Page 34 of Hating the Book Boyfriend

"Josephine, stop," he snatches my wrist.

"Let me go," I scold.

"No." His intense glare holds mine and the anger I see in it rivals my own. "We need to talk."

"We have absolutely nothing to discuss. You said we'd tell Archie, and guess what? You didn't. You were right there, and you chose to lie once again. You got what you were looking for, now you can leave." I tug my arm free of his grip.

Before I can take a step, he cuts me off. "Will you stop?" His eyes are wild as his chest heaves. "I'm going to act like you didn't just infer that last night was simply a quick fuck. Do I want to talk to Archie? Yes, but this morning was not the right time."

"There will never be a right time."

I step to the side to go around him, but he throws out his arm. "We'll have to agree to disagree. I can tell you the absolute wrong time to talk to him is with his sister's juices coating my dick andmy cum leaking into her jeans." The vulgarity of his words has my insides clenching. Stupid libido. She doesn't know when to sit the fuck down. "It's important he believes me, Posey… I'm not this guy. I don't do relationships, and there's no chance he would have heard a word I had to say this morning if he'd suspected for one second that we spent the night together." I squeeze my eyes shut. I know he's right. "How can I expect your brother to believe me if you don't? I want to try Posey. I want to try with you."

"I'm sorry," I say, swallowing my pride.

He pulls me into his arms. "Don't be sorry. Just promise me you'll stop running. If I mess up, which I will, I need you to talk to me." He holds me tight and kisses the top of my head.

"Okay," I nod in agreement.

His hands frame my face before he pulls my head back, his eyes searching mine to ensure we're good before saying, "Let's go clean up. You have a record to break." Then releasing me, he slaps my ass.

"Wait… No make-up kiss? One of the best parts of fighting is the making-up part."

He smiles. "If I start kissing you, I won't be able to stop."

"Fine," I shrug before walking backward toward the barn and adding. "I'm sure you'll piss me off again between now and bedtime. You can make it up to me later."

He lunges, and I take off in a sprint. Colton Callahan spent years teasing me. Now, it's my turn.

CHAPTER 18

Colton

"Where are you going?" I croak as I feel Josephine try to slip out of bed.

"I need to let Snowball out."

I roll over so she can't escape. "The dog can wait. I haven't had my morning kiss."

She gives me a lazy smile that makes my heart skip a beat. This woman has me wrapped around her finger. I kiss her lips, ones I spent hours nipping and sucking last night, and I'm seconds away from getting lost again when she pushes me back, and I groan my displeasure. She knows what I'm after. It's the same thing I've been after every morning this week, waking up in her bed: Her.

"I've been meaning to ask you… how does it feel?"

"How does what feel?" I quirk a brow.

"Waking up with the same girl you fell asleep with."

The small smile that tugs at the corner of her mouth would suggest it is a tease, but her nails softly dragging up my back tell me it's also a genuine ask. She held onto my words from the hotel. I don't do sleepovers. "Like something I can do foreverwith someone I want to do it with." A smile takes over her face as her eyes soften and drop to my mouth before I take her lips in mine again. I abandon her mouth in search of more, fully prepared to worship her body the way I have every morning since waking in her bed when her phone rings. Her hands push at my chest. "Leave it," I say as I continue my descent.

"It might be Archie. He's two hours ahead of us." I relent and roll off so she can answer the call. "Hello," she answers, and I prop myself up on my elbow as I take a strand of her hair between my fingers and mindlessly twist. "Yes, this is Josephine." My curiosity peaks, knowing it's not Archer. "Oh really?" Sadness floods her tone.

I nudge her arm and mouth. "Who is it?"

She holds up a finger. "That's horrible."What's horrible? Who the hell is she talking to?"No need to worry. Thank you for getting back to me… Okay, goodbye." Her eyes find mine, and her face is impassive as a million possibilities of what that call was about flick through my mind. "Guess what? We get to keep Snowball." She pats the bed. "Did you hear that buddy? This is your new home." The white mutt excitedly jumps onto the bed, wagging his tail as she pets him.

"So what's his story?"

"That was the gas station attendant I left my number with. She said a neighbor of Snowball's owner recognized him. Apparently, Snowball ran out the door the day paramedics were called for an emergency at the house. The owner didn't survive."

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