A snarky comment almost pushed past my lips, but I refrained. Instead, I said, “If you all don’t mind, we’re going to leave.”
Tristian asked, “We are?”
“Yes. We have a lot to discuss.”
“Okay.”
We rose from our chairs and the peanut tried to get out of her booster seat. “Hey, you’re staying here tonight, remember?”
“Do I gotta?” Easton asked.
“Yep.”
“Don’t you want to?” Dad asked.
“I wanna go where Mr. Trishan Dad is.”
“Easton, tonight your mommy and Tristian need some grownup time. There’ll be plenty more time for you to spend with them.”
Her head hung as she said, “Oh-kayyy.” I knew that tone, but wasn’t falling for it.
“Give me a smoochie,” I said.
She tipped her face up so I could kiss her. “Can I get a smoochie from Mr. Trishan Dad too?”
He did his due diligence and put a smile on her face.
“Are you and Mommy gonna kissy-face tonight?”
“Kiddo, you might want to ask her that.”
Just when I was prepared to gloat over that question, the fucker threw me under the bus.
“Not tonight,” I said. “Behave for Boppy and Mimi, okay?”
“Okie-dokie.”
We finally broke free and walked back to my house. I rubbed my arms as we walked, thinking of what I was going to say.
“Are you cold? It’s a nice night for this time of year.”
“It is and I’m fine.” How was I going to handle this marriage thing? My belly was on fire. I shouldn’t have eaten so much for dinner.
I unlocked the front door and at that moment wished I lived miles away from my parents. My toe caught the threshold and I stumbled. Tristian grabbed my arm to steady me. When I gained my footing, I went to thank him, only he was close… too close and somehow we ended up kissing. Or rather he kissed me.
Heat exploded in my belly and I was helpless to deny him. And did I even want to? How long had it been since I’d been held like this? I didn’t count our other kisses. It was useless to pretend there was nothing between us when flames licked every inch of my skin. He deepened the kiss as I fisted his shirt and pulled him closer.
“I can stop. Just say the word.”
The word? What word? No wasn’t in my vocabulary at the moment. I kissed him back for an answer. He groaned into my mouth and it stirred me that much more. Should we go further? Yes, my body screamed. It had been denied a man’s attention for so long, I’d forgotten what it was like. Would I regret it? Maybe. Probably, but right now I didn’t give a damn.
My hand crept beneath his shirt and his firm muscles tensed. He broke off the kiss and dark, dark eyes that seemed to spark with silver stared back into mine. I didn’t stop but continued my quest. My other hand also joined in the exploration as his head dropped back and he sighed.
“Please tell me you’re not going to stop.”
A smile curved my mouth. “I’m not stopping.”
“One question first. Why the change of heart?”
What could I say? I needed to get laid? “You’re too hard to resist.” That was the truth.
“I’d say the same about you.” Then, to my surprise, he lifted me up and carried me to the couch. “I’d prefer being comfortable if we’re going to do this.”
“And what is this?”
“Huh-uh. I’m leaving that all up to you.”
“What if I said I wanted you to take the lead?” Being in charge might not be the best idea. But then again…
“Not a chance, Curly Q.”
“Curly Q?”
“Love your curls. What can I say?”
“Reminds me of an uncle my mom used to talk about. His name was Curly, only he was bald.”
“No worries about that on your part. Enough of this small talk.” His brow arched.
I didn’t have to wait for him to make his move. His palm flattened against my chest and I fell backward onto the soft cushions. Once his mouth landed on my neck, the shivers hit first, then the heat. Electricity zinged through me until I was feverish with desire.
I plowed my fingers through his hair, clenching it. Only he stopped, and I moaned.
“Tell me what you want.”
“I don’t want you to stop.”
“How much more do you want? Touching? Kissing? Or more?”
I sucked my lower lip into my mouth.
“English, I need an answer.”
“I want more.”
He stood as I gasped. Then he reached for me and lifted me up. “Where to, Curly Q?”
“So you’re a poet now?”
He waggled his brows and I chortled.
“You’re beautiful when you laugh.”
“Only when I laugh?”
“Begging for compliments?” He was standing, still holding me.
“No, but it would be extremely difficult to laugh all the time.”
“Point the way and I’ll demonstrate exactly how gorgeous I think you are.”
“Up the steps and to the left.”
He took them two at a time, pushed the door open and kicked it closed behind us. I landed on the bed with a whoosh as he whipped off his shirt. I ogled the glorious sight before me as pure strength and brawn rippled with each move. My breath wheezed as he popped open the button on his jeans and then unzipped them. He went commando and I gulped when his manhood sprang forth. Lord, was I dreaming? I pinched myself as he stalked toward the bed.
My ankles slid forward as he wrapped his fingers around them and dragged me to the side of the bed. Then he went for the waist of my jeans.
Oh, God, what underwear had I worn? I hadn’t expected to get naked in front of a man. Shit, shit, shit. When was the last time I’d shaved? I flinched when he tugged at my pants.
“You okay?”
“Y-yeah.” I relaxed when I saw the cute pair of pale pink cotton bikini undies. At least they were new and didn’t have holes or anything in them. When they disappeared, I sighed. I was reasonably smooth. My brain was foggy so I didn’t remember shaving recently. Thank you, God.
This time, my thighs were wrapped in his hands as he pulled me to the edge of the bed. Another gasp left me as he spread my legs wide. Butterflies invaded my stomach, making me wish I hadn’t eaten so much again.
“Hmm. Where to begin?”
“I, uh—”
“Shh. Close your eyes. I sense your anxiety.”
“Um, it’s been a while.”
“Don’t worry. I promise to pleasure you until you scream.”
“What?”
“Close your eyes.”
Pleasure me until I screamed? Stuart had never pleasured me. I’d had to do it myself when we were together. I wondered if Tristian really meant that.
Fingers tripped over my flesh as I closed my eyes. His touch was soft, and not aggressive. That was until he stopped. But holy hell, when his tongue licked me, it was divine. My back arched and I mewled, pushing myself closer.
“I’ll take that as a yes.”
His warm breath fanned me and then I was lost. Fingers, tongue, it was difficult to know which. My pussy jumped to life as my hands sought something to grab. Turned out to be his head. I thrashed and bucked, but he didn’t stop his ministrations. I raced toward my climax, but when I neared, he stopped.