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The distinct sound of a slap echoed from the hallway where they’d disappeared, interrupting whatever Roe was going to say. “Don’t make me shoot you, Ross,” Sam said. I really didn’t understand their relationship.
Gray ignored the exchange, watching me with a keen eye that would have anyone else squirming in their seat. “The job, it’s three days and nights, personal protection. This is the kind of work you could do in your sleep. If this isn’t something you can handle, I need to know, Gage. Distracted means sloppy and that’s how people get hurt.”
The rebuke burned like acid. He was right, not being one hundred percent present on a job was dangerous not only for the client but me as well. “I can handle it, just need a few hours to make some arrangements is all.”
“Mia?” I hated her name on his lips. I soothed the darkness by reminding him that we’d already had this conversation and Gray had no interest in what was mine. Biting my tongue, I nodded. “You need anything, let me know. If they’re important to you then they’re important to us.”
A different emotion rose at his assurance. It had been a long time since I’d had a family. When Gram died, I made sure to never get close to anyone, it hurt too bad when they were gone. It seemed, despite my best efforts, I’d failed miserably. I’d never been so happy to be proven wrong.
21
MIA
He forced her legs wider and settled his hips between them. Scarlett’s core flooded with wetness when she felt his hot length press against her.
“You’re mine, do you understand, Scarlett?”
“Yes,” she whispered, and then he was thrusting his turgid member inside of her, stealing her breath and turning her fingers into claws as they dug into his back.
Flipping the book closed, I stared at the cover and fanned my heated cheeks with my free hand.The Bastard Duke’s Mail Order Virgin Bridewas scrawled in a looping font right below a picture of a man and woman in a sensual embrace. His ruffled shirt was torn open and her frilly dress dipped low, exposing an ample chest. Gemma had left out the fact that three-quarters of this book was sex.Really good sex,I squirmed, absently glancing at the clock and wondering when Gage would be finished with work.
As much as I was enjoying reading again, I was torn about actually attending the book club meeting with Gemma. The book was hot and filthy in the best ways with the right amount of romance to have my heart swooning and cheering on the Duke to win over Scarlett. Yet, the thought of discussing these things in a room full of people I didn’t know all that well made my palms clammy and my anxiety skyrocket. It was one thing to read the words alone in my bedroom but a whole other to discuss it openly with practical strangers.
My bedroom door flew open and, in a panic, I flung the book out of my hands toward the window…the closed window. It banged against the glass and landed on the carpet, raunchy cover side up and in full view.
Gage stared at me in surprise then his eyes slid to the book as if in slow motion.No.I tried to scramble my way out of the bed but I was wrapped up in a blanket like a burrito. I’d only managed to free one leg before he was holding the book in his hands.
A grin pulled at the corner of his mouth, and I watched in horror as he flipped to the page where my bookmark was resting. It had been a gift from Gemma and the words ‘Book Slut’ were surrounded by swirling vines and flowers. His brows rose as he held the bookmark between two fingers, then his eyes shifted back and forth as he began to read.
This was how I died.Pure embarrassment from the sexy, virginity taking, midnight stalking, perfect god of a man standing in my bedroom and reading my lady porn.
“How didn’t I know that you read bodice rippers?” His smile was wide, making his entire face look younger. A sigh of feminine appreciation pushed past my lips before I could stop it. Deep laughter shook me out of my hot guy stupor and I remembered he’d asked me a question.
“How do you know what a bodice ripper is?” Finally entangling myself from my blanket trap, I rose to my knees on the mattress and planted my fists on my hips.
He held the book up so that I could see the cover and I felt my cheeks heat further. “Gram loved this shit. She’d send me to the library and the used bookstore all the time to pick out new ones for her. Swear to God I used to have nightmares about that Fabio guy.”
I held my hand to my mouth trying to contain my giggle. In my mind I pictured a young Adam Gage, riding his bike to the local library and asking the town’s ancient librarian to direct him to the romance section.
“Laugh it up, angel. Some guys from school saw me with a stack of these things once and made fun of me.”
Sliding off the bed, I walked over to him and placed my hands on his cheeks. I pushed my lips into an exaggerated pout and squeezed his face. “Poor baby, it must have been awful being bullied like that.”
His hands landed squarely on my ass and he squeezed until I squeaked and released his face to slap at his hands. His smile turned playful. “Don’t worry your adorable little head about it, sweetheart, I beat the shit out of all three of them, even slapped their leader in the face with one of the books.”
Not bothering to hold my laugh back this time, I rose on my toes and planted a smacking kiss on his lips. “Of course, you did.” Then I squealed when he hoisted me into the air, my legs automatically wrapping around his lower back.
“Where’s Miles?” His eyes heated and I clenched my thighs tighter.
“He’s at a friend’s house.” Gage lunged toward the bed, bracing himself with one hand to keep from crushing me under his weight.
“Looks like I got here at the perfect time. Now tell me, Scarlett, where would you like me to put my turgid member?”
My laugh was loud, devolving into moans as he placed searing kisses all over my body.
* * *
“I need to get Miles soon.”My arm was draped across Adam’s chest while he lazily played with my hair. This felt so decadent, lying in bed on a sunny day, naked and satisfied.
