Page 76 of Vying Girls

‘Way you say that, makes it sound like it just hasn’t happened yet.’

‘And it won’t. Not in this universe. We’ve just got catching up to do. Years and years and years of catching up to do.’

‘Yeah. Guess you do.’

‘Thanks for telling Elly, by the way.’

Haz leans back to regard me. ‘Are you being sarc-y?’

‘Just wish you’d left it to me.’

‘Thought she knew, to be fair. You two like to gas. Or are you too busy fucking each other’s brains out?’

‘Jealous?’

Haz shakes her head, eyes straying back to the kitchen. ‘Nothing I can’t do better.’

‘Prove it.’

She faces me again with narrowed eyes. I grin as she slowly climbs on top of me, immobilizing me with her substantial weight.

‘Now isn’t the time to get bratty.’ Pinning me between her knees, she seizes my wrists, rubbing her thumbs along the ridges of them. ‘Nic’s on her way—if she isn’t dead under a tree already—Elly just upstairs.’

‘Sounds like the perfect time to me.’

I run my eyes over the underside of her body, the shadows her shifting biceps make, the flash of olive skin below her t-shirt. The drawstrings of her joggers drag on me. I take them into my hands, tightening them, encouraging her closer.

‘Yeah.’ She leans her face close to mine. ‘Maybe you’re right.’

My eyes flutter shut as her lips brush mine. I tickle that swatch of bare skin, smiling when her muscles quiver. My hands graze the waistband of her boxers.

She rubs into me with her kiss. Always zero to a hundred with her. I wonder if she even bothers with foreplay. There’s something hot in the thought that she doesn’t. The thought that, when the time comes, she might just shove it in, any resistance be damned. It’s getting to the point where I don’t care, so long as she takes me.

She puts her tongue in my mouth, her kisses always so hot and open.Notslobbery like Elly said. I smile at the memory of that comment. The plumpness of Haz’s lip offsets any slobber there might be.

I sigh when her hand finds my throat, her other arm resting above my head, blocking us in. I wrap my legs around her, squeezing her with a sense of urgency. I’m aware of the chilli bubbling on the hob, the knowledge that we’ll probably be joined by someone else soon.

I rake my nails along her sides. When we’re doing this, I try everything I can to let her know just how much I want her, that I won’t run off once we’ve gone all the way.

It feels like such a fine line between letting her know and feeling like I’m pressuring her. I’m not sure where the line is, but I trust Haz not to do anything she’s not ready for. Unlike me, unable to count just how many sexual encounters I’ve had solely to please the other person. Also unlike me, Haz has the confidence not to get herself in such straits.

Thankfully for her, we’re interrupted this time by the sound of the front door slamming open.

We turn our heads as Nic enters the lounge.

Haz sits up with a glare. ‘What the fuck, man?’

Nic drops her stuff and leans against the wall, ayeah-that-was-fucking-dumbsmile on her face. ‘Bit breezy out there, boys.’ She mops back wet hair, something alive in her face. Guess a near brush with death will do that, especially to someone like Nic.

Retrieving her spoon, Haz returns to the kitchen, making sure to shoulder Nic on the way.

I flash Nic a smile as she heads to the stairs with her tent. It’s not returned, leaving me feeling flat. I shouldn’t be surprised. I knew her casualness on Wednesday night was just a result of the drugs. Still didn’t stop me hoping that we’d taken a step forward though.

Oh, well. I slouch back on the sofa with a sigh. At least the asshole’s alive.

When I emerge from the kitchen after washing up, it’s to the sight of Elly and Haz arranging sofa cushions on the floor.

‘What are you two doing?’