Badger let out a laugh and stuck her tongue out at me. “What are you going to do about it, Hammer?”
I loved our banter, our inside jokes, and the games we played with each other. It was the best foreplay, a high that I never wanted to lose.
I took a paintbrush, dipped it into the neon-pink paint, and started chasing Badger around the room. She squealed with delight as she ran away from me. I eventually caught her, pinning her to the ground, and spread the paint all over her face.
“Pink is your color,” I teased, giving her a smirk.
She took a paint bucket that was sitting next to her and dumped it over my head. Bright-blue paint went everywhere, seeping through my protective suit and onto my street clothes. I wiped the paint from my eyes. Blue paint covered her as well, making me laugh.
“We’re a mess,” Badger said with a laugh.
A beautiful mess,I thought.
TWENTY-SIX
BADGER
I absentmindedly mixed the brownie batter in the bowl that sat on the large marble counter. I couldn’t stop thinking about how much fun I’d had last night. After the rage room and paint room, Machine had brought me to his favorite pizza restaurant on the outskirts of the city. The pizza had been divine, and just what I had needed after the fun we’d had. We spent over an hour just talking about Domino’s gym, some of his military career, and about how he, Kade, and Lennie knew each other.
I felt like I had gained real insight into who he was last night. He hadn’t pushed for more when we had gotten back to his penthouse. Instead, he had simply given me a kiss on the cheek and said thank you for a wonderful night before going into his room with Lucy.
Lost in thought, I didn’t hear the footsteps coming toward me.
Machine cleared his throat. “What are you making?”
The question pulled me out of my thoughts. I met his piercing hazel eyes, trying to avoid looking down at his bare chest and low-hanging gray sweatpants.
“Brownies,” I said, looking back down at the now well-mixed batter.
“Can I taste it?” The heat in his gaze was unmistakable.
I nodded, feeling surprisingly awkward. He walked toward me until his arm brushed mine as he turned and leaned on the counter. I dipped my finger in the batter and lifted it to his lips, wanting to poke the bear in front of me.
Without hesitation, Machine opened his mouth and closed it around me. The action sent a jolt of lust through me. Machine closed his eyes, his tongue swirling my fingertip. He moaned before opening his eyes and looking at me. Hunger intensified in his stare. I removed my finger from his mouth and stood there, holding his gaze.
“Good?” I asked in a whisper.
He nodded.
“So sweet. But there’s something else I’d like to taste,” he said with a knowing smirk, sending more waves of lust through me.
“Oh yeah? And what would that be?” I asked, playing into his game.
Machine trailed his eyes over me, branding my skin with the heat in his gaze.
“I know of something even sweeter, Bunny.”
I moved so I was standing between his strong legs. I raised an eyebrow at him.
“And what makes you think I’ll let you taste anything else?” I taunted.
Machine licked his lower lip and grabbed my hips, dragging me toward his hard body. He leaned close to my ear.
“Because I know a part of you can’t stop thinking about yesterday, and wants more.” His words sent a shiver down my spine.
He pressed a kiss right under my ear. My heart began to race as a small moan escaped my lips, making him growl. We’d been doing this dance with one another for what felt like forever, and Iwas done playing. I wanted him. I wanted him to devour me and claim me entirely.
He met my eyes once more as his grip on my hips tightened. I felt how hard he was through my shirt, and I couldn’t help but wonder how good all those piercings would feel inside of me.
