“But-”
“I have to get ready for bed and take whatever the opposite of Viagra is.” I pat her arm. “Get in there and make the bed perfect.”
She hurries off and I shake my head. Gio smirks. “Don’t you need Viagra to do the job?”
“Do you want to know my secrets to getting our girlfriend eager and obedient?”
His face drops. “Fine line.”
“Old man jokes bring it out in me.” I wink. “But I can always teach you. Kon would probably fit over my lap with some maneuvering.”
“I’d pay to see it.” Gio chuckles. “I’d pay you both for pictures.”
“Not my place.” Konstantin keeps his blank face. “I like Gio’s rule about limited bedroom talk.”
“You don’t want me to flirt with you?” I wink at him.
Since they don’t want to be any fun, I go get changed for bed and slip into Juliana’s room. Both dogs are already on the bed with her. She rolls to face me and tugs on my shirt. “Really?”
“The more layers the better with you. Why do you think I have pants on?”
“To upset me.”
“Very funny.” I pull her against my side and wrap her arm around me. “You’re going to need some rest.”
“Can you make me a promise, Max?”
“I can ... but I’d like to know what I’m promising first,” I whisper.
“Promise me that you won’t leave me alone ....” She hums and adjusts against me, wrapping her thigh over my hip so our legs are tangled. “Not with my dad.”
“I’ll do my best, doll.”
“Even if you’re on the other side of a door, be on the phone or something with me. I don’t want to have to scream or something to get your attention.”
“I can promise that,” I assure her, kissing the top of her head. “Now you promise me you’re going to try to sleep.”
Instead, her finger traces circles on my chest. I can handle that, but as her finger slides down my belly, I have to catch her hand. I know she wants to be distracted. But I also know that if she lets go of her inhibitions now, she’s going to end up crying, or she’ll be so upset she can’t function tomorrow.
Even though my body is ready and more than willing – like it always is with her – my conscious is loud in my ears. Damn conscious. If I could just silence it ...
“You’re no fun tonight, Max.” She looks away in frustration.
I’m grasping at fucking straws!
“Doll.” I lift her chin gently. “I’m more than happy to fuck you endlessly. But I know that you have so much on your mind.”
“Yeah. And I don’t want it there. I don’t want to think. I just want you.” She grumbles.
I’m close to caving. I can feel it.
“But I know that we shouldn’t.” She keeps rubbing me. “Even if it would be amazing and satisfying.”
“It’s been two days since you had me,” I remind her.
“You three make me greedy, but I know it would bother me after. Or I’d just explode in tears. And right now I actually feel okay. The most okay I’ve felt this close to the anniversary of her death. You three have given me everything and if that means waiting for you ... I’ll do it.”
I exhale slowly, happy that she’s on my side. “You won’t have to wait long. I promise.”