Page 78 of The Billionaires' Gamble
Katherine shrugs, looking sheepish. “I didn’t realize it was so easy to scale the wall.”
Alex runs a hand through his hair, and I’m pretty sure he gives it a little tug.
“I just like the smell of the air out here,” she explains. “Especially in the springtime when things are blooming.”
Alex steps closer, ghosting a hand over her lower back until she turns, settling into his arms. With my good eye, I watch her stretch up and kiss him. The jerk groans. Fucking groans. Like I’m not sitting here wanting my own kiss. And he just stole it.
We never should have let him in. If he wants a goodnight kiss, he should have to climb through her window.
But he lifts his head and runs a thumb over her bottom lip. “Good night, Katie Bird.”
“It’s only for tonight,” she says, as if realizing just how much he misses her. And then she turns those blue-green eyes my way. “I was so tired. Shon and I were talking, and we fell asleep.”
“We don’t mind,” Alex says, glancing my way for agreement.
I nod, even though what I really want is to pull her into my lap and make her promise all her nights to us. But I guess that’s not fair.
Still, why do we have to share her? I mean, we already share her with each other.
“Enjoy your time with your friend. We’ll be here.” With that, he steps back, his hand falling away. She follows him to the door.
“Lock this behind me. And lock your window. Don’t make me put one of my guys out there.”
Her gasp is so soft because she knows he’ll do it. And because I know her so well, she hates the idea of inconveniencing anyone more than she already has.
“I will. Just as soon as I take care of this one.” She jerks a thumb at me.
The corner of Alex’s mouth tugs up into a smirk, and then he strides out into the night. Does he have to be so damned fine and thoughtful? No wonder Wildfire’s crazy about him.
“Feeling any better?” She moves back to my side, and I spread my thighs, making room for her.
“Not really.”
The truth is, my skin is ice cold, and the throbbing has lessened. But I want to see what she’ll do. Nurse Wildfire has a nice ring to it.
“Let me see.”
I drop the cold pack to my lap because it’s probably the only thing that’s going to keep my hard-on at bay.
“It’s pinker now from the cold.”
“Maybe if you kiss it, it’ll feel better.”
She smirks. “Did you get yourself punched just so I’d kiss you?”
“I didn’t know she was there.”
“Mhmm. I believe you.” She doesn’t. It’s all there in her teasing tone.
Thank goodness she appreciates my humor and puts up with me.
“I’m telling the truth,” I promise, free hand over my heart.
She leans in close, hands on my thighs, and tips her forehead against mine. For endless moments, neither of us moves. We just exist, breathing each other in.
“I know.” Then she presses a feather-light kiss to my nose. Peppering her lips up the bridge, then across my forehead, circling downward until those sweet lips gloss over my injury.
I don’t know what the science says, but I feel better instantly.
