THIRST

by Deborah Bladon

  Happy Mother’s Day Mama!

  I know you’d never treat yourself to this, so I got it for you.

  Thank you for helping with Rocco, Nash and baby Luke.

  You’re the best in the world.

  I’ll love you forever and ever.

  Your Gaia

  Gaia.

  Marti’s daughter. Rocco’s mom.

  I look over at the window. Rocco and Marti are nowhere in sight.

  I stare down at the purse, tears pricking the corners of my eyes.

  I understand now why Marti is so attached to this purse. Her daughter gave it to her.

  The significance of what I’m holding in my hands hits me full force. I tuck the card back into the compartment, zip it shut and hug it to my chest.

  ***

  “Who taught you how to cook?” I look down at my almost empty plate. Rocco prepared a delicious meal of salmon, risotto and a side of roasted vegetables. He paired it all with a bottle of white wine.

  If that wasn’t enough, he brought me a vase filled with pink daisies.

  “Marti,” Rocco answers succinctly. “All of her grandchildren have to spend a summer at the restaurant when they’re fourteen. She uses that time to teach us the basics of cooking and the facts of life.”

  I laugh. “Marti taught you the facts of life?”

  “I stopped her after she brought up a bird and a bee.” He winks. “I told her I didn’t need the lesson, and she told me to always use a condom.”

  “Your grandma is the best grandma in the entire world.”

  I haven’t brought up the card I found in Marti’s purse. It wasn’t mine to see and I’m not sure how Marti would feel about knowing I’ve seen it.

  He takes a swallow of wine from one of the coffee mugs he found in my cupboard. After he arrived at my apartment two hours ago, he ran back and forth between my place and his gathering all the cooking utensils and pans he needed to make us dinner.

  “Tell me about your family.”

  “There’s always been just the three of us. My mom, Raelyn and me.”

  “Raelyn is your sister?”

  I nod. “Younger sister.”

  A question is there in his eyes. I know it’s about my dad so I answer before he can ask. “My dad left right after Raelyn was born. We met up with him a few years ago but there was too much water under the bridge.”

  The details about the meeting don’t matter. It was in a diner on a Sunday afternoon. He wasn’t looking for daughters. His next meal was his only concern. We left with Raelyn in tears and my anger boiling over.

  I change the subject easily. “Did I tell you how handsome you look tonight?”

  He looks down at the dark jeans and white button-down shirt he’s wearing. “You like this look?”

  “This look.” I circle my finger in front of his face. “You’re the best looking man I’ve ever met.”

  “I’ve never met a woman like you.” He rakes me over.

  He did the same when he arrived. I showered after I finished working and slipped into a strapless black maxi dress. The only thing I’m wearing underneath is a pair of black panties.

  My hair is in loose curls around my shoulders. I opted for mascara and a thin coating of pink lip gloss that is now mostly on the rim of my coffee mug.

  “A woman with pink-streaked hair?” I ask.

  He slides his chair closer to me. We’re seated at the small dining room table that came with the place. The two chairs are mismatched; both are wooden, but mine is painted blue and Rocco’s is white.

  “A woman who is fiercely independent, determined, sexy-as-hell.” He pushes my hair back over my bare shoulder. “You’re strong and soft at the same time.”

  I like that he sees me that way. I’ve worked hard to take care of myself. I haven’t relied on anyone in years. Whatever my future holds it’s because I’ve taken the steps to get myself there.

  “I know this is officially a date.” He drags my hand up to his mouth to feather kisses over my palm. “I want to talk business for a few minutes.”

  A grin tugs at my lips. “I think we can fit in some business before the pleasure.”

  “Here?” He tilts his chin toward my bed.

  “There.” I point at the windows and his apartment across the way. “I don’t want all of your neighbors to watch us.”

  “We’ll talk and then we’ll have dessert at my place.”

  “I’m dessert?” I ask hopefully.

  His lips skim the sensitive skin of my inner wrist. “You’re my dessert. There’s a piece of tiramisu that Marti made just for you in my fridge.”

