That earned her a smile.

“As soon as we’re outta this car, I’m gonna be on you. Now, get back to the book.”

She murmured, “Yes, sir.”

CHAPTER THIRTEEN

DEACON unloaded everything—including his own luggage since he planned on spending the night with her—from Molly’s car onto the sidewalk in front of her apartment building. Then he curled his hand around the back of her neck and brought them face-to-face.

“Don’t even think about hauling all this shit upstairs by yourself, understand?”

Molly briefly berated herself for liking his bossy behavior before she let it go. She flattened her palm on his chest. “Will you punish me if I disobey you?”

Those pale blue eyes flared with heat.

Intrigued by his response, she closed the distance between their mouths. Keeping their eyes locked, she brushed her lips across his. “Will you spank me? Or tie me up? Like Colin did to Caitlin?”

“Maybe I’ll not touch you at all.”

She couldn’t help but laugh.

Deacon’s lips twitched. “Yeah, pretty much an idle threat, because you know I can’t keep my hands off you, babe.” He kissed her hard and slapped her ass. “But I’m not kiddin’ about you taking that stuff up without my help.”

“Gotcha.”

Immediately after Deacon turned the corner toward the parking area, the front door to the apartment complex opened and Molly’s friend Nina walked out.

Nina seemed startled to see her. “Hey.” She eyed the pile of luggage. “Going somewhere fun, I hope?”

“No. Just getting back from my grandma’s funeral.”

She crossed over and hugged Molly. “Damn. I’m sorry.”

“It wasn’t . . . unexpected, I guess.”

“Still. It’s gotta be hard.”

Molly didn’t know what to say to that. She’d better have a stock answer ready, since Nina likely wouldn’t be the only one to express concern for her mental well-being.

“Anyway. It’s good to see you.”

“You’re on your way to work?” Nina wore bright blue scrubs with images of grumpy cats.

“Yeah, but I can take a minute and help you carry this stuff up to your apartment.”

“Thanks, but my boyfriend is parking the car. He’ll help me.”

Nina smiled. “Boyfriend, huh? Is that why I haven’t seen much of you?”

“Partially. It’s also been crazy at work.”

“I feel you there. But I miss hanging out with you. We always managed to find trouble somewhere.”

“That we did. So what about you? How’s the hospital?”

“The ER is always busy. I’ve been working tons of OT since we’re short staffed.”

“Any new guys in Nina’s love life?”

Nina shook her head. “All the men I’ve run into lately are douche nozzles. Even a fast fuck hasn’t been worth the hassle.” She sucked in a quick breath. “But I’d make an exception for the badass dude strolling up the sidewalk.”

“Nina—”

“Don’t be scared, but there is an extremely dangerous-looking hottie moving toward us.”

Before Molly could respond, Deacon’s hands landed on her hips and he planted a hot kiss on the side of her neck. “Hey, babe.”

Deacon’s show of possession thrilled her to her toes.

“Nina, this is my boyfriend, Deacon. Deacon, this is my next-door neighbor, Nina.”

“It’s great to meet you,” Nina said with a grin. “You have excellent taste in girlfriends.”

“That I do.”

Nina’s gaze kept zooming between them. “Well, I hope we can catch up soon, Molly.”

“We will. I promise.”

As they watched her walk away, Deacon put his mouth on Molly’s ear. “I hope her bedroom wall isn’t on the other side of yours.”

“Plan on banging my headboard loud enough that it’ll scare the neighbors?”

“Oh yeah.” His breath teased her ear, sending chills down the right side of her body. He released her and loaded himself up like a pack mule, leaving Molly with just her roller bag.

“Show-off.”

Molly was surprised Mr. Cardio didn’t insist they hoof it up the three flights of stairs but allowed them to take the elevator. Her apartment complex tended to be quiet since the majority of the residents were students. But tonight the silence felt stifling, as if the floor were deserted. And it didn’t help that Deacon was breathing down her neck as she cranked her keys into the door locks. “Stop crowding me.”