“What else are you thinking?” she asks, jabbing my ribs and gasping like she always does. My hard body always makes her come out with those little sounds when she touches me.
“I’m thinking, can a man really fall so hard for someone, just like that?” I ask, snapping my fingers loudly in front of us both, making her jump with a start before she nods her head in agreement.
“Even sooner, I’d say. I knew it the minute I saw you, before you even turned around,” she says boastfully.
“And I could sense you, before I even turned around,” I counter, proving my point that what we both know doesn’t need proving.
We’re made for each other. Heart and soul as well as our bodies.
Despite what Roxy might think, I need a woman who’s as solid as I am, someone I can toss around a bit and be tossed around by too.
She’s perfect. Beautiful. Strong and soft, all at the same time.
“You’re not really gonna throw another fight, are you?” she asks. Putting me on the spot making it feel like it’s really me asking the same question.
I don’t answer her. I can’t. I know she doesn’t want me fighting at all, but it’s the last time.
If I tell her one thing, I’ll have to tell her everything and she'll only worry more.
I’ll only worry more about her worrying… it’s a vicious circle.
I give her one of my steely glances and she rolls her eyes, “I know, I know… just trust you…” she says, mimicking what I guess is supposed to be my deep voice.
She makes me laugh, and I love her for that too. Having someone so close that I want physically, as well as being able to laugh with.
It’s priceless.
Worth throwing more than a fight and worth risking everything for.
I’m doing the right thing, I know I am. If she knew all the details, she’d tell me to do what I have to anyway…
Taking her hand in mine again and pressing it to my lips, I remind her and myself. “Just like when I decided I had to have you, that I had to claim you… I know what I need to do next. I can’t tell you everything right now, but I know you’ll support me, and that means everything,” I say honestly.
“I love you, Dillon, no matter what,” she says, a silver line appearing at the corner of each of her eyes.
“I love you more.” I assure her, and I kiss her like it’s my last, registering how it always feels like our very first kiss every time.
CHAPTER FIFTEEN
Roxy
“I’m gonna take a shower,” I tell Dillon, not wanting to tear myself away, but I just know he has things to do before his fight and I also know I’m his way of getting around for the rest of the day.
I hope.
“I am going with you, right?” I ask, trying to find something to cover myself up with, but giving up and watching his smile beaming up at me from the bed, pleased to see me totally naked and defenseless.
“I can’t let you out of my sight,” he says, but he does puff out air from his cheeks and roll his neck, like he’d rather not have me go along with him.
“I could just stay here,” I suggest, “But I’d worry myself to death…”
He huffs a dry laugh, agreeing with me. It’s ironic, but I don’t really want to go to another fight with Dillon in it either, but at the same time, I don’t feel like being apart from him.
Ever.
No matter the danger or consequences.
“I have some errands, but I can have you tag along. It’s safer that way. I know Marconi’s onto you now. Maybe both of us together… although I didn’t see anything last night or this morning.”
“Did you even sleep?” I ask and feel myself wanting to scold him when he just shrugs.
“How can I sleep? I’ve got the most beautiful woman in the world to pleasure and half the city’s mob priming themselves to cut me down.”
I frown, looking at my feet and Dillon realizes the effect of his words.
“Sorry, but it’s the truth. We’re both up to our necks, Roxy. I won’t lie to you.”
“Well… I’ll be in the shower,” I say.
Dillon smiles and I do too. It feels liberating to not be paranoid about how I look for once. When Dillon looks at me, he looks at all of me, and right into my eyes at the same time.
I know he loves what he sees, not just likes.
The feeling makes me float all the way to the shower, telling myself what he just gave me was what I’ve needed for so long. No wonder I’ve been flying off the handle all these years.
He’s the cure but he’s also my new disease. I just can’t get enough of him and I miss him as soon as I reach the bathroom.
I’m puzzled when Dillon doesn’t join me. I hope he doesn’t think I’ve gone nympho or anything, but I just thought it might be nice if we could share a shower together.
It feels like every second without Dillon is a relapse into my old way of thinking. I even start to stand differently in the shower, not wanting to expose parts of my body, not wanting to look at myself in the mirror when I get out. Crazy stuff like that.
I practically race to dry myself off and get dressed, changing into a fresh set of clothes in another room I was using as my own until last night, then I scoot back to Dillon.
Before I even get to the door, I can hear it. I can hear both of them. I push the crack in the door slowly, quietly exposing the pair of them, lying there on the bed for all to see.
Dillon and Baxter.
Fast asleep, both snoring.
How could you sleep, huh?
Beautiful woman to pleasure, eh?
I sigh quietly, mostly with relief and cover the pair of them with the
