Chapter 24
Chapter Twenty-Four
SUTTON
“ Y ou know, as much as I love our kids, I’m happy we’re having an adults only night.” I sigh, stretching my legs out on Derek’s couch.
After a long day at the hospital and another two shifts coming this week, I needed tonight. When Derek invited me over, it was an easy yes.
It’s the perfect spring day, with the doors to the backyard blowing in a warm breeze. The soft hairs blow around my face as pots and pans clang in the kitchen. Derek hums as my eyes close to revel in the quiet.
“You want anything to drink?” Derek calls out.
“I’m good with water.”
“You know, I can help with dinner,” I tell him when a glass of water is pressed into my hand.
“Your only job is to relax tonight, Sutton.”
“Hey.” I waggle a finger to beckon him, wanting a kiss.
He nibbles on my bottom lip, but before I can deepen the kiss, he pulls back. “Need to make sure dinner doesn’t burn.
I groan. “Okay.”
Sighing, I sink farther into the couch cushions. If they swallowed me whole, I wouldn’t be opposed to it .
It’s nice not to have to worry about anyone else. No cooking dinner. No laundry. Just me and a sexy man that is cooking me dinner.
“Are you going to spend the night asleep on my sofa, or do you want to eat?” Derek’s warm breath tickles my ear.
“I’m not sleeping, only relaxing.”
“Well, relax and eat at the same time.” Derek kisses my forehead before passing a bowl over my head.
Spaghetti and meatballs.
“This smells amazing.”
Derek shifts my legs so he can sit under them and digs into his own bowl. “I figured you might like some comfort food today.”
I cut a meatball and shove part of it in my mouth, savoring the garlic and marinara sauce. “Being short-staffed made it too long of a day.”
“Will tomorrow be better?”
I take another bite. “I hope so. I’m exhausted, and another day like tomorrow and I’m going to need a week to recover.”
“Anything I can do to help?” Derek asks.
I smile at him. “You’re doing it. Just being here with you is enough.”
Dropping an arm over the back of the couch, Derek scoots closer to me. His hand idly traces lines up and down my shin. “Well, I can think of a lot of other things I can do to help if you want.”
“Unless you’re spaghetti and meatballs, that’s all I want.”
Derek laughs. “I see where I fall in the rank.”
“Would it make you feel better if you’re even with dinner?” I bat my eyelashes at him.
“Only because I made it, I’m guessing?”
“Maybe…”
Derek grabs the bowl from my hand and sets it on the coffee table before sliding me under him. “You’re making me feel bad. Is that what you want, Sutton? ”
His bottom lip sticks out, imitating a pout. If his eyes weren’t alight with laughter, I’d feel bad.
“For someone to feed me? Yes.”
Derek nips at my earlobe. “Do you need me to tell you you’re pretty too?”
That has giggles bursting out of me. “Nope. I’ll be okay with you feeding me.”
“See, you say feeding, but what kind of feeding are we talking about now? Because I can feed you many, many different things.”
“Derek. Oh my God. That might be the worst line I’ve ever heard.” I cover my mouth to keep the laughter inside.
“Do I need to give you a line if we’re already dating?”
Wrapping my arms around his neck, I pull Derek closer to me. “I wouldn’t mind you using a line on me every now and then.”
“Yeah?” He drags his nose along my jaw, sending shivers down my spine. Heat licks at every part of my body. His deep brown eyes lock on mine.
“Do you have a map?” A sly smile spreads across his beautiful mouth. “I just got lost in your eyes.”
“Is that the best you have?” I try to hide my own smile.
“How about…” He screws up his face in concentration before he tracks a finger down my neck. “I hope you know CPR because you took my breath away.”
“You’re lucky.” I laugh. “Because all nurses know CPR.”
“Clearly my lines aren’t working on you.”
“They worked better than you know.”
Brushing a thumb over my cheek, he leans close. “Well then, prepare to take my breath away.”
Derek seals his mouth over mine. His kiss is slow. Delicious. Every strike of his tongue against mine sends heat rippling through me. I cannot get enough of this man.
I want every ounce of him with my entire being. Warm hands slide down my sides. Calloused fingers find the sliver of skin exposed from my T-shirt riding up.
“Derek,” I moan. “I want you.”
“Fuck,” he growls. “I want to devour you.”
“What are you waiting for?”
Derek’s lips latch onto the pulsing vein in my neck. Tormenting me in the best way.
“I’m taking my time.”
“How much time do we have?”
“All night. Until you have to leave, Sutton.”
I push Derek off of me. “You don’t have to get Troy?”
He shakes his head. “Actually, he’s staying at Missy’s tonight.”
“Really?” I do my best to try and hide the shock from my voice. “Is that a good idea?”
“I think so. Why wouldn’t it be?” Derek rocks back onto his heels between my spread legs.
“I mean, do you trust her?”
“Things are going well. I think it’s a good time to try.”
“They are?” I swallow around the growing lump in my throat.
Derek nods. “You should have seen how excited Troy was when he got home the other day. I don’t think I’ve seen him like that in a long time.”
“Wow. Okay.”
“What’s wrong?” His brows furrow in confusion.
I pull my legs back and cross them under me. “You haven’t told me things are going well, so I figured Missy was flaking out.”
“I told you they have been.”
“But you haven’t really given me a lot of details,” I clarify. “I guess I assumed they weren’t going well because you only said they were fine.”
Derek takes my hand. “Look, this is a good thing, Sutton. I don’t want you to worry. ”
“Right. Sorry.” I pull my hand away. “If things are going well, I’m happy for you. For both of you.”
“What’s wrong?” Derek studies me.
“I’m fine.”
“You sure?”
“Yeah, sorry. I want to know how things are going with them. You know I love Troy, and I’m just looking out for him.”
Derek leans over and kisses me. It doesn’t do much to stop the warring thoughts in my head. “I don’t want you to worry.”
“Well, I’m a mother. You know I do.”
I hate that I’m wary of this situation. If Derek isn’t, why should I be? But…the tiny voice in the back of my head is thinking differently.
Because what if things start changing between Derek and Missy? What if feelings grow between them and Derek realizes it’d be easier to be with Missy than me?
They’re a family. I would not want to be the reason they’re not a family.
“Hey. You okay?” Derek asks, pulling me from my betraying thoughts.
“I’m good. But I should probably head home.”
“Really? I thought you had all night?” he questions.
“I need to get home. It was a long day, and I want to get a good night’s sleep before work tomorrow.”
“Right. I get it. Can I pack you leftovers for lunch tomorrow?”
“Sure.”
Derek goes into the kitchen, and I go to the front door and slide into my shoes and grab my purse.
I take a deep breath and try to settle my racing mind. I don’t want to be feeling these things. I want Derek more than anything in the world. I would do anything for him and Troy, but it’s hard with other parents in the picture. So fucking hard.
“Hey.” Derek grabs my elbow and spins me into his arms. A plastic container of leftovers is in his other hand. “I love you.”
I smile at him. “I know. I love you too.”
“You free this weekend?”
“Yeah.”
“I’ll call you.”
“Okay. I’ll see you soon.”
With a quick kiss, I’m out the door.
And hopefully, not for good.