Page 61 of Prized Possession

Those bright blue eyes sparkle in a way that makes you get lost in them. His long eyelashes are the type that women pay good money to replicate, and make his eyes look hooded and sexy.

Then there’s that smirk of his that I’m sure he only pulls out because it makes him look smug and arrogant, and he knows it melts women’s knickers. But for me, his smirk is nothing compared to when he shows me a genuine smile.

His cheeks plump up until the cutest dimple appears, and it not only makes him look his age, as opposed to the older image he tries to portray, it also makes him seem so much more relaxed. Maybe that’s why he doesn’t use it all that much.

I blink rapidly a few times, trying to pull my dirty mind out of the gutter—and the very sexy images it is currently producing—to bring me back into the room.

What did he just ask me?

Marcus clears his throat again, although it sounds an awful lot like he’s coughing to hide a laugh, and that helps to sober me up. I glare at him as he lifts his brow in a challenge.

“What?” I snap eventually when I can’t remember what the hell he just said.

I was aware of his mouth moving, but I was so lost staring at him that I didn’t pay enough attention to what he was actually saying.

“I said…do you like what you see?” There’s an arrogant edge to his voice that makes me prickle.

Of course, I like what I see.A fucking blind person could see I’m attracted to him, but that doesn’t mean I’m going to admit it. Particularly, when he’s looking at me with that cocky, knowing stare.

“Sorry, I was reading my book and got lost in my own head for a moment,” I say, pointing to the book in front of me that I had very obviously stopped reading in favour of ogling him. But it’s the best cover up I could come up with on the spot.

Marcus chuckles, rolling his eyes as he moves towards the coffee machine, pulling out his usual mug.

“Of course, you were. You definitely hadn’t forgotten all about whatever you were reading so that you could stare at me instead,” he jokes, sarcasm dripping from every word.

I grind my teeth at his smugness. “Wow, you certainly think a lot of yourself. I’m surprised you managed to get in the kitchen with that big head of yours.”

I’ll admit, it’s not my best comeback, but it’s all I’ve got. I blame his body still being on display, it’s clearly messing up my brain.

Marcus stops just behind me, making me jump, as I hadn’t realised he was so close. He leans over, his chest crowding my back as he places his head beside mine. His stubble rubs along my cheek as he edges closer to my ear.

As his breath fans over my face, a shiver ripples down my spine, and my breath catches. He’s so close, the heat from his almost naked body warms me up, my core burning from his closeness.

At first he just hovers over me, his breath fluttering against my skin, and I wait for whatever he’s about to do.

My eyes drift closed as I take in his deep, woodsy smell with a hint of mint, and I question how the hell he still smells amazing even though he’s dripping in sweat.

He drags a breath in and I freeze when his lips gently brush against my ear, my heart racing so fast I can barely keep up. “My head is getting bigger the longer I look at you in those sexy sleep shorts. Wanna feel?”

His voice is deep and husky, and as he asks his question, he presses his body against my side until I feel the unmistakable outline of his hard length pushing against my hip. I have to bite my lip to stop the all-consuming groan I can feel building from escaping.

Would I sound completely desperate if I said hell yes?

Get it together, Chloe,I mentally chastise myself.He already knows you like him, don’t make it any easier on the arsehole.

After mentally berating myself, I take a deep breath to help steady my nerves before opening my eyes again. I turn my head just slightly, so his lips are almost against mine. The urge to taste him grows, but I push it away, needing to stay strong, just for another moment or two.

His eyes are locked on mine, and I can see he’s just as affected by this as I am, and that brings me even more joy for what I’m about to do.

With as much confidence as I can muster, praying that my voice doesn’t break and betray me, I reply, “Sorry, I’m busy. You’ll have to feel yourself.”

While Marcus stands there blinking, clearly not sure he heard me correctly, I place my hand on his naked chest—fucking hell, he’s rock hard—and push him away from me.

As soon as there’s enough of a gap, I jump down from my stool and practically run from the kitchen. Just as I reach my room, I hear Marcus let out a string of curse words and I chuckle to myself.

I’m not sure if I just made the situation worse, particularly if he plans on going forward with the punishment he’s been teasing me with, but it feels quite good to have taken back a little bit of the power, even if it won’t last.

I spend the next couple of hours trying to relax, before getting ready for dinner with my family. Since I’m going back home, all the expectations that are usually placed on me will be back, and I have to keep that in mind as my mother will be extra observant, I’m sure.

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