In Other Words

by Jennifer Woodhull

  I carry her around the bed, and as we get to the far side where I have the covers folded back, she slides her arm around my neck and snuggles into my chest. It feels fucking fantastic. I could become an addict, desperate for more hits of this intimate connection with her. For a brief moment, I hate Cole for being the guy who gets this part of her. I let out a deep breath, and deposit her into the sheets, pulling the comforter up over her.

  She rolls over and snuggles down into the pillow, looking so sweet…so comfortable and content. I gently push her hair back, and pull the comforter up around her.

  “Goodnight, Clair,” I whisper.

  “Night, Dex…love you,” she coos, still mostly asleep.

  She has said it a million times before. She loves me. I know that’s true. I’ve said it back to her, too. It always feels like an unfinished sentence, though…an incomplete thought.

  I can’t love two women. Maybe I don’t love Tabitha yet, but I want to. I want to love the right woman—one I can actually have. One who loves me back as more than just a friend. So, I reply to Clair the way I always have, willing it to be true the only way she understands it to be.

  “Love you back.”

  .-- --- -. -.. . .-.

  The morning light is streaming into my kitchen as I down my second cup of coffee for the day.

  “Morning,” I hear Clair say in a quiet voice as she walks into the kitchen.

  She’s still in the t-shirt I lent her last night, but thank fuck she’s standing behind the kitchen island so I can’t see below her waist. Even if that tee comes almost down to her knees, seeing those mile-long legs of hers is not a situation I need this morning, especially in the running gear I have on.

  “Good morning. How’d you sleep?”

  “Like a rock, apparently.” She grins sweetly. “I suppose I have you to thank for the energy drink and ibuprofen by my bed this morning? You might have earned hero status for that.”

  “Nah. I should earn hero status because I stopped for donuts on the way back from the gym.” I nod toward the counter behind her.

  “If there are peanut butter cream-filled in that box, I swear to god, if this thing with Tabitha craps out, I’ll marry you myself.”

  Her joke makes my pulse quicken and I decide I don’t need to finish the cup of coffee in my hand after all.

  Her lips curl up as she steps over to the box on the counter, finds her favorite, and extracts it from the box with a grin.

  “Your clothes are on the guest room chair, clean, by the way.” I rinse my coffee cup and put it in the sink.

  “Thanks for that. I didn’t think I drank that much last night, but I must’ve been pretty out of it.” She pulls a piece of yeasty goodness from the side of the donut she’s holding and drops it in her mouth.

  “You seemed really tired. You might’ve been stressed about Cole’s sudden trip too—just a thought,” I offer.

  “Maybe you’re right. So, you’ve been to the gym already?”

  “Yep. Three times a week I meet a trainer at the gym. I don’t usually go on Saturdays, but I only got two workouts in with him this week, so he worked me onto the schedule for six this morning.”

  “Looks like that’s paying off for you.” She eyes my fitted tee and wriggles her brows. “Has Tabitha been the beneficiary of that fit physique yet?”

  “You know I’m uncomfortable talking about that sort of thing.” I will my cheeks not to turn red, and hope they obey.

  “Speaking of, though, don’t you have a hot date tonight?” She keeps prodding.

  “I have a date tonight, yes.” I walk over to the donut box and grab a cruller, careful not to let my gaze wander in Clair’s direction.

  “Where are you taking her?”

  “Three Forks. They have live jazz on Saturday nights.”

  “Oh, I love Three Forks! It’s what I imagine an old Parisian restaurant must be like.” She sighs, looking dreamily skyward, then stuffs the last bite of donut into her mouth.

  I briefly contemplate whether she’d be up for grabbing our passports, ditching our respective significant others and fucking off to Paris for a few days. Reminding myself that I’m not a total asshole, or an international playboy, I return to reality.

  “Well, I hope she likes it, too.” I grin.

  “Okay, well, I better get going. I have to go check on the llamas.” She rolls her eyes.

  “Why? Where are Sam and Deb?”

  “They went to Chicago to visit Kelly, and to pick up a new puppy.”

  “Nice! Let me guess, D’Artagnan?”

