to keep him as a friend, too. “Listen to them. You can’t go wrong.”

“Okay. Got it.” He rolled his head to one side, and I could feel his urge to take notes. “Pay attention, watch the boundaries, tell you everything.”

“Perfect. You aced that quiz.” I tiptoed up to kiss him, ignoring EmmaLee’s fake gagging. “Now let’s eat. It smells amazing.”

He was dedicated to me and he was learning. Nicole meant nothing at all to him.

We would be fine.

Chapter Five

Dan

Dark still hovered in my bedroom when I surfaced from an unremembered dream to the muted trill of my alarm. I dreamed like everybody else, but never recalled what about, just the emotions or sensations lingering afterward.

Sometimes fear or adrenaline.

Sometimes sadness or regret.

This morning, connection and happiness . . . and the reason for those lay on my arm, fingers tingling, my nerve endings dead from being pinned beneath her body.

Wouldn’t trade this for anything, though.

Eyes closed, I buried my face against soft, tangled hair. Flexing my other arm, I plastered myself to her spine, soaking in her scented warmth.

A huff of a pleased breath passed between her lips before she stretched against me.

And rubbed her cute little ass into my morning hardon. I hissed, tightening my arm. She smiled against my biceps. “Good morning.”

“Hey.” I kissed her cheek, nuzzled her ear, sucking her gentle, sleepy scent into my lungs. Her shampoo, my soap, a hint of fabric softener from the sheets clinging to her skin.

She rolled to fling an arm around my neck, thigh draped over my hip to bring us even closer together. Another kind of warmth pressed to my hard dick. “Let’s play.”

I swallowed a groan.

“I want to.” I cracked an eyelid to peer at the clock. “Gotta get in the shower. Can’t be late.”

My shift ran from seven to three – she didn’t have to be on the road until nine.

She slid against me. “What if I get in the shower with you?”

“Right. Because we’ll take less time in there.” I kissed her, toying with her bottom lip, teasing the corner where her dimple was.