Rush: The Season (Austin Arrows Book 1)(66)

Her muscles tense beneath my fingers.

“Whatever you gave me worked like a charm.”

I smile to myself. I gave her an orgasm, but I doubt she’s referring to that.

I’ve been replaying that scene over and over in my head ever since I tucked her into bed, then got comfortable on the couch. I remembered to set an alarm to ensure that I was awake before Bianca got up. The last thing I want is for the kid to think I stayed over. I doubt Bianca would think anything of it, but I know how Ellie is about that. She never allows men to sleep over. I’m not even sure I can remember a time when she introduced one to Bianca.

That makes me think about Bianca’s Facebook post. It bothers me a little that Ellie doesn’t trust me when it comes to that. She said she monitors Bianca’s Facebook, so she must know. Spencer hasn’t mentioned it, either, but I haven’t brought it up. I’m not sure there’s a good way. I can’t see myself blurting the question out, asking whether he knows that his sister is trying to locate her Vegas hookup. Probably the type of question that’ll get me punched. Especially since it’s not supposed to be my business.

Or it really isn’t my business.

Either way.

It doesn’t matter because I know Ellie’s a phenomenal mother. Everything she does reflects that. Every decision she has made since the day she found out she was pregnant proves that Bianca is the most important thing in her world. I respect that. She loves Bianca and only wants her to be happy, so if finding her dad will ensure that, I can see why she’d do it.

“You don’t have to stay,” Ellie says, pulling me from my thoughts.

I realize I’ve been standing there kneading her shoulders while she picks at her food.

“We need to talk,” I tell her before she tells me all the things she has to do today and why I should head out.

“About what? The orgasm?”

I grin, walking back to the island and pouring her a glass of orange juice, then setting it on the counter beside her plate.

“It was just an orgasm,” she says around a mouthful of bacon.

“Just an orgasm, yeah?” I seriously doubt that. “If that’s the case, then maybe I need to try a little harder next time.”

Ellie’s gaze meets mine. “Will there be a next time, Kingston? Do you think that’s wise? We can chalk last night up to too much tequila … on my part. I begged you. You’re off the hook.”

That is one thing I admire about this woman. She doesn’t beat around the bush, always saying it like it is, laying it all on the line. However, she’s wrong this time.

“I didn’t do it because you begged.” Although it helped to speed things along, I did it because I wanted to. I can own up to my actions.

“Fine. But that doesn’t mean we should do it again.”

“Only, we should definitely do it again,” I argue.

She takes a bite of eggs. “That doesn’t answer my second question.”

Right. Second question. Do I think it’s wise? “I don’t see an issue with it.” I brace my hands on the counter behind me as I prop myself up with the counter.

“Where’s it gonna go?”

“Who knows.”

“Then why would we want to go there?”

“Do you even remember last night?”

She blushes, clearly remembering.

“Then you know that’s a dumb question.”

“Fine. What if it ruins our friendship?”

Yeah, I’ve thought about that, and that’s definitely something I worry about, but for whatever reason, I’m blinded by my feelings for her. And it isn’t simply lust. But that is definitely a powerful contributing factor.

“We won’t let it,” I tell her.

“Right.” Ellie snorts and it’s oddly cute. “And we can make that call.”

“We can.” Why can’t we?

“Friends with benefits?” The corner of her mouth turns up. “Isn’t that a little cliché?”

“You’re the one who said it, not me.”

“But you’re up for just sex?”

With her? No.

Will I tell her that? No.

“I think I can handle it.”

“I’ve heard you’re really bossy. And you’re into kinky stuff,” she says, biting off the end of another slice of bacon. She waves the uneaten part of her bacon at me. “What if I don’t like that?”

I don’t respond right away. I stand there, watching her. My body’s hardening from the conversation alone. My cock is pushing against the zipper of my jeans, and I want to free it, to stroke myself while she watches. I know she’ll like to watch.

That’s the thing about Ellie. She’s open and honest about anything and everything. And I’ve known her for a long damn time. We’ve had discussions about everything from food to hockey to why guys like to watch lesbian porn… The point is, we’ve talked about everything. And I’ve picked up on the things that excite her. She might say she doesn’t want a man who takes charge when it comes to her pleasure, but she does. She totally does.

“If you keep looking at me like that, I’m gonna spontaneously combust,” Ellie says, taking a sip of her orange juice as she chews. “And I don’t think that’s gonna help your cause.”