Page 22 of Love You Like That (Excess All Areas 4)

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“We’re going to try something,” Alex said, three days later, as he pulled a whisper-thin black T-shirt from his bag.

She tried not to check out the way his muscles flexed as he slid the T-shirt up over his head. His motion was so crisp, it made her think of Vivaldi’s Four Seasons “Summer.” All rousing strings and…

“Zoe.”

“What?”

“That.” He pointed to her black hoodie and skinny jeans.

She looked down at what she was wearing. “What’s wrong with it? It might get chilly tonight when we’re coming home.”

“How am I supposed to win my bet to get you laid if you dress like you’re about to tackle some gardening?”

Win. Bet. Laid. Tackle gardening. “You know I don’t take this bet seriously?”

Alex reached for the bottom of her hoodie and tugged it up over her head, being careful around her ears, although the rustle of fabric against her hearing aids was loud.

He took in the black crew neck T-shirt she wore beneath and rolled his eyes. “Do you have something less utilitarian?”

“What was that last word?”

Alex signed it out. U-t-i-l-i-t-a-r-i-a-m.

“It’s two fingers on the palm for n, three fingers are m.”

“Apologies.” He leaned close, lowering his tone. “But do you want to get pedantic about my fingerspelling or tell me if you’ve got something sexier in your bag?”

“I came on tour with my best friend. I wasn’t expecting to get pimped out by a rock star.”

Alex began to laugh. “Pimped out? I’m not taking payment. Let’s just try a little experiment. If you hate it, you can change, and I’ll never mention what you wear again. Here,” he reached into his bag and pulled out a black shirt. “What’s your bra like?”

Zoe opened her mouth. “None of your business.”

“I’ve seen a bra before. I’ve even seen boobs. Take your T-shirt off.” Alex looked toward the stairwell to the bottom floor. He shouted a response. She could see by the way his chest moved differently and his mouth went wide.

“They’re waiting for us to leave.”

“How come you get a T-shirt?” she asked. A T-shirt made from butter-soft fabric, that hung a little loose, had a very deep vee, and was so thin it revealed the tattoos edging up his chest. And the pearls sitting on collar bones that were just too perfect.

Alex flexed his arm, showing her his biceps, and bits of her that had no business clenching, clenched. “Because people like my physique. I have a deceptively angelic face. And I wear jeans that show off the outline of my dick. I give people I’d like to attract what they need.”

“I didn’t catch all that.”

Alex flexed his arms again. “Physique.” Then he circled his face. “Angelic.”

Zoe scoffed. “Hardly.”

Then Alex cupped his junk. “Hard to miss.”

“Jesus Christ,” Zoe muttered as Alex laughed.

He pointed to his ring finger. “Single.” Then opened his arms wide. “Available. What words does this give off?”

Zoe looked down at her T-shirt and trainers. “Practical. Weather prepared. Comfortable.”

“May I?” Alex said, reaching for the hem of her T-shirt.

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