Tears roll down her beautiful face as she turns away and places her sketchpad back onto the desk.
My dick immediately deflates. I step forward and go to her, wrapping her up in my arms. Despite my nakedness, she leans back against my chest—and dick—shoulders trembling as she silently cries.
I press my lips into the crook of her neck and drag my hands up and down her trembling arms while she fights to regain her composure.
“W-What’s her name?” she asks between sobs, still leaning heavily against my bare chest.
“Mimi, don’t. Don’t do this.” I kiss her neck again, but she shrugs my lips off.
So I move my lips to her ear instead, brushing her hair aside with my chin. “Stephania,” I whisper, giving in to what she needs to hear.
“Mm, that’s so pretty.”
Her body relaxes under my gentle caress, shoulders dropping as the tension lessens. She turns around in my arms. “My daughter’s name is Emilee.”
Those beautiful mismatched eyes hold mine hostage as we share a brief acknowledgment of the truth; neither of us wanting to give voice to our deception, so we remain… silent.
A loud shrillfrom my phone has me bolting upright, banging my head against the headboard in the process, releasing me from my disturbing thoughts and thankfully breaking the silence.
With jittery hands bouncing across the mattress, I go in search of my damn cell. I find it tucked underneath the pillow.
“Hello…” I groan, clearing my throat.
“Gabriel?” My boyfriend’s sweet voice comes rushing across the line. “Is everything alright?” His voice is thick with sleep, but I don’t care.
“It is now, sweetheart.” I exhale. “Just missed you.” A quick glance at the clock tells me it’s 2:23 a.m. For heaven’s sake, I need to get some sleep. I comb my fingers through my unruly hair, brushing it away from my face.
“Would you like to come over?” He yawns.
I’m already up, reaching for a shirt. “Can I? I promise to fuck you really good.”
“Gabriel…” he whines.
I chuckle as I slip into some joggers. “Okay, okay. Settle down. I’m joking. I just really want to cum…OVER,” I emphasize. “I just want to come over.”
He giggles, and my heart leaps with joy. He’s so damn cute.
“The door’s unlocked,” he tells me through a smile.
I always know when he’s smiling. There’s an actualsoundto his smiles.
“I’ll be there in two,” I say, pocketing my phone, already reaching for the elevator’s print pad.
35
ELIJAH
“I feellike I got hit by a truck,” Alex mutters, swallowing two pain-reliever gelcaps dry.
The red gash in his cheek is even more prominent than before, but it doesn’t take away from his sex appeal—in fact, it somehow amplifies it.
Teya sets down a platter of scrambled eggs, biscuits and bacon, then takes a seat beside her brother. Her hands tremble as she reaches for a fork.
She’s gearing up to say something.
To tell him.
But she’s struggling, and I know it’s not my place, but I can’t sit here and do nothing.
