Perfectly Toxic (Sterling Shore 9)

“One thing,” she says, getting up again and toying with the ends of her shirt. “Let’s keep this quiet from the group.”

I groan while sitting up, glaring at her.

“Why the hell would we do that?”

She nibbles her lip for a minute, as though she’s choosing her words carefully. I’m trying not to get pissed.

“You know how you hate being labeled?” she finally asks.

“Yeah?”

“Well, so do I. I’m not as close to them as you are, and I don’t want to just suddenly be Ethan’s girl. They’re just now starting to call me their friend instead of Allie’s best friend. Allie and I only had each other for so long, and it feels good to have others now. I don’t want to mess that up.”

Ah fuck.

“Fine. But you know they love you already. Hell, they may even like you more than they like me. At least they let you know Ash was going into labor.”

“I just happened to be with them when they got the call. I doubt I would have found out otherwise. Unless Allie called me, of course.”

I sigh hard, but I tug her back onto the bed, brushing my lips over her shoulder.

“This is going to be trouble. I already know it.”

“How could it? We’ll get to be friends in front of them, which will help us get to know each other a little better, since we’re still relatively strangers. And we’ll get to explore the sexual chemistry and epic sex you were talking about when no one else is around. It’s not like you can fuck me on a table in front of them. Besides, sneaking around is always fun. I’m sure you missed out on that when you were a teenager.”

I cock an eyebrow.

“Nice delivery,” I state dryly, watching as she bites back a grin. “Just don’t think you’re still going on your loser dates.”

Her smile slips, and I tense. No way does she think I’m actually going to be such a pussy-whipped ass as to let her go on dates with other guys while she’s fucking me on the side.

“Bella, I mean it, I—”

“We didn’t use condoms,” she interrupts, clearing her throat. “I was under the impression this was going to be a monogamous thing.”

I relax, but she looks tense.

“It is monogamous,” I tell her, watching her relax this time. “So this is a relationship or whatever?”

I sound like a damn kid. But if it’s not a one-night stand, I’m not the type of guy who is able to share.

She stifles a laugh. “This is dating. Sort of. We kind of skipped a few steps. But it’s not a relationship, per se. Which is why I’m not ready to announce it to the group until we see where this is going.”

Women are too confusing, so I decide not to figure out what she’s saying at the moment.

“I’ll go grab that shower. Then I’ll run you home. You’re welcome to use one of my other bathrooms since you won’t shower with me.” I wink, making things light again.

“I might use one of the others then,” she says with a shrug. “But all my hair stuff is at home.”

I kiss her shoulder then climb out of the bed in just my boxers. When I turn around her eyes are on me, and I smirk before ducking into the bathroom, wondering what the hell I’m doing.

A girlfriend was never on the agenda, and I’m pretty sure that’s what Bella just became, even though she’s trying to say we’re just dating. Just dating involves dating, and it also involves dating other people. Then again, she told me from the beginning she was a relationship girl, so it’s not like I feel duped.

Plus, I might beat a guy with his own arms if he laid a hand on her, so I’m definitely onboard with the not dating anyone else rule.

Shaking out of my thoughts, I turn the water on and toss my boxers off. Maybe it’s good no one else finds out just yet. After all the hell I’ve given the guys for being pussy whipped, there’s no telling what hell I’d catch in return for being back a few weeks and suddenly in a damn relationship.

Just as I step under the spray, the door to the shower opens, and every thought in my head turns to dust. Bella steps in, fully naked, and she’s wearing that sexy little grin on her face.