Page 63 of Shockproof

“Ohmygod,” I grumble shielding my face with my palms for a second time.

“Relax, Angel Cake.” His fingertips lovingly peel mine away from my reddening complexion. “I knew my t-shirt and hoodie would do the hidin’. And even if it didn’t? Istillwouldn’t wear makeup.”

“Because you feel uncomfortable in it?”

“It’s not that bad,” Blu offhandedly informs.

“Because havin’ my woman leave her mark on me isn’t somethin’ I’m ashamed of.”

The sweet smile he’s presented is promptly cut short by Blu’s phone buzzing against the countertop, knocking into Mark Buffalo who’s guarding the counter. In one swift movement, he answers, “Yeah. You can let him up.”

Slater waits until the call is officially ended. “Seventeen?”

“Yup.”

My boyfriend uses the confirmation as an excuse to scoot closer to me.

Stand possessively behind me.

Tug his tee down a bit more, to inevitably display the aforementioned blemish.

Well, he may be the one with a hickey now, but I know that after this powwow wraps up, we’re going to be sporting matching ones because jealousy sex isn’t complete without that particular branding left behind.

It’s gotten so out of control from us both since the bar incident that I’m not gonna lie. I’m a little glad I don’t have to spend extra time covering them up to go to the office.

Although, Idomiss my office.

And all my cute trinkets.

And Melissa giving me extra data I’ll never see on operatives’ field reports.

For the few minutes we have to spare, Blu asks for more details about the game we left other than the initial ones I gushed about. While there isn’t exactly much to tell about our very short outing, it’s a bit surprising that Slater doesn’t reveal his ma’s new status report but in the same breath, I guess I get it.

He’s still processing.

And processing is the kind of thing he does best alone.

“You went allEqualizeron a puck bunny?!” Blu loudly laughs right as Harvey knocks on the front door.

“I didn’t know she was a puck bunny.”

“Your brother’s face plastered on her nipple pasties didn’t give it away?”

“She didn’t have his face on her nipples.”

“So, youwerelooking at her nipples then?” he juvenilely jeers with an eyebrow wiggle.

Slater narrows his gaze to thin slits and growls, “Jus’ go open the door.”

More laughter accompanies Blu’s checking the peephole to verify it’s our boss, and once it’s confirmed, he lets him in.

“What’s so amusing?” Harvey politely interrogates upon entering the room.

“You don’t wanna know,” I swiftly insist with a shake of the head.

“Alright.” He kindly smiles. “I trust your judgment.”

We exchange grins, an action that prompts Slater to cage me in by bracing his palms on the edge of the counter spaces to each of my sides. “Evenin’, Seventeen.”

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