Page 24 of Deceit & Desire

“Yes,” Zoe whimpered, her hips jerking with need as she planted her hands on my shoulders, took control, and proceeded to ride me like a freight train until her perfect little pussy spasmed around me with the force of her orgasm. Then, she gazed down at me with those breathtaking hooded green eyes of hers and looked me right in the eye. “Almost every single night while I was in Miami, I got myself off to thoughts of you just like this.”

And that little admission was all it took for me to come so hard I saw stars and my ears started ringing. Or, at least, I thought my ears were ringing until Zoe rolled off me and scrambled over to the night stand, snatching up her cell phone and frowning at the screen. Every muscle in her body tensed, and a little of the color drained out of her face.

I instantly sat up and reached for her hand, giving it a reassuring squeeze. “Who is it?”

“It’s the hospital.” Shivering and crossing her arms, she tapped the answer button. “Hello?”

Chapter9

Something to Cry About

PLAYLIST: ”THE HOUSE THAT BUILT ME” BY MIRANDA LAMBERT

ZOE

I turnedon the speakerphone option and set my phone on the nightstand, scrambling to grab my discarded clothes off the floor as I waited for whoever was on the other end to speak.

“How you doing today, baby girl?” My dad’s voice washed over me and a wave of relief followed. My knees went rubbery, and I dropped my clothes, sinking down on the edge of Roman’s bed.

“I’m good, Daddy. The real question is, how are you?”

Roman grabbed his big flannel shirt off the floor and draped it around my shoulders. The fabric was still warm, and I pulled it tight around me, snuggling into it as I offered him a smile of gratitude and a quick peck on the cheek.

Roman scooped up his jeans and boxer briefs, mouthing, “I’ve gotta get back to work, baby.”

I nodded as Roman tugged his underwear and jeans back on, then bent to give me one more lingering kiss.

My dad’s voice broke into the heat that washed over me at the touch of Roman’s lips. “I thought about what you said, about wishing I’d stick around for my grandbabies.”

My breath caught, and I leaned forward, my heart stuttering as I leaned toward the phone. “Yeah?”

Roman grabbed another shirt out of the closet and waved to me before hurrying down the stairs, leaving me to have the rest of the conversation with Dad in private.

Dad cleared his throat, a wet, phlegmy sound that made me shudder. “Well... since you and Roman are getting married and grandbabies are a real possibility now, I’ve reconsidered my stance on the cancer treatments and all that.”

“You have?” The room spun, and I went light-headed, my chest aching with the intensity of the hope that filled me in that moment.

“Yeah. I told the doctors here this morning, and now I’m telling you. I’ve smoked my last cigarette. I’ll never pick them back up, and the doctors feel they caught this lung cancer early enough to really do something about it if I’ll agree to the treatments, and to taking better care of myself.”

My heart thundered an erratic beat and my pulse pounded in my ears. “And what did you tell them?”

“I told them I’ll do the treatments, and I’ll work on taking better care of myself, but that I’d like to do whatever we can with a live-in home healthcare nurse. I’ll come to the hospital when it’s necessary, but I’d like to do the majority of what I can do from home, so I can spend more time with you and Roman, and god willing, my future grandbabies.”

Big, hot tears filled my eyes and spilled down my cheeks. I’d never felt such intense relief before in my life. I reached up and wiped them away with the sleeves of Roman’s flannel shirt. “That sounds great, Dad. What do you need from me?”

Dad coughed, and the plastic-covered hospital mattress creaked as he shifted his weight. “They said they’ll release me in a few days, after they’ve had time to get all the tests they need to figure out what we’re going to do going forward. Get the big house ready for me to come home. Move me into the back bedroom downstairs, so I don’t have to fuss with going up and down the stairs if I don’t have to.”

I nodded, chewing on my bottom lip. “What do you want me to do with the master bedroom? Close it up, or?—”

“No, I’d like you and Roman to move into the master bedroom and be up at the main house with me.”

“Of course, Daddy.” My gut twisted at the thought of moving back into the house where I lost my mother, but I’d do anything for my father, even that.

“And get the guest bedroom ready for that live-in nurse. They said my insurance probably won’t cover it, but I told them it’s that or nothing.”

I waved a hand, even though I knew he couldn’t see me. “I’ll cover whatever the insurance doesn’t cover, Dad. Don’t you worry about a thing. I’ll take care of everything.”

Even as I reassured him, I had to wonder whether I was really up to the task, or if I was setting myself up to fail.

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