SEXT ME

by Layla Valentine

  “I love you, too. God, Dillon, I love you. I’m sorry about the things I said, and the things I didn’t explain, and—” she begins, but I press a finger to her lips to gently shush her.

  “The deal is still on, if you find it agreeable. I made you an offer, and I plan to hold true to it.” I smile, brushing her hair away from her stunning eyes.

  She meets my gaze, looking like there’s so much she wants to say. Instead, she nods before capturing my lips once more. She pulls me towards her couch, which seems like it has seen better days, and I’m somewhat curious as to her intent.

  “Dillon…can you do something for me?” she asks shyly, pushing the robe off her shoulders slowly.

  “Of course, Charlotte. I’ll do anything,” I reply, pulling her into my arms again. I can’t bear to be even an inch apart from her, not after what we’ve gone through. I never want to let her go again.

  She shifts to get comfortable in my grip, pulling me down to the couch on top of her. It’s far from the most comfortable surface in the world, but as she wraps her legs around my waist, I realize there’s nowhere I’d rather be.

  “Make love to me,” she whispers.

  I’m helpless to do anything but oblige. The intense, lustful sex we’ve always had seems miles away—this time, I want to show her how much I cherish her.

  As she lifts her shirt over her head, her adorably round stomach is on perfect display. I ghost my palm over the flesh of her baby bump, and she shivers slightly. There is a vulnerability in her gaze that she’s never shown me before.

  I reach out to caress one of her swollen breasts in my palm, and she gasps out my name. Lowering my head to her other breast, I take the nipple between my lips and gently flick my tongue against the erect peak.

  She throws her head back, and all I can feel is the sheer love I have for her. Arousal even seems secondary to the intensity of my heart’s ache for her.

  “You’re so beautiful,” I murmur against her skin, kissing my way down her torso.

  She giggles as I flick my tongue against her navel before curling my fingers in the waistband of her pajama pants. She wiggles in anticipation, lifting her hips as I pull the garment down her legs. Surprisingly, she wears nothing underneath. Almost as if she’d been expecting me.

  She urges me onward with a desperate look, and I trace my fingertips along her inner thigh. There’s a damp heat radiating from her, and unable to resist, I lower my head to taste her. Her breath hitches, and I’m certain I’ve never tasted something so divine in all my years of living. I continue to move my tongue against her slit, eager for more. Her body quakes under my touch, and it’s obvious she’s already growing close.

  “Wait!” she cries out, grabbing me by the collar of my shirt.

  Wasting no time, she rips the shirt open, buttons flying across the room. My chuckles turn into breathy groans as she kisses my chest, pushing me back. This time, I’m on my back, and she smiles eagerly, pushing my slacks down on my hips until she can free my manhood from my briefs. Before I can speak, she’s hovering above me in the most tantalizing manner possible.

  “Charlotte,” I gasp as she lowers herself onto me, her warmth clinging tightly to my girth.

  I rest my hands on her round belly, crying out softly each time our hips meet.

  “I love you,” she whispers, bouncing at a pace that can be described as nothing but frantic.

  Adoration surges through me, as well as another sudden bolt of arousal. I guide her hips as she grows a bit lost in her pleasure, but it’s not long before I’m throwing my head back in pure ecstasy as well.

  “I love you too… So damn much,” I breathe, bottoming out inside of her and filling her to the brim.

  Her squeal of pleasure is loud and high-pitched, a sound I’ve missed more than I realized. Before I know it, she’s all but collapsed on top of me. Her lips find mine, and I tangle a hand in her hair as we bask in the afterglow.

  Distantly, I hear a news story playing on her TV. She seems to hear it as well, going stiff. I’d not even noticed that the TV was on, but as I glance towards it, something seems off.

  “Dillon, please,” she says urgently, trying to force my eyes away from the image on the screen.

  It’s an image I would recognize anywhere, seeing as it’s a picture of me… well, us. I stare critically at the television, listening closely as the sordid details of our affair are played on national television. I turn to look at her, hurt and disbelief quickly replacing the happiness I’d felt mere moments ago.

