I shook my head and squeezed him a little tighter as my fingers glided closer to his crotch.
His eyes darkened before he leaned in and kissed me, a slow and seductive kiss like nobody was there to witness it. When he pulled away, he rubbed his nose against mine. “Is that better?”
I nodded. “A bit.”
There was a knock on the door before it opened. Denise stepped inside, wearing black leggings with high brown boots and a loose white sweater.
Charlie was about to take a drink of his beer, but he stilled just so he could stare at her. He looked like he wanted to shove his fist into his mouth—and bite down hard just to control himself.
It was impossible that she wasn’t aware of Charlie’s obsession, but she continued to act like she had no idea. “Hey, guys. Any pizza left?”
Charlie seemed too spellbound by her appearance to say anything, so I did the talking. “Just a few slices. Beers in the fridge.”
She walked to the fridge and opened it.
Charlie turned around completely in his chair so he could stare at her, doing a full 180.
I snapped my fingers at his face and mouthed, “Dude, get it together.”
He mouthed back, “Oh, you’re one to talk.”
I continued the exchange in silence. “Oh, shut up.”
He flipped me the bird.
Dax’s gaze shifted back and forth between us like he had no idea what we were saying.
Denise came into the living room with her open beer in hand. “Where should I sit? I’ve got a couple on each couch.”
“Don’t sit there.” Charlie pointed at the couch where Dax and I sat. “Not unless you want a live sex show.”
I rolled my eyes. “What an exaggeration…”
She turned to Matt and Jeremy next. “What about them?”
“Not much better,” Matt said. “You’re probably better off sitting in that armchair together.”
I knew exactly what he was doing.
Denise turned to him. “Do you mind?”
Does he mind? Ha.
Like a deer in the headlights, Charlie just stared at her as if he couldn’t believe what she’d just asked. He gathered his bearings and shifted his body to the side. “Not at all.”
She took the seat beside him, part of her body slightly on top of his, and she drank her beer as she looked at the TV.
Charlie pressed his body against the other side of the armchair as much as possible, like he was doing everything he could to not touch her—even though all he wanted to do was touch her.
Matt looked at Charlie and gave an exaggerated wink.
That made me flip Matt the bird.
Denise drank her beer then turned to ask Charlie a question about the game. “I don’t follow sports. What’s going on here?”
Charlie answered her question, and the longer they talked together, the more he let down his guard. He stopped trying to stay away from her and let their two bodies naturally press together.
Dax wrapped his arm around my shoulders and turned his intention on me. He ignored the game as if he no longer cared about it the way he had just a few minutes ago. “Do you have plans next Saturday?”
“I better.” I gave his thigh a possessive squeeze.
He gave that handsome smile I adored, like he lived for my enthusiasm, couldn’t get enough of it. “I thought you could meet some of my friends.”
“I have met your friends.” I played basketball with them every Wednesday, got hot wings and pizza afterward.
Jeremy ran his fingers through Matt’s short hair. “He means his rich, asshole friends…”
Dax didn’t refute the claim. “Yes…those friends.”
“Will I like them?” I asked.
He shrugged. “Not sure. But you’ll definitely be able to handle them. After the mob, these guys will be a piece of cake.” He looked at me affectionately, like my wild side was somehow endearing.
“Well, I actually like the mob. If you put aside all the stealing and murder, they’re pretty cool guys.”
He chuckled and brought me in close so he could press a kiss to my neck.
“What are we doing?” I asked, still feeling the tingle on my skin after his lips were gone.
“I have this charity dinner on Saturday night.”
“Oh. So, this is like an event.”
He shrugged. “I guess. But they’ll be there, so I thought it was a good time to introduce you.”
“Sounds kind of stuffy.”
He shrugged in affirmation.
“Is there an alleyway nearby…?”
He smiled again before his lips moved back to my neck, giving me a longer embrace. “I’m sure there is. And if not, I’ll definitely find one.”
Denise and the guys left, so we picked up the empty beer bottles and pizza boxes and tossed them.
Dax stood with his hands in his pockets and moved toward the door, like he expected to leave.
I threw the last few bottles away without looking at him. “What do you think you’re doing?”
He stopped in front of the door, not wearing a smile on his lips but definite playfulness in his eyes. “Do you want me to stay?”
“No.” I tied the strings to the top of the bag, and I set it on the floor near the kitchen island so Charlie could throw it out. “I’m telling you.”
And just like that, he looked completely enamored of me once again. He came closer and grabbed the bag from the floor. “I’ll take care of this.”
“You don’t have to do that.”
He nodded behind me to where Charlie stood. “I think I’m getting better at this telepathy thing because I’m pretty sure he wants to talk to you.” He grabbed the other bag too and carried it into the hallway.
When I turned around to look at Charlie, I stopped in place because he looked furious. His normally smiling mouth was clenched tight like he was suppressing a scream, and his large hands gripped the edge of the counter like he might break it off into pieces. “Wow, what happened?”
“What happened? Did you see Denise sitting in my lap? I’m surprised my dick didn’t hurt her back.”
I rolled my eyes at his flattering assessment of himself. “Okay now…”
“You said you would talk to Kat, so talk to her. What the hell are you waiting for? It’s not like I can just go out and pick up a girl at this point. I have a celibate relationship with Denise, and it fucking sucks.”
“I will talk to her. It’s been a busy week—” Busy fucking Dax.
“Yes, I’ve noticed. I have to sit there and listen to you talk about all the good sex you’re getting, while I’m sitting with Denise and trying to stay soft. You’re the biggest cockblock in the world.”
“How dare you! I am not a cockblock.”
“Then talk to Kat and get it over with. I know you. I know you’re procrastinating.”
“I’m not a procrastinator. I get my articles done early—not just on time.”
“You procrastinate for shit you don’t want to do. Remember when it was your turn to clean the apartment, and you dragged your feet for three months?”
I crossed my arms over my chest and rolled my eyes. “So not the same thing.”