Page 56 of Dealing Dirty
Shifting my gaze back to his, I draw my shoulders back. It’s about time I stop letting age-old teachings define the way I allow men—or people in general—to treat me.
There’s no changing what my brothers and sister have done or even what they’re doing now, and in that, Adrián is right when he says we shouldn’t focus on what’s behind us. I’ve been clinging to my childhood memories for so long that I’ve kept myself from enjoying my lifenow.
Standing in a rush, I reach for my coat and slide it over my shoulders. Adrián’s got time to figure his shit out, and if he doesn’t it’s no concern of mine. I gather my things before giving his smooth cheek a kiss.
“Are you okay?” Adrián’s brows raise so high, I almost bark a laugh.
“I’m beginning to believe I will be.”
* * *
Three steady knocks sound at my door, followed by a rough and sexy, “Juliana?”
I hurry to finish pulling my hair up in a high ponytail and rush around my living room to fluff my couch pillows and rearrange the blankets for the twentieth time.
Checking my underarms for freshness, the scent of coconut and sea breeze tickles my nose.All clear.Breathing into my palm, I check my breath, too.
My four-legged friend jumps from his comfy perch on the arm of the couch and slinks toward the door to greet our visitor. His tail curls around my calf as I swing my apartment door open and a rush of chilled air tousles the thin wisps hanging around my face.
The light inside my apartment kisses the strong angles of Derrick’s face. Dark brows accentuate playful brown eyes, and the contrast is lovely against his sinfully full lips. I grip the door to stop myself from dragging him inside like a cavewoman and having my way with him.
If those dimples are any indication, then the feeling is mutual.
“Hola,” he greets me, leaning his shoulder against the doorframe.
Oh. My. God.
I cover my mouth with the back of my hand.
“Spider-Man?” I mock his choice of pajamas. “I mean, I didn’t think you would actually go for the whole footie pajama thing, but… Wow.”
“What can I say?” His voice drops as he winks. “I always follow through.”
I tug on one of the locks hanging over his eyes, and he bats at my hand before stepping over the threshold.
“Did you bring any snacks?” I ask as he dances around Oscar to close the door.
My toes wiggle inside the purple pajamas Cassidy bought me a couple of Christmases ago, and I adjust my glasses when they slide down my nose.
Oh!I forgot all about them.
Embarrassed by the thick frames, I yank them off my face and fold them in my palm. I’m practically blind without my contacts, but it’s part of my nightly routine to switch them out for my comfy granny specs.
“Ah, I knew I was forgetting something.” The snap of his finger is muted by his red-cloth-covered hand.
Oscar meows at the obnoxious pj’s as Derrick struts across the room, coming into focus.
“Of course I brought snacks, woman. How else am I going to seduce you?” If I could see, I bet he’d have a cheeky grin on his face. “And I know exactly what you like.”
The crinkling of plastic sounds from his pocket, and kernels jiggle inside the bag when he gives it a firm shake.
I jut my hip out and raise a brow.
“Alright, fine. A little bird may have reminded me of your favorite treat,” Derrick confesses.
“Does that little bird also happen to be blonde and pregnant?”
Reaching around my back, Derrick takes my balled-up fist in his hand and gently brushes kisses along my jaw until I’m relaxed enough to pry the frames from my grasp.
