Page 29 of When We Breathe
“Gabe—”
I turn and drop my face to her ear, keeping my voice low so only she can hear me. “Unless you want me to spank your fine ass in front of everyone in this store, you won’t argue with me about this, Shorty.”
She blinks rapidly and bites that plump lip, and Iknow that if she hadn’t changed into another of her flowy sundresses, I’d see her thighs clench.
I kiss her cheek, then grab a cart. We make our way through the store, both of us grabbing what we need.
Alex tries to keep her things separate, and after a little while, I just smile and kiss her forehead.
“You’re cute.”
“You’re not paying for my groceries.”
I smirk and run my hand down her back. Of course I’m buying her groceries. Adam would spankmyass if I let her get away with paying for anything.
So when we reach the checkout, I combine all our items, tap my card, and pay for everything, making her glare at me.
“Do you have a hearing problem, Gabe?”
“I heard you just fine, Shorty. Doesn’t mean I’ll do what you say.”
After I get the bags into the vehicle, we’re on our way home.
“Wait.” Alex reaches out and grabs my arm.
“Did you forget something?” I take my foot off the accelerator, ready to turn around.
“No, it’s not that. Does Adam know you’re bringing me home? Is he okay with it? I don’t want to intrude.”
I take a breath and pull her hand up to my lips, kissing her knuckles. “You’re not intruding, you’re invited. I haven’t told him yet that you’re coming with me because he’s on an important call with someone in Hawaii in his home office, and I don’t want to interrupt him. But trust me when I tell you that he’s going to be fucking excited to see you.”
“As long as you’re sure.”
“Where is all of this insecurity coming from, Shorty? Did we not make it clear all weekend that we’re completely into you? That we enjoy spending time with you?”
“You definitely did. It’s not that. I just … I don’t know.” She tips her head back against the seat in frustration. “I don’t want to be a pain in the ass. I don’t want to get in the way. I don’t want to get in the middle of you two. I’m just a one-night stand, and you guys?—”
I pull over to the side of the road, only a few blocks away from our house. After cutting the engine, I get out of the truck and march around to her side, open the door, unbuckle her, and turn her to face me.
“I won’t listen to you talk like that anymore. Do you understand? You’re notjustanything, Alex. It might have started that way in the bar, but trust me when I tell you that it’s way more than that now. Yes, Adam and I are in a committed relationship?—”
“I know, and?—”
“But that doesn’t mean that we don’t want the same thing withyou, Alex.”
Her mouth snaps shut, and she blinks up at me.
“What?”
“Our man and I have done a good job of communicating with each other, and a really shitty job of talking to you about how we feel and what we’re thinking. So let’s go home, get dinner started, and then we can all talk together.”
We’ve really fucked this up.
Jesus, she thinks I’m taking her home because I feel sorry for her.
“Okay,” she whispers. I lean in to kiss her softly, licking into her sweet mouth before I get back into the truck and drive the rest of the way home.
Alex helps me with some of the bags, and when we’re in the kitchen, we can hear Adam murmuring behind his office door.
