Page 24 of One More Time

“Thanks,” he says, and I nod again, at a loss for words.

I don’t know what the fuck to say.

I have nothing in my brain right now.

“How have you been?” he asks, and I shrug.

“I, uh, made bread the other day,” I answer, and Alec’s eyes crinkle at the corner.

“That so?”

“Yep. I was actually really terrible at it and while we were making it, my friend kissed me, but…yeah.”

I realize Ollie has rubbed off on me, and I clamp my mouth shut. Alec doesn’t need to know about my bread baking or Jai. He doesn’t fucking care about any of that. He just wanted to know how I was.

“Sounds…interesting.” He pauses and then adds, “Look, can I come up?”

His question hits me straight in the groin, and I bite back a groan.

“That’s probably a really bad idea,” I say even as I gesture for him to come inside.

He toes his shoes off and pads in, walking to my room down the hallway. I’m left with nothing to do but follow him. When I step inside the bedroom, he’s right there, his big chest nearly touching mine. He leans closer, shutting the door behind us, and then presses into me to lock it. The sound reverberates around the room, and I feel my entire body zing with anticipation.

I lose the ability to breathe. I hate it, the way he smells like sweat and grass. It’s manly and earthy and it’s revolting.

I force myself to breathe through my mouth so I can’t smell him anymore. And yet that does nothing to calm my throbbing cock.

“You know, your lawn was appalling. I’m going to have to come over weekly to take care of it,” he says, his gray eyes twinkling with mischief.

“You don’t need to do that. We can totally mow the lawn,” I lie. Because none of us can be bothered with it. Even Ollie, who loves to garden, hates it. We let it grow to exorbitant heights before finally cutting it.

“Yeah, but if I don’t come over, who will you watch through the window?” Alec asks, his eyes darkening.

“I wasn’t watching you. I was admiring how straight your mow lines were. Mine are always crooked.”

“A little bent? Just like you?” he asks as he takes a step closer to me. I should move back, but I’m absolutely riveted in place. I couldn’t move to save my life. I apparently really like discussing lawn mowers and grass.

I should become a landscaper.

His hand suddenly reaches out and flattens against my chest, right over my thundering heart. It rests there a moment, and I suck in a deep breath, trying to steady myself. I will not fall into him and sniff. I willnot.

My nostrils sniff again.

Traitors.

His fingers clench against my pec and then his hand trails down my shirt to my nipple. It hardens under his touch, and he twists it gently. My nerves light on fire, and I bite back a groan.

“Be honest, Jude. For once in your life. Were you watching me because you want to suck my dick again?” he asks as his fingers draw a line to my other nipple. He tweaks that one too, and I bite my bottom lip so hard I almost draw blood.

“No. I was just…I was…I…”

His lips twitch and then his hand trails up to the back of my neck. His hand is warm and almost burns a hole through my skin. I sink into his touch as they curl into my hair and tug roughly.

Suddenly, I’m pulled forward and my nose is pressed into his armpit.

I struggle to straighten myself, but though we’re similar in height, he’s much stronger than me. I need to fucking work out. I need to be able to protect myself from his potent pheromones. God, I’m weak. I’m trembling, sinking into him. Unable to hold my breath any longer, I inhale and let out a low whimper at how heady he smells. Like a man. There’s no denying it.

I can’t fucking make this shit up.

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