Page 134 of Can't Get Enough

“In my mama’s house? No way.” She looks horrified and gestures around her. “Not with the Lord’s Prayer on every wall.”

“So I’m your exception?” I tease.

“I guess you are.” She rolls her eyes and yields a small smile. She stands, folding her dress between her legs to catch the wetness. “What a mess. We don’t have this problem when we use condoms.”

“About that, I’ll show you my test, that I’m negative.” I pull my pants up and smile like a drunk still buzzing. “If we can keep doing it raw.”

“I’ll show you mine if you show me yours.” She smiles, still adjusting the dress between her legs.

I stoop to grab her underwear from under the desk, stuffing them in my pocket.

“Seriously, Mav?” She wrinkles her nose.

“You’re not getting ’em back so don’t even ask.”

“I cannot believe I had sex in my mama’s house.”

“You’re just a church girl at heart, huh?”

“Not really, but my mother and my aunt definitely are.” She grimaces. “I need to get cleaned up.”

“I kind of like the idea of you just staying like that all day,” I say, only half joking.

“That’s nasty, Mav.”

Her mother’s voice singing a vaguely familiar tune seeps through the office door and walls.

“Shit!” Hendrix whisper-shouts, eyes panicked. “Mama!”

She points to me, her expression completely serious.

“Now listen here, Mav. I need to get to my room without Mama seeing me like this. You go out first and tell her you’re hungry. She had a really good day yesterday and cooked. I tasted it. There’s no sugar or baking soda in weird places. She’ll take you in the kitchen and feed you. Then I can run up the hall, shower, and change.”

“I actually am hungry.” I rest a hand on my stomach. “I missed breakfast.”

“See?” She fake smiles and shoves me toward the door. “It’s working already. Go.”

“You’re a bully,” I complain, but smile.

“You like this bully.”

No, I love this…

Shit.

I’m frozen for a second, the reality of what I’m thinking and still haven’t told her sinking in.

“Hey.” Hendrix snaps her fingers in my face. “I’m sticky. Go!”

I shake my head like I’m coming out of a trance and leave the room. Leaning against the door for a second, I try to gather my thoughts and slow my heartbeat.

“You okay, Maverick?” Mrs. Barry asks, walking up the hall with a concerned frown on her face.

“Um, yeah… I mean, yes, ma’am.” I glance back at the closed office door. “Just kind of, uh… hungry.”

“Come on to the kitchen and I’ll fix you a plate for lunch. And you don’t have to ‘ma’am’ me. I know Hendrix does, but that’s just because of how she was raised.”

“Thank you.” I frown. “How was Hendrix raised?”

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