The Gritty Truth

by Melissa Foster

  Angela gave Roni an I told you so look as they went to him.

  “Sorry to bother you, babe.” Quincy held up the bag he was carrying from the bookstore’s café and said, “Two salads and croissants. Hope that’s okay.”

  Elisa said, “I’ll leave you three to chat.”

  “Thank you, Elisa,” Quincy said. “Next time I’ll bring enough for you, too.”

  “Such a sweetheart,” Elisa said. As Quincy turned his attention to Roni, Elisa gave her a thumbs-up.

  Reveling in her approval, Roni said, “Thank you, Quincy. You didn’t have to bring us lunch.”

  “But we’re glad you did!” Angela exclaimed. “Thank you.”

  “I won’t stay. I know you’re busy, and I have to get back to work. I’m sorry to just show up, but I missed you, and I thought you might say you were too busy for me to stop by. I didn’t want you to go without eating.”

  “Yeah, right, like she’d ever say that,” Angela said with a laugh. “Why don’t you give me the bag, and I’ll take it into the kitchen so you can smooch your girl.”

  He handed her the bag, and as she walked out, he said, “Best friend ever,” and drew Roni into a sweet kiss, stirring those butterflies that seemed to live in her belly these days.

  “I’m glad you’re here. I was missing you, too,” she said. “I’d never tell you not to come see me unless I was teaching.”

  “Good because apparently I can’t even go a few hours without seeing you. I don’t know what you’re doing to me, but I hope you never stop. What time can I see you tonight?”

  The air rushed from her lungs. “Thank goodness.”

  “Why do you sound relieved?”

  She looked up at him, feeling silly for worrying, and said, “I thought you might not want to see me tonight because you hadn’t said anything about it.”

  “Babe, how can you think that? I’ll have to try harder to show you how I feel,” he said with a sexy smirk.

  “That’s definitely not a problem.” She felt her cheeks flame. “I know how much you like me, but I don’t know what’s normal in relationships. I only know that when we’re apart, I can’t wait to be together again, and I didn’t want you to think I was too needy by asking about it.”

  “That’s not needy, babe. That’s being into me.” He lowered his voice to a whisper and said, “I fucking love that.” He gave her a quick kiss. “I don’t know what’s normal for other people, but I know what I’d like our normal to be. Seeing you seven days a week sounds perfect to me.”

  She laughed softly, sure he was kidding, though his words filled her with joy.

  “I mean it, Roni. I want us to be a given, not a question. What do you want?”

  “To be a given,” she said, doing a happy dance inside. “But if you want time by yourself or with friends, I’m okay with that, too. I’m used to being on my own, and I’m not going to get jealous or clingy. It’s not that I need you with me every second or need to know what you’re doing every minute. I just like being with you. I guess I never realized I’m such a planner, but I’d like to know if we’re going to see each other or not.”

  Angela walked back into the room and said, “Okay, you two. Time to wrap it up. This dance isn’t going to choreograph itself.”

  “I’ll walk you out,” Roni said to Quincy. “Back in a minute, Ang.” She walked Quincy out to his truck, so relieved she had a bounce in her step.

  “Get in here, beautiful.” His arms circled her, and he said, “I don’t ever want you worrying. If you’re concerned about something, talk to me. In case you haven’t noticed, I’m a big communicator. It helps me keep a clear head.”

  “I will from now on. Promise.”

  “Good. I have to get back to work, but I wanted to ask you one more thing. Thanksgiving is right around the corner. I know it’s your first holiday without your grandmother and it might be a tough one, so we don’t have to go anywhere if you’d rather spend a quiet night in. But Dixie and Jace are hosting Thanksgiving at their new house, and if you want to be around people, everyone will be there—the Whiskeys, Tru and Gemma and the kids, and almost everyone else we hung out with after the scavenger hunt. Lila and Bones share a birthday right after Thanksgiving, so we celebrate their birthdays that night, too. Nothing fancy, just presents and cake.”

  Thanksgiving was about two weeks away. She was touched that he’d thought about her feelings and couldn’t believe he was willing to forgo seeing all the people he loved to be with her. “I would love to go with you. It will be sad without Gram this year, but I’ll make her famous apple pie, and you and I will be together, which will make it much better. This will give me a chance to get to know your friends better, too.”

