Page 82 of Crave

“You love me,” I say to her again.

“More than I love pink cotton candy.”

“I’m honored that you’ve trusted me with your heart.” I kiss the side of her mouth. I kiss her again and she spreads her legs wide, waiting for me. I align myself at her wet opening. “And I’m going to hold onto it. I’m not letting you go, Dee.” I push inside of her, sliding right in, connecting not just our bodies, but our hearts. In my messy bed and tangled sheets, I show her just how much I love her.

CHAPTER 28

JAKE

“It’s a beautiful day,” I say as I stroke the long legs splayed across my lap. “Let’s get out of here. Go into the city and act like tourists.”

“Mmmm. Sounds good. Oh, I know! Let’s go to the art museum.” She moans as I massage her calf.

“Whatever you want to do, baby,” I tell her.

“Let me go change.” She jumps off the couch and starts to head to the bedroom, but I grab her arm. She turns to face me.

“You love me,” I tell her, and she smiles. She steps closer, wraps her arms around my neck and presses her body into mine.

“More than I love perfect summer days like today.” I stick my head in the crook of her neck and breathe her in as my hands slide down her back, resting on her firm butt.

“I love you too.” She takes off to the bedroom as I busy myself straightening the kitchen. Just as I load and start the dishwasher, the doorbell rings, followed by loud banging on the front door.

“What the hell! I’m coming!” I shout as I run to the front door.

Whoever it is continues to pound on it. I open the door only to find my disheveled younger brother, who walks inside without waiting for an invitation.

“I need to talk to you. I need to talk to someone.” He walks directly to the kitchen and pours himself a drink from a bottle of tequila left on the counter and downs it.

“It’s not even noon.” I grab the glass from his hand before he can pour himself another drink. He runs his large hands over his face, his usually clean-shaven baby face now filled with a reddish, blonde scruff. His hair needs to be cut and is in disarray all over his head. His clothes are wrinkled and stained, his eyes bloodshot and sunken in as if he hasn’t slept in days. “What’s going on with you?” I pull out a chair for him at the table, and he sits, his shoulders slumped in defeat. I take a chair across from him, waiting for him to speak.

Just as Luke is about to speak, I hear the door to my bedroom open.

“Baby, change of plans. I hope you don’t mind, but Tash just called and wants us to come over since they’re cooking out. My mom will be there too, and I can’t even begin to deal with the guilt trip from both Tash and Mama if I don’t show up.” The bedroom door closes, and I hear another one open. “What do you think? The food will be good, I promise. God, why do I have so many shoes here?” I hear rummaging from what I know now is the spare closet, which I’ve named Sandy’s shoe graveyard. “What do you say? Chris wants you to come hang with him. He says he’s always outnumbered, but—” She finally makes it into the front of the house and stops midsentence when she sees Luke. She looks gorgeous in a simple pair of denim shorts and a short sleeved pink polo shirt, a pair of sandals dangling from her hands. She’s in true Sandy form today, complete with a floral wreath in her hair.

“Oh,” she mouths. “I didn’t hear the door. Hey, Luke.” She looks from him to me and back again. “Everything okay?”

Luke clears his throat and rubs his face again. “No, they’re not. I’m sorry, I didn’t realize you were here. Sounds like you two have plans, so I’ll get out of your hair.” He starts to get up, but I put my hand on his shoulder and tell him to stay seated.

“Don’t leave, Luke. Let me just put on my shoes and I’ll get out of your way.”

Luke’s response is to nod as Sandy puts on her shoes.

“Hold on a sec, Luke. Come here, baby,” I grab Sandy’s hand walk back into the bedroom for privacy. “I’m sorry, but he’s a mess and needs someone to talk to. Take my car and I’ll meet you at your sister’s later, okay?”

“I can call an Uber.” She gives me a chaste kiss on the lips. “He needs you.” I grab her hand and pull her to me before she can reach the door.

“How about a real kiss?” I devour her mouth, putting my emotion into the kiss. I hear her moan just before she sticks both hands in my hair. My body starts to awaken, but I end the kiss before things can escalate further. “Come. Just take my car. My gas tank is full.”

“Funny,” she says, slapping me on the butt as we walk out of the bedroom. She waves to a stoic Luke as I walk her outside.

“I’ll be there as soon as I can.” I open the door for her, and she climbs in.

“Don’t worry about it. He needs you, so spend the day with him. Call me later. I love you.”

“Love you too.” I give her a deep kiss before closing the door to the car. I don’t leave the driveway until the car is completely out of my sight.

Luke’s standing at the front door when I turn around.

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