Page 61 of Total Abandon

“Shoes. Off,” she snaps. My eyes jerk back up to hers and it’s then I notice that there is a mop and bucket leaning against the wall next to her and a wet sheen over the marble. In fact, the whole place is practically gleaming. With ruffled hair and something dark smudged across her forehead, she looks a little manic, yet entirely edible.

“What’s going on?” I ask cautiously.

“I’ve been…playing maid.” She nibbles nervously on her lip, her gaze scanning over my body where I stand. “You’re getting footprints on the marble and—”

My mind catapults in a different direction at a hundred miles an hour and I lose all track of what she’s now yelling about. Lace trimmed mini skirt, garters strapped tight enough to leave a mark, feather duster in one hand as she leans over and—

“Are you listening?!” Her acidic bite snaps me back into the room and I blink.

“No, why are you over there?” All of the fight deflates from her and her shoulders sag. I only then realize that she’s wearing one of my black T-shirts over her leggings. It dwarfs her and the unevolved part of me beats my chest. Damn, she looks good in my clothes.

“I…accidentally mopped myself into a corner and wet socks make me feel funny, so I…” She trails off uncertainly, waving her hand around at the pristine kitchen.

“So let me get this straight, you don’t like things too organized, yet you…stress clean?” I’m trying not to let my bemusement rattle my tone, but the answering scowl makes it even harder to conceal.

“I didn’t ask for the psycho analysis, Guerra.” Her eyes narrow as she hisses.

“Right, and just how long have you been stuck there, exactly?” I smirk openly, shaking my head.

“Maybe forty minutes,” she mumbles, and I roll my eyes. Slipping off my shoes, I pad over to where she sits and offer her my hand. She hesitates, looking at it like it’s a poisonous viper.

“I don’t bite.” I grin down at her as her eyes flash like the hottest part of a flame.

“The teeth marks on my ass say otherwise,” she grumbles, placing her hand in mine and letting me pull her to her feet. Laughing, I stoop down and lift her from the ground. Instead of sweeping her up by her knees, I cradle her ribs in my hands, leaving her hovering in front of me at eye level like a rag doll. Raising one brow, I wait, offering her an amused smirk. Her refusal to wrap her legs around my waist is laughable, considering they spent the majority of last night wrapped around my head.

“I can do this all day, if you like.” Okay, maybe not. But for a good while at least. She eyes me stubbornly, tipping her chin and folding her arms. “Fine, have it your way.” I chuck her up and over my shoulder instead, inciting an outraged squeal. Peaches and cream invade my nostrils and the feel of her warm, soft curves against my body brings back a flood of heated memories, making my dick swell.

My hand claps down over her ass as I walk from the kitchen, and she yelps. Diego’s gaze jerks from the TV as I carry Chloe out of the kitchen, ass first. Offering him a small one shouldered shrug that makes him grin, I give her legs a tug so that she’s sliding down the front of my body. When she lands, she opens those plump lips to throw a fit, but I place one finger roughly over them.

“What’s going on in there?” I lift the finger to tap her forehead, right above the smudge, which makes it crumple into an adorable scowl.

“Nothing, I’m fine.”

“Okay, so you’re fine.” I shrug and turn to walk away, heading for the sweeping stairwell. Three, two, one…

“It’s just—” I spin around, masking the smile threatening to pull up at my lips. She pauses, her scarlet painted fingers fiddling with the hem of my T-shirt at her thigh. “I’m freaking out a little,” she admits, her eyes darting around the room, looking at anything but me as her cheeks flush.

“I see that,” I reply dryly, slipping my hands into my pockets and waiting.

Her eyes fall on Diego, who is already gaping open-mouthed at the TV. World war three could probably kick off right here and he wouldn’t notice. “About that…gamewe played last night,” she starts, sliding her eyes to mine.

Ah, code word. “Good game. Lots of rounds. I won most of them.” I flash her a devilish smile, picturing her writhing body beneath mine as she tried to tap out.

“Yes, well.” Her cheeks pool a darker pink. “I just think maybe we should talk about it. Lay out some ground rules so we don’t play again.”

Sucking in a slow breath through my nostrils, I assess her. She straightens her back under my attention. “I like playing that game with you, Chloe. And if I have it my way, we’ll play again.” I prowl slowly toward her, watching her plush lips fall apart and her pupils blow wide. “We’ll play in every room and on every surface in this place until neither one of us can—”

“Yes, thank you! I’ve got the picture,” she snaps, taking a measured step back.

“I’d be happy to paint it for you in more vivid color, if you like?” I tease, closing the space between us and gripping her chin between my forefinger and thumb, tilting her head upward.

Her brows knit together and fire flares in her crystalline eyes. “If you’re so desperate to play the game, maybe you should go and find another opponent?”

I rear back a few inches, nostrils flared as anger ignites in my chest. My thumb turns white on her chin, and I drop my grip before I accidentally hurt her. “Don’t say things you don’t mean, Chloe.” Itdoesn’t sneak by me that weeks ago, this is exactly what I wanted. I’m angry because my pride is bruised—that’s what I’m going with—because the thought of her with someone else makes me want to tear this apartment to pieces.

“Well, maybe that would be better than whatever this is. As long as you’re…” She sucks in a deep breath and blinks rapidly twice, looking away. “Discreet,” she breathes, nibbling on her lip.

“And you? Will you bebeing discreetwith someone else?” I spit the words at her as my hands ball to fists.