Page 53 of To Hate Adam Connor

“You should wear a shirt,” she said finally.

I decided to tease her to make her smile. She had laughed with my son, so it was only fair if she gave me some smiles too. “What?” I asked her, peering down at myself. “You don’t like me naked from this close? Every one of those photos in your phone was of me naked and zoomed in.”

“That was then. Now”—she gave me another look, and I caught her swallow—“not that attractive, I guess.”

“Ah, right. Not after I sent you to prison, right?”

She squinted at me. “Are you making fun of me?”

“Of course not. I wouldn’t dare.”

Satisfied, she nodded. “Good. Be scared of me. That’s smart of you.”

I nodded and rounded the kitchen island to stand in front of her. She followed me with her eyes.

“What are you doing?”

“I assume there is something you want to tell me, so I’m getting closer so I can hear you better.”

“And you couldn’t hear me from there because…?”

“Because I want you to know that I’m taking you very seriously.”

“Go take me seriously from over there, buddy.”

She put a hand on my chest to stop me from moving closer to her. I stopped and looked down at her small hand that was planted on my chest. I liked how she felt on me, her skin on mine. She looked down at it too and seemed surprised by it. I didn’t even try to hide my smile.

“And I wanted to thank you,” I explained. When she looked confused, I continued. “For making Aiden laugh like that. As I’m sure you’ve already noticed, he’s having a hard time with the divorce.” I placed my hand over hers, which made her frown deepen. “So thank you.”

She pulled her hand away and rubbed it on her thigh. “Well, someone has to make him laugh. Since you’re not doing the job…” She shrugged, and I laughed.

“Thank you for that too.”

“You’re welcome. Now go put on a shirt.” She waved at me with her hand. “I shouldn’t have to look at your naked…bare…unclothed…muscular chest. You’re ruining my view.”

I tilted my head to the side a little to capture her eyes. “It’s my home. You’re free to look away, Lucy,” I suggested softly. When she met my gaze, her eyes lit up.

She put her hand on the island and slightly leaned forward. “Are we playing a game, Adam Connor? Because I love games.”

I raised an eyebrow, but otherwise stayed silent.

“Oh, poor Adam.” She made a sad face and my lips twitched. “You don’t know me at all, do you?” She took a step forward and placed her hand on my chest again, making a big show out of it.

Little minx.

When I didn’t object, she started moving a finger downward, her touch as light as a feather.

Our eyes stayed locked.

This time, I took a step toward her, raising the stakes. I wanted to see where she was going with the act.

“Does it feel good?”

She frowned at my question and her hand halted on my abs.

“Does it feel exactly like you imagined it or better? Too soft?” I flexed my muscles and leaned closer to her. “Too hard?”

She curled her fingers and lightly grazed my skin with her nails. I couldn’t be sure if it was involuntary or if she was still playing, but with the way her chest was rising and falling rapidly…I could see I was affecting her.

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