This isn’t what we usually do. Actually, this whole day is so different from all the other working days of the week. When I get home from work, we talk a little, maybe have dinner if it’s not too late and I put her to sleep. This time, however, I want to spend every possible moment with her.
Again, that feeling of desperation floods me. It threatens to take Marley away from me, and I feel helpless to do anything about it. I’ve never felt this way, because I never had anyone so important to lose as her.
“Can Lilly play as well?” Marley suddenly asks, interrupting my frantic train of thought.
“She has to,” I nod. “Go get her from the kitchen.”
Marley runs to the kitchen, then returns a moment later, dragging a confused Lilly back to the living room.
“Game night!” Marley squeals again, much to Lilly’s joy.
“What is this little monkey talking about?” she asks me, with that mesmerizing smile that I only now realize I’ve been dying to see almost as much as Marley’s.
“I thought we could play a few games together, all three of us, before getting Marley ready for bed,” I suggest, and the moment I do, her face lights up.
“Sure,” she nods. “What did you have in mind?”
“I don’t know,” I shrug, gesturing at Marley. “Ask the boss. She’s in charge.”
Marley chuckles, then starts listing all the games that we have, some of which are way out of her league as she’s only seven, but we decide to try out all of them, as many as she wants.
Right at the moment when I put her to sleep, I realize that I don’t need to read. She is already half-asleep, barely clinging onto wakefulness. The excitement was just too much. I kiss her forehead softly, and tiptoe out of the room, only to see that Lilly is in the living room, with her backpack on. She seems ready to go home.
“You’re going?” I ask, not really sure if that’s a statement or a question.
“Well, yeah…” she replies, pushing a loose strand of hair behind her right ear, and I notice a blue, sparkling seashell of an earring. It suits her perfectly. “It’s late.”
Her reasoning reminds me of all the previous conversations we had, that we shouldn’t, that we had to stay apart, that we this or that but it’s all in the back of my mind right now. I just want her in my arms, her lips on mine.
Slowly, I walk over to her. She doesn’t take her eyes off mine. For a moment, I think she might be trembling, but I’m not sure.
Now, we’re standing, facing each other. Her lips are so luscious, so full, parted. I want to bite the lower one, then tug on it gently. Her dark, chestnut eyes seem to hide a secret from me, refusing to allow me to see what’s behind them. That’s OK. I don’t want to know any more secrets. I just want to fuck her brains out, so I could forget mine.
“Dominic, I– “
The moment she says my name, my lips crash against her, making her quiet and lose her breath. My hands sink onto her hips, pulling her closer. I was right. She is trembling, as she’s kissing me back, just like that first time. My cock is raging inside my pants already. It can’t wait to be allowed out. I’m slowly losing control. I want her too much, too badly, too desperately.
But the moment this knowledge floods my whole body, she pulls away. Her breathing is shallow. Her lips are moist from our spit. She looks wild and untamed, and at the same time, so vulnerable I want to wrap my arms around her and never let her go.
“I can’t…” she says something that completely throws me off, and before I can say anything else, she runs to the door and closes it behind her, leaving me more confused than ever.
Chapter Nineteen
Lilly
It’s been exactly two days since those two detectives made me the offer that will change my life no matter what I do. That is why I haven’t been able to make a decision. Yesterday, I had a missed call from an unknown number. I think it was them. But I didn’t call back. I just need a day or two more. Honestly, I don’t think much will change. I don’t think that I will magically be able to make a decision, but it would be comforting to know that I still have some time.
Those are the thoughts that are plaguing my mind as I walk out of my building that morning, on the way to Dominic’s place. I always start on time, trying to beat the traffic, and occasionally, I even arrive earlier. This was one of the first things he liked about me, he said once. The fact that I always make sure I’m not late.
As I’m approaching my car, I realize that the street is strangely devoid of the usual, morning traffic. There are a few cars in the distance, but no people. I quicken my step, crossing the street, walking to my car. I dig into my bag for my keys, for some reason, feeling uneasy. I don’t know why.
My fingers start to tremble, as if anticipating that something might happen. Only… what could happen in broad daylight, in a street where there’s all apartment buildings and you can expect someone to walk out any moment, to go to work, walk their dog or whatever else people do so early in the morning.
As soon as I click the button to unlock my car, I feel someone’s hand on my shoulder. I instantly grab it, digging my short, but sharp nails into it, twisting it to the side and managing to avoid its grasp.
“Ouch, let go!” I hear someone shout, and I realize that I’m holding Detective Lowe’s hand.