Chapter 19
nineteen
Diamond
“Thanks for doing this, Levi.”
“Yeah, of course. You know I don’t trust you to build a bed frame on your own.”
“I would’ve managed just fine. It’s just easier with two.”
Levi, along with Hunter and Gabe’s foster son, Warren, did most of the heavy lifting, moving Rhett’s things into his new house. I wrangled most of the boxes, and between the three of us, we emptied his storage unit quickly. For a guy buying a house, he sure doesn’t have much to fill it.
“Yeah, I know. Do you need help with anything else? Warren has a 4H thing going on and I promised Hunter I’d drop him off.”
“I think I’m fine. I saw a box marked bedroom, so I’ll find the sheets and blankets and call it a day. I know he’ll appreciate the help too, Levi. When Rhett’s better, he’ll have you over.”
Levi walks over and pulls me into his arms for a hug. “You’re one in a million, Dee,” he whispers next to my ear. “If the man can’t see that, he’s the problem, okay?”
“I know.” He releases me, and his sad smile almost makes me cry. “I know Levi. I…I’d never let him do this when he’s sick, no matter who it is.”
“That’s true. Just…you’re not as sparkly the past few days. I know I always tell you to go for what you want, but…I don’t like it when you’re sad.”
“Don’t worry about me so much. I know when I’ve done too much, and I won’t cling if his heart isn’t in it. I’ll tell him once he’s not sleeping on the bathroom floor.”
Levi’s face twists in disgust, and I laugh. “He had a massive dose of antibiotics. Poor guy is finally seeing the other side of the side effects. It would be mean to just leave him like that.”
“Hey, Levi! I need to get to the barn before Hunter. Can we leave soon?”
Warren’s voice thunders down the hall, and we both head towards the doorway.
“Yeah, leaving now. Don’t worry,” Levi calls as Warren pops into the room.
“Thanks for helping today.” I offer Warren a smile as I leave the box of linen. “Rhett said he’d pay you for your work. I’ll hold him to it.”
“Really?” Warren’s face brightens more than I’ve ever seen it. “That would be so cool. I’d love to buy another rabbit.”
“Better make sure that’s okay with Hunter and Gabe first,” Levi says as he smacks him on the shoulder. “Let’s get over there then.”
After the two of them leave, I finish putting sheets and a comforter on Rhett’s bed. I drag a box marked bathroom to the upstairs bath, hang a few towels, and set out toilet paper and hand soap.
In the kitchen, the previous owners left a note and a box of items for Rhett, which I leave untouched, but I run out to my Jeep after the others are gone and bring in the housewarming gift I got him. After placing it on the counter, I don’t think there’s anything else I need to do here.
After locking up, I admire the space he plans to build Wilbur’s barn in for far too long before finally going home.
“Hi, Dad.”
I round the corner to the kitchen to find Rhett, finally upright and sitting at the breakfast nook with my dad. “Oh, you’re feeling better. Nice to see you off the floor.”
Rhett smiles, the tired creases in his eyes crinkling. “It’s nice to be off the floor. I even took a shower by myself.”
“Way to take away the fun parts. I would’ve helped with that.” I wink, and Rhett blushes as he glances at my dad. “Are you two making the world right?”
“Always, son. I was just asking Rhett if he was okay still eating the soup you made or if he’d like something else.”
Rhett reaches for his glass of juice. Soup and juice have been the only things he’s ingested for the past 36 hours, and he has to be starving. “Chicken soup never steers you wrong. I’ll eat more of that.”
My dad sets out bowls and crackers and fills the pot with soup from the container in the fridge to warm on the stove.
“How was the move? You told Warren I’d pay him, right? I still feel like shit for not helping move my own stuff. I owe you and Levi big time.”
Pulling out the stool next to him, I settle in and face him. “Warren wants enough to buy another rabbit, and Levi was more than happy to help us. If you cook for him, he’ll be over the moon.”
My dad snorts. “Make lots. That boy eats his weight daily. Not sure where he puts it, but he loves tomatoes.”
“Good to know. Maybe I’ll make you both gnocchi and sauce, then, once my hand is better and I’m settled.”
Rhett’s good hand has shifted to my knee, and his thumb rubs the inside of my thigh. A place he knows damn well I like when he touches me.
“I had Levi help me put your bed together, and I found your linens. It’s all ready for your first night, cowboy.”
He leans in close until his lips touch my ear. “Do I have to spend my first night alone, or will you come keep me company?”
“Is that what you want?” I whisper.
“I asked you before this whole hand mess came about, and I meant it. But if you’re already sick of taking care of me, I understand if you need your space.”
“No!” I almost shout it and bring my palm to his cheek. “I don’t think I could ever get sick of you.”
“I’m going to get sick of both of you if you don’t take this out of the kitchen,” my dad says with his back to us as he stirs the soup, and I shake my head with a laugh.
“Fine. We’ll be back in a few minutes.” I motion for Rhett to follow me, and he does. Tater lifts her head from the sofa as we walk by, but stays put as we walk to my room.
Rhett made the bed today, and his duffle bag sits packed on the end of the bed.
“You’ve had a very productive day. Even did some housework,” I tease.
“Diamond…you’ve been…”—he rubs at his neck—“amazing. I don’t have any other words to describe you right now.”
