Page 53 of The Southern Thirst Trap

Harlowe’s eyes flutter open and she stares at me a moment before smiling softly. “He’s with my mom for the night.”

She’s mellow and soft, and I like her in this state almost as much as I like the wildcat fighter she can be when angry. It reminds me of the soft moments we had when I lost myself in her, when I made her come so many times she cried and still begged for more, not wanting it to end. When I promised her forever and told her I was ruined. I wasn’t lying about that. I would be hers forever, even if I couldn’t bring myself to honor my promises when we left our vacation. A part of me has remained attached to her all this time, waiting, wanting, needing her, locked away in the vault where I threw it after carving it out of my chest. Now I’ve dragged it out, slapped it back on my chest, told it to beat again, and hope it will repair the rest of me that’s broken.

“He’s asked about you every day since you came over. He likes you.”

“I told you I would come over any time he asked. You didn’t say anything.”

“I wasn't sure how to feel about it. I promise I’ll let you know the next time.”

“What about you? What have you been thinking about, when you think of me?” I ask, hoping we’re on the same page. Hoping we can get there if she’s not. I continue to trace my thumb along her cheek and she lets me, which feels like a huge fucking win in itself. I feel like we turned a corner after that kiss at the gala.

“I didn’t delete the footage from when you came over while I was making the honey cake. Those few minutes you were in the frame with me were… insanely hot. We’re hot together. I’ve watched it back countless times. Thought about it in bed a few times, too.”

She blinks, breaking the spell she’s wrapped around us, and looks up at me from under dark lashes, her eyes luminous and full of heat. I realize I’ve leaned in even closer as she spoke quietly, drawn in by her voice, eating up the magic of her words.

“I wanted to taste you so bad right then, Lowe. I could feel how hot your pussy was when I pulled you against me. I bet you would have been sweeter than the batter I licked off your neck. But you stopped me. Would you stop me tonight if I wanted to bury my face between your legs and drown in your sweetness?”

She shivers, but looks down, and I feel like I’ve lost her by being too bold, by telling her how badly I want her instead of how badly I want to be the man she needs. I should be working harder to gain her trust instead of acting like the stupid fuckboy who is only capable of breaking her heart that she thinks I am.

“If you take me home tonight, you can see for yourself.” Her eyes are clear when she meets mine, challenge illuminating those dark depths that hold my whole world.

My heart leaps, but I slow my instant desire to scoop her into my arms and run for the fucking doors right this instant before she can change her mind. I move my hand down to the column of her throat and turn her face so she’s fully looking at me, making sure she knows I’m dead serious with what I’m about to say.

“If I take you home with me, I’m not letting you go this time. You’ll be mine. Whatever that means inthisworld, in real life. No vacation bullshit.” My voice is low, hoarse.

I’m terrified out of my mind with what this declaration means for the both of us. How will I back it up? How can I be the man she needs when Olympus has already claimed so much of me? But I’ll figure it out. I’m willing to do whatever I need to in order to make her mine now.

“Promise?” her voice shakes and I see the hesitation in her eyes, the challenging mask slipping and showing me the scared woman who knows how easily I can hurt her, how simple it is for me to sell her a lie and change in the very next moment. Yet she’s still asking for it.

“I promise. I won’t hurt you again, Lowe. I’m so sorry for before. I know that words will never make up for what I did to you. I’ll show you now that I mean to be better, to do better by you and Hendricks. I’ll be the man you need and want.”

She blinks, and a tear slips down her cheek. I do what I wanted to so badly on the jet when I had to break her heart, and catch it with my thumb, licking it off, tasting her ocean of sadness, her need.

“Hey!” Female hands clap in my face and we both jump. “Excuse me, you two. I don’t want to see tears from my best friend when we’re supposed to be celebrating. Whatever deep conversation y’all are having over there has to stop.”

Harlowe and I pull apart and look up quickly at the interruption as she dabs slim fingers I can vividly imagine sliding diamond rings onto under her eyes, swiping at the moisture on her cheeks. The spell that captivated us is broken and the loud bar comes back into focus, reminding me that we’re in public, surrounded by people, and were not, in fact, alone having this very heartfelt conversation.

“It’s fine, Paloma,” Harlowe says, placating her friend with a quick, watery smile. “I’m fine, it’s all good.”

“I’ll make it up to you later,” I promise in her ear before I return my attention to the table, loaded with plates of food and cocktails. “Let’s celebrate your book being a bestseller and getting a show, as is only proper.” I pick up the closest drink, a pink cocktail with one of those flowers that’s tucked behind her ear, and hold it up. “To bestsellers, fresh starts, and forever.”

Harlowe looks at me quickly, then across the table at Javi and Paloma. I keep my eyes trained on her, glass raised until she picks up her own cocktail and clinks it against mine hesitantly. “To bestsellers.”

“To bestsellers,” the others echo, clinking glasses and smiling at her while avoiding the rest of my awkward toast.

I sip the hideous cocktail and set it down, slipping the plumeria flower into a pocket for later. I rest my hand on Harlowe’s thigh and realize she’s wearing some leather-type leggings that hug her thighs and I look down quickly, only to bite back a groan as my hand involuntarily squeezes tighter at the sight. Whatever the material is feels like a second skin, buttery soft and warm, black as night, and stretched tight over her thick thighs that are pressed together on the seat. I want to peel the pants off her and have those thighs wrapped around my head tight like she’s squeezing my fingers, keeping my hand trapped in place. I rub my thumb on her outer thigh and leave my hand where it is as I try to focus on the table conversation, the other people here with us, when all I can think of is the heat coming from Harlowe’s pussy, mere inches from my fingers.

“Javi was just saying he wants a big family. What about you, Zander,” Paloma asks, hazel eyes sharp as she draws me into the conversation with a landmine of a question that’s sure to weigh my intentions as only a protective best friend can.

I shoot Javi a withering glare and he shrugs apologetically, but also gives me a look that more than says you brought this on yourself, cabrón. Well, fuck. How do I answer that when it’s only recently that I’ve even considered the possibility of having a family at all? I look down at Harlowe and see the guarded look of hope she is working so hard to hide peeking from her gorgeous eyes.

This is it. Go for fucking broke. Lay it all out. Commit to the man I want to be or get the fuck out of here right now. She deserves my fucking best, and if I can’t give it to her now, with an answer to a simple enough question, I don't fucking deserve a second chance with her at all.

“I want whatever Harlowe wants,” I say for her to hear, but loud enough for Paloma and Javi to catch. Paloma lets out a small gasp while Javi chokes on his drink. “How many babies do you want, Lowe? Girls? Boys? A whole baseball team? Just the one? I’ll give you anything you fucking want.” Javi starts coughing in earnest now and Paloma whacks him on his back until he stops.

“Zander,” Harlowe says slowly, eyes wide, looking spooked by my declaration. Okay, maybe it was a bit much. I should have just stopped at whatever she wanted. It was a good enough answer, but it wasn’t the answer I wanted to give.

“Are you feeling okay, bro?” Javi asks, reaching across the table like he’s going to feel my forehead. I bat his hand away, keeping my eyes on Harlowe.

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