Page 67 of Pick Me

“You know, you might want to wear an apron, don’t want any fat splattering on all of that.” And by all of that, I meant the washboard abs that I really tried to not look at too much.

Six, seven, eight.How did he have so many abs on show when he was just so… burly?

“Sit down.” He pointed to the counter, and much like earlier, I felt like I had no other option than to comply. I moved around the counter and propped myself onto one of the barstools so I could watch him plate up the food.

He slid a plate in my direction, and I gasped. Bacon, eggs, homemade hash browns; Jackson had made me a breakfast suited for a queen.

“I thought you couldn’t cook?”

“That’s something I tell people so they won’t make me cook. Now, eat.” Another firm command which I followed almost instantaneously. Grabbing my fork, I picked up some eggs, shoveled them into my mouth, and chewed. I closed my eyes, letting their delicious fluffy texture melt on my tongue.

So, so good.

When I opened my eyes, I stopped chewing because Jackson was staring at me.

“It’s really good,” I said, hoping that would divert attention from the moans. He kept staring, his eyes tracking my features in a way that felt disconcerting. “Everything okay, Baseball Cap?”

“We need to talk.”

I took a drink of the orange juice, which I assumed was left out for me, and swallowed, taking my time to answer.

“Do we?” My high-pitched, squeaky voice ruined any cool-girl façade I had.

Jackson chuckled, and it was the first time I’d heard it. As in really listened to it. Low, deep, and oh so hot. Everything about Jackson was turning me on, and I didn’t know how I felt about it.

“Yes, I think you dry humping my crotch warrants a conversation, don’t you?”

My jaw dropped. “Um, I believe you’re mistaken. I didn’t hump you.” I winced, knowing that was a lie, but what was I supposed to say? That kissing him rocked my world so hard I didn’t know what to do with myself?

Leaning over the counter so he was closer, he said, “I think I like you, Thea. I was telling myself it only happened after speaking with Britt and Matty. However, the more I think about it, the more I realize I’ve liked you for a really long time. Potentially, since I met you.”

“Oookay…” I took another bite of my eggs, not wanting to say anything, and the food was delicious. Letting it go to waste would be a crime.

He tilted his head, taking me in as though he was undressing me with his eyes. “I can’t stop thinking about you.” A shiver ran up my spine. “Even right now, all I can think about is what you’d look like sitting on top of this countertop with your legs wide open and my mouth in between them.”

“Well, that’s an awfully inconvenient thought,” I said, chewing my food.

“Tell me you’re not feeling the same.”

Oh, I was feeling the same, all right, but apparently, I was a little better at keeping my cool about it.

“I’m good,” I said as nonchalant as possible before taking another bite of my eggs.

“That’s why you kissed me senseless and humped me yesterday, then? Because you’re just good.”

“Are you going to keep mentioning that?”

“Yes, because every time I see you, I feel like I’m about to burst. Did you know I had to finish myself off in the shower last night? Something that’s becoming an alarmingly bad habit of mine.”

“Last night meant nothing.”

“Then why did you moan like you were about to have an orgasm.”

“Orgasm?” I choked out. “You think I was close to an orgasm?”

I could almost feel the heat burning in his eyes when he said, “I know you were, Pyro. I felt it. Your body tensed. Your fingers pressed into my neck; you could barely talk.”

And then something stopped me. The realization that what we were doing was wrong. I hated him… Didn’t I?

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