“What?” I hear her reply, muffled by the door. Marlon has half stepped out into the corridor and I want to pull him back to me. Into my arms. How can anything about Clara be more important than going back to kissing me?
A door bangs somewhere down the hall and I can’t help but smile a little. I’ve never seen the Rothe siblings interact outside of drinks with the team every now and then. It’s a side of Marlon I’ve never seen before and it’s funny to witness. I sneak a little closer to the door so I can hear what’s going on.
“I need you out of the apartment,” Marlon says. “Now.” Oooh. I like his tone. I like ita lot. He’s determined andcommanding, almost authoritative. During games, he often tells the other players on the team where to go and how to do better, despite his age. It’s hot to hear that tone now.
“What the fuck?” Clara is clearly not used to her baby brother ordering her around. “Absolutely not,” she says, “I literally just ordered curry.”
“Nope.” Ungh. How can I get Marlon to give me commands in bed one day? As much fun as it has been to top him, I wouldloveto switch roles at some point. Have him cover me with his muscular body. “—live with the consequences.” Oops. Daydreaming made me miss part of the conversation.
“I’m not?—”
“Clara. I will not be quiet during what happens next, and I don’t want you here to witness it. You don’t want to be here to witness it. So get out. Now.”
My breath hitches in my throat and goosebumps race down my spine. Holy shit, I’m so hot for this guy. I love how he takes charge. I also love how he’s pliant underneath my hands, adventurous and willing to experiment. Ialsolove the way he looked at me earlier, soft and exasperated at the same time.
Apparently, I love everything about him.
“Oh.” Clara sounds stunned. “Oh!” This time, she sounds delighted. “Well, that changes things. Okay then!” Something clatters and then light footfalls pad down the hall. Marlon’s heavier ones follow suit.
Clara peeks her head through the door and grins when she sees me. Her hair is tied up in a messy bun and she wears an oversized t-shirt and leggings, looking slightly disheveled and lovely. “Well done,” she tells me, as Marlon appears behind her. “I’ll go out for a long walk. Loonngggg.” She raises one eyebrow. “Make it worth it.”
“Oh my god.” Marlon’s cheeks pinken. It’s a beautiful sight. “Get out.”
Clara half-turns and pats his cheek. “Have fun, boys! Don’t forget to wear condoms.”
“Out!” Marlon almost shouts, this time.
“And plenty of lube!” With these parting words, she gives me a grin and a wink, kisses her little brother on the cheek, and flounces away.
Marlon stares at me, visibly embarrassed, and we wait in silence for the apartment door to close behind Clara. Then Marlon turns, apparently needing to make sure she actually left, and only then do his shoulders sag in relief. “I’m so sorry.”
I grin at him. “It’s all good advice,” I say with a shrug. Marlon is here. I’m here. We’rein love. It’s disgusting and beautiful and so, so exciting. Nothing could dampen my mood right now. “I like her.”
Marlon snorts, clearly not agreeing with me, then shakes his head and blinks twice. He looks a little shaken and I decide to take matters into my own hands.
Still grinning, I step up to him and let my hands close over his narrow waist.
Marlon exhales and I can feel his muscles relax under my touch.
I tilt my head back slightly to look at him. “Ready to have your mind blown?”
He smirks and I know what he’s going to say before he even opens his mouth. “I’d prefer if you blew something else.”
Idiotically, my heart flutters. Because of a single dumb joke, predictable as can be. I laugh and lean my forehead against his, then press a chaste kiss to his lips. “I love you so much.” It’s so easy to forget he’s as much of a dumbass as I am. Sometimes, anyway.
Marlon laughs against my lips, but he doesn’t let me go. “That’s what does it for you?” he asks. “Me finally stooping to your level?”
“Stooping—” I gasp in mock outrage. “Excuse you very much!”
He steps even closer, making our bodies touch from chest to thighs. “I said what I said.” There’s soft mocking in his tone, and a hint of his dominant voice from earlier, and I am putty in his hands.
I rock against him, seeking friction, and Marlon gasps, a tiny sound leaking from his mouth. “I did say I wanted to grovel,” I say, slightly breathless. “So I’ll let this go. But let the record show I disagree!” But I’m already grinning because I love it. I want the banter, I want sparks flying between us, in bed and outside of it. I want to laugh with him, laughathim, score goals with him, be proud of him, blow his mind. Show him I love him. Over and over again.
So I drop to my knees in front of him. “You mentioned blowing?”
His exhale hangs heavy in the air between us and his lips fall open. “Yes. Freddie. Please.”
I press my nose into his belly, hard abs covered by barely any fat, and deeply inhale his scent. “Anything you want, Mar. Always.”
