Page 69 of Salvatore

“While wearing your clown make-up?” he asks, chuckling. “I didn’t realize you were into the kinky shit.”

“It was a deep cleansing mask,” I insist.

“Sure, it was,” he says. “All you were missing was the squeaky red nose.” He hooks his finger into the waist of my pajamas and pulls me to him. “So where do you keep it? In here?” he asks, sliding his hands into my pants to caress my bare cheeks.

I jump away from him. “I’m trying to be a better lover,” I say, pointing to the laptop.

He shakes his head, taking another look at the screen. “I don’t know, Kansas, this chick is pretty damned flexible.”

“You’re impossible!” I say.

“Is it the suit?” he asks, parting the jacket open to expose his light blue silk shirt. “Not enough polka dots for you?”

He cracks up when my face reddens. “You think you’re so hilarious, don’t you?”

“Maybe not as funny as you, but I can’t juggle or wear pointy hats.”

“Salvatore!” A knock to the door gives me an excuse to turn away. I only manage a step before he snatches me in an embrace.

He pulls me against him, trailing kisses along my neck. “You expecting more of your friends to shove in your little car?”

I try to bat his hands away, but I’ll admit, now I’m laughing. “It’s my food, I ordered Thai.”

“Here. I got it,” he says, releasing me to reach for his wallet.

I whirl around on my way to the door just to point at him. “You’re not paying for me, when you weren’t even supposed to be here.”

“Aedry? You in there?”

My steps slow as I recognize Donnie’s voice. I glance at Salvatore, who frowns.

“Aedry?” she calls again.

“Yes, I’m coming,” I tell her.

She greets me, holding the bag of food in her hand. “He said it was for you,” she says in the way of a greeting. “I hope you don’t mind.”

“Um. No. Of course not.”

I lift the bag from her hands and allow her through. But while Salvatore is surprised to see her here, she doesn’t react the same way. “Hi,” she tells him.

“Did you follow me here?” he asks.

“I’ve been here before,” she slips out of her coat and lowers herself to the couch. “Hasn’t Aedry told you we’ve been shopping?”

She fails to mention that while she’s dropped me off and picked me up outside, that she’s never actually been inside my residence. But the way she takes in my small apartment, lets him know enough.

He meets her with a hard stare that softens as he takes her in. I’m not sure what’s happening, or why she’s here. She’s been very needy. I’ve invited her out with us a few times, worried about how she’s doing. But I didn’t invite her tonight.

Instead of standing there watching them, I move into the kitchen and place the take-out on the counter. “Would you like some dinner?” I offer.

“What are you doing here, Donnie?” Salvatore asks, not giving her time to respond.

“Your brothers said you weren’t home,” she responds. “I thought I’d find you here.” She glances my way, forcing a smile despite how her stare seems to take in my flannel pajamas. She’s in Chanel. I recognize the dress from our shopping excursion. Her long blonde hair is brushed to perfection and her make-up is flawless.

I don’t think there’s ever been a time I’ve ever felt unwelcome in my home, but that’s how I feel then. She’s not here for me, she’s here for Salvatore.

“I guess I was right,” she continues, fixing her smile on Salvatore.

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