Page 57 of Embody

“Letmeguess,” I snicker and startle him, laughing harder as he spins around with guilt smeared all over his face. “You’re texting your father to sic him on the background check standardsandto check if anyone’s slipped through the cracks and already lives here.”

“Don’t forget more, and brighter, lights in the parking lot and a better trash disposal system for tenants on upper floors,” he winks.

“You’re ridiculous,” I roll my eyes. “You can’t possibly think you can just go around fixing everything you don’t like in the world?”

He takes his time stalking toward me, the blaze in his eyes forcing me still, his grin growing more irresistible and predatory with every step. “Maybe not,” he says deep and gravelly, cupping the side of my face. “But I can fix all of it inyourworld. Bellamy, I want you safe. I want you happy. Blame my dad and uncles, but it’s all I know. When it comes to my woman, it’s my job to eliminate anything that makes her unhappy or could possibly put her in danger. It’s not my project,” he leans in closer until our noses brush, “it’s my pleasure.Youare my pleasure. Gotta protect and pleasure you right back.”

And then he’s covering my mouth with the frenzied strength of his own, the kiss rough and possessive. His tongue directing mine, his lips demanding. Ravenous. Authoritative.Wonderful.

He leaves my mouth wanting more and sucks a searing path up my jaw until he’s groaning, rich and raspy in my ear. “Are we done fighting yet?”

I want to moan my “yes,” forget it all and beg him to continue his delicious torture, but fortunately, I’m able to resist pretending that off-the-charts physical chemistry solves everything. So instead, I do my best to keep as much desire as possible absent from my voice when I answer.

“I don’t know, are we? You said you knew what you insinuated earlier was stupid and you won’t say anything like it again, but is that because I got mad, or because you know it wasn’t true?”

“Both,” his laugh is a hot, breathy gust on my sensitive skin. “I damn sure don’t want to make you mad again,” he sucks my earlobe into his mouth and murmurs, “and yes, I know it wasn’t true. You could’ve had him the other night when he was on his game if you wanted him. I was angry. Watching him touch you, wishing you would’ve called me to put a stop to it sooner. But I shouldn’t have said it. I’m sorry.”

“Then yes,” I pant, since he’s now running his tongue across the magical dip where my neck and shoulder meet. “We’re done fighting.”

“Good,” he says matter-of-factly, stepping back and eliminating all contact between any parts of his body and any throbbing,achingparts of mine. Making me grumpy and disappointed enough to consider starting another fight if I must. “Now can we finally go check out the other apartment?”

“I suppose,” I frown, rethinking everything I thought I knew about the opposite sex.He’sputting a stop to our make-up session?

“Let’s go, before we get sidetracked again.” He laces his fingers through mine and pulls me toward the door. “I know you’re gonna love it. And your neighbors. To your right is a couple in their sixties, both retired. He was a cop, bonus, and she was a schoolteacher. To your left, a married couple with one nine-year-old son. And directly across from you is a single woman, no kids, early forties. Perfect group,” he explains as we climb the stairs. “And probably tomorrow, next day at the latest, they’ll all get a notice to start putting their trash outside their doors by nine p.m. on Thursday nights so maintenance can collect it and take it to the dumpster.”

“What? You gotallthat researched and accomplished withonetext to your dad?” I ask in awe.

“No. It was about four texts, and his back to me of course,” he laughs. “But yes, that’ll be how it works from now on.”

“Must be nice to have money. Buys power,” I mutter, not far enough under my breath.

“Not gonna lie, it is nice. But the real perk is using that power to help other people. Seriously. It’ll be a huge burden lifted for all tenants on the second through fourth floors. Imagine how many elderly folks, and single moms, women in general, we’ll be helping avoid the long trek. Especially in the dark.”

“That’s true,” I smile. “You and your dadarekinda rock stars.”

Now stopped at the door of 301C, he turns to give me averyunhappy glower. “Let’s not ever talk about, or use the wordsrock staragain. OrJT.Youcall meJefferson. Even when you’re mad. Hear me?”

“I hear ya,Jefferson,” I blow him a playful air kiss. “Now show me this apartment you’re so determined on me moving into.”

It may have taken all evening to get to this point—between the “turned out to be an asshole” Zeke fiasco, Jefferson and I fighting, then having a text battle, only to fight some more and the “how I put out my trash” debacle—but as soon as he opens the door to the apartment, I know there won’t be a fight over this.

I may feel uneasy, and kind of pitied, about this whole situation…but I’ll just have to find a way to pay him back, even the score, ‘cause there’s not a chance in hell I’m turning this place down.

 

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