“Nah, not since you’re all I think about whether we’re in the gym, at The Tropics or snuggled up in my bed.”
“Mmmm, now that sounds nice. The snuggled-up-in-bed part.” I cock my elbow and rest my head in my hand. “You’re the first person to ever make me feel safe.”
“You’re the first person to ever make me feel worthy of something good.”
“Not to sound like a bad Hallmark movie, but I guess you could say we complete each other.”
“Corny, but true.” Diesel rolls me under him. “And now, I’d like to complete you in another way.”
I narrow my eyes. “So soon?”
He hovers over me. “Baby girl, when I’m with you, my cock is in a constant state of pain and pleasure.”
“Well, I can’t have my man in pain.”
He fills me again, and my body responds, loving the scent, strength and overall presence of this magnificent man.
After falling into the deepest sleep I think I’ve ever experienced, I wake to the delicious smell of fresh-brewed coffee. Luckily, Diesel’s addiction to coffee mirrors mine. He even grinds special beans he finds at an outdoor market a few blocks away. Then he brews them in one of those coffee machines that costs as much as a new laptop.
I roll out of bed, throw on one of his t-shirts, inhale his scent and know everything is right with my world. I make my way down the short hallway, and stop short when I hear him on the phone. I refuse to make this mistake again, so I have two choices. Make my presence known or go back into the bedroom.
As I’m making this split-second decision, Diesel says, “I don’t care how you do it, I don’t want Martina to know about it.”
Why does he have to make doing the right thing so hard?
I turn toward the bedroom, and he follows it up with, “Yeah, that sounds good.” Then he says, “She’ll never know about it, and that’s how I wanna keep it.”
Silence on his end, then, “You do this for me, and I promise you something real special.”
Now I’m leaning against the wall for support as my mind spins with crazy scenarios.
“Whatever you do, don’t tell Martina. Just make sure this stays between you and me.”
The call ends, and I’m still plastered against the hallway wall. I can’t un-hear what I just heard, and I can’t admit to eavesdropping again, so I yawn loudly, then shout, “Wow, that coffee really smells good.”
“Hey, I didn’t know you were up.” He shoves the phone in his pocket.
That’s because I was hiding in the hallway.
He busies himself pouring me a mug of coffee. Does he seem nervous, or am I projecting?
He hands me the cup with a nervous smile, and I’m tempted to just spit out what I heard, but maybe I misunderstood. Maybe he’s not going to kick me to the curb again.
He finishes his cup of coffee, puts the mug in the sink, and his phone buzzes. He swipes at the screen, darts a look at me, then disconnects the call.
I cock my head, and he says, “Stupid spam calls.”
I call bullshit in my head but say nothing.
“I gotta go out for about a half hour.”
“Okay.”
He rushes out of the kitchen, and five minutes later, he returns dressed and heads for the door. “I won’t be long.”
The minute the door closes, I speed-dial Maxie, and the minute she answers, I say, “He’s breaking up with me again.”
“What?” I hear the rustling of sheets and realize she might still be in bed with Blood. “I’m sorry. Did I wake you?”
