Page 28 of Fallen Ink

“I know that,” she said. “But we’re at work, Mace. Ryan’s probably wondering what we’re doing alone in the storage room when there’s work to be done. Dragging me off in here wasn’t circumspect at all,” she added dryly.

Mace crowded her then, her pulse racing as he backed her into the same wall he’d fucked her hard into. She could remember the sensation of her breasts pressed into the coolness of the paint and drywall, and how he’d pumped into her, making her cream all over his dick. She’d almost drenched them, and she knew she wanted to mark him as hers once again.

When he hovered over her, his breath warm against her neck, she arched into him, her body needing him without her knowing.

“Mace. We can’t.”

He bit down on her neck, and her panties dampened. “I’m not going to fuck you here, not when the shop is open, and anyone could walk in. I didn’t lock the door, Addi. Anyone could come in and see me over you. Anyone could smell your need because I know you’re fucking wet for me right now.”

He traced his finger between her legs over the seam of her jeans, and she bit her lip to hold back a whimper. “You’re so hot against my finger. I know if I undid your pants and slid my finger into your cunt, you’d soak my hand, drip down my fingers. But I’m not going to do that.”

She pressed her legs together, pinning his hand between her legs as she rocked. When Mace put his other hand on her hip, stilling her, she held back yet another whimper. This man was killing her inch by delicious inch.

“We need to go back out there,” she said, trying to find that control she’d once valued.

“We will.” He licked her neck over where he’d bitten her, and she knew she’d have to wear her hair down for the rest of the day or anyone who looked would be able to see where he’d marked her. “But first, we need to get something straight.”

She met his gaze, pulling away so she could focus. “What?”

“I saw the way you looked at me when Jenn came on to me. She’s not you, Addi. It’s just you and me, remember? No matter who tries to come between us, it won’t matter because it’s just the two of us in the end. I’ve watched these guys come into the shop and drool as they kept their eyes just on your tits as you walked, watching the sway because you’re way more than a handful. Which, sidebar, I’m going to need to fuck them at some point. But I digress.”

She blinked, holding back a laugh at the serious look on his face as he talked about fucking her boobs. Only Mace Knight.

“You were the one who said you wanted to keep this secret, and I agreed because I don’t want to confuse Daisy. So, we’re doing what we’re doing and keeping it between us. Or, at least, out of her sphere so we don’t mess up what we have and what she has with both of us. We’re going to have to be careful not to look like we’re jealous and want to fuck each other on every flat surface of the shop, though. Think you can do that, Addi?”

“You’re so damn confusing.” She let her head fall back, ignoring her headache.

“You’re not much different,” he said. “But, honestly, we were pretty confusing before we started changing things. We’re still best friends, Addi, that’s not going to change, but you have to know, I’m not going to step out on you. I’m not going to flirt with someone else and be that asshole.”

“And I don’t understand how I felt jealous.” She knew she probably shouldn’t be so open and honest about her feelings, but hiding them was only making things worse.

He rubbed his thumb over her cheek. “Yeah. I get that. And it adds a new layer, doesn’t it?”

She met his gaze, her chest aching. “We’re changing things again, aren’t we? I think…I think we need a label. Because without that, it’s just making things harder. And for all we say we need to focus on the other things in our lives and not let this hurt us, we’re spending so much time worrying about what this is, that it’s getting confusing.”

“Friends with benefits doesn’t really work, does it?” He frowned, and she blew out a breath.

“No, it doesn’t. But we haven’t actually gone out on a date.”

“We have dinner together at least three times a week.” He tugged on her hair, and she let him.

“We did before everything happened. And, honestly, I don’t know if I’m ready to go on a capitol-D date and all. I like what we’re doing. In bed. It’s good for us, I think. At least, stress-wise. But as soon as we get out of bed? I’m so confused.”

His lips quirked into a smile, and she rolled her eyes. “I know what you mean.” He rested his forehead on hers, and she was afraid if they kept running from what they faced, they’d never find what they needed to. “So, why don’t you take some time to think on that. Think about what you want, but know that I’m not going anywhere, Addi. Yeah, I want to keep this separate from Daisy because she’s my daughter, my world, but I’m not going to hide completely.”

Before she could even think what she could possibly say to that, there was a knock on the door, and the two of them split apart so fast, she was afraid Mace might end up falling on his ass.

“Hey, guys, I think you need to come out here. The cops are here, and they don’t look happy.”

She stiffened before looking at Mace. The police? What the hell could they want?

And just like that, little problems like what she was doing with Mace went out the window, and the far more important things—her life, her shop, and the person who was out to ruin it—came forward.

She pushed past Mace and made her way out of the closet, passing a stern-looking Ryan. She didn’t think that look was for her, but for the two officers who stood in the front area of MIT, their arms folded over their chests and frowns on their faces.

Mace stood at her back, and she knew all thoughts of their personal worries were now out of both of their heads.

Someone was trying to hurt their shop, their second homes. And, sadly, she had a feeling this was only the beginning.

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