Page 23 of Fractured Dreams

She’d wanted his hands on her, his mouth. Wantedhim. Must have felt everything he’d been aching to do to her and been ready and willing. He wondered what she’d done after he’d left her like that, lips swollen from his kiss, nipples hard and begging for his touch. He wondered if she’d gone back to her room, filled with the same agonizing need that had consumed him. If she’d used her fingers to give herself some relief…

Tex gritted his teeth. He’d had to turn the cold shower on again, but this time the icy water hadn’t been enough to calm the desire that raged inside him. Not with the taste of her still in his mouth, the memory of her body against his imprinted on his skin. Not enough this time to stop him taking himself in hand; from clenching his eyes shut as he’d stroked himself, his breathing harsh. Not enough to stop him coming so hard his abs had spasmed and the muscles in his thighs had shaken, as he’d pictured her spread out underneath him, eyes wide and wanting—.

Fuck. Stop tormenting yourself.

“She’s not waiting.” Tex’s voice was rough when he replied to Connor, who just nodded as he slung his guitar case over his shoulder.

“Come back then, you know Lexie always likes seeing your ugly mug for some reason.”

Tex rubbed his chin with his hand, his scruff rasping against his palm. He could really use some advice about the situation with Eden. Perhaps he could talk to Lexie. He wasn’t sure if he’d be able to do it without letting on who he was talking about, but for the sake of his sanity, he needed to try.

???

Forty-five minutes later and Tex had finally started to relax as he finished off the beer Connor had handed him when they’d arrived back at his and Lexie’s house.

Lexie had been busy doing some editing work when they’d got there, but she joined them then, dropping down onto Connor’s lap and stealing a sip of his beer as he rested his hand on her thigh.

Tex looked away, his jaw clenching. They made it look so easy. Logically, he knew it hadn’t been easy, for either of them, to find each other—or rather, to hold on to each other. But at least there had been nothing keeping them apart but themselves. Connor had never had to worry about whether wanting Lexie was somehow wrong.

Noticing that Tex had finished, Connor asked, “Want another one, man?”

Tex saw his chance. “I wouldn’t mind one more before I head back.”

“Want one, baby?” Connor asked Lexie.

“No thanks, I’m good.”

Connor lifted her off his lap, turning and depositing her on the couch and dropping a kiss on her lips, before heading to the kitchen to get them both another beer.

Lexie curled her legs up underneath her and turned to him, looking him up and down. “So, what’s up with you?”

Tex frowned at her. “What do you mean?”

“Come on Tex, you’ve been so on edge lately. Not your normal self.”

Well, shit.

Looked like he wouldn’t have to find a way to ease into the conversation. And he wanted to talk to her, he just couldn’t come out and tell her all of it. Even so, there was a good chance she’d figure it out on her own; Lexie was anything but dumb.

“So, there’s this… woman.”

A broad smile spread across her face. “I knew it!”

Tex looked down at the empty beer bottle he was rolling between his palms as he spoke, not wanting to see her face.

“Yeah, well, it’s, uh, there are complications.”

“Oh.” Lexie paused, and he glanced up to see her studying him. “Is there someone else in the picture?”

“Not the way you’re thinking. She isn’t… she isn’t really someone I should get involved with. Other people will be affected.”

There was another pause. “Ah, I see,” she said, softly.

Damn. He wasn’t sure, but he thought she might have just figured it out. Tex rubbed the back of his neck, his face heating up. At least she was kind enough not to call him on it if she had.

Lexie glanced toward the hallway Connor would be walking back down shortly, before turning to him and saying, “Look Tex. You were there for me and Connor when we needed you, and I would love you to have your own happily ever after.” He gave a half-smile at her reference to his love of romance novels, something she’d found out about him when she was on tour with them. “The thing you need to figure out is, do you see a future with… this woman? I’m not asking if you’re planning to marry her or anything like that. I’m just asking if you can see a possibility of a future, because if you can’t, if this is simply a physical thing, then don’t even go there. But if there’s something more, if there’s even a hint of a forever, then you should take the chance. Because you don’t want to live with the regret if you missed your shot and she might have been the one. And complications are just that, complications. They can be overcome if you’re willing to make the effort.”

He could see the compassion in her big gray eyes, and just had time to give her a brief nod of acknowledgment before Connor’s footsteps sounded from the hallway and he rounded the corner carrying a couple of fresh beers.

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