Page 70 of You're All I Need

Climbing into my work truck, I head for home, anxiously. I’d like to think it’s because of the prospective shower, meal, and sleep that’s coming, but I know better. I’ll get to see Adrienne, even for just a little while, and I’m incredibly excited about that.

Fuck.

Running my hand over my face, I contemplate ending our deal tonight rather than waiting. She’s consuming my thoughts, my dreams. She’s everywhere, in my house, my SUV, and even at work. Literally. There’s no escaping her.

I’m so screwed.

I pull into my driveway and practically stomp toward my back door. I toss my bag on the floor by the washing machine and make my way to the bathroom attached to my bedroom. I’m stripped naked in a few seconds, my clothes littering the floor to be dealt with later. I wait until the water is the perfect temperature and step inside, letting the emotions and exhaustion of the day wash down the drain.

My mind only thinks of Adrienne and the fact she’s headed this way, so as soon as I’m washed, I turn off the water and climb out. A yawn erupts from my mouth and my eyelids start to droop. I contemplate texting her and telling her not to come, but the truth is, I want her to.

Iwantto see her.

Hold her.

Kiss her.

Make love to her.

WHAT?!

Back the horse up, cowboy. You donotmake love. You fuck. Period.

I’m certain it’s just the fatigue talking at this point. I could tell myself I’m the Prince of Egypt and I’d probably go searching for my crown. I’m not quite the spring chicken I used to be, staying up most of the night, usually with a few beers in me, and then heading off to work the next day with less sleep than the night before. Jack told me it’s all downhill from thirty, and I’m starting to believe it.

I go to my bedroom and pull out a pair of boxer briefs. Adrienne’s seen me in them before, and I want to be comfortable when I crawl into bed. Just as I’m walking out of my bedroom, a delicious scent fills the air. I follow it, the fragrant aroma of chicken and homemade goodness, which leads me straight to the kitchen.

“How’d you get in?” I ask a bit gruffly.

“You left your door unlocked and the key in the knob,” she informs me, dangling my keys from her index finger.

“Oh.”

“Sit,” she instructs. “It’s ready.”

I watch as she dishes me up a hearty bowl of chicken and dumplings. The moment she places the bowl in front of me, she turns to the fridge and grabs a can of Coke. I should probably drink water, but I’m so tired the caffeine probably won’t have any effect on me. When she sets that beside my bowl, I ask, “Aren’t you going to eat?”

“I was just going to take some back home with me.”

“That’s silly, Adrienne. It’s here. You’re here. I’m eating, so eat with me.”

She nods before returning to my cabinet and pulling a second bowl down. She fills it about halfway with her mixtureand grabs a bottle of water from the fridge before joining me at the table. I take a bite, the flavor exploding on my tongue. “Damn, this is good.” I swallow my first bite and scoop up a second. “Thank you,” I say, the hint of a smile on my lips.

“You’re welcome,” she replies before diving into her own food.

By the time her first bowl and my second are clean, I can barely keep my eyes open. “Come on.” She stands up and extends her hand.

This is when I should tell her to go, that our time is over.

But those words don’t come out.

In fact, I can’t say anything at all. I just place my hand in hers and walk beside her to my bedroom.

She moves to my bed and pulls back the thin blanket. “In you go.”

I can’t help but smile as I climb into bed. The serenity and comfort wrap around me instantly. When she covers me up and heads for my door, I find myself asking, “Aren’t you joining me?”

Yeah, not at all what I was going to say…

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