Page 55 of Just This Once

I squinted his way before saying, “You do realize that’snota good thing, right?”

He blinked, confused until it finally dawned on him that no one thought he even had enough game to interest the Union girl into behaving naughtily in the first place.

From there, his expression fell like a kicked puppy’s. I snickered and shook my head, amused by the poor, hopeless bastard.

And while I was still smirking over his misery, the door opened.

When Hope stepped inside, my smile fell abruptly.

As if sensing me, her gaze veered my way, and I narrowed my eyes because I did not appreciate the way her presence sent me into a state of aroused distress. Because I wanted her. I wanted her with an urgency that made my head buzz and my skin pickle.

Her words from earlier in the day burst through my head.

I want to come so hard on someone’s dick that my entire world flips on its fucking axis.

Well, I wanted my dick to be the one she came on. I wanted it more than I could remember wanting anything in a long-ass time.

And I hated being stuck with this craving.

Gritting my teeth, I fisted my hands at my sides and glared at her hard enough that she turned away to give her attention to her brother.

“Hey. You ready to go?” she asked.

When Alec stared at her in bewilderment, she lifted her brows and added, “To the movies?”

“Oh!” His eyes flared, and he slapped a hand to his forehead. “I completely forgot about that.”

“You—” Her lashes fluttered in confusion. “Youforgot?About themovies?” Glancing around at the rest of us, she demanded, “Alright, what’s wrong with my brother?”

“New pretty roommate’s got him all frazzled,” Hudson explained.

“What? She’s moving intoday?” Hope lifted both eyebrows in surprise. Then she scoffed. “No wonder why everyone’s here, just loitering around.” Gaze moving directly to me, she mocked, “Trying to get a peek?”

Tightening my scowl, I mutely flipped her off.

“Well, Raina and I are here to help her move in,” Foster spoke up with a significant clearing of his throat. “Which reminds me…” He slapped Keene in the stomach as he passed by to head toward the exit. “Come on. Let’s start packing some boxes inside.”

But Keene merely scoffed. “Like I’m going to help you after you just threw me under the bus like that.”

“It’s notmeyou’d be helping, idiot.” Foster turned at the door so he could push it open with his spine as he stepped backward from the house. “It’d be Xander.”

“I bet she’dreallyappreciate it,” Raina taunted.

“Dammit,” Keene huffed as if he wanted to argue, only to hurry forward a second later, racing after Foster. “Alright. Wait on me.”

As Raina followed him out, Alec lifted his finger. “I’ll help too.” But he paused before taking two steps. “We still have time before the movie starts, right?” he asked Hope.

She gaped at him as if he’d lost his mind before shaking her head and answering, “Uh—sure.”

“Great.” He rushed outside to join the others.

And she kept talking to herself as if still addressing him. “We might just miss a few previews, which are your favorite things to watch, but…whatever.” Lifting up, she squinted as she watched him out the window. “Let’s help carry heavy, awkward boxes around instead.”

Hudson chuckled and patted her arm as he and Faith passed by to help cart in boxes as well. “Like I said, frazzled.”

“I guess.” Her murmur was full of distraction until everyone had left the living room except her and me.

Two seconds later, she sucked in a startled breath as if finally realizing that we were alone together, and she whirled to look directly at me.

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