Page 22 of The Patron Saint of Timber Hollow

Rat bastard.

"Still think you can catch me?" I ask, lungs heaving.

"It depends on how distracted you let yourself get," Jay answers without missing a beat. Slowly, he undoes his belt and slides it free of his jeans with practiced ease.

I think,scientifically, someone should study the way Iswear to all the fake fucking gods, my pussy pounds out his name in morse code.

Jaypulse pulse pulse-motherfucking- pulse, throb throb, –temple- throb throb, pulse pulse.

"If you're playing dirty, baby, I'm playing dirty." I croon, ripping my shirt over my head without hesitation. Now, I'm only wearing the black lace panties he'd picked out and slid slowly up my thighs for me before I went to work last night.

Saint laughs behind Jay, clapping slowly. "I need some fucking popcorn, dude." It's hard to miss how Saint's lids are half-lowered over darkened green eyes.

Jay groans, unzipping his jeans and pushing them down his tree-trunk legs. "I like it when you play dirty."

I tisk, "Promise?"

"Anything you want."

"Yeah?" The breathy question comes out easily.

"I'll swear any oath you want from me, Gorgeous."

"Those are dangerous words, Handsome." My heart pounds for entirely different reasons when Jay starts talking like that.

"Nah." Jay immediately refutes, still stalking towards me.

"Catch me," I order, jerking towards the left, and Jay follows just like I knew he would. Without losing stride, I dash off the other way, careening around him and Saint with manic laughter trailing behind me. I sprint down the stairs and through the house in a loop once more. Jay almost catches me at the base of the stairs and again downstairs when I laugh so hard that I trip.

With Saint lingering in the hall, I can't resist leading Jay around the house in another loop, tossing my underwear at him when we cross into the living room again. Jay catches the scrap of black lace in his hand, stuffing it in the waistband of his boxers. The tiny button strains against his growing erection.

I can't wait anymore. Bounding up the stairs, I lead Jay towards our room and the hall, where Saint is still watching the chase. I still have a little lead on Jay, so I slow my careening sprint to more of a light jog. If only to ensure I didn't look insane in front of Jay'svery hot friend.

"Bravo, Tiny.Bravo." Saint cheers as I pass, swatting my ass with quick precision, making me squawk. Then he walks downthe hall to the stairs, chuckling to himself. "Who knew living with you two would be so entertaining?"

And then, Jay catches me just inside the doorframe, pinning me to the wall with his hips against mine, a hand around my throat. In seconds, his mouth is on mine, and I'm pulling his boxers down his hips, letting him lift me. Instead of fucking me where he caught me, he takes a few steps over to the bed, dropping me to the mattress.

"You're so fucking perfect," Jay murmurs, kissing down my body to kneel between my legs.

10

Mini Bakery

Waking up from the deep depths of slumber after running all night and then Jay promptly fucking me to sleep is a monumental task. My eyelids are heavy and gritty, and suddenly, I amoverwhelminglyhot and sweaty underneath these covers.

That is what makes me get up and haul myself into the shower. When I'm clean, I dress for work in jeans with a mesh bodysuit under a cut-off Coyote Bills tee and boots on my feet. By the time I'm done getting dressed and slapping a bit of makeup on my face, my hair has dried enough that using the blow dryer forthe rest of the way won't be an hour-long ordeal. Unfortunately, after doing all of that, I barely want to make an effort todoanything with it other than have my hair out of my face, so I settle on doing a pair of messy space buns.

The buzzing of my phone on the nightstand is a slew of messages from Jay.

Good morning, Gorgeous.

I'm still at the Packhouse.

I don't know if I'll make it to CB tonight

Morning? It's the afternoon, Jay.

That's okay, but I'll miss you handsome.