Rubbing his head, Peter glanced at his watch. The last two days this week Rose hadn’t eaten lunch with him. Brad had arrived just as they were leaving, taking her away from him. He despised the man. There was something about Brad that made Peter tense around him. The guy was bad news. He didn’t like him one bit, and Rose was looking weak. Since he’d last seen her on Saturday, she’d seemed fine. It was Wednesday, and she was already looking pale and withdrawn. He hated it, and what he hated even more was the fact he couldn’t bring himself to stop it.
His heart belonged to another woman. There was no chance for him to enter a relationship knowing Laura was the only one who owned his heart.
“You’ve not taken a sub, Peter,” William said.
“We’ve discussed this before. I’m not ready to take a sub, and I’m not going to commit to a woman when I’m elsewhere,” he said.
They argued about this regularly. Peter never took a permanent sub. He trained many and gave the women who wanted him some time. He never got too close to the women and always remained impassive.
William looked angered. “I’m worried about you. We’re all worried about you.”
“Edward told you about my cemetery trips?” Peter asked, knowing he was going to hurt the other man when he next saw him.
“Yeah, he did, and frankly I’m worried.” William stood up, tapping his daughter’s diaper covered bottom.
“I don’t see why you’re worried. I’m good at what I do.”
“Dean Riley didn’t die. He was more than happy to step aside and let you have Laura, and you refused. He didn’t die, and he’s still happily married to the woman you’d gladly take a bullet for.”
There was a time when those words would have cut through him. Peter fisted his hands at his sides to try to find something to make him feel again.
“Do you think I visit the cemetery wishing Dean was there?” Peter asked, disgusted by William’s assumption.
“Frankly, yeah I do.”
Peter stood. “No, I don’t visit the cemetery because I’m a sick fuck. I’m in love with Laura, and she’s happy because Dean’s alive. I visit the cemetery to think. I’m not wishing for anything, William, and to be honest, your suggestion is fucking insulting.”
He stormed out of the room and crashed into Daisy. She fell on her ass.
“Shit, I’m sorry.” He reached down helping her to her feet.
“No, it’s okay. The kids keep me on my toes, and I refuse to hire a nanny. I’m going to be the best mom I can be.”
Peter smiled at her. “You’ll be fantastic.”
He didn’t give her chance to talk to him. William called out to him, but he ignored the shouts of his name. He left the gates of William’s house and club and surprised himself by heading toward Dean’s home. It had been a couple of month since he’d last seen the couple. They’d left Cape Falls to go on a vacation aroun
d Europe.
Driving up to their front door, he saw Laura near the side of the house hanging out washing. He took the time to admire her fuller curves. After a couple of kids, she’d gotten bigger in the hips and breasts. Every time he looked at her, Peter was blown away by her beauty and her strength. Staring at her now, nothing happened. She was a beauty and he admired her, but nothing happened. There was no reaction to her presence at all.
Dean opened the front door, smiling at him.
Climbing out of the car he headed to the front door. “It has been a while since we’ve seen you,” Dean said, holding his hand out for him to shake.
Peter shook his hand and headed inside.
He laughed as their kids jumped on him, demanding hugs and kisses before Laura entered the house, steering them away.
“I’m so pleased you stopped by,” she said, hugging him.
Closing his eyes, he inhaled her scent before pulling away, feeling uncomfortable. It didn’t feel right anymore. Peter frowned when his lower body didn’t respond to her. Usually he had to be careful around her because his cock always hardened.
Maybe he was tired.
“I’m here to see Dean and find out how he’s getting on.”
“Okay,” Laura said, smiling. “I’ll leave you two alone.”