Chapter 29
CHAPTER TWENTY-NINE
LUKE
I yank open the door. “Hey, sexy.”
“Hey,” Dei huffs, pecking me on the lips.
I block her from entering. “What was that?”
“What?”
My hands grab her waist and pull her into me. “That wasn’t a kiss like you’re happy to see me.”
“Sorry,” Dei sighs. “It was a crazy day.”
“Leave it out there,” I say, gesturing to the door with my head. “It’s not invited in here. Now…how about a better kiss than that?” I guide her face to mine and taste her lips with a slow, lingering embrace.
Dei’s body immediately responds, her mouth parting with her tongue slipping into my mouth. Just a few seconds later, I’ve got her in my arms and I’m carrying her to the bedroom.
“Looks like you’re staying,” I mention as we snuggle just after having sex.
She brought a bag with her, and we both left it on the floor in the entryway.
“I know that you’ll be back home next weekend for your birthday. I’ve got more meetings. And I’ll be at a Halloween Party the following weekend in Vegas. So…yeah. I hope that’s okay.”
“You can stay anytime you want for as long as you want. I’d rather you stay all the time…just like this.”
“Like what?” she asks nervously.
“Naked.”
Dei smiles and shakes her head. “Oh, I got you something.”
“What?”
“Hold on,” she says, exiting the bedroom. She returns a second later with a hand behind her back.
“What are you doing?”
She starts to put on my shirt.
“Don’t you dare cover that sexy body of yours,” I scold.
“But….”
“Naked. Now,” I direct.
“No,” Dei challenges with a smirk.
“Since I won’t see you for my birthday, then, yes,” I comment.
“That doesn’t mean you can be bossy.”
“You can’t argue with me on my birthday. Take it off or else.”
“Or else what?” she goads.
I raise an eyebrow which gets Dei to smile.
She hesitates for a few seconds and then slowly removes it.
“Better,” I say with my eyes dropping to her bare breasts.
She steps closer and removes her hand from her back. “Here.”
I don’t say anything, not expecting her to have gotten me anything.
“What?” she asks nervously, sliding onto the bed.
“I didn’t expect a gift or for you to remember.”
“We’re friends…friends give each other gifts,” she defends nervously.
I pull her close and kiss her.
“Open it,” she directs when I get distracted and nip her ear.
Dei watches me excitedly as I rip the paper away.
My eyes light up once I get the lid off the box. “Dei,” I sigh in shock.
“Do you like it?”
“I love it.” I take out the signed football. I move closer to her, seeking her lips. “Thank you.”
“You’re welcome.”
She had already captured me in more ways than one, and now to have gotten me an autographed football with signatures of my favorite team on it makes this the best present ever.
It was surreal enough just to meet a few of them with her when I went to that one business event she had to attend.
I twist the ball around in my hands, finding an inscription that says: Success isn’t given, it’s earned…
and you’ve earned it, with her name just below it.
“Come back with me,” I blurt.
“What?”
“Nothing,” I say, dismissing my request.
“I…” her voice cracks.
“Thank you, Deidre,” I say, placing the football back in the box. “Thank you for being here, and thank you for my gift. It’s perfect.” I pull her into me, kissing her, caressing her. “You’re perfect.” I manage to distract us both enough that we end up having sex again.
We make the most of the night, barely leaving the apartment. Tony takes Vix for a few walks, allowing me to get as much time with Dei as possible. She continues to be distant when we’re in public, which I still can’t figure out.
Despite what the news says, Mandy has confirmed that Dei hasn’t dated, let alone slept with, anyone else since Dei and I started. It helps having a person on the inside explaining a few things to me about Dei.
It’s starting to bug me that I can’t hold her hand or anything else when we’re in public.
It’s as if we’re acquaintances. I’m seriously trying to figure out how to breach the subject with her without causing her to panic.
I don’t like it when I see pictures of her on television, in magazines, or on the internet with other guys.
I don’t understand why I can’t be them each time.
