Page 61 of Just A Little Magic

Barrett tapped my hip to get me moving. He marched downstairs like a man on a mission. After a brief stop in his office to grab an already printed list of interests, he installed me at the kitchen table with a pen while he prepped chicken for roasting.

After about twenty minutes, I held my list over my head in triumph. “And done.” That was enough to stop the waves of annoyance rolling off Bear.

Bear looked over his shoulder and gave me a crooked grin. I responded with my own and it felt like a full weight had been lifted from me.

“Could you please go get mine? It’s in my office and should be right on top.”

I dutifully nodded and headed over there. When I got close to Bear, he snagged my arm and pulled me close. Beinganywhere near this man sent my body into overdrive. His proximity was enough to send a flush of heat up my cheeks.

“Thank you, babe.”

His words were said into the side of my neck where he’d buried his face. His nose nuzzled the skin behind my ear, and I went weak in the knees. I might have crumpled just a bit because Bear’s deep chuckle implied I might not be as smooth as I hoped. With a yelp from me, he hoisted me up on the countertop. He stayed between my legs and just grinned at me.

“What?”

“What?”

“Why are you staring at me? You’re making it weird.”

Barrett leaned forward and nibbled along my neck. I didn’t want to be rude, so I lifted my chin to provide better access for him. His mouth found the pulse point at the base of the neck, and he sucked on it.

My blood turned to fire and my muscles turned to jelly. I felt his mouth smile against my skin and the movement sent a shiver through me. He pulled back long enough to card his fingers through my hair and draw my mouth to his. His tongue slipped between my lips and danced with mine.

It was a lazy kiss that lovers secure in their standing would share. It surprised me that Bear and I were sharing one, but I wanted a million more. There was no rush or sense of urgency, just sweet kisses in a kitchen on a random evening.

“Jesus, babe, you taste so good,” Bear whispered against my lips after he’d drawn back for some air.

I chased his mouth because I wasn’t ready for it to end. Bear obliged and captured my mouth again. I wrapped my legs around his hips and deepened the kiss. What had been languid turned hurried and desperate. My throaty mewls punctuated the air and I desperately wanted him.

Bear yanked my hips forward so we were grinding againsteach other. My cock was swollen behind my zipper and Bear’s was the same in his shorts. My hands found their way from clutching Bear’s back to cupping his ass.

“Ugh, we can’t start more than we can finish.” His harsh breathing made me feel so damn powerful. “We have to do other things before we go further. Stuff that should have been done before.”

Bear was right, of course, but that didn’t mean I liked it. I wanted him.

“Fine, we’ll do it your way.”

I untangled my legs and pushed him back a few steps. I jumped off the counter and headed to his office. The list was where he said it would be, but I got distracted by the photos dotting the room. There were a few of his mom and an obligatory one of his dad, but the rest were either of us or of me alone.

I’d been in this office countless times, but the photos had never registered. Our trip to Cabo was a few years ago, and I got horribly sunburned. We’d spent most of the vacation in our condo watching telenovelas we didn’t understand and eating from all the restaurants we wanted to try, which thankfully delivered.

There were a few from our trip to Salem to visit where I spent my childhood and where my family spent the previous three hundred-something years. My favorite was the trip to Italy, where we decided to plan nothing and just wake up and see what happened. It was so much fun exploring with him.

“Could you not find it?” Barrett asked when he swept into the room. “It’s right here on the desk.” He stopped when he noticed me looking at all the pictures.

“Have these always been here?”

Bear came up behind me and wrapped his arms around my shoulders.

“Yeah. Babe, have you seriously never noticed them? I add to it every time we go on a trip.”

“Am I the reason your relationships never last?” I hated the idea that our friendship had kept him from finding love with someone.

“Where did that come from? I’ve had successful relationships.”

“Yeah, when? Because you’re not in one now and haven’t been for a while. I guess the guys you date seem to last longer than the women, but still. Is that because of me?”

Barrett sighed before he answered. “Yes and no. No, because I’m in charge of my own life. Yes, because it’s hard for them to measure up to you. Realistically, who wants to put up with that long-term? They get tired of it. We’ve always been a package deal, babe.”

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