Seducing Lauren(58)

She’s it for me.

I stagger back a step and sit on a hay bale, rubbing my hand over my chest just as Jill steps up beside me.

“I definitely like her,” she comments casually, watching Lo and Cara.

“You do?”

Jill nods, then smiles down at me. “She’s good for you.” She turns her eyes back to the two women and tilts her head in thought. “And frankly, I think you’re good for her too.”

“Why do you say that?” I continue to rub my chest, unsure why there’s an ache there.

“Look at her, dude. She’s come out of her shell since she’s known you. She’s quick to smile now. I think you make her happy.” Jill nudges me with her elbow. “Not that I understand the attraction. You’re ugly and a complete jerk.”

“Obviously,” I smirk. “Did you pick a pumpkin?”

“I’m not getting one. I’m going into the maze.” She rubs her hands together in delight. “I’m gonna beat Zack through it if it kills me.”

“What’s up with you guys?” I ask casually.

“Nothing at all.”

“That’s a complete lie.” Jill shrugs and stands to march away, but I grab her arm, holding her close. “So, you can ask about my love life, but I’m not allowed to ask about yours?”

“I don’t have a love life, Ty.” Jill pulls her arm out of my grasp and walks away. “I like it that way,” she calls over her shoulder.

Lauren turns to me and waves her arm over her head to get my attention. As if I weren’t already aware of exactly where she is and what she is doing.

I’m always aware of her. I can’t get enough of her.

Jesus, I fucking love her.

“We’re ready for the maze,” she calls out to me. As I approach her, she links her fingers through mine and smiles at me, and I want so much to blurt out in front of all of our friends that I love her, but I know that this will have to be handled gently.

I refuse to have her run away on me now.

“Thor and I are going to kick all of your butts in the maze!” Seth taunts us all. Thor barks in agreement and they take off into the tall cornstalks. Josh and Cara jog in after them, and that leaves Jill and Zack eyeing each other dubiously.

“I’ll go alone,” Jill announces, and takes a step forward.

Zack pulls her up short. “Like hell you will.” He glowers at her. “You’ll go with me.”

“If I’m with you, I can’t beat you,” she reminds him, her hands on her hips.

I glance down at Lo, who is trying, and failing, to hide a smile.

“Come on, you’re with me.” Zack takes her hand and leads her into the corn.

“You’re such a damn caveman,” we hear her mutter at him scornfully, making us both laugh.

“So that leaves you and me.” Lo grins and takes a step, but I pull her back against me, into my arms, and brush my nose against hers. “You don’t want to go into the maze?”

“Honestly? I don’t give a shit about the maze. I want to hold you for a few minutes without having those yahoos watching us.”

“’Yahoos?” She laughs. “Who says that these days?”

I laugh with her and nuzzle her nose again before gently kissing her cold lips. “Me.”

“Your lips are warm,” she whispers.

“Yours aren’t.” I kiss her again. “Maybe I should warm them up.”

“I have other parts that have gotten cold out here too.” She grins and tugs at the hem of my shirt under my wool jacket and lays her cold hands on the small of my back, making me jump.

“Jesus, baby, you’re fucking cold!”

She giggles and presses herself against me so I can’t back away. Not that I would back away anyway.

“Do you want me to stop touching you?” She bats her eyelashes at me, making me chuckle.

“Fuck no. I don’t care if your hands are cold or hot or somewhere in between, as long as they’re on me.”

Her smile fades as she watches me, and her breath begins to come in pants, visible in the cold air, and her eyes are sparkling with pure lust.

She rises on her toes and presses her lips to mine, brushing back and forth softly, and unable to handle it anymore, I pull her closer to me and kiss her like mad. My tongue slips between her plump lips and explores her mouth leisurely. When we have to pull back for air, I glide my nose down her jawline to her neck and place a tender kiss on her soft skin.

“You can’t possibly know what you do to me, Lauren.”

“Ew!” Seth exclaims as he and his dog bound out of the corn. “Yuck. Come on, Thor, you shouldn’t have to see this.”