Built for Love - Ella Goode Page 0,16

to send the call to voicemail when a text comes through.

Beck: Don’t fucking put me into vmx answer the damn phone

Angrily, I shove the phone to my ear and bark out, “What?”

“Get your ass over to Marist’s house and explain to her that you hired this woman because you want to bone her,” he shouts.

“I do not want to bone her,” I snap. “That’s my future wife you’re talking about.”

“Fine. Wife. Mistress. I don’t fucking care. Marist quit on me! She said we must not need her anymore because you hired another decorator so get your fucking ass in gear and fix this!” He hangs up.

I shove a hand through my hair. This is all Chad’s fault. He should’ve taken better care of the building. If he had, then Pepper and I would be at home, having dinner in front of the fire, petting Bear, and taking each other’s clothes off.

I pocket the phone and climb into the truck. “We’re going to have to make a small detour before I take you home and by home, I mean our home and not the long-term stay facility.”

“Let me out then. I’ll get a taxi.” She puts her hand on the door and my control snaps.

I put the truck in park and reach over the console to drag her into my lap. “Ignore you? Are you kidding me? I can’t keep my eyes, hands, or thoughts off you.” I slam my mouth against hers. She squeaks in surprise but doesn’t pull away. Her lips part and I take that opportunity to dive inside, marauding her mouth like her tongue is an enemy combatant than needs to be conquered. I kiss her until she’s breathless and gasping, and I keep on until her hands leave my chest to clutch my shoulders and her hips begin to undulate against my hard cock. I kiss her until all the thoughts of Chad and Beck and Marist and deals empty out of our brains and all that is left is her and me and tongue and lips and lust.

My hands are at her waistband when she breaks away from me and says, “Is that a phone in your pocket or are you just happy to see me?”

Without the contact of her lips against mine, the real world intrudes. Beck. I give Pepper a half-hearted smile. “I am happy to see you, but my phone is vibrating, and as much as I want to show you that nothing in this world is better than kissing you, Beck needs us.”

Reluctantly, I return a confused Pepper to her seat. As I clip the seatbelt in place, she asks, “Us?”

“Yeah, it’s a long story, but basically Marist quit because she thought I was trying to get rid of her by hiring you.”

Pepper’s hand flies to her mouth. “Oh no.”

“Yeah.” I nod grimly and start the engine. “I hired you because I like your designs and I thought it would be a good way to expand our business, so I need to go over and explain this to Marist or Beck will cut off my dick, and then all you will get is oral from me, and I know I can make you happy with my tongue, but you deserve the d every now and then.”

Pepper chokes on her laughter, and that makes me feel a tiny bit better as I navigate to Marist’s place.

12

Pepper

We sit in silence as we continue to make our way to Marist’s house. I know in the restaurant I let my emotions get the best of me. The wine might have helped some too. I feel a tad guilty about what I’d texted him.

“I wasn't really going to kiss Chad.” The truck jerks to the side before he straightens it back out.

“You thought about kissing Chad?”

I bite my lip. The steering wheel groans with how tight Abel is squeezing it.

“Not really. I never thought I’d actually do it,” I rush to say before he pulls the whole steering wheel off. “You’re awfully mad about it for someone who didn't really care if I went on the date,” I huff, folding my arms over my chest.

“But you wanted me to think you were doing it?”

“I didn't say we kissed. I said at least someone wants to kiss me.” Able makes a sharp turn before pulling into some fancy townhouses and throwing the truck into park. “Is this it?” I look out the front window. I didn't know townhomes could be so fancy.

My seatbelt unhooks. I look over