Maureen told Phoebe, “Check your call log?”
“I can’t, Bruno said he erased it before I had a chance to see anything.”
“Fuck!” Hya’s show of disappointment earned her the eyes of the patrons around them.
“We should wrap this up before we’re bailing Hya outta jail,” Millie said before shushing Hya.
Arissa took a long sip of her wine. “You said you didn’t want to do this, didn’t want to get hurt. The last time you walked away, you weren’t the one who got hurt. You got a little hurt coming your way to even that shit out. But beyond any of it, something is off. I love Hank. Never felt what I’m feeling before, know I never will again, but I don’t want to be the consolation prize. He never got closure with you because he doesn’t know the real reason you left. He deserves to know.” Arissa lifted her glass again, took another sip. “And as painful as it is to admit, you deserve it too. In your shoes, with a man like that, I’d hope someone would give me a second chance. We both stand to lose. I’m not asking you to do anything I’m not prepared to face myself. In the end, I think we both want the same thing and that’s for Hank to be happy. So…” Arissa put her glass down. “Are you in?”
“I’m in,” Phoebe said without any hesitation. She had a chance to win back the love of her life, not something people get a chance to do in life. Of course she was in.
“A ladies agreement, hot damn,” Hya shouted, earning her more looks from those around them. This time, the concierge started over.
“Time to go,” she said, and stood.
As the ladies stood one by one, Millie threw money on the table. Maureen rushed her before the man approached them. Phoebe turned to Arissa. “I can be there tomorrow morning.”
Arissa’s heart sank at how eager Phoebe was, but then in her shoes, she’d have left for Summerville right then and there. It was either the beginning of the end, or the end of the beginning. She inhaled, and let it out slowly. “Okay, tomorrow.”
“This is like one of those smutty romance novels Hya reads,” Maureen hooted as they all moved out the door. “I can’t wait to see how it ends.”
15
Hank grabbed the back of Arissa’s cutoffs causing her steps to halt. Pulling her back flush against his chest, Hank bent and brought his mouth to her ear while raising his other hand and cupping her breast. “My girl was on fire last night.”
Arissa sunk into him, giving in to the warmth coursing through her body. She gave a guttural moan when Hank’s thumb rubbed her nipple through the thin material of her tank top and bra.
Hank was rubbing his cock against her as he kissed her neck. There was no doubt that last night Arissa was making up for their lost one. She rode him hard then sucked him off in the shower, only for him to wake up with her pussy in his face and her mouth on his cock… again.
“Pretty sure you’ve sucked and fucked me dry, Baby, but I’m willing to try,” Hank whispered, and let the back of her shorts go so he could palm her other breast.
Her head fell back against his chest, a moan moved up her throat. She wanted so much to see if Hank had anything left to give, but Phoebe was due any minute. And she had yet to share, or better yet warn him what was in store. “Honey, I told you I need to talk to you.” Arissa said breathlessly because she loved what he was doing to her. Didn’t want him to stop. Ever.
“And I told you, we’ll talk later.” His hand glided down her front, fingers skimming along her stomach.
Right before his hand had a chance to dip into her shorts, Arissa moved. She turned and with a pleading look asked, “Please?”
Hank smiled at her. “Fine,” he said, moving into her and kissing her pouting lips. “Let’s talk.”
Now that she had his attention, how the hell did she start the conversation? She chewed on her nail, figured if they were outside in the serene environment when she shared the news, he might be less likely to scream at her. “Let’s go outside,” she suggested but didn’t wait, moving like she was on fire. She was pacing the deck when he appeared, two mugs of coffee in hand and a grin on his face. She stopped pacing and just looked at him because, God, she loved him. He reached her, handed her a mug but stole a kiss first. She didn’t take a drink because she didn’t want to lose his taste on her lips.
“So talk,” he said, leaning against the deck railing with his eyes on her.
“So the ladies and I went into Charleston yesterday.”
“Yeah, how was that?” Hank hadn’t gotten a chance to ask her about her day last night because she attacked him the minute he walked through the door. But a little chill ran down his spine. Did she want to move back to the city? At the thought, Hank choked out, “Nice being back?”
That caught her attention. “Actually, no. I mean Charleston is nice and all, but I didn’t miss it.” She started to pace again. “I mean, I don’t miss it.” She stopped pacing,
