Page 32 of Puck & Make Up

“Seriously?” She starts laughing.

I rock back on my heels and stare at her, mouth agape. “Something you find funny about me being vulnerable, sugar lips?”

Her mouth quirks. “Yup.”

I fix her in place with my best glare. “Yup?” I repeat with deadly intent.

“Yup,” she says again, those fingers on my chest flexing. “I think it’s hilarious that you, Fox freaking Brown, are worried that you won’t do well.”

I start to reply but she just rises on tiptoe, cups the sides of my face, keeps talking.

“You’re an incredible player.” Her tone has my heart pulsing. “You dominated last season, did well in all of the games you played for the Gold. Yeah, the competition is going to get harder, but you’re good, honey.Reallygood. And I know you’ll put in the hard work to be successful.”

“Christ, you’re sweet,” I rasp, rubbing a hand over the ache.

Those beautiful brown eyes dance. “Is that why you call me sugar?”

“Sugarlips,” I correct gently, leaning close and tapping a finger to the offending body part. “Mostly because I’ve been obsessed with tasting this mouth for years now.”

She inhales, and I know it would be so easy to kiss her, to finally taste her.

But…patience.

Trust.

Connection.

Mine.

I peel her hands from my cheek, press a kiss to each of her palms. Then step back, pass her a fork, and nudge her over the couch. “Eat before it gets cold, sugar lips.”

She takes the container.

“And maybe you’ll let me get a taste at some point.”

Her mouth drops open.

Okay so that’s decidedlynotpatience but also…

A little nudge forward.

Or leap.

Meh. Po-tay-to. Po-tah-to.

It’s fine.

Especially since she doesn’t immediately turn me down.

But…it’s also a nudge I pair with pastaanda distraction that I drop into her lap.

Literally into her lap.

Ten

Dessie

“No,” I say on a sigh, tossing the binder of job suggestions he put together. “I willnotbe a stripper.”

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