Page 56 of Mr. Infuriating (Mister #1)

Gretchen

I think having Brittany around curbed Jake’s zest to go streaking through the house after his bath. My little boy might be experiencing his first crush.

When he was dressed in his pajamas, we went to the basement and the giant playroom Beau had mentioned when he invited me to stay at his brother’s house—without Gabe’s permission, I was certain.

Brittany lay on the couch watching a movie, and she suggested Jake watch it with her. He didn’t hesitate to crawl up next to her and use her for a pillow.

And she was such a good sport. I wanted to hug her for how kind she’d been to my son.

Gabe appeared at the bottom of the stairs holding a bottle of white wine, his brows raised in an unspoken question.

I really shouldn’t.

I should stay right where I was—on the couch watching Moana 2 and grading my students’ work.

But then the asshole flashed me his pirate grin, and I found myself putting the file folder of quizzes on the coffee table and standing up, as if my body was disconnected from my brain.

I mouthed, “Just one glass,” and followed him up the stairs into the kitchen like he was the Pied Piper.

He pulled two wine glasses from the cupboard, opened the bottle, and made two long pours, emptying half the bottle before sticking the cork back inside .

Handing me a glass, he then raised his like he was about to make a toast, but I beat him to it. I didn’t want to hear his bullshit about unexpected surprises.

“To a gracious host. Jake and I appreciate your hospitality. Hopefully we’ll be out of your hair by tomorrow.”

I clinked my glass against his, then took a big drink of wine.

“There’s no rush. You’re welcome here for as long as it takes.”

“Well, you said you could get the plumber there by tomorrow…”

His glass hovered at his lips, and he replied, “I said I’d try ,” before taking a sip.

I narrowed my eyes at him. “Try really hard.”

“I will make a call first thing in the morning. I have a guy that I work with a lot, so hopefully I can play the professional courtesy card.”

Gabe topped off my glass before I had a chance to protest, then moved into my personal bubble. He was close enough that I could smell his woodsy cologne, and I was instantly transported back to our magical weekend together.

He softly murmured. “But would it be so bad if you and Jake have to stay a few nights?”

“Yes,” I whispered. “You’re giving me whiplash, Gabe. I can’t keep doing this.”

He took a step back and rubbed the back of his neck as he leaned against the counter.

“I know; I’m sorry. I tell myself to leave you alone. I can’t give you what you want. But when I’m around you, I want to be selfish and take you in my arms and have my way with you. When you’re right in front of me, I don’t care that we want different things. I just want you.”

I wanted him, too. I was thirty-one, single, and horny, and I knew I’d be safe with Gabe. Not to mention, the sex was fantastic.

Maybe we could temporarily scratch each other’s itch.

“I know there’s no future with you. That’s been established from the start.

But what if we…” I searched for a way to say I just wanted to fuck him—no strings attached—without sounding like the harlot I obviously was.

“Kept each other company until my Mr. Right or your Mrs. Right comes along? Or until my cabinets are done, whichever comes first. We both know where we stand and what the expiration date is, so there will be no hard feelings when it’s over. ”

Gabe stared at me for a beat before softly uttering, “I don’t want to hurt you.”

I boldly took a step forward and looked up at him.

“You won’t,” I replied far more confidently than I felt. “We’re two consenting adults just fulfilling a need—temporarily.”

He didn’t reply right away, and I wanted to punch my own face.

When would I ever learn? Hadn’t I sworn when a man showed me who he really was, I’d believe him?

Why did this particular man make me forget my own rules, and why the hell did I keep setting myself up to let him hurt my feelings and my pride?

Before I could turn and run, I felt his finger trail from my elbow where it stopped to trace circles around the web of my free hand .

“Let’s talk more about this later. Say, my room, after the kids have fallen asleep?”

“O—Okay.”

He drew my wrist to his mouth and laid soft kisses along the inside, where I was sure he could feel my pulse racing a mile a minute. Of course, the bastard knew that was one of my erogenous zones.

“And you probably shouldn’t wear any underwear under your pajamas.”

****

Gabe

She swallowed hard before replying with a shaky voice, “I shouldn’t?”

“No.”

“Wh—why not?”

I continued kissing the inside of her wrists, pausing only to reply, “It’ll make it easier for me when I spread your legs and lick your pussy.”

“Oh!” She took another gulp of wine with her free hand before adding, “That would make it easier,” as she set the glass back on the counter.

I pulled her closer and whispered in her ear, “Do you know what I was thinking about earlier, when we were in the pantry?”

I felt her hair touch my lips as she gently shook her head.

“I thought about pressing your ass against me, with my hand covering your mouth so no one would hear you moan while I fucked you hard from behind. How good your cunt would feel as it spasmed around my cock when you came, then how I’d bury myself deep inside you to shoot my load of cum.”

Her “oooh,” was so soft, I wouldn’t have heard it if she wasn’t right next to me.

My fingers slid along her waistband.

“Is your pussy wet for me?”

“No.”

I pulled back and looked down at her with an eyebrow raised.

“No? Are you sure?”

’Cuz I was rock hard, and I know she felt it against her stomach.

She mashed her tits against my chest. “Maybe you should check.”

Oh, hell yes.

The sound of Brittany’s ringtone signaling an incoming text made me jump back like a teenager getting caught feeling up his crush.

The spell was broken, and I instantly found myself questioning if this was a good idea.

Gretchen had suggested we keep each other company—temporarily, and it hadn’t taken but a second for my dick to justify why that was the best thing we’d ever heard. I’d acted before my brain could override my impulse.

But I knew if I changed my mind now, I’d seal my fate with her, and I just couldn’t bring myself to do that.

“It’s a text from Britt,” I explained as I pulled my phone from my pocket .

Britt: Jake is asleep. Do you want me to sleep down here tonight with him?

Me: No, you’ve got school in the morning. You need to sleep in your bed, so you get a good night’s rest.

I looked up at Gretchen.

“Jake’s asleep. Let me get the playpen set up.” Then, to reassure her, and maybe myself, that I hadn’t changed my mind, I put my hand on her waist and stroked her hipbone with my thumb. “The sooner we get the kids to bed, the sooner we can meet in my room to talk about things .”

She bit her bottom lip as if trying to disguise a smile.

“Good idea.”