Her smile softens, and she relaxes deeper against me. “I know that, too.”
I grab her hair and pull it over her shoulder and up to my face. I breathe in deep.
A smirk curves her lips when I pull the hair away.
“Did you just sniff my hair?” she asks playfully.
I chuckle. “I love the smell of your hair. I love the smell of you.”
She’s so fucking adorable when she wrinkles her nose. “What do I smell like?”
“A field of wildflowers and sunshine.”
Her mouth opens on a rushed inhale of air. The smile she gives me is breathtaking. She’s entirely way too beautiful to resist, so I lean forward and settle my lips against hers. Her mouth is just as sweet as the rest of her.
She wiggles on my lap and one of her hands clutches my shirt, as if she’s trying to bring us closer. My cock stiffens in my jeans, and I have no doubt she can feel it. My hand travels under her shirt until I reach her silk-covered breast. I tweak her nipple through the soft fabric and swallow her moans.
We make out for a while before I rip my mouth from hers. I want to devour her whole, but know it’s not in the cards tonight. I won’t take the chance of Aria waking up and finding us in a situation she shouldn’t.
I rest my forehead in the crook of her neck, trying my best to calm the raging need in my body. From the rapid beat of the pulse in her neck, I know Jules is fighting the same need. I smile, pleased as fucking punch that she wants me just as strongly.
After several moments, both of our breathing is back to normal. My cock is still a steel pole in my jeans, and I know I’ll be jacking off in the shower later, but my hormones are now in check.
When I pull back and look into Jules’s eyes, my resolve almost crumples to dust.
“You better go to bed before I don’t give a shit about anything but taking you.”
The smirk is back, and Jesus fucking Christ, it does nothing to help my current situation.
“Good night,” she whispers before dipping in for another kiss, this one not so passionate, but still just as good.
“Good night.”
“I’ll see you in the morning.” Another torturous kiss.
“Mmm… hmm,” I mumble against her lips.
“Sweet dreams.”
She licks her lips only inches away from mine, and a growl leaves my throat.
“Sweet dreams.”
“I wish you were sleeping with me.”
Fuck me, but I do, too.
Her ass wiggles more, and I groan deeply.
“Jules….” My tone is a warning.
She giggles and gets up from my lap. “I’m going. I’m going.” Before she walks away, she bends for one more kiss, and my will cracks wide fucking open. I reach for her, but she’s too quick and is out of my reach in a flash.
Her laughter is soft, but I hear it all the way down the hall. I throw my head back against the couch and close my eyes.
The term “she drives me crazy” doesn’t even come close to what Jules does to me. She completely unmans me, but at the same time makes me feel more like a man than I’ve ever felt before.
CHAPTER TWENTY-NINE
Jules
I SIT IN THE DOCTOR’S office parking lot in Luca’s truck, having just finished my appointment. He left it for me to use while he drove his motorcycle. I had seen the tarp covering a large mound in the far corner of the garage, but never put two and two together that it was a motorcycle. Now that I’ve seen the big black machine, I can totally imagine him riding it. I plan to ask him to take me for a ride this weekend.
Dr. Leverton said everything was fine, although he did say he’d like me to reconsider therapy. Just as the doctor at the hospital did, he made sure to let me know of the chances of it not working, but he seemed very optimistic. I gave him a noncommittal answer and just said I’d think about it. As I told Luca last night, I’m not so sure I want those memories back. I do, but I don’t just as much. I’m scared what they’ll do to me.
My decision on whether or not to try therapy gets overrun by another choice I need to make. I chew my thumbnail and tap my foot on the floorboard as I contemplate what I should do.
Luca took Aria to school this morning then left for work after lunch. Having Aria around made the ache to see my sister more pronounced. It gets worse every day that I don’t see my family, but more so with Teresa.
With a fierce need, I went in search of my locket that has her picture on one side. The other side is blank, but it feels like there should be something there. After searching through all my bags with no success, I remembered taking it off a couple of nights before Luca came and got me, but I can’t recall where I placed it.
And therein lies my dilemma. Should I go get the locket?
Luca said he was stopping by after work to grab Mr. Waffles, but I would hate to ask him to search for the locket when I can’t remember where it is. If I go get it myself, I could grab Mr. Waffles and have it with me when I pick Aria up from school. I know the stuffed giraffe is one of her favorites and will lift up her spirits.
I have no doubt Luca would flat-out refuse for me to go to Theo’s house alone, and I don’t want to myself, but I’m already out, and I know he’ll be tired after working so late. If we waited for Luca to get Mr. Waffles, it would mean Aria wouldn’t have him until tomorrow because she’ll be in bed by the time he gets home. Luca has done so much for me already. If I can lighten his load even just a little, I want to. Besides, one of Theo’s neighbors that Luca is friends with said he hasn’t been home since the falling out. The chances of him being there today are pretty slim, and I’ll only be there for maybe five minutes max.
Coming to my decision, I shoot Luca a message to let him know. He’ll probably be angry with me, but, well, he’ll just have to get over it. Seeing the look on Aria’s face when she sees Mr. Waffles will be worth his displeasure.
I don’t know the area that well, but thankfully, Luca showed me how to use the maps app on my phone. Once I have Theo’s address plugged into the app and the directions pop up, I start the truck and pull out of the parking lot.
It’s not long before I’m pulling into his driveway. I shut the truck off and just sit there a couple of minutes, gathering my nerve. Even though he’s not here, anxiety still grips me at going inside.
Only the strong need to see my sister’s face and the knowledge of how happy Aria will be gives me the courage to open the truck door. I look at the neighboring houses as I make my way up the walkway to the porch. My hands shake as I wipe away the leaves from the fake rock that holds the spare key.
The steps creaking as I walk up them does nothing to help my nerves. I feel like I shouldn’t be here, like I’m doing something wrong by going into his house. I guess according to the law it’s technically partially mine, but it still doesn’t feel right after everything that’s happened.
The house is quiet when I walk in the door. Not the normal silence, but the creepy kind that sends shivers down your spine and dread rushing through your veins.
Ignoring the eerie feeling, I close the door behind me. I take a moment to look around, and my eyes widen at the destruction of the living room. It looks like a madman has been in here. Couch cushions are ripped apart and thrown across the room, the end table is knocked over with the lamp smashed beside it, the screen on the TV’s been busted, and there’s trash all over the floor. A glance at the kitchen shows it in no better condition.
Suddenly feeling like this was a mistake, I quickly leave the room and walk down the hallway. I spot Mr. Waffles on Aria’s bed and snatch it up before going into the bathroom. The locket isn’t on the counter or in the cabinet.