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“Good” He didn’t stop I didn’t knoas going on until I foundupside down over his shoulder in a fire to drop ,” he said, his ars “Show soainst the ass of his jeans

“It’s traditional to carry the bride across the threshold”

“Not like this”

He patted my butt cheek, the one with his na conventional now, huh?”

“I thought ere just being friends”

“This is friendly You should probably stop feelingidea about us Especially after that kiss in the car”

“I’ his butt cheeks for a handhold Like it was my fault the position left me no alternative but to hold onto his fir”

I laughed despite myself “You put me over your shoulder, you idiot Of course I’m all over you”

Up the steps ent, then onto the ooden patio and into the house Hardwood floors in a rich brown andboxes I couldn’t see much else

“This could be a problem,” he said

“What could be?” I asked, still upside down, htedmy feet on the floor All the blood rushed fro ht

“Okay?” he asked

“Yeah What’s the probleht there’d be more furniture,” he said

“You’ve never been here before?”

“I’ve been busy”

Apart from boxes there were e central rooe stone fireplace set in the far wall You could roast a whole cow in the thing if you were so inclined Stairs led to a second floor above and another level below this one A dining room and open plan kitchen calass, neat lines of logs, or gray stonework The perfectBut then all the places he lived in seemed to be

I wondered what he’d led apartht As if he’d ever see it

“At least they got a fridge” He pulled one of the large stainless steel doors open Every inch of space inside had been packed with food and beverages “Excellent”

“Who are ‘they’?”

“Ah, the people that look after the place for me Friends of mine They used to look after it for the previous owner, too I rang them, asked them to sort some stuff out for us” He pulled out a Corona and popped the lid “Cheers”

I smiled, bemused “For breakfast?”

“I’ve been awake for two days I want a beer then I want a bed Man, I hope they thought to get a bed” Beer in hand, he ae and up the stairs I followed, curious