“Can’t the police do that work?” Joey asks.
“They can, but they’re short-staffed and overloaded with new and old unsolved cases. My friend owes me a favor, and he’ll send me the list by tomorrow afternoon.”
José leans back in his chair with his arms crossed. He looks at Bobby and shakes his head. “Man, remind me not to ever fuck with you.” He stands and grabs his glass of water before lifting it. “Here’s to closure and justice for my big bro.”
Grabbing our glasses, we stand as one and toast.
“To closure and justice for Carlos,” we say in unison.
I look around the room, then at Bobby. He did this. For giving him my happiness in exchange for time with him and giving up control of my life in exchange for dominance once in the bedroom, he, in a way, has given me the strength to take back control of my life and live in happiness.
Like he said, happiness is important, and we should get it when and where we can.
36
EVER
It’s dark by the time we say our goodbyes.
“You’ll call the instant your buddy sends you the list, right?” Everyone has left except Bobby and me. Slate and Gage left ten minutes ago. They’re stopping at their grandmother’s house before driving back to Dumas.
I let Gage know I’ll be staying at Bobby’s project house. Slate said he’ll crash on his grandmother’s couch at the rental. What will happen when the house is finished? It is on track to finish early. That was Arie’s brothers’ promise to me when I told them about my bet with Bobby. They really want me to have my baby dogs.
Midnight, my landlord, was fine with me having the dogs when I ran it by him. Is this what my life with Bobby will be like once the house is done? I’ll live and raise the puppies in the rental with Gage, and Bobby is the absentee dog dad, coming over on weekends for visits?
Moving to Alexandria isn’t possible for me. Not with school and work. I love working at the bakery and for Ben. I can’t ask Bobby to move to Dumas when he’s needed to run a business in Alexandria.
“You’re overthinking, sweetheart. You know what happens when you overthink.”
I do, and we’ve already pushed my brother’s limit with our PDA during and after brunch. I nod and return my attention to the conversation, but my mind wanders.
If Bobby kisses me, I’ll melt in his arms and kiss him back, and we’ll delay getting to his truck. With our luck, with the heated glances he’s been giving me, and his warm hand on my thigh under the table, he’ll pull over somewhere dark and far from the road.
I am right. Bobby promises José and Ty he’ll call as soon as he hears from his friend or Detective Monroe.
With my hand in his, we wave to my brother and José and hurry to his truck. We make it halfway out of Montgomery before Bobby pulls off the road and parks in the backlot of a row of closed shops.
He unbuckles and then reaches for me. I’ve already unbuckled. He undresses me faster than he has before. I go for his belt buckle. Bobby stops me with a firm grasp on my chin.
“I’m in control.” He lets go, grabs my waist, and pulls me backward. My butt nestles in his crotch. A wave of desire hits me. I close my eyes and hum in the back of my throat.
“On your hands and knees, baby.”
I’m not fast enough. He pushes me forward. My head falls into my arms. Thick fingers dig into my sensitive flesh. Large hands tip my hips up. I’m on my hands and knees, ass up. He fists his hand in my hair.
“Fast and hard. It’s gotta be fast and hard before I take you nice and slow back at home, Ever.”
Home. I smile. I like the sound of that.
Bobby takes me fast and hard. My cries of pleasure are muffled in my arm.
“Come, beautiful.”
I break apart on his cock.
He pulls out of me. I know what’s next. Something dirty, but it feels so good that I haven’t experienced before until Bobby. I glance over my shoulder. He likes it when I watch him put his thickness inside me.
Bobby scoops up my pussy juices and uses it for lubrication. He slides one finger, then two, into my forbidden hole. I watch and moan. My insides tighten with anticipation. My sex throbs with need.
