Free Graduating (Covenant College Book 5) by Amanda M. Lee Page A

pick up Paris, and I take you all out to dinner?”
    “Really?” Kelsey looked intrigued.
    “How about we go to the Mexican place and have dinner and drinks? Then we can go back to your place and have … dessert.”
    I smirked. “You’re such a smooth talker.”
    Aric dropped a brief kiss on my lips. “We’re totally instituting naked Fridays starting next week,” he said. “I wasn’t joking about that.”
    “Deal.”
    I glanced over at Kelsey. “Are you ready to go?”
    She lifted her finger, pointing. “Look who else has been sucked in by the governor.”
    I peered around Aric’s broad body, frowning when I caught sight of Kate. She was standing next to Brittany, and fawning all over Reagan.
    “I shouldn’t be surprised,” I said. “She said she was coming.”
    “She just doesn’t know he’s a pervert,” Kelsey said. “Hey! Maybe she can be Will’s second wife?”
    “Ah, the thought of her and Brittany setting up a sex schedule does make me happy.”
    Aric linked his fingers with mine before reaching over to flick Kelsey above her left ear. “Let’s go. I’m starving. There’s nothing left for us here – and I don’t want you to come up with any more disturbing multiple-wives scenarios. They’re going to give me nightmares.”
    I risked one more glance over my shoulder, watching Kate and Will chat amiably, and pushed down the uncomfortable feeling creeping over me. It didn’t mean anything. It was a coincidence.
    So, how come I didn’t totally believe it?

Nine
    I woke up the next morning wrapped in Aric’s arms, our legs tangled together. I took the opportunity to study him in the morning light. He really was more beautiful than any one man had the right to be. His jaw was strong and angular, his face peaceful in sleep, and his morning stubble gave him the hint of danger that I’d grown so fond of.
    “If your mind works any harder, it’s going to wake the whole house.” Aric shifted next to me, opening one eye sleepily as he regarded me. “What’s on your mind, baby?”
    “I was just thinking,” I admitted, resting myself on an elbow as I leaned forward to run my other hand over his chest.
    “What were you thinking? And, I’m just going to warn you, if you make a multiple husbands joke, I’m going to spank you. I don’t like to share.”
    The threat of a spanking didn’t have the negative connotation in my mind that I was sure he initially envisioned. I shifted closer to him, resting my chin on his bare chest. “That’s not what I was thinking,” I scoffed.
    Aric’s fingers were making lazy circles on my back. “Tell me what you were thinking.”
    “I was thinking that you’ve been really great about spending the night here a few times a week,” I replied honestly. “You didn’t have to be, and yet you are. It means a lot to me. I’m … lucky.”
    Aric’s chest hitched with a barely contained chuckle. “So, you’re thinking deep thoughts this morning? And here I thought you were just debating what position we should do it in.”
    “They weren’t all that deep,” I countered, suddenly feeling self-conscious. I moved my gaze away from his, fighting the burn climbing my cheeks.
    Aric reached over, capturing my chin with his hand and turning my face back so he could gaze into my eyes. “I shouldn’t have teased you. The deep thoughts were nice. I like them.”
    “Oh, cripes,” I muttered. “I can practically see your ego growing.”
    Aric shifted onto his side, keeping me pressed against his long body as he pulled me closer. His ego wasn’t the only thing growing this morning.
    “I think we’re both lucky,” he said, his brown eyes serious. “Things were bad last year. They were really bad. There were times I didn’t think we’d get back here.”
    “You said you had faith,” I protested.
    “I did. I still had doubts, too. As much as I love you, you do have a mind of your own. I was scared that you’d never let me back in.”
    “Oh, don’t get