Page 47 of Where's Molly

“Marie, this is my mom, Winifred,” Cage introduces us, a shit-eating grin tilting his lips. I'd love nothing more than to smack it off, but I'm currently paralyzed.

I know my eyes are the size of golf balls, and if the equally mischievous smile on his mother's face is any indication, it hasn't gone unnoticed.

She can’t be much taller than five feet, peering up at me with hazel eyes. Her short white hair curls artfully around her nape and over her forehead, perfectly styled. Bright red lipstick paints her smiling lips, and she wears bedazzled black jeans and a leopard-print blouse.

“It's so nice to meet you,” I squeak, holdingout a slick palm for her to shake. She scoffs and bats it away before pulling me into the warmest hug I've ever experienced.

My throat tightens, but I choose to believe it's because I'm so relieved that she doesn't have to touch my sweaty hand. When I pull away, I meet Cage's gaze, only for my eyes to gravitate toward the box of condoms directly behind him.

Jesus fucking Christ.

I'm never going to recover from this.

After Layla's game, I got a call from Legion informing me that I'd be receiving another drop tonight.

For the past month, Cage has been delivering bodies three to four times a week, and each and every time, he finds a new way to end up in my bed.

Aside from the incident in the barn, I started making him use condoms. And due to his insatiable sex drive, we ran through an entire fifty-count box already.

I've tried to convince myself this past month has been some strange, lucid dream, yet the bruises on my hips and ass have made it impossible to deny.

And each night, after he’d leave, I tried telling myself to keep it strictly professional from there on out, but the twinge in my heart let me know my body heavily disagreed.

So, like any responsible thirty-four-year-old woman, I'm buying more condoms.

Just in case.

An otherwise safe endeavor. Until a presence sidled up next to me, a delicious scent invading my senses before a familiar hand pointed at a specific brand.

“I'd need these.”

My wide eyes slowly processed theglaring XL on the box, then Cage's wide grin right in front of me.

Before I could utter a word, a sweet face had popped up on the other side of him, scolding him for trying to'woo a lady in such an egregious manner.'

“I didn't know Cage had a new lady friend!” she exclaims warmly, pulling away only to capture my cheeks between her soft hands. “Oh, the beauty of you! Your eyes are quite sexy, you know that? And that bite mark, dear Lord, it must have come from a horrible person. But, dare I say, it makes you look very edgy, my dear.”

My mouth drops.

Cage sighs.

“She's going through a phase of calling women sexy. Yesterday, she told me she wanted to start wearing leather pants again,” Cage explains. Despite his dry tone, his eyes glimmer with amusement.

Winifred releases me to shoot her son a disgruntled look. “That's how I seduced your father, ya know. I was wearing these skintight leather pants and a bright red halter top.” She returns her stare to mine, excitement glittering in her eyes. “The girls never looked better, let me tell ya. His father took one look and had me bent over—”

“Ma,”Cage intervenes sternly.

She rolls her eyes and then winks at me, a devious grin curling her red lips. “Don’t worry, sweetie, I'll finish the story another time. He getssensitivewhen I talk about my sex life in front of him.”

A valid reaction, only I don't voice that. Instead, Ireturn her smile, albeit nervously.

“Yeah, I'd, uh, love to hear it,” I mumble.

“Great!” she shouts, startling a customer at the end of the aisle. I bite back a grin when the young blonde woman gives us a dumbstruck expression. Admittedly, it's hilarious, and a laugh bursts free.

Winifred doesn't even notice.

“Come over for dinner tomorrow night, and I'll tell you all the stories. I used to be a groupie back in the day. And let me just say that wannabe rock stars are better in the sack than successful ones. Once they get rich, they feel like they don’t have anyone to impress.” She waves her hand airily.

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