Page 20 of Black Lace

She takes a sip from her wine and I can't help but wonder what is coming next in this rollercoaster of an evening.

CHAPTER 9

GARDENING

(TIFFANY)

My words hangin the air around us and a part of me thinks that I shouldn't have said them, but a bigger part of me is grateful to have voiced them aloud. I was as shocked as Dec was when I kissed him, but I'm glad I did. He's a good kisser and a good friend. I can't help but think about what he would be like as a partner.

He gives me a smile that is equal parts sexy and full of tenderness. "That's good to hear. I can't pretend I wasn't worried earlier."

I want to say more, but I'm pretty sure I've already said too much as it is, so I decide to play it safe. "I'm sorry, Dec. I didn't want you to think that. This food is delicious."

I divert the topic to a much safer one and we spend the rest of our time eating while making small talk andignoring the big, gray elephant trumpeting loudly in the corner of the room.

"Shall we have a coffee?" Dec asks when we finish eating.

"Sure, that would be nice." I nod and hand him my plate and cutlery when he holds his hand out for it.

I make my way into the living room and take a seat on the sofa. I'm pretty sure this sofa has officially been ruined for me for all time. I'll never be able to look at it again without thinking of Dec fucking me into oblivion.

I quickly spring up from it as the memories come flooding back and choose instead to make my way onto the deck that faces the McLeans' private beach behind their house. I take a seat on one of the outdoor loungers and inhale the fresh, salty breeze, blowing it out slowly.

I'd be lying to myself if I wanted to pretend that I don't want to spend tonight in bed with Dec and I frown out at the beautiful view in front of me wondering what the hell I'm thinking. I rub the skin of my ring finger and a flood of guilt washes over me. How can I want that? Why am I not utterly devastated by the loss of my relationship with Ben? If I get involved with Dec, am I just as bad as he is?

"Here you go, Sexy," Dec says in a voice like warm velvet, pulling me out of my guilt as he slides a cup of coffee across the small table between my chair and the one he's seating himself in now.

The nickname he's used for me for years suddenlysends a shock of arousal straight to my pussy. It does absolutely nothing to untangle the mess of thoughts in my mind right now.

"Thanks."

I pick up the coffee and take a sip. He's made it perfectly, of course. Dec knows all of my favorite things and that's part of what's made him such a good friend over the years.

I don't dare to look at him and choose to continue staring out over the water as I ask the question I'm intensely curious about. "Why did you come to see me today, Dec?"

"I couldn't not come see you, Tiff," he says quietly.

I finally turn to look at him. "Why, though?"

We're back in the dangerous territory that I keep forcing us to tread. I'm certain that the only way forward or to untangle those thoughts I keep having is to make our way through this as scary as it is.

"It wasn't because I wanted to sleep with you." He heaves a deep sigh, and I feel bad that he would think I might be accusing him of this.

Nonetheless, I can't resist teasing him, "You didn't want to sleep with me before today?"

"I didn't saythat," he says with a sexy chuckle. "I said that I didn't come see youbecauseI wanted to sleep with you."

I'm curious about his desires for me and what he told me when we were having sex, but I want him toanswer my previous question, so I table this one in my mind to ask after he has.

"So why would you come to see me if it wasn't because you wanted to sleep with me?"

"Can you really not think of a reason why that would be, Tiff?" He raises an eyebrow at me.

I can only think of one, but I want him to be the one to say it, not me.

"I'm sure there are plenty of reasons it could be, but I'm curious why from your perspective."

He takes a sip of his coffee before he sets it aside and turns to look at me. "Because I knew that your heart would have been shattered into a million pieces and I wanted to make sure that all of those pieces would be safely collected up and put back together someday."

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