Page 117 of The Backup Plan
“The drink was a good idea,” she said, her voice going hoarse as she lifted the bottle. “See? Logical reason to be in the kitchen.” She nearly dropped it when he plunged his fingers inside her.
“That’s mine,” he whispered in her ear. “And every inch of me is yours. And when you’ve had enough public foreplay, I will strip you down and ravish you private.” He did a quick check of the room and squeezed her breast hard.
“Why do you make me want to get caught?” she asked. “You got it stuck in my head that I want someone to walk in here and notice you’re missing a hand. My face is probably bright red.”
“It is. And I don’t care what they think of my life outside football. Jordan slept with whoever he wanted that week. I’ll touch my girlfriend at a party if I want to.”
She giggled and set down her drink. “And we’re all alone. I guess there will be other parties if no one will oblige us this time.” She pulled him close for a kiss.
“One more try.”
He thrust his fingers into her again and beckoned with them, pulling her to the very edge of the counter so she wrapped her legs around his back to steady herself. The soft strokes of his thumb unwound her spine. She wobbled and leaned back, gasping and gripping the edge of the counter as he attacked her neck with his mouth.
“You lose,” he whispered, lips pressed to her ear. “That’s not a straight face. Anyone who sees us now will know.”
“We can go now. Oh God, that feels so good. Let’s go.”
“Yeah, that’s probably a good idea.”
Cameron whipped his head around and Avery peeked over her shoulder to see her brother, red-faced and scowling in the kitchen doorway. He wouldn’t meet her eyes.
“This is not exactly what I meant when I said I didn’t mind the idea of you with my sister,” he said, brows lowered as he approached Cam. “I meant dating her and treating her with the respect she deserves, not getting your hands up her dress at a party full of our teammates whose respect you need to keep.”
“I’m not in the mood for your moralizing,” Avery said, pushing Cam back. She flinched as his fingers slipped out of her. “We were just leaving.”
“I was talking to Cam.”
“If you are so concerned for my virtue, then you are also talking to me.” She moved to Cam’s side and took his hand.
“Your virtue is your own business. Your reputation is mine and his too, because we’re a part of it. And it’s bad enough how it looks like you just turned from one guy to the next one about five minutes later, but?—”
“That is not how it happened, and if you would ever call me back, I’d have told you everything,” she said, seething.
“I know enough about how it happened. I don’t care if you secretly got married. You two looked ready to fuck right there on the counter, and that’s not okay.”
“It’s a party full of couples, Justin. Half the house is all over their partners right now,” Cam pointed out. “I assume you walked down the hall to get here. How many people did you trip over? You’re pissed that it’s Avery and me. That’s all.”
“I’m pissed because I came down here to get a water and an ice pack so I can sleep off what is either a mild concussion or a bad headache, and I walk in on my sister with my buddy who looks about ready to get his head between her knees.”
“The head-under-the-dress thing is more of a dinner party move,” Avery said. “Whoops, I dropped my napkin, sweetheart.”
Cam didn’t hear her. “You took a bad hit today, man? I didn’t see.”
“Middle of the fourth, but I didn’t feel sick until later. They did the list and the tests after the game when I reported it.”
“No results?”
“Inconclusive. I’ll get a CT tomorrow, and we go from there.” He grabbed his hair and winced. “In the meantime, I’m supposed to lie quietly in a dark room and not get too worked up.”
“I’m glad you told them and got checked out.” Cam reached for his shoulder.
“Not with that hand, buddy.” Justin swatted him away and looked at his sister, eyes pained. “Avie, what are you doing?”
“I’m making out with my boyfriend at a private party with all my clothes on. I am entirely sober and enthusiastically consenting. And I’m sorry you didn’t want to see that, but if your little setup had worked and you walked in on me and Isaac like that, would your reaction have been any different?”
Justin was silent, and Avery held his gaze. They slowed and synchronized their breathing.
“I’m glad to see you,” she whispered. “I’m sorry you got hurt.”