29. Chapter Twenty-Nine
Chapter Twenty-Nine
Carter
T his night is definitely not going how I envisioned it would. I was fucking ecstatic to use that vibrator on Lina. I imagined us having a night filled with kinky fun, with some research into flight schools mixed in. Sounded like an incredible plan to me.
But when Brian showed up at her door, it threw us both for a loop. Then, when he invited me to dinner with them, I couldn’t say no, especially after seeing the look of desperation on Lina’s beautiful face.
I know he has the best intentions with her, but bringing Bristol along again may not have been the smartest idea. He should be spending more time alone with Lina, but I can’t be the one to say that.
With my arms hooked around Lina’s neck, I stare at us in the family restroom mirror.
“Your chest is still flushed with red splotches,” I comment with a sly smile.
She rolls her eyes. “This was all your fault.”
“Was it, though?” I arch my upper lip. “You’re the one who couldn’t get it out. ”
Lina twists, now facing me with her back to the mirror. “Not cool.”
I laugh into the sensitive area of her neck. She smells delicious like she always does, but after she comes, there’s always a sweeter hint to it. My dick grows inside my pants, annoyed with my lack of participation.
Lina’s eyes flicker down to my zipper. “Down, boy.”
“Impossible,” I reply. “Not with the way I just watched you come undone a second ago.”
She swings her arms up, clasping them around the back of my neck. “You’re going to have to calm down before you leave the safety of this bathroom.”
“You should go out before me then,” I say.
Lina’s hand slips over the bulge in my pants and gives me a quick squeeze. “Later.”
My stomach clenches. “Fuck, I can’t rub this out in here.”
She winks at me before placing her hand on the door handle. “I had to.”
“Lina,” I say.
“See you out there.” Her voice is a little huskier now that she’s come.
Resting my palms on the cold tile on either side of the sink, I hang my head low. Breathing in and out, I think of baseball. I still have the taste of her misted skin on my tongue, and that isn’t fucking helping.
A few minutes later, I collected myself and walked back through the restaurant and toward our table.
“Sorry, long line,” I offer as soon as I sit.
Lina chokes on her water and starts coughing. She’s still on the high from her orgasm.
“You alright?” Brian asks his daughter.
She nods. “Mmhmm.”
“Are you sure? You look flushed,” Bristol asks sympathetically from across the table. “I have the air blowing on me. We can switch sides if you want.”
“No, I’m fine, thanks,” Lina responds without making eye contact with her dad’s girlfriend.
The dirty martini I ordered for Lina is placed on the table in front of her. I thought she’d need it after I followed her into the restroom with what I was going to help her with.
“Thank you?” Her forehead furrows, confused about how a drink she didn’t ask for showed up at our table.
I smile. “I ordered it for you before I went to the restroom.”
“Oh, thank you.” She gives an uncomfortable smile, then gathers her hair to one side. She’s trying to be natural, but it’s not working well.
“Shall we order our food soon?” Bristol suggests as the server approaches our table.
I gesture for her and Brian to go first while subconsciously resting my arm on the back of Lina’s chair. She stiffens. Her head tilts up, flashing me a warning. I remove it immediately, straightening my posture.
After we order our entrees, Brian turns his focus away from the brunette on his left and to his daughter and me.
“How’s the training going?” he asks enthusiastically.
I unfold my napkin and place it on my lap. “It’s going well.”
“That’s great to hear,” he replies. “Jag isn’t working you too hard, is he? ”
Lina’s cheeks redden. “Um, no. He’s been pretty easy on me, actually.” Easy on her?
“Oh, have I?” I raise my elbows to the table.
A spark flashes in her eyes. “I think so. Don’t hold back just because you think I can’t handle it.” Okay, we’re playing this game .
My eyebrows raise. She’s baiting me for a challenge. Everything with Lina and me is sexual, and she knows what she’s doing.
I chuckle. “That is good to know.”
The rest of the evening went well. There were a few little comments here and there, followed by a good amount of uncomfortable topics, but overall, it was smooth.
It was interesting to witness the dynamic between Brian and Lina. They both have no idea what their relationship should look like. I hope my presence tonight was able to put them both at ease, especially with the added layer of Bristol.
