Free World Enough and Time by Lauren Gallagher Page A

looked past me and gestured to get someone’s attention. “Check, please.”
     
     
     
     
     
     
     
    Chapter Ten
     
    Connor’s apartment was closer than mine, so we went there. When he got out of the Jeep, though, he cursed under his breath.
    “What’s wrong?” I asked, closing the Jeep door with my hip as I pulled my purse onto my shoulder.
    “Roommate’s home.” He nodded toward another parking space. “I thought he was out tonight.”
    “Should we go to my place, then?”
    “You think I can wait that long?” He smiled and put his arms around me. “We’ll just have to be quiet.” His kiss was gentle, but more than enough to make my pulse race.
    “I think you’re seriously overestimating my ability to stay quiet in bed with you.”
    “You’ll just have to try.”
    His stubble brushed my chin, and I shivered. “Maybe you’ll have to keep my mouth occupied then.”
    He laughed softly. “Oh, I will.” He kissed me, teasing my tongue with the tip of his. Then he broke the kiss and whispered, “Come on, let’s go.”
    Upstairs, after he’d let us into his apartment, the tinny sounds of televised voices came from down the hall. When we stepped into the living room, two guys sitting on the couch looked up from watching a movie.
    One lifted his arm off the other’s shoulders and stood. “Oh, hey, Connor. Didn’t realize you were going to be home tonight.” He extended his hand to me. “You must be Dani.”
    “I am.” I shook his hand.
    “This is Evan, my roommate,” Connor said. He gestured past Evan and added, “And that’s Robin.” The guy still sitting on the couch offered a wave and I smiled back.
    Evan looked at me again, stroking his chin with his thumb and forefinger, his brow creased as if he was deep in thought. “So you’re Dani, then. I’ve heard a lot about you.”
    I eyed Connor. “Have you been talking badly about me?”
    Connor pursed his lips and inclined his head slightly. “Define ‘badly’.”
    Putting a hand over his mouth, Evan widened his eyes in mock horror. “Oops, I wasn’t supposed to say anything, was I?”
    “Anything about what?” I tried not to laugh.
    “Oh, wait,” Evan said. “Maybe she wasn’t the one you told me about.”
    Connor rolled his eyes. “Yeah, okay—”
    “I mean, she doesn’t look like the type to wear a strap-on—”
    “Connor Graham!” I smacked him playfully. “You told him about that?”
    Connor glared at both of us, then rolled his eyes again. He tugged at my arm, trying to lead me out of the living room. “All right, you, I don’t want him filling your head with dirty thoughts.”
    “No more than you already—”
    He clapped a hand over my mouth. “And that’s enough out of you.” Pulling me down the hall, he said, “Good night, Evan, Robin.”
    “Good night, you two,” Evan called after us, chuckling on his way back to the couch to rejoin Robin.
    I laughed against Connor’s hand as he half-dragged me down the hall. In the bedroom, he released me, and I feigned innocence as I said, “But I was having fun talking to him.”
    “Yes, I know you were.” He put his hands on my waist and kissed me. “Entirely too much fun.”
    “You just want to be the one filling my head with dirty thoughts, don’t you?”
    “You’re damn right I do.” He put his arms around me and kissed the side of my neck. “Actually, I’d rather act out those dirty thoughts.”
    “Hmm, but then I might not be able to be quiet.”
    “I’ll make sure you stay quiet.” Before I could respond, he kissed me full-on. As soon as he did, need replaced playfulness. Enough bantering. We both knew what we wanted.
    Moving slowly across the room to his bed, we left a trail of shoes and clothing behind us. He tried my bra strap. Tried again. He cursed in between kisses, so I reached back and unsnapped it with ease. Once it was loose, he slid it down my arms and dropped it aside. Then he cupped my breast, running the pad of his thumb back