Page 123 of Cross the Line
Game of Life?Also hidden.
Battleships?Tempted to cut a hole in the lake and sink it.
Monopoly?Might burn it when we’re done here.
Ifwe survive the non-friendly-friendly game.
Truth is, our family runs hot. I don’t want to make the atmosphere awkward for Finley and Eli. I don’t want them to see the crazy side of our family that goes feral over what’s meant to be fun.
I don’t want to scare them away.
Having them here is too good. I love watching them with my family—Finley laughing with Momma and the girls, Eli deep in conversation with Dad, The Sire, and Mom. I find myself just… basking in their warmth.
It’s the most centered I’ve ever been.
“Ba-gah…” Isla clucks beside me, wrapped in a pink blanket to match her onesie. “Chick-chick-chicken…Ba-gah!”
Finley bursts with a giggle. When I shoot her a scowl, she blows me a kiss, throwing me the napkin on her lap like a damsel favoring her knight before a joust.
“Can’t break with tradition, Peanut,” Momma croons, tugging two thermal blankets tighter with a visible shiver.
Meanwhile, Isla continues taunting. “Ba-ba-ba-gah…”
“Do you realize that we’re always on the same team?” I glare at her, and she beams one of her sickly-sweet grins.
“Exactly, so get your ass up, Nano, and let’s go!” Jumping up, she throws her blanket down on her seat before she grabs herBarbie-pink helmet from under it and puts it on. Isla pulls down the full face shield while hopping down the stairs leading to the lake.
Fuck.
Carnage incoming.
“Eli,” Dad calls from the edge, lacing up beside Mom. “Want to make this a fair match, Son?”
Son.
I’m grinning at the endearment when Eli looks at me in question. Dad’s the gatekeeper of the family, the grumpy parent who turns his nose up at all outsiders until they prove themselves in his eyes.
It’s why I’m grinning like an idiot when Eli stands with that perfect smirk that I want to worship with my lips and fuck with my tongue.
Jesus Christ.
My dick throbs while my eyes roam down the length of his body. Pausing at the heavy bulge accentuated by his compression leggings when he leans forward and makes a show of drinking his cooled green tea in one go.
Huh.The grumpy bastard’s teasing me on purpose.
And I dance to his tune like the lovesick fool I am. “I’m going to beat your ass, Bombshell.”
“Bring it, Sugar Cookie,” he says, setting his cup down and tucking his blanket over Finley’s shoulders with a kiss to her temple.
My insides pop and crackle at the affection between them. Sweet and warm, and why? Why are we out here when we could be playing a whole other different game between my sheets?
While inside for his skates, I trail him. The large fireplace in the double-height living room is lit, warming the cool winter light filtering through the double-stacked windows.
“Stalking your opponent could be seen as intimidation, Morrow,” Eli chuckles from the little walk-in by the front door.
“Not when he’s my boyfriend,” I shoot back as he swings his skates over his shoulder and meanders to me.
“Sweet talk won’t make me go easy on you, Sunshine.” Eli brings his face close to mine.
