“You want to play against me?” Aiden asks, holding out a controller to her.
“As long as that cat doesn’t come near me,” she says, narrowing her eyes at Tiger. “I swear he hates me.”
“He can sense that you’re a dog person,” Leila jokes.
“I’ll give you a real challenge as opposed to Grayson,” Aiden says with a teasing grin.
Grayson narrows his eyes, raising two hands to flip him off before he turns back to Rosie, who’s laughing. “You think that’s funny?” he asks her.
She raises a shoulder. “A little,” she teases.
Grayson’s head shakes as he breathes out a laugh, pulling her into him. “Oh, you like to tease, huh?” he asks. “Well, sodo I.” His hand skates around her thighs as he lifts her onto his lap to straddle him.
She gasps when he lifts himself off the couch, Rosie’s legs wrapped around his waist. “Grayson.” Her arms fling around his neck to support herself.
“Don’t wait up for us,” he tells us, slamming the living room door closed behind him.
The silence in the room brews until Aiden lets out a laugh. “Try living with them,” he says.
“Is anyone else turned on?” James asks.
Gabi snorts a laugh, lifting her hand to high-five him. “Hell yeah.” She grabs the controller and leans forward.
“Is this what you guys do all day?” Lucas asks, pulling me onto his lap when he sits on an armchair. “Play video games?” He snorts. “Useful college degrees, I see.”
Aiden shakes his head, starting up a new game with Gabi. “You have to have fun sometimes. It’s not all about work.” He grins, turning to face Lucas. “Which I guess you’ll see since you’ll be joining us soon.”
“You’re coming to Redfield?” Carter asks.
Lucas nods, his arm tightening around my waist. “Yeah, I applied a few weeks back.”
“What about you?” Carter asks James, his brows raised.
He shakes his head. “Nah, I can’t afford this place.” Lucas leans forward on his chair, but James’ head snaps to him, holding out a hand. “And before you say anything, don’t,” he warns him. “I’m good at Liberty,” James assures him with a nod. Lucas leans back, breathing out a sigh. “Besides, I’ll come visit. I am dating someone from Redfield, after all.” James laughs, shaking his head. “God, someone kill me.”
Lucas laughs, but Carter narrows his eyes at his boyfriend. “Excuse me?”
“Nothing, babe.” He leans in, kissing him. “I was just kidding.”
I turn to see Lucas’ eyes on James, a smile on his lips. “Is it weird?” I ask him.
He shrugs. “A little,” he admits. “He’s always been the hook-up kind, even after the accident.” He shakes his head, lost in thought. “But I’m glad to see him settle down with somebody. He deserves to be happy.” Lucas turns his gaze on me, reaching up to caress my face. “He deserves to feel what I feel whenever I’m with you.”
My stomach warms, and my heart beats, but I let out a laugh. “That was so cheesy,” I tell him, secretly loving it. “But I guess I’ll allow it.”
“Good,” he says, wrapping his hand around the back of my neck. “Because now that you’re mine… I should warn you I’m going to be so fucking cheesy, romantic, clingy, you name it.”
“Yeah?” I think I kind of like that.
He nods. “Kissing you,” he whispers, pressing his lips to my cheek. “Touching you.” His hand traces a lazy path down my arm, causing my body to break out into goosebumps like it always does when I’m with him. His lips tilt up, brushing against the shell of my ear. “Whispering dirty things in your ear.” A low moan escapes me, and he chuckles. “You like that?”
I open my mouth to respond, but I’m shocked by Gabi clearing her throat, making me snap up. “A little reminder that you’re still in public,” she says, amusement written all over her face. “Before you two fuck on that chair.”
“Yeah, there’s a kid in the room,” Aiden says, gesturing to Tiger who’s asleep on Leila’s lap.
My body heats with embarrassment, and I turn to Lucas, my brows knitted together. “This is your fault.”
“I’m sorry,” he says, rubbing his hand up and down my back, a subtle laugh rumbling through his chest. “I’ll make it up to you when we get home.”
