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"Do what?" Jesse rasps, taking a small step away from me. He drags his thumb against my wanting lips as he asks, "What do you think it is I want to do with you, Savannah?"

"Something you shouldn't," I mumble against his electrifying touch.

"I always do things I shouldn't do." He smirks, powering down as he slowly backs away. I collapse on the bed, staring at him with a dumbfounded expression. "If you know me as well as youthinkyou do..." Jesse flicks his tongue seductively across his thumb.Oh my."You should know that." He grins at my flushed face, satisfied with his handy work. "Keep the leather, babe. I'm starting to like it."

Crap.

I'm going tokillMarlow.

CHAPTER 16

Check and Mate

"Dude."Marlow cackles, leaning against the back counter of the bar as I pour a round of shots for Billy and the boys. "He's literally been staring at you for the last fifteen minutes." She pops a peanut in her mouth. "Like full-blown creeper vibes. Should I be worried?"

"This is allyourfault," I grumble, refusing to catch Jesse's enigmatic gaze. If I look at him, I ain't gonna be able to look away. And everyone knows that prolonged eye contact often leads to prolonged heartbreak and other devastating results. "If you just minded your own dang business and didn't try to play matchmaker, I wouldn't be in a visual chess match with my freaking roommate."

"Pfft." Marlow snorts. "According to the retelling of the Great Bedroom Standoff, I'd say you've been checkedandmated." She lifts a pushy brow. "You're just refusing to lay down your queen."

The fact I've lasted the last three days without jumping Jesse's bones is nothing short of a damn miracle.Apparently,Jesse's AC decided to crap out a couple of nights ago. My guess is that he broke the dang thing himself. He thinks I'm weak. He thinks I'll be putty in his stupid manhandling hands.

Well, he's wrong. I mean, do I find him waltzing around the house shirtless and sweaty somewhat distracting? Maybe. Does my belly clench when he licks the Dorito dust off his fingers? Unfortunately. And does it drive me freaking bonkers whenever he decides to do midday pushupsright in front of the couch as I'm reading? Definitely.

Butmy beautiful andlogicalbrain is wholly aware of the dangers said bone jumping could pose. It's thesouthernorgans that don't appear to be on the same page.At all.Honestly, I'm tempted to burn Pippa's book. All of this started when that momma of three introduced me to smut. And now, all I can think about is Jesse's hands all over my body, doing things that would surely ban me from the church.

"Neither my queennorI will be lying down anytime soon," I say, glowering at Marlow. "Got it?"

"Could always do itstanding up," Marlow quips with a cheesy grin. "That's always an option."

"I truly loathe you," I say, pitching the bridge of my nose. "If I were a violent person, I'd be very much tempted to pull your damn hair right now."

"Go ahead." Marlow smirks, tilting her head in my direction. "I happen to like that. Come on, Savvy. Give it a big, strong tug."

"You're a deviant," I mutter, shaking my head. "You know that?"

"Andyou'redeprived," Marlow retorts with a chuckle. "It's just sex, Sav. You're both consenting adults. If you wanna fuck, just fuck. You'll be doing everyone a favor, seriously. Just watching you guys is giving me blue balls." She nods in the direction of Jesse's table. "Not as bad ashis, but still very,veryblue."

"The color of Jesse's genitals is none of my concern," I huff, loading all the shots onto a tray. "They could be red and on fire for all I care."

Marlow snorts. "If his ballswerered, I'd suggest you stay far,faraway, but they're not Sav. They're blue." She feigns a pout. "And blue's such asadcolor."

I roll my eyes. "If you're so worried about his balls, why don'tyourelieve some of the pressure, huh?"

"Okay, ew." Marlow cringes. "Number one, JP's like a brother to me. Number two, I'm engaged toyourbrother. And number three"—she shrugs—"I'm only into blue-eyed babes."

"If Jesse's like a brother to you, don't you find it kind of strange that you're trying to get him laid?" I ask, tilting my head. "That's a bit too Alabama, even for me."

"I'm trying to helpbothof you!" Marlow throws her head back and expels a heavy sigh. "Why are you so difficult?"

"Because I refuse to be easy," I whisper back in a harsh tone before marching off to the table of doom.

Alright, just smile and ignore.Smile and ignore.

Billy, Jimbo, and Beau all greet me with a welcoming nod. "Here you are. Four whiskeys."

"Thanks, Sav," Beau says, downing his shot. "Wooo! Shit's rough when it's warm. Oof. We're gonna have toremember to ice a few bottles for the bonfire. I can't drink this monkey piss all night."

"You could alwaysnotdrink," I state, frowning at my baby brother. "That's always an option."

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