Shatter

“Nat.” I kissed her cheek. “Wake up, sweetheart.”

“Mmmm.” With eyes still closed, she opened her arms to me. I was all sweaty but I hugged her anyways. “You smell like sweat.”

I laughed. “I thought you liked my sweat?”

“Only when—” Her eyes popped open. She jolted back and threw the covers over her head the minute she saw the cameras. “Go away!”

The producer laughed and stepped closer. I had half a mind to punch him in the face. Instead, I glared in his direction and said very loudly, “You sleep naked, right, Nat?”

“Yes.” She sounded irritated. “Or I will be in five seconds. You know the nakedness clause for Seaside…”

Glaring, the producer stood his ground as Nat’s hands reached out from under the covers and threw down articles of clothing. First a sock, then a shirt, then another sock. I tried to hide my laughter but it was too funny. They were the ones who made the rules, not me.

With a curse, the producer pulled the camera crew out and slammed the door behind them.

I ran over to lock it, laughing the entire way.

“That was close!” Nat said from under the covers.

“So close.” My mind was elsewhere, like Nat’s naked body…

With a squeal she jumped out of bed fully clothed.

“What?” Yeah, it was impossible to hide my disappointment. I looked at the floor, then back at her. “Okay, Clark Kent, what gives?”

With a satisfied smirk she got to her feet and stood on the bed, then put her hand to her head and sat back down. “I’m brilliant, that’s all, and a bit dizzy. Weird.”

“Yeah, well, I’ve always known that. I mean, you beat Demetri at Cranium every game night.”

“Not my fault he doesn’t have my skills.”

“Right.” I jumped onto the bed and stood, my head nearly touching the ceiling. “And it’s not his fault you cheat at every single game you play.”

“Do not!”

I threw my head back and laughed. “Good God, woman. You cheated at checkers last week when we went to that elementary school for volunteer day.”

With a huff she crossed her arms. “That kid was pulling one over on me! He was eating my checkers!”

I licked my lips to keep from laughing. “They were chocolate.”

She pointed at my face. “He was still cheating.”

“Didn’t mean you had to scare the crap out of him and tell him all cheaters go to hell, and then eat his checkers while he took a potty break.”

With a devilish laugh Nat fell to the bed in a heap. “Ah, yes. Taught him a lesson.”

“Yes.” With a loud thump I fell onto the bed to join her. “Good one. Way to show a six year old. I’m so proud to call you my girlfriend.”

“You should be.” Her chin jutted out in a challenge as she tackled me against the mattress. “Say it. Say ‘Nat’s a winner’.”

“Nope.”

“Say it!” Her hands flew to my sides where she knew I was most ticklish. It had taken her almost our entire relationship to finally find out my weak point, and even then, I told her if it ever ended up on TMZ I was going to hide all the Swedish fish in the house.

She still hadn’t told Demetri, so I figured the secret was safe.

“Nat is…” I bit my lip and squinted down at her. “Beautiful?”

“Hmm, that’s—”

“Wait.” I pressed my finger to her lips. “I wasn’t finished.”

“Oh, do go on then.”

“Funny, charismatic, a damn good ping-pong player—”

“True story. Just ask Jaymeson.”

I narrowed my eyes.

“Sorry. Please continue telling me how awesome I am. I’m waiting.”

I leaned over to kiss her neck. “Thoughtful, sexy…”

She arched against me as my lips moved to her ear. “And mine. All mine.”

Chapter Thirteen

Demetri

“I want to know how the hell I ended up on the pink bunny team?” I shouted so everyone could hear my irritation. I was shirtless and showing the entire world my nipple rings like some escaped convict. But I didn’t care. I’d go naked if that’s what it took to prove my point.

Demetri Daniels does not wear pink shirts with fluffy bunnies on them. Bunnies? Were they high when they thought up this idea?

Alyssa came up behind me and jumped on my back. “Aw, is someone a poor sport?”

Ignoring her I pointed in Jaymeson’s direction. “If anyone should be the bunny it’s him. He’s the one screwing like a rabbit every second of every—”

I stopped mid-sentence when I noticed Alec’s shirt.

“You were saying?” He pointed at his shirt and shook his head in disbelief.

“Pink bunny team sounds good.” I nodded and turned just in time for him to see me laugh my ass off. Alyssa put her hands over my mouth from behind, but I still couldn’t stop laughing. I couldn’t put on that dang shirt fast enough.

“Right. Laugh it up,” Alec called out to me. “At least I don’t have to wear a bunny tail.”

From behind Alyssa dropped a fluffy bunny tail in front of my face. “Aw, hell.”

“You think your fate is any better?” I heard Nat tease. “I watched as she pulled out a pair of glittery wings and handed them to Alec. “Come on, good fairy, put them on.”