I gave a slight chuckle. “It’s not one dinner. It’s one dinner a month for the rest of his life.”
“Ooooh.”
“And I’m supposed to make an effort to repair our relationship. Couldn’t muster the strength tonight.”
Now she didn’t know what to say.
“I yelled at him instead. Told him what a worthless husband and father he is. The entire restaurant was staring at us by the end of it. Instead of dinner, we should have just gone somewhere private where I could scream all I wanted without ruining everyone’s evening.” Now I wished I had another cigar between my fingertips. The booze made me numb, but the smokes made me relax.
“Did that make you feel better?”
“No. Having my mother alive would make me feel better.”
Her hand reached for my forearm, her little fingers giving me a squeeze.
I felt it the instant she touched me, that hot electrical sensation that traveled all the way up my arm to my brain. It was more than just attraction, but comfort as well. Camille was more than just a woman with a nice ass and even nicer tits. She was the only person who made the unbearable bearable.
When she pulled her hand away, I felt cold again.
“What did you promise Grave?”
It took me a few seconds to adjust to the withdrawal. “The same thing. To be brothers again.”
“It sounds like they both still really care about you.”
I looked at the fireplace again.
“He could have asked for money or something else, but he wants your friendship.”
“How touching.”
She stared hard at the side of my face. “You told me every moment you’re alive, you breathe for revenge. It consumes you, making Grave pay for what he’s done. But where has that gotten you?”
My eyes stayed on the hearth.
“Broken. That’s where it’s gotten you.”
I soaked in her words but gave no reaction.
“You can never be happy if you’re harboring these kinds of feelings. I think it’s good that you’re going to work on these relationships. They seem remorseful about the things they’ve done, and they’re your family.”
“Because they’re family, they get a free pass?” I said quietly.
“No. But they deserve a second chance.”
I released a sigh.
She came close to me, slid her arm through mine, and rested her head on my shoulder. “I know what it’s like to be alone in this world…and I don’t want you to feel that way too. I think this is a good thing.”
“I’m surprised you’d say that after everything Grave did to you.”
“My issues with Grave aren’t your issues.”
“You’re my woman—so they are.”
She raised her chin and looked up at me.
My eyes met hers.
“All I want is for you to be happy.” Her eyes flicked back and forth between mine before she leaned in and kissed me. It was a kiss of finality, like she would walk away shortly after our lips touched. But once she settled against my flesh, she stayed there, lingering to treasure it.
I kissed her again, my eyes closing after I slipped under her spell. My mouth probably tasted like scotch and cigars, but she kissed me like she didn’t notice the taste. Our gentle kisses slowly became hungrier, a slow burn that turned into a crescendo much later. Soon, there was tongue, sexy grips on the inner thigh, heat that filled every corner of the room and chased away the cold.
It was as if that fight had never happened.
Her hands unfastened every button until she pushed the shirt over my shoulders. Then she straddled my hips and moved for the top of my jeans. My hands gripped her waist and held her steady so she could continue to kiss me and tug down the zipper. After that, everything happened fast. I tore her shirt over her head and kissed her neck and collarbone as I worked to get the pajama bottoms off her fine ass. Her naked body straddled my hips once again, and she dug her nails into my shoulder as she sank on top of me with an urgency she’d never shown before.
The greatest pleasure swept through me. It was like a breath of heaven, every time I was buried deep inside her. My head tilted back, and my eyes closed as if I was drifting off, because it just felt so damn good.
My hands slid over her sexy ass, and I squeezed it as it sat in my lap. “Jesus.”
Her arms circled my neck, and she kissed me as she rolled her hips, feeling my thickness inside her. She touched me and kissed me like I paid her to fulfill a fantasy, even though I never shared my secrets.
She started to move up and down, her face close to mine, her nails digging deeper into me.
I thrust up from below, meeting her body with mine.
We were combined in every way, mind, body, and soul.
“Baby…you make me happy.”