“No. No pills.” She shakes her head. “I know you’re mad at me for coming back, but I couldn’t do it. I couldn’t go out into the world while knowing you were back here. I don’t have anything if I don’t have you in my life.”
“Lex, we can’t do this.”
“Yes, we can.” Her sweet breath fans over my mouth, and like a magnet I’m drawn straight to her. My hands roam to her hips, and I lift her onto the counter, her legs hooking around my waist. Dipping my head, I capture her mouth with mine, greedily taking whatever I can get of her.
“Why can’t I give you up?”
“Because you love me,” she whispers and kisses my palm.
I step away and shake my head. I take one look at her, and I know I am so damn fucked I need a new word for how gone I am for her. I must be crazy. My wife and daughter are right down the hall. Either of them could wake up at any moment and find us together.
“Go to bed. I’m gonna talk to your folks about you coming back home tomorrow.”
“I’m not going back. You can’t make me.”
“You can’t stay here.”
“You want me to go say the word.”
“You know that’s not what I meant.”
“Is it because of your wife?”
“Don’t go there.”
“Why? If you can’t be honest with me then who can you trust?”
“I trust you, Lex, it’s me I worry about. I can’t keep my hands off you, baby.”
She pops off the counter, padding barefoot across the room, quiet as a mouse. Circling her arms around my waist, she whispers, “I don’t want you to.” Her nipples rub against me, poking me through the thin fabric of her tank. I want nothing more than to strip her bare and kiss her all over.
I breathe her in, getting a whiff of her coconut scented shampoo.
“Get some sleep.”
“I don’t want to sleep.” Alexa’s dainty fingers slip inside the waistband of my boxer briefs. I grab her hand, preventing any further contact.
“Alexa,” Rochelle calls out.
“Go.” I move away from her.
Alexa nods and exits the kitchen. I grip the edge of the counter and let out a breath. I need a joint.
Out in the garage I fire one up. Then like the sorry bastard that I am I jerk off to thoughts of fucking Alexa bent over the hood of my wife’s car.
**
“I’m sorry, sir, but you can’t go in there. Dr. Neville is with a patient.”
I narrow my eyes on her. “Tell him James Thatcher is here to see him about his daughter.”
She finally looks at my cut and recognition dawns on the receptionist’s face. “Right away.” Her throat bobs, and she nearly trips over her own feet as she scurries down the hall.
A minute later the door opens, and the weasel shows his face. “You have no business coming here. We have nothing to discuss.”
“That’s where you’re wrong. Your daughter needs a place to live.”
“I no longer have a daughter.”
“No you don’t. Alexa is dead to you, but I’ll tell you what you’re going to do. You’re going to furnish an apartment to finish out the school year and supply her a car. And if you don’t not only will I make a call about the abuse she endured living under your roof, but I’ll also see to it you lose your license to practice.”
“You don’t scare me.”
“No?” I lift him by his throat and laugh as he struggles to free himself. “Don’t even think about it,” I warn the woman at the desk when she goes to pick up the phone.
I drop him.
He rubs at his neck. “Alexa won’t get a dime from me. Might as well pass her around at your clubhouse, but to be honest I doubt she’d be worth the trouble.”
I lean in close. “If I were you, I’d sleep armed and with one eye open. If I see you even look in her direction, I’ll buttfuck your world so hard you’ll beg me to end your meaningless life.”
The worthless asshole pisses himself.
“I’ll see myself out.”
I’m almost out the door when he calls out, “Wait.” I turn back, and he cowers under my stare. “Let me write a check.”
“No. You lost your chance to do the right thing.”
“What do you mean?”
“Alexa doesn’t need you to take care of her. I’ve got her covered.”
“You come back, and I’ll press charges for assault.”
“Right. One eye open.” I slap his shoulder then depart.
Chapter Fourteen
“What’s up with you?”
I shrug at Rochelle. “I don’t know what you mean.”
She taps her finger against her chin. “Hmmm. You seem...I don’t know happy.”
“You say it like that’s a bad thing.”
“It’s not, but there’s something different about you. I don’t know. You’re kind of glowing.”
“Glowing?” I shove her shoulder and she giggle snorts.
“Yes. I can’t explain it.”
“I mean I’m living away from my folks. I’m working on getting my grades back up after all the time I missed when I was gone.”
“Does this mean you get to graduate?”
“I get to graduate if I can stay on track and don’t miss anymore school.”
“Dude. That’s amazeballs.”
“Who says amazeballs?” I make a face and grab another slice of pizza.
“I do. It’s a popular phrase.”
“Whatever you say.”
“Colter doesn’t complain.” She grins.
“I bet he doesn’t. Are you guys official now?”
“Yeah... I think so.”
“You think?”
“I mean I know he isn’t dating anyone else and he calls me his girl.”
“I’m glad you guys finally got together. I was getting sick of you two making puppy dog eyes at one another.”
Her eyes roll. “We do not do that.”
“You so do but it’s sweet. You guys are super cute together.”
“We are, aren’t we?” I nod. “When are you going to start dating again? Colter said Tanner thinks you’re hot.”
“I’m seeing someone.”
“Since when? And why do I, your best friend in the entire world not know about this?”
“He’s older so we have to be careful.” I bite into my
