Page 114 of On a Fault Line

Looping my fingers into the belt loops of her too-tight shorts, I tug her closer for added emphasis, cutting off her last word. “I’m not going to sit back and watch you secure a backup plan, while currently I’m your only plan.” Penny’s not planning a fucking future with that spud. She can do better. “So, let’s enjoy this while we can.”

“I fully intend to.”

“I don’t share.”

“Neither do I.”

“Good.”

Penny pouts out her bottom lip. “I’m just trying to be nice. You need to not read into everything I do.”

“My job is to evaluate situations and make judgments based on what I see and my impeccable instincts. And Ivan already sees you as his. And I don’t like it.”

“Sees me as his? That’s a bit of a stretch, even for your wild and overactive imagination—don’t you think? You’re reading into some friendly conversational exchanges.”

I shake my head. “I know the kid’s intentions, and if he doesn’t ask you out after today’s barbecue, then I will admit I misread every cue he’s giving off.”

Pulling back, she places her hands on her hips. “You do realize that he and I are basically the same age.”

“Moot point.”

“Well, you better enjoy your time with me before it all runs out…or you die from natural causes due to your old age.”

“Funny.”

“Just think, you’re only a year or two away from your whole life’s worth being about how nice your lawn looks or how well you can cook a piece of meat on the grill.”

Okay, now, she has a point there. But I can’t give her any indication that I find her utterly hilarious. Based on the cheesy smile beaming across her face, she knows it too.

“Are you done deflecting?”

She shakes her head no. “Lucky for you, sugar daddies ripen with age.”

I sigh. “This isn’t helping your cause.”

“I know, but it’s fun as fuck teasing you about your age, since you have so eloquently been quick to point out Ivan’s.”

“Well, it’s going to be equally as fun tormenting your sweet pussy by withholding your release until you beg. If anything, it might help teach you to stop teasing me by flirting with other men.”

“Is this what jealousy looks like on you, Collins?”

“You’re mine, Princess.”

“Thought so.”

“Mine.”

“Maybe you just need to fuck the memory of you back into my body, so the only man that ever crosses my mind is you.”

“Oh, I plan to.”

Her body slides against mine, as she stands on her tiptoes to whisper, “I can’t wait to show you later the new swimwear I got. And by later, I mean now.” Then she brushes past me, deliberately sliding her tits on my arm. Every touch causes an electric jolt through my system, as if her body is punishing me for not being able to adequately fulfill her needs at a freaking barbecue.

Fucking hell, Penelope Hoffman.

“I should tan your ass for the torment you’re putting me through—in front of your family no less.”

“Too bad you don’t have it in you to make that level of scene.”

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