Page 136 of Mr. Infuriating

I really shouldn’t.

I should stay right where I was—on the couch watchingMoana 2and grading my students’ work.

But then the asshole flashed me his pirate grin, and I found myself putting the file folder of quizzes on the coffee table and standing up, as if my body was disconnected from my brain.

I mouthed, “Just one glass,” and followed him up the stairs into the kitchen like he was the Pied Piper.

He pulled two wine glasses from the cupboard, opened the bottle, and made two long pours, emptying half the bottle before sticking the cork back inside.

Handing me a glass, he then raised his like he was about to make a toast, but I beat him to it. I didn’t want to hear his bullshit about unexpected surprises.

“To a gracious host. Jake and I appreciate your hospitality. Hopefully we’ll be out of your hair by tomorrow.”

I clinked my glass against his, then took a big drink of wine.

“There’s no rush. You’re welcome here for as long as it takes.”

“Well, you said you could get the plumber there by tomorrow…”

His glass hovered at his lips, and he replied, “I said I’dtry,” before taking a sip.

I narrowed my eyes at him. “Try really hard.”

“I will make a call first thing in the morning. I have a guy that I work with a lot, so hopefully I can play the professional courtesy card.”

Gabe topped off my glass before I had a chance to protest, then moved into my personal bubble. He was close enough that I could smell his woodsy cologne, and I was instantly transported back to our magical weekend together.

He softly murmured. “But would it be so bad if you and Jake have to stay a few nights?”

“Yes,” I whispered. “You’re giving me whiplash, Gabe. I can’t keep doing this.”

He took a step back and rubbed the back of his neck as he leaned against the counter.

“I know; I’m sorry. I tell myself to leave you alone. I can’t give you what you want. But when I’m around you, I want to be selfish and take you in my arms and have my way with you.When you’re right in front of me, I don’t care that we want different things. I just want you.”

I wanted him, too. I was thirty-one, single, and horny, and I knew I’d be safe with Gabe. Not to mention, the sex was fantastic.

Maybe we could temporarily scratch each other’s itch.

“I know there’s no future with you. That’s been established from the start. But what if we…” I searched for a way to say I just wanted to fuck him—no strings attached—without sounding like the harlot I obviously was. “Kept each other company until my Mr. Right or your Mrs. Right comes along? Or until my cabinets are done, whichever comes first. We both know where we stand and what the expiration date is, so there will be no hard feelings when it’s over.”

Gabe stared at me for a beat before softly uttering, “I don’t want to hurt you.”

I boldly took a step forward and looked up at him.

“You won’t,” I replied far more confidently than I felt. “We’re two consenting adults just fulfilling a need—temporarily.”

He didn’t reply right away, and I wanted to punch my own face. When would I ever learn? Hadn’t I sworn when a man showed me who he really was, I’d believe him? Why did this particular man make me forget my own rules, and why the hell did I keep setting myself up to let him hurt my feelings and my pride?

Before I could turn and run, I felt his finger trail from my elbow where it stopped to trace circles around the web of my free hand.

“Let’s talk more about this later. Say, my room, after the kids have fallen asleep?”

“O—Okay.”

He drew my wrist to his mouth and laid soft kisses along the inside, where I was sure he could feel my pulse racing a mile a minute. Of course, the bastard knew that was one of my erogenous zones.

“And you probably shouldn’t wear any underwear under your pajamas.”

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