Page 66 of Red Flag, Green Light

He touches a kiss to my forehead and straightens, hands tucked in his pockets and a wild spark in his eye. “That was fun. You think they’ll name their firstborn after us?”

I arch a brow. “Why would I want a tiny brat destined to love mail carrying my namesake? Brian and Amelia are the sunshine/sunshine trope. Nobody’s doing that. Nobody wants that.”

“I want that.”

“You’re an outlier who doesn’t understand the market. Therefore, your opinion is inconsequential.”

“That’s no way to talk to your lover or your partner in crime, now is it?”

I consider his words, then I smile. “Punish me, then.”

“You wouldn’t be able to handle it.”

My heart skipping with unabridged excitement is surely atestament to how mentally unwell I am. “We won’t know until we try.”

“That sounds an awful lot like consent.” Mars places a hand at his chin and takes a moment to ponder before nodding affirmatively and dragging me out of my chair. “When you want to quit, just remember: you asked for this.”

“Are you exhausted yet, baby?” Mars whispers in my ear.

Gripping the handlebars of my stupid bike for dear life, I mutter, “I hate you.”

His hand slips firmly down my back, pressing on every bump of my spine, as he leans in, stabilizes my poor wobbling body, and kisses my throat. “You’re doing so well.”

My stupid heart reacts to praise as though I am a stupid dog. Had I a tail, it would be wagging beneath my skirt, and, no, I’m not happy about that. I scowl at Mars.

“Hold on tight. Learning to ride is hard, huh?”

“Could you, actually, go die in a ditch?”

His chuckle vibrates against my skin, and it would be unbelievably sexy…if I did not feel like a baby deer, relying solely on his mercy to remain off the street. He murmurs, “I am so attracted to you right now.”

My eyes roll. “It doesn’t take much, does it?”

“With you? No.” He swears. “Do you want to try pedaling a bit?”

I’d like to stop balancing on this dumb bike, put my feet on the ground, avoid face-planting when I get off, and go back inside my house. “No.”

“I won’t let you fall.”

“You have four measly inches on me. There is no way you’d be physically able to catch me if I fall.”

“I’m stronger than I look.”

I roll my eyes. “Youlookplenty strong. That does not mean I am a small enough woman for it to matter.” A dastardly idea hits me, and I pin down a smile as I pout my bottom lip. “Is Jupiter home? I’d trust him to catch me. He’s so much bigger than you.”

Mars’s eye twitches. “Joveis having amoment. That is lasting several weeks. And has no end in sight.”

“But Jupite—”

“J-O-V-E.”

“—r would really make me feel more secure, I think. He’s so aptly named. The biggest planet in the solar system. The most well-known god.”

Mars is not amused, but me? I’m having a great time.

“In contrast, you’re also…you know…aptly named. Second smallest planet, I’m pretty sure.”

“Jove is literally two inches taller. Two.”

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