Roarke catches my slight nod toward Caroline. “Of course, I promise I’ll tell Madi and we’ll be able to go forward with our relationship publicly. Soon. She’s just had a difficult week.”
Caroline’s lackluster smile kills me. “We can put a deadline on him if you want. I don’t like having to hide what we have from the world.”
“Fuck off Bennett, my life’s more complicated than yours. I said I’ll tell my daughter and I will.”
“Let’s not argue, boys. Why don’t you two go upstairs, turn on some music, put your big, fancy reputations aside, and get your big fat cocks ready for me.”
“What will you be doing?”
“Putting pizzas in the oven…I’ve got to be sure you keep your energy up.”
I give her one last kiss, hating to be away from her any more than I have to. It will take longer to pick a music playlist than to get my cock ready but I’m happy to comply. Roarke follows me.
I pressure him to buck up and tell his daughter. “Waiting won’t make it any easier, and I know Aria saw us at the hospital. Your neighbors and mine have potentially noticed. Word will get around whether we like it or not, and Madi will find out.”
“I’ll tell her when I get home.” Roarke scrolls through his music app then settles on a song with a lot of bass and a sexy beat, sort of a club feel, not that I’ve been to one in a while.
“Good, because as much as I’d like to lock Caroline in a tower and never let another man see her, if she thinks we’re ashamed of her, we’ll lose her. I saw it on her face a minute ago. And lay off the reputation stuff.” I strip my shirt off, toss it aside then go for my pants.
Roarke’s doing the same. “You’re right. I’ve been a prick. It’s just so obvious to me that we’re perfect together, I forget how different she is. I’ll make sure she knows I love her, simple as that. It can be a lesson for how I treat Madison as well. I put a lot of pressure on my daughter.”
“That’s a plan…for later. Let’s focus on Caroline. I’ve been wanting to do double penetration. You game?”
“Hell yeah. Both of us moving inside of her…damn, you know how hot it will be to see her stuffed with two cocks?”
“We can watch in my dresser mirror.”
“Yeah, buddy.”
“I need to figure out a name for her to call me. It makes my balls tighten every time she calls you Daddy. If she does it while we’re doubled up, I’m gonna blow.”
“Then I’ll be sure to get her to say it.” He punches me playfully.
“What do you suppose is taking so long?”
We both look toward the bedroom door as if she’ll materialize.
“Caroline?” I call out and get no response. I step to the stairwell and call again. Still no response. Something isn’t right. The hair stands on the back of my neck. I retreat to the bedroom, grab my sweats, then head downstairs.
Roarke has flopped on the bed. “What’s going on?”
“I don’t know. I’ll be right back.”
The kitchen is empty, as are the living room, bathroom, and everywhere else. Did she go outside for something?
I head to the front door and what I first dismiss as the grocery receipt on the table by the door, turns out to be a note from her. She scribbled it on the back of the receipt. My world shifts to slow motion as I grab it. Before I process a single word, a stone sets in my gut.
R + B
I can’t be the person you need.
I’m sorry.
C
What the ever-loving fuck? “Roarke,” I yell.
He’s downstairs in a flash, already has pants on. Had he sensed something was wrong too?