“Oh, come on, Gina; there has to be more.”
“Ty, it isn’t what you think. We're not in love or anything. We're both on the rebound. Remember what I told you about not wanting to be a ‘bridge bitch’?”
“Yeah, whatever,” I replied, waving my hand at her dismissively. “How was the sex?”
“It was fantastic, girlfriend. I’ve got to tell you that Tristan is extremely thorough with his tongue, if you know what I mean? Plus, he's hung very well and knows how to use it to hit all of the right places. You know I was born with two G-Spots, right? He can hit them both at the same time. Now, that's all I'm telling you. It was sex. It was fun. End of story.”
Yeah, right.
When we got back to the kitchen, Trey and Tristan had finished up getting everything set out at the dining room table. Preston was still napping, so we could enjoy a quiet meal. I noticed that Tristan held the chair out for Gina to take her seat before he sat down. Trey was already seated, piling food onto his plate.
Tristan was very attentive to her during the meal. I think Trey had finally noticed it as well. I saw him roll his eyes a couple of times. Once after Tristan asked Gina if she wanted more turkey, referring to her as ‘babe,’ and then again when Gina got up to clear the table before dessert and he'd jumped up to help her.
“What the hell is going on with those two?” Trey whispered to me as they took our plates out to the kitchen.
“I don’t know that there's anything going on, Trey. It seems that they simply get along. What’s the problem?”
“Wanna bet he’s already banged her?”
“Don’t be so crude, Trey,” I said, admonishing him. “I’m getting dessert. Do you want apple pie or pumpkin?”
“Pumpkin,” he mumbled, frowning.
I picked the salad plates up and took them to the kitchen. When I got to the doorway, I saw Tristan’s arms wrapped around Gina. He had her pulled up against him; his hands were all over her ass. They were kissing passionately. They hadn’t seen me, so I quietly and quickly turned around and went back out to the dining room.
“What’s the matter? Where’s my pie?” Trey asked, as I set the salad plates back down on the table. I lip synced to him that Tristan and Gina were making out in the kitchen.
“Jesus Christ, what the hell did I tell you?”
“Shush, they’ll hear you. I think it’s cute.”
“Cute, my ass. Like I don’t have her in my life enough just being your best friend. She’ll probably end up as my sister-in-law, now.”
I had to giggle at Trey’s discomfort with the idea. He just needed to learn how to deal with Gina. She appeared in the doorway to the dining room.
“Tristan’s loading the dishwasher. Here, let me take these plates to the kitchen,” she said, picking up the stacked salad plates. I’ll go ahead and bring dessert out.”
Her cheeks were flushed a rosy pink. Trey and I gave Gina our dessert orders and she hurried back into the kitchen. Now was probably as good of a time as any to bring up the subject of Gina staying with us when she had to be out of the condo next week.
“Trey, would you have a problem with Gina staying here with us for a couple of weeks until she finds an apartment? She hasn’t had time to look for anything, working all those hours at the club. She has to be out by December 1st.”
“Where the hell will she stay?”
“She can stay in Preston’s room. She’s not bringing her furniture; that’s all going into storage.”
He waved his hand dismissively at me.
“Whatever, Tylar, I certainly can’t say ‘no’ now that I’m fairly certain my brother's throwing the meat to her. I’m sorry dear, was that too crude?”
He gave me one of his stoic glares.
“Thank you for your understanding and compassion, Trey,” I replied, smiling at him.
Our landline rang and Gina got it from the kitchen. “Tylar, it’s your dad,” she said, bringing the phone to me. I'd talked to him once since our initial conversation on Monday evening. He'd hired someone to locate Trinity LaFleur and he'd located my mother’s death certificate as well as my birth certificate. He'd mailed certified copies of both of them to me. I hadn’t received them yet.
“Hi, Dad,” I said, smiling. It didn’t feel weird anymore calling him that.