Lina and I drove back to her place after dinner and now we’re enjoying a glass of wine together. Casually hanging out has become the norm with us. Neither mentions me staying. We both just assumed I would be.
“That wasn’t so bad, right?” I ask, sitting on the couch with one leg crossed over the other.
Lina gives me a side-eye. “Except for the whole bathroom incident.”
“Not the best timing, but it felt like you had a pretty good orgasm,” I tease, leaning back again to get more comfortable.
She pouts and drags her feet over to me. “It was a nice dinner. I love having my dad in my life. I still can’t get over how young his girlfriends always are.”
“I get it,” I say, gesturing for her to join me. “But you can’t let it bother you all the time.”
She crawls into the crook of my arm. I slowly slide into a lying position. Lina moves with me, resting her head on my chest. “I know. It’s easier said than done, though.”
I rub my palm across the top of her forehead in a soothing motion. The movement lightly brushes her hair back. My eyes are heavy, and I can easily fall asleep with her perfectly curled into me.
Suddenly, Lina raises her upper body, slips her hands under my shirt, and dips her head inside. What is she doing?
My laugh rumbles through both of our chests. “What are you doing?”
“Getting closer to you,” she mutters, sliding the rest of her body underneath my stretched-out shirt. I watch in confusion as she slips both of her arms by my side and exhales heavily. Her heart beats against my chest, and even though it’s tight, both of us squeeze into my T-shirt. I don’t want her to be anywhere else.
“Are you better now?”
Lina wriggles her body. “Much.”
I hold her tighter. “That’s all that matters, baby.”
“Why do I have such insufferable parents?” she blurts out.
I sigh. “Give Brian a break. He’s a good guy, and he’s trying.”
“I know.” The tips of her fingers make small circles around one of my tattoos. “And my mother?”
Chuckling, I run a hand through my hair. “You’re on your own with that one.”
The lock on the front door echoes throughout the high ceilings right before Lina’s sister comes barreling in. Instinctively, I flinch for fear she’ll see us together.
“Hi, Lina. Hello again, Lina’s dad’s best friend,” she greets calmly as she makes her way up the stairs toward her bedroom.
“Hi, Zoe,” Lina whispers with her face smashed against my pecs.
I’m not sure if her sister even heard, but she obviously isn’t fazed by seeing us in this position.
I let my body relax again. “Your sister knows?”
She shrugs. “Probably.”
Sometime later, there’s a buzzing in my pocket. It alerts me that we’ve fallen asleep on the couch. I lift my head to see if Lina is asleep, and she is. She’s sleeping soundly on my chest. Small noises escape from her mouth as she snores in a low hum. I thought she was lightly snoring because she was sick that one time, but she seemed to be a snorer when in a deep sleep. It’s fucking adorable.
Holding in small bubbles of laughter, I pull my phone out carefully so as not to disturb her.
Baywatch: Hey, man, thanks for coming to dinner tonight. Lina was much more relaxed with you there.
It didn’t seem to me like she was relaxed, but maybe that’s because I knew what happened in the restroom. I take the compliment anyway.
Me: Glad I could help.
Baywatch: I’m glad you’re spending time with her. Hopefully, that can help her get closer to me as well.
I feel awful about Lina and me sneaking around behind his back. But my guilt only lasts a second because when my gaze falls on her delicate face. This view makes everything worth the risk. I watch her tiny breaths as her lungs expand and contract while she sleeps.
One thing I don’t feel guilty about is how much I want to take care of her. Brian may choose to end our friendship over me sleeping with his daughter, but he’ll never have to worry about me taking advantage of her or treating her anything less than what she deserves—which is the fucking world.
Me: Don’t mention it. I’m sure you and Lina are moving in the right direction.
Baywatch: Cool.
Dropping my phone on the carpet beside the couch, my arm is now free again to wrap around her.
“Want to go to bed?” she purrs, nuzzling her nose into my chest. My heart jumps. Yes, I want to stay over with her. I only had when she was sick and when we were in the suite in Cabo. Other than that, she’s been cautious about it being too personal.
“You don’t ever have to ask me that,” I tell her, sliding my fingers through her hair. She smiles up at me with sleepy eyes. “Let’s go, baby.”