The line went dead and Denis lightly rubbed circles on his temples. After a couple minutes he picked up his cell phone and sent Cherry a text, *Might need your help on a case. No pressure. Let’s discuss soon?*
A few minutes later he got a response, *Be at your place by 8 2nite*
The shorthand text made him grin. He knew it killed Cherry to be less than a hundred percent correct in his communications, so he had to be on the road.
“One more endearing trait for my guy.”
“When do I get to meet this man who is so endearing?”
Denis looked at the woman in the doorway. “Mother, I didn’t hear Carole announce you.”
Carole appeared over his mother’s shoulder. “I didn’t. She beat me to the door.”
His mother turned around, hard eyes narrowing as she stared at Carole. “I don’t need announcing.” She tipped her head to the side. “What do you know about Denis’ endearing guy?”
Carole lifted her chin. “More than you do, apparently.”
“Ladies, please. Don’t fight. Not today. Leave that for the family reunion.”
Carole shook her head but his mother turned to look at him. “We don’t fight.”
“You literally were just fighting.” He rose from his desk chair and crossed the width of the room. “Hello, Mother.”
Carole snorted, “Mother. That’s a riot. I’ve mothered you more than Carlotta here.”
“Just because you’re my twin doesn’t mean I want to share my child with you.” His mother scowled, the expression enhancing the wrinkles on her face telling everyone that was a standard look. “Get your own. Denis is mine.”
“Denis is mine, actually.” Cherry’s voice came from just outside the room.
His mother and Carole whirled around so fast, Denis started laughing.
“Cherry, I’d like to introduce my mother Carlotta, and her twin who is also the heart of my practice, my Aunt Carole. Ladies.” Denis pushed past them and into the hallway. He pulled Cherry in for a quick kiss, then turned to look at the two women, both with their mouths open. “This is my Guy.”
***
Cherry
He nearly laughed, but held in the amusement because both women looked like someone to take offense easily. He didn’t want his introduction to them to go sideways because they both looked like a cat had pissed in their favorite pair of shoes.
He took the more peaceful route, with a “Ladies, good to meet you.” His arm went around Denis’ waist, and he gave a squeeze, receiving one in return. “Denis, I believe we had some business to deal with?” Lifting one eyebrow, he looked up at Denis, waiting for a cue of how things were going to go.
Denis swooped down and stole another quick kiss. “Yes, we have so much business to deal with.” He didn’t quite grind on Cherry’s leg, but it was a close movement. “So much.”
“Carlotta, why don’t you and I go have a cup of coffee. You can catch me up on the family news.” Carole turned the woman and bustled them both up the hallway to the elevator. Cherry lost sight of them when Denis pulled him backwards into his office.
“I didn’t know Carole was your aunt.” He lifted his chin in a clear demand that Denis met with a slower, deeper kiss. “I don’t want to talk about your female relatives right now, though.” Another kiss, this more demanding, Denis’ tongue lashing across the seam of Cherry’s lips and he opened invitingly.
This kiss stole all thoughts as Cherry followed Denis’ lead. They wound up sprawled across a loveseat, Denis pulling Cherry down on top of him. Now there was most definitely a crotch grinding on his leg, and he groaned.
“Gonna make me come just like this.”
Arms locked around Cherry’s neck, holding him in place. The kiss deepened again, growing more erotic as Denis alternated teeth and tongue to steal Cherry’s sensibility.
“Denis, I’m gonna come.”
“Me too, baby. Me too.”
“The door is still open.” He broke the kiss and looked over his shoulder to see the door slowly closing. Carole and Carlotta both were peering around the edge of the door. “Goddamn, Denis.”
