“Yeah?” He glared at her, a familiar sight that turned her on all over again. “I’m thinking that next time you need a little more discipline. Some added punishment for being such a brat.”
A next time. She wanted to clap with glee. Who said blonds were dumb? Maggie had finagled another sexual encounter with Mac without asking for one or looking vulnerable. Instead, she’d let his pride work in her favor. He’d make her pay, she was sure, but man, she couldn’t wait.
She swallowed her satisfaction and finished dressing in her scrub clothes, what she normally wore when working in her makeshift studio. “Punish away if it makes you feel better, Mac.”
He snarled something before leaving her bedroom and slamming out the front door.
Game set and match. Maggie laughed out loud before making herself some coffee. She hummed a Christmas carol under her breath and thought about getting a tree. Her good mood lasted throughout the weekend and into the next week.
Two days later, Mac still had no idea where he’d gone wrong. He’d controlled the woman, had put her through her paces, and had the best damn orgasms of his life. She’d come hard too, had drenched him with her release and fallen asleep in his arms. A total girlfriend move that had freaked him out when he’d woken… until he’d felt her ass against his cock and had incredible morning sex.
So for her to dismiss him so casually, to have the nerve to accuse him of being “quick on the draw,” made no sense that he could understand. No one criticized his technique. Not since Mrs. O’Leary had shown him how to pleasure a woman, her graduation gift to the newly enlisted Marine, had Mac ever been close to being sexually lacking. And even then, Mrs. O’Leary had praised him for his enthusiasm.
“That little witch.” The hell of it was, he still wanted to paddle Maggie’s ass, then fuck her until she cried out his name. Somehow, she’d turned his dread of the morning after into a promise to be back for more, and all while insulting his pride and stamina in the same breath.
“Jesus, Mary, and Joseph. It’s seven in the morning!” his uncle roared as he stumbled into the kitchen and ripped the plug of the coffee grinder out of the wall.
“Yo, Ian. I told you I needed to take the car in this morning.” Mac plugged the grinder back in and finished grinding the beans. Then he started the coffee pot and brooded.
“I thought you meant later in the day.” Ian frowned. “So the invite to spend the night wasn’t for some early morning bonding. Thank God.”
Mac thought it funny people often thought of them as father and son. Especially since Mac took after him, or so he’d been told. Ian looked years younger than fifty-five. He lifted and ran like a maniac, a former Marine and proud of it. Like Mac, he took stock in action, not words. Ian had never hurt for female companionship, Julie’s betrayal notwithstanding. Mac loved the arrogant bastard, and he’d never forgotten how Ian had changed his life to take in his wayward nephew.
But Mac still liked aggravating the man. “Sorry, Uncle Ian. I forget you old people need your rest.”
“Fuck off.” Ian grumbled as he slammed through cupboards before finding a mug. He interrupted the coffee flow to pour himself a cup, then sat down and glared at Mac. “So where were you Friday night? You still haven’t said. Geo and I had planned on pizza night.”
“I had a date.” With the most annoying woman to walk the face of the planet. But that ass... Shit. He wanted another shot at her. At it—her ass. Just a body part. Lusting after Maggie didn’t mean he thought of the blond as more than a sexual companion.
“Well?”
“Well what?” Mac asked, irritated with the third degree.
Ian’s eyes narrowed. “Don’t get that tone with me.”
“Hey, you told me fuck off.”
“I raised you. I can tell you to eat shit, and you should say, ‘Yes, Sir,’ and get busy spooning it up.”
Mac grimaced. “Please. I haven’t eaten breakfast yet.”
“Pussy.”
Mac grinned. “Nice mouth.”
“Yeah, yeah.” Ian guzzled his coffee. “So who’s the lucky lady?”
“Some chick. No one special.” He didn’t want his uncle nosing into his affairs. The big mouth had taken to training Geo, Shane’s younger brother, who had a huge crush on Maggie as it was. Geo would find out about Mac and Maggie, and he’d no doubt tell Shane Mac was “boning” her. Then Shane would pressure Mac to go easy on her tender sensibilities while pulling him into romantic double dates and couples crap.
Mac should go easy? Hadn’t he told Shelby Maggie might be the one to break his heart? Not that he had a heart to break, but she’d kicked his ass out after he’d given the woman orgasms. Who the hell did she think she was?
“Oh yeah. Woman problems.” Ian chuckled. “The silence is telling. I’d like to meet this one.”
“She’s nobody. Now how about you get your senile ass into the shower so I can get a ride to the gym? And hey, make a decision, would you? Are you in or out? You want me running the gym or not, because I need to make plans.”
Mac itched to move on. He’d been working at the gym, in limbo for the past two years, while his knee recovered and he settled into civilian life. No longer a part of the Corps, he nevertheless felt a need to surround himself with discipline and order. He’d been filling his uncle’s shoes at Jameson Gym while Ian resolved some investments and business decisions. But Mac was tired of waiting on his life. Being dissed by Maggie only made it worse. He’d waited on her ass long enough. Now he planned on showing her how to behave with her master. Time to take back control of everything.
Ian sighed. “Boy, I’m not sure of anything. I finished up with New York. I’m officially consolidated. But the gym… You’re doing a fine job. Why not keep on as you’ve been?”
“So you can putter around on vacation while I do all the hard work?” Mac snorted, well aware of his uncle’s antics. “Please. You’re paying me less than a temp’s wages, and I’m not even getting vacation time.”
“You’re getting pussy,” Ian said bluntly. “You should be thanking me.”
“Nice.” He scowled. Maggie was more than pussy. Aggravating, cute, sweet, and demonic. A woman with issues, because no one ever told Mac to leave. It was always the other way around. Always. Without fail. Until now.
“Anyway,” Ian continued. “After I drop you off today, I have plans. So you’ll need to get a ride home.”
Mac sighed. “I guess we’re done talking about my future. I’ll just keep trudging away while my family takes advantage.”
Instead of feeling bad, Ian stood and slapped him on the back hard enough to make him choke. The bastard had a mean right, and he’d never been intimidated by Mac. “Good boy. Now make me some eggs while I shower. And don’t burn them.”
After Ian left, Mac swore as he slaved over the stove. Ian wouldn’t appreciate the touch of curry or hint of parmesan in the eggs. He wouldn’t thank Mac for the added bacon and toast. An image of Maggie moaning over Mac’s stir fry suddenly came to mind.
“Maybe I should cook for her again before I spank the crap out of her. Quick on the draw my ass.” He slammed a few pans together while he finished his uncle’s breakfast, determined to show the woman who was boss, once and for all.
Ian watched his nephew banging pots with fascination. Definitely woman problems. Geo had been picking his brain Friday night. The high school senior had a bright future ahead of him. The boy was popular with the ladies, had a few leads on football scholarships and a giant brain to match his ego. A great kid who reminded Ian a lot of Mac. Or the way Mac used to be.