I don’t want to have our pictures taken and plastered everywhere.
I just want everyone to know she’s mine.
When I’m back up in the Bay Area, I head out for a night with the guys. It’s just Mike, Will, Daniel, Evan, and Andrew tonight since David’s sick, Kevin’s on a date, and Brad is being the pussy that he is, claiming that he can’t drink on a work night.
“Mike says you’re dating a chick,” Will says, gulping his beer.
“I’m not dating.”
“He still won’t tell me her name,” Mike goads.
“We’re just talking,” I lie.
“Since when have you not been able to get inside a girl’s pants?” Mike asks speculatively.
“It’s not like that.”
“How far have you gotten with her?” Evan asks.
“That’s none of your business.”
Will bumps my shoulder. “Is she a virgin? If so, I don’t blame you.”
“Oh, shit,” Evan says.
“I’m not talking about any of this with any of you.”
“Why not?” Daniel replies. “We’ve always talked about girls.”
“In the past, yes,” I agree. “It’s been different since Mike and Claire started dating.”
“That’s true,” Mike agrees.
“Is she holding out?” Kevin asks.
I glare at him, but don’t reply.
“Give us something,” Mike requests. “Anything.”
Will bumps my arm with his elbow. “What’s her name?”
Fuck! What am I supposed to say?
“Marie,” I blurt.
Well, at least that is a part of her name, as in her middle name.
“What does she look like?” Will asks.
“Yeah.” Mike sips his beer. “Is she hot?”
A naked Dei pops into my head, but it fades quickly when Mike comes back into my line of sight. “Yeah.”
“Did she give you anything for your birthday?” he asks.
“Head?” Evan suggests.
I don’t comment.
“Come on,” Will goads. “I’m sure she…you know…gave you something ?”
I half snort, half choke on my sip of beer, catching his innuendo.
Mike is going to fucking kill me if he ever finds out that we’re talking about Deidre. Fuck!
“Yeah, she did,” Daniel states. “He’s getting all choked up about the memory of it…look at him.”
They all laugh while I remain unamused and slightly embarrassed.
“So, when do we get to meet her?” Will asks.
“Never,” I return sharply.
“Come on,” Mike replies. “You can’t keep her all to yourself…especially if she might be the one .”
“Yes, I can. Remember how long it took for us to meet Claire?”
“That was because I didn’t want you guys to embarrass me,” he quips.
“How would we embarrass you?” Evan replies.
Will chuckles, knowing exactly why the other guys didn’t meet her for a long time. He got to meet Claire first since he and Mike were college roommates. I was the second person to meet her a few weeks later.
The guys hound me for a little longer about who I’m dating, but I don’t cave. When I make it to the bathroom, I check my phone. It vibrated earlier to let me know there was a message. I’m glad I waited, because it was from Dei.
Happy Birthday Sexy!
My eyes bulge when I see the attached photo of her making a kissy-face at the camera with her breasts practically out of her shirt.
Fuck me.
Wish I could right now.
What?
Fuck you.
You horny?
Yes. Wanna have phone sex?
Yes…but, I can’t.
Out with the guys.
Later?
Definitely.
Fuck you then, sexy.
Can’t wait.
About twenty minutes later, the guys and I leave the restaurant.
The topic of football comes up. I almost mention my gift from Dei, but the neon sign glaring at me through the windshield as Mike pulls into the parking lot catches my attention, keeping me in check while also making me suddenly irritated.
“Seriously?”
“It’s tradition,” Daniel reminds.
“It’s getting old,” I remark.
“Hence the word tradition,” Mike laughs.
“I’m twenty-nine, guys. I don’t need to be going to a fucking titty bar for my birthday.”
“Scared your girlfriend will get mad?” Daniel teases.
“First of all…she’s not my girlfriend. Second…she’s got more sex appeal than any woman in this place.”
“How do you know if you haven’t slept with her?” Will quips.
All I want to do is go home and have phone sex with Diedre—Mike’s sister. Fuck!