Four Letter Word (Love Logic #2) - K.M. Neuhold Page 0,47

up here? We’re on the second story.”

He shrugged and smiled at me, and there was something about the curve of his lips, the twinkle in his eye, the way he simply climbed inside without even asking if he could come in, that made heat bloom inside me. It felt like I was waking up for the first time. He found his footing and dusted himself off, laughing quietly to himself.

“I always wondered if I could climb that tree.” He jerked his thumb toward the large oak with the sturdy branches that extended over the roof outside my bedroom window. “I figured there was no time like the present to finally find out.”

I wanted to grab him and kiss him. He was always the type of person to think things through and go the safe route, but for some reason he climbed a tree and for just a second that made me want to be brave too.

I didn’t kiss him that night though. I didn’t work up the courage until seven years later. Seven years was too long to wait to kiss Bishop, and I won’t make that mistake again.

On my way down the steps, I see Riot coming up.

“Hey,” he says, sounding a little surprised to see me here. He stops on the stairs and smiles at me. “Did you talk to Bishop?”

“Kind of.” I can’t stop grinning.

“Looks like it went well,” he says with a hint of amusement.

“He said he’ll come by my place later this week so we can talk. And he mentioned that you two are polyamorous.”

He nods. “We are. I would’ve told you the other night, but I felt like it wasn’t my place to say anything if he wasn’t ready for you to know.”

“I get it,” I assure him. I’m actually glad to know he’s the type of person who cares about protecting Bishop’s privacy, even if it’s from me. “Speaking of the other night, you never did let me peek at your notebook,” I remind him.

He chuckles, taking a small step forward as he tugs his lip ring between his teeth. “I don’t have it with me,” he says. “Maybe you should give me your number so we can hang out again.”

“Yeah?” We had fun talking over dinner, so much fun I was annoyingly disappointed when it ended without us exchanging numbers.

“I mean, if you want to see my...notebook.” The way he purrs the word makes it sound like he’s offering to show me a lot more, and the idea isn’t repulsive. I drag my eyes over his body shamelessly. Between his dyed hair, the tattoos on his arms, and the piercings on his face, he’s not my type at all, but that message doesn’t seem to reach my cock. I’m still half hard from kissing Bishop, and the way Riot is looking at me threatens to get me the rest of the way there.

Instead of responding to the teasing question, I hold my hand out so he can give me his phone. I quickly type in my number. I wonder if he has anything else pierced and if he’d let me trace his inked skin with my tongue.

I clear my throat and pass his phone back to him. Just because Bishop said they aren’t exclusive doesn’t mean he wants me hooking up with the same guy he is. Hell, for years I’ve been going home from the bar with other men, often more than one at a time, in an effort to remind myself that Bishop said he didn’t want to be serious, and I think I’m sick of casual. Maybe when he comes by to talk, I’ll have the courage to tell him that I can’t not be serious about him anymore.

If Paxton can settle down and get serious with someone, why can’t I have that too?

“I’ll see you around,” I say before I can say or do anything stupid. I’m good at fucking up situations, too good most of the time, so it’s best to walk away while I can.

“See you,” he agrees, pocketing his phone and continuing on his way up the stairs.

Riot

Bishop’s door opens only seconds after I knock, a delicious smell wafting from inside, making my stomach growl. I stick my nose in the air and sniff, the sugary sweet smell causing my mouth to water.

“Is Leo baking again?” I ask, realizing as the words leave my lips that there’s a hint of a growl to them that only seems to slip out when sex or sweets are