Page 30 of Forbidden Desires

Guilt and fear knot in my throat. I want to tell them, to let them share in this strange mix of joy and terror that I’m carrying alone.

Dexter’s hand moves gently up my arm, grounding me with every slow, deliberate stroke. “You’re right, sunshine,” he murmurs, his breath warm against my hair, his tone calm and steadying. “But we’ll figure it out—all of it. Jobs, cities, the whole messy picture. But not right now. Right now, we’re here with you, and that’s what matters.”

Pete hums in agreement, pressing a kiss to the back of my neck, making me shiver as his lips linger there, a silent promise of devotion. “We’ll cross those bridges when we come to them, Suze. You should know something, though—Dex and I? We’re all in. Whether this is just for a month or for forever.”

His words crack open something deep within me, a vulnerable spot I didn’t even realize I was guarding so closely. This secret has been a weight pressing down on my heart, a mixture of joy and worry that seems to grow heavier by the day. Tears prick my eyes, unbidden, and I quickly squeeze them shut, hoping neither of them will notice.

But of course, they do.

“Hey, what’s going on?” Pete’s voice is full of tender concern as he shifts to look down at me, brushing the hair from my face. His gaze meets mine, searching, and I see nothing but warmth there. “Talk to us, Suze.”

Dexter’s hand remains on my arm, grounding me, his touch unhurried, patient as he waits for me to speak. I take a shaky breath, my throat tight with everything I want to say but can’t. I should tell them, I should trust them with this, but I can’t yet. I don’t want to ruin the moment, don’t want to burden them when everything finally feels… right.

“Nothing, just…” I manage to say, forcing a small smile as I thread my fingers through Pete’s, hoping it’s enough to reassure them. “I think I’m just… overwhelmed. This all feels so good, so… right. It’s like I’m just waiting for the other shoe to drop.”

Dexter’s hand drifts down my shoulder as he leans in, his lips brushing the corner of my mouth. “Then don’t worry about it, sunshine. Just let us make you feel good right now. One moment at a time.”

Pete’s lips find my jaw, his breath warm against my skin as he whispers, “We’re here for you, Suze. Let us take care of you.”

Their hands begin to move, slow and intentional, gentle caresses that unravel the knots of worry within me, each touch a silent promise that they’re here, that they’re not going anywhere. Dexter’s mouth moves down my neck, his fingers tracing down my side in a way that makes my heart pound, melting my fears away.

Pete whispers against my skin, his voice darker, grounding me with every word. “Just focus on us, sweetheart,” he says, hovering above me, his gaze filled with warmth and desire, his hands grazing my skin as if I’m something fragile, something precious.

I sink into them, every caress and murmur washing over me, allowing myself to feel cherished, desired, and completely safe.For now, I can let myself just be here, with them, as if everything is exactly as it should be.

CHAPTER SEVENTEEN

Suzie

The scent of coffee and sizzling bacon fills the kitchen as Dexter hums along to a tune on his phone, flipping pancakes with impressive finesse. Pete’s standing behind me, his arms wrapped around my waist, his chin resting on my shoulder as we both watch Dexter’s enthusiastic breakfast routine. It's cozy, surreal even—us three in the kitchen, moving around each other as if we've done it a hundred times.

For the first time in a long time, I let myself sink into the normalcy of it. Here, with them, it feels like everything I never knew I wanted.

“Alright, sunshine,” Dexter says, sliding a golden pancake onto a growing stack. “Taste-test?”

I laugh, taking a bite as he waits for my verdict, eyebrows raised expectantly. “Perfect,” I say around a mouthful, and he grins, satisfied.

In turn, I'm relieved that I seem to have my nausea under control for now.

Just as we’re about to dig in, my phone vibrates on the counter. I glance down, and my heart sinks when I see the reminder blinking up at me:

Prenatal Appointment at 10:30 AM

My chest tightens, the reality settling back over me like a shadow, reminding me of the secret I’m holding close. The timing couldn’t be worse.

“Everything okay?” Pete asks, glancing over at the phone screen. I quickly lock it, nodding as casually as I can manage. “Yeah, just a… reminder. I actually have to run out for a bit.”

Dexter frowns, gesturing toward the kitchen table set with everything we’ve just made. “But you were supposed to have the weekend off, right?”

I force a smile. “I do, but I, um… need to take care of a few things, errands, stuff I forgot about.”

Pete’s arms tighten around me, his voice a little softer. “Do you want company?”

A pang of guilt hits me hard, but I push through it, giving a small shake of my head. “Nah, it’s nothing exciting. You guys enjoy the food. I’ll be back soon, and maybe we can pick up where we left off?”

They exchange a quick look, one of those silent conversations that makes me feel the bond between them. But they don’t press me, thankfully, just nod, albeit with a bit of hesitation.

As I gather my things and slip out of the door, the weight of the secret pulls at me, sharp and unavoidable. It’s a beautiful day, clear and sunny, but I can’t shake the dark cloud of guilt. I know they’re serious about us, about wanting to be here for me no matter what, yet here I am, sneaking off to handle this on my own.

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