Page 56 of Mace

Heat rises in my cheeks.Way to go, girl. Insult the guy you want to climb like a tree.

At least he’s smiling… or trying to. “I haven’t quite decided yet,” I sass.

He steps towards me, and my heart stutters. Then, in the sexiest move I have ever encountered, he places one hand on the wall next to my head as he leans in far enough to make my back melt against the plaster. It is nothing like how it felt when Link did it, and my chest tightens, the breath catching before I pull it down into my lungs.

I peer up at him, uncertain what he’s about to do. “Mace…” I whisper his name, and his head dips closer.

“You’re testing all my limits, sweetheart,” he says just as soft.

“I don’t mean to.”

There’s a slight twitch in his jaw, and I’m not entirely sure what that means. “I’m gonna ask you again… what’s going on?”

“Nothing. I’m fine. I just… needed some time off. I don’t know if you’ve noticed, but I’m kind of a workaholic and?—”

He presses a finger over my mouth, silencing my words immediately. His touch sears my skin, and the urge to dip my tongue out and lick him is only a heartbeat away.

“Don’t lie to me.”

Fuck.I don’t want to tell him the truth. He’s my boss… or at least one of my bosses—I’m not really sure who is in charge anymore—and I don’t want him to think my life is a complete disaster or that I’m bringing trouble to his club.

I haven’t answered him, and he’s looking down at me expectantly.

“I’ll be back tomorrow.”

Maybe.I need to be back now, really, but I can’t lift anything, and my wrist is fucking painful.

I trail off as his eyes bore into my face. “Please talk to me.”

“You don’t need to worry about me, Mace. I’m fine.”

“But I do. I worry about everything to do with you.”

My brows come together even as my traitorous heart leaps. “I’m just an employee.”

“Nothing about my feelings towards you is professional.” He leans in farther, his aftershave filling my nose, along with a scent that is all him. “Nothing.”

Tingles spread over my skin, reaching between my legs.Why am I turned-on by this?I have enough problems in my life right now without falling for a biker.

Get a grip!

I force myself to ignore the rampant feelings swirling through me and focus on getting rid of him as fast as possible. “As you can see, I’m fine, but thank you for checking up on me.”

“So, you’ll be in work tonight?”

Shit.“No.”

“Why not?”

“Because! I…” Dammit, I’m going to have to give him something. “Because I hurt myself and I can’t work. Believe me, I’d be there if I could.”

His eyes narrow as he moves back so he can scan every inch of me like he’s an X-ray machine. Finding nothing obvious, his gaze slides back to my face. “Where?”

“I fell down, and my wrist is—hey!” I exclaim as he grabs my arm and gently pushes up my sleeve. The right isn’t as badly hurt as the left, but there’s still some redness and swelling around the joint.

I expect him to be satisfied that’s where I’m hurt, but he shoves up the left sleeve to reveal the pattern of bruising along my wrist and forearm.

“Fuck,” he mutters, his fingers gentle as he turns it. “This might be broken, Maylie.”

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