Page 4 of Wedlocked

“Arsen reeks of testosterone and gives you everything you even think about wanting.” I interrupted him. “Seriously, P. Arsen is a first-class boyfriend. I love it for you, but you can’t relate here.”

He frowned. “But you’re a first-class boyfriend too.”

“That’s the thing. I’m not boyfriend material.”

“Jess loves you,” he said, voice absolute.

“Yeah. She does. But she’s not happy right now. She basically said so.”

“Because it’s finals and we’re all stressed out.”

I eyed him, specifically the fingers tangling in the bracelets around his wrist. “You stressed out too?”Look at me just stressing everybody out.

“We aren’t talking about me. We’re talking about my sister.”

I hummed. “I won’t be bro-zoned. I forbid it.”

“It was a chaotic chat thread. It really upset you that much?” he pressed.

I said nothing. He said nothing. Our silence spoke volumes.

After a minute, Prism said, “What are you gonna do?”

“Something,” I murmured, slowing to a stop at the curb in front of the theater arts building. After a quick glance at the sidewalk to make sure my final girl wasn’t already waiting, I looked back to my friend.

“What can I do to help?” he offered.

That took a little of the heat out of my spice. Meant a lot that he would jump in to help any way he could. “I’m not sure yet, but I’ll let you know.”

He nodded.

Jess came out of the large doors of the building, her long brown hair floating out behind her as she descended the stairs to the sidewalk. The sun was already lowering in the sky, and a wintry wind scattered curled-up dry leaves across the pavement between us.

Leaving the keys in the console, I jolted out of the driver’s seat and slid across the hood of the Audi, dropping onto the sidewalk on the other side.

Jess was shaking her head and smiling, hand wrapped around the strap of her bag. Impatient, I jogged the distance between us, relieved her of the bag, and dropped it right there beside us before lifting her off her feet to spin in a circle.

She laughed, hands gripping my shoulders. “Ben.” She was part breathless.

When I loosened my grip, she slid down my body, arms looping around my neck.

“Baby girl, if I had four quarters to give to the four prettiest women in the world, you’d have a dollar.”

Her eyes rolled but crinkled at the corners, and her lips pulled into a smile. “A whole dollar,” she mused.

I didn’t wait another minute, fusing our mouths while trapping her beautiful face in my palms. She sighed against my lips, and I swept inside the warmth of her mouth, flirting with the tip of her tongue before claiming it completely. Feet scuffed as people on the pavement moved around us, and long strands of her hair curled around my wrists and forearms as I shifted, bringing our bodies closer as I availed myself of the sweet nectar lacing her lips.

I loved her so much, was so addicted to everything about this girl that just the idea of having anyone but her was unfathomable.

She made a low sound, and my hands curled around her waist. She started to pull back, but I chased her, nipping her lip and making her giggle.

“Benji.” She was shy, ducking her face into my shoulder.

“You can’t just be walking around like this and expect me not to want to eat you on sight.”

“I haven’t combed my hair since this morning, and this shirt is yours,” she pointed out.

“Delicious,” I confirmed. Looking like she’d just crawled out of my bed was her best look.

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