“Don’t you try to make him some saint.”
I don’t mean to, but I laugh. “Well, in the past, the nuns said he was a good boy.”
“Tatum, I’m serious. You went to Detroit in a hard place. You needed to have closure for Gregory. Don’t let Angelo be your rebound.”
“He’s not a rebound.”
“Actually, let him be a rebound, then bring your ass home and live life with Detroit in your rearview mirror.”
Her words hurt. I know she doesn’t mean them to, but they do.
“I’m done explaining myself to you, Melanie. I’ll have the book to you soon, and I’ll be home soon enough. I found the closure I needed here in Detroit. As for Angelo, he’s off limits to you. Trust me to do what I need to do for myself.”
“I love you like a sister, Tatum.”
“Then support me.”
“Endlessly.”
This is why I love Melanie. She may not agree with the decisions I make, but she will always support me, and I her.
Once I end the call, I open my laptop and look at the screen. The curser blinks at me hatefully. I know I have to get these words, this story out, but this is more than a romance. This is more than a work of fiction.
Closing my laptop, I grab the pen from the desk and lift the leather journal, opening it to a blank page.
My lease was almost up. I had only signed a short-term lease on the apartment because my job here was only temporary. I was a traveling nurse. I worked a contract and moved on.
Jonathon and I passed each other daily, and the pull between us continued to grow stronger. This whirlwind we had built had been on lust alone. I saw Jonathon and my pulse quickened, my skin tingled, and I felt more alive than I ever had before. In this time we had together, everything I had so carefully protected felt so exposed.
Sex was just sex. A mutual release... until it was something more.
Jonathon and I hadn’t discussed the future. I didn’t think we should. I wanted to be here in the moment with him. As hard as goodbye would be, I wanted to enjoy every second.
I licked my lips, thinking about seeing him again. It was mid-day, and I was working a night shift tonight.
Bravely, I did something I had never done before. Picking up my phone, I texted him to stop by for a lunchtime snack.
We had recently exchanged numbers. Although we had shared a few texts between us, I had never been this bold with him, with any man, before.
Jonathon did things to me. Just thinking about it had me burning inside, and my panties were soaked in my desire.
He didn’t reply, and I tried to push down my body’s needs. Ten minutes passed, and with each passing moment, I began stripping more of my clothing. The feel of fabric against my pert nipples was too much as my cravings only grew stronger.
Going to the freezer, I pulled an ice cube from its tray as I stripped myself down to a simple pair of pink lace panties. Putting the cube in my mouth, I allowed it to start the melting process before I took it out and traced my lips with it. Then I trailed the frozen cube along my neck, my whole body shivering from the touch.
Sliding the melting piece down, I traced my collarbone before I circled around my nipple ever so slowly, around and around, starting at the edge and working my way closer and closer to the tip.
Two fingers guided the cube down the center of my belly with a slight dip into my belly button, making my abdomen muscles tense then relax as I continued down and inside my panties. The liquid pooled into the fabric as I slid it between my pussy lips.
My doorbell rang just as I moaned at the cool sensation.
I left the melting cube in my panties as I rushed over and opened the door, sticking my head out. Much to my surprise, Jonathon stood there.
I opened the door wider, and he smiled his appraisal at my almost naked state. He didn’t speak as he stepped inside and wrapped an arm around my waist, pulling me toward him. Then he invaded my mouth with his tongue while he shut my door behind him.
He roamed his hands along my body as I pulled at his shirt, trying to get skin to skin. We broke apart so he could strip, and when we made it to the living room, he turned me around and bent me over my couch.
“I’m here for my snack,” he growled as he dropped to his knees behind me, pulling my panties down and off, and finding the remnants of the ice cube.
“Got too hot, did you, Annie?” he asked as he slid two fingers deep inside me. “I’m about turn up the heat.”