Page 106 of Not That Ridiculous

“Mhm.”

I found the keyring in his sweatpants pocket and stood there flipping keys around. He had a lot. This thing was a weapon.

“Bring it over here and sit on me,” he said gruffly.

I was halfway across the room before his words percolated.

Kevin flung out an arm and made a grabby hand.

I got close enough to pass him the keyring, and stopped there.

“Sit on me,” he said again.

“I’ve got to go to work.”

“On my lap,” he coaxed. “Not my dick.”

“Okay.” Feeling awkward, I put a knee to the mattress, and yelped when he lunged up and grabbed me.

“Shit,” he said. “My nose. Stop flailing.”

“Sorry.”

He shuffled me about until I was perched on his lap, then turned his attention to his keyring. He squinted at it.

“Do you want me to turn the light on?”

“Ugh, no. I’ll wake all the way up if there’s light, and I’m nice and sleepy.”

I reached out and stroked his hair.

He made a happy noise and pushed into my touch even as he flipped through the keys. He worked one off, tongue poking out the corner of his mouth a little. “Here you go,” he said. “D’you want me to get you a copy made for Miss Lawson?”

“Oh. That would be so helpful. Only if you’re already going to…wherever they cut keys these days?”

“They do it at Sainsbury’s,” he said, “but, eh.” He pulled a face. “I’ll take it to B&Q. How many copies do you want? You’ve got one there and I’ve got one here.” He sent me a shifty look.

It was, I knew, way too early to be giving him a key. Also, if I did, then there was a very real chance that one day, I’d come home from work and discover that he’d installed an entirely new bathroom, or relaid my patio.

I pushed my fingers through his hair and said, “Well, once you’ve got Suzanne’s key cut and give me that one back—” I laughed when he pouted, “—probably it’d be good to have another spare for when I inevitably lose one, and maybe...”

“I’ll get two more cut, how’s that?” he said.

“That’d be great. Thanks, Kevin.”

“Mhm.” He put his arms behind his head and gazed up at me. “Now, why don’t you come all the way up here and sit on my fa?—”

“I’ve got to go,” I said quickly.

“You sure? I like it when?—”

“Nope. I’m sure. I’ve got to go.”

He sighed as if hard done-by. “Can I have a kiss then?”

“Yes.” I bent down and touched my lips to his. I was expecting him to try for more, but he didn’t. He kept it gentle, and that made it even harder to leave him there, but I managed.

Just.

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