  “Of course. What else would one name the fourth dog?” She crinkles up her nose and smiles wide.

  “I stink. I’m going to hit the shower. The shower in that guest room is amazing, by the way, if you want to use it. You’ll find anything you might need in the basket above the toilet.”

  “Thanks.”

  I shower and put on shorts and a t-shirt, grabbing my laptop to do some work in the living room.

  Clair walks in a little while later, wearing the clothes I laundered from the night before. Her face is bare, her hair wet, and she looks fucking spectacular. She rolls her head from side to side as she walks through the living room.

  “I live here now. I can never give that shower up. That was better than a massage.” She sighs and give me a wink.

  “Told you.” I grin up at her, proud to have facilitated something she so clearly enjoyed.

  She walks behind the sofa and puts her arms around my neck, her face beside mine as she hugs me from behind.

  “Thanks for a fun night. It reminded me of when we were in college. Except, ya know, your house is a huge fucking mansion now.” She kisses me on the cheek with a smack, and tousles my still damp hair.

  Clair walks over and picks up the Scrabble game I gave her as a gift, and grabs up her purse.

  “Walk you out?”

  “I’m fine—parked right by the front sidewalk. Have fun with Tabitha tonight. Talk soon?” She waves at me and with that, she’s gone.

  .-- --- -. -.. . .-.

  I tidy up and wash the Tesla. I wonder if Tabitha might want to come back to my place after dinner. Then, I realize she’s still looking after the puppies and probably can’t leave them overnight, so I slide some condoms in my back pocket, just in case.

  I’m wearing a pair of Hugo Boss slacks and a Ralph Lauren sport coat with a pale blue fitted dress shirt. I clean my glasses, check myself in the mirror one last time, and head out.

  When I pull up to her house, I feel my heart pounding as I grab the bouquet of fresh flowers from the front seat and head toward the front door. I ring the bell, hear the unmistakable howl of puppies and it makes me chuckle.

  A moment later she opens the door, and I’m taken aback at how beautiful she looks. She texted me earlier and asked where we were going so she knew what to wear. The dress she has on is navy blue lace all over, nipped in to show off her waist, with a full skirt that comes to above her knee. The way the lace cuts across the top, I don’t see any straps and I don’t know if that means strapless bra or no bra, but I like both options.

  “Wow.” My utterance is involuntary when she opens the door.

  “Wow yourself.” She looks me up and down. I see a little pink in her cheeks. “You look…really handsome.”

  “I brought you flowers.” I thrust the bouquet toward her.

  I never went to prom, but my nerves are aligned with what I imagine that sensation must be like.

  She takes the bouquet and I follow her inside. My eyes go right to the playpen in the middle of the living room.

  Not wanting to get too much fur on the jacket I so carefully picked out, I take it off and lay it across the back of the sofa, then lean over into the playpen and pat each puppy head in turn. They are cute little guys. The fattest of the trio is also the smallest, and he keeps trying to stand on the other two to get more attention.

  “Oh, gosh, I see you met my foster kids.” She laughs as she comes into the liv
ing room.

  “They’re damn cute. How are you ever going to give them up when it’s time for them to get adopted?”

  “Honestly? I have no idea. I do kind of love them.” She lets out a soft chuckle.

  She closes the space between us. “If it’s okay with you, I’d like to greet you properly now.”

  She puts her palms on my chest and I slide my hands around her hips. She tiptoes up, and I dip my head to capture her lips. I noticed when I came in that she’s not wearing lipstick, and I’m damn glad because I’d be ruining it right now. Her lips are soft and sweet, and the longer I stand here devouring her, the more I want to forget all about the evening I have planned.

  When our lips part, she’s looking up at me so sweetly, and I feel the same thing I did when we were together that night of the meteor shower. This is the girl I need to be focused on—she deserves my full attention, and I plan to give it to her.

  “Our reservation is for seven. I guess we should get going,” I brush the backs of my fingers across her cheek as I continue to hold her close.

  “I’m ready when you are.” She looks around me at the playpen, then over to the coffee table. She picks up something from the table and walks back to the playpen, tossing what I can now see are three dog bones to the eager occupants. “Be good, boys. I’ll see you in a little while.”

