“I knew it would be hard to hear, but I hadn’t expected her to shut down like that,” Christine admitted with remorse on her face.
“Hey, it’s not your fault. She needed to know all the facts to make an informed decision. Loren has that now, no matter how difficult it might be to hear. So, thank you. You’ll call me if you need anything?”
“Of course, Monroe. I’m glad you got Levi back. You really are a good dad.”
“Thanks, Christine. Let me know when you get to wherever you’re going, okay?”
“We will.”
I gave her a hug once the elevator arrived and headed back to Loren’s apartment. I let myself back in and immediately noticed the silence. I’d hoped she’d talk to Atticus while I was gone, but it seemed that hadn’t lasted. When I stepped into the living room, I found her curled up on the couch in a ball, the phone laid on its side as she stared at it. I couldn’t hear from here, but I guess she was listening to someone because I saw her nod before she laid it flat.
I paused, hesitating for a second before I remembered my assurance earlier that I didn’t have to second guess anything with us. Walking over, I didn’t ask her what she needed because I knew she wouldn’t know, or at least she wouldn’t know how to ask for it. Scooping her up into my arms, I carried her to the bedroom. She didn’t fight me, but curled into me. I laid her on the bed, my body curling around hers, and I stroked her hair, giving her time to tell me when she was ready. I didn’t know how long we laid there, but eventually, she rolled over, looking me in the eyes.
“Hey.”
She smiled, her hand reaching out to trace my face. The slight touch had my eyes closing as I felt her run her fingertips over the bridge of my nose, my cheeks, and lips.
“You have such a handsome face.” She leaned forward, kissing me softly. I smiled at the gesture, opening my eyes when she pulled back.
“Thank you.”
“What’s it like being a man and not questioning that compliment?” she laughed.
“Oh, you think just because I said thank you, I’ve never felt insecure about my looks? Huh?” I moved forward, grabbing her around the waist, tickling her.
“Sorry,” she gasped between laughs. “It just seems easier sometimes to be a guy.”
Pinning her to the bed, I loomed over her, pressing my body into hers. “Guys are just as insecure about things for your information. They’re just different, I suppose. It’s nice to hear it from you, and I trust you and value your opinion.”
“You make it sound simple when you put it like that.”
I stared down at her, noticing the way her eyes wouldn’t meet mine. Cupping her face, I brought her attention to mine. “What’s really going on, Lo? I doubt what you’re really worried about is your ability to accept compliments, which, if we’re giving them out, I think you’re the most gorgeous woman in the world, and I hope you believe that.”
She blushed but didn’t shake her head, making me feel like maybe she believed it a little. Her mouth opened, and she started to tell me what she thought when someone pounded on the door. We both looked at one another, frozen for a second, before I rolled off, trotting to the door. Peeking through the peephole, I found Wells leaning against it, giving me a sinful look.
“Let me in, Roe.”
Laughing, I opened the door. The rush of dogs surprised me as they bounded into the room, only stopping when the leash pulled. Wells had a smirk on his face at my shocked expression, knowing I wouldn’t have expected them.
Rushing him, he dropped the leads as I pinned him against the door, my forearm against his throat. He could quickly get out of the hold if he wanted, but I think he liked it when I showed some dominance, that or I’d shocked him enough to stay still.
“You think you’re funny, don’t you?” I growled, my eyes heating as I felt him swallow, his pulse beating against my arm.
His hands landed on my hips, and he pulled me into his rock-hard erection. “I know I’m hard as fuck right now for you, so what are you going to do about it?”
“Barkley! Fort!” Loren’s voice called as she walked down the hall, finding them. Their barks and paws gave away their happiness at seeing her. Stepping back, I let go of Wells, adjusting the steel rod in my pants. He groaned, stepping forward and pulling my chin to him.
“This isn’t finished. I expect you to take what you want later.”
The desire in his words had me whimpering as I nodded, licking my lips in anticipation. We both turned to find Loren watching us, her arms crossed as she held the two leads. “I swear, every time I think I find the hottest thing, you go and up it.” She sighed, fanning herself. “So, how did you manage to get the dogs in here? I’ve been hounding the board for weeks with no results.”
Wells stalked forward, grabbing her by the hips and kissing her deeply, and the erection I’d just managed to lose found a new reason to raise its head. When he pulled back, he kept hold of her waist, and I swear Loren swooned a little. I was right there with her. Not that I wished Wells' past on him, but the man he was becoming was dangerously charming, and I was kind of glad he hadn’t been this way all along. I didn’t know if I would’ve been ready for him back then.
“Atticus,” he said, shrugging. “He called me and said to bring them and that he’d have everything approved. I saw the text after my workout, so I figured you could use them. Though, if I know Roe, I bet he had some spectacular make-you-feel-better activity up his sleeve.”
Leaning against the wall, I shrugged, liking that he thought that about me. “It may have included a joint bubble bath followed by cuddling naked in front of a fire on a bearskin rug.”
Loren laughed, reaching her hand out to me. “Well, I don’t have a fireplace or a bearskin rug, and Jude will be home at some point. But the bubble bath, that actually sounds nice.”