Page 19 of Requiem for Love

She frowned. “You think I didn’t have feelings for you?”

“You didn’t.”

“Joel, I lov—” She wagged a finger at him. “Oh, you think you’re slick, don’t you?”

He grinned. “What were you about to say?”

“I was about to say that I’m not sure where you’re going to sleep. There’s the guest room, in the bed with me, or in the bed with me, inside me.”

Blood rushed to his groin. “Inside you where?”

“Wherever you want to put it, babe.”

“You sure about that? You might choke.”

“Then I’ll choke.”

He wanted her so much it made his teeth hurt, and she kept pushing his buttons. Soon, his willpower would say, “Fuck you, Joel,” and she’d end up bouncing on his dick.

For hours.

But he didn’t like that she believed it didn’t have to be special. She was special to him, precious and priceless. He saw candles, rose petals, stem glasses, music, and Ayesha, naked in the middle of the bed, staring up at him, completely unaware of how much time her pussy would spend attached to his tongue.

“How about a compromise,” he suggested. “How about you let me plan what I’m planning, but tonight, you ride my face?”

She pinched her chin. “Hmm. Sixty-nine?”

“To one hundred.”

They headed for the owner’s suite, but a tiny, solemn figure emerged at the end of the hallway, partially illuminated by the recessed lighting.

“Mama?”

Ayesha released his hand, hurried down the hall, and kneeled in front of Theo. “Hey, sweetie. What’s wrong? Did you have a bad dream?”

“Mama? I’m sorry.”

“Sorry for what?”

“I didn’t mean to.”

“Theo,” she stroked his cheek, “it’s okay. What happened, sweetheart?”

Theo’s face crumpled. “I had an accident.”

Sympathy and rage flared in Joel’s chest, burning away the anticipation that had built between him and Ayesha moments ago. Somebody terrorized his boy, and he didn’t know who the fuck it was. Yet, he wanted to be the boys’ father.

Fathers helped their kids feel safe.

And Theo didn’t feel safe.

“I’m sorry, Mama.” Theo’s shoulders jerked with each sniffle. “I didn’t mean to.”

“Sweetie,” Ayesha pressed a trio of kisses against his cheek, “accidents happen. That’s just the way life goes sometimes. I’ll help you change, and we’ll get you some new sheets. Don’t worry about it, okay? Accidents happen.”

“I’ll do the sheets,” Joel said. “And I’ll set out some new pajamas for you, Theopatosaurus. Any requests? Maybe dinosaurs? Actually, how about your Apatosaurus pajamas?”

Theo shook his head. “You can pick, Joel. I don’t want to right now.”

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