“Hi, daughter,” he laughed pleasantly into the phone. “I wanted to call and wish you a Happy Thanksgiving and give you an update. You probably haven’t received the certificates that I mailed to you yet. I wanted to let you know that I'd like to have your birth certificate amended.”
“Look, Dad, if you're going to suggest my birth name be changed to carry your last name, I really don’t think I want to be ‘Tylar Tylar,” I said.
“No,” he laughed, “that's not what I meant. On your birth certificate, where the father’s name is listed, it's blank. I'd like to have my name entered in that space.”
“That’s fine with me, but I mean, is it really necessary? You know I’m yours and I know you’re mine, so isn’t that what really matters?”
“I want it on record,” he said. “I want your children and your children’s children to know their heritage.”
“That’s fine, Dad; I guess I didn’t think about it that way.”
“There’s something else, Tylar. When you see your mother’s death certificate, I don’t want you to be alarmed by what was entered as the cause of her death.”
“What does it say?” I asked carefully.
“Suicide by overdose,” he answered. “I don’t believe that's accurate.”
“Overdose of what?”
“Barbiturates. The thing is, there's no way a cause of death could be ruled as an overdose of any type of drug without a post mortem being conducted. There were some very sloppy or very shady records kept with respect to her death. She apparently succumbed in Vidalia, Louisiana.”
“Vidalia? That’s where Trinity LaFleur's supposed to be living. She was the mid-wife who delivered me, according to Maggie.”
“Yes, and I think the P.I. I hired has located her. She may have the answers we need. I’m going to file a request to open an investigation into your mother’s death. I have the authority to do so. There will be a formal inquisition held at some point in time. I'll keep you informed.”
“Thanks, Dad,” I replied, stunned at the news he'd given me; thankful he wasn't going to let it go until we had the answers.
Trey was watching me after I got off the phone with him. “Is everything okay, sweetie?” he asked.
“My father's opening a formal investigation into my mother’s death. Her death certificate listed the cause as a barbiturate overdose and suicide.”
“That doesn’t make any sense,” he replied.
“My father agrees with you,” I said. “He said there was no way that they could confirm chemicals in her system without doing an autopsy—at least checking her blood toxicology, I would think. Trey, what if Matthew did poison her and Maggie, too? How hard will that be to prove?”
“Well, sweetie, up to this point, it's just hearsay. Even if it's established that either or both of them died from poisoning, it in no way incriminates him without witnesses, or motives; they need much more circumstantial and forensic evidence, I’m afraid.”
I heard Preston crying in her room. Trey started to get up, but I told him I'd get her. I needed the distraction from my dark thoughts.
I went in and she was standing up holding onto the rail on her crib. Her room was dark. The nightlight we'd plugged in must have had the bulb burn out. It got dark so early now.
“Hey, precious girl,” I said to her, “Are you ready for some pureed turkey and sweet potatoes?” She smiled, showing off her latest teeth. She was getting her two eye teeth before her top middle ones. She had a bit of a baby vampire look going. She reached for me as I neared her crib.
I cleaned her up, diapered her and then dressed her in a yellow turtleneck and a little brown corduroy jumper that had a colorful turkey emblem on the front. I put
some white tights on her and a pair of brown oxford shoes. I brushed her hair up into two little pigtails.
“My baby looks adorable,” I said to her, smiling. She rewarded me with a dimpled grin. I carried her out to the dining room and settled her into her high chair. Gina and Tristan were fussing all over her and entertained her while I got her food warmed up. Trey got her bib and tied it on her.
“Can I feed her, Ty?” Gina asked. “I’m finished with dessert, so why don’t you eat yours while I feed her?”
“Be my guest.”
I ate my apple pie, watching Gina feed her with Tristan right there with her. The baby loved the attention she was getting from Aunt Gina and Uncle Tristan.
Trey had finished loading the dishwasher to capacity and started it. We still had at least another half load of dirty dishes to load once the first one was finished. He came back into the dining room, rolling his eyes for the third time this evening having seen Tristan with his hand on Gina’s shoulder as she fed Preston. They stayed till around 10:00 p.m., playing with Preston until she started get fussy.
