Page 16 of Blood Lust

And I left.

“I can’t believe you’re not going to tell me anything that happened!” Merin crowed as she shot me the stink eye.

Remembering bits and pieces from the night before, I smiled to myself. Could I tell her everything? Yes, I could. Except it seemed like a sacrilege to share our night together.

“He was… amazing,” I offered with a sigh before I rested my chin on the heel of my hand as we waited for our food to arrive.

“That’s it? That’s all I get? At least tell me he wasn’t strictly missionary. I mean, it has its place, and there’s nothing wrong with it, but I wanna hear that he bent you over, grabbed that hair, and went to pound town.” Eyes wide, foot tapping, and arms crossed, she was the epitome of exasperated.

My face heated at how close her description was to what had happened. Thankfully, the waiter brought our lunch and set it down. We’d both slept through breakfast. When we left for the restaurant, I’d been half hoping to see Gabe again and half hoping they’d already left.

“Bitch. He did, didn’t he?” She leaned forward as she studied me with her jaw unhinged. Then she laughed. Other patrons glanced our way, and I shushed her.

“Hell yeah. Lia, I’m so happy for you. That’sexactlywhat I was talking about. You needed that.” She moved on to her food, and as we ate, we discussed the things we planned to do for the day. We flew back to Minneapolis in the morning, and I would have a day with her there, then fly back to Chicago the day after that.

We ended up saying to hell with it, and spent the rest of the day by the pool, soaking up the sun. Well, I did, but she slathered herself in sunscreen and lounged her Irish butt under an umbrella.

“You and your half-Italian genes,” she grumbled and playfully glared at me.

I grinned as I rolled my head to face her. “Good ol’ Dad was good for something, huh?”

She snorted a laugh. “Hey, I don’t suppose you got any pics of your sex machine last night, did you?” She waited expectantly.

I grimaced. “I wish. But those memories will still be front and center in my mind for a loooong time.”

My phone rang and, seeing that it was my dad, I smiled and answered. “Hey, Dad.”

“Hello, sweetheart. I hope you’ve been enjoying yourself.” I’d called him every day to check on him. Each time, he’d rushed me off the phone, telling me to enjoy myself and not worry about my old father back home. I couldn’t help it, though—I worried.

“I have. It’s been a great trip.”

Merin snickered, and my face flushed at the thought of how good it had ended up.

“Well, you deserve it. I’m not going to be able to meet you at the airport. Mario said he’ll be in the area and can pick you up for me,” he explained.

I winced.

“Oh, um, I can just take the Blue Line. He doesn’t need to take time out of his day to get me,” I countered. The last thing I wanted was to have to ride home with Mario.

“I don’t want you taking the train at that time of night,” my dad argued. “It’s not safe.”

“Dad, it’s fine and not the first time since I’ve done it. Did you forget I take the train down to the office when I go in?”

“That’s different,” he huffed.

I laughed. “It is not.”

“He’ll be there,” he insisted making me roll my eyes.

“Fine.”

“Good. Thank you for humoring your dear ol’ dad. See you soon. Love you, but I’ll let you get back to your vacation.”

“Love you too, Dad.”

“Looks like you have a date,” Merin teased.

My eyes narrowed and I stuck my tongue out at her. “Shut up.”

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