Page 66 of Never Enough

Nemo walked down the hall with Gem toward the bedrooms. When they reached her doorway, he stopped her and gave her a lingering kiss on her cheek. “Sleep well, kitty cat. It’s gonna be a bumpy ride for a few days.”

“You too,” she whispered. Then, with a smile, she entered her room and closed the door.

He stood there for a few moments, just staring. Giving his head a shake, he headed into his bedroom and began laying out his gear for the trip. By the time he had it all in piles on his bed, Scheherazade was barking that the washing machine was done. When he stepped out into the hallway, his throat dried up at the sight of Gem opening the door of the machine. As he expected, the dog was halfway in, pulling out Manny and then waiting for Gem to open the dryer.

“Won’t sleep with a wet baby, huh?” she whispered. “I don’t blame you.”

Gem opened the dryer, Scheherazade put Manny inside, then settled to watch her baby tumble on low.

His eyes drew back to the woman petting his dog’s head,crooning that Zade would have her baby back soon. She was wearing a ribbed tank top that cut off just above her belly button and a pair of sleep shorts that hung low on her hips. Her tattoos were out in all their glory, and it appeared that she, too, had been adding to her body since they’d last seen each other. She seemed to be almost as covered as he was, including a sleeve going all the way down her left leg.

But what snagged his eye and held it was her belly button. It glinted in the dim light above the washer and dryer in his hallway. She was pierced.

That’s new.

And then his eyes narrowed.

No. Fucking. Way.

He made sure to make a slight noise so as not to startle her, then traveled down the hallway, his eyes never leaving the piercing. When he was close enough, his hands reached out to rest on her hips, and he lowered himself to his knees.

“You still have it.”

“Yes,” she admitted.

He looked up at her. “You put it on your body.”

“Yes.”

“Oh, kitty cat. I’m trying so hard to behave here, but seeing this on you? Knowing you didn’t forget that night? Knowing you wanted to remember? You’re making it difficult.”

“So don’t behave. In what universe do you think I expect you to behave and not try to fuck me? Isn’t that what you do?”

Her words held no malice or judgment, but they should have. He wanted so badly to follow through with the offer, but he couldn’t. So instead, he kissed just above her belly button, lingering there long enough to circle it with the tip of his tongue and dip inside to where the moonstone nestled, coaxing out the infectious giggle from the tickling sensation he created. Then he tipped his head forward to rest along her belly, handsstill on her hips, his thumbs brushing back and forth across the skin.

“I can’t do it, pretty baby. I won’t. There will come a time when I probably can’t hold back anymore because, believe me, I want you more than you can imagine. But that time is not tonight. I need to be better for you. I don’t deserve you if I’m not.”

“But—”

“No.” He stood up, moving his hands from her hips to frame her face. “I will take some of that sugar, though.” His lips touched hers again. They opened for him slightly, inviting her to match him. When she responded, he let his tongue drift into her mouth, the tip touching hers, then he slid against its entire surface with one swipe. He drew back, not prolonging the kiss. “So sweet. Nothing better. The only thing that comes close is bubblegum, and now I see even that’s a poor substitute. Be prepared to be kissed, kissed often, and within an inch of your life, sugar cat.”

After another kiss, this time to the tip of her nose, he let go and stepped back. “I’ll take care of Manny”—he nodded at the dryer—“and I’ll wake you at three thirty. Night.”

She watched him for a moment. Her hand reached up to ghost along his cheek, and then she walked past him to bed. With the soft snick of the door closing, he leaned on the dryer top, his arms locked. Eyes closed, he exhaled.

You did the right thing. Making her feel good is one thing. Making her feel like she’s yours is so much more.

25

SEPTEMBER 10, 2022

Haskell

Haskell woke up sweating and feeling crushed. There was a chuckle in the far recesses of her brain that was low and sexy. Then she was wet. Unfortunately, it was a hot, slobbery wet, and it was her face, not lower where she’d prefer.

“Eww. That better be Scheherazade, or you’re losing your touch, burglar boy.”

The chuckle turned into a guffaw. “She has no boundaries.”

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