Page 34 of The Attack Zone

“Woah, woah, woah,” I start. “Don’t get ahead of yourself, buddy.”

He laughs and leans forward, placing a kiss on my forehead. “I know,” he says. It’s sweet and cute and very much not what I’d expect from Mitch Greggs. Not after the way he just kissed me. It’s worrisome. But I press forward.

“I’d like to propose something,” I say.

It’s probably a bad idea.

No, it’sdefinitelyahorribleidea.

But I can’t help that I want Mitch. There’s no avoiding it, and there’s no avoiding him. We’re stuck in this group of friends and working together. I might as well get laid in the process.

“Enemies with benefits,” I say.

His eyes flash with a confusing mix of fire and annoyance.

“Friends,” he says.

“Huh?” I ask.

“I’ll give you what you want. I’ll fuck you however, whenever. But we’re calling it friends. Not enemies,” he says.

“Frenemies?” I propose.

He drops his hands from my body and pulls away. My heart plummets into the basement of my body, watching him turn from me.

“Okay! Okay! Fine. We’re friends,” I say. It feels like such a bizarre thing to say, but I can’t put my finger on why.

He turns back towards me, wraps an arm around my back, and pulls me in. “Alright, love. You have a deal.”

“However, whenever?” I ask.

He laughs and brings his lips inches from mine. “Yep,” he says, eyes filled with heat.

“Deal.”

CHAPTER 18

MITCH

THREE DAYS LATER

Iwasn’t sure what to expect when Stacey proposed beingfriendswith benefits. But we’ve spent the last two nights together and it’s basically everything I’ve ever wanted. We have incredible sex with zero of the pressure of a relationship. And it’sStacey.I am truly living my best life here, despite a few late nights I’m not used to.

She’s still at work and I just got home from practice, so I change into some sweats and heat up some leftovers for dinner. I’m taking a bite of salmon at my kitchen island when my phone buzzes.

Stacey: Almost done here. Do you want me to come over?

I actually laugh out loud, as if I would possibly say no to that question.

Mitch: Of course.

I send her my door code so she cancome up easily, and finish up my food quickly, anticipation building inside me. There’s something about sex with Stacey that I just can’t get enough of. Sure, she has an insane body, but I also love that she tells me what she wants. It’s like we have some weird, unspoken rule that we can rely on one another. I guess that’s what years of working together can do, even if there has been less-than-ideal tension at times.

I put my plate in the dishwasher and cross to the living room, grabbing a lighter on the way to light a candle.

I need to get the fish smell out of here,I tell myself.

It’s definitely not about setting a mood. We don’t need that.