  Words don’t come. I don’t know how to respond to that. It’s an innocent offering, but it feels like so much more to me.

  “I’ve looked over your business model, Dexie.” He holds my hand to his cheek. “You’ve done remarkably well for yourself.”

  I’m proud of what I’ve accomplished. I haven’t had a lot of time to devote to my handbag business, but I’ve been lucky. Customers have found me, I’ve made them happy and word-of-mouth has helped my business grow slowly every year.

  “I know that quality is important to you.” He sighs. “In a perfect world, you’d hire a few people just like you and they’d spend their time creating your designs. That’s the vision, right?”

  I nod. “In a nutshell. I know that it won’t be an easy task to find the right people or purchase the materials at a lower cost, but it’s crucial that each bag is made with the same care I would give it.”

  “One of the things I always tell entrepreneurs is to talk to someone who has earned the success they want.” He closes his eyes briefly. “I made a call and if you’re willing, I’d like you to meet with Suzanne Belese.”

  “Suzanne Belese?” I gulp down a breath.

  “I take it you know who that is?” He laughs.

  Suzanne Belese is living my dream. She and her husband started their handbag design studio in their garage in Los Angeles ten years ago. I saw an article about them online and since then, I’ve followed their journey closely.

  Within the past few years, they’ve opened up boutiques in L.A. as well as Las Vegas.

  “She’ll be in New York next week.” His hand leaves mine and trails up my arm to my bare shoulder. “I think she can offer some insight into what your next steps should be.”

  “I’d love to meet her,” I say trying to disguise the giddiness in my tone.

  “I think you have the beginnings of a great thing here.” He glances over at my workstation. “I want to help. I’d love to partner with you on this, but I think it’s prudent for you to consider every avenue available before you make a decision.”

  “Thank you.” I rest my hand on his cheek. “I won’t decide anything until I’ve spoken with Suzanne.”

  “You’ll tell Rhoda to back off?” He narrows his eyes. “She’s going to try and steamroll you into an offer, but I have no doubt you’ll stand your ground.”

  “I can take care of myself.” I flex my arm. “Strong and soft, remember?”

  “I’ll never forget.” He leans forward to brush his lips over mine. “I’m craving my dessert. Come home with me.”

  Chapter 42

  Rocco

  A sweeter dessert has never touched my lips.

  I’ve spent the past hour tasting every inch of Dexie’s skin. I savored the most delicious parts of her; the skin at the back of her neck, the palms of her hand and the wetness between her legs.

  I’m inside of her now. Fucking her in long, easy strokes.

  Her legs are wrapped around me, her hands drifting through my hair.

  “You’re beautiful,” I whisper against her lips.

  “You are,” she sounds back with a whimper.

  I up the tempo, driving into her a touch harder, a measure deeper.

  “Like that,” she says through a moan. “I want that.”

  I want it too. I want to thrust into her so furiously that she’ll feel me for days.

 
Her chest heaves with quick, labored breaths.

  I felt it before when she was wrapped around me this morning. She’s close; so close.

  “Come.” I arch my back away from her so I can watch.

  I want this imprinted on my mind forever. I want to remember what she looks like when her desire engulfs her and nothing exists but the wave of pleasure she’s riding.

  Her pretty pink lips part. The sound that rolls off her tongue is like my drug. I drill into her taking her over the edge until I feel the velvet grip of her cunt as she pulses around me.

  ***

  I tie off the condom and toss it in the wastebasket in the bathroom.

  My reflection in the mirror says it all.

  My face is flushed, my hair a tangled mess from her needy hands and my bottom lip swollen from the bite of her teeth.

  I don’t recognize myself.

  The man staring back at me is a stranger.

  His blue eyes have a life in them that I’ve never seen.

  I look down, unsure if I can handle this. If I can handle the rush of emotions that hits me like a tsunami every time I see her.

  “Rocco?”

  Her breathy voice flows over me like warm honey. It coats my soul.

  “I’m in here,” I call back. “I’ll be right out.”

