Page 50 of Everlasting Love

I return the gesture. “Hey. You’re not usually here this early in the day.”

“Yeah, well, I needed to think, and working on the bikes is good for that.” He selects a bike from the collection and starts to dismantle it, dumping the parts noisily into an empty tub, frowning the entire time.

Interesting. It seems I’m not the only one who uses the technique. “I’m here if you need someone to listen,” I offer. Not that I’d be much help, but sometimes it helps to verbalize things and God knows he’s had to listen to me enough over the years.

His head snaps up toward me and his eyes bore into me before softening. “Yeah, well, my wife served me with divorce papers this morning.”

His words hit me like a freight train. Fuck! “Shit. I’m sorry.”

He shrugs; his posture that of a defeated man. “I guess I deserve it.”

“Do you want a divorce?”

“Fuck, no!” he almost shouts. “I love her and my family with everything I am,” he says softly.

“Then fight for her. For your marriage. For your family.”Listen to me giving relationship advice.

“I want to, but I’ve done sweet fuck all to deserve her since I got back, and I have no idea where to even start.”

“I haven’t been in your position, but I would think you need to show her you’re the man she needs and wants. Step up and be the man she deserves. The father your kids deserve.”Maybe I should take my own advice.

He grunts and we both fall silent, each lost in our task. I don’t know what else I can say, and he came here to work through his thoughts, so I leave him be.

Climbingthe stairs to my apartment—because the elevator’s broken again—groceries hanging from my fingers on one hand, I look up as my foot lands on the final step to my floor and I freeze. My breath catches in my lungs when I spot the woman whom I can’t stop thinking about leaning against my door, and my eyes automatically drop to her bare legs and hungrily trace every smooth inch until I reach the bottom of the jacket she’s wearing.

Myjacket.

For all intents and purposes, she appears toonlybe wearing my jacket, but that’s probably wishful thinking on my part. However, if it’s true, if she’s only wearing my jacket and nothing else, then I’m totally and utterly fucked. I won’t be able to resist her. It would be impossible.

She’s so engrossed with something on her phone and unaware of her surroundings that she hasn’t noticed me—which pisses me off. I could be anyone. Granted, I’m the only tenant on this floor at the moment, but she doesn’t know that. “What are you doing here, Blue?” My voice comes out gruff as I make my way toward her.

She straightens where she stands, sliding her phone into her purse. “Returning your jacket.” She gives me a coy smile, which isn’t coy at all. She has to know the tilt of her lips is sexy as fuck and their silent invitation is impossible to ignore or refuse.

“Is that so?” I surge in, trapping her against the door with my much larger body, using my hips to keep her in place. Finding my control at the last second, I slow my approach and run my nose up the side of her neck. She tilts her head to the side with a sigh, giving me better access and I place a tender kiss against her pulse point, which is hammering a fast rhythm, mirroring mine. Her fingers glide through my hair, and her sudden touch is enough to bring me back to my senses and I pull away abruptly. I lock my eyes with hers, noting the blue I adore is being swallowed by her pupils. “No touching, Blue. That’s the rule, or I stop.”

Her eyes flick between mine for several seconds, then she nods once and drops her hands by her side. “Okay,” she murmurs as she leans forward, searching for my lips. I trace my eyes over her features as I dip down and our lips make light contact—a slow swipe of soft flesh against flesh and I barely suppress a groan at the feel of her silky lips against mine once again. This wasn’t supposed to happen but it truly was inevitable. Her tongue tentatively slides along the seam of my mouth, and I open, granting her access. She doesn’t waste a single moment, flicking her tongue into my mouth. At the first sweep of her tongue against mine, I stop holding back. I slip my free hand behind her head, collect her hair in my fist, guide her mouth where I want her, and deepen the kiss without warning. She moans into my mouth, and even though she’s not touching me with her hands, the touch of her supple body pressed against mine feels better than any previous lover’s caress. Something I haven’t had for a long ass time.

Her heart pounds against my chest triple time as our tongues sweep against each other. I tighten my fist and tilt her head to suit my needs, savoring her delicate flavor. She complies beautifully beneath my touch, and as our breaths combine, I get lost in her. In her taste and the feel of her lips against mine. This is everything I shouldn’t be doing but damn if I can stop. This is a battle I’m tired of fighting, and I lay down my resolve at her feet.

Her ringtone sounds from her purse, and I unwillingly drag my mouth away. She slowly opens her eyes beneath a frown, her lips puffy from our kisses. “Why’d you stop?”

I dip my head toward her purse. “Your phone.”

Pink stains her cheeks and awareness lights her eyes. “Oh, right.” She digs in her purse but it stops ringing before she can fish it out.

While she sorts out her phone, I unlock the door to my apartment and drop my groceries onto the kitchen counter, putting the cold items in the fridge and freezer and willing my dick to calm the fuck down.

Vi rushes in, quickly shucking my jacket from her shoulders and tossing it on the back of my couch—exposing her matching deep green lace bra and panties. Fuck, I was right! My dick wakes all the way back up at the sight of her sweet curves presented in green lace like a damn gift. She’s so focused on the voice on the other end of the phone that she’s completely oblivious that she’s stripping in front of me. She’s all business now; there isn’t a hint of teasing in her actions, and her worried expression has alarm bells ringing loudly. “I’ll be there as soon as I can. Thanks for calling.” She disconnects the call and drops the phone on the counter. “I have to go.”

I watch her carefully. She’s not panicking, but her movements are efficient and I can see worry tightening her features. “What’s going on?”

“Jasmine’s been crying, and no matter what her teacher does, she’s inconsolable. I need to collect her,” she tells me without looking up as she drags out a pair of leggings and a sweater from her purse. If I weren’t shocked by her words, I’d be impressed at how much she can fit in that bag of hers. She quickly drags the leggings up her legs, then slides her sweater on and pulls it down to cover her body. I step behind her and release her silky hair from being trapped beneath the soft fabric, then grab my car keys.

“I’ll drive.”

Her eyes rise to my face. “I can drive. I’ll need to take her home, and it’ll be easier in my car.” She slides her feet into her flip-flops and then tosses her purse over her shoulder.

“Yeah, but you can’t comfort her if you’re driving. I’ll come with you so I can drive, then catch an Uber home.”

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