  “Oh, so you love me?” I ask gruffly, sitting upright and pushing her off of me. She tries to cling to me, but I won’t have it. I slide out from under her, my mind blank as I adjust my pants to cover myself.

  “Of course, I was just— You have to understand,” she tries to explain, but I’m already walking towards the door.

  “I can’t believe what a fool I’ve been. All along, you’ve wanted to hurt me. You’ve wanted to ruin me. Well, you win, Charlotte. You’ve destroyed me,” I say, just loudly enough for her to hear.

  She pleads for me to stay, but I storm out the door, not caring who sees my half-naked form. After all, everyone has already seen much more on TV.

  Not only has my deal in China gone by the wayside, but God only knows how many deals I’ll lose over this.

  Over one damn woman.

  Chapter Sixteen

  Charlotte

  “I screwed up, Jenny,” I admit morosely, watching the entertainment story on TV. It’s been on repeat for the past several days, and I can only wonder how long it will be before the news stations decide it’s played out. Not that I can blame them for broadcasting such a sordid tale. A sigh spills past my lips, and I’ve almost forgotten I’m on the phone with my twin until she sighs as well.

  “The guy had it coming,” she says defensively, and I’m unable to swallow the bitter laugh that erupts from my lungs. “Come on, Charlotte. You had no way of knowing he’d decide to apologize, and…you two don’t really seem to be that healthy for each other,” she continues.

  A tear rolls down my cheek, though it’s like tracking drops of water in a category-five hurricane at this point. Sniffling, I take a moment to pull the phone away. I don’t want her to hear how upset I am, though it’s past obvious at this point.

  “I don’t know what to do,” I manage, closing my eyes and allowing my head to sag against the back of the sofa.

  My sister hums thoughtfully for a moment, though I’m sure there’s no clean solution to my problem at this point.

  “Come to Australia,” Jenny suggests abruptly, and I nearly drop the phone in shock.

  I sputter incoherently for a moment, unable to reason out how she came to that idea.

  “Come on, think about it. If the billionaire isn’t going to help you from here on out, it would be helpful to be with family. We can take care of you, Charlie,” she says, sounding somewhat more sentimental than I’ve come to expect from her.

  Glancing at the television, I note that there’s a live broadcast from SharkTEC towers. It appears that they’re trying to get the dirty details from Dillon himself, and I realize all too late that I’ve given him even more power to ruin me. If he chooses to turn the story around on me, I’ll be the laughing stock of the country.

  Leaving won’t bring Dillon any closer to me. It won’t do anything to convince him of how sorry I am. It won’t prove how much I love him. However, it could do to help me dismiss my feelings for the man. It’s not as if anything I do will win him over at this point. If I remain in this terrible apartment, I’ll only be left to deal with my broken heart alone. But there’s also always a chance that I’ll only miss him even more, thousands of miles away…

  I simply have to accept that it’s not meant to be.

  “I’ll come,” I say, smiling a bit as Jenny cheers.

  “Great, I’ll buy your plane ticket. You can stay with me for a while, until you get on your feet. It’ll be just like when we were kids,” she says happily.<
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  I can sense her excited grin through the phone, and in spite of myself, I can’t help but get a little excited at the prospect of exploring lands unknown.

  “What should I bring?” I ask, glancing around my tiny, run-down apartment. The only thing of value, really, is my laptop.

  “Your computer, and some clothes. I can’t afford to buy you another entirely new wardrobe,” she teases.

  Nodding along though she can’t see me, I’m becoming more certain that this is the right course of action. Though I know I’ll miss Dillon, and as badly as I want him to take me back, there’s no way to backtrack through this mess of a situation. This is for the best.

  At least, I hope so.

  In my final days in my crummy apartment, I spend most of my time packing. There’s little else to do, as I’ve already had the cable turned off, and paid my final bills. When the day comes to leave, I linger on my sofa for a long moment.

