Page 80 of Rocky Mountain Devil

She felt pretty, and shefelthot, and she had an idea Rafe would like the outfit as well.

“One thing, though.” Ashley dropped to her knees and undid the garter belts, fingers moving quickly as she adjusted them to lie under the narrow edge of the panties. “Garters first, panties second.” She glanced up. “Means a certain someone could take off only one layer if he wants.”

Oh.

Ohhhhhhh.

“I knew that,” Laurel insisted.

“That was a lie…I think,” Nicole said. “It’s hard to tell because your face is so red in the first place.”

“Go away, you brat,” Laurel told Nicole.

The others laughed, but as embarrassing as the whole situation was…it wasn’t. Laurel felt accepted and cared for, and knew they only wanted what was best for her.

And the best seemed to mean seducing Rafe.

Which, okay by her.

He’d been holding back a whole lot. A wild idea hit—maybe it wasn’t that he needed a nudge to get him to take the next step. Maybe she needed to convince him they werebothready.

All four of them walked out of the store with new purchases.

“I don’t think it’s fair you saw what we bought, but you didn’t show us,” Becky complained to Ashley.

“I didn’t want to shock the children,” Ashley mock-whispered to Nicole.

“After what wedidsee you try on?” Laurel licked another bit of ice cream off her spoon. They’d stopped at Dairy Queen to grab treats for the ride home. “Now you have me curious. What could possibly be more scandalous than that see-through, seductive underwear you were wearing?”

“Never mind.”

“I know,” Nicole said smugly.

“They’re so mean,” Becky said with a laugh. “How’re we supposed to learn if you keep secrets from us?”

“Getting an education in sexual adventuring works on an escalating scale. You know how it’s fun to have the guys talk dirty to you?”

“I like it better when he can’t say anything at all,” Nicole admitted.

“Speechless is good too,” Ashley agreed.

Becky giggled. “Oh. I thought you meant when they had their mouths…busy…”

“Becky Hall. Youarea naughty girl,” Nicole said approvingly.

“I didn’t just say that,” Becky insisted, but she was smiling as she rearranged the bag with her new outfit. She folded it carefully, straightening the corners as if she was planning something special.

Laughter continued to ebb and flow the entire trip. It wrapped around Laurel, comfortable yet fresh and new as she got to know the others better.

They were nearly home when Becky leaned toward her. Ashley and Nic were chatting in an animated fashion in the front seat, busy with their own conversation.

“I’ve tried to figure out why being intimate with Trevor doesn’t feel wrong, even though it’s against everything I was taught while I was growing up,” Becky said. “I think you know what I mean.”

Boy, did she ever. “That sex is a sin unless you’re married?”

Not that her father had ever preached brimstone-and-fire sermons specific to that topic, but the sentiment was there. Self-control and chastity were highly valued.

It was one of the areas Laurel had struggled through after leaving college. After dealing with Jeff, and the fallout from their intimate relationship.