Chapter 34 #2
“I have friends. You and Cell.”
“I’m not your friend, sweetheart.”
Pulling back from the warm hidey spot of Dark’s chest, I peek up at him. “Then what are you?”
“I’m your man.”
My stomach dips. “Dark…”
“I told you last night that you’re mine. That goes both ways. If you’re not ready to claim that yet, fine. But that doesn’t change the fact that when you go out with the girls, and men hit on you, you’re mine.”
“And what if you go out?” I rub the cotton of his shirt between my fingertips.
“The same applies. My dick can’t get hard for anyone else anyway.”
I snort at his ridiculousness. “I don’t believe that.”
He arches a cocky brow. “You want me to test that theory?”
“How…” Ah yes, he would have to flirt with other women. “No. That sounds awful. We’re not testing that.”
“Exactly…” Bobbing his head, he chuckles warmly. “Now say it with me, sweetheart. Dark’s dick…”
I snort a silly laugh.
“Nope. None of that. This is serious business. Repeat after me. Dark’s dick…”
Sitting up straighter, I try to take this seriously. “Dark’s dick.”
“Is mine.”
“Is mine.” I mimic his same, deep, manly tone.
“It belongs to me.”
“It belongs to me.”
“Good girl.” Dark beams, so full of himself. “You’re catching on fast.”
Jerk.
I flick him on the arm. “Fuck off.”
“Rude… Now let’s continue. I can use it however I want, whenever I want, wherever I want.”
“Stop it.” I’m not saying another word. This is silly. He’s made his point.
“No. Not until you recite this relationship pact.”
Oh, that’s rich.
“It’s a pact now?”
“Hell, yeah, it is. Now repeat it.”
Knowing he won’t let this go, I do, slowly, word for word, with sass and rolling my eyes the entire time, as the smile he evokes never leaves my face.
In response, Dark puffs out his chest in a playful macho way, stretching his black T-shirt to the max across his broad chest. “Great. Now that we’ve got that cleared up, it’s time for you to hang with your friends. I’ve gotta stop by to see Lily anyhow and run a few errands.”
Part of me wants to ask if he’ll be back tonight to crawl into bed with me, so we can wake up again together in the morning, but I’m too much of a chicken shit to ask that. So I don’t.
When Dark helps me up from the floor and ushers me back to my room, he sits on the edge of the bed while I dress but says nothing.
Yet his gaze follows my every move. The whisper of phantom fingers tickles my nape as I pull on a blue sundress that his old father-in-law bought me for one of our weekend dates.
I pair it with strappy sandals, also a gift from said man.
For a summery, cutesy vibe, I select my shortest wig. A blonde bob with side-swept bangs.
Trying hard not to be self-conscious, I dress in front of Dark, even though it’s hard not to be.
I’m not a small woman. I have lumps, bumps, and…
Why am I telling you this? You’re a woman too.
You get it. Thankfully, he doesn’t seem to mind.
By his guttural hum of approval and the lick of his lips that I catch out of the corner of my eye, I’d say he likes what he sees.
Well, I suppose we’ve already established he does, but it still feels weird.
To be liked.
Desired.
For me.
Focusing on what I need to do, rather than on his presence, I make quick work of getting around.
I leave him in the bedroom to apply my lashes, brows, and makeup in the bathroom.
When I’m satisfied with my dewy skin, rosy cheeks, and just the right amount of natural eyeshadow, I join everyone in the living room.
Cell, a big hype woman, catcalls as Kali offers me a kind smile, and the brunette beside her nods hello.
Wanting to get this over with, I gesture to the front door. “Is everyone ready?”
From her floor seat, Cell slaps her knees and gets up. “Sure. Let’s stuff our faces with milky sugar.”
Yes, let’s.
Unsure how I should say goodbye to Dark, I hesitate as the rest of the women file outside.
Dark takes up the rear, and when we’re both standing in the doorway of my house, he snags me around my neck and drags me into him, breasts to abs.
His smile is soft and sweet as I tilt my head back to look up at him.
Without saying a thing, he dips down, captures my lips, and sips from them.
Slow. Sexy. My heart pounds and my palms dampen.
I rest one on his stomach. Dark shivers and emits a low, feral rumble as I tangle my fingers into his shirt, not sure if I should push him away or yank him closer.
“Get a damn room!” Cell’s playful words break our spell.
Dark chuckles against my lips. “Cockblock.”
“She’s the worst,” I agree with a breathy giggle.
“I heard that,” Cell complains.
Meeting Dark’s eyes for a moment, we share an intimate smile before he leans in, pecks my forehead, and sees me off.
Together, side by side, not touching, he follows me over to Kali’s Jeep, where he opens the back door and shuts us inside.
His cute wave and wink do crazy little things to my insides as we back out of my driveway for a girls’ day.
Something I’ve never actually done before with anyone besides Dee.
“You have that man wrapped around your finger,” Cell jokes from the seat beside me.
Not knowing what to say, given this is all so new, I laugh awkwardly.
I don’t think I’ve got anyone wrapped around my finger, but I do think my mouth is tingly from kissing him, and there is a swarm of honeybees doing their thing in my stomach.
The woman in the passenger seat flips Cell off. “Leave the girl be,” she comments before turning around just enough to see me. “I’m Till. It’s nice to meet you.”
“You too, Till.” I offer a polite smile, then swing my attention onto Cell. “I don’t know why he likes me, but he does. I don’t know what’s going on with Dark, so can we please make today about hanging out together, not my dating life?”
Kali clears her throat. “I think that’s a great idea. Right, Cell?”
Tucking her arms across her chest, sufficiently put in her place, Cell grumbles a response.
By the time we climb out at the local dairy bar for ice cream and take our seats at the picnic table out front with chocolate-dipped cones, she’s back to her normal cheery self, and I’m enjoying the company of my new budding friendships.