Total pages in book: 89
Estimated words: 86422 (not accurate)
Estimated Reading Time in minutes: 432(@200wpm)___ 346(@250wpm)___ 288(@300wpm)
Estimated words: 86422 (not accurate)
Estimated Reading Time in minutes: 432(@200wpm)___ 346(@250wpm)___ 288(@300wpm)
His dimple appears. “Perfect, everyone will know you’re mine and I’m yours.”
If only that were really true.
He winds an arm around my waist, and pulls me into him, my back pressed against his chest. It’s different than one of his hugs and intentionally intimate. Mac is tall, lean, and all muscle, narrower than the pro players, because he’s still growing, but he’s a head taller than me, and I love how protected I feel in his arms.
Eventually Cammie and Chase start hardcore making out—this is not unusual when they’ve been drinking at a party—so I turn to face Mac and link my hands behind his neck.
His gaze shifts from our horny friends to me. “Those two can’t keep their hands off each other.”
“Total couple goals,” I joke.
He glances over my shoulder for a moment, tongue dragging across his bottom lip. “Do you think they’ve forgotten that they’re in a room full of people?”
“Or they get off on the fact that people are watching,” I offer.
“You think so?” His gaze shifts back to me and our eyes lock.
Cammie writes MFM fanfic, and there’s a significant amount of voyeurism. I shrug. “It’s possible.”
“How do you feel about PDA?” he asks.
“Depends on the situation, but I don’t think I’d mind feeling claimed.”
His fingers flex on my waist and warmth travels through me at the sudden spark that flares between us. But I’m sure the booze and watching our friends get handsy on the dance floor is the cause.
“I need to use the bathroom,” I blurt and drop my hands before I do something regrettable.
Mac blinks a few times, but steps back, severing the contact. “Right. Okay. You need me to be your bodyguard?”
I pat him on the chest. “I’ll be fine.” If he comes with me, I’ll be liable to drag him in there with me and embarrass myself by being honest.
I weave my way through the crowd, and join the line for the bathroom, thankful there are only two guys ahead of me and one girl. The wait gives me time to get my hormones and my head under control.
Once I’m finished in the bathroom, I make my way back to the living room, but my friends have moved. I spot them in the four seasons room.
Before I can reach Mac, two girls approach him. The one on the left asks him about the hockey gala, which isn’t a surprise. I hang back, the lump in my throat growing as I wait to see how he handles this, now that we have this arrangement.
“I’m taking my girlfriend, but I don’t think Gage has a date yet,” he offers.
“I didn’t know you had a girlfriend.” The girl sounds devastated.
I get it. Mac is a delight in all senses of the word.
“We started dating recently,” he explains. “She’s cool, and gorgeous and fun to be around.”
I sidle up next to him and hug his arm, tamping down the thrill over being able to touch him like this.
“Hey, sweetheart.” He smiles down at me. “Are your ears burning? I was just talking about you.”
The term of endearment sends another wave of pleasure sweeping through me. “Were you saying nice things?”
“Like how talented and beautiful you are?” He winks and grins.
He’s laying it on a little thick, but I don’t mind. “And a great dancer.”
“Incredible, really,” he agrees. “Wanna get out of here?”
It’s a sharp right. Maybe he’s had enough of pretending for tonight. I hide my disappointment behind a smile. “Sure. We can go.”
An impish grin curves the corner of his mouth as he dips down, wraps his arm around the back of my legs, and tosses me over his shoulder.
I shriek and laugh as my cheek bumps his muscular back. I rest my hand briefly on his rock-solid right ass cheek for balance, before I move it to his hip.
“See you guys tomorrow,” he calls over his shoulder.
I wave to my friends, who wear matching grins as he carries me out the door.
CHAPTER 6
FEE
Mac doesn’t take me home once we leave the party. Instead, we end up at a diner a few blocks from my apartment. I order tea and a muffin, and he orders a full breakfast with orange juice.
“Did I do okay tonight? Did you have fun?” Mac asks.
“Yeah. I had a good time. You did great with the thirsty girls.” I focus on adding a packet of sugar to my tea and try not to think about how good it felt to have his arm around me, or how much I liked his body pressed against mine when he danced with me, or the thrill it sent through me when he threw me over his shoulder all caveman style, in front of girls who like him, and carried me out of the party.
“Thanks.” He smiles, then tacks on, “I had a good time, too.”