Scoring Wilder(69)

"How do you guys feel about watching a movie? I have tons of popcorn and candy," Penn asked as I swam closer to them.

"Sounds fun. You had Liam at candy, I’m sure," I teased, eying him over my shoulder. He was still standing in the middle of the pool, where'd I'd left him, probably trying to contain his erection that I knew was hiding beneath the surface.

Hah. Looks like I won after all.

"Only if it's peanut M&M's, baby," Liam winked, with an over the top southern accent.

I shook my head and swam toward the edge of the pool. I was wrapping a towel around myself when Becca got my attention with a small wave. Her eyes were wide and she kept trying to mouth something at me.

“What?” I whispered.

She widened her eyes and mouthed it again. I think she either said “Weeds in the wok” or “We need to talk”. Knowing Becca it could have been the first phrase, but I chose to go with the latter. I nodded and then mentioned something to the guys about needing to check my phone. Becca scurried after me, her movements falling at about negative one-thousand on the secretive scale.

The second we were alone she grabbed my arm.

"I think Penn wants me to stay here tonight," she admitted with a pale face.

"So? That's good, right?"

She frowned and wrung out her hands. "I don't think I'm ready for that. I definitely want to be with him, but I need you guys as a buffer. What if we suggest something like a big sleepover? Are things with you and Liam heating up? Maybe we could all stay at Penn's house?"

Even though her idea seemed childish, it also sounded really fun. I knew Penn wouldn’t mind considering how into Becca he was. And what guy doesn’t want to build a blanket fort with two chicks? Answer: They all do. It’s probably one of the top watched porns: sex in a haphazardly constructed blanket fort. Every guy’s wet dream.

"That sounds like fun. We'll play it my ear, but I have your back. No worries."

All right, I sort of just wanted to build that fort.





Chapter Twenty


When we came back out, the guys were sitting on the lounge chairs chatting, probably about soccer. What else did two professional soccer players discuss?

Liam looked up as we were making our way over.

"Kinsley, let's go to my house and change clothes and then we can come back to watch the movie," he said, standing up and heading over.

I nodded, and when he was close enough so that I didn't have to announce it to everyone, I whispered, "Do you think I'll be staying here tonight?" I couldn't meet his eyes but my cheeks were burning.

His small smile said it all. "Of course, I won't let you drive back to LA this late, and besides, I want to sleep with you."

Sleep with me! I practically squirmed on the spot.

"I have an idea," I announced to the group, suddenly agreeing with Becca's plan. "What if we have a giant sleepover? We can go grab stuff from Liam's place and then head back over..."

Liam's smile widened and he shook his head slowly. Not as if he was saying no, but because he seemed amused. "We can do the sleepover at my house. I have a movie room with couches that are comfortable enough to sleep on."

I didn't expect him to buy the plan so easily, but I suspected he was trying to make it easy on Becca and me.

"Sounds good," Penn answered. "We'll meet you guys over there in a little bit."

Becca shot me a grateful smile and then she followed Penn up the stairs.

"C'mon, we can get to my house from the beach," Liam said, taking my hand and the cover-up so that I couldn't put it back on.

"You don't need this, we're only walking a short ways," he declared as I arched my brow.

"Mhmm, I'm sure that's the reason," I teased as his gaze drifted down my body.

"All of my fantasies did not live up to the real thing... I think I need a few more minutes before you put clothes back on," he teased confidently, making me feel even more exposed.

I laughed and shook my head. Fantasies, my ass.

"Did Becca want you to suggest the sleepover thing?" he asked gently.

I bit my lip wondering if I should throw her under the bus. Maybe he would tell Penn. "Well technically it was her idea, but I thought it would be fun. Are you upset?"

He watched me explain and then narrowed his eyes. "It's probably for the best. I want to spend time with you, but if we were alone, we’d be going straight to my bed right now."

His words coated me like honey and I tried to shake off the allure.

"Well you can take me to your bedroom," I winked, "...for a change of clothes."

He laughed and tugged my hand as we ascended the stairs to his house. It was even more beautiful up close. The design was open and inviting. Warm white hues and bright blue accents filled the living room and kitchen.

"This is where I like to spend my time when I can get away from the LA house,” he said as he tugged me past the kitchen that looked straight out of a magazine. “I was having a few things fixed so they had the water and electricity cut off for the past few weeks.”

I guess we were passing the tour all together. I was getting a glimpse of each room as he continued pulling me toward his bedroom.

"I completely agree about it feeling like a home." I smiled up at him and our eyes locked for a moment. I think he was glad I appreciated his house. But to be honest, anyone would.