Page 19 of Come Alive
“Where is the other man?Kazi.” James cut through.
“He’s in Florida. We just got back from there, but we will need to go back.” I had already made my mind up, I didn’t want to be separated from him any longer than I needed to be.
“Florida?” James questioned, his green eyes dimming. “I’ll be going there tomorrow on business.”
Mateo stood to his feet. “Let me guess. I bet I know where you’re going.” He told James the town.
“You’re right.” James stiffened. “How?”
“What he said,” I echoed in confusion. “Why would James be going there? What do you know that you haven’t told me?”
Mateo helped me off James’s lap, settling me carefully onto my feet and back into my pants. The emptiness left me longing for another round. Wetness dripped down my thighs as I leaned against the table and cringed at the sensation.
I need to pee and take a shower.
“James, your silent partner. What is his name? Was he the one who pushed you to use Yara’s services?”
James stood next, walking away from us, putting his pants back on before pacing the room. “Steve, yes, he was the one who suggested it, but he doesn’t know that Yara was my…my date.”
Steve.
I didn’t recognize the name. It sounded close to another…but there wasn’t a possibility they could be the same person.
“Keep it that way,” Mateo growled, cracking his neck.
“Mateo,” I said in warning.
“I need to make a call.” He cast his eyes around the room. “Don’t let her out of your sight.” He offered me a lop-sided smile before exiting the room, leaving me alone with James.
Your daughter isn’t dead. Your daughter isn’t dead. Your daughter isn’t dead.
Now that we had fucked again, it was nearly impossible to keep this secret from him. How could I burrow my way into his skin with this between us.
It wasn’t fair.
“James?”
He was staring blankly off towards the window. He jumped when I called his name, but continued to look away from me. Clearly caught in his own world.
“Do you think you’ll be able to handle this? It’s going to be a lot. A baby. Two other men.”
“Men walking in on me fucking you…” he added humorlessly. “Yes. Even if the child isn’t mine, I’m ready to step up, ready to fall back into that role. Life is built on insanity and choosing the correct steps to find your happiness. With you, even now with so many unknowns, I feel happy. For the first time in years.” His voice broke before he quirked his lips. “There is no doubt of our connection either.”
My face heated. “I was going to call you sooner. I was going to return, but then…” I sighed heavily. “I had a stalker, an ex-boyfriend.”
James’s eyes snapped to mine. I could see the fire in their depths, recognized that he was angry on my behalf.
Putting my hands up between us, I explained, “It’s okay. He’s…well, he’sgonenow.”
“Gone,” James echoed, he smirked. “Mateo and Kazi…who are they?”
“They’re good men,” I said, not able to keep the defensive tone out of my voice. The implications in his words were clear.
“To you. I suppose as long as you don’t get caught up in whatever mess Mateo is a part of then it doesn’t matter.”
“Mateo isn’t caught up in any mess,” I argued, my irritation prickling along my skin.
“No? I caught the first part of his call before he moved away. He’s on the phone with hisboss. He’s asking questions about someone whose name is Isaac? Iza? Something like that.”
