Page 14 of Lockout

“True, true, but I spend weeks watching them first,” Isla countered. “And the way Lockout just acted with Keely? He’s into her. For more than sex,” she clarified before I could say anything.

“I agree,” Seek said. “He’s been getting more and more…”

“Irritable,” Jenny suggested.

“Yeah, irritable is a nice way to say it,” Seek replied. “It’s like you leaving twisted him up in knots, and every day those knots have been tightening.”

“Trust us,” Jenny said with a twinkle in her eyes. “Lockout wants more from you than just sex.”

“He’s probably not going to admit it though,” Susie pointed out.

“Yeah, since he hasn’t yet,” Tori added.

“Why wouldn’t he just take what he wants?” Daisha asked with a frown.

“That’s the million-dollar question,” Seek said. Her eyes narrowed on me. “The other question is what’s holdingyouback?”

I gave her a weak smile. “You want me to just waltz up to that gorgeous sexy man and tell him that I want to marry him?”

Dani gasped and clapped her hands together. Billie was pulling my sister close and squeezing her to within an inch of her life.

“No,” I said, pointing at them. “Don’t do that. I can’tdothat!”

“I have a suggestion,” Isla said.

They all groaned.

She scowled at them. “What?”

“You’re going to tell her to walk up to him and offer to sleep with him,” Billie said with a grin.

“Hey. It works. You lure him in with pussy and before he knows it he’s trapped.” Isla shrugged and finished the wine in her glass.

Sloane let out a gentle cough and everyone focused on her. “I think Isla’s right.”

My jaw wasn’t the only one hanging open. We were all floored by Sloane’s admission.

“It allows you both to get closer,” she said. “And then maybe both of you can let down some of your walls.” She gave me a wry smile. “It worked for Rip and I. If we hadn’t been forced into marriage, and into a physical relationship, I’m not sure I would’ve ever been ready to trust a man.”

“She’s making sense,” Seek said.

“Hey!” Isla interjected. “When I said it you all looked at me like I was crazy. But she says it, and it makes sense?”

They all seemed to consider that and as a group nodded. Isla threw her hands up but she was grinning. “Fine. Whatever.”

“Or you could just have him knock you up,” Dani said.

Staring at her in horror, I choked out, “What?”

She shrugged. “I thought we were throwing out things that worked for us?” She looked around then winced. “Got me Smoke, didn’t it?”

Everyone laughed at that.

I looked at the group of women and huffed out another laugh. “Fine.” When their eyes widened, I said, “To Isla’s idea,” I clarified, glaring at my sister, “not Dani’s.” She shrugged, but was grinning at me. “How the hell am I even supposed to startthatconversation though?”

“I wouldn’t recommend a conversation at all,” Jenny advised. “I’d just kiss him.”

My brows shot up. “Well, that would be one way.”

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