Page 107 of Meraux Mafia: No Ordinary Love

“No, you’re not at the royal palace.”

“It feels like it. I’m scared to move.”

“You got jokes.” I followed him through the house to the kitchen, where he grabbed water before we relaxed in the living room.

“Trying to flush out that alcohol, huh?”

“I’m not as drunk as you want to believe I am,” Mack informed me.

“You have a nice house.”

“Thanks,” he replied, unmoved by my compliment, likely because he’d lived like this his entire life.

“Why are you acting so nervous?”

“Why do you get so nervous around me?” I countered, afraid to reveal that I had a crush on him. I’m sure he was already aware because I turned into a shy schoolgirl around him, but I chose to deflect anyway.

“Lo says it’s because I like you.”

“Me?” My neck rolled, shocked at his honesty.

“Damn. Is there something wrong with that?”

“No, it's just,” I stopped and took a moment to organize my thoughts. “Out of all the childless women in DuPont Falls, I wasn’t expecting that,” I replied, highlighting what his lineage considered a blemish on my resume.

“True, but I can’t help how I feel either. Neither can you.”

“What makes you say that?”

Mack shifted toward me, biting the corner of his mouth while his orbs appraised my work uniform. He didn’t care. The way he was studying me, you’d think I was sitting here in lingerie, “I make you nervous. Why is that?”

He knew the answer but wanted to hear me say it anyway. “It doesn’t matter.”

“It matters to me.”

“I like you, Macklen. Is that what you wanted to hear?”

“Only if it’s the truth.”

He leaned in an inch, and my nerves skyrocketed into something else. I don’t know what topped nervousness, but that’s what I felt as his index finger touched my chin, forcing me to look at him.

“Is that the truth, Skylar?” He muttered as his lips brushed against mine. I couldn’t speak, so I nodded instead, and he smirked.

“I want you. I want you so fuckin’ bad.” The conviction in his tone turned on the faucet between my legs.

“You can’t have me. You know that.”

“I know.” His head lowered, and I thought he would let me off the hook. A sigh of relief left my lips, and his eyes met mine more determined than I’d ever witnessed. “Let me take care of you tonight. So when the next nigga comes along, you’ll know what it feels like.”

His index finger trailed from my chin down next to my chest, eventually rimming my back v-neck t-shirt.

“When he tries to give you something that doesn’t feel like this right here, you’ll know he’s not the nigga for you and Cam.”

My eyes ballooned as I struggled to swallow the lump in my throat. How could I say no to such a sincere proposal? I needed to. I should’ve, but I nodded because how else would I learn?

“Something tells me you ain’t used to being in control, so tonight, we’re gonna get you some practice.”

I wasn’t. Marcus was my last relationship, and he called the shots. I allowed it because that’s what I saw my mother do. I thought that’s what love was until he broke me in every way imaginable. I didn’t want that for Camdyn, so I took my baby and left with nothing. The first year was the hardest. Marcus made sure of it, but eventually, I found my footing, and starting over was the best thing I ever did for myself and my child.

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