Page 30 of Gorgeous

“Why? What’s wrong with touching it?”

I pull my gaze from the laced hem of her shorts to her curious eyes andpush further into the gym, coming to stand behind her.

I don’t know why I like to make her uncomfortable. She fidgets, watching me watching her in the mirror. Slowly, I drag the pad of my finger along her hand, up her arm, stopping at her bare shoulder. She shivers, and a smile tugs at my lips before I lean in, inhaling her sweet scent. “Because that mirror has seen more dicks than a brothel.”

A sharp inhale is her only reaction.

I chuckle, placing both hands on her delicate shoulders which fit perfectly in my palms. “This is Theo and Ans’ favorite place.” I nod to a spot near the bench that no one uses except for them and possibly Hayes. He has no shame. I’m sure he’s christened nearly all the equipment.

Breck swallows. “What about you? Is thisyourfavorite place?”

The shower is my favorite place as of late but I wouldn’t dare admit to gripping myself with enough force to kill a man, envisioning yanking Breck’s head back by her hair while she screams out my name as I impale her from behind. Nah. I think I’ll keep that to myself.

“I don’t know.” I breathe my answer along her neck, my lips almost grazing her ear. “I haven’t had anyone to try it out on.”

Breck blinks nervously.

Why the fuck did I tell her that?Great, Cade. You look like a damn loser.

I push away, a scowl already forming on my face. With a couple of steps back, safely away from the alluring smell of apples, my voice—and sense—goes back to normal.

“I … uh,” I start, tongue-tied at what I need to say versus what I want to say. I want to ask Breck what Vic said to her outside. I want to ask what she said to have him back in the kitchen with laughter in his voice.

But I don’t ask her any of those things. Instead, my gaze drops to the floor. “Whatever you said to Vic …” I swallow and meet her eyes that now shine with … unshed tears? “Thank you.” I hurry out the rest, afraid if she keeps looking at me like she wants to touch me, I may let her. “It’s hard for us to talk about things sometimes. The fact that Vic confided in you is …” I shake my head, still shocked that he confided in Breck instead of me or Anniston. “Unbelievable. He must really trust you.”

Translation: You must be more amazing than I imagined.

A smile tugs at the corner of Breck’s lip. “So, you wanna grab a rag and help me wipe off the dried jizz on this mirror to thank me?”

Low laughter spills out between my fingers as I attempt to mask the amusement at her quick change of topics. She smiles, proud of her comeback, and extends the cloth out to me. I back up, already shaking my head. “Fuck no. Why areyoueven cleaning it?”

She’s here to cook, not clean. Anniston made sure we knew that before she left. Commander didn’t want us being lazy asses and allowing sweet Breck to volunteer for all the household duties.

Breck shrugs. “I was bored, and I thought I might as well be useful.”

I roll my eyes at her generosity and snatch the rag from her hand. “It’s Hayes’ turn to clean. There is a schedule posted on the door.” I point to the laminated calendar taped there. “Besides, most of the” —my brows lift when I quote her—“‘jizz’ is probably his.”

Her face scrunches up like she tasted something sour.

“Gross,” she says simply, backing away from the mirror.

With a smile, I head towards the door. “Come on, we’re going out back to skeet shoot.”

In her defense, she only looks slightly scared for a second.

In my defense, her innocence makes me weak as fuck and I asked her before my brain caught up to my actions.

“B!”

Mason shouts to Breck from the bed of my truck, reaching over the side for her hand. She squeals and takes off in the worst run I’ve ever seen. She could use some lessons on proper spine alignment. I hold back a smile as Hayes lifts her over the edge, grabbing his back in a moan when he sets her down in the bed with him, Mason, and Killer.

She slaps his shoulder as Hayes winces. “What did you eat this morning? Lead?” Breck shoves him, and he grabs her hands, pulling her into him for a hug. “I’m just teasing, darlin.” Still in his arms, Hayes winks at me over her head. I keep my cool, walking over to the driver’s side and opening the door.

“Hey, Major?” Groaning, I push back from the door and peer into the back where Hayes has finally let go of Breck. “You planning on teaching her to shoot?”

I shrug a shoulder and remain indifferent even though my dick just jumped at the idea of wrapping my arms around Breck, my hands on hers, breathing calmly into her ear and telling her when to pull.

“If she wants to,” I say to the way too eager sniper who is still far too close to Breck for my liking. But he knows he is, and that’s exactly why he’s staying so close. He loves to push my fucking buttons. Not much gets under my skin … except this girl.

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