Chapter 39 #4
“Thank you, for this.” I lift up the glass and take a sip, the fruity taste dances on my tongue.
“I didn’t think my nerves were that obvious.
” She takes a drink herself before resting the glass on her knee and looking back at me.
“I know a woman on edge when I see one mi amor, it takes one to know one, you know.” My smile drops a little at her words and I consider whether Cecilia has been in the same position as me before.
My eyes scan over her body, I don’t see any older scars but I know myself that the mental wounds run deeper than skin.
“Don’t worry Ana, I won’t make you share your whole life story but just know that I’ve been in your shoes and those shoes can feel real lonely at times, so if you ever need me, I’m here.
” Her hand falls onto my knee and without any hesitation I place mine over hers, knowing I’ve made a friend in this fierce woman.
Blinking my eyes furiously, I will away the tears that are welling in my eyes before looking at her.
“Thank you. You have no idea how much that means to me.” I say, my voice quiet but loud enough for Cecilia to hear me.
She leaves my gratitude hanging in the air knowing we don’t need to say anymore on the matter, a silent understanding between the two of us.
She pulls her hand away and begins uncovering the delicious food on the table then shouts over to her husband who’s still chatting away to Dean like two old women who have a week’s worth of gossip to catch up on.
“Eli! Will you stop chatting and eat please, dios mio!” I smile at their banter and how at ease they are with each other, it instantly makes me think of mine and Dean’s relationship, how over such a short space of time we’ve already gone through quite a bit and yet we still manage to smile at each other.
Eli practically jumps at his wife’s command before taking the food off the BBQ and bringing it over to us.
“My apologies, mi luna.” He says to his wife and places a kiss on the top of her head, then her cheek.
Her warm skin flushes under his affection and I turn my head away to give them some privacy, noticing that Dean has taken the seat that’s on the other side of me, and places his palm on my thigh, the tips of his fingers tucking under the frayed fabric of my shorts.
He seems at ease here, so carefree, like there isn’t a looming danger that threatens to break us apart and I wish with everything I have that we could stay like this forever.
He rests back in the chair and crosses one leg over the other and rests his ankle on his knee, then pulls his black sunglasses down from his cap, the beaming sun casts him in a warm glow.
He almost looks angelic, like a God. My eyes follow his every movement from everytime his nose scrunches to when he brings the rim of the beer bottle to his lips, his Adam’s Apple bobbing under the tattoos as he swallows the amber liquid down.
I’m transfixed on him. Constantly wanting to remain in his orbit.
To memorise everything about him in case he ever disappeared from my grasp.
“I can feel you staring at me, pretty girl.” He says remaining face forward, the corner of his mouth tipping up ever so slightly.
“Oh yeah? How can you tell? I could have been looking at anything.” I say, trying to keep my laugh at bay.
Dean turns to face me and I can see my own reflection in his sunglasses and even though I can’t see his eyes, I know they’re staring right into my soul.
“Whenever you look at me, my skin sets alight. It burns under your gaze and I know right then that my soul is connected to yours.” His words fall effortlessly from his lips and I’m taken aback by how much they affect me because I know also when he’s looking at me.
I feel his gaze wrap around me like a warm touch whenever we’re in the same room, my skin comes alive and yearns for him to be close.
Dean’s thumb traces small circles on my skin as he continues to look at me.
“I hope you know how much you mean to me baby.” He says with so much sincerity and I nod my head and give him a real, true smile. I’ll never know what I’ve done in a past life to deserve this man but I’ll do everything I can to keep him.
The evening rolls by quickly and the conversation between us all flows with little effort and I find myself relaxing more and more.
The wine that Cecilia keeps handing to me is probably helping too as a small buzz weaves its way through my bloodstream, making my head feel fuzzy and warm.
I rest my head against Dean’s firm shoulder as he lazily strokes his fingers over my thighs, sending a delicious current of electricity straight to my core and I shamelessly rub my thighs together.
My hazy state forces me to close my eyes for a moment but the world behind my eyelids keeps spinning.
Dean’s heated breath whispers against the shell of my ear and I immediately zap back to life.
“Are you wet for me baby?” He whispers seductively in my ear, loud enough for only me to hear considering we’re still in the company of Eli and Cecilia, the girls and Lyla ended up passing out in the house after running riot all afternoon.
My eyes flit between Eli and Cecilia, noticing that they’re not paying us any attention, the both of them too preoccupied with their own conversations.
Dean’s question hangs in the air as he continues to trace circles across the apex of my thighs under the table.
He chuckles to himself, a dark deep sound as I wiggle around in my seat, giving him the answer without even opening my mouth.
Dean brings his lips to the shell of my ear again and I willingly tip my head to the side so my heated skin comes in contact with his lips, desperate for any sort of touch that I can get.
“I bet your pussy is dripping under those tiny shorts, your juices mixing with my cum.” His voice is dark and sultry and I have to clamp my teeth together to stop myself from whimpering.
I turn my head and shoot daggers into him for teasing me like this.
The emerald green of Dean’s eyes darken right in front of me as his mouth spread into a devilish grin.
He knows exactly what he’s doing to me, the reaction he’s wanting to cause and I’m giving him exactly what he needs.
“Maybe we should head home and you can find out?” I throw a tease right back at him and his hand disappears under the table to straighten out his pants.
“You’re a bad girl, mama.” I raise my eyebrows, feigning a look of innocence and bat my eyelashes at him.
Eyeing the tick in his sharp jaw, I know I’ve got him exactly where I want him.
He’s so easy to tease and I’m desperate to see how far I can push him until he combusts.
Dean immediately stands from his seat and clears his throat, then turns towards Eli and Cecilia who have been deep in conversation for the past half an hour.
“We’re gonna head home guys. Thanks for having us.
Eli, I’ll catch up with you tomorrow, yeah?
” A look passes between Dean and Eli and I can’t quite pinpoint what it is but I’m sure if it’s a concern Dean will tell me.
We say our goodbyes and Cecilia brings me into her arms.
“Remember what I said, mi amor, I’m here if you ever need to talk.
” Nodding my head I tighten my arms around her.
“Thank you. I’ll be sure to grab your number from Dean.
” I whisper into her ear and step away, then loop my arm through Dean’s as we make our way back into the house to leave.
Passing the living room I notice the girls and Lyla sprawled out on the couch, an image flashing in my mind at the thought of ever having my own children.
I’ve never felt very maternal, especially with having absent parents, I’d never want my children to have the childhood I had.
Lyla’s ears prick up at the sound of us entering the hallway and she lazily climbs off the couch like a child who’s fallen asleep at a party surrounded by adults.
“Thank you again for having us. I’ve had a great time and it seems Lyla has too.
” I drop my hand to Lyla’s head and give her a quick scratch, then step out of the house towards Dean’s truck.
Lyla jumps in the back first and I immediately feel Dean’s burning gaze on my back as I climb into the truck, his hand finds the back of my thighs to guide me into my seat before leaning in to strap the seatbelt over my front.