I’ll do it all.
I can’t have her, but I’ll make sure she has everything she deserves.
Chapter Forty-Eight
Callie
We miss our dinner engagement and spend the evening and night in each other’s arms, falling in and out of slumber.
When I finally open my eyes to a light streaming in, I turn toward Donny. He’s awake. Staring at me.
“Hey, you,” I say.
“Hey, baby.” He trails his finger over my cheek and threads his fingers through my hair.
My body is used up. So beautifully used up. “Donny…”
“Yeah?”
“I’d like to try…”
“Try what, baby?”
“You know. From behind.”
He smiles, his eyes crinkling in that adorable way, yet something in their hazel depths seems almost…sad.
“You mean anal sex?”
Have I upset him? Why does he look so sad? “I’m sorry I brought it up.”
“Why? I already told you I’d love that, Callie.”
“Then why do you look so…” Sad. I can’t say the word. I’m afraid of what it might mean.
“I just… I don’t want to leave you.”
I touch his cheek. It’s slightly chilled, which I find odd. “You don’t have to. I’ll drive back with you. Rory can—”
He places two fingers over my lips. “No. Rory needs you here.”
“Donny, I should tell you—”
This time his lips stop my words. He presses them against mine in a soft kiss. “Not yet. Let’s not ruin what we have left of today with all of our other problems. I can promise you this, Callie. Whatever they are, they don’t matter to me.”
“I know that. I trust you. But I—”
Again with his fingers. “Shh.”
Then he leans forward and replaces his fingers with his lips, kissing me slowly. It’s gentle again, like it was last night. Gentle and sweet, yet so full of passion.
I revel in it, melt into him, until—
My stomach lets out a loud growl.
Donny breaks the kiss and chuckles. “I didn’t feed you last night.”
“You didn’t hear me complaining.”
“Nor was I. In fact, I haven’t been all that hungry lately.”
“Neither have I. Although my stomach seems to disagree.”
“Tell you what. Let’s jump in the shower and get dressed. Then you and I will go get Rory, and I’ll take you out to a fabulous breakfast.”
“I still don’t feel very hungry.”
“Your stomach obviously does. You and I both need to eat, no matter what else is happening in our lives. Without food, we won’t be able to keep up our strength.”
I nod, slide off the bed, and pad into the bathroom. I take care of business quickly and then start the shower. I run a brush through my long hair and can’t help a giggle at my reflection in the mirror. Those hickeys on my neck from Donny. No one ever gave me hickeys back in high school. Now I’m really too old to be having them, but I don’t care. I love them. I’ll know that he was there. I’ll cherish the damned things.
I hop into the shower and let the warmth flow over my hair and down my back. A few minutes later, Donny joins me. He pulls me toward him, and we stand under the rain, the water sloshing over our slick bodies.
His dick is hard, but he doesn’t attempt to do anything. He seems satisfied to just hold me, and frankly, it’s working for me as well. Last night was amazing. Twelve hours of on and off lovemaking. And though I can’t say he was right about me being multiply orgasmic, he did make my orgasm last for what seemed like forever. Then, after I dozed off for an hour or minutes—I don’t even know—he brought me to another orgasm. And then another. All slow and sweet, just like he promised.
Did I miss the fast, hard fucks? Yes, but there’s no reason to. We’ll have it again. Just like we’ll have slow again. I have so much to look forward to.
None of it matters to me, Callie. His words…and I believe him. I have nothing to fear. No matter what Rory and I did in the past, I know it won’t have any bearing on Donny’s and my love.
Donny and I finally unclench after about ten minutes, and we gently scrub each other clean. I leave the shower first, wrapping my hair in a towel and then folding another towel around my body. Donny turns off the faucet, and I hand him a towel.
His eyes still look so sad. I kiss his stubbled cheek. “You okay?”
He pulls me to him, only our two towels separating us. He kisses the top of my head. “Everything’s fine, my love.”
Chapter Forty-Nine
Donny
Except the words are a lie.
Everything’s not fine.
Everything will never be fine again.
Chapter Fifty
Callie
Monday morning, Rory and I leave the hotel and walk to the bank. Rory talks to the manager we saw Friday, Mr. Keats. When he returns, he looks glum.
“It’ll be another few minutes. The locksmith is on her way.”