Page 121 of Play the Last Card

One by one, he’s slowly trying to tick things off. The first was painting the office upstairs that hasn’t been used since Nan passed away. The second, hanging dad’s jersey in said office.

The office is mine now. Every evening when I store my work bag, I brush a gentle hand over the glass encasing the Broncos jersey hanging across from my desk. The bookshelves are filled with photos of myparents and my grandparents. All the ones I kept locked away on a hidden album on my phone when I was pretending to be okay without them are on display.

And every day looking at it hurts a little less. Thanks to therapy.

I’m watching Katie strategically place the three different types of cheeses around the board when an arm snakes around my waist. Scott pulls me back into his chest and I sigh, leaning into him too.

“How much cheese does one board need, Katie?” he asks with a laugh. Pressing his face into my neck, he presses a soft kiss against my skin. I shiver.

“Hush. Perfecting a cheese board is an art, Harvey,” she retorts, not looking up from the board. “Don’t distract me.”

Scott’s arm loosens a little around me as his hand starts to play with the waistband of my jeans. His hand dips and I feel the warmth of his palm press against my bare stomach. I only pulled on a sweatshirt this morning because with the amount of people in this house right now, it’s warm enough not to have to layer up. His fingers splay across my stomach, his thumb slowly moving back and forth over my soft stomach. I turn my head toward him, looking up into his gorgeous face. He’s decided to grow his beard out a little and I am more than supportive of the decision.

The feel of it between my legs last night was next level.

The hand on my stomach slips up and I feel his thumb brush the lace of the bra I’m wearing. Heat floods my cheeks and I bite down on my bottom lip. His eyes lock on mine as his thumb takes another swipe, higher this time, closer and closer to my hard nipple.

An ache starts to pulse between my legs and inch my hips back. Scott grunts.

“You two are gross. Get a room.” Katie scowls, gagging as she rolls her eyes at us.

I laugh but Scott’s hand tightens around my waist. He leans down and I shiver when his warm breath coasts over my skin, whispering his quiet words into my ear.

“Should we? Get a room?”

Despite myself, I cock my head a little to give him more room. He presses a gentle kiss to the base of my neck as his other arm wraps around my body. I rest a hand on the forearm that isn’t tucked underneath my sweatshirt.

“No,” I murmur, leaning to look back up at him. “We’re quite literally in the middle of hosting a party.Yourparty.”

“And for my birthday, I want to fuck you in the bathroom upstairs.”

Katie makes another loud gagging noise, making it known she heard his comment, before she picks up the cheese board and walks toward the dining room table.

Scott doesn’t let up.

“Please,” he begs.

I shake my head but the ache between my thighs is screaming for me to say yes. He brushes a thumb over my nipple, his forefinger coming up to twist it. Just a little. Fucking tease.

I press my hips back and feel the bulge growing behind his jeans and I feel the little willpower I had seep out of me. I turn in his arms, lifting on my toes.

He meets me halfway and kisses me.

Like always.

The word ‘yes’ is on my lips when the front door opens and closes with a slam and I hear laughter coming down the hallway.

“It’s fine, Jason. They won’t mind.” Scott stiffens at the voice before he crumbles against me, burying his face in my neck and reaching down to adjust himself.

I look up just in time to see Annabel and Jason reach the end of the hallway. Holding out her arms full of gift bags and groceries, Annabel’s face lights up in a smile as she sees us.

“Surprise, Sweetheart!”

Scott just groans against me. I laugh, untangling myself from him and spinning toward his parents.

“Hi.” I plaster my best smile on my face and stay in front of Scott a little longer, giving him a chance to calm down. Poor man. Cockblocked by his parents. “I didn’t know you guys were coming.”

“I wanted to call,” Jason says. He places the bags he’s carrying—two small overnight bags—down and moves around the counter. “But your mother wouldn’t let me. She wanted it to be a surprise.” He rolls his eyes as he opens his arms to me for a hug.