Page 102 of Used

“Then I’ll stay here with you.”

Zoe pokes her head out. “Laurelyn.” Holding out a bathrobe, she wags it up and down. “C’s in the shower. If you get in the tub now, he won’t see anything. Hurry up.” Zoe tosses the robe onto Laurel’s legs and then goes back into the bathroom.

Without another word, Laurel shakes her head and sighs. Then she stands, strips, and walks into the bathroom. I take off my jeans, which was all I put on before sprinting upstairs.

By the time I walk into the bathroom, she’s in the Jacuzzi tub that’s full of churning water and bubbling bath salt foam.

I drop onto a bench seat in the tub and pull her to me, so her back is leaning against my chest. I massage her shoulders and the back of her neck.

“How many girlfriends have you had in total?”

“Girlfriends? One.”

“One? Me?”

“Of course you.”

“How many people have you dated?”

“Seven, including you.”

“How many of those came after me?”

“Three.”

“So you’ve only dated three women since you were a teenage boy? And you never met anyone’s parents other than mine? Never told any of them you loved them?”

“No, why would I?”

“So with literally only six weeks of relationship experience that came when you were in high school, you think you should be the one calling the shots about the rules of our relationship?”

I try not to smile. Her point is valid, but a concession could turn disastrous. “I’m not moving into your world, Laurel. You’re moving into mine. I’m the one who understands how my world works.”

“Orgies with call girls was your old life. Being married is normal. You literally know only one married couple who themselves don’t seem to know any other married couples. I know lots of married people.”

“Good for you,” I say, sliding my hand down to cup her breast.

C chooses that moment to step out of the shower, treating her to a view of his naked ass. She turns her head quickly toward the sinks.

Suds cover most of my arm and hand, but it’s obvious what I’m holding and I don’t let go of her. She doesn’t try to get me to move my hand, probably because she’s too startled. C wraps a towel around his waist and hands one to Zoe. Then he turns and looks down at us.

“‘Vil wants to know when the game starts. An hour?”

“Yeah. We gotta eat first,” I say.

“I feel like pecan pancakes and scrambled eggs,” Zoe announces brightly when she steps onto the bathmat. She’s wrapped in a fuzzy blue towel. “I can have those ready by the time you guys come down.”

C and Zoe exit without waiting for an answer.

“Insane.” Laurelyn’s whisper is half sigh. “Every. Single. Thing.”

My left hand slides down to her belly and strokes it, looking for the bump that unfortunately doesn’t exist yet. Then my fingers dip lower, cupping her pussy.

“Do we have time for this?”

“No, but I like touching you.” My middle finger goes lower still until I find the tiny pink whorl and trace the circle.

She grabs my forearm in a tight grip.