Free Sixes & Sevens (Seven Hearts Book 1) by G.E. Kelly

their leather couch, Jaycee was surrounded on both sides by warm male bodies. She couldn’t help but notice how good they smelled. She had read a book once that said a person’s sense of smell was the closest of the senses tied to memory. She fully believed it, every time she smelled Old Spice, she would think of her dad. Even Petrichor reminded her of her father, and the way he loved to watch the rain from their front porch. Not that the guys smelled like her father. Lee smelled like an aromatic sweet vanilla and balsamic almond (Pi by Givenchy). Whereas Alec smelled like a warm citrus marine spice (1 Million by Paco Rabanne). While Alec’s scent was similar, it had spicier undercurrents. Sean had smelled more like Irish Spring soap: fresh and clean with no artifice. None of the scents were really any more appealing than the other, but they were all different, like the guys themselves. They just smelled delightful!
    As Jaycee sank further into the couch, she was reminded of her lack of undergarments. Maybe she should have gone back to her dorm? How could she have forgotten she wasn’t wearing a bra or panties?!? Going commando in jeans wasn’t the most comfortable, as the material rubbed her sensitive flesh, and scratched her normally protected private parts. While going braless was undeniably more comfortable at home, it wasn’t something she’d had the privilege of doing often, and it was awkward around members of the opposite sex. She was amazed she’d been able to forget about her situation for as long as she had. Maybe she could attribute it to how nice they made her feel? Her discomforts weren’t in the forefront of her mind while they held her attention. The movie had already started, finally reaching the main titles, when Lee put his arm on the back of the couch behind her. It was a natural move, not a come-on, but she couldn’t stop her heart from beating a bit faster.
    A part of Jaycee longed to lean into Lee, she had always dreamed of snuggling up with someone while watching a movie, but she didn’t have the nerve. She’d just met them, there was no way she’d be so forward. Besides, if she accidentally brushed up against him, he might figure out she wasn’t wearing undergarments which could send the wrong message. She held herself stiff, until Alec leaned over, and began playing with a strand of her hair. If she were a cat, she would be purring. His fingers sunk further into her hair to touch her scalp with soft caresses.
    The doorbell rang, making Jaycee jump guiltily. Looking around startled, Jaycee pulled away from Alec’s fingers; she realized it was just the pizza delivery man. Lee removed himself from the sofa, and grabbed his wallet. Pulling out some cash, he opened the door and paid for the pizzas. Telling the boy to keep the change, he put the pizzas on the long coffee table in front of the couch.
    “You need to put a coaster under that. Mr. Model and Jonathan won’t be pleased if the table gets heat scorched,” Alec scolded Lee. But Lee just grunted as he headed to the kitchen to comply.
    “So all five of you live here?”
    “Six actually, Garrett’s at work. He builds houses for his father when he’s not studying. He takes a few classes at UEM, he’s working on getting an engineering degree. With everything he knows, he could probably test out of most of his classes, but he believes in putting in the work,” explained Alec. With the pizza safely placed on hot pads, Lee handed out plates, and napkins. Heading back to the kitchen, he grabbed a stack of plastic cups and a liter of soda.
    “Where’d you pull that out of?” Alec asked.
    “That’s my dirty little secret.” He poured them each a cup of Pepsi and handed them out. “I hope you like Pepsi. I didn’t really figure you’d want milk with your pizza,” he said to Jaycee.
    “It’s good, thanks.” Jaycee took the cup, and set it on the table in front of her. Alec pressed play on the movie as footsteps could be heard