Page 48 of Expressionate
"Don't get her pregnant, I'm not ready to be anauntie!"
I knock on the door and am once again greeted by the barely clothed roommate with a bad attitude. "Oh," she scowls, “it’syou."
I raise a brow as she holds the door open for me before retreating to her room. Ignoring her, I make my way to Love's room. When I'm standing in the doorway, I remind myself that there's a reason I'm taking her out. Love deserves to be shown off. She deserves to be shared with the people who mean the most to me – to Sarge and the oldcrew.
But the moment I see her, I have a hard time convincing myself that I shouldn't just rip up that little black dress of hers, bend her over the bed, and fuck her into tomorrow – and maybe the next day for goodmeasure.
"Hey," she says, approaching meslowly.
When she gets closer, my eyes drop down to the hint of cleavage revealed by her dress. Even though I've already had her in my arms – naked and gorgeous – I want her again. It’s a shock for me. Usually after the first time, my interest wanes. Not so, withLove.
"Hey," I grin, “ready togo?"
She nods, the ghost of a smile on her lips. I take her hand and we leave, heading out to the Jeep. I keep her fingers laced with mine as I drive. I never thought I'd be the kind of guy that held a woman's hand, much less kept looking at her across the console like I couldn't believe her existence. But I am that kind of guy with Love. I can't believe it. That she's really here with me. We pull up to Sarge's house – a one-story bungalow on the outskirts of Tega Kay – and there are already a number of people milling around outside. I can feel Love's hand tense inmine.
I slide a glance her way. "Youokay?"
She's quiet for a moment before she finally looks at me. "Yeah," she says. Her smile is back in place, though it's a bit strained. When she lets go to reach for the door, I click the lock in place. Her head whips back tome.
"If you're ever not okay," I say, "tellme."
She blinks. "Tax...I'm fine." I frown at her. "I mean, well, I'm not..." she sighs, "you really don't like the wordfine." Her tone is soft, almost teasing, but I'm notbudging.
"If you don't want to go, I can start the car and we'll go back to the apartments," Iswear.
"Weren’t you looking forward to this?” sheasks.
I shake my head. "I don't care. If you're uncomfortable, we don't have togo."
She meets my eyes and smiles. A real, honest smile. It's fucking radiant. Her hand touches mine and she leans forward, brushing those petal soft lips of hers against my mouth. "We're going," she says, "but I want you to hold my hand,okay?"
I'll fucking hold the world on my back if she asks me to. "Okay."
We get out, circling to meet at the front of my Jeep. Love takes my hand in hers and I lead her toward the frontporch.
"Hey, Tax!" I turn just as Cross and Blake come around the side of the house. Blake's smiling for a change as they hold out beers to both Love andme.
"Hey Love, good to seeyou."
Love smiles at Cross and nods as she accepts the beer from Blake. "It's good to see youtoo."
"Sarge inside?" Iask.
"Yeah, the old geezer was sucking down some Fireball in the kitchen the last time I sawhim."
"Old geezer?" Love looks at me questioningly before glancing around at the crowd that ranges from early twenties to mid-thirties.
I laugh. "He's not really old," Isay.
"But he is a geezer," Crossargues.
I tip my own beer back and take a swig. "Why don't you go say that to his face?" Isuggest.
Blake shakes his head. "Too late for that, he alreadydid."
"Oh, yeah?" I grin before sliding my gaze back to Cross, who – now that I'm noticing it – is rather flushed in his cheeks and unsteady on his feet. "How many shots did he take youfor?"
"It was only five," Cross replies, beaming ear to ear. "I totally beathim."
