“It’s been fun.” She sets the pile on top of the dresser. “I guess we can take that plastic off. It’s to keep it from getting dusty when no one is using a room.” She glances back at the open door.No one’s passed by. They’re all either in their own rooms, talking to Iron Jack, or already on patrol.
I head for it and slowly push it closed and twist the lock.
She lets out a long, slow breath. “This is it, I guess. Should we make the bed?”
“Yeah.”
I help her remove the plastic cover, and together, we put on the fitted sheet, flat sheet, and a plain blue blanket. Everything smells fresh and laundered, driving away the staleness of the room.
She glances at the dresser. “Did the roomcomewith condoms, or did you procure them?”
“I borrowed them off Hoss.”
She sucks in a breath. “So, he knows?”
“Right now, he’s assuming I’m taking advantage of one of the women we brought in.”
“What? Who would do that?”
“Apparently, Hoss thinks I would.” I lean against the wall, arms crossed. “But I thought we should have condoms, even though last night, you were skipping them.”
“I’m on birth control. I thought for sure I’d be busy by the time I finished grad school.” She sinks onto the bed. “And obviously, nobody’s given me VD yet.” She picks at the knee of her sweatpants. “Are you saying we should use them for you?”
“Maybe. I haven’t been tested in a while. Won’t have time if we’re handling this tonight. But we don’t have to. We can wait.”
“I don’t want to wait.” Her voice catches, and that note of upset strikes a chord deep in my gut.
I sit on the bed beside her. I’m not used to emotional talk, but she’s clearly in need of something. I can’t just stick it in her and leave in two weeks. “Before we go through with this, can we talk about where you see this going?”
She clasps her hands tightly together. “I don’t know. I want it done. If it’s not … not good … we can fake it for two weeks, you know, fake being together. But it will still be done. Everyone will know.”
I see. She’s not vested in this. I’m just the tool. “All right.” Clearly, she needs me to take the lead here. I’m not sure if I should go alpha male and pull her down or put on the charm first.
But she stands up and begins pacing the room. “I mean, I’m not in love with you. Right? No, of course not. I’ve been infatuated with the idea of you for a long time, since that first night at the bar. And definitely when I flashed everyone. And that night at the grand reopening when I said I wanted to be a bunny.” She pauses, gesturing to open air. “And then I was here, and you were closer. I think the dancing put me over the top.” She keeps rambling, repeating herself, as if she needs convincing to get started.
Yeah, alpha male it is.
I’m at her in two strides and lift her into my arms.
She lets out a tiny squeak.
“Just like a mouse,” I tell her and cover the distance back to the bed.
I act like I’m going to toss her onto it, but at the last minute, I crush her against my chest. She snatches at my neck, holding on.
I laugh. “You’re mine tonight. I’m going to do what I want.”
Her eyes go big and round, two pools of blue. “Will it hurt?”
“Maybe for a second. But I’ll make you forget.”
“How?”
I tilt back so that she falls against me, and I can capture her mouth. My lips tease her until she opens for me, and I taste her, burgers and coke and that unique flavor that is all Marietta.
Her hands stop clutching and wrap loosely against my skin. She’s soft in my arms, all flannel and fleece.
Then she smacks my shoulder over and over again.
