Page 140 of Jonas

“No judgment from me.” Penny lifted her hands in surrender. “Personally, I prefer penis, but I totally understand it’s not for everyone.”

Cash’s lips twitched.

I didn’t miss Lore’s eye roll. Derrika’s hand landing on my thigh told me she didn’t, either.

“Well, Penny, I can assure you the Queen of Icy Hot over here loves dick, too.”

Queen of Icy Hot?

Penny’s eyes went wide, and she shook her head. “Whoa, whoa, whoa, I didn’t say I love dick⁠—”

“Oh c’mon, there’s nothing wrong with liking dick,” Lore defended.

Derrika leaned close and stretched so her mouth was at my ear. “Do you think Zane will hire me?”

I turned to look at her. “What?”

“I mean, so far your briefings are way more entertaining than any I’ve had to sit through. And once you get over Zane’s I’m-going-to-murder-you-in-your-sleep stare, he’s pretty funny.”

My heart rate kicked up. Derrika working at Z Corps? I could totally get behind that.

“Are you serious?”

“I was, but I’m not sure what I’m reading from you.”

“Are you idiots done talking about cock and balls yet?” Zane bellowed from the top of the stairs.

“We haven’t gotten to the balls yet,” Lore yelled back.

“Wait, you were fondling nut sack, too?” I abandoned my chat with Derrika to ask.

Easton, Derrika, and Penny all laughed. Lore didn’t make a sound, but she looked mighty pleased with herself.

“I hate you.” Cash pointed to Easton. “I hate you.” He pointed to me. “I hate you.” That was for Derrika. “I don’t know you, but still I hate you.” That was to Penny, and I watched her face lose a few shades of color when Cash pointed at her. “And I seriously hate you.” He ended with Lore.

“That’s not the first time she’s heard that,” Nebraska said, following Zane into the room.

“I wasn’t sure about you,” Zane said and stopped next to Lore to look down at her. “But that shit last night was inspired. You’re my kind of people.”

“Will someone please tell us what the hell you’re talking about?” I demanded.

“Old Senator Rutte didn’t feel like talking,” Zane explained. “Then Lore opened up her backpack, pulled out a box of Icy Hot patches, and what do you know? About thirty minutes later he had a lot to say.”

Oh fuck.

“You put Icy Hot patches on his dick?” I chuckled.

“Technically, I didn’t. Cash did. Though things got dicey when it was Jun De Chen’s turn.”

“Dicey?” Derrika asked. “Not enough girth or length?”

“No, nothing like that. It was nicely sized, wasn’t it, Cash?”

“Yes, Lore,” Cash returned in a faux prim and proper voice. “Nice and girthy with a perfectly developed bulbous tip.”

“Damn, someone was paying more attention than necessary.”

Derrika leaned into me, rested her head on my shoulder, and smothered a laugh.