Breathe with Me (With Me in Seattle, #7)(18)

“Uh, can we forgo the pissing contest, boys?” I ask dryly. “No need to worry, Jax. We got in early this morning.” I pin him with my best butt out, everything is fine glare and turn to the fridge to find what I need to make lunch. “We’re going to a movie later. Wanna go?”

“I’d love to, lollypop, but I have a date.” He grins and throws his magazine on the countertop, then leans back and crosses his arms.

“I haven’t got my Men’s Fitness in the mail yet,” Mark says and reaches for the magazine, but I put my hand up, halting all conversation.

“Wait. Back up. A date with who?”

“You don’t know him.” Jax shakes his head and starts to walk out of the kitchen, but I grip his T-shirt in my fist from behind, bringing him to a stop.

“Wait. I need details. I can’t just let you go out with some guy off the street.”

“I don’t think he’s homeless, Mer,” Jax replies sarcastically and Mark snickers.

“You know what I mean.”

“Leave it alone. If it turns into anything other than sex, I’ll tell you more.”

I cross my arms over my chest and glare at my friend. We always talk about who we’re dating. “Use condoms.”

“Always.” He winks and saunters out of the kitchen, then turns back abruptly. “Don’t forget, we have rehearsal for Starla’s piece Monday before class.”

“I won’t forget,” I reply and wave him off. “What did you whisper to him?”

“Guy stuff,” Mark replies and leans his hips against the granite countertop, watching me slice a tomato.

“You’re not going to tell me?”

“Nope.”

“Fine.” I roll my eyes and assemble our sandwiches. “Do you want some watermelon with yours?”

“Sure.”

We eat in silence, watching each other. When he swallows, his neck muscles flex, and I can’t help but want to lick him there.

I’m so gonna lick him there.

“What are you thinking?” he asks as he tilts his head to the side.

“Nothing.”

“You just blushed and blinked fast. You were thinking something.”

I lick my lips and then just smile and shrug. “I was thinking about licking your neck.”


He stops chewing and stares at me for a long minute, then swallows hard, like the food in his mouth is suddenly dry and tosses the rest of our lunch in the garbage.

“We need to get out of here.”

“Why?”

“Because I’m two seconds away from carrying you back to your room and saying f*ck the movie. Let’s go.” He holds his hand out for mine, and when our fingers lace, he leads me out of the apartment and down to his Jeep.

“What movie do you want to see?” he asks as he drives into downtown Seattle and finds parking.

“Hmm… something either funny or full of action.”

“No chick flicks?” he asks in surprise.

“No way. Nothing mushy.”

“You’re my kind of girl.”

“I’m so glad to hear that,” I reply with a laugh and follow Mark into the movie theater. He buys our tickets for something called Waterfall.

“I’ve heard good things about this one! It’s the new action movie with Mark Wahlberg, right?”

“Yep,” he confirms. “Luke produced it.”

“He did? Holy shit, that’s cool.”

Mark smiles proudly and waits in line with me for some popcorn. “Do you still mix M&M’s in your popcorn?”

“Of course,” I reply.

We gather our snacks and choose seats toward the back of the theater.

“So Luke’s been producing for a while,” I comment casually and pour my plain M&M’s into the bucket of popcorn. “You used to bring me M&M’s to school every single day.”

Mark grins and steals one and pops it in his mouth. “I thought I was so clever, coming up with that play on our first initials.”

“You were clever,” I insist. “I thought it was incredibly romantic.”

“You were easy to please.”

“I was sixteen.” I shrug. “Tell me about Luke.”

“Yes, he’s been producing for a long time. He mostly recruits the lead actors and finds funding for the projects, so he can work mainly from home.”

“That’s awesome.” I shove some popcorn in my mouth.

“You’re such a lady,” he says with a laugh.

“It’s popcorn,” I say, but it comes out sounding more like it’sh pocorn. “I saw Luke’s Nightwalker movies.”

“Did you have his poster hanging on your wall too?”

“No, I was too old for that, and I’d already slept with his brother,” I reply without thinking then gasp and stare at Mark in horror. “I’m sorry.”

“No, I’m glad you didn’t have his poster on your wall, and that you’d already slept with me.”

I laugh and shake my head. “I still have no filter around you. What is that all about?”

“I like it that way.” He leans in just as the previews start. “We don’t have secrets, M.”