  Glancing at the spot where Dillon and I had made love, I can’t deny that my mind turns to him again. Though I know he won’t care, I take a moment to jot down a note and stick it in the mail to be sent to his penthouse.

  All he needs to know is that I’m going far away, and that he doesn’t have to worry about me or the deal anymore. He doesn’t have to waste any more of his life on someone like me, and he can find a new woman to provide his prized heir.

  I just wish things were different.

  Chapter Seventeen

  Charlotte

  The next few months pass in a blur, with the move to Australia and settling in at my sister’s home in Brisbane. I grow rounder and rounder, and all the more drained with every day that passes.

  Before I realize how much time has passed, I’m nearing the dreaded eight-month mark. In normal pregnancies, nine months is when a mother really begins to worry. For triplets, it’s another story entirely. I could have them any day, at this rate.

  Truthfully, I have a lot to show for my time in Australia. I managed to score in a lottery—which I hadn’t even realized I’d entered—receiving a lucky hundred-thousand dollars. My sister had been as bewildered as me, but I wasn’t going to look a gift horse in the mouth.

  Searching for a job hasn’t been easy, but with the cash payout from the lottery, I’ve been able to get by well enough. I still spend most of my days searching for a way to support my children in the long-term.

  My thoughts still turn to Dillon more often than not, but I suppose that’s to be expected while carrying his children. I hope, at the very least, that they look more like me. I know the chance of three little Charlotte clones is unlikely, but a girl can dream. Having three babies as a constant reminder of him will be hard enough without seeing his beautiful blue eyes and face reflected back at me every day.

  Deciding to try my luck finding a part-time job at the local mall, I jot down a note for Jenny explaining where I’ll be. I grab the keys to my new car, striding out of the house. It’s not a brand-new car; I couldn’t excuse spending such a large chunk of my lottery winnings on one thing. All the same, it gets me through town well enough.

  Sliding into the driver’s seat with difficulty, I turn the ignition and turn the air conditioner on, full blast. I still haven’t entirely adjusted to the Brisbane heat, but it’s a work in progress. I know before long, I’ll spend less time cooped up in the house—especially if I manage to land a job.

  When the mall comes into view, I breathe a weary sigh upon seeing the distance from the nearest parking place and the entrance. No expectant mother parking to be found here, unfortunately.

  I wiggle out of the car, trekking towards the entrance of the mall. The sun beats down on my back, and sweat rolls down my neck. Before I can make it to the comfortable air conditioning, a dizzy spell washes over me. Stumbling to the side, I just manage to brace myself against a man who rushes to my side. I move to thank him, blinking slowly as I take in his features.

  He looks strangely familiar, vaguely reminiscent of the doctor I’d seen for my ultrasound. He has an entirely different hairstyle, though. It wasn’t as if the doctor could sprout a full head of hair and decide to move all the way to Australia. The very thought of it is ridiculous. It must be the heat getting to me.

  Regardless, seeing this deceptively familiar face makes me think of the life I’ve left behind. My crappy apartment wasn’t any big loss, but Dillon continues to haunt my every thought—be it waking or dreamful.

  The news stories have finally died down, and the only news I see of the business mogul is his success in additional corporate takeovers. Well, that and the gossip magazine that mentioned his new mansion. People are speculating that he’s seeing someone, but I know that can’t be true. I hope so, anyway.

  “Ma’am, are you all right? Can you hear me?” the man inquires gently. I blink blearily, taking the bottle of water he offers me. “You seem to be a bit dehydrated. It can’t be good for the babies,” he says.

  I frown, taking another gulp of water.

  “Thanks for the input, but…” I trail off, considering him strangely. “How do you know I’m having multiples?”

  He looks panicked for the briefest of moments before constructing his expression into a calm and collected one.

  “Just a lucky guess—looks like a bigger bump than usual.” He laughs awkwardly. “Do you need help getting home?” he asks gingerly, and my mind turns to the place that I consider my true home.

