Page 10 of Mace

Despite his frosty demeanour—to everyone other than Bella—I’m always happy when he’s on shift with me. He has a natural ability to pre-empt trouble before it happens, and in this kind of setting, that’s a gift. He’s stopped me getting hurt more times than I can count.

I give him my warmest smile as he approaches, even though he doesn’t acknowledge my existence. Instead, he leans over the bar, gesturing for Bella to come to him. Her eyes heat as she sashays her hips and rolls to her toes.

In a move that makes me want to swoon like a lady from a period drama, Steve leans across the bar and curls his fingers around the back of Bella’s neck in the most sexy, possessive gesture I’ve ever witnessed.

Oh… sweet… lord.

I’m practically combusting as he crushes his mouth to hers. There’s no hesitation or care that they have witnesses. He kisses her like they’re alone in their bedroom, and she reciprocates. Her tongue presses against his as they devour each other without any fucks given.

I avert my attention to the ice machine, giving them the illusion of privacy—not that they seem to want it. I’m not a prude. I see naked bodies every shift, but this feels deeply personal, and I don’t want to be the gawking virgin.

When they finally pull apart, he doesn’t immediately release his hold on her, but his lips curve into a soft smile. I’ve never seen him do that for anyone but her, and I’m envious of the way he wants her. If someone looked at me with that intensity, I’d be a puddle. Bella’s no less affected. Her eyes are heavy, and her neck is flushed when he releases her.

The pathetic thing is, I’ll never have this, and I hate the little flash of jealousy that goes through me. I’m not a spiteful person, and I don’t begrudge Bella her happiness, but there is a part of me that wishes someone would kiss me that way.

And as soon as I think it, I’m filled with self-loathing. I don’t regret my choices. If I had to do it again, I would always take care of my brother and sister, but I wish our mother was still here and that our lives hadn’t changed so much after she died.

“Fuck, baby, you are good enough to eat,” he murmurs, his forehead pressing to hers.

“You can do that later,” she sasses, and he kisses her again.

My face heats, and I become fascinated by the bowl of limes on the back counter. What would it feel like to have someone between my legs, eating my pussy? Or to be kissed like I’m their everything?

My stomach sinks.

That’s not your path, Maylie…

Bella catches my eyes as she moves to the back of the bar and mouths ‘holy fuck’ at me. I give her a thumbs up, letting go of my jealousy. At least one of us has a hunk of muscle promising orgasms later.

“You girls ready?” Steve asks, as if the last few minutes never happened.

His thick forearms rest on the bar top, revealing prominent veins.

“Of course, we’re ready. We’re not rookies,” I tell him with an overinflated sense of confidence.

If we’re going to be as busy as Bella thinks, we should get decent tips—hopefully, enough for me to pay my landlord, Bernie.

Steve ignores me, but Bella smiles. “You’re so adorable.”

That’s me, the adorable girl who brings brownies to a strip club and hands them out to men who can crush skulls with their bare hands. No wonder no one wants to sleep with me—I’m a fucking golden retriever.

I’m going to die a virgin.

“You girls stay safe, okay? Take care of each other. Me and the boys will be close by if you need help.”

There is always some measure of shitty behaviour from our customers, but I sense from his tone he’s expecting more than usual.

I glance at Bella, and she doesn’t seem worried by Steve’s words, so I relax.

“Your radio is charged?” he asks.

I walk over to the back of the bar and check the two-way walkie-talkie that sits in the charger. “Battery’s full,” I confirm.

“You feel unsafe in any way, you use it, okay? I’ll be here in a second.”

“That’s hot as hell.” Bella breathes out the words, tangling her fingers through his on the bar.

“Me doing my job is hot?” Steve raises a brow before lifting their joined hands so he can kiss her knuckles.

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