“You know that calls for a punishment, right?” His lips brush over my skin as he talks, sending a shiver down my spine.
“I do.” I grin, doing my best to hide the giddiness building in my stomach.
“So is this how it will be now? You doing things on purpose just so I smack your ass or make you choke on my cock?” He moves up, catching my earlobe between his teeth.
I shrug. “Maybe. But for now, I need your help setting up.”
“Mm.” He moans lightly in my ear then standing back to his full height. “Once this reading is over, you’re mine.” He grins.
“I know.” I smile back. “Now can you use those big muscles and move the table from the front to the center? I want to have another display of his books there.
He nods and rolls his eyes playfully before getting to work.
I’m so engrossed in watching the way his body moves, I never notice Greer come up behind me.
“I think you enjoy watching him more than anything.” She laughs.
I jump and turn my head slightly toward her. “Look at him. You can’t tell me he isn’t the prettiest thing to gawk at.”
She laughs with a scoff. “You’re delusional if you think I’m going to agree or disagree. I plead the fifth because I don’t want to end up at the bottom of the ocean.”
I cross my arms over my chest and tip my head. “What is that supposed to mean?”
She cocks an eyebrow at me. “You can play dumb all you want, but what respecting jewelry store owner carries guns on them?” She nods in his direction.
I follow her finger and catch the quickest peek of a Glock tucked into a holster when he lifts his arm.
“Shut up, Greer. You know it’s only to protect his shop.”
“Mhm. You can try to play it off as that all you want, but I know who he is.” She picks up Tatum’s book and waves it in my face, then points to the cover model meant to depict his latest Mafia king. “He’s exactly like him.”
I shake my head and snatch the book from her. “Greer, things like this,” I hold up the book, “only happen in books.”
“Right. And you’re just living your own fairy tale?”
I turn back to Easton and smile as he leans back on to the table he moved and set up. “Maybe I am.”
* * *
As I’m folding up all of the tables and chairs we put out for the reading, Tatum walks over to me. “Thank you again for letting me come and read, Arloe. I love it here.”
I match his smile. “You’re welcome. You being here helps us more than you know.”
“Well, hopefully, I’ll be back soon. My publisher is pushing for an earlier release for my next book.”
“We’ll be here.” I lay the chair I was folding against the wall and give him a side hug before he walks away.
“It isn’t fair how many men flock to your feet,” Greer quips behind me.
I chuckle. “That was only a simple thank you, Greer.”
“Yeah,” she scoffs with a grin. “And what exactly is Easton always thanking you for?” She props her hand on her hip and wiggles her eyebrows at me.
I shake my head and flip the light switch off on the wall. “Speaking of Easton, I have plans. So, head out. I’ll come early tomorrow and get the rest of this put up.”
“You sure? I don’t mind staying a bit later.”
“Really. Go home and enjoy your book. I saw you snag Tatum’s latest release.”