“I’ll take amazing. It’s a good word and incredibly accurate.”
Rhett’s lips tilt with a smile I can only describe as fond, and my heart skips a beat.
“Yeah, it is. I, uh…” He puffs out a breath. “I really want you to stay the night if you can. You’ve put your life on hold for me for the past few days, and I’m truly grateful, so I understand if you can’t.”
He’s not begging, but at least he’s acknowledging the help.
That was a chore when he insisted he didn’t need help and I should let him throw up and leave him alone.
I compromised and sat in the hallway and talked to him from there.
I told him what made me feel better when chemo made me sick, and he told me how his mother always made him feel guilty if he was sick because it inconvenienced her.
My heart broke thinking of poor ten-year-old Rhett vomiting and feeling like shit, only to have his mother nag him about missing a party or a date, or heaven forbid, having to help him change the sheets. He just needed someone to care about him, and I felt that to my core.
I never thought we’d have a breakthrough with whatever it is we have, while he battled side effects of a medication, and I talked to him from the hallway. But we did, and honestly, my life is so messy that it feels almost perfect for us.
“I wouldn’t miss it, Rhett. Honestly. It’s a great place, and who will make your coffee if I’m not there in the morning?”
He grins and reaches for me. “I’m sure I can make coffee.”
“Yeah, but is it as good as mine?”
He dips his head and kisses me softly. “Probably not. Nobody makes it like you.” He kisses me again before trailing his lips down my neck. “There’s nobody as good as you, Dee.”
Does he even know what those words mean to me? How they make me feel?
“Of course I’ll stay. I can never say no to you.”
If anything in my life kills me, it will be the day I can’t wake up with this handsome, tender man.
Sunlight peeks through the window that I didn’t think of throwing a blanket over last night. Rhett lies on his back, one arm over his head and the other resting on my thigh.
There was no breaking in the bed or christening a room of the house last night. He was still exhausted from the meds, and I was just as exhausted from all the moving. We tumbled into bed after Tater had an exploration before joining us in the room on her dog bed.
The whole scene is so domestic and so achingly close to the life I want, it hurts thinking that this is temporary.
Rhett’s fingers flex on my thigh, and I turn my head towards him.
“You awake, beautiful?” he rasps, his voice thick with sleep but still so damn sexy.
“Barely. We need to get you a blind or something for the window.”
“I’ll add it to my list today.” His hand slides over and grazes my dick. “Do you have time…or?”
Covering his hand with mine, I press them both against my hardening length, and he cracks his eyes open. “I’ll always have time.”
The blankets rustle as he rolls and presses against me.
His cut hand remains at my head as he pets my hair in a way I’ve never experienced.
Like he needs to touch me, just like when we were asleep.
Rhett always finds a way to touch me. A hand on my thigh or a foot against my leg.
All night we stayed connected, and this feels like he doesn’t want it to end.
His scruff is heavenly against my neck as his lips trail to my shoulder. I press my hips up, and his lips smile against my skin. “I love how you’re always so eager, Dee. So fucking hot.”
“I’ll never not be horny around you, cowboy. What are the chances you have lube nearby?”
“Slim. But we don’t need it.”
Rhett slides down and positions himself between my legs. His hair is wild from sleep, and his playful smile makes my heart stop. Lord have mercy, Rhett Cuglietta, the man of my dreams, is going to suck me off before I get out of bed. If this isn’t heaven, it should be.
My fingers curl into the sheets when he takes me down his throat, and I have to recite the alphabet backwards to keep from blowing too quick.
“Did you just ask why?” he says as my dick falls from his mouth. “Because I didn’t think I had to spell it out.”
“What? No, I said, Y like the letter. There’s no question except why did you stop? Please don’t stop.”
“I thought you were asking why I was blowing you, and I thought it was obvious.” His voice softens, and I shiver as he moves up my body.
“You were obviously blowing me, and now you’re obviously not.”
His thumb brushes over my lips before he dips his head to kiss me. “What I’m failing at here—badly—is trying to tell you I feel something big for you, Diamond.”
“I have something big for you to feel, too.” I grin and push against him because I still want the job finished, and if he’s saying what I think he is, I need a fucking moment to process it. Maybe several moments.
“Hint taken.” He kisses me again so deeply I can barely breathe and slides back down my body to finish what he started. This time I don’t bother trying to stave off an orgasm because my brain short-circuited with what he just implied. Is this more to him?
Tapping his shoulder when I’m close, he wraps his good hand around my dick, stroking me to the finish line. I come so hard I should blast off the bed, but it’s not the orgasm that leaves me breathless.
It’s Rhett kissing my cancer scar and staring up at me like I’m the single most important thing in his life.
Holy shit.
“I’d love to make this a slow, sexy morning, but I do need to relieve Morgan today and get to the shop.”
“Yes, you should. I need to rejoin the living and see the doc today, too. I’m going to let Tater out if you want to start a shower without me.”
He makes no effort to move off me, and I remain still as we both hang in the moment, uncertain about what to say. In the end, I decide I’m not in the right frame of mind for the conversation.
“Yeah. I can do that.”
Rhett slides off the bed and pulls on a pair of sweats that make me wish I had all day with him.
When he leaves with Tater, I have a minor meltdown in the shower.