Frayed Silk(7)

“I …” I blow out a big breath. “But I enjoyed myself. I laughed. God, I laughed like I hadn’t in months.”

She smiles softly, and I see the pity in her eyes. Jesus, what has become of my life, that people feel the need to look at me like that? She reaches across the table to grab my hand with hers. “That’s a good thing. But I’m sensing he did more than just make you laugh if we’re here, talking about it …?”

I swallow, feeling tears sting my eyes and nod.

“Lia …” Her voice is quiet. “Did you …?”

I shake my head. “No. No, nothing like that. But I have thought about it.” I sniff. “That’s just as bad, right?”

She lifts a shoulder. “It’s not good, no, but you’ve been a wreck and for so long now. So if you’re looking for anger or a slap on the wrist from me, you won’t get it, honey.”

That has me sputtering out a laugh and swiping underneath my eyes as a few tears escape.

I lower my voice. “He said that maybe he’d make me come so hard I’d forget I even had a husband.”

Lola’s eyes bug out. She sits back, fanning her face dramatically.

“Oh, my God.”

“You see what I’m dealing with here?”

“He said this over coffee?” she asks with clear disbelief.

I nod. “Yep.”

“Sweet Mary, mother of …” She takes a deep breath. “Okay, what are you going to do?”

“I don’t know. Keep ignoring his advances?” I ask meekly.

“Oh, nuh-uh. If you were ignoring them, you’d have gone straight home instead of having coffee with him.”

The guilt hits again. “I know. It just feels good, you know? To have someone look at me again, want me again. I’m so sick of feeling invisible.”

“I get that. But Lia, he sounds like bad news. The sexy but toxic kind, and if you think there’s ever a chance of you and Leo working through whatever this is, then you need to stay away.”

I bite my lip, knowing she’s right.

“He kissed me,” I admit.

“What?” she hisses, glancing around to make sure no one is suddenly staring at us.

“Yeah, just on the side of my mouth. He’s … damn it, he’s sneaky and calculating. It caught me completely off guard.”

Lola eyes me as she sits back in her chair and rubs a hand over her cheek. “Shit, wow. Maybe you should stop volunteering for a while, just until he’s finished his community service hours.”

Again, she’s right. I should, but I know I won’t.

“Maybe,” I mumble into my coffee mug and take a sip.

“Dahlia …” she warns with a frown.

“How’re things with Trey? You mentioned that he was working hard with all the orders at the shop.”

She grudgingly lets me change the subject. “Yeah, he’s stressed out to the max at the moment. But he’s hired someone to help him, finally, so the grouchiness should stop soon.” She takes a sip of her coffee, lowering her voice. “It’d better. But shit, the sex is amazing when he needs to de-stress. He becomes an animal.” Her cheeks turn a little flushed as she obviously thinks about it.

I laugh, but it’s kind of forced. I miss sex with my husband, but most of all, I just miss him. I miss feeling close to him.

We chat about the party we dragged our kids to over the weekend, and how elaborate all the shit there was as we finish our drinks before saying our goodbyes.

“Make sure you call me, especially if you feel like doing something you might regret.” She eyes me pointedly as we stop at my car.

I give her a weak smile. “Thank you. I’ll make sure I do if I need to.”

And I have an alarming feeling that I might just need to.





“You okay?” he asks, slowly thrusting in and out of me from behind. We’re on our sides; his head is leaning down over mine, kissing and licking every inch of my shoulder and neck.

“Yes,” I breathe. “You need to stop asking that. I’m pregnant, not sick.” I pant.

He chuckles roughly against my skin, his scruff tickling. “I can’t help it.” His hand drifts down to rest over my eight-month pregnant stomach, continuing until he finds where we’re connected between my legs. I lift my leg higher as he gently circles my clit and fucks me with slow, lazy strokes. My eyes close as I feel myself hurtle toward pure bliss, breathing heavier and moaning as he stays rooted to the hilt inside me, then grinding.

“Leo …” I whimper.

“Come, beautiful. Let go.”

And I do, as delicious, spine-tingling pleasure washes over me in waves down my entire body, making my toes curl as I moan long and loud.

He’s right behind me. Thrusting and picking up speed until he stills, emptying himself inside me and biting my shoulder as he groans deep in his throat.

“I love you. Only ever, always you,” he whispers hoarsely into my skin as he drags his teeth over it, evoking another shiver from me.

“I know,” I whisper. He shows me all the time. I’ve been a hormonal mess for most of this pregnancy, but he’s taken it. He’s taken it all with a smile on his face and love in his eyes. “I hope our boy is just like you,” I say, reaching down to rub a hand over my swollen stomach.