He frowned. “Are you okay?”
No. Because if I accepted Carl’s offer, where would that leave us. I glanced up and met Dallas’ knowing gaze. Then, I looked at Dex and forced a smile. “I’m ready.”
He reached out and I slipped my hand in his, letting him help me up. “Hungry?”
I shook my head, brushed my hand over the back of my neck. “Sure,” I lied. Food was the last thing on my mind. “Actually, I’m kind of tired. Back to your place?”
Dex tilted his head, studied me for a long moment. But he didn’t question me. He simply said, “Okay.”
We said our goodbyes with hugs and promises to get together soon. And as we headed back to his house, I couldn’t shake the feeling that this latest development could make or break us.
* * *
Dexter
“Areyou going to let me in?”
Charlye jumped into my arms. “You’re here.” She wrapped her legs around my waist and peppered my face with kisses as I carried her inside her condo.
She’d been in Atlanta for the last week. It had only been seven days, but it felt like thirty. Since Miami, we’d spent most nights together. Being without her for even a day felt like an eternity. I backed her into the wall. “Miss me?”
She tugged my shirt off and brushed her lips over mine. “So much. Orgasm me.”
A smirk tugged at my lips. “As you wish.”
I swiveled and we fell back onto the couch, with her straddling my lap. I lifted her nightgown up and off as she unbuckled my belt. Sitting up, I brushed my thumb over one of her nipples before taking the other one in my mouth, sucking until she begged me never to stop. Flipping her over, I rested on top of her, feathered my finger over her cheek. “So beautiful.”
She beamed up at me. “You always say that.”
“Because it’s true.”
Charlye kissed me, pushing my jeans down and wrapped her fist around my dick. I rested my forehead on hers and thrust inside. “Because you’re mine,” I whispered as I made slow love to her. “Thisis mine.”
“Yes,” she moaned. “All yours.”
I could spend the rest of my life making love to her.Lovingher. Years of wanting her, of dreaming of her, had been nothing compared tobeingwith her in this way. I was lost in her, consumed by her. And it felt better than anything else I’d ever felt.
She cried out her release first, with my name on her lips. Then, I let go.
Moments later, we were seated on the couch, legs entwined as we shared a plate of leftover spaghetti. Charlye had successfully made the transition from burnt noodles to spaghetti artist in the years we were apart. And it was even better the next day.
“If I’d known you were coming, I would’ve cooked something else.”
I twisted my fork, wrapping a mound of noodles around it. “This is perfect.”
“How’s the book coming?”
The other day, we’d video chatted while I worked on my next book. The deadline for my full outline was fast approaching, but I had no doubt I would meet it. Just needed to tweak a few things. Spring was in the air and my family was gearing up for softball season. The last thing I wanted to do was be stuck in the house writing during opening day. “It’s going. I should be done next week, before our first game.”
“Oh good. I’ll be on the bleachers cheering you on.”
I chuckled. I’d tried to get Char to play a few games with us, only to be slapped with a hardno. “Sure you don’t want to join us?”
“Yeah, no. Y’all are not gon’ have me out there looking foolish.”
I tapped her nose. “You would never look foolish to me.” Her expression softened. I couldn’t quite put my finger on it, but I sensed she was sad.Regret? It wasn’t the first time she’d looked at me that way. Something had shifted between us at Bliss’ birthday celebration a few weeks ago. She opened her mouth like she wanted to talk to me, but instead of speaking, she averted her gaze. “Char?”
She looked at me then, tears swimming in her brown eyes. “I have something to tell you.”
