am I tormenting myself?
“Okay, I’m coming,” she says to someone in the room. My dick pulses in anticipation.
Not on you, asshole.
A low growl climbs out from the back of my throat. “When you say that next time, it better be my name you’re screaming in front of it.”
“I’ll make sure the neighbors hear,” she teases.
“Whiskey, you’re killing me.”
“You started it.”
I don’t want to hang up. Every time we talk, it’s the same. Her voice has an anchor on my heart. But as soon as we hang up, the line breaks and leaves me feeling lonely.
The depth of my cravings for her are erratic, and I can’t seem to get a hold of them. I always thought Max and Aiden were idiots, how their attraction to their wives were insane when they were dating. I get it now. But why didn’t they warn me about this part?
I run my hand over my stubbled jaw. “Well, have fun with Beatrice and David.” I can’t get mad that she wants to spend time with her parents. It just sucks it was tonight.
As I empty the contents of my pockets on the kitchen table, I draw a deep breath in and freeze. Fuck. I’m imagining her smell now. The sugary scent fills my nostrils. The couple drinks I had must be messing with my senses. Lifting my nose more in the air, I glance around the empty condo thinking maybe Aspen brought me some cookies.
Disappointment erases my buzz. Damn, it’s the whole reason I went out for a couple drinks. To drown the disappointment, not make me hallucinate her scent.
Dragging my feet into my dark bedroom, I head straight to the bathroom. Her toothbrush she keeps here sits next to mine. Hopefully soon, I’ll have her other things scattered through my place. Our place.
With the happier thoughts, I slip into my cold bed. Tomorrow can’t come soon enough. When I hit an unexpected lump in the sheets I jump out of the bed, “What the hell?”
Please, God, let that be Aspen.
Chapter Forty-One
Aspen
Despite three cups of coffee, I can’t stop the yawn. Maybe slipping into Ryker’s bed last night wasn’t the best idea. Although, it was the perfect idea at the moment. I needed to see him. I suspect he was feeling the same because when he realized I was in his bed; he played me like a football game. Four quarters of constant playing, orgasmic touchdowns and lots of celebrating.
“Stop that,” Mila says, pointing at my yawn, walking into the messy back room. Leaning against the metal sink, piled high with dirty cookie sheets and pans, I’m dreading cleaning all these. She purses her lips together. “Why are you so tired?”
“Hello, I woke up at four a.m. to be here.” And went to bed at two-thirty.
She appraises me a little more. “You were in bed at nine last night.”
I bob my head a couple times. “Not quite.”
“Did you stay up talking to Ryker on the phone?”
I wrinkle my nose and wince. “Not quite.”
She groans, throwing the towel she’s holding at my face. “You caved and went over there, didn’t you?”
I yawn again and bend over to pick up the towel. My lower regions deliciously ache. “Yes. I had to. You didn’t hear the disappointment in his voice yesterday.”
“You guys make me sick.” She laughs, rolling her eyes. “I don’t know why you just don’t move in with him.”
I perk up. “No. And don’t mention that to him.” We are in a great place right now in our relationship, I don’t need someone to mention moving in or marriage to have him freaking out again. I’m not in a rush.
She shrugs. “Whatever. You’re practically living there. You have a key and you spend the night almost every night.”
“And we’re perfect where we are.”
“Mmm-hmm. Well, he won’t wait too long to put a ring on that finger. You just watch.” I doubt it. But I’m okay with that. I know he loves me. “Mom will be here soon. She texted me when I was on my way here.”
Hearing Mila refer to Beatrice as our mom has gotten easier. But it’s still awkward calling her mom. I’ve tried. And she’s been so understanding. But I love being around her and this project has brought us closer together.
Mila follows me out of the kitchen through the cute black saloon doors. I glance around the space some might regard as too small, but it’s perfect for me. And it’s mine. A month ago, Mila and I passed by this