Page 92 of Cloudless
My ass cheek hugs the edge of my seat as I try to move out of her orbit. “No. You know we don’t party like that.”
I’ve had a strict no alcohol rule since I turned twenty-one. I refuse to end up like my father.
How she pouts her lips with all the filler in them, I’ll never know. “Aww, come on, Kam.” Her pink-tipped nails brush down my shoulder, and I recoil from her touch like I’ve been burned. “It’ll be soooo much fun.”
I open my mouth to reply, but don’t get a chance. A familiar hand slips under hers to replace the chill of her touch with a warmth that seeps into my bones. “He said no, Kim.” Lila’s eyes blaze with a fire that sets my heart ablaze.
Kim’s boney fingers dig into her hips as she lets out a huff of annoyance. “Kam’s a big boy. He can make his own decisions.”
A smirk blooms on Lila’s face as her ass lands in my lap, right where she belongs. “He already did.” My arm immediately finds its place around her waist, a possession as certain as the name written across her back.
My eyes lock with Lila’s as laughter erupts from the surrounding tables. I don’t bother looking away to confirm that Kim has stormed off to find her posse that will help her self-esteem recover.
The heat of her body seeps through my layers of clothes as I pull her closer. I hardly recognize my voice with the amount of pride flowing through it. “That was the sexiest thing I have ever seen.” Judging by the look in her eyes, I know she can feel the evidence of that growing in my pants.
It’s not just that she stood up to Kim for me, it’s that we felt like a unit. An unbreakable force that can withstand the test of time and nature.
Lila’s fingers weave into the hair at the nape of my neck as some of the fire fades from her eyes. “You’re mine, Kamden Stryker.”
My heart fights to crawl out of my chest to fall at her feet. Her words sink into me like aloe on the burns left behind by those that came before her.
A slow clap starts up around us as Dax’s voice shines with approval. “That was even better than Kam’s hat trick.”
Ellie’s face stretches in an impossibly large smile as she vibrates in her seat. “I couldn’t be prouder of you, L. I can’t wait to tell Posey. She will flip her lid.”
The absence of the twins is felt around the table, but we all know how big of a deal it is for them to have their first overnight visit with their grandparents. My voice is a feather-light kiss against Lila’s cheek as I whisper, “Do you have any plans tonight?” Her smile turns shy as she shakes her head. “I have an idea.”
“Should I be worried?”
My shrug shifts her in my lap. “I guess you’ll just have to wait and see.”
CHAPTER 42
NO PEEKING
LILA
I remember how excited my mom was when she found this huge couch. Her words ring through my mind like I heard them only yesterday.
“Now that is a proper movie watching couch!”
Now, this giant couch feels miniature compared to the giant hockey player sitting on it next to me. The glow from the lamp in the corner of the room showcases Kam’s profile like a work of art as he unwraps the box on the coffee table.
I don’t even try to hide the skepticism from my voice as a smile takes over my face. “Are you sure about this?”
His grin only makes my smile grow. “Not even a little bit. This was one of my other ideas for our first date.”
He waves his hand around to overcome the glue-like static that has permanently attached a stray piece of plastic to the side of his hand. I don’t even try to contain my laugh as a paint tube falls to the floor. “You know this will only end in disaster, right?”
His eyes shine as they connect with mine. “Oh, definitely. In fact, I’m counting on it.” He raises his brows as his hand stalls mid-air. “You’re not even going to try to help me? I see how it is. Laugh at the guy who’s losing a fight to a piece of plastic.”
I roll my eyes in mock annoyance as my laugh grows. “I’m having way too much fun to interrupt,” I wave my hand in his general direction, “whatever it is you’re doing. It’s clearly working so well.”
The mischievous look that takes over his face reminds me so much of his sister. “Just remember, you asked for this.”
His speed on the ice makes an appearance as he grabs a handful of discarded plastic and dumps it over my head. It rains down on me like fresh snow as my jaw falls to the floor. “You didnotjust do that, Kamden Stryker!”
His eyes hold no remorse as his laugh breaks free. “Has anyone ever told you how cute you are when you’re mad?”
