Page 48 of Love Thief

I laugh at him. “You’ve got no chance. He loves her. Been with her for fifteen years.”

“Not the infamous Evie again,” Texas drawls as she comes into the kitchen. “Hey, Marcus, great to see you. Been a while. Since we were in the white tents at your birthday, if I’m not mistaken. Fantastic night.” She fans herself. When I don’t even crack a smile, she falters a bit and looks for support from Tiff behind her. “You missed a fantastic event, Tiff. It was amazing. I’ll never forget how great it was.”

She’s staring at me, desire written all over her face, and I look over at Xander, who’s smirking at me. And then he shrugs when he sees me giving him a dirty look. He’s a total arsehole at times, he’s welcome to them.

“Great night, yay,” I say with zero interest, and 100% sarcasm.

“Have you seen Susie since?” she asks me, trying to maintain some connection she seems to think we have.

“No,” I snap, walking out of the door towards the guest room I had last time I stayed here. Texas follows me out and I whirl on her, seething at her inability to take a fucking hint. “Texas, go back,” I snarl, standing still and pointing at the kitchen.

She stops and smiles coyly at me. “They said you were married, but where’s your wife? She’s the same woman who bailed on you after the black tent, right? Can’t handle you, I suppose. I can. And I’m happy to play with you and anyone else you want.”

“I’ll play,” Xander says quietly from behind her, “but just me. I’ve got plans that don’t involve him.” She nods as he moves quickly and pins her up against the wall, his hand wrapping gently around her throat. “You want to play, Texas? I’m game, sugar.” She’s smirking at him now as she looks at his deadpan face.

I smile knowing she’s in for a night and a half. Walking over to where he has her pinned up against the wall, I croon, “I need to FaceTime my wife.”

“Kiss her for me,” he says to me, still staring intently at Texas.

“I will.” I kiss him on the cheek and he turns and smiles genuinely at me.

“Is that all I get for this?” He nods his head towards the panting Texas.

I lean forward and kiss him on the lips, gently. “Owe you one,” I say and leave.

IFaceTime Evie knowing she’s asleep, and it takes at least three ring backs to get her. A normal person would be shouting at me, not her.

“Hey, what time is it, are you just getting in?” she asks sleepily.

“Are you naked?”

She smiles at me and my fucking heart starts to race. I can’t get enough of the woman. She says nothing, but pulls the sheets down, her skin seeming to glow in the darkness of the room. It has a light all its own. A shimmer hovers over her body.

And now my speech has deserted me.

“You look good,” she tells me, her voice low and husky.

Jesus fucking Christ, I’m not going to survive the time away from her. I knew it’d be a nightmare. I need her here.

“Do you smell as good as you look?” she asks.

I watch as her nostrils flare and pupils start to dilate. Why the hell is that so erotic? Because she is.

“I wish I had your scent all over me. I want to drown in it, Kitten. I could hardly concentrate today,” I admit.

“You looked gorgeous this afternoon singing. I knew you were singing to me.” She smiles from the bottom of her soul, and it fills me up. Re-energises me after all the hassles today.

“When did you see me?”

“Xan facetimed me from your studio. So I could see how gorgeous you were. He said he’d never heard you sing so well. Look so good.”

“Wow, he never said.”

“I’ve been thinking about you ever since. How I wanted you here, in my office, on my desk.”

I set off panting again, rasping out, “I’ll fuck you in it when I eventually come home. Spank your arse on that desk.”

She nods enthusiastically at that. “Ring anytime.” Her voice is light and airy, and I can’t help my laugh at that cheeky comment. “Even between zoom calls. Or I’ll even cut it off and you can watch me in my office.”

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