Page 112 of Sugar and Skulls

“You helped me realize I’m worth more than cheap one-night stands.”

“I love you, Raffe.”

“I love you too. Keep your chin up. Bill will come around.”

“Yeah, I suppose. I’ll let you go. Dirk probably has supper done.”

“Sweet dreams, Jesse.”

When I head back downstairs I find Dirk setting the table. He looks up and smiles. “Did you tell him to keep his hands off my sister tonight.”

“No.” I roll my eyes.

“I guess they are both adults.” He turns away from me to grab the ketchup out of the refrigerator.

“So are we but everyone seems to forget that. They want to make it dirty.” My voice cracks on the last word. I don’t know why this is bothering me all of a sudden. I’ve always known it was going to be an issue when Dirk and I made our relationship known.

“Hey,” Dirk crouches down in front of me. “What’s going on?”

I wipe my tears on the back of my hands. “I don’t know.”

“Jesse, your dad doesn’t think we are dirty. He thinks I’m too old for you. Period. I think for a brief moment he thought I somehow manipulated you when you were vulnerable, but he’s thought about it. Him and I have even talked about it.”

“You have?”

“We have. I don’t know if anyone will ever fully understand just how powerful this is.” He motions between the two of us. “But, we will show them. We are going to live our best life…together.”

I nod feeling a bit better. “I just don’t want Bill to chase you off.”

There’s that damn eyebrow.

“Do you really think I’m a guy who gets chased off?”

I shake my head no, giggling.

“I’m the chaser, you’d be wise not to forget that.”

My arms wrap around his neck as I drop to my knees in front of him, our supper quickly forgotten.

We spend the rest of the night making love. On the kitchen floor, the couch, the bed, even outside under the light of the moon.

Chapter Forty-Four

Jesse

???

The smell of bacon wakes me up. My stomach grumbles as I glance at the clock beside the bed. I smile and stretch my aching limbs. I definitely needed a morning of sleeping in, especially after the amazing night I had with Dirk.

I toss the clothes I had on yesterday and head down the stairs. When I round the corner my eyes land on my dad, leisurely drinking a cup of coffee. He glances up at me. “Good morning, sleepy head.”

He hops up and heads over the stove. “I made your favorite, pancakes and bacon.”

I sit down hesitantly at the table as he sets the plate in front of me. He takes his seat again, picking up his coffee and taking a sip. His eyes meet mine over his cup. “Go, on eat. It’s not getting any warmer.”

My gaze slides quickly over the room looking for any sign of a struggle. My dad chuckles. I narrow my eyes at him. “You didn’t kill him did you?”

He laughs and smacks the table with the palm of his hand. “Oh, believe me. If I wanted him dead he would be six feet in the ground already.”

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