“This baby girl is ready for bed,” Trey said, scooping her up and heading towards the nursery.
“So,” Gina said quietly, once Trey had exited the room. “Did you mention anything to Trey about me crashing here starting next weekend?”
“I did and he’s fine with it,” I replied smiling.
“No shit? That’s great.”
“Well, listen, we better shove off now. The Hot Nazi has made it pretty clear he wants some alone time with you.”
Tristan chuckled as he helped Gina on with her coat. I got the distinct impression that it was Gina who wanted some alone time with Tristan.
“What time does your flight leave in the morning, Tristan?”
“Around nine,” he said. “Gina has the papers for you to sign and your check at the office.”
“That’s fine,” I said. “We're going to do our Black Friday shopping tomorrow, so I can get it then. When are you planning to come back to start the modifications to the club?”
“I have to get the staff started at the winery, so it'll be in about two weeks.”
“You’re welcome to stay here when you get back,” I offered.
Gina shot me a dirty look.
What the hell is that about?
“Thanks, Tylar,” he said, giving me a brotherly hug.
“Thanksgiving was great,” Gina said hugging me as well.
“I'll see you tomorrow morning around nine or so, after I drop Tristan at the airport. Be ready to shop, girlfriend.”
“Always, Gina,” I said, closing the door behind them.
I went in, showered, got in my jammies, and crawled into bed. I was exhausted. Holidays seemed to do that to me. Trey came in a few minutes later, holding Preston who was in her PJs as well. “Someone is asking for ‘num-num,” he said. I held my arms out, taking her from him and nestling her down beside me.
“I’m going to grab a shower, babe. I’m beat.”
“Okay, sweetie,” I replied, lowering my nightgown and positioning Preston on her side next to me. She clamped down hard on my nipple, her teeth making it painful. “Ouch,” I said, “That hurt.”
Trey looked over at me as he was taking his boots off.
“She’s starting to bite me with those sharp baby teeth,” I laughed.
“Baby,” he said, "why don’t you consider weaning her entirely off the breast? It would make things easier if we wanted to go away for a few days here and there.”
“I will when she turns a year old, Trey. I want to continue until then, at least a couple of times a day.”
When Trey came to bed after his shower, he found both Preston and me asleep. He removed her from my arms to take her to her own bed. When he returned, he climbed into bed naked, except for his boxers. He immediately curled up next to me, drawing me close to his warm body. I had put my diaphragm in after my shower.
Trey was placing soft kisses on my face, neck and shoulders. I pulled him down on top of me, kissing his lips and allowing his tongue to explore my mouth.
“Is your diaphragm in, baby?”
“It is,” I replied, massaging his erection that was quickly hardening between us. “I’ve waited for this all day, Mr. Sinclair,” I said.
The truth was that ever since Gina had told me how hot it was with Tristan and I saw her giddiness and Tristan’s attentiveness to her, I'd wanted some of that for myself. Was it possible that Trey and I had fallen into a ‘married rut?’ We made love and fucked all the time. I yearned for that ‘just new’ feeling, though; the feeling that I'd had with him after we first met; and then again after we'd made love for the first time; the feeling that there were still mysteries about each other to be solved.
“Really?” he asked, as if surprised.
“Of course, sweetheart,” I said, kissing him and then pushing him back off me. “Kneel in front of me, Trey,” I instructed.
He got a puzzled look on his face, but did as I requested. I crouched down in front of him, taking his member into my mouth. I sucked, licked swirled and completely sucked him to almost climax. Trey was moaning and breathing heavily. I turned around, getting on my hands and knees and tilted my ass up into his face.
“Fuck me doggie-style, baby,” I said huskily.
