Page 74 of The Other Side
My hand finds hers to sink her into my lap. Her back adheres to my chest, her fingers snaking behind to brush my short hair. My lips find the delicate slope of her neck, and those wafts of strawberry are now tainted by the sweet nectar of her pussy.
Both my arms tangle over her belly now. “I can please your heart too,” I murmur, kneading her slim waist in my hands. “I did it once when I had nothing. Ask me what I can do for you now.”
She pivots her head, our eyes cemented amongst a dream-like state.
“Ask me, Cal,” I pant.
Our foreheads kiss, the tip of her nose ghosting mine when I continue.
“Just give it back to me. Come home,” I whisper. “There’s nothing to be scared of anymore.”
Chapter 23
Callie Rae
The zest of the lemon lingers through the kitchen. I take four wine glasses from the cabinet, walking to the dining table to spread the place settings.
“Wow, you look great. Is that the dress I ordered you?”
Jesse’s voice pops my body upright when he enters the room. His right hand is adjusting his Rolex as he saunters over to me, and I nod. “Yeah,” I say, peeking down. My palms plant on the periwinkle midi dress, and my foot absently lifts with the wedge sandal. “I felt it was appropriate since we have guests tonight.”
He invades my space, his arm snaking around me to rest his hand at my lower back. My chest ruptures with guilt, my fingers laying on his dress shirt to keep him at least an inch away from me.
But his lips find the top of my head anyway. “You look great. Just the way I knew you would.”
I inhale, my palms gently pushing him off me. When I offer him a subdued smile, my fingers swat the lone strands from my half-up, half-down hairdo. “I made lemon herb roasted chicken and garlic mashed potatoes. I hope they’ll like it.”
His hands disappear into his slacks when he pivots his attention to the kitchen. “Did you make another side?”
My eyes flash with annoyance when he disregards my efforts. “I made a zucchini and carrot medley. A chickpea salad too.”
“Oh, good.” He sighs a laugh before dragging his gaze to mine. “For a second, I thought you didn’t make enough food.”
I swallow thickly, my chin sloping up to emphasize my next point. “I made sure to make more than enough food, don’t worry.”
“Is there a reason not to love you?” Jesse hums teasingly. He wraps a hand around my bare arm to connect a kiss to my cheekbone. “You continue to amaze me more and more every day.”
A breath drains from my lungs when he turns to walk out of the dining room. My hand mindlessly lifts to my ear, my fingers lazily playing with the earring decorating the lobe.
The moment I touch the jewelry, discomfort weighs inside me.
I feel like a child who’s dressed up in her mother’s clothes on a Sunday evening. I’d much rather be cloaked in an oversized t-shirt with black leggings. More than that, there’s a dull throb radiating from my heels and slithering up my calves. Probably from strutting in these wedge sandals all over the kitchen.
My head turns to the large picture window, and I catch the sea of bold colors in the corner of the backyard. They’re no match for the flowers I saw earlier today. But I planted sunflower seeds right when I came home from Brant’s office.
Brant’s office.
A boulder lodges in my stomach. My horrendous shame is too great to ignore. Not because I was disloyal to Jesse, but just because I know it’s indecent.
It’s so wretched.
I’m not considering the person I violated as much as I should, and that scares the shit out of me.
I ingest a tiny breath, my eyes continuing to trace the vivid petals of my plants. I silently beg those sunflower seeds to grow roots at an exponential rate. All I want is to see the final result dancing in front of me. Large, yellow, and in my face. So that it’s impossible for me to look anywhere else.
I just want a damn sunflower.
The ring of the doorbell catapults me from my thoughts. I swipe my hands down the textured material of my dress, calling for Jesse. When I’m in the grand foyer and opening the door, I’m greeted with a very well-dressed Roger and Lindsey Wellis.
