Page 126 of Hide and Keep

I bring her ass right back, not against me but damn near close.

“Let’s go again.”

“That wasn’t a challenge, Major. It was a fact. Even if your wrists were strong enough, I need to get ready.”

“I don’t give a fuck.” About the gala or my wrists. “Let’s keep going until I nail it.”

“I have to—”

“All you gotta do is put on your dress. It’ll take you two seconds. Come on, let’s try again.”

Spinning her around, my hands are already on her waist but she makes sure to twist to give me the stink-eye.

“You have no idea what it takes to be a woman.”

“No, I don’t.” Thank fucking God. It sounds terrible. “Now shut up and let me throw your ass.”

Her chuckle makes me smile.

But I wasn’t kidding.

After a synchronized bend to our knees, I’m tossing her up again, catching her feet much easier this time. And because I know I’m staying like this, I focus on my grips, making sure all my fingers are where she taught me to put them.

“Good?” she asks after a few seconds.

“Yeah.”

She talks me through a dismount which goes smooth now that my body isn’t short-circuiting, then I immediately throw her into another one before she can even think about leaving.

On the fifth one, I tell her I’m ready to try something harder.

Hands on her hips, she eyes the clock on the wall.

“Come on. Teach me something else,” I say, hoping I don’t sound like I’m begging. When you’re not failing miserably, it’s kind of rewarding to pull off a stunt. And maybe even fun.

I think I’m having fun anyway. It’s been a while.

Clearly, the bar’s been lowered to subterranean levels.

“Okay, but if you don’t hit first try, I can’t keep working on it with you tonight. The glam team is probably already here, waiting for me in the salon.”

“An actual salon?”

“Have you even toured the manor?”

“No. I only go where you do.” I cock my head. “Minus the conservatory.”

“Why don’t you explore when I’m in there?”

“You didn’t seem to like it last time I did that.”

“That’s because you rummaged through my room,” she spits even though I did not rummage. I did some light reconnaissance. “I don’t care about the rest of the house.”

I only went in her room that one time out of desperation, otherwise I stick close to the conservatory. In case Ever pulls any of her bullshit.

Or in case…she needs me.

But since I’ll never admit that to her, I say, “It’s not gonna work.”

---