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Easy, Chloe.
“I hope you realize now that I know I’m not going to be able to keep from touching you. I’m going to make it my aim to ensure that you never go without again.”
“You are?”
“I am.” He put both hands on either side of her face. “And just so you know . . . this is most definitely a date.”
“It . . . it is?”
She chewed her lip and he reached down to free it, running his thumb across her lower lip again. Damn. Why was that so sexy?
“Oh yes. I’m sorry if it sounded like I was questioning you before. All I meant was . . . well, I was glad you thought it was a date as well. Sometimes Owen misreads things. He decides what he wants and doesn’t pay attention to anything else. And he wants you with us. So I was worried that perhaps you only wanted him and that he was pushing you toward us. Or something like that.”
“Oh. Well, he can be pushy when he wants something.”
He tensed.
“But in this case . . . he was right. I do . . . I like all of you.”
“Even Judd?”
“Hmm. I have to think about that one a bit. He is a Grumpzilla.”
Beck’s lips twitched. “Does he know about that nickname?”
Her eyes widened. “No. And you will not tell him.”
“I don’t know . . . I feel like it might slip out.”
“You’re as bad as Hux.”
“Hux knows about this nickname?” he asked.
“Yes. And he said that unless I ate some ice cream, he would tell him. So mean.”
“He . . . he bribed you into eating ice cream?” Beck asked.
“More like threatened . . . but yeah, that’s the general gist.”
“I want to say I’m surprised . . . but I don’t think I am. What sort of ice cream?”
“Well, I just wanted a small scoop of coffee and candy, but he ended up getting a sundae bigger than my face.”
Beck shook his head. “He’s got a real sweet tooth.” He stared down at her hungrily. “Hmm . . . so what do I get if I don’t tell Judd about his nickname?”
Oh. Crap.
She was in trouble here. She didn’t know what to say. Nerves fluttered in her stomach. Could she say what she was thinking?
Was it what he wanted?
She raised her hand to smooth down her hair. He watched her intently.
“Um, I don’t know.” She licked her lips.
He moved his thumb back to her lower lip. He seemed to like doing that.
“Open,” he whispered.
She parted her lips and he placed his thumb in her mouth.
Dear. Lord.
Why was this hot?
“Suck.”
She sucked on his thumb and hunger filled his face. “Sweet baby, do you know what you’re doing to me?”
She shook her head without letting go.
“I’d show you, but I don’t want to be crude.”
Warmth filled her cheeks and she drew her head back. “Show me. Please.”
He raised one eyebrow. “You sure?”
“I . . . yes . . . I need to know.”
He took hold of her hand and ran it down his chest. Leaning in, he pressed his lips to hers. “Open for me, baby. This is my price. I won’t tell Judd what you call him, but you’re going to kiss me as payment.”
He didn’t have to bribe her to get her to kiss him.
She parted her lips, and he took her mouth. Hard. Fiery.
So hot.
She whimpered as he led her hand further down to where his hard cock was pressing against his shorts.
Oh. Lord.
Drawing back, he stared down at her. Both of them were breathing heavily and she felt slightly light-headed. “See what you do to me, Freckles?”
“Yes,” she said in a husky voice.
“This is most definitely a date. And Owen isn’t the only one who wants you. Hey, don’t stress.”
He freed her lip from her teeth.
“I’ve never been in a proper relationship. Again, I don’t count that jerk in high school. I’m so out of my depth . . .”
“Hey, it’s okay to be nervous. Even a little scared. As long as you want this.”
“I do, but . . .”
“But what?”
“I don’t see how it will ever work. I tried to tell Owen this. I’m leaving in six days. Maybe we’d be better off not doing this.”
“Maybe,” he agreed. “But sometimes living with regrets is worse than living with heartbreak.”
She frowned at him. “I’ve never heard that before.”
“Likely not. My Ma is filled with all sorts of interesting sayings.”
“You’re close?”
“Very.”
She wished she had that. Wished she was free to have the four of them. But she didn’t see how that would work.
“Owen says that he’s not letting me go. But I don’t see how this can work and I don’t want to hurt anyone. Or make you think I can promise something I can’t.”
27
Beck hated the stress in her face.
He never wanted her to worry about anything. There was so much more going on with this girl than they knew about. They needed to get her to confide in them.
