Page 24 of The Chance

I hum, hit play on whatever was playing last, and turn into Mac, enveloping him with my body. His legs slot against mine, the hair ticklish. The heat of his back warms my bare chest. The weight of his head on my arm …

He fits just right.

Too right.

“Good night, Vida,” I rumble into his hair and wrap an arm around his ribs, my palm flattening between his pecs.

He sighs deep, sinking into me.

“Night.”

It doesn’t take long for the soft little snores to accompany the sound ofBrooklyn Nine-Nineplaying from the TV, and I let myself settle into it.

This is what he needed. Comfort and connection.

To be a human for once.

Mac mumbles something, and I’m about to lift my head so that I can see his face, but then his ass scoots back and slams right into my pelvis.

My cock jumps.

Heat radiates through my boxers, warming me.

It’s just been a while since I’ve had sex.

Been even longer since I’ve held someone.

And still … I know I should put a little space between us, though I don’t.

Because it’s making Mac comfortable and that’s all I’ve wanted.

All I’ve needed.

Chapter Eleven

Jordan

“Is that all yougot?”

My arms are on the verge of unmovable, shaking, and still I manage to get them up.

“Oh, I could go all day.”

It’s a lie I’ve been telling myself through the pure exhaustion that settled into my bones the moment I woke up in a cold sweat, with Mac still in my arms, from yet another nightmare fueled by flames. The smoke was thick enough that my throat still feels scratchy, the heat so hot that my skin still burns.

Even after twenty-two years.

And is precisely why I snuck out of bed and have been getting my ass beat by Peach, a fellow bodyguard, ever since.

“Then let’s see it, big guy.” The man that’s smaller than me, shorter than me, and an expert in Akido or some weird shit like that, lifts his gloved hands and flexes his fingers at me in abring itgesture.

Forcing a breath through my nose like a bull readying to charge, I bounce on the balls of my feet one way, and thenthe other in hopes of distracting my opponent before pulling an elbow back and throwing wide.

Too slow.

Peach darts inside, sinks a jab on my aching ribs, and elbows me right in the mouth.

The taste of copper coats my tongue and brings a smile to my face.

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