Page 123 of Moth to a Flame

“Nonnegotiable.”

The little growl she makes at the back of her throat gets me so hard. Every fucking time.

“A few days a year.” I raise my face back to hers, trailing my hand back up to her throat. “That’s all I’m asking. Demanding, actually.”

I’m not toying with her anymore. I need her.

I’m taking her.

With the slightest pressure on her neck, I pull her to me. Press my lips to hers, hard, and assault her mouth, her tongue. All of her. I bite and lick and suck.

Her hands go to my hair that I left down today, yanking on it.

Woof!

Mojo, you cockblocker.

“Hey, guys.” Usually, when Rosemary catches us, she laughs. Smiles.

Today isn’t one of those days.

Naturally.

She doesn’t even look at us as she sheds her gray jacket and throws it on the empty stool next to the register. Just tugs on the sleeves of her red patterned T-shirt and stares out the window.

“I saw Willie going into his building. Got in before I could say hi. He was here?”

There’s a pang in my chest. One I haven’t felt before meeting Regan.

Rosemary is lonely.

An idea flashes. A brilliant one.

She needs a match. A boyfriend. Someone to be there for her because this situation with me and Regan isn’t temporary. She isn’t coming back to the apartment next door to her sister.

She’ll be my wife, living in our home, forever.

But why should Rosemary stay by herself? Or date men who aren’t worthy of her?

The woman is basically my sister, and I have just the person for her.

Vince. Rosemary and Vince. I can’t believe how I’ve missed this until now.

He’s a cynic asshole who’s loyal to a fault and smart. Rosemary is all those things, plus kind. They’ll make each other laugh. She’ll have someone to come home to other than that yapping dog.

Wait, do I really want him in my family? This meddling human who cares about me so much?

Oh, well. I’ve had worse.

I’ll start working on it after today. Everything can wait.

Regan comes first. Always Regan.

“I’ll be in the back working if anyone’s looking for me.” Rosemary sighs and disappears behind the door with a happily yapping Mojo.

“You seemed lost.” Regan’s fingers are no longer on me. Her hands are at her sides, clenching and unclenching. The tremor is back. “Are you thinking about today?”

She’s referring to both Lester and the long, arduous torture session I have planned for him if he’s released.

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