  “Or I can come right in.” She marches in, pushing her hair back from her face.

  Her cheeks are red; her lips more swollen than mine.

  Her hair is a tousled halo around her angelic face.

  “Can we take a bath?” She drops her hands to cover the mound that I want to drop to my knees to feast on.

  Tasting a woman has always been my pleasure, but Dexie is addictive. I want more.

  “Of course,” I say, brushing a strand of her pink hair away from her face.

  “Do you have bubbles?”

  “Bubbles?” I huff out a laugh.

  Her head tilts to the right. “Bubble bath, Rocco. Do you have any?”

  I ‘ve never sat my ass in the tub. I’m a shower guy. “I can’t say that I do. I can go down to the bodega and grab a bottle.”

  “I have the best lavender bubble bath at my place.” She smiles. “Samples are one of the perks of working at Matiz. I’ll run and get it.”

  I eye her up. “There’s no way in hell you’re going over there looking like that.”

  She spins in place, slowing to shake her luscious bare ass at me. “This is New York City. No one will notice that I’m nude.”

  “I’ll go,” I offer. “I’ll throw on some pants. I’ll be back before you can say, ‘I can’t help but stare at your cock, Rocco.’”

  Her hand leaps to cover her eyes. “Busted. How am I supposed to not stare when it’s right there?”

  I run my hand over my now erect penis. “I wasn’t complaining. I’m glad to know you find me stare-worthy.”

  “You’re every woman’s dream.”

  I don’t want to be any woman’s dream but the one standing in front of me.

  She shakes off her last words with a wave of her hand in the air. “I’ll grab my keys. The bubble bath is right next to the bathtub.”

  I move closer to her, watching her eyes widen with each of my steps.

  “Be gentle, Dexie.” I run my finger over her chin, tilting it up so her gaze meets mine. “I’ve never had a bath with a woman before.”

  Her brows pinch together. “You haven’t?”

  I’ve never felt my heart ache in my chest like this before either.

  I push the words back deep inside of me with a brush of my lips over hers. “I’ll get my pants.”

  “I’ll get my keys. Hurry back, Rocco.”

  I will. A minute away from her is a minute too long tonight.

  Chapter 43

  Dexie

  I stare out the window of Rocco’s apartment and into my own.

  I smile when the overhead lights pop on and I see him standing in the doorway.

  He’s wearing a pair of black long shorts and sandals on his feet. His chest is bare.

  I watch him disappear out of sight into the bathroom. He emerges seconds later with the bottle of bubble bath in his hand.

  I wave, hoping to catch his attention.

  I don’t, but something in my apartment does.

  It’s a picture in a silver frame that sits on the small round table next to my couch.

  He picks it up and stops in place.

  It’s a picture of my small family. My sister, Raelyn, is on the right, dressed in a light blue dress, her long blonde hair blowing in the wind. I’m to the left in a dark blue dress that Sophia made just for that day. I bunched my hair on top of my head.

  In the middle is the woman who has inspired me endlessly.

  The smile on my mom’s face overshadows the cap on her head and the gown draped around her.

  The picture was taken just a few months ago on the day my mom graduated from college. Blue sky and trees border us.

  My mom became a registered nurse that day. I couldn’t have been prouder of her.

  She sacrificed her dreams to nurture her daughters’ dreams. She worked three jobs to support us when we were children.

  That day all of her hard work was finally rewarded.

  I tap my fingers against the glass of Rocco’s window, knowing that he can’t hear it.

  I lean closer to the glass and whisper words I’m not ready for him to hear. “I think I’m falling in love with you.”

  He turns suddenly to face me. The frame held firmly in his strong hand.

  “I know I’m falling in love with you,” I say quietly when his eyes find mine.

  He sets the frame down in its spot on the table along with the bubble bath and approaches the window with steady, even steps.

  I study him in my apartment, wondering what it would be like to wake up next to him in my bed every day.

  He points at the white dress shirt I’m wearing. It’s the only thing I’m wearing.

