Page 18 of The Spare

"I'm fine, miss. Thank you," he says curtly, shaking hands with Stephen. They make themselves scarce like they always do when I'm here.

Inhaling deeply, I nuzzle into her temple and stroke my fingers down her back. The smell of her hair oil fills my lungs and makes me feel at home.

"How's it going, sweetheart?" I ask, dragging my eyes down her body as she backs up to let me into the small space.

I can't help the direction of my thoughts at the sight of how delicious she looks, and my lips curve on one side, betraying me. But I can't help it; I never can when I'm around her. She's comfy in a pair of tight, thin gray leggings and a white crop top showing off her small waist. Her hair hangs loose down her back in shiny ringlet curls skimming the exposed flesh, and her face is bare. It's late, so she doesn't have much makeup on right now, and my pleasure grows at seeing her freckles stand out so prettily.

All twenty-three of them.

Reaching forward, Melody tries to reach under my arm for the sodas, but I twist away, grabbing her up byherarm in a smooth movement and pull her with me as I walk backwards to her freshly made bed.

"Nuh-uh. What you thinking, girl?” I tease, sitting down and bracing my back against the wall behind me and kicking my feet up on the wooden chair. I heave a deep sigh at her pout. "Now, Mel," I say in a teasing voice, cocking my head. "You already know the only way you get to drink soda with me. Don't fake like you have amnesia."

"Come on, Mason!" she giggles hitting my arm and pouting playfully, but I shake my head staying firm.

"No,"I chuckle, feeling better than I've felt all fucking week now that I'm withher.

Due to a bet she lost three years ago, the only time she gets to drink her favorite soda is when I'm with her. I was grasping at straws at the time, but it was a way for me to ensure I can see her at least four times a month. Silly and juvenile, I know, but a man's gotta work with what he can when his hands are strapped.

I arch an eyebrow as she rolls her eyes before getting a sexy grin on her face. "Fine," she grumbles.

"Hmm." Leaning forward, I plant my feet on the floor, placing my elbows on my knees and wait patiently. "You know I don't like to be kept waiting, butterfly."

"Are youevergoing to bring me alcohol?" Melody complains in an exasperated tone. A little bit more sassy than usual as she's annoyed with me, but that's okay. "Because I'm about to be twenty. One or two shots isn't going to kill me, you know."

"But being almost twenty, is not the same asbeingtwenty, now is it?" I say. We agreed for her to have her first drink at twenty, not twenty-one.

She twists her lips, and her body jerks almost like she wants to stamp her foot.

My cock tightens because she's just so goddamnsexy.

"Didn't think so. On your knees."

She takes a step forward and then sinks to her knees between my legs. My cock turns stone hard now, twitching in my pants. I clear my throat and reach for one of the cans, snapping open the top. She braces her palms on my thighs, and it's all I can do to not throw her on the bed and fuck her tonight.

Because I'm ready for this insufferable waiting game that Hendrix has forced me into to end.I'm over it.

I crook a finger under her chin and tilt her head up. "Open wide," I say.

She parts her lips and sticks her tongue out looking like a seductive sex kitten. Something that stripper who dared to touch me earlier could only ever pray to emulate. I tip the can over slowly and pour a small amount in her mouth.

She swallows, and her eyes dilate with pleasure as she brings a hand up to wipe her mouth, but I grab it quickly, reaching forward to swipe my thumb across her mouth and gather the moisture that's dotted on her bottom lip.

I press my thumb in slightly, making her wait for me until I take my own drink, groaning with pleasure as it goes down. I love sharing a soda with her; it's one of my absolute favorite things about our relationship.

A guilty pleasure of mine, if you will.

"Have you been a good girl, Mel?" I ask, looking to the side as I place the soda on her nightstand. "Passing all your classes for me?"

She rolls her eyes again, her husky laugh making my dick swell even tighter somehow.

"Come on, Mason! First Izzy, mom, Henny, and nowyou?"she sighs, rising off her knees in a graceful movement. I take her arm when she reaches for the chair my feet are propped on, yanking her to sit on the bed next to me instead. "I guess I should expect a call from Teresa, next, huh?" She grabs two pillows and shoves one behind me and then her, getting us comfortable.

"Well, you're barely maintaining your GPA," I say, concerned. "What's up with that?"

"Math," she grumbles, her face pinching up in a scowl.

My eyes narrow at this girl’s fucking attitude. She only shows it with me.