Page 42 of Fumble Into the End Zone

“Mia,” he finally said.

The commanding expression on his face spoke of a man not willing to be okay with the word no.

“She will be okay,” Marcus said as I turned to the bathroom door.

Relaxing my shoulders, I traveled the short distance stopping in front of him. He closed the space with a simple tug of my waist.

“Tonight, I want you to sit on my face.”

I swallowed the lump in my throat. “Marcus,” I whispered.

“Yes, Mia,” he answered, unfazed by the heat between us.

“We need to. We need to separate before Harley catches us,” I said and tried pushing back, but he wouldn’t allow the movement.

“Harley is playing with stuff in your bathroom. If she catches us, we can go ahead and break the news of you being her mommy,” he said.

The confidence from his words paused the hard beating of my heart. “You said I could have it anytime,” he whispered.

Afterward, he bent his head by my ear and pinched my skin with his teeth.

I heard the toilet flush and managed to break free. I was halfway down the hall before Harley appeared.

“All right, tell your dad bye and we can go to the pool,” I said, and Harley lowered her eyes.

Kneeling, I tipped her chin upward. “What’s wrong?” I asked.

“I know it’s girl’s day, but can Daddy stay?” she asked.

The sadness in her voice pulled on my heartstrings. I squinted when I found Marcus smiling.

“Sure, but he has to serve us drinks for losing,” I said.

Harley hugged my neck hard before running back to her dad. He kneeled and kissed his daughter.

“See, Daddy, I’m glad you listened to me and packed your swim trunks. We’re going to have fun.”

“Let’s go,” I said and waved everyone to the bi-fold door.

I slid it open, giving us access to the kitchen while we enjoyed the pool.

“Harley, would you help me while your dad changes?” I asked, and she shook her head yes.

“Are you going to swim with us?” she questioned.

I had no intentions on swimming. My goal was to sit on the side and maybe put my feet in the water.

“Pleaassee, Ms. Mia,” she begged with praying hands.

I laughed at her gesture with the knowledge I couldn’t deny her request. This little girl held some kind of magic over me because I knew better than to let her daddy stay.

“Okay, but let’s get the fruit and drinks set up. Do you have on sunscreen?” I asked.

“Yes,” she said.

It took Marcus five minutes to return to the kitchen in swim trunks. I wanted to whistle at his structured body, including his washboard abs. The blue shorts against his chocolate skin aroused me. He smirked after he caught me staring.

“You guys go ahead and enjoy the pool. Marcus, can you put the drink float in the water? The ice and drinks are in the outside fridge.”

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