Page 40 of Prized Possession

I’m about to say something when a deep voice from the corridor interrupts us both. “Morning.” Marcus’ sounds deep and gravelly, thanks to sleep, and it makes my core clench.

How the fuck does this guy have the ability to make me squirm with just one word?

Both me and Miles say good morning back, and without another word, Miles jumps off his stool and moves over to the coffee machine. He also grabs a loaf of bread from the bread-bin and takes it over to the toaster.

I’m watching what Miles’ doing, so I feel Marcus take the stool beside me before I see him out of the corner of my eye.

His body gives off a warmth that heats up my side, and when his arm swipes across mine, goosebumps erupt across the flesh, right the way down to my fingers.

“Would you like some toast too, Chloe?” Miles shouts, his back to me as he places some bread in the toaster.

“Yes, please.” Fuck, I hate how squeaky I sound, but I can’t help being affected by Marcus’ proximity.

I concentrate on my breathing, trying to get my racing heart to slow down, but he blows any chance of that happening when he leans closer to me. His breath tickles my cheek, and it’s almost like I can feel the ghost of his lips touching the bottom of my ear.

I freeze, scared to move in case he actually plans to put his lips on my skin. I try to ignore the shivers that ripple down my spine as each breath he takes feathers over my cheek. My grip on the coffee mug tightens, it’s a miracle the damn thing hasn’t cracked.

“If you keep staring at him like that, I’m going to be forced to kill my best friend, and I’d really hate to do that,” he growls, his words barely above a whisper, so that only I can hear.

I turn to face him, my eyes comically wide, as I can’t quite believe what the hell he just said. “What?!”

The corner of his lip tips up into that signature smirk that both infuriates me and turns me on. “I much prefer your eyes on me.”

I shake my head. I’m so fucking confused, I don’t know what the hell to say. “I-I wasn’t… Not like…”

Before I can tell him I wasn’t looking at Miles, and even if I were, it wasn’t in the way he thinks, he cuts me off. “It doesn't matter how you were looking at him. I want to be the only guy you look at.”

I roll my eyes. “Possessive much?” I snark, and that fucking smirk of his grows.

“I’m very fucking possessive, Mio. While you’re here with me, you are mine. Remember that,” he growls.

There’s that fucking word again. I’m going to ask him about it, but the rest of his words soon force all other thoughts from my head.

“I thought I was here as a deal to help you with Jake? The bet was just a cover so you could meet your end of the bargain.”

He lets out a dark, humourless chuckle. “If that’s what you want to tell yourself, that’s fine. We both know you’re here because you want to be mine. I’m willing to wait until you’re ready to admit that. But, in the meantime, I won’t accept you looking at other men.”

My mouth flops open, and I have no idea what the hell to say to that. Luckily, Miles interrupts us by placing down a plate filled with buttered toast, glaring at his best friend as he does.

“Stop being an arsehole. We were only talking. I was being polite and making her feel welcome.”

Both men stare at each other, neither one wanting to break away first. For a few seconds, it looks almost like they’re having a silent conversation with each other. One born out of years of friendship and understanding one another.

Miles is the first to look away, and I’m not surprised—Marcus is a stubborn fucker, who no doubt hates to lose.

“Help yourself to some toast, Chloe,” Miles says to me, before turning back to his friend. “I’m going to get ready. We need to leave for the meeting in half an hour.”

Miles doesn’t wait for Marcus to respond. He grabs a slice of toast and walks off in the direction of his room. Although Marcus said it was his on the tour last night, he didn’t say he lived here.

“Does Miles live here?” I ask.

“Some of the time. He has his own flat, but he spends a lot of his time here. He’s the only member of my security that I allow in the apartment, the rest guard me from in the hall or outside of the building.

“If the threat level is high, Miles will generally stay with me. Often he stays because he can’t be arsed to go home, or because he wants company. We’ve been friends forever, and he’s worked for me for so long, we just go with the flow. He’s welcome here anytime. Is that a problem?”

I contemplate that for a moment, and I can’t help but wonder what Marcus would do if I said it was. “No, he’s always seemed like a nice guy,” I admit.

Although Marcus scowls, he nods his head in agreement. “He’s the best.”

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