Page 26 of Risky Little Affair
“Okay,” I start, turning Lex so she’s facing the two of them. The only thing separating us is the massive island in our kitchen, the reason Dec and I chose this apartment.It’s the perfect height for—
Shaking my head, I clear my thoughts and focus on our current situation instead of the naughty things I want to do with Lex later. “So, first things first. Alexis and I are seeing each other.”
“We kind of figured that out already,” Dec says with a snort, his arrogance radiating off him in waves.
“Didn’t realize you were that perceptive,” I counter.
“That’s because you’re a dumbass.”
“All right, boys. Let’s try and act like mature adults for five seconds, please,” Kendall says, raising her voice as she smacks Declan in the stomach.
“Anyway, Lex and I are a thing, but we’d prefer not to announce it to everyone since it’s still new. You know, kind of like the two of you decided to keep your little fling a secret until you were ready for other people to know. So, we’d appreciate it if you kept this to yourselves.” Looking directly at Kendall, I add, “Which includes telling Lo.”
“That’s a tough ask. We tell each other everything.”
“No, you don’t,” Lex pipes up. “You kept Declan a secret from her for months. Can you at least try and keep this to yourself for a few weeks? Until we figure out if this is going to last or not.”
Before I can stop myself, my head flicks in Lex’s direction and I’m opening my mouth. “This is going to last. Stop questioning it.”
“Can you blame her?” Dec asks. “You haven’t had a relationship last more than one night since you’ve known her. She’s allowed to be a little skeptical.”
My only response is a growl as I pull Lex closer to my side protectively.
“Just for a few weeks,” Lex echoes, the pleading in her voice overshadowing everything else in the room.
“Of course,” Kendall says. I see her nodding in agreement out of the corner of my eye.
I’m still staring at Declan, resisting the urge to punch him square in the jaw for his comment.
“Something to say, little brother?” he asks after a few beats of silence.
“Yeah. Remember when you started seeing Kendall and stopped fucking around?” I see his eyes flare to life but continue before he has a chance to answer me, “Before her, no one else was worth your time. No one made you want to be a better person. The need to claim someone as yours, to protect them, wasn’t there. Because you hadn’t met the one person who brought out those desires in you.”
“What’s your point?” he asks, his jaw locked and eyes piercing mine.
“Before Lex, no one made me want more either. So, I’d appreciate it if you kept your judgment to yourself.”
Kendall’s jaw drops open in shock, but I don’t wait for either of them to respond. With my arm wrapped protectively around Lex’s shoulder, I guide her down the hall and straight into my bedroom, kicking the door shut behind us.
“Micah, I—”
“Don’t say anything,” I interrupt, sitting on the edge of my bed and pulling her to stand between my legs. “I meant what I said. I was an ass to Declan when he told me about Kendall. I made fun of him for the way he was feeling, the way he was acting. I deserve the things he said to me back there. They were true. I haven’t had a relationship that’s lasted more than one night since high school. But this is different, Lex. I hope you see that. Feel that. This isn’t just about sex.”
“Good, but that doesn’t mean sex can’t be a benefit.” She pushes against my chest so I’m laying on the mattress. “Because even though this may have started as a one-night kind of thing, I’m on board with a repeat of that night over,” Lex moves to straddle me, placing her right knee next to my hip, “and over,” her left knee by my other hips, “and over again.”
I’m straining against my zipper when she places her ass in my lap, and there’s little doubt in my mind that the growl that escapes isn’t heard by my neighbors.