Page 20 of By His Play

She lets out a pained sigh before huffing, “Fine,” and pulling the front of her robe apart.

“Holy fuck,” I breathe, my eyes widening.

My breathing picks up as heat races through my body.

I know she’s got a banging body; I’m not blind. But shit.

My lips part to say something, but it’s like words suddenly don’t exist as filthy images I should not be having about my best friend flicker through my mind.

That scrap of red fabric would be perfect to bind her hands before her back while I…

Effie quirks a brow at me and I remember where, and who, I am again.

“T-that…that was a good choice.”

“You’re not supposed to look at me like that,” Effie snaps, quickly pulling the sides of her robe closed again, covering up the insanity hiding beneath.

“What? I’m still a man, and you look?—”

“Stop,” she demands, having reached up on her tiptoes and slapped her hand across my mouth.

“Sorry,” I mumble against her palm.

I give her my best puppy dog eyes in the hope she’ll drop her hand.

But she doesn’t immediately, and like a child, I stick my tongue out and lick her palm.

The second her hand falls away, I burst out laughing at the look of disgust on her face.

“Ew, you’re so gross,” she predictably complains before rubbing her hand down her robe.

“Can we go out there and relax now? It was boring on my own.”

She stares up at me for a beat, a smile emerging. Her face is clear of makeup, letting me see the smattering of freckles she has on her nose and cheeks. Her hair is tied up and she’s wearing her glasses. Team that with the robe and she looks adorable as hell.

“Fine. Just…don’t look at me like that again.”

Without waiting for a response, she takes off toward the door I came in through a few minutes ago.

“I’m allowed to think my bestie is hot, you know.”

She shakes her head, letting me know that she heard me, but she doesn’t comment.

“Wow,” she breathes as she steps out into the pool area. “This is beautiful.”

It’s not the first time that she’s been to a place like this. She’s been to the spa at The Broadway more times than I can count. But this place has that beat. The decoration and interior design are insane. The full wall of the waterfall opposite us sure helps with that wow factor as well.

“King didn’t do too bad, huh?”

“He should be impressed,” she muses as she walks the length of the pool, making a beeline for the jacuzzi just like I knew she would.

“I know you’re watching.”

“How? You’ve got your back to me,” I say, doing exactly what she’s accusing me of.

“I know you, Kieran Callahan. I know how your mind works.”

“And yet you’re still my friend. That’s impressive.”

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