Page 11 of Inked Nights

He stood on Austin’s side of the yard, not going onto her property. He didn’t want to come near her if she didn’t want him there, so he was being damn careful not to encroach.

“I am. I know it’s weird and not what either of us said we’d do, but I was at work, and the subject of you came up. And, well, apparently Austin knew you. Small world, right?”

She didn’t say anything, but her breathing quickened. It took all of his power not to look at the rise and fall of her generous breasts because he was, well…him, and he liked the look of her. But he also didn’t want her to kick him out of her line of sight and call the cops. Not that she would, but still.

“I asked Austin if I could come over and talk to you. I didn’t ask for your number since it wasn’t Austin’s to give. And I’m still on Austin’s property, so I’m not on yours making you feel uncomfortable. Too much. Or at least I’m trying not to. If you want me to go, I will. But I want to talk to you, O. Let me talk to you.”

She was quiet for so long that he was afraid he’d fucked up and feared she’d run. Since she’d already done that and he didn’t know why, he just stood there, his hands by his sides as he tried to look non-threatening. He was a big man with a beard, longish hair, and tattoos, so that wasn’t the easiest thing for him to do.

“I can’t believe you’re here.”

“I can’t believe you’re Austin’s neighbor. But it must be for a reason, right?”

Her face shut down, and she bit her lip. “Not everything connected is for a good reason, D—Derek.”

He didn’t know what she meant by that, but she stood up and rested her hands on her hips.

“We won’t do anything you don’t want to do. I promise.”

She met his eyes and gave him a slight nod. He didn’t know why the overwhelming rush of relief slammed into him, but he was damn happy that she was giving him a chance. He didn’t know what he wanted from her or himself for that matter, but he knew if he walked away, it would be over.

And he didn’t want it to be over.

Whatever it was.

“I guess you should come in.” She was silent for a moment as if she were collecting her thoughts, and hell, he was doing the same. “There are things we should talk about.”

He gave her a tight nod and took a step across the invisible boundary line that separated Austin’s and Olivia’s properties. Austin had already gone inside his house when Derek had moved away without a word—he’d heard the door close behind him. Austin would understand the need for privacy more than most, though the man was probably ready to come out if Olivia needed help. Hell, Austin might be Derek’s friend, but Derek didn’t mind that Austin would be on Olivia’s side—if there were even sides in this case. After all, Derek would do the same.

Derek watched her move as he followed her into her home. He still couldn’t quite believe how things had all worked out, and he had a feeling that this was only the beginning. He wished he knew what he wanted, but all he knew for sure was that he didn’t want what they had to end. He’d talk to her, see what she had to say, and inquire if she wanted to meet again next month. He wouldn’t pressure her, wouldn’t push her into an uncomfortable situation, but he knew that what they had was too good to let go so easily.

They were more than just one night a month, that much he knew. How much more, however, was something they would have to figure out together. That was, if she let him back into her life, even if for a single night a month again.

When she closed the door behind him, he glanced around her home, trying to get a sense of who this Olivia was. He hadn’t even known her full first name until their last night together, and though he’d always known that was what they’d promised themselves and each other, part of him had wanted more. He’d thought he knew more about her than he did because of how close they were when they were together for their one night a month. He’d learned every part of her—every deep intake of breath, every curve, every soft touch—yet that hadn’t been enough. And while he liked the way she smiled, the way she made him laugh, the way she held nothing back except for who they were when they were together, he didn’t know anything else about her.

And the thought that he might never see her again had just brought the idea to him that he needed more of her, needed more than a single night.

He needed her.

Hell, that might be too much for even him so quickly, but he’d told himself that he just needed to see her again so he could figure out what the hell he was going to do. He was turning himself into knots as he circled around what the hell his brain and heart wanted, and yet he wasn’t accomplishing anything.

Derek wasn’t an asshole, and it was about time he started acting like the man he was when he was around her. His O, his Olivia.

Her home was decent-sized, not as big as Austin’s since the other man’s house was a little farther back off the road with a longer driveway so he had more room to build, but Olivia’s house seemed to suit her—at least the parts of her he knew and the pieces of the home he saw. She had light colors on the walls and light rugs over dark, hardwood floors. Everything looked to be in place and dusted, as if she took care of what she owned and didn’t have children or a pet to knock things over.

He didn’t even know if she had a kid or a pet. How could he not know those things? He knew she wasn’t married only because that was one of their agreements when they’d first started their arrangement. Neither of them wanted to end up being a cheater, so they’d laid out the fact that they weren’t married early on.

None of the photos on the walls featured men, and Austin had even said that Olivia lived alone, so that much about her was true.

But what else had he been missing when he was burying his head in the sand and the feeling of just being with her?

“This is weird,” Olivia said under her breath, and he turned to look at her. She had her hands folded in front of her, her eyes wide. Her teeth kept biting into those lips that he loved to nibble on himself.

He stuck his hands into the pockets of his jeans and rocked back on his heels. “Yeah, I guess it is. I’ve never seen you without a slinky dress on.”

She grinned. “As I’m currently wearing yoga pants and no makeup, it makes up a different picture altogether, doesn’t it?”

Since he liked seeing the shape of her ass and thighs in those yoga pants, he wasn’t going to complain. “You look sexy no matter what you wear. Not going to lie about that. And I like you with and without makeup. I’m not one of those guys who’s going to say which one he prefers since it’s not about what I like, it’s about what you like. Plus, you’re beyond beautiful either way.”