Sunday afternoon crept up quickly, and I spruced up the house for Delphia. I was keen to hear what Angie and she discussed, but as I’d done the whole time, I wanted her to tell me first. Military habits led me to tucked-in corners and pencil-straight bed sheets. I was a clean guy who appreciated order, part of my disciplinary background.
By the time she arrived, the house would look and smell like an Airbnb. I didn’t want her to worry about anything.
I picked her up, idling outside her house until she came out. “Hey, made it through the week?” I asked softly as I placed my thumb over the bottom of her chin.
“Yeah, I made it,” she answered mildly as her eyelashes fluttered.
I moved my finger up to the edge of her lip and a little glint of happiness formed on her sweet mouth. I stopped for a second to capture our moment, kissing her on the lips gently, wanting to kiss away her troubles. Her hand rested on top of mine as I pulled away from her, looking into her beautiful eyes. “I hope that makes it a little better.”
“Sure helps. Talking with Angie helped too.”
Her admitting this made me feel a little lighter on the inside. “Are you okay? What do you think now, since you’ve spoken to her?”
“I think it’s going to be hard, but she has this way…I don’t know, that makes me feel as if everything is going to be okay. I felt anger, hope—” She shrugged her shoulders. “A bunch of emotions that brought up bad stuff and some good stuff, but I want to get rid of Rocky. He has to go.”
“He will. It might take some time, but it will be worth it. She’s going to get the case over the line. Anything specific you wanna talk about, or are you all talked out?” I asked, trying to gauge her.
The weary slump in her shoulders showed me where she was at. “I’m all talked out. I just wanna chill.” A sleepy smile lifted on her lips.
The sun was going down in Holbeck and we were together, that was the main thing to me. I could give her a breather from having to look over her shoulder all the time, especially now since Rocky was applying pressure by calling Delphia at her job.
Delphia slid her slight frame in behind me and linked her arms around my back as we sped off to my house.
We got there in no time. I helped her unload and we moved inside.
As I guided her in, she gingerly entered my space. She sniffed the air as she walked in. “What is that smell? That’s so nice.” Her head swung from side to side as she looked around the house. “Wow, you are so neat, this is incredible.”
“It’s a military thing. I can’t help it. I think the air freshener is Fresh Linen or something like that.” I lifted her bag out of her hands. “Here, let me take this and I’ll show you the room I have set up for you.” I wanted nothing more for her to be sleeping in my bed, but I was a gentleman and Delphia would have to make that move first.
“Thank you.” She followed me to the spare bedroom that had the most light. As we walked in it streamed on the double bed. Nothing fancy, a desk in the corner with an LED light, a couple of books and a chair with a window and sparse curtains.
“Perfect, thanks again.” Delphia looked at me with hopeful eyes.
“If you want a shower, the bathroom is right across the hall. All the towels and stuff like that are in there. I can make some dinner in a minute, if you want.” I couldn’t help but touch her softly as I spoke. She was like this delicate flower, but one that bloomed even when darkness surrounded her life.
“Thanks, I had something to eat before I came. It’s fine.”
“Okay. Hold tight, I have to throw a few things into the laundry. Help yourself to anything in the fridge and look around. Mi casa es tu casa.”
Delphia walked forward into the living room.
I threw the clothes I had in the basket into the washing machine. I wanted to give her a few minutes to acclimatize to my place.
By the time I reached her she was fingering a dog tag on my mantelpiece. “Bear. This is hot. Mr. Army Man,” she said in awe.
The whispery tone in her voice drove me to slip my hands around her slim waist and slide them down the front of her thighs. My breathing sped up as I blew breath in her ear. My erection came alive as it pressed into her back. It was hard to control myself around her. My lips found the curve of her neck as she bared it to me. Pushing back the tendrils of her wispy hair, I pressed several kisses into her neck.
“Let me know if I’m moving too fast for you,” I growled into her ear as I slid the tip of my tongue over the top of it.
“No, don’t stop. You’re not moving too fast.” She stood on her toes and her lips opened to a wide smile.
The green light. I lightly turned her to face me. “I don’t want to—”
Delphia placed her finger on my lips. “I’m a grown woman. I’ve made the decision myself. Do you have protection, Bear?”
“I do. Wait here.”
She tapped my butt as I walked away.