Page 52 of Black Wave

“Now, how do you feel? Do you think you can go to sleep.”

She doesn’t even speak, just nods.

“Good,” I say as I pick her up, guiding her to the shower. I place her on the expansive bathroom counter and start the shower. “I`ll be at the gym. I’ll call you after lunch?” I ask, and she continues to nod. “I see I have rendered you speechless,” Isay jokingly, rubbing at my jaw and licking my lips that still very much taste like my sweet Emma’s pretty pussy. She strips and laughs, watching my pants tent in the process.

“Love you,” she says as she gets into the spray of the water.

“Love you too,” I say as I take my hard-on and reluctantly leave.

I’m pulled away from my thought of Emma to the sound of laughter. “Eddie?” Helena shakes her head. “Someone sure is smitten.” She waves at a customer coming in.

“Don’t fucking call me Eddie,” I say, rubbing my hand across my face. I get a faint scent of Emma and smile.

“I would have thought you would say, don’t call me smitten,” she counters, and I shrug. “I knew it. Good for you,” she replies, sincerity lacing her words. “You need a good woman in your life.”

“Well, I have one, so you don’t need to worry about that anymore.”

Her smile widens. “About time.”

I look over at the cafe, noticing a line forming at the counter. “How’s the cafe doing, Helena? Have you noticed a lot of activity there?”

She looks at me, knowing I changed the subject, but not commenting on it. “Besides today?” She gestures over to the cafe, waving her hand about. “Yes, actually, there has been quite a lot.”

“That’s good to hear. I am glad for us but also delighted for the owners. They are hard-working and might just need this opportunity to get their name out in this area. Their food is fantastic and fits our location perfectly. I already overheard one of our gym customers asking about catering an event at their workplace, and that makes me happy to hear. They have the potential to branch out.” Just as I begin to ask Helena anotherquestion, I see a familiar face sitting at a table with a woman who is not Emma’s friend, Liv.

“Excuse me, Helena, I have to chat with someone.”

“Oh, boy,” Helena counters. “That's never good.” She turns around to help a customer coming up to the counter.

I chuckle, not disagreeing. I turn to walk toward Jameson’s friend, Dax. Now, to see what this is about.

I observe Dax and this girl for a bit to pick up a feel for the vibe. Their body language suggests an awkward conversation. Dax is mimicking a defensive stance, and it appears he would wish to be anywhere than here at this moment.

I reach their table and notice that the attractive woman is angry. Well, that's interesting. “How’s it going? Dax, right?” I extend my hand in what I hope is a non-threatening way.

He takes my hand, shaking it in a firm grip. I expected his hands to be soft, but surprisingly, they are calloused. Maybe from surfing?

“Eduardo, good to see you.”

So he does remember my name.

“Thanks again for your generosity at the club the other night.”

I nod, shifting my gaze between him and the woman currently giving him daggers. His body would be dismembered all over my gym floor, if her looks could kill.

“Eduardo, this is Tatiana, one of my work colleagues.”

She purses her lips, and I know exactly what this is about. Meeting in a public place. This is the ‘I am seeing someone else’ type of discussion. This woman is beautiful but probably a complete psycho.

I turn to her and see her dainty, manicured hand extend to me. I, in turn, embrace it. Amusement lingers in my eyes at this awkward-as-fuck exchange. Dax is exuding major anxiety at this situation. No doubt, he thinks I will tell Emma all about it, and inturn, she will tell Liv. I have to think about that for a bit. “Good to make your acquaintance Tatiana.”

Dax eyes me up and down, noticing my slacks and button-down shirt. I know what he is silently implying. What am I doing here? He watches me with suspicion, which is fucking ironic since I’m not the one here with another woman.

“So…you don’t look like you were exercising here? What brings you over? Looking for a membership?”

I laugh at this comment because the guy is clueless. I shake my head. “No, I don’t need one since I own this gym.” I wave my hand, extending it to the gym in an exaggerated performance.

I see the shock and questions that run through Dax’s mind. He swallows, and I give him a menacing smile. I see the recognition on his face that alerts him to the fact that I am a dangerous man. Good, I think to myself. He should be afraid. If he does anything to upset Emma, I’ll have his balls. If that means making her friend Liv unhappy, and it just so happens to make Emma worry about her further, then I will take that personally. I may be a mafia guy, but my parents loved each other, and I hate a fucking cheater.

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