A deep rumble of a laugh gets buried in my chest. Marley is still gunning for that one-night stand she tried to deny offering in the first place. It’s too bad I’ve already relegated her to a no-fly zone—at least for the night. She’s young and sweet and has no business being tied to my bedpost or anyone else’s for that matter. The girls I’m with usually have a mean streak a mile wide, a history, and a grudge. Marley looks to be delinquent in all three categories.
I unlock the door and let her in before turning on the rest of the lights.
“You will find pictures of my mother—pretty much everywhere. Not sure about the bedroom.” Do I have one of her in the room with all the bedlam that goes on in there? I wince at the idea.
“Knew it,” her voice dips to its lower register, rife with disappointment.
“My mom died when I was a teenager.” I let it soak in a moment. “She was a character. Miss her every damn day.” I slap the back of my neck like I’m swatting away the memories before I get misty eyed and have to turn in my balls for the night.
“Oh, my gosh. I’m so sorry.” Her hand rides up her chest, and it’s only then I note she’s not wearing my jacket anymore. I start a fire and pull a few blankets from the hall closet.
“I can sleep out here,” I volunteer as I fall onto the sofa next to her.
Marley scoots in like a cheetah ready to pounce. “Then I’ll sleep out here.”
“No can do. I’m flying solo tonight.”
“What?” In one quick move her knees are tucked up beneath her, that bottom lip of hers is pursed out front. Marley has pouting like a child down pat. I hate to admit it, but I’m a little partial to pouting. “I’m here—for you, cowboy. Do I have to draw you a map?” She says the words as her finger slips down her body, stopping abruptly just below her belly. “You, my friend, are about to be crowned king of this jungle.” She picks up my hand and leads me between her thighs. “Now—is the king ready to rule over his subject? Because this little servant girl is ready to please his majesty.”
“Clever.” I carefully withdraw my hand, trying to steady my thoughts a moment. I’d be lying if I didn’t just admit she threw me off balance. I haven’t had a good role-playing session since God knows when. I think I’m due a throne or two. I shake the thought out of my head.
“Can’t. I’ve relegated you to little sister status so that whole let’s-welcome-my-snake-to-your-jungle routine won’t be happening.” I think my dick is ready to abdicate the throne of my being. I’m not sure what’s gotten into me, maybe I’m being serious, maybe I really am too old—up past my bedtime and all that other good shit, or maybe, just maybe, something in me demands to protect her from all the perverts in the world, and I happen to lead the perverted pack.
“Little sister?” She sings the words out in a string of giggles. “That’s pretty kinky.” Her nose wrinkles, cute as hell. Okay, it’s sexy as hell, and I’m seriously starting to doubt my sanity around this girl.
“Not kinky. In fact, I’ve got a little sister, and, if I saw her having an exchange like that with her boyfriend—”
“Ex! Ex-boyfriend.”
“Whichever—the point is, I wouldn’t want some random stranger—who she was quite disdainful of just a few minutes prior, trying to take advantage of her.”
She sulks against the cushion. The mask of seduction slides right off her face as if she’s just agreed with me on some level.
“Whatevs. So where’s this little sister of yours? She go to Lambert, too? I don’t remember Annie mentioning a sister.”
“That’s because Blake doesn’t have one. My father has another brood in New York. I’m the product of his first failed marriage—the kid he stuck on the ranch with the nanny. Nice gal, Sevilla. You would’ve liked her.”
“You weren’t raised by your mom?” Her eyes widen the size of silver dollars, and the fire reflects in them true as a mirror. On all of God’s green earth, I haven’t seen eyes that big and beautiful.
“I split my time between my parents. When I was at the ranch, I was with Sevilla. My dad was too busy with work. He’s an investment broker in the city, thus the spare family—Piper and Cade. One girl, one boy in the city. He didn’t need me anymore. Not to worry, Sevilla had a German Shepherd she let me name. Called him Dad for thirteen good years. Best Dad a guy could ask for.”
Marley gives a hard sniff as her chest bucks.
“Let’s make a U-turn.” I pat my hand over the cushion behind her. “How about you? What’s your story?” I fling my arm up over the back of the couch. “I’m guessing boarding school started at nine. Mommy and Daddy have yearly memberships to the country club, and, when you turned sixteen, you were introduced to high society by way of a debutant ball—white dress, low kitten heels.” My boxers twitch because I very much approve of the visual. “Maybe a garter belt tucked underneath. You seem a touch wild.”