  “Great. How about we make the pie together?”

  She fluttered her lashes flirtatiously and said, “Does that mean you want to get your hands dirty in my kitchen?” She could hardly believe how open she’d become in the last few days. The sexy things she said and did with him felt so natural, she wondered if he’d discovered hidden parts of her, or if his loving attention caused her to grow as a woman. She figured it was probably both, and she hoped they’d continue down that path for years to come.

  “I want to get you dirty in your kitchen,” he said, eyes brimming with the sinfulness she adored.

  “I’ve never fooled around in my kitchen before. That will be a fun first to conquer. We might need to do a trial run on that pie before Thanksgiving. Want to stay at my place tonight?”

  His eyes darkened. “Baby, what are you trying to do to me? Now I’m going to have that thought on my mind all day.”

  “Lucky me.” She bounced on her toes and said, “Then you’ll be all ready to go by tonight.”

  “Why do you love torturing me?” He lowered his lips to hers, sinking into a deep, toe-curling kiss.

  “Considering that you got me all hot and bothered with that kiss, I think you’re the one who loves torturing me,” she said sassily. “And you don’t see me complaining.”

  “You’re hot and bothered, huh?” Heat flared in his eyes, and he grabbed her butt.

  “Keep those grabby hands to yourself, mister.” She pushed out of his arms, laughing. Loving his playfulness, she walked backward toward the studio and said, “I need to go back to work.”

  He strode toward her like a lion stalking his prey, save for that coy grin. “I’ll be quick.”

  “You’re never quick. You’re hours of pure, naughty enjoyment, and now I’m going to think about that all day. Ugh! You need to leave.” She shooed him away with her hands. “Now, before we end up horizontal in your truck and I get fired.”

  He laughed and blew her a kiss. “See you in the kitchen tonight, beautiful.”

  As he climbed into his truck, she knew there was no way she’d be able to think about anything other than that naughty promise and the hunger in his eyes for the rest of the day.

  Chapter Fourteen

  QUINCY PULLED ON his jeans, listening to the sound of Roni’s music playing in the other room. He couldn’t believe it had been almost three weeks since their first date, eight wonderful days and seven sinfully loving nights, since they’d talked about being a given. The word had become one of his favorites. He loved how their lives were blending together. Video messaging had become their thing, and he loved that they had a thing. Their days were busy, but they came together in the evenings. Roni had gone to another meeting with him, and her support brought them even closer. She was just as low-key as he was about where they stayed. They’d spent some nights at her place and some at his, depending on who was working later. Sometimes he studied in the evenings, and she worked on choreography or read, or they hung out with his friends, who had become her friends, too. Angela and Joey had even joined them for a bonfire at his apartment Friday night with Jed and Truman and their families, and Penny and Scott. The girls were excited that Roni was coming to Josie’s party. It felt amazing to have Roni become such an integral part of his life, and he loved that the
re was no weirdness between her and Penny. He was also glad Penny and Scott had finally told their friends that they were seeing each other. He’d never seen Penny blush until that night. Scott definitely had a hold on her, and he was thrilled for both of them.

  Quincy ran his hand through his hair, still wet from the shower he and Roni had taken, and grabbed his shirt as he walked out of his bedroom. His heart thudded faster at the sight of Roni wearing one of his T-shirts, dancing bare-legged and beautiful in front of the counter, her wet hair swaying over her shoulders.

  She bent over the counter to write in her choreography journal. She worked so hard to get things right for the kids. He wished he could convince her to get on that stage and show the world how incredible she was.

  Maybe one day…

  She wiggled her butt as she wrote, sparking memories of last Saturday night, when they had planned to make her grandmother’s pie and had ended up devouring each other in her kitchen instead.

  He dropped his shirt on the couch and went to her, running his hands down her hips as he kissed her neck, knowing that drove her wild. She smelled fresh and sexy, like promises of sunny afternoons and loving nights, scents of a future he never thought he’d have—and now couldn’t imagine without her in it.

  “Hey, beautiful. How’s your hip this morning?” They’d gotten a little wild last night. He tried not to be too rough, but sometimes they got carried away. Roni never complained, but sometimes after they’d made love, or after a long day of work, he’d catch her rubbing her hip. He almost always gave her a rubdown in the evenings, and one night he’d drawn her a hot bath. They’d soaked in it together, and that seemed to help ease her pain, too. Aside from making love with her, there was no greater pleasure than taking care of her, emotionally and physically.