  While I know he means the place I’m staying in presently, Australia will never feel like home for me. The only time I’ve ever felt at home was in Dillon’s arms.

  Struck by the intensity of the sudden thought, I brush the man off and turn back to my car. A thousand thoughts are racing through my head, but the one that sticks out the most is the idea that I simply have to talk to Jenny. She’s managed to keep a level head throughout this; perhaps she can convince me of how ridiculous I’m being.

  Getting back into the car, I turn on the air conditioner again and drive in the direction of our currently shared house.

  Jenny is sitting in a lawn chair in the front yard, sipping a glass of water and flipping through the gossip magazine I’d brought home yesterday. When I get out of the car, she glances at me with an expression of concern.

  “Charlie, are you all right? You look a bit red in the face,” she calls out, jumping to her feet and rushing towards me.

  Giving her a guilty look, I reach out to take the magazine still gripped in her hand.

  “I want to go back,” I admit softly.

  She looks at me with an expression of confusion for a moment, but then realization seems to strike her. She looks briefly troubled, reaching out to take me by the hand.

  “You’ve never been truly happy here, have you?” Jenny asks sadly.

  Tears well up in my eyes as I try to think of an explanation that makes sense.

  “I’m happy being with my family, but…this isn’t home, Jenny,” I say firmly.

  She pauses to take a breath, gripping my hand and seeming to size me up for a long moment.

  “Get out of here, kid. You’ve got a billionaire to win back,” she teases.

  She pushes me back towards the car and I barely resist.

  “I’ll ship your things over as soon as you have a place I can send them to. If you hurry, you’ll probably catch tonight’s red-eye,” she insists.

  Surprised by how confident she seems, I glance over my shoulder at her.

  “You’ve been expecting this,” I realize out loud.

  Jenny sighs, shrugging her shoulders.

  “I know you too well. Now, go on. Call me when you’re safe in Chicago,” she orders.

  She doesn’t have to tell me twice.

  Luck seems to be on my side for the time being, and I arrive just in time to score a ticket for a one-way flight to the United States. The flight attendant considers me rather strangely as I try to stuff myself into a seat—which is quite the task, considering just how obviously pregnant I am. She looks like she wants to ask whe
ther or not I should be flying, but she appears to let it slide after a moment of thought.

  As the cabin lights dim and I begin to drift off, my thoughts lie with the man who has stolen my heart. I can only hope he’ll be happy to see me.

  Chapter Eighteen

  Charlotte

  I’m jolted awake by the pilot announcing that we’re preparing to land. As soon as we touch the ground and are permitted to get out of our seats, I pop the safety belt off and race towards the exit of the plane. There are an abundance of cabs outside the airport, and I can’t help feeling as if luck is still on my side.

  Flagging down a taxi, I collapse into the backseat and direct the driver to SharkTEC towers. He considers me curiously for a moment, but obliges my request. The ride is short, and I tell him to wait for me and keep the meter running for ten minutes—just in case.

  As soon as I step inside the building, I feel as if all eyes are on me. I spot Tiffany almost immediately, and rush towards her. She considers me with a somewhat scornful expression, stirring her coffee before addressing me.

  “What are you doing here, Miss Law?” she asks bluntly. Her obvious loathing for me is like a baseball bat to the knees, but I manage to remain standing.

  “I’m here to see Dillon,” I offer weakly.

  Tiffany raises a brow, continuing to simply stare at me. I’m almost sure she’s going to send me away, and as it turns out, I’m right.

  “Mr. Bradshaw isn’t here. I’m not quite at liberty to divulge where he is, even if I were to know,” she says dismissively.

  She glances towards my stomach, where my hand cradles my baby bump. Her expression turns briefly sympathetic, and she gives pause before speaking again.

  “He still frequents the penthouse, though his mansion has been completed. You might find him there,” she offers softly.

  Thankfulness jolts through me like electricity, and I reach out to pull her into my arms. She stiffens awkwardly.