  I found it slung over the back of a chair in his bedroom.

  I brought it to my nose and inhaled. The scent of his cologne comforted me so I slipped it on, silently conspiring how I was going to steal it so I could sleep it in every night when I’m not here.

  His lips curve into a smile.

  I smile back, urging him with a finger curl to come back to his place.

  Just as he nods, a sound pulls my gaze back over my shoulder.

  It makes no sense.

  I glance back at Rocco in my apartment and then toward the door of his apartment.

  I pause when I hear the jingle of keys.

  I step closer with the click of the lock turning.

  Just as I reach the door, the handle moves and it flies open.

  I step back to avoid being hit.

  “Jesus.” A man’s voice hits me full on as I lock my eyes on a broad chest covered in a lightweight navy blue sweater.

  I look up into a face that resembles Rocco, but it’s younger. This man’s hair is a shade lighter, and his eyes are the same sea blue as the man who lives here.

  I stand in stunned silence with the stranger staring back at me.

  “Who are you?” I finally take a step back.

  He cocks his head to the left, taking me all in. “I’m Luke.”

  “You’re Rocco’s brother,” I state, not ask.

  “You’re ...” he starts before he looks past me to the dimly lit apartment. “Alone? Where’s my brother?”

  I jerk my thumb behind me. “He ran to get something.”

  He takes a step into the apartment, dropping a black duffel bag on the floor. “He left?”

  I tug the shirt closer to my body. He can’t see anything he shouldn’t, but I still feel exposed. My sex hair and the fact that I’m wearing his brother’s shirt is a dead giveaway for what I’ve been up to. What Rocco and I have been up to.

  “Just for a minute.” I tap my toes against the hardwood floor.

  “He’s an idiot.”

  Heavy
footsteps precede the next words. “I’m not an idiot, Luke.”

  Relief rushes through me when I hear Rocco’s voice and see him round the corner from the stairs.

  “You left this beautiful woman all alone.” Luke points at his brother. “What the hell did you need to get that took you away from her?”

  I laugh aloud.

  Rocco’s lips cut into a smile. “Lavender bubble bath.”

  “Who the fuck are you and where’s my brother?” Luke peers past Rocco’s shoulder.

  “Inside.” Rocco directs him into the apartment with a hand on his back.

  Seeing them side-by-side is remarkable. There’s no doubt they’re brothers. They share the same smiles. Luke is an inch or two taller than Rocco, and his hair is shorter, but their jawlines are identical, and the way they narrow their eyes is the same.

  I move to the side when Rocco closes the apartment door, locking it again.

  “My roommate has some people over.” Luke picks up the duffel bag. “I was going to crash in the spare, but if you need me to go, I’ll hit up Nash’s couch.”

  Rocco looks to me. The hesitation in his eyes tells me everything I need to know.

  “You’ll stay,” I say even though it’s not for me to decide. “I should get home.”

  I should be disappointed over the missed bubble bath, but I’m not. I shove my hand at Luke. “I’m Dexie...”

  “Walsh.” Taking my hand in his, he finishes for me. “Luke Jones.”

  I smile knowing that Rocco must have mentioned me to him.

  He turns his attention to his older brother. “Gina told me about Dexie. She can’t keep a secret. You know that.”

  My smile dips into a frown. “I’ll get dressed and leave you two to visit.”

  “I’ll walk you out.” Rocco shoots Luke a look. “Don’t go to bed. I need a word.”

  “One word?” Luke jabs his finger into Rocco’s shoulder. “Since when are you a man of few words?”

  “Make some coffee.” Rocco swats Luke’s hand away. “Make mine...”

  “Extra, extra hot,” Luke and I say in unison.

  “I like you.” Luke wags a finger at me. “I like the pink hair too.”

  Tonight didn’t turn out exactly the way I want, but I can’t complain. I got a small glimpse into Rocco’s life and I like what I’m seeing.

  Rocco’s heart is as big as the ocean when it comes to his family. He’s everything I could ever want in a man. I can only hope I’m everything he wants in a woman.