10. Piper
PIPER
Icannot believe I just had sex with Mack.
And orgasms.
Two, in fact.
Rough fingers trail gently down my spine as I straddle his lap, his bare ass in the chair that his sister also sits in.
Great.
Mentally, I add buy new office chair and move this one to my house to my to-do list, because there’s zero chance I’ll be able to look at it again without thinking about…all of it.
Maybe I should get a new desk too.
The door would be harder to explain. Maybe I can get away with a really strong cleaner on that.
“What are you thinkin’ so hard about?” His drawl makes the words sound lazy, and even without looking, I can hear the smile in there too.
“I’m thinking about getting new office furniture.”
He chuckles, his chest moving against mine, the friction rubbing against my nipples and making them pebble.
There’s no freaking way.
“I’m rather fond of what you have right now.”
“Yeah, but your sister uses this desk.”
“I’ll get you a new one and we can put this in my garage.”
“Be serious.” I laugh, sitting back to look at him and unable to keep the smile off my face when his expression is wolfish.
And hot.
“I am serious. I won’t have to dodge the computer and stuff. More room for feasting on you.” My entire body flushes at the promise in that sentence.
“Mack—”
“Don’t even finish that sentence,” he fires back.
“How do you even know what I was going to say?” My face flushes when I realize that I’m arguing while I’m naked on his lap with his cock softening but still very much inside me.
“I’m just trying to head off all the self-doubt and this was a mistake and can’t happen again thoughts because it sure as fuck wasn’t a mistake.”
The conviction in his tone has me inhaling sharply, my belly dipping at all that ferocity aimed at me.
“I wasn’t going to say it was a mistake,” I defend as he arches a challenging eyebrow. “It shouldn’t happen again though.”
“Give me one good reason.”
“Because your sister is my best friend, and even though I’m still pissed about her little tirade the other day, I don’t want to sneak around behind her back.”
“Who said anything about sneakin’ around? I wanna date you right out in the open.”
“What?”
“You’re so oblivious sometimes,” he grumbles, making my heart start racing because what is he talking about?
Oblivious about what?
“I’m sorry, I—” He shuts me up with a hard kiss that shouldn’t be as distracting as it is, but now that I know what his mouth is capable of, I might be ruined for any other man.
“Get up before we make a real mess.” He softens the words with an affectionate pat to my ass, helping me climb off his lap and then steadying me when my knees almost buckle.
Awesome.
With his hands on the arms of the chair, Mack stands, slow and deliberate, his eyes never leaving mine. It’s captivating, and instead of rushing to put on clothes—which is what I should be doing—I remain rooted to the carpet, my lips parted as I watch his muscles bunch and flex.
“Careful, Honey Girl, or I won’t think twice about bending you over your desk and then we’ll really have to get rid of it.”
Twin reactions are warring inside me—the giddiness of being the center of his lustful attention and the absolute disgust that I’m thinking about giving in to the butterflies swooping around my belly.
“Dammit, Mack,” I huff, spinning around as he ties off the condom and drops it in the trash can while I snatch the sweats off the ground, forgoing a bra and panties. Mack’s lips curve up into a wolfish smirk that I want to both kiss and smack right off his gorgeous face.
His skin is tanned from working outside, his dark hair disheveled in the best way, and his dark brown eyes look almost black except for the flecks of gold that seem to sparkle when he’s amused.
Like he is now.
“Run all you want; I wasn’t kidding. You’re mine tonight and I plan to make the most of it.”
“Why? We had sex. You got your bragging rights and two orgasms out of me. What else do you need?” I’m going for nonchalance because I cannot let myself get caught up in Mack—he’s not just some guy. He’s Rory’s brother and if that’s not the definition of complicated, I don’t know what is.
Then why did I have sex with him?
Also, why am I being a bitch?
“Are you trying to piss me off?” He glares at me, crossing his arms over his chest, wearing only a tight pair of boxer briefs that are incredibly distracting.
“No,” I snap but it only makes his jaw clench and his eyes narrow. “I just don’t understand what you think is gonna happen in the morning.”
“I figured I’d make you coffee and kiss you goodbye before I have to head to work.”
“We’re not dating.”
“Why not?”
“Because you’re you and you don’t settle down.”
“Just because I haven’t doesn’t mean I’m not capable.”
“I know, I’m sorry. It’s just…this is a lot.”
“Which part?”
“What do you mean which part? All of it, Mack. I’m terrible with relationships and you’ve never had one and—”
“I’ve had relationships.”
“A real one? As an adult? Not like passing notes in high school.”
“Sure.” He throws his hands out wide. “But that doesn’t matter because you don’t actually want to be with me.”
I can feel a headache coming on, the adrenaline letdown from getting the dog and then getting naked with Mack scrambling my brain. Rubbing my fingers between my eyebrows, I sigh. “I do… but can it not be dating? Can we just try being together?”
“What are you so afraid of? You’re in relationships all the time.”
“Because you’re not just some guy, Mack. When it ends, I’ll be devastated and you’ll just move on with your life. Everything will change and what if we lose this?” I motion between us even though I’m grasping at straws, my resolve waning the longer we stand here.
Closing the distance, he lightly grips my chin with his thumb and forefinger, tilting my head up to meet his gaze.
“I’ve waited a long time for this, Piper. I’m not gonna fuck it by runnin’ around on you. Give me a chance to show you I’m all in.”
“Can we keep it between us?” When he opens his mouth, inevitably to argue, I press on, “Please? Just for now.”
“And how are you going to explain my truck in your driveway?”
“I don’t know.”
“Fine,” he relents, “but there better fucking not be anyone else.”
I bark out a laugh at the absurdity of the statement, but he looks serious. “Mack, you’re incredible but you’re exhausting.” His lips twitch and I roll my eyes. “Between this place and you, there’s no chance I’ll have the energy to entertain anyone else.”
“Good.”
“Same goes for you, right?”
“I’m going to pretend that I’m not insulted right now, Honey Girl, but I guess I deserve it. That’s what I’ve shown you.” Pulling me tight against him, Mack just holds me, eventually pressing his forehead to mine. “But believe me, baby, it’s just you. Only you.”
And just like that, there’s no hope of saving my heart from Mack Crosby.