Page 12 of Average Joe

“You got a man?” My arms stayed crossed. I wouldn’t mess with another guy’s woman, but damn, every muscle strained, aching to touch that feminine firecracker.

She stepped back, brows pinched, those full lips slightly parted. If she said yes, I’d have to jump off a bridge.

Marley adjusted the pile of hair on her head, tightening whatever held the soft waves together. “Little late for that question, don’t you think?”

True. We’d already fucked, but I’d been drowning in grief and gin. A mistake I wouldn’t make twice. I was revved and ready if the lady wanted another go, but we’d both be clearheaded.

I stood tall, studying those exotic eyes, and I couldn’t read if she was terrified or turned on. Too far gone to care, I demanded, “Yes or no?”

Taking another step back, she shook her head and whispered, “No.”

Where the hell was she going? I hooked her waist, spun, and pinned her against the rough shingles. “Good goddamn answer, neighbor,” I mumbled before claiming those sassy lips.

Marley’s was the only mouth I’d tasted in too many months, and shit, I was out of practice and overexcited, so when she gripped the hair at the back of my head and pulled me away, our breaths labored, I feared I’d gone too hard.

Until she grumbled, “Oh, fuck it,” and crushed me with a kiss so greedy and full of pent-up frustration my knees buckled.

The beauty tasted like coffee, smelled like expensive perfume. Too long deprived of life’s simple pleasures, I gorged on her kisses and moans, her tight body and soft breasts. God, how I’d missed the simple skin to skin.

Cupping her ass, I lifted her higher. She hooked her legs around my waist, her fingers tangled in my hair, her tongue… Sweet Jesus, the things she did with her tongue. I was seconds from making a fool of myself and exploding all over her stomach.

Ending the lip-lock, I begged, “Come inside.”

Panting, she stared at me long and hard, her hooded gaze bouncing between my eyes. She dropped her legs, taking my towel with her, the cotton pooling at my feet, my bare ass exposed to the neighborhood, my rock-hard cock bobbing, throbbing, between us.

She looked down and bit her lip, stifling her laugh, but those wrinkles at the corners of her eyes gave away her pleasure over my predicament.

“Listen.” She slapped a palm on my chest, then jerked her hand away like the contact had singed her skin. “We got drunk and hooked up. But that won’t happen again.”

Liar. And not a good one. The woman was turned on. I slapped my hands on the house above her head and leaned close, waiting, watching. Her breath hitched, her gaze darkened, her lips parted while she studied my chest. Finally, she found the courage to meet my eyes.

I couldn’t help my smirk. “If you say so.”

Swear to fuck, that grimace was priceless. I got the feeling Marley wasn’t challenged often. What a travesty. She had a gorgeous scowl.

Again, she pushed at my chest, and this time I backed off, standing straight but staying close.

Not intimidated, the little firebomb twisted and slipped inside, heading for the kitchen. “I came by to get my spare key back. Alice had one in case of an emergency.”

Towel forgotten, I followed. “I haven’t found any spares lying around.”

“It’s in a teacup, second shelf above the toaster. Back left corner.” She looked over her shoulder, her glare dropping to my rigid cock, then bouncing back to my face. “Can you put some clothes on?”

“Nah. I like the way you look at me,” I taunted, then pushed past her and pulled open the cupboard door where Alice’s treasured teacups lived. I reached into the cup in the back left corner and snagged the metal ring. “Do you have a spare to return?” I asked, releasing the key into her outstretched palm.

“No.” Her brows furrowed, eyes glazed as if lost in a memory. “Alice never gave me one.”

I gestured toward her hand. “You sure you don’t want me to hang on to that, you know, in case of an emergency?”

She tossed the key in the air and caught it, then crossed her arms. “No offense, but I don’t know you. Why would I give you access to my home?”

Christ, how I wanted to kiss that wrinkle between her eyes. “I don’t need a key to get into your home,” I teased, winking. “Just FYI.”

“Not winning brownie points here,” she huffed and headed toward the door.

I leaned against the counter, the hollow in my chest expanding. “Tell me something.”

Marley paused but didn’t turn around. “What?”

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