Page 64 of Rating the Book Boyfriend

Dragging my thumb across her bottom lip, I ask, “Were you afraid I was going to eat you up, little girl?”

“Terrified,” she says, widening her eyes in mock-fear.

“Is that why you kept spreading your legs for me?”

She giggles. “I spread them because you, sir, are a master with your tongue.”

“The better to lick you with, my dear.”

“I think that’s the big, bad wolf you’re quoting.”

I stand, holding Libby in my arms and carrying her back to my bed. She bounces when I toss her onto it, and then I crawl up over her, attempting to be as prowly as possible.

I untie my robe from her waist and part it, my eyes hungrily taking in the sight of her naked body.

“Brace yourself, little one. The panther-wolf is ready for his breakfast.”

Libby and I took a nap after our morning activities. It’s a little after noon, and I’m singing along to “Sittin’ on the Dock of the Bay” as I make meatballs in my kitchen.

My head snaps around when I hear a commotion, and I find my sister bustling in with about fifty shopping bags.

“Come on in, Silvia. Don’t bother knocking,” I snark, internally freaking out. Libby is somewhere in my house, and I really wasn’t planning on telling my family about her just yet. Hell, I just broke up with Lucinda two days ago, and today I have another woman in my house. It makes me look like a bit of a manwhore.

“Well, that’s a fine way to greet your sister,” she says, dropping a kiss on my shoulder before plopping her bags onto the counter. “I’ve been Christmas shopping. You should see the shoes I got for Mom.”

“I-it’s really not a good?—”

“And I got Nana an Hermes scarf at a steal. It’s purple. What are you making? It smells delish. God, my feet hurt. I’m turning the music down; I can barely hear you.” Silvia is a bit of a babbler when she’s excited.

As soon as she turns down the volume on my phone, her head swivels slowly toward the first-floor corridor. The unmistakable sound of a woman laughing filters into the kitchen, and Silvia’s head whips back toward me like something out ofThe Exorcist.

“Swear to god, if you’re back with Lucinda, I’m going to stab you in the face,” she hisses.

I put myself between my sister and the knife block she’s now eyeing. “It’s not Lucinda,” I sigh, turning to wash my hands. After drying them, I turn to find Silvia marching down the hallway.

Goddammit.

I chase her and almost slam into her back when she stops outside Ace’s room. My silly dog is leaned down on his frontpaws, butt in the air as he raptly watches his favorite toy, a large cardboard box.

For the record, yes, I buy my dog nice toys. And no, he doesn’t like them as much as a stupid empty box. He’s like a fucking toddler.

All of a sudden, Libby pops up out of the box, her back to us, and yells, “Boo!”

Ace goes nuts, waggling his butt and grinning his doggy grin as he barks at his own personal jack-in-the-box. When Libby sinks back down into the box, Ace assumes the ready position once again.

The next time she jumps into view, she yells, “Fluffernugget!” before giggling and disappearing again. My excited pooch runs in circles around the box.

I’m pretty sure a grin is permanently etched on my face. Libby is playing the canine version of peek-a-boo with Ace.

My sister hooks a hand around my wrist and drags me to the spare room next door. “What the hell? Who is that?” she whisper-yells as soon as the door is closed.

I rub the back of my neck. “That’s, um, her name is Libby.”

Silvia’s lips form a coy smile. “Oh. My. God. My big brother has got a rebound fuck in his house. Good for you, Riggsy.”

“She’s not a rebound fuck,” I snap, and Silvia lifts her dark eyebrows. “She’s… my new girlfriend.”

My sister stares open-mouthed for a long moment before a snort fills the air. “Since when?”

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