Page 16 of The Sweetmate (Check-In #2)

Lisa’s voice makes me jump. “Don’t worry, nobody will notice. It’s not poking out that far.” Her smirk is diabolical. The woman of your dreams insulting the size of your manhood will deflate things pretty quick.

“Harsh.”

“But look, I helped. There he goes.”

I press my lips into a tight line. “Yup. He’s gone. Possibly for good.”

“Nah, he’ll come back to play.” She claps her hands together. “Let’s go. Chop-chop.”

Once I’m dressed, I place my hand at the small of Lisa’s back to lead her out the door. I notice she keeps fighting back a laugh.

“What’s so funny?” I ask.

“Oh, just that if anyone asks why we’re late, I should tell them it’s because you wouldn’t stop staring at your dick.”

“It’s just so beautiful. I couldn’t take my eyes off it.”

Her laughter dies when I lean down, my lips brushing the shell of her earlobe. “He might make several appearances. You look stunning. I’m sure every asshole here is going to be eye-fucking you.”

“I’m not concerned about every other asshole. Only one.”

We step into the elevator and I stand behind her, allowing my excitement to rub against her ass. “If anyone does give you any problems, you tell me immediately. And if I go too far, you tell me immediately. What’s our word?”

“Apple.”

“I don’t care how famous or who they are. How minor this incident may seem. You feel the slightest bit uncomfortable around anyone and I’ll take care of it.”

She turns around and studies my face. “Whoa. Easy there. Where is all this coming from? You’re typically so nonchalant.”

“What, you don’t think I’m the type of guy to care enough?

” I take her chin between my fingers. “When I care about someone, I care deeply. And I take care of my own.” I lift her chin higher so she’s forced to meet my eyes.

“For the next few days, you’re mine. You can look at it as a fake relationship, but my jealousy is real.

View it as an employer-client relationship if that helps.

I’m a boss who takes care of his people.

However you want to interpret our relationship, cupcake, the result is the same. You’re mine.”

The elevator dings and slides open. I release Lisa from my hold and return my hand to the small of her back.

I know I came off as intense, but I’ve never felt this way about anyone before.

It’s startling that I’m so consumed by a person who was a stranger a few weeks ago.

I’ve never been a hopeless romantic, but she gives me hope while at the same time making me feel hopeless to control my emotions around her.

If we can survive a couple of days in a fake relationship, there might be the foundation for a real relationship.