Page 33 of The Little Black Rose

“And Zeke?”

“Yeah?”

“Welcome home.”

With that, she disappears into her room and closes the door softly behind her. I walk into my own room and take another look around. Nodding to myself, I start to unpack.

I can see this becoming arealhome for me. A real home with a real, if somewhat unordinary, family.

And for the first time in what feels like forever, I’m…happy.

Chapter16

Something’s Gotta Give

Ava

Igroan and stretch out an arm to slap my hand down on my alarm clock. The incessant buzzing continues as I smack it again and again until my fingers finally connect with the snooze button. I blink a few times, then rub the sleep from my eyes before leaning over to flick the switch to off so the damn thing won’t start buzzing again.

I lay back and listen for any sign that Zeke may still be home, but I hear nothing. I knew I wouldn’t. He always leaves for work before I wake up.

He’s been here for two weeks now, and I have to admit, it’s been…nice. Every morning, Zeke gets up early enough to make me breakfast––a fruit platter, sausage and cheese pastries, boiled eggs, or whatever else I’ve mentioned I’ve been craving––even though he has to leave the house by four-fifteen to get toGlaZZedin time to prep for the day. And he always leaves a note with it, telling me to have a good day and to pet the kitties for him.

Oh, I’ve been petting one particular kitty for him, all right.

Yep, it’s official. I’m hot for my new roomie, and I’m not at all happy about it.

He’s just so…different now. He’s lost that grumpy, standoffish persona completely, and with every kind and attentive gesture he makes, my crankiness grows. Because I know it’s not for me. It’s for Cannoli and Strudel. That’s what he’s calling the babies now. Isn’t that sweet? He’s just sosweetall the time, I can’t reconcile his new attitude with the quiet, introspective man he’s been for so many years. And knowing it’s for the babies, not me, is making me a crabby bitch.

Because it’s making me want him even though I know there’s zero chance of anything happening.

Was he like this with Samantha? And God, if he was, how fucking stupid was she to let him get away? And what in the hell did she do to him in the process? He’s acting like his old self again now, but the man he turned into for years after they broke up? I hope to never see that man again.

I heave a sigh. That may be true, but having the old Zeke back is playing hell on my emotions. Every time he smiles at me, says something nice, or shows me the slightest affection, I want to throw him down and straddle him. And I almost lost my will to fight the temptation a couple of days ago.

I came home early from work, and as I walked into the kitchen from the garage, Zeke walked in to get a drink of water, shirtless and sweaty after a workout in his room. I’m pretty sure my tongue lolled out, dripping with saliva at the sight of those sweat-glistened muscles. Of course, Zeke apologized the second he spotted me and went back to his room for a t-shirt.Pity.

I picture the scene again, only this time he stalks forward, lifts me up onto the kitchen counter, and presses between my legs to kiss me hungrily. My fingertips glide over his slick skin, exploring every ridge and valley as his own hand snakes up beneath my shirt to fondle my breasts.

“Fuck,” I groan, leaning over to pull open my nightstand drawer.

Pulling out my favorite vibrator, I click it on and push it between my thighs. I did a little internet research to make sure this was safe during pregnancy, and thank God it is, because I’d be losing my mind if I couldn’t find some kind of release. And I’ve been using it nearly every damn day since Zeke moved in. The sexual tension between us might be one-sided, but it’s strong all the same.

I push the tip of the vibrating shaft beneath my underwear to touch it to my clit. My back arches as I apply more pressure, images of Zeke flashing through my mind. Kissing me in the car. Pushing me back against the door, stripping off my pants, and licking my little black rose tattoo before running his tongue over my clit.

I’m coming before I even get to the good parts, and a long moan vibrates in my chest as my entire body goes limp with the release.Shit.I don’t know how much longer I can go on like this. Something’s gotta give.

And since I can’t ask Zeke to move out––he’d be devastated, and besides, I have no real reason to do so since I can’t admit the truth––I’m going to have to either get myself under control or jump his bones and pray for the best.

Picking up my phone, I pull up my group text thread with Sophie and Zoey. My thumbs hover over the screen, ready to vent about my little problem, but I can’t bring myself to type the message. Despite Zoey’s support and encouragement through this whole situation, I know it would be seriously fucking awkward if I tell her how thirsty I am for her twin brother.

Closing out the thread, I pull up Sophie’s number and shoot off a text.

Me:I need to talk to someone about Zeke, but I feel weird bringing it up with Zoey. Is that shitty?

She must be on her phone, because the little bubble that tells me she’s typing pops up right away.

Sophie:Why is it weird? She knows he’s your baby-daddy and that you’re living together. She’s okay with it.

---