Read The Queen B* Strikes Back for Free Online

leader to inspire them to stand up for themselves, and I discovered your ticklish spot.”
    I didn’t have time to react. He was on me quicker than a cougar pouncing on its prey. I fell back against the mattress, his weight on top of me. The air left my lungs in a whoosh, and the soft, quick strokes of his fingers under my ribs reignited the laughter from yesterday. I tried to push him away, but he hovered over me, his knees wedged on either side of my hips, while he relentlessly tickled me. I laughed so hard, tears formed in my eyes and my lungs burned for air. But I didn’t want him to stop. I was having too much fun feeling the heat of his skin next to mine, seeing his grinning face above me, knowing that I hadn’t royally screwed things up between us like I’d feared.
    Just when I thought I was on the verge of passing out, he stopped. “I like seeing you laugh, almost as much as I like that smile you’re wearing.”
    I was smiling? And yet, how could I not smile when he was like this?
    And then something shifted. Gone was the playful air that had filled the room moments ago. He became more serious, more intense, and I found myself helpless to resist. Or maybe I didn’t want to resist.
    I ran my hands up along his tanned arms, marveling at the cords of muscle under his skin, and over his shoulders until they joined together around his neck. It was as close to an invitation to kiss me as I could come up with, but he nodded like he understood. His lips came closer and closer…
    A pair of girlish shrieks halted him before we actually kissed, and he flew from the bed just before the door swung open.
    “Out!” he ordered, but the twins barreled past and jumped on the bed.
    I managed to sit up before one of them landed on my face.
    “Whatcha doing?” Evie asked as she bounced on the mattress.
    “We heard laughing,” her twin continued, not missing a beat.
    The tips of Brett’s ears turned red, and he rubbed the back of his neck. “We were, um, playing.”
    “We want to play, too.”
    “Yeah, let’s play tickle monster,” Bitsy added.
    I now understood how Brett was able to find my ticklish spot so quickly.
    But before Brett could turn into the tickle monster, his mom poked her head into the room. “Girls, you know you’re not supposed to jump on the bed.”
    “Sorry, Mum,” they said in unison and plopped down on the mattress, their feet dangling over the edge.
    “Can you please tell them to stay out of my room?” Brett raked his fingers through his hair as through he was trying to smooth out any of the dishevelment I might’ve caused. “I need Lexi to help with some school stuff.”
    All he had to do was mention academics to get his mom on his side. She stepped aside and ushered the girls out. “You heard your brother. He needs to study.”
    “But can we play tickle monster when you’re done?” Bitsy asked, jutting out her bottom lip in the same well-practiced pout my own younger sister used. “Please?”
    It was clear that they had him wrapped around their little fingers because as he prodded them out of his room, he agreed. “Yes, we can play tickle monster when I’m done.”
    They squealed and trampled down the stairs with the grace and decorum of a herd of stampeding cattle.
    His mom flicked her gaze at me before turning back to her son. “Don’t forget your assignments.”
    She didn’t close the door all the way when she left.
    I stood and moved closer to Brett. “Why do I get the feeling your mom doesn’t trust me?” I murmured.
    “Maybe she’s worried we’ll become fuck buddies.”
    The term was a running joke between us, and I smacked him with his pillow.
    He held up his hands and retreated to his desk chair. “But seriously, I did need your help with something.”
    “I’m not doing your homework, Football Boy, so don’t even think about asking. It was bad enough I had to share Junior with you.”
    “This has nothing to do with school, and even then, I wouldn’t dream of