I sink down a little trying to free myself from her indelicate stronghold as she lands her chest in my face, round and soft like flesh-covered pillows.
Her lips come in for the kill—then in an unexpected move, she flies back with a jolt and lands flat on the floor.
“Oh, I’m so sorry!” Laken feigns a look of surprise.
My entire body loosens when I see her.
Laken showing up on the scene like some estrogen powered superhero makes my lips curve with a devilish smile.
“I didn’t see you standing there,” she continues to Grayson. “I just tripped right into you.”
I try to hold back a laugh. Our eyes lock, and the room disintegrates to a black and white world of shadow and light. Laken brings the color. Laken is water and oxygen, and everything I need to survive, but I don’t tell her that—most likely never will.
Kresley is quick to the rescue, offering her buddy a hand off the floor as the two of them glower at Laken. Grayson cuts me a look that could smash my balls like a hammer, so I break our gaze and stare out at the crowd for a moment.
“If you ever get tired of playing with little girls, let me know.” She gravels it out so low it sounds like a threat.
Kres gets in Laken’s face, and for a second I’m thinking the claws are coming out.
“I’ll find Wes and send him over.” Kres bites down over her pink lip as she twists into Laken. “I wouldn’t want him to miss his ‘girlfriend’ hitting on another guy.” The two of them stalk off into the crowd. I wish they’d magically disappear. I wish a lot of people would disappear from Ephemeral, and Laken’s “boyfriend” is at the top of the list.
“That went well.” Laken bats those dark lashes at me. Just one look at those sea glass eyes, and my stomach tightens in a knot. “I mean”—she glances down, holding back a smile—“I really didn’t see her.”
A silent laugh rumbles through me.
“And, I’ve got someplace I really ‘don’t mean’ to take you.” I slip my hand low over her waist and walk her backward into the kitchen. Laken smolders into me like she wants this, like she wants us.
I pull her inside the pantry and secure it shut by way of my shoe.
“Tell me everything.” I rub my lips over her ear as I whisper the words.
“Coop.” She buries her face in my chest. “It was horrible. I did the unthinkable— I killed.” She blinks up with tears lining her lashes.
“It’s okay. You did what you had to.” I let out a breath. “You’re in now. Wes knows he can trust you, that’s all we need.”
We. My chest rumbles at the thought.
“There is a we.” Laken says it meekly while stroking the back of my neck with her fingers. “We’re a team remember?”
“Yes—I do.” I pull her in and take in the scent from her hair. “We’re a team.” But Wes is out there waiting for her, and the Counts have my balls hogtied at the moment. “Homework assignment.” I pull back trying to sound playful, but really I’m getting down to brass tacks. “Tell Wes you’re ready for the next step—that you want to dig in deep. If you’re hungry enough, he won’t deny you.” God knows I wouldn’t.
Laken presses out a soft smile, her fingers still spinning slowly over the back of my head.
“I know you wouldn’t deny me anything, Cooper Flanders.” Her breathing grows erratic, she pushes in close as if she’s about to kiss me, but I pull out of reach like the moron I am.
“Sorry,” I whisper. “I don’t want you to have any feelings of remorse—or guilt around Wes. He’s like an animal. He’ll pick up on it. The last thing we want is for him to put up a wall.” Which is true, but I could’ve said all that crap after she landed her mouth over mine.
She lets out a little laugh with her chest crushing against me until I feel every flawless curve.
“That’s what I like best about you, Coop. You’re nothing but a perfect gentleman.” Her porcelain skin glows under the dim light slicing through the pantry.
I don’t always plan on being a perfect gentleman with Laken, but I don’t say it. And I don’t mind at all if she heard.
Laken lays her cheek against my chest and closes her eyes a moment. Her hand travels down my spine so achingly slow it takes everything in me