“Get the ice cream and two spoons, and I’ll pick the movie.”
“We could eat out of bowls like civilized humans,” I suggested from the kitchen.
“Then I’d have to wash the dishes. Merrick will have a conniption if he comes back to dirty bowls in his sink. I have the next three days off from work. I’m not spending them with a sponge in my hand.”
“Fair,” I chuckled as I rustled through the freezer and found the ice cream hidden at the back behind a questionable box of burritos. Strawberry. My favorite.
A movie began to play as I handed Merci a spoon and settled beside her on the couch. My heart stuttered as our knees brushed.
“The ‘classic thriller’ you chose isShrek?” I said with a laugh, taking a spoonful of ice cream.
“Yep. It should be relatable to an ogre biker like you.”
“I’m more charming than Shrek,” I said with fake offense. “A hell of a lot more good looking, too.”
She snorted. “Keep telling yourself that.”
We watched the movie unfold, razzing each other through each scene. Chaos hopped onto the couch to lie beside me, her little body radiating heat against my thigh before she rolled over onto her back, snoring like a chainsaw with her legs in the air.
“You’re a lot like Princess Fiona.”
She snorted. “How?”
“You’ve never needed anyone to rescue you. You’re a badass, and you’re beautiful, whether you’re in a ballgown or covered in blood.”
Her throat bobbed as she swallowed. Then she let out a soft laugh. “You have ice cream in your beard.”
She licked a finger and leaned over, her face close to mine as she rubbed away the sticky, half-dried ice cream on my chin. A low growl escaped my chest, and she looked up. When our eyes met, the movie banter became background noise, and all I could hear was the rise and fall of our breath.
Merci pressed her lips to mine. For half a second, I froze. Then desire steamrolled my common sense. I cupped the back of her head, fingers tangling in her damp hair, and pulled her closer. I kissed her like I’d been starving for it—and, fuck, maybe I had.
You have five seconds to enjoy this kiss, and then it has to stop, I thought to myself.
Five …Holy shit. Her lips were soft and demanding, and she tasted like strawberries and bad fucking ideas.
Four …This is exactly what I’d fantasized kissing Merci would be like. Wild. Explosive.
Three …I could do this all night.
Two …Maybe I could figure out a way for this to work between us. Maybe Merrick would?—
One …Merrick would kill me.
I pulled away. Merci’s eyes were wide and bright, pupils blown. Her hand wrapped around my thigh, moving dangerously high.
I pulled away. “We can’t do this,” I rasped.
Her gaze dropped to my mouth, then back up. “Why?”
Before I could respond, she swung her leg over and straddled my lap as she kissed me again. Her fingers curled in my shirt as she dragged me closer. Her chest pressed against mine, and I could feel her hot skin through the thin tank top.
She pulled away and gazed at me, biting her lip.
“We can’t cross this line,” I groaned.
“Why?” she repeated in a breathy whisper, grinding against me.
I rested my forehead on hers. “You fucking know why. Merrick would never be OK with us. With you becoming my old lady.”
