Page 44 of Pump Fake

“Your mom and Serena can stay at my family’s cottage in Michigan.” Mal got up and rummaged around in her purse before pulling out her keys. She twisted a key off the ring and handed it to Brielle. “Tell them to go now. I’ll let my parents know some friends needed a place to stay while their house is having the floors redone or something.”

“Will you be okay?” Brielle worried her hands, glancing at Mal then me.

“You can stay with us, too, if you want,” I offered. The guys would be okay with it. And I knew Aurora would gladly take them in once I explained what was happening.

“No, they’re not after me. I’ll be fine.” Mal ushered Brielle into Brie’s room. “We’ll just be a minute while she packs.”

It took ten. I spent the time messaging the guys to give them a heads-up. Dinner would have to wait. We could eat something at home, and during that time, I planned to get the whole story from her.

Brie got on the phone immediately, trying to reach her mom and sister. She paced frantically when her mom’s phone continued to ring. I waited, hating that I could do nothing to help other than be there for her.

When she called Serena, Brie collapsed against the wall, sliding to the floor as she frantically attempted to orchestrate her family’s safety. “Ser, you and Mom have to leave tonight. Mom wasn’t being paranoid. The mob is coming for us.” She glanced at me then switched the call to speaker so I could hear too.

“I’m at Tricia’s tonight. Mom won’t be back until late. She went out with friends, and I doubt either of us will be able to get ahold of her. You know how she is with her three best friends and a few bottles of champagne. I think they planned to go to the spa, and I don’t know what else from there.”

“Okay.” Brie’s leg bounced. “Stay there. Don’t go home or leave Tricia’s house. I’ll leave a message for Mom that she has to pick you up from wherever she is first thing in the morning.”

“I’ll get the key to Ser,” Mal offered. “I doubt I’ll be followed.”

Brie’s shoulders dropped, some of the tension melting away. “That’s perfect. Thanks, Mal.” She let her head fall back against the wall, her eyes closing briefly. “Promise me you’ll be careful, Ser.”

“I will. What about you? Will you meet us there?”

“No. I’ll be with Ares at his place. I’ll be fine. I love you, sis. Please let me know when you make it to Mal’s parents’ place, okay?”

“Love you too. And yeah, I will.”

Brie blinked tears away then left a detailed voicemail for her mom, followed by an urgent text. Then she gave the key back to Mal along with Tricia’s address. Only then, after a teary hug goodbye, were we on our way.

When we got back to my place, I took her hand in mine and led her to my bedroom. I couldn’t wait to have her alone, not after what had almost happened.

I cradled Brie to me as the reality that I could have lost her crashed like a tidal wave through my mind and body, ripping emotions open in its wake.If something had happened to her…“I need to touch you. To be inside you after what almost happened.”

The small nod against my chest was all the permission I needed from the woman I’d fallen deeply in love with. Cupping the back of her head, I leaned down and captured her lips in a kiss, coaxing her to open for me. Her lips parted, and I explored the feel and taste of her slowly.

Moonlight spilled through the windows, and I broke the kiss, tilting her head to the side and following the silvery light along the gentle curve of her neck and the pulse that fluttered erratically there. I trailed kisses along her soft skin, leisurely exploring her curves.

Slipping my fingers beneath her shirt, I eased it up, tracing the indent of her waist as I guided it over her ribs and along the sides of her full breasts, reveling in the hitch of her breath, before I removed the blouse. I took my time with the rest of her clothes, pausing to press open-mouthed kisses along her bare flesh.

She turned when I guided her, and I explored every inch ofher body until her breath crashed in the air between us, matching my barely leashed control. I promised myself I would take things slow, worship her body, tell her with every caress how much she meant to me.

Later, I would give in to my need for fast and furious.

CHAPTER TWENTY-THREE

BRIELLE

The almost-predatory gleam in Ares’s gaze quickened my heartbeat, and I shivered as he slipped his hands beneath my shirt, slowly lifting it. At the same time, his fingers trailed over the curve of my waist, my ribs, and around the sides of my heavy breasts. I arched into his touch, desperate for more.

My head swam as he peeled my clothes from my body, trailing kisses over each inch of skin he revealed. I quivered with need, electricity sizzling through me with his every caress.

I tugged at his shirt, needing to feel his skin against mine, and he quickly divested himself of his clothes too. Then he stood, all mouthwatering, sculpted muscle, the body of an athlete I knew from experience could do so many amazing things to mine. I wanted to trace and lick every bulge and contour of his masterful physique.

He guided me to the edge of the bed then lifted me as if I weighed nothing, laying me out before him on the sheets. When he followed me, I latched onto his shoulders, guiding him to cover my body with his. I felt the hard press of him against my thigh, and I opened my legs. He was so close to giving me what Ineeded, but that barely leashed control flashed in his eyes and he shifted subtly to the side.

I knew what he wanted—to take things slow. I didn’t think I could survive it, so I did what I could to tip him over the edge and get what I craved. But so did he, and with each caress, jolts of desire spread through me. My body tingled as he caressed my breasts, teasing my aching nipples to stiff peaks before bending to take them in his mouth.

I cradled his head to my body, desperate for more as I writhed beneath him. “Ares, I need you.”

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