Free Matched by Angela Graham, S.E. Hall Page B

that bitch.” She glimpses over at Nadia, then back to us. “Massages…you lucky ducks. Think of me.” She runs a finger down Cruz’s abdomen, then sashays away.
    Yep, she has a thing for Cruz. I smile, ignoring the familiar churning in my stomach that I apparently haven’t conquered. I’m happy for her—and for him, too. Maybe Emma will benefit from him being distracted, as well.
    “Nice job, baby!”
    Oakley picks me up and swings me around in a circle. “My girl’s a winner,” he whispers and I lean in, hoping for a kiss. But he cowers, his eyes rueful. Right…no PDA. Because calling me “baby” out loud and swinging me in your arms isn’t PDA?
    “Wish it was me with you, but damn, with all those females screeching over each other, I couldn’t tell what was what. Sorry, angel.” He sets me down and takes a step back, putting distance between us that takes a stab at my heart. “Nice job, man. Congrats.” He gives Cruz a fist bump, then looks at me. It’s clear he wants me in his arms, but always the MVP, he retreats even farther.
    “Thanks. I’m gonna go check on Emma.” Cruz eyes us both, then leaves.
    “Great job, everyone!” Tom says. “Especially Harlow and Cruz, our winners.” He pauses for obligatory applause. “Very clever strategy, by the way. Nicely done. Your charities are both $5,000 richer, and your car will be here at six to take you for a full massage treatment at Mi Belle Spa. Everyone else, enjoy your evening!”

    Oakley sits on the edge of Jasmine’s bed while I get ready for my outing. I have no idea where my roommates are.
    “So, you planning on being naked for this massage?” he asks pensively, deep grooves of aggravation outlining his tapered eyes.
    “I don’t know. Let’s ask Nadia what she thinks,” I reply with a bratty and proud edge, offering him my back.
    I hear the bedroom door slam, and a second later his voice is hot and stern at my ear.
    “No, ma’am.” Two large hands grab my waist and snare me backward onto his lap as he sits down again. “No fucking way in hell are you leaving to go get a naked massage with another dude while you’re mad at me.” He buries his face in my neck with searing, open-mouthed kisses and teases of his tongue. “Baby, I swear—I was disoriented and couldn’t hear, and she just jumped in. I didn’t even know it wasn’t you till she talked.”
    “You should’ve kicked her out and came back for me,” I groan, angling my head to give him better access even in the midst of our “fight.” I’m not mad—it was a hectic game—just irritated. More so with Nadia than him, if truth be told. But men don’t think like she-wolves, and I want him conscious of Nadia’s sneaky tactics for her future attempts—because I’m positive they’re coming.
    “I asked.” He suckles at the dip where my neck and shoulder merge, somehow connected to every last nerve ending in my body. He’s well aware I love it. I’m not sure if he loves it too, or if he’s just impatient and knows it’s the one-stop shop to set me fully aflame. Either way, I’m good with it. His hands trace from my hips around to the front, one sliding between my legs, which open wider for him. “She said you were already in with someone, but she wasn’t sure who.”
    Of course she wasn’t, because I wasn’t with anyone—I was standing on the island while she slithered her scaly self into his inner tube.
    “She lied.” I have every intention of screaming, but it comes out a hopeless purr as he teases my clit through my thin shorts.
    “I’m sorry,” he breathes onto my skin in the voice that always gets him anything he wants from me. “Say you forgive me, baby.”
    “I do.” I grind my ass into his groin. “Say you won’t fall for any of her tricks while I’m gone.”
    “Promise. Love you, Harlow. My pussy ,” he growls, strengthening his ministrations. “We have time? Been too long…need some of my girl.”
    “I think so.”
    I start to