  I grab my jacket, putting it back on, and we head out to dinner.

  Clair was right about Three Forks—it definitely has a turn-of-the-twentieth century Parisian vibe. There are stained glass windows along parts of the ceiling, and chandeliers throughout the space. I drink a glass of wine with dinner, and a whiskey while we split a piece of cake for dessert, but am careful not to drink too much. I’m driving, first of all, and for another thing, I want to be clear-headed when I take her home tonight.

  I’m not sure why I’m so nervous with Tabitha tonight. I don’t even know for sure anything will happen, but the way she’s looking at me over dessert tells me it might.

  I like her. I want her. I want whatever is brewing between us to be…something.

  After we finish dessert, we head downstairs to the main bar, where a jazz trio is playing.

  “We can get a drink at the bar, or would you prefer to dance?”

  “I’d love to dance.” I take her hand and lead her to the floor. With her hand on my shoulder, mine on her hip, and our opposite hands joined, we dance through two mid-tempo songs. When a slower number begins to play, I pull her close and we sway together.

  “You look incredibly beautiful tonight, Tabitha.” I clutch her hand to my chest, the other pressed low against her back.

  “You look insanely hot.” Her eyes dark as she gazes into mine.

  “Dexter.” My name is barely a whisper on her lips. “I want you to take me home.”

  I pull back a little, looking at her more closely. “What’s the matter? Did I do something wrong? Are you feeling okay?”

  “You haven’t done a thing wrong.” She offers a soft chuckle. “You’ve done everything right. That’s why I want you to take me home.” Her eyes dart from mine, to my lips and back, and it dawns on me what she means.

  “Let’s get out of here.” I take her hand, and practically drag her out of the bar.

  CHAPTER 19

  Dexter

  ON THE DRIVE BACK to Tabitha’s place, which is too damn long in my opinion, she takes my hand and places it on her knee, just under the hem of her skirt.

  My heart is pounding, my pulse racing, and my dick is about to shred through the fabric of the slacks that are barely containing it. I will every traffic light to change in my favor to get us to her house just a little faster.

  Back at her place, I exhibit the patience of a saint, trying to ignore the throbbing in my pants while she tends to the puppies.

  “Okay,” she says when she returns to where I’m sitting in a small, velvet chair in the corner of her bedroom. “Where were we?”

  I stand and stride across the room, cupping her face in my palms and capturing her mouth with mine. In this moment, I’m no gentleman. I am lust…want…greed. She pushes away the collar of my jacket, and I peel it off, tossing it over the chair, then take off my glasses and put them on the bedside table.

  “I want you, Tabitha” My voice is a husky whisper.

  “I want you too.” She looks suddenly shy and a little vulnerable. Turning her back to me, she pulls her hair aside. “Would you unzip my dress?”

  Fuck, yes, I will. I’ll do anything you ask.

  I pull down the zipper, slowly revealing milky skin. My finger follows the zipper down her back, and as I peel the fabric away, and she shudders. I kiss the side of her neck as I peel away the fabric from her shoulder. She lets the dress drop. My lips explore the skin of her neck and shoulder as my hands slide around her, cupping her breasts. Her head lolls back against me.

  She turns to face me, and her gaze scans my face.

  “Just gorgeous…you’re so damn beautiful, Tabitha.”

  She grins, stepping forward and her hands furiously work to unbutton my shirt. When it falls away, I peel off my t-shirt, and unfasten my pants, losing both my slacks and shorts as fast as I can.

  She sits down and slides back. As she scans my body, I see the lust in her eyes, and my nerves fall away. I know my gaze reflects back the same desire for her. I kneel on the bed, and reach up, peeling off the lace panties that are the last thing keeping her from me.

  I climb up, pressing my body against hers, and kiss her deeply. My lips skim her jaw, her throat, and down her chest. I kiss along her skin, and the soft whimper she lets out when my hand moves to find her slick heat is all the encouragement I need. I move down her body, kissing, tasting, exploring with my tongue. I want to please her—to satisfy her.

