Free Playing With Power - Book 2: New Adult Office Romance by Adele Huxley Page B

flirting and a sexually charged game of find-out-how-raunchy-I-am, they really only had one thing on their mind.
    Lauren and Landon looked at each other, wordlessly understanding the drinking game was now over.
    “I’m way too hot. I think I’m gonna cool off over here,” he said swinging a leg over the side into the pool water.
    “That’s a great idea, I’ll join you.” Lauren couldn’t scramble out the tub quickly enough.
    The water felt amazing against her skin, silky and refreshing. She ducked her head under and relished the sensation of the cold water on her scalp. The conversation and hot tub had left her a little overheated as well. She swam to Landon who was already on the far side of the pool looking at the view.
    “This really is an incredibly place.” She spotted a bonfire in the valley below and hoped someone was roasting marshmallows.
    “It is. It sounds cheesy but it’s where I come to center myself. Things get so hectic in the city and everything moves so fast. It’s just good to come here and remember what’s important and what’s not.”
    Lauren nodded, knowing exactly what he meant. A comfortable silence fell between them. After a few moments Landon chuckled to himself and turned to her.
    “So what did happen with you-know-who that landed you in the ER?”
    “Oh god, really? You’re really gonna make me tell that story?” She grasped the edge of the pool and planted her feet on the wall, curling into a swimmer’s start position as if ready to spring away.
    “Yes, you really have to.”
    “Fine,” she laughed. She released the tension in her arms and dropped back to her feet. The game had definitely loosened up her inhibitions. “I had a long-term boyfriend in high school. He’s actually the guy I lost my virginity to and we’d gotten really comfortable with each other. So, like most hormone-crazed teenagers, we wanted to experiment with everything. I had a great idea to try this position I’d seen in a magazine where I was on top but facing away from him, right? So, we’re going along, it’s kind of uncomfortable but we’re trying to make it work. I still don’t know what he was thinking but he did this weird hip thrust move I wasn’t expecting.”
    Landon grimaced.
    “Yeah, right, you know where this is going. He went up, I came down, it went snap. He screamed so loudly his mom actually came running in and we all went to the emergency room together. Single most embarrassing moment of my life.”
    “That’s terrible! Man, I thought when you said that earlier you were the one that got hurt somehow.”
    “Oh no, that’s the kicker. I did get hurt. When it broke, he threw me to the floor so quickly I didn’t have a chance to brace myself and I ended up breaking my wrist. With the shock of everything and being mind-numbingly embarrassed, I didn’t feel any pain until we were in the hospital.”
    “That’s so adorable.”
    Lauren turned in the water and leaned back against the wall, noticing for the first time that the hot tub was now empty. Ali and Dane had apparently slipped away without a word. Her stomach tensed as she realized she was alone and half naked with Landon. He stepped in front of her, standing close, and reached for her hands. He interlaced his fingers with hers and rotated her wrists slowly under the water. The lights from the pool glittered in his eyes as he looked at her.
    “Everything healed okay?” He stepped closer.
    Lauren’s breath caught in her throat. “Yep, it’s all good now.”
    “Good.” He guided her hands to his waist and held them there. “Any other injuries I should know about?”
    “Not that I can think of.”
    “Good.” His hand cupped the side of her face as he kissed her, water tinkling like raindrops off his arm. Lauren’s heart fluttered the moment their lips met. Her hands dropped from his waist in shock and a moment later he pulled away. He searched her face for a reaction, as if fearful he may have completely misread