Page 40 of Dex

“So, how is that hunky man of yours adapting to being a dad?” Rachel asks me. I smile at the group of girls. We have been sitting here for just over two hours, chatting about boys and babies. I say boys; all of our boys are actually men. Very sexy, tattooed men. Mine is the sexiest, but I am pretty biased. Dexter Castle can charm the knickers off any woman, and he knows it.

“He is fab actually. He helps feed her at all times, changes her nappy. He is loving it,” I explain, and all my words are true. I never thought that Dex would take to being a father so naturally, but he has. He loves his daddy-daughter time. They sit and watch TV together, well, he watches, Phoebe just chills on his chest. And believe me when I walk into the room and see my man, resting our daughter on his bare tattooed chest, it makes my ovaries go boom all over again. Every bloody time.

“I think Dex is doing a pretty good job,” Penny says. She rubs her big baby belly and sighs. She only has a few weeks left, but I don’t think she will go full term. To be honest, I would say in the next week. She is all fidgety and can't sit still. Liam has been running around after her, not letting her lift a finger. She went on maternity leave a few weeks ago, because a drunk lad fell into her. Liam flipped the hell out, demanding that she stop working, so she did, she saw the risks that night of being a heavily pregnant A&E nurse. I love Liam to bits and seeing him act like he did that day was so heartwarming that I cried like a baby. That earned him a punch in the shoulder.

“He is, Pen. He shocked the shit out of me, I really thought he would hold back, you know. It took him years to finally see how things were with us, so I thought that him having a baby with me would bring up memories and feelings of Fiona. It scared me if I’m honest with you girls.” I look towards Penny. “And before you say anything, yes I have talked to him about it, we don’t hide anything anymore; it only hurts us in the end.” I finish my sentence and cut my gaze to Rachel. She holds my stare for a few seconds and then looks away. She knows how she feels about Jay, but she is hiding her feelings. She will be shocked one day if he chooses not to wait around for her to sort her head out.

“I think my threat put Dex on the right path. I mean, what man wants to lose his cock and balls. And from what Addy has told me, Dex very much likes his package, and he knows how to use it.” Lauren winks at me. Fucking blunt as ever is my girl. Penny chokes on her tea at Lauren’s words but I just laugh, I am used to her crude mouth now.

“Our men are banging, I can tell you that. We all have men with bodies like tattooed Greek Gods and we are some lucky bitches,” Lauren pipes in and takes a sip of her drink. “God, I am all tingly thinking about what Joe did this morning with his tongue. Fuck me sideways.” She licks her lips and we all laugh.

“Laugh it up, bitches. I wish I had a man to drool over. I am going to be the scary, old cat lady that the kids are scared of on Halloween,” Rachel whines from her seat. Did she really just say wishes she had a man? Well fucking hell. I turn in my seat to face her. The girls must sense something is up because the room goes quiet.

“If you would just open your eyes for one second, you’d see that you have the perfect man right in front of you. But you are too bloody stubborn to see him for what he is,” I snark at her. She can be a bitch when she wants to be, but I normally keep my mouth shut because of Penny. But she is hurting my family.

“You don’t know what you are talking about, Addy, so butt out.” See? Can’t open her fucking eyes.

“Really? So you have no feelings for Jay whatsoever? He is fucking perfect, Rach. He is kind, sweet, loyal and honest. He tells you like it is. He has told you plenty of times how he feels and you throw it in his face.”

“Well why don’t you shack up with him then, if he is so fucking perfect?” She goes to stand but I cut her off.

“I have Dex and you know it. I love Jay like a brother. He has always had my back and I have his. He deserves someone who wants him as much as he wants her and from what I can see,” I pause and take a deep breath, “he is better off without you. You will always hurt him, not on purpose sometimes, but most of the time. You have a lot of shit to sort through, Rach, but do not drag my brother down with you.”

“Brother?” I hear from behind me. I spin around to see Jay standing there, arms at his sides, fists clenched, breathing heavy. Dex is behind him with Phoebe in his arms, looking like a freaking sex god.

“Yeah, brother.” I nod.

“God, I love you Ads.” He comes into the room and wraps me up in his big arms. The girls ooo and ahhh at him. Most men would suck it up, like my man would, and he does.

“Hey, ladies, sexy tattooed bloke over here holding a baby.” He gestures towards him and Phoebe.

“Way to ruin thesentimentalmoment,Dexter.” I say his name with a shit load of sarcasm.

“I didn’t, I improved it.” He winks. “It was getting way too mushy in here anyway. Love you baby.” He walks into the room and over to me. He leans in and kisses my lips, tasting me like he always does. “Fucking delicious, babe. Here, your daughter was missing you.” He winks at me again.

“Just her daughter?” Lauren says.

“Well, her man too.” He hands Phoebe over to me and I laugh when I see what she is wearing. Dex smirks at me and everyone else looks at me like I am crazy. I hold onto Phoebe with one hand and wipe away my tears with the other. Bloody men. I turn Phoebe around so everyone can see the t-shirt she is wearing over her cute, little black baby leggings.

“Oh, Dex, really? Not you, too.” Penny chuckles as she says this.

“What? It is fucking perfect for my baby.”

Phoebe is wearing a pink t-shirt that says ‘18 years until my first tattoo’ in a white funky font, with a white candy skull under it. The girls in the room all gush over how cute she is. Dex even put a small pink bow in her hair. I love running my fingers through her soft, jet black hair. While the girls fawn over Phoebe, I chance a look at Jay and Rachel. They are in the corner having what looks like a heated conversation. Jay lifts his head and looks at me and shakes his head before he pulls her out of the room. I bring my gaze back to Dex and he shakes his head as well, he feels the same as I do. We both want what is best for Jay and at this moment, I don’t think it is Rachel.

I keep my gaze on the door, until I feel the sofa dip next to me. I turn my head and my eyes meet Dex’s. He smiles and leans in and kisses the tip of my nose. God, I love this man with all my heart. My smile matches his. I drink him in; his dark eyes, his perfect bone structure. I can clearly see that he has stamped Phoebe well.

“I love you, baby. More than you can ever imagine. You and Phoebe hold my heart, and you hold the power to fucking obliterate me. I beg you not to do it. I beg you hold onto me forever and I will never let you go. I will cherish you until my last breath.” He leans in and places a feather light kiss on my lips. I can’t help but lick my bottom lip, hoping to savour any trace of flavour he has left behind. His words hit me in the heart, right in the center. Bullseye, baby.

“Okay, are you going deep again?” He has laid these words on me a few times now and each time takes my breath away.

“You like me deep, babe.” He winks at me.

“Ha. Ha. Okay, you got me there.” I wink at him as Lauren gags. “Piss off, you like Joe deep. You have told me, on more than one occasion, just how deep that man can get. And believe me, it is so bloody hard to look that man in the eyes after the things you have told me. You should really write a sick, twisted sex book.” I wink at Lauren and we burst out laughing.

“Oooo I could totally fucking do that,” she says, pulling her phone out of her bag. She swipes her finger across the screen and starts tapping furiously.

“What are you doing now?” I ask her. Truly scared at what she has planned.

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