  “Yes…more.” Hearing her sweet voice beg for me causes a sensation that goes straight to my cock.

  I move my mouth to her seam, kissing, licking, and sucking until her body tenses, rising with pleasure. When her trembling subsides, I sit back and grab a condom from the pocket of my slacks.

  “Is this what you want? Should I keep going?” My eyes travel up her body to her beautiful face as I ask the question I hope I already know the answer to.

  “Yes…I want you, Dexter.” She doesn’t have to tell me twice.

  Relief rips through me. I sheath my cock, then move forward, hovering over her. I slide my tip up and down her slit.

  “Are you ready for me?”

  “God, yes.” She moans, hooking her leg around my hips, pulling me closer.

  I press my lips to hers, then move, sliding slowly inside her channel. When she slides her hands around the back of my neck, her gaze intensely meeting mine, I keep pushing forward. She sucks in a breath and the look of pleasure on her face is almost more than I can take.

  It’s been a while since I was with a woman and the feeling of her wrapped around me is more pleasure than I’ve known for far too long.

  When I’m fully seated, I press my forehead to hers. “Are you okay, sweetheart?”

  “Yes…but, I need a minute to adjust.” She rakes her teeth over her lip and it’s almost sexier than I can stand.

  “I need to move,” I tell her, my voice dripping with desperation.

  Tabitha moves a hand up to my face, and nips at my bottom lip. She whispers against my lips “Yes. Fuck, yes.”

  I pump my hips, slowly at first, wanting to savor this feeling. It doesn’t take long, though, for need to take over. I move faster, harder, and her hips move with me, meeting every stroke. She feels so perfect wrapped around me, that I know I won’t be able to hold on for long.

  “I’m sorry, sweetheart, I won’t last long…you feel too good.”

  “I’m…right there.” Her words are threadbare.

  Her body tenses, squeezing me, and I’m done. The tightness releases, rolling up from the base of my spine, and a wave washes over me as I pump harder, finding the perfect release as she claws at my skin and calls my name. />
  After I catch my breath, I ditch the condom, and return to the bed, laying on my side, and looking down at this woman who tumbled into my life so very out of the blue. I stroke her face, then roll onto my back, pulling her to me. She feels good, here in my arms. She fits perfectly.

  After a long moment, she speaks as she trails her fingernails across my chest. “That was incredible.”

  “You’re incredible.” I slide my fingers up and down her skin as I hold her close.

  “Dexter?”

  “Hmm?”

  “I’d really like you to stay tonight. I make a mean stack of pancakes.” She looks up at me from under her lashes, her face flush with expectation.

  “I really hoped you’d let me stay. I’d love to spend the night holding you like this.” I pull gently on the back of her hair, tipping her face up toward me and press my lips to hers. “Besides, I’d like to see what other noises I can get you to make tonight.”

  .-- --- -. -.. . .-.

  The next morning I awaken to a ringing phone. I pull myself from the fog of post-coital bliss and realize I can hear Tabitha talking to someone.

  “When did it start?” She sits up, her back facing me. “Okay, okay…,” she lowers her voice to a soothing tone. “Try to stay calm. I’ll be there in…maybe thirty, thirty-five minutes?”

  She tosses the phone onto the foot of the bed as she stands.

  “Morning. Everything okay?” I sit up, quickly realizing something is very obviously not okay.

  “I’m so sorry.” Tabitha walks around to my side of the bed as she slips a sweatshirt over her head. “One of my clients has an expectant Bernese mountain dog. She’s a show dog, and this is her first litter.”

  I swing my feet over the edge of the bed and drag a palm down my sleepy face. Tabitha steps forward to slide her arms around my neck.

  “This particular dog gets really nervous in the car. She’s spotting. It sounds like something could be wrong, so I need to run out and check on her.” She shakes her head. “Terrible timing, huh?”

  “Hey, it’s okay.” I slide my palms up and down her hips.

  As soon as I touch her, my dick twitches. It clearly remembers how spectacular it felt to be inside of her last night. It wants another round, but my brain works desperately to squash the idea.