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“Johnny, are you coming down for your chicken balls?”

“Give me a bleeding minute, Ma,” I called out as I grabbed the sides of my duvet and wrapped my girlfriend up like a taco before rolling her under my bed. “Stay down, Shan,” I told her. “I’ll sort this.” Stumbling over the remote, I slammed my hand down on the stereo, cutting the music, before moving for the door.

“Johnny!” Shannon whisper-hissed from under my bed.

“What?”

“You’re naked.”

Shite.

Rolling the bloodstained condom off my still fully erect dick, I flung it across the room and lunged for my dresser, pulling out a pair of jocks and quickly slipping them on. Adjusting my raging fucking hard-on, I inhaled a steadying breath and walked over to the door.

“You took an awful long time to answer your door,” Mam stated, eyeing me suspiciously.

“Yeah, sorry about that.” Flustered and breathing hard, I nodded and feigned a yawn, desperately trying to steady my breathing. “I was sleeping.”

“Youwere sleeping?”

I nodded.

“At half past eight in the evening?” Mam arched a disbelieving brow. “With your music blaring?”

I shrugged. “I’m tired.”

“I bet you are.” She moved to step forward and I quickly intercepted her, blocking her path. “What are you doing?”

“Nothing,” I lied, moving my body like a bleeding octopus when she tried to peer around me. “What areyoudoing?”

“Checking for dirty washing,” Mam replied. “Let me in.”

“I don’t have any washing, Ma, and I don’t want any Chinese.” Smiling at her, I attempted to close my bedroom door, but she held a hand up, stopping me in my tracks.

“What’s going on?”

“Nothing.”

“Nothing,” she repeated, giving me a don’t-bullshit-me look before stepping around me and marching right into my room. I held my breath, while mentally debating if Shannon would break up with me if I hauled ass and ran while I still could because this woman was going to cut my dick off.

“Are you alone?”

“Of course.” Biting on my fist, I reluctantly turned and followed her, praying to all that was holy for my mother to justfuck off. “I was trying to sleep, Ma.”

My gaze flicked to Shannon who was staring up at me from under my bed, eyes bulging. Padding over to the bed, I stood in front of her and watched my mother. She was clearly looking for something.My girlfriend.

“So, where’s Shannon this evening?” Mam asked, tone laced with suspicion.

“No idea,” I replied quickly.Too fucking quickly.

“You have no idea?” Mam shot back, tone disbelieving, as she searched my room with her eyes.

“Actually, I think she might be at Claire’s,” I hurried to amend my blunder. “Yeah.” Nodding vigorously, I sank down on my bed and added, “She definitely told me that she was spending the night at Claire’s.”

Mam arched a brow. “Is that so?”

“Yes, Ma.” Trying to be inconspicuous, I dragged the bedsheet off the bed and let it fall over the edge, concealing my girlfriend. “Jesus, what’s with the third degree?” A hand wrapped around my ankle then, nails digging into my skin, and I jerked from the contact. “Jesus!”

“Excuse me?” Mam asked, hands on her hips.

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