Page 23 of Just for the Plot

“I, uh…what?”

“Sorry, I’m getting ahead of myself. I’m just so excited. I want a buddy to read with me, and Gabby just isn’t the one, but if you’re willing, I can open your world to romance books, and we can talk about them and analyze all the bloody hand jobs.”

I lift my hat and place it back on my head because what the fuck is she talking about?

“Okay, uh, give me a second because I’m trying to understand what you’re saying. Are there bloody hand jobs in the books that you’re reading? Also, what is a bloody hand job?”

“It’s when they use blood as the lubricant rather than spit or lube or cum. I mean, I’d never do it because I’m not really into that kind of mess, but I read it once and never got to really fully discuss it, and it lives in my mind all the time, ever since Ryland and Gabby first started dating. That’s how long I’ve been thinking about it. How is that healthy? It’s not! I need someone to talk to about this stuff. Please tell me you will be my person.”

Her lashes flutter at me.

She wets her lips.

And I can tell you right now in this moment that if she asked me to walk off a cliff with her, I’d follow her. With onepleasefrom her gorgeous eyes, I’d follow into the inner depths of hell where bloody hand jobs and whatever the hell it is that she reads exist.

“I’ll be your person.”

“Really?”

The fucking smile that stretches across her face.

Jesus Christ.

I’m in love.

“Thank you.” She throws herself at me, looping her arms around me, hugging me with everything in her.

I put my arms around her as well, holding her tight as my eyes lock with Nolan at the bar.

He smirks and then brings two fingers up to his mouth, splitting them in half and then lapping his tongue between them.

He winks and then turns away.

Fucking inappropriate, man.

Also…if only…

CHAPTER 5

BOWER

Sittingcross-legged, right against Bennett’sthigh, I drink my beer and feel excitement race through me as I try to gauge his reading comfort level.

“Okay, so bloody hand jobs are out of the picture.”

“I mean, I think for now, yeah.”

He finishes his beer in one gulp—which oddly I find hot—and he sets the empty glass on the coffee table.

“Understandable. We need to ease you into romance, I get that. We don’t want to scare you off right away with something you’re not comfortable with. But just for reference, is that something you would ever do, just so I know the kind of kink you’re into?”

“Uh, no. Not that I’m putting down anyone who is into that, because to each their own. If you like a bloody hand job, then I hope you get one every day, but I just think it would terrify me more than anything, seeing my dick covered in blood.”

“That’s a fast way to deflate the old wiener.”

He chuckles. “Yeah, pretty much.”

“Good to know. How do you feel about spice in general? What is your chili pepper level?”