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What would he do while I studied?
Where would he go? How would he fill his days?
He wasn’t safe doing anything.
Which meant he had to do nothing.
And I couldn’t ask that of him.
I couldn’t trap him in a stuffy apartment and deny him the minuscule amount of freedom he had.
A terrified part of me whispered that it would be kinder to let him stay here. So what if it was almost a six-hour drive? So what if the separation would kill me? At least he could continue working for Mum and Dad and not risk his life.
“Let me see that.” Aslan held out his hand, his fingers strong and tanned.
My cheeks flushed, remembering where those fingers had been an hour ago as I placed my phone into his grip.
His eyes skimmed the message thread, a smile quirking his lips. “I actually rather like this guy.”
“Good. Because you’re probably going to meet him soon if he’s true to his word about coming to visit.”
“May I?” Waggling my phone, he pressed both thumbs on the screen and replied to Teddy under my account.
I did ask her to write that, and it’s true. You’re welcome to be friends with my girl, but if you ever hurt her, you’ll quickly learn how ill-equipped a human is to live under the sea, regardless of fanciful ideas of making it your home. I’ll give you the keys to your new place for free.
“All yours.” Tossing my phone back, he smirked and snatched the Jeep keys. “We better go pick up Anna and Jack.”
I laughed under my breath as Teddy’s reply pinged.
Teddy: Oh, I like him. And I like you. Right, Nerida and her rather violent fiancé, I’ll talk to Eddie and make a date happen. I have a feeling we’re gonna do great things together.
I replied as Aslan dragged me out the door and down the front path to the old Wrangler.
Me: Honey said something very similar, and you know what? I think so too. I’m glad you messaged.
Teddy: Me too. Look forward to getting to know you!
Me: Keep in touch!
Teddy: Quick question before you go, if we did hypothetically try to design a house under the sea (crazy to even ask that. Like WTF, right?) Where would you suggest we put it?
Me: Oh, that’s easy. Here in Port Douglas. The Great Barrier Reef.
“Seatbelt,” Aslan barked, turning the Jeep on and nursing the growling vehicle down the driveway and onto our street.
I blew him a kiss, strapped myself in, and grinned as Teddy’s message came in.
Teddy: In that case, I suppose Eddie and I are moving to Port Douglas. LOL. I did tell you I might come across as creepy. Talk to me for all of ten minutes and I’m already moving in with you.
“What’s he saying?” Aslan muttered, his hands firmly on the steering wheel, his eyes scanning the streets with sheer-minded determination like always. He acted as if he could see around corners when driving, doing his very best to spot police cars before they saw him.
“He said he’s moving in with us.”
“What?” His eyes shot to mine. “You can’t be serious.”
“Relax.” I laughed and dropped my phone onto my lap. “It just means we can get a bigger apartment, that’s all. Win-win.”
Aslan groaned, sounding genuinely tortured. “The guy’s spoken to you for all of four seconds, and I now have to commit murder for the second time if he dares to lay a finger on you.”
“And possibly a third.” I laughed harder. “There are two of them, remember? The boy band? If you’re murdering one, you’ll probably have to murder the other. It’s only fair, seeing as they sound as if they can’t live without each other.” I bit my bottom lip, doing my best not to burst into hysterics.
Aslan glowered at me, his hands strangling the steering wheel. I was surprised the Jeep didn’t cough and die with his death grip. He looked so protective, so beastly, so swoon-worthily gorgeous that I couldn’t hold it in anymore.
Bursting into giggles, I reached across the console and placed my hand directly between his legs.
He almost swerved into the other lane as I rubbed the bulge in his shorts.
“Neri...fucking hell. Are you trying to make me crash?”
Unbuckling, I shifted in my seat.
“Put your belt back on,” he snarled.
I didn’t obey. Instead, I popped his button, unzipped his denim shorts, and wriggled my hand into his boxers to pull his rapidly hardening erection free.
His left hand snapped around my wrist, stopping me mid-stroke. “Is this you trying to kill me so you can move in with two other guys, or are you trying to apologise for making me irrationally obsessed with you?”
I fisted him, making the tendons in his neck appear as he gritted his teeth.
“This is me showing you that I could live with a hundred men, and the only one I want to touch...to lick...to fuck...is you.”
