Before I overthink, I reach for Maren’s hand and rub my thumb over her smooth skin. My hand is more tanned and gnarly than hers. The ink old. Some of it was the real cheap shit that has bled a little over time.
“I’m glad I came over to see you tonight,” I admit. Even though I lied to my men, it’s not enough to make me regret my choices.
Maren turns to face me. “I’m glad you did too.”
I tug her over to me and situate her such that she’s sitting astraddle my thighs. Not because we’re gonna have sex…we have all night for that. But just because I want to be closer to her.
She places her palms on my chest, and smiles. “Do you ever get to relax like this?”
I shake my head. “Not really. Maybe the times I’m at home. But even then, I take calls and have to deal with texts and shit.”
I cup the back of her neck and tug her to me. I’ve realized Maren likes the gesture, especially if I squeeze a little. “Gimme those lips of yours.”
Her hand comes up to my jaw as she kisses me. It’s slow and measured, like she knows we have all night too, and doesn’t need to rush a thing.
Heat builds, slowly and steadily, and, yeah, my cock gets hard because I’m easily distracted by her lips. But then, Maren pulls away.
“You’ve been unexpected, Knox,” she says.
I huff at that. “Careful, Maren. You’re gonna make me forget we’re only supposed to be banging this out of our system.”
Fuck, she has a pretty smile.
“I didn’t realize that was an option,” she says.
This time,Ikissher. And I feel her smile against my lips.
Like she already knows I’m a liar.
25
MAREN
Late the following evening, as I sit in the small office, I stare at the inventory sheets where the numbers are starting to blur together.
I’ve counted just about everything we stock over the course of the day and have nearly completed deciding how much we should have of everything as we transition into summer season. Some orders have already been placed. There are more to do.
But, Lord, keeping my brain engaged has been difficult, because now that Knox has my number, he…
I sigh and then grin like it’s Christmas morning and everything I ever wanted was under the tree.
I pick up the phone and look back at the last few texts he sent.
Knox:Drove past the old boarded-up shoe store. Big front windows. Good light. Could see your paintings in there.
Knox:Every time I think about the first time we fucked, I shiver thinking about how good it felt. It’s like I’m thirteen all over again.
Knox:Don’t like the idea that I’m not gonna sleep with you beside me tonight.
He’s got some club business to attend to. And I’ve liked the space to paint and work and…
The sound of glass shattering echoes through the quiet store. Because the office is in a windowless room in the center of the store, it’s unlikely that whoever smashed the exterior window knows I am in here. But there are footsteps inside and muffled male voices.
Likely the two men who asked about Jackal, because there is no way I go years without trouble living here, only to get a bunch of it in the same week.
On instinct, I grab my keys and phone before I turn off the small lamp to avoid drawing further attention to my location. The rest of the store is in darkness, and with the office door closed, it’s unlikely they saw any light. Thankfully, I’d needed a notebook from the shelf behind the door, hence why it was closed. Otherwise it would have been wide open. Usually, I love the fact there isn’t an internal staircase between the store and the little apartment above because of the separation, especially on my days off. But tonight, I wish there was one.
My heart slams once, so hard, I feel it in my throat.