Trey scooted towards me, placing one of his hands on my ass as he guided himself into me from behind. My sex was totally wet for him. He placed his left arm under my stomach to raise my ass up so that he could penetrate me deeply. He rocked in and out of me in a slow and deep rhythm; he had one hand on each cheek, guiding himself in and out of me.
“Mmmm baby,” he said, “this feels so good.”
His momentum picked up and his breathing grew ragged. I was starting to quicken in this position that allowed a more unobstructed access to my sweet spot. I tilted my ass up higher, arching my back.
“Oh, God, keep going,” I moaned, as Trey slammed into me again and again.
I heard him moan and then he pulled my ass tight against his pelvis as his erection throbbed and pulsated, getting ready to spew his warm climax into me. My orgasm exploded just then as I cried out and rolled my ass in a circular motion, draining him of all of his love.
We collapsed down on the bed, thoroughly spent and exhausted from our lovemaking. We were both panting. Trey reached for my hand, raising it to his lips and kissing it.
“What got into you, Mrs. Sinclair?” Trey asked. “That was absolutely wicked.”
“I don’t know,” I answered. “I just want to make sure that you and I don’t get into a rut, sexually.”
Trey rose up, perching his head on his hand. “What do you mean?” he asked.
“I just miss the butterflies, I guess.”
“The butterflies? I don’t understand.”
I turned on my side, facing him. I ran my fingers through his just-fucked hair, loving his looks.
“You know how it is when you first fall in love? Everything is new and exciting; there’s mystery and passion and…butterflies flutter in your stomach.”
“I see,” he said, twisting a lock of my hair between his fingers. “So, are you thinking that maybe Gina is feeling those butterflies now and you’re not?”
“What are you talking about, Trey?” I asked, sitting up in bed.
“I know how you think. It’s obvious that Tristan and Gina are doing the mattress mamba and she's probably filled you in on all of the lurid details, making you think that somehow our play is lacking. I can tell you it’s not—at least from my perspective. Aren't you pleased?’
“Of course I am! I just wanna make sure we still love each other more than ever and I still give you butterflies.”
“I love you, Tylar. You make me happy in bed and happy in love. I don’t know what else to say.”
“Just hold me; hold me all night long while I sleep; and don’t get any of your animalistic ideas,” I whispered, a single tear rolling down my cheek.
Chapter 37
“Look, Ty,” she said “It’s kind of like that ghost I bought her that screeched ‘Boo!’
“Yes, she loved that too.”
Come to think of it, I hadn’t seen her plush ghost for several weeks. I had a sneaking suspicion that Trey was behind the disappearance.
I bought Trey some new sweaters, another Atlanta Falcons jersey, and a black wool dress coat. I noticed Gina was looking at some Izod sweaters in the men’s section at Dillard’s.
“What are you looking for?” I asked her coyly.
“I was just thinking how great this color would look with Tristan’s eyes,” she replied, pulling an emerald green sweater from the rack.
“So, you and Tristan are exchanging gifts?”
“Why not? We’ve been exchanging bodily fluids on a regular basis,” she laughed.
“So, what happened with you two last night?” I asked.
“We pulled an all-night fuckfest.”
“By the way,” I said, “what was with the dirty look you gave me yesterday when I invited Tristan to stay with us when he’s back in town in a couple of weeks?”
“Because I’m staying there and you just have the two bedrooms. I don’t want Trey knowing about Tristan and me as far as the physical relationship we have.”
“Oh, I see. That’s all it is then—a physical relationship?”
“Yes, I’ve explained that to you, already.”
“Well, for your information, Gina, Trey has already figured that part out.”
“What? How?”
“Hello? It’s a bit obvious with him calling you ‘babe’ and always touching you, for gosh sakes.”
Gina smiled as she decided to go with the green sweater for Tristan. She could pretend all she wanted to that it was just a sexual relationship, but I knew how she rolled. She was falling in love with him.
“Hey,” she said, “So what’s up for Christmas anyway? Are you going up to Bristol?”
Shadows and Dreams (Dream Series Book 2) Page 27
