Page 46 of The Mechanics of Lust

He shut me up with a kiss and then headed for the mudroom, adding over his shoulder, “Yes, you are. And I’m pretty sure youlike me more than a little.”

I glared at his back. “I do not.”

He laughed. “Do too.”

I waited for the back screen to close and then leaned over and banged my forehead on the granite countertop... twice.

CHAPTERTHIRTEEN

Luke

I startedawake and squinted into the unfamiliar darkness. No streetlights shining through thin curtains. No clunk of the fan on my dresser. Just an all-pervading deep silence, a presence all in itself. Except for... that. The distant mournful bellow of cattle.

The homestead.

What the hell time is it?

I rolled over to pick up my phone and the screen flashed one thirty.Ugh.Then I saw two unread texts sent in the previous minute and there was no need to guess what had woken me. I pushed up on one elbow and stared bleary-eyed at the screen. Then I blinked and looked again, and a slow smile spread over my face.

You up for some fun? You have five minutes before this offer expires.

Then a few seconds later:If you don’t want Spider to sound the alarm, use the window and take the long way around.

My phone shook in my hand as I texted back.On mu wsy.I corrected.my way

I had the sheet off and my feet on the floor when my phone buzzed for a third time and an image appeared of Zach sprawled across his bed with his erect dick in his hand. The porn-worthy filthy look on his face sent my balls into overdrive, and I was pretty sure I broke the record for yanking on a pair of jeans and a shirt. My boots were in the mudroom so that was a no-go and to hell with anything else.

I crossed to the window and eased the sash up as far as I could, wincing at the high-pitched screech of wood on wood that slashed through the silence.

Frozen in place, I held my breath and waited.

Nothing. Not even a concerned bark from Spider who was no doubt familiar with all the house noises. I was in the clear.

I stepped through the window and was hit by the lingering aroma of barbecued lamb and the welcoming cool of the mountain air pebbling my skin. A three-quarter moon hung in an inky sky lit with a million stars. It provided enough light for me to pick my way around the house without needing to use the light on my phone, but not quite enough to stop me from stubbing my toe on the garden edging.

“Shit, shit, shit!” I hissed. Maybe at least socks would’ve been the smarter choice. Too late. I hopped about on one foot until the sting eased and then tiptoe-ran across the crunchy dry grass, past the untidy circle of chairs, the empty beer bottles littering the ground between them, and on to the far back corner of the house.

Gil and Holden’s bedroom lay at the front with a window onto the lake. To avoid passing too close, I veered left through Gil’s precious vegetable garden, which was a big mistake. Big. Mistake. With only the moon to light my way, I was forced to navigate barefoot through a field of overgrown zucchinis while trying to avoid pumpkin vines scratching at my legs, ankle-breaking trenches left from old potato beds, and a complicated bean trellis thingy with decidedly homicidal tendencies.

Finally free on the other side, I scooted down the edge of the front lawn, the lake a velvety black shadow in the distance, the moonlight catching the tips of its rippling surface. Halfway down, I veered left between two camellias and skulked toward Tussock Cottage where Zach was standing naked at an open window, waiting.

“Through here.” He waved me over. “Watch out for—”

“Ow, fuck!” I came to an abrupt stop as a squillion prickles pierced the soles of my bare feet.

“The prickle weed,” he finished with a snort of laughter. “Come on. Hurry up before someone sees you.”

“Iamhurrying.” I hobbled my way the last couple of metres and Zach helped me through the window.

The minute I was inside, I made a dive for his bed. Zach slid the sash closed and was on me in an instant, crawling up my body to lick into my mouth with a desperation I could totally get on board with, except—

I clasped both hands around his head and lifted his face so I could look at him. “I have one word for you. Prickles.”

He glanced down at my bare feet and shook his head. “Where are your damn shoes?”

I shrugged. “They’re in the mudroom and I didn’t want to risk waking Spider.”

“Idiot.” He grinned and wriggled back down my body—mouthing my cock through my jeans as he passed—until he was kneeling on the floor in front of my feet.

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