Page 15 of Street of Dreams
Jake stepped closer, so they were inches apart. It made the hair on the back of Mac’s neck prickle again, only this time it also sent a hot shiver straight to his groin.
“If you don’t want me here, just say so and I’ll leave.”
Mac didn’t answer.
Jake unbuckled Mac’s belt, then stopped to wait for Mac to protest. When Mac didn’t respond, Jake unbuttoned Mac’s jeans and slid the zipper down. Again, he paused and waited for Mac to stop him.
Mac’s cheeks were flushed. His chest was tight. His breathing was erratic. And his heart was pounding. The attitude of this man. The cockiness. The God damn self-righteousness. All of it was infuriating. And Mac had never been more turned on. But he needed to know what the hell was going on between them. “What am I to you? Just a quick fuck?”
The rare, genuine smile spread across Jake’s lips. He was so handsome when he smiled like that, without sarcasm or attitude. “Did you think we were boyfriends now?” Jake let out a chuckle, shook his head, then walked away, leaving Mac bursting at the crotch.
Jake resumed his inspection of the studio apartment and stopped at Jake’s bed. He picked up one of the many small square pillows that rested against the headboard and looked at it with confusion. “What the hell is this?”
“A throw pillow.”
“A throw pillow? Why do you need throw pillows?”
“For decoration.”
“Decorative pillows?” Jake let out a short laugh. “Can you be any more fucking gay?”
Annoyed at the remark and insulted by Jake’s comments, Mac smirked and narrowed his eyes. “Do you say shit like that just to piss me off?”
“Yeah. Actually, I do. You’re a lot of fun to fuck with. Your cheeks get all red when you’re mad and your eyes turn fiery green. You got so much aggression inside of you. Let it out once in a while. When we were kids, how many times did I hit you with the basketball during gym class? I provoked you every fucking day, and you never snapped.”
“Is that what you were trying to do?” Mac felt his pressure rising. “You wanted me to snap? To kick your ass?”
Jake scoffed. “You ain’t kicking my ass.”
“Don’t try me, Jake. I’ve got a hot Scottish temper. I can’t believe I’ve managed to keep it in check all these years. You’ve really pushed me to my breaking point sometimes.”
Jake tossed the pillow at Mac, hitting him square in the face. “Throw pillow.”
Annoyance turned to anger in a flash, and Mac felt heat cover his cheeks. “You’re such an asshole!”
“You’re right. I am an asshole. But I think you know there’s more to me than just being a jerk all the time.”
It was the first real thing Jake ever said, and Mac’s frustration melted away. It left a yearning in his chest to find out what lay beneath the brash exterior that Jake showed the world, until another pillow hit him in the face. He slowly blinked and let out a deep sigh. This guy was fucking exhausting. He picked the pillow up from the floor, tossed it back onto the bed and closed up his jeans, becausethatobviously wasn’t happening. “You’re a dick.”
Jake challenged Mac with a raised brow and a smug smile. He strolled toward Mac with an easy confidence and mischief in his eyes. He stopped with only a foot between them and gave Mac the onceover. “You’re doing a lot of name calling today, Mackenzie.” Then he lifted his hand and poked two stiff fingers into Mac’s shoulder with a short, quick jab.
It was enough to jerk Mac’s shoulder back. Not enough to make him lose his balance, but enough to incite a growl. “You always gotta push my buttons.”
Jake’s smile broadened, and he slowly lifted his hand with the same two fingers extended. He paused for a moment, then poked Mac again.
“Fucking cut it out. You’re not funny. You’re being annoying.”
Jake raised his brows, brought both hands up and shoved Mac with all eight fingertips. This time, Mac stumbled back one step. It incited him, but in the best way, and he laughed as he charged at Jake with playful retaliation.
The air blew from Jake’s lungs with a grunt as Mac’s shoulder landed in his ribcage, then turned into a laugh as Mac backed Jake into the dresser. It rocked on three legs, knocking change and papers to the floor.
“You’re fucking dead, Mackenzie.” Jake pushed Mac in the opposite direction until his shoulder blades met the wall with a loud thud and rattled several pictures hanging next to him.
One fell to the floor and Mac stared down at the cracked glass. “Oh, no! That was my high school diploma.”
Jake released his hold on Mac and burst out laughing. “Who the fuck frames their high school diploma and hangs it on the wall?”
“I do.” Mac bent down and retrieved the picture frame from the floor and hung it back on the wall, careful that the glass didn’t fall out.
