Playboy Prince

She leans into his touch.

I think she blushes, but with her light brown skin, it's hard to tell.

Liam recognizes defeat—she's not going to play the silly game in front of Adam—and turns to me. "You really haven't?" He picks up his creamy coffee. Takes a long sip.

Already, he's shifting into the Liam I know. The one only I see. Leaning into sex the way Danielle is leaning into her fiancé.

Is that all it is? Liam reaching for the closest comfort?

Or is he reaching for me because he loves me?

Maybe it doesn't matter. He needs comfort. I want to comfort him.

"When would I?" I take a sip of my London Fog. Mmm, it's perfect. Strong and creamy with that sweet hint of bergamot and honey. "With John?"

"There were other guys." He takes another sip. "A handful."

"Hey."

"I'm not judging based on quantity, but I figure there were enough you got the chance."

"I'm not going to let a stranger tie me up," I say.

"A friend with benefits?"

I shake my head.

"Because you're not into it?"

"No." My cheeks flush. Liam and I have had these discussions before, but never in a let's try this now kind of way. "I'd try."

"You'd try? Or you're into it?"

"I'm into it."

"Yeah." His voice perks. "Right now?"

"Liam!" I reach for a tea sandwich. "We're in front of your brother."

"And look at them." He motions to Danielle and Adam, still embracing. "It will be an orgy."

"I'm not into orgies."

"Never?"

"Never."

"I'm not into sharing."

"Me either."

He places his hand on my thigh. Motions to Danielle. "Not sure you can keep her from watching though."

"I know."

"You ever want someone to watch?"

"I did think about your idea."

His eyes bore into mine. "Which one?"

"The club."

"Oh?"

"It would be interesting. Maybe not in an actual club, but…"

"I'll make it happen. What else?"

"I didn't prepare a list."

"Bullshit, Bri. I see you at work. Drifting off, daydreaming. You have a rich inner life."

That is true.

"No way it's bereft of sexual fantasies."

"Did you just say bereft?"

"Hell yeah. Don't try to distract me."

"There are some."

"Well…" He drags his hand up my thigh. Closer, closer, closer. "Tell me—"

"On the balcony in front of the city."

Closer, closer, closer—

"In the middle of a meeting. One of those dinner meetings we have to attend. You start like this. Then I excuse myself and I head to a private room. Maybe I even tease you with some pictures."

There. He presses his palm against my sex, over my jeans.

Fuck. My eyes flutter together. That's intense. Too intense. And completely inappropriate. "Then you join me. And it's our secret."

"You think of it during any of our meetings?"

"I have."

"When was the last?"

"A few weeks ago. The startup dating app. The guy was going on about matching preferences. You kept teasing him about sex. Then you'd look at me like you were picturing me naked."

"I was."

"Inappropriate."

"I know."

"Liam—"

"I know." He runs his finger over the seam of my jeans. "One more." He leans in and presses his lips to my neck. "Then I'll wait until we're alone. So enjoy it, baby." He does it again.

One slow, perfect brush of his thumb against me. Then he pulls his hand back and invites his brother to join our conversation.

It takes me a few minutes to catch my breath. I nod, sip milky Earl Grey, nibble on a hazelnut butter and plum jam sandwich.

After half a mug and three tea sandwiches, plus a chocolate-walnut cookie, I'm able to think something besides must mount Liam now.

I watch Liam spill stories of Adam's youth, trying to embarrass him, delighting Danielle.

Adam repays the favor with his own stories about Liam and he's just as unable to make Liam blush.

They're too used to this. Liam is too shameless. Adam is too expert in his poker face.

For an hour, they trade escalating stories, Liam with all his usual energy and enthusiasm, Adam with his typical quiet confidence. Bigger and better embarrassment, until they catch up to last year, to the last party Bash attended—

They hit that detail and all the joy dissipates.

The room quiets. The mood dulls. Danielle talks about her latest art project and asks about my business, but nothing fills the space with color.

Even when Simon arrives with Opal. And, as usual, Opal races to us, pulls us into tight hugs, enthuses over our outfits, jobs, presence.

"You promise you'll hang out with me during the party?" She looks at me and Danielle, deadly serious. "Because I seriously cannot get pulled into another conversation with Lee. Or Jimmy." She sticks her tongue out in horror. "And it's so awful hearing adult after adult say 'wow, eighteen, you're so young.' Or 'college next year, your life is ahead of you.' 'That will be the best time of your life.' Seriously, I can't stand it."

"I promise," Danielle says.

Opal looks to me.

"I promise… I'll make sure you're talking to Danielle before I disappear to fuck my fiancée," I say.