Page 67 of Dope Boys: Most Wanted
Markus laughed. “You just want to stare at me while I slice up your apples.”
Reign attempted a frown, but a smile wiggled over her face. Fighting not to show him all her teeth like the Cheshire cat, she flicked him off and walked away.
“If I were you, I’d put that down,” Markus rumbled under his breath.
Hearing him, Reign snatched it out of the air and continued up the stairs to get into something comfortable. When she returned, Markus was showered and back into his normal sweatpants and white tank top, flipping through the Mahogany Channel app.
He didn’t look up immediately when he asked, “Rom-Com or I get to watch something that’s going to blow up?”
Reign sat in her spot and looked at the screen. “I’m sure I’ll be knocked out in twenty minutes, you choose.”
Markus looked up at her and chuckled. “You not hot?”
“Considering I’ve been balled up in a blanket every night, yes,” she sarcastically replied. “There’s a draft in here.”
“Hmm,” he buzzed. He looked at the oversized sweatshirt that was definitely something he’d left behind a few nights ago. The leggings and the thick fuzzy socks. It wasn’t that damn cold considering she’d slept every night in less than that. “Aight.”
Reign got comfortable minutes before feeling Markus take her socks off her feet. She expected him to just hold her foot, the same routine, a different night, forgetting that there was mounting tension between them. Instead, Markus pulled her by the ankles closer to him.
“You too far away,” he muttered.
Reign yelped. “Markus, I’ve been over here for like a week.”
“A week too damn long, come here and take that big ass sweatshirt off. You keep takin’ my shit,” he teased.
“If you leave it here, it’s mine. And why do you want to be all on me?” she quipped jokingly, but she wanted the assurance.
“You know why. You know a nigga like feeling you against him. Stop actin’ like you don’t want it and let me hold you,” he stated as Reign attempted to fix her bonnet.
“You could’ve just asked,” she huffed, a smirk buried underneath her frown. “And I’m not taking offmysweatshirt. I’m fine.”
“Watch, I give it ten minutes. You gon’ be hot as hell trying to get it off. You do this every night.”
“No, I don’t,” Reign defended, like she didn’t have a habit of kicking off her pants every night. For that reason, she was sure to wear shorts underneath when he was around.
“You do. Around three, you kicking your pants off and tossing them on the floor. That and silk pajamas. My sweatshirt and those leggings are going to be tossed on the floor in ten minutes,” he stated confidently.
“You don’t know what you’re talking about,” she sassed. “I’ll be fine.”
Feelingsin his line of work were – expensive. They put a target on his back. Being soft lowered his judgment, made him weak. Being soft or having feelings was warring with his status quo. Reign in his arms, head on his chest, was igniting the flame he thought he’d smothered years ago. Like they’d been suspended in this space forever, he caressed her shoulder before letting hishead rest atop hers. A soft kiss to the top of her head caused her to wiggle out of his hold.
“I’m hot,” she huffed, sitting up and taking the sweatshirt off, exposing the tank top she wore underneath. She tossed it on the other end of the couch and looked over at him.
Markus looked down at her with a smirk on his face. “Might as well take off the leggings while you’re at it. The heat radiating off you don’t make sense.”
“I would, but I can’t,” Reign huffed, moving away from him.
Markus looked over her, an amused smirk crossing his lips. “No shorts tonight?”
Reign bit her lip and shook her head, and then rolled her eyes at the look on his face. “Cut it out.”
“Nah, you cut it out,” Markus stated, expression not changing. “You know what you doin’. You tryin’ to put it on me, Reign?”
She burst out in laughter and dropped her head back. “Boy, please.”
“You laughin’. The truth is the truth. If you want a nigga, say that and stop playin’ scared. I ain’t gon’ hurt you.”
“Emilliano, please,” Reign huffed, settling her laughter. “Did I thank you for today?”
