Total pages in book: 78
Estimated words: 75496 (not accurate)
Estimated Reading Time in minutes: 377(@200wpm)___ 302(@250wpm)___ 252(@300wpm)
Estimated words: 75496 (not accurate)
Estimated Reading Time in minutes: 377(@200wpm)___ 302(@250wpm)___ 252(@300wpm)
“Be good,” he said again.
“Why do I have a feeling you’re going to be telling me that a lot?”
“Because you’re smart.”
“Or because we both like it.”
Marcus moaned, this deep growly sound that made my cock throb. “Stop tempting me.”
“You’re easily temptable,” I countered. “Is that a word? If it’s not, it is now.” I enjoyed this back-and-forth between us. Marcus did too. If I didn’t think so, I would have stopped doing it ages ago.
“Do you need my help in here?” he asked. “If not, I’m gonna get some things done.”
“Scaredy-cat,” I teased.
“I’m not scared. What would I be scared of?”
I felt entirely too proud of myself for getting to him this way because there was no doubt in my mind that’s what was going on. “Me. You know, since you want me so much.”
“I don’t want you that much.”
“Then why are you running from me?”
Amusement danced in Marcus’s brown eyes. Did anyone work to get under his skin the way I did? For some reason, I didn’t think so. Maybe the podcast guys, but that was in a different way from what I was doing.
“I’m not running from—why in the fuck do I argue with you? I know what you’re doing.”
I laughed. Fuck, he was fun. “I’m not doing anything other than letting you know when you’re being sus.”
“I’m not—goddamn it.” He bit his cheeks in an obvious way to keep from smiling. “I can be around you. I’m not trying to escape you for any reason other than you’re an annoying little shit and I’m actually going to research fish-tank moving companies for you.”
Oh…well, damn. That was sweet. He came off so gruff sometimes, like he didn’t care about anything, but I couldn’t help wondering if there was a sweeter man in the world than Marcus Alston. Fine and caring? There had to be a mistake. He had to have some big-ass flaw I hadn’t seen yet.
I stepped closer, didn’t stop until I was looking up at him from inches away, the two of us breathing the same air. “You’re a teddy bear, Marcus.”
“You’re easily fooled.”
I put a hand on his stomach, felt the tight muscles beneath his shirt, wished I could see him naked, all that beautiful brown skin on display for me to kiss and taste and savor. “Nope. I don’t think so.” I fisted my hand in his tee, making it rise some. The bulge behind the fly of his jeans was obvious. Damned if I wasn’t hard too. I loved flirting, hooking up, having fun, but something about flirting with Marcus felt new and exciting. I’d never wanted anyone the way I wanted him. “You’re sweet, and I think I’m gonna remind you of that as much as possible…until you believe it.”
Marcus moved forward, backing me up until I hit the wall. He was breathing heavily, hot puffs against my face. He pressed his body against mine, hand moving up to my throat and holding it. Not tight, not restricting my airflow, but just there. He dropped his head forward, his mouth close to my ear, and goddamn it, he’d gotten the upper hand too fucking quickly. “Be careful, baby boy.”
A wave of pleasure rolled down through my torso before landing in my groin. That was really fucking hot, and now I’d lost my train of thought. What had I even planned to say to him?
“Mmm…I felt that tremble. You want me, want this.” He pumped his hips, making his cock rub against me.
“No shit,” fell from my lips. I reached for him, but Marcus shook his head.
“Tsk, tsk. I didn’t say you could touch.” The motherfucker grinned because he knew he’d won. He let go of me and stepped away.
My whole body thrummed with want for him. “What! That’s it?”
His smile turned into a deep, rumbly laugh. “I can tease and play the game too, and I promise you, I always win. Now, can I go find a mover for you, or are you still trying to play in the big leagues?”
Oh, that’s what I’d wanted to talk to him about. I fought to ignore the lust burning through me like wildfire. “I don’t need you to fix everything for me. I’m a big boy. I can handle it myself.”
“It’s not a problem.”
“I know. I can still do it myself.” It was important to me to stand on my own two feet. Yeah, I had to live with him, but I didn’t want to depend on him or anyone else. As much as I loved my family, that was part of why I left Riverside. I was the baby. They thought they had to protect me, and I didn’t want that.
“Okay.” He gave a curt nod, his gaze intense on me. Then without another word, he went for the door.
“I do appreciate it, Teddy.”