“Well, I suppose it wouldn’t work well for either of us.”
“It was sex, Aspen. People all over the world have it all the time. It’s not a big deal.”
His flippancy was like a slap. “But marking someone is, and you know it. Not that I’m reading anything into it,” she hastened to add, not wanting him to get the wrong idea. “Last night, you were pissed, and all that anger needed an outlet. And that’s—”
“You think I fucked you because I was pissed?” he asked, his brows flitting together.
“Well … yeah. You were furious last night. I’m betting the ever-present pressure in your chest was so inflated you felt like you’d explode. It needed somewhere to go. You often use sex to burn off tension, and I was right there …” She shrugged. “If you’d been your usual self, you wouldn’t have kissed me, let alone fuck me. You can’t honestly tell me I’m wrong on that.”
His mouth tightened. “I haven’t—”
Knuckles rapped on the front door.
“That’s probably Bailey,” she said, relieved she could escape this conversation that was both painful and pointless. “You ready to leave yet?”
For a long moment, he simply stared at her. It was clear he wanted to say something but wasn’t quite sure if he should. She might have encouraged him to spit it out, but then he finally stepped back and said, “Almost. I’ll just be a minute.” With that, he turned and headed for his bedroom.
She took a small, subtle breath and then made her way to the front door.
“You weren’t wearing those marks before you came to my apartment last night,” he called out.
She half-turned to look at him, her brow furrowing. “I know.”
“So do those who came to chat with Jerome, just as they know you came home with me,” he pointed out, his hand on the bedroom door. “As such, they’ll also know that the only person who could have marked you between then and now was me. Just something for you to consider.” He went into his room.
Aspen’s stomach plummeted. Hell, he was right. She wouldn’t be able to hide the truth from everyone. A handful of people would know for a fact that it could only have been Camden who branded her … including the person who was now knocking on the front door a second time.
Bracing herself for Bailey’s reaction, she inwardly cursed as she pulled open the door and greeted, “Hey.”
The mamba smiled and walked inside. “Hey yourself, how’d you sleep?”
Closing the door, Aspen jiggled her head from side to side. “Not great, but I’ve had worse nights’ sleep.”
Her nose wrinkled. “Yeah, I figured you’d … My, my, my, just what are those marks on your neck?” A grin curved Bailey’s mouth. “Oh now this is interesting. Someone did the dirty last night, huh? Go you! It’s about time.”
“No one did the dirty. Camden had the idea that marking me might make Grant back off.”
Her eyes dancing, Bailey gave her a mocking “oh, sure” look and nodded.
Aspen felt her lips thin. “It’s true.”
“It’s utter bullshit is what it is.”
“He and I are just friends.”
“Oh denial, thy name is Aspen.”
Feeling her face flush, Aspen flexed her fingers. “Do not make a big deal out of this.”
“Girl, I don’t need to. The brands make a big deal out of it.”
Aspen ground her teeth. The mamba was finding this way too amusing. “Let it go, Bailey.”
“Did you mark him right back?”
“Let it go.”
“How hard did you come?”
“Let. It. Go.”
“Is he good with that dick? I’ve heard he is. Did you like it? If so, you’d better take that hot singer’s advice.”
“What?”
“Put a cock ring on it.”
That was it. Aspen was done.
Camden cursed at the sight he found near the front door. Aspen’s bearcat had her paws clamped around the mamba’s neck and was shaking her violently, ignoring that the end of the snake’s body was slapping her over the head again and again and again. It wasn’t even an unusual occurrence. The animals often brawled, especially if left alone for longer than a minute. It was usually only Havana who managed to break up their fights.
“You two cannot be serious,” he said.
They paused and looked up at him. Which was good, considering there were times they chose to ignore him.
“You both need to escort Havana to work, remember? You don’t have time for this shit.”
The bearcat blinked at him. The mamba flicked out her tongue. They looked at each other again, reared back slightly, and then they resumed their little brawl.
“Goddammit, stop!”
CHAPTER NINE
Eying the toddler in the inflatable ring, Aspen frowned. He wore a look of pure concentration, and his cute little face was beginning to turn purple. He’d better not be having a shit in the pool.
It occasionally happened that a “floater” was found bopping at the surface of the water. Naturally, the swimmers often freaked out, so it wasn’t difficult for the lifeguards to empty the pool of people. Then they had to empty it of shit—often with a net that may or may not work well, depending on the consistency of the poop. Of course, then they’d have to disinfect and vacuum the entire freaking pool, which was a serious workout.