Don’t worry, I’ll take it out solely on you.”
“Oh, goodie.”
***
“Here are the rules, ” Cassie said as she put a finger in Peter’s face. They were in their shared bedroom after a night of way too much wine. His family was crazy for refilling glasses. She’d get three-quarters of the way down on her wine, turn to talk to someone, and it’d be full again when she reached for it. She would think it was a conspiracy, but everyone got the same treatment. Except for Peter, who wasn’t drinking. He was too afraid the gay would come out.
“You’re an idiot, you know?” she sidetracked. “They think you are metro. You can fly the real you under that guise.”
Peter shook his head. “I’d rather play the jock. Otherwise I can’t be sure what will come out of my mouth.”
“Okay, fine. Rules. Although, I don’t like fake you nearly as much as I love real you.”
Peter smil ed and yanked her into a hug. “Aww, thanks.”
“Focus!”
“Sweetie, I’m not the drunk one. I can stand straight without swaying.”
Oh yeah.
She didn’t care.
“Do not cuddle me. I don’t like when people breathe on me. Also, I might forget who you are and cop a feel.”
He shrugged, a smile lighting his face. “Cop a few feels. I don’t mind.”
“God, you are such a guy.”
He gave a delighted laugh. “Okay, I won’t curl around you. What else?”
“Don’t snore. But I am allowed to snore.”
“No.” He shook his head as he unpacked enough outfits for a month. “I will absolutely elbow you.”
She stripped out of her pants and yanked off her shirt. “Don’t look—I’ll be half naked.”
“Don’t worry. You’re pecs aren’t hard enough.”
“ Ew. That gives me a gross image. And it shouldn’t because they are my boobs.” She stripped off her bra and threw it in the corner. Her pajamas consisted of a pair of boxers and a tank top. She climbed into bed before she realized she should pee.
“Dang it.” She threw the covers back , half rolled out onto the floor, haphazardly got up, and stomped toward the door.
“You’re good with kids, huh? I didn’t know that about you.” Peter stripped off his shirt.
She slowed, leaning against the wall. “I love kids. Love kids. Definitely want some, just have to find a guy first.”
“You will, sweetie. You’ll find one.”
“Let’s not talk about that. This week is about you.”
He shook his head and put a suit into the closet. Why he needed a suit, she did not know, nor did she plan to ask. He might then tell her, and she d idn’t care.
“Bathroom is…”
“Across the hall and down a pace.”
Nodding once, she tip toed out of the room, since the kids went down earlier and she didn’t want to wake them, and found the door in question, slightly ajar and dark within. She pushed in and came smack against a wall of man. Her hands brushed smooth skin on a muscly torso. The heat from his skin shocked into her neck and chest, saturating her body instantly. She closed her eyes and let a slow breath tumble from her mouth. She felt the brush of his arm as it reached beside her to flip a switch.
Light bathed a chest so damn divine it made her mouth water. The sleeve of tattoos ended in tribal art on his shoulder, sneaking inward toward his perfectly sculpted pec. Perfectly sculpted.
Her mouth went dry as her gaze drifted upward. His beautiful eyes held her, intense and masterful, dominant and intelligent. Heat took over her body, wrapping around her mind and tightening her groin. His warm breath bathed her. His smell wrapped around her head in dizzying ways.
She s aw something deep in those eyes, wild and raw, yearning to break free. And she wanted him to. She wanted him to take her. To push her up against the wall and have her. To pit his size against hers until she had no choice but to submit.
“What the hell!” she gasped , her groin tingling and her tongue thick. An alarm buzzed somewhere, knowing he was taken. Knowing she
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