“I’m sorry!” she lamented ignoring the punishing rain.
“You’ve said that before. A lot,” he spat before turning.
“It’s different. I get it now! I wasn’t sure of who I was and deflected a lot. I understand your points.” She followed him down the walkway towards the driveway. “Relationships require give and take from both sides, compromise, if necessary. You did all the giving, and I kept taking without fully acknowledging the sacrifice. Not money or possessions. But the things a person cannot take back or replace: compassion, time, concern…love.”
Dex steps slowed, and she pushed on quickly. “You are a world-class chef because you placed your heart and soul into learning your craft, your passion. People around the world have to pay to experience your creations, but you were willing to share it with me.”
She took a deep breath to steady her voice then continued. “A labor of love, but instead of seeing it for what it really was, being gracious and accepting it, I’d minimize or cheapen it by brushing it off as just the thing you liked to do, not realizing you don’t have to do shit for me; you did because it is one of the ways you show you care.”
Dex stopped abruptly, giving Cayla the courage to continue. “I know I lost sight of what was in front of me and hurt you publicly. While it was not my intention, it doesn’t negate the outcome. I know I left you hanging at that moment because Nathan looked like my list had just walked off the paper. It confused me for ten seconds, but in that eleventh second it was clear that you were right. You aren’t competition for him.” Dex turned giving her his full attention. “You aren’t in competition because there’s nothing for him to win.”
“What do you want from me, Cayla.”
“You!” she cried. “He may be the perfect guy for someone else, but you are the perfect guy for me. My brain and heart weren’t on speaking terms, but the lines of communication are now open. You’d already had and still have my whole, once confused heart.”
Chapter 38
Dex blinked a few times trying to verify he wasn’t hallucinating. Cayla had just acknowledged and understood every fucking thing that’d been bothering him. A moment he’d only dreamed about. Is this real? The palpitations of his heart said it was, but his brain couldn’t reconcile that Cayla and the thoughtful woman following him in the rain were the same person. It was only one way to find out for sure.
He grabbed her before he could change his mind and crushed his lips on hers. His whole body moaned, and his blood flooded with desire. Cayla fell into the kisses returning every punishing press of his lips. Oh, how he’d missed kissing her. Her arms flew around his neck. Her wet body pressed up against his, the heat of her skin beckoned him. Her scent mixing with the heavy rain made his dormant cock spring to life for the first time since she’d left. He needed her with an urgency he’d never known. It was irrational and reckless.
He pushed her against his rented SUV while fighting with the ridiculously rain-soaked hem of her dress. They managed to hastily remove her panties and unzip his pants, but he needed to be clear.
“It’s not over.” She wrapped her legs around him.
“I know,” she agreed.
“You still have to prove…” He pushed into her, instantly feeling what only Cayla could provide. They both growled their satisfaction. The heat of her surrounding him set his soul on fire. He could pretend for a second that they were blissfully happy.
“I know,” she moaned grinding against him, just as hungry for him as he was her.
“We’re not
back together,” he said against her lips before he deepened the kiss, tasting her whole mouth. He wasn’t sure how he’d lived so long without having her. Their pace was just as torrent as the rain. Both taking what they needed from each other. “Words are one thing…” he started before nibbling on her neck, trying to get all he could in the moment.
“Actions,” she whimpered. His erection strengthened inside of her, having her agree with him was the hottest thing ever.
“So good, Dex,” she moaned nearing her release, her legs squeezing him tighter. He palmed her breasts, teasing them through her soaked clothes. He arched his back and drove deeper into her, pressing her harder against his SUV.
“So damn good,” he agreed as they both shuttered their release. Their yells were swallowed by the thunder.
Cayla: I took your advice.
Dex smiled at the attached photo of a cognac brown Dotson puppy with big eyes staring up at the camera. The things she’d told him, and the rain sex had earned her responses to her texts. They talked on the phone sporadically, but he was busy with the show. However, the five weeks apart had strengthened their relationship far beyond the shaky ground they were on prior.
He no longer had to worry about which version of Cayla he was going to encounter. Dex could say they were real friends. He also could say that he loved her without the pain he’d felt previously. He hadn’t told her again, and she hadn’t told him, but he felt it.
Dex: You made Kalilah a fur auntie, I see.
Cayla: For now. I want children one day. I’m thinking two or four. It must be an even number. Don’t want any middle child drama.
Dex: DD was the perfect middle child. She was sandwiched between her brothers. She hates and loves us equally. I can send her a text and I’ll either get a middle finger emoji or a heart. It’s a toss-up.
Cayla: Something tells me that her responses are based on what YOU send her.
Dex laughed at the response.
Dex: Guilty