“Touché, you’re right. There’s a part of me that’d be right there next to you on the rooftop, but . . . Carsen is first, always.” Keith responds, picking up a piece of bacon and munching on it as the gravity of the situation sinks in. “I will say, Francesca has barracuda written all over her. She’s the one giving favors to your boss, right?”
I shudder, nodding. “Yes. Ugh, so gross. I just imagine . . . jellybeans.”
“Huh?” Keith asks. “Jellybeans?”
I explain about Donnie and his crystal bowl of jellybeans, and he nods, trying to chuckle, but I can see it. The spell’s broken and there’s a dullness to everything now that reality has crept back in, the risk of what we’re doing more real.
We finish brunch, but as we walk back out, we don’t hold hands.
It feels too dangerous.
Chapter 18
Keith
So, here we are,” I muse as I drop Elise off at her place. “Thank you for a wonderful weekend.”
Elise gives me a ghost of her normally megawatt smile, still worried about running into her co-worker at the pancake joint. “I should thank you. Keith, about the restaurant . . .”
“There’s nothing we can change about it now. She’ll either suspect something’s up between us or not,” I reply evenly. “The best thing you can do is make sure your story is a knockout and you drop enough hints of dirt that your editor’s going to be happy. Just make sure of one thing.”
“What’s that?” Elise asks, brightening a little.
“When you tell the world how much you’re addicted to my big, fat cock . . . don’t skimp on the size,” I joke. I’m trying to lighten the mood, ease her mind, but I know her career is serious to her. And as much as we’re both enjoying this growing thing between us, I don’t think either of us is ready for the fallout of everyone knowing. But I don’t want to end our amazing weekend on a suspicious, fearful note, so some prodding to get Elise to smile seems warranted, even if it’s a bit less bright than her usual megawatt grin.
Elise finally laughs, shaking her head. “What, are you kidding? That’s my big lead-in! I mean, it’ll hook them in for sure!” She holds up her finger, bent at the knuckle into a hook shape.
I laugh but grab her hand. “Don’t even joke about that, woman. Or I’ll have to remind you just how big and straight it is when I’m bottoming out in that tight little pussy.”
Elise laughs, blushing a little. “I’ve already told you, you’re the worst at punishing my brattiness. That sounds like a reward.”
I look around to make sure we’re alone on the street, and I lean forward, sipping at her lips, driving her crazy wanting more. I pull back and she chases my kiss. “That’s enough for now. You’ve got work to do.”
She sits back in her seat, full bottom lip protruding in a pout. “You want to come inside?”
I smirk, knowing that if we do, work just won’t get done. “Maybe next time. Right now, you’re gonna go in, work your magic on another story, and I’ll call you later. And Elise, don’t you dare come without me. Save it for me.”
She nibbles at her lip, then nods. “I take it back. You’re better at punishment than I give you credit for.”
I smile, hitting the unlock button for her door. “I know.”
I grab her chin and give her one more kiss, fiery hot and powerful to stoke her fire one last time before she goes inside. As she closes the door behind her, walking to her apartment building, I take a deep breath and adjust myself in my pants. I might be able to keep my control when she’s with me . . . but she pushes me to the limits. I wouldn’t have it any other way.
Driving home, I sing to myself a few bars of something that’s been floating through my head. I don’t quite know what the song is yet, just one of those little ditties that float through my head from time to time . . . but this one feels like it could be one of those that turns into something.
Getting out of my truck at home, I’m barely in the door before Carsen’s hounding me, a hundred questions pouring out of her ever-curious mouth.
“So what did you do? Did you take her to the creek? What about the ATVs? Did you see any deer?”
I laugh at the way Carsen is bouncing and dragging me inside by my hand. Carsen’s always enjoyed going to the cabin, but I think she was even more excited for someone new to experience the beauty and fun we always share there.
“Slow down, honey. Let me at least get my pack in the door and get these boots off, and I’ll answer your questions. Think I can do that?”