Page 32 of Rebound

She starts to cough uncontrollably at my last words. Then she starts to laugh. She laughs so hard that tears fall down her face.

“Um, that’s never going to happen,” she says when she sobers up. “I can promise you that. You—”

I don’t let her finish. I kiss her and pull her to me. I cradle the back of her head and deepen the kiss. The fight goes out of herimmediately. She wraps her arms around my neck and kisses me as if I’m her last meal before she goes to the execution chamber.

She straddles me, and I slide my hand up her T-shirt and caress her silky skin. Wanting more, I break the kiss only to lift the shirt over her head and toss it to the floor. She looks into my eyes, and I wait for her to slap me across the face for my audacity, but she doesn’t. Instead of hitting me, she unclasps her bra and slams her body back into mine, kissing me hungrily again.

Her hands are everywhere. On my head and on my neck. She slides them down my body and underneath my shirt. Instead of going up, her hand stays at my waist, and I wait for her to tug on my belt.

Our kiss has now turned sloppy and wet, and I can’t get enough of that. I ask myself why I never cared for kissing before, because after getting a taste of her, I don’t think I can go back.

My dick is rock hard and begging to be freed. I don’t care. I’ll take her on this damn couch if I have to. Once she has my belt unbuckled, I reach for the waist of her pants. My belt is halfway off when I hear the front door open and close. She freezes for a moment before she jumps off me as if my lap is made of fire. She’s running around, and her perfect breasts bounce. She grabs her bra and her shirt just as heavy footsteps hit the floor.

She’s still topless when June Bug steps into the living room. All Layla has time to do is cover herself with her shirt. She stands there frozen while he looks from her to me. I grab a pillow and cover my erection with it.

“You’vegotto be fucking kidding me,” he growls. “I thought you said he wasn’t your boyfriend,” he says to Layla.

“Turn around,” she says. He does, and she puts on her bra and shirt. I watch the entire time and curse June Bug to the lowest depths of hell for interrupting before I could at least suckone of those breasts into my mouth. “He’snotmy boyfriend,” she says.

“Then why are you half-naked, and he’s covering his dick with my auntie’s pillow?” I clear my throat and look away.

“I don’t know what you’re talking about,” Layla says.

“You don’t know what I’m talking about? Really? Because you—”

“What are you doing home?” Layla asks, interrupting whatever June Bug was going to say next.

“They let me off early. I wanted to change before going to the hospital. Good thing I got here when I did.” He gives me the side-eye and then says, “Your belt is halfway off.” He crosses his arms as if we’re teenagers caught by our parents.

“June Bug, I’m a grown-ass woman. You don’t own me. Take it down several notches,” Layla says.

“Grown-ass woman my ass. You’re my little cousin until the day I die,” he says. “Don’t make me break both your boyfriend’s kneecaps.” He walks away after saying that, but he looks back and frowns at me.

“He’s not my boyfriend!” Layla yells to his retreating back.

I stand and adjust my still-hard dick in my pants. Layla stares while I do it without any embarrassment.

“What’s your answer?” I ask once I buckle my belt and my heart returns to some semblance of order.

She opens her mouth to answer, but Jasmine calls for me. I go to her and lift her out of the bed. She whines until she’s able to rest her head on my shoulder. I know my daughter, and I know she won’t fall asleep again. She sleeps best at home or with the Chastains.

When I return to the living room, June Bug is back, but he has his back turned as he rummages through a greasy paper bag. He pulls out several burgers and fries.

“I can give you guys a ride to the hospital,” I offer.

“Bet,” June Bug says. “There’s enough food for everyone. I’m sure you both worked up an appetite.”

Once he sits, Layla gently whacks him upside the head.

“Nom nom,” Jasmine says, pointing at the fries. She kicks her legs, so I put her down. To my shock, she waddles over to June Bug and stands there looking up at him. He takes a huge bite of his burger, and without looking down, he lifts her and puts her on his lap. He pulls the fries closer, and Jasmine shoves one in her mouth.

Chapter 20

Layla

I let out a loud sob and run out of Gaga’s room. She looks so pale in the middle of the bed, and I’ve never seen her look so thin. She’s awake but her eyes are unfocused and she doesn’t speak. Unable to take seeing her this way, I leave and run right into Seth Wakowski.

He takes me in his arms and holds me. I let him. I’ve never had a man comfort me. I put my face in the middle of Seth’s chest and inhale. He smells like detergent, but I’ve never smelled anything so good in my life. He feels so strong, and when I look into his green eyes, they seem so warm.

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