  “I think my body’s getting used to us,” she said. “I’m okay, but I could use a few more kisses right here.” She moved her hair over one shoulder, baring her neck for him.

  He was falling hard for her beautiful mind and loving soul, but the areas that were scarred—her body and her confidence—held special places in his heart. He gave all of them extra love, letting her know how beautiful she was, inside and out, as often as he felt it, which probably made him sound like a broken record. But he didn’t care. He enjoyed lavishing her with loving truths. It had been hard for her to walk around without pants on in front of him at first, but last Tuesday night after they’d made love, they’d talked about it as openly and honestly as they talked about everything else. She was a little embarrassed, but by morning, when she’d woken up to him kissing the scars on her back, she’d understood that when he’d said he thought every inch of her was beautiful, he’d meant every word.

  He kissed her jaw and said, “Nothing could have prepared me for how incredible it feels to wake up next to you.”

  They’d just made love in the shower, and still his body thrummed with renewed desire. He usually had Sundays off and wished he hadn’t offered to fill in for another employee today. But he was getting off at three, and they were taking Kennedy and Lincoln on a date together.

  “Mm,” she said, leaning back against his chest, rubbing against him.

  He turned her in his arms and said, “I wish I could spend the whole day with you.”

  “Me too. But at least you’ll be home early. I’m excited for our date with the kids.”

  He had a surprise in store for her. “We’ll have fun. What are you doing today?”

  She pressed her lips to the center of his chest and said, “Missing you.”

  “Damn, you have all the best answers. Are you going to hang out here?”

  “Just for a little while. I need to go to the studio to talk with Elisa about a few things. Can we meet at my place after you get off work?”

  “Sure. Sounds good. Now, tell me, gorgeous girl…” He lifted her onto the counter and wedged himself between her legs. “How am I supposed to leave when you’re dressed like this?” He ran his hands up her legs and over her thighs.

  Her eyes darkened. “Quincy.”

  “Hm?” He brushed his thumb between her legs and felt her clench through her panties.

  “You’re going to leave me all hot and bothered.”

  “You should know me better than that.” He slipped his thumb into her panties, over her slick heat.

  “God…”

  “Aw, baby, you need me,” he said, stroking her. She squirmed, holding his gaze, and bit her lower lip. “You’re so fucking sexy.”

  He glanced at the clock on the stove, calculating how much time he had before he had to leave. He didn’t have time for another shower, but he had time to pleasure her. He hooked his fingers into her panties and tore them down her legs, earning a surprised squeak.

  “Breakfast time,” he growled, and spread her legs to look his fill.

  “You’ll be late,” she said halfheartedly, running her hands through his hair the way she knew drove him out of his freaking mind. Her hands were as lethal as the rest of her.

  “Have faith, sweetness.” He crushed his mouth to hers and pushed his fingers inside her, earning the sounds he craved. He’d learned just how to make her come, but stopped short, needing to taste her, to feel her come as he devoured her. He tore his mouth away, and she whimpered. With one hand on her ass, he hauled her to the edge of the counter and lowered his mouth to her promised land.

  She fisted her hands in his hair and wrapped her legs over his shoulders as he feasted on her. “Don’t stop. There, there…Oh God!”

  He ate at her harder, fucking her with his tongue, teasing the sensitive nerves that kept her at the peak, her essence spreading over his tongue.

  Heaven.

  “DO YOU THINK I’m turning into a sex maniac?” Roni asked Angela over the phone later that afternoon. She was at her apartment, getting ready for her date with Quincy and the kids. Their brainstorming of choreography had somehow turned into a discussion about Quincy.

  Angela laughed. “You ask the funniest questions. I get it, because I think I asked you the same thing when I was seventeen and first having sex. Remember?”

  “You didn’t ask,” Roni reminded her. “You told me you were turning into one. So, do you think I am?”

  “Of course not. You’re a healthy, sexually active young woman. But I am a little concerned about how excited you are over going on a kid date.”

  Roni was elated that Quincy wanted to include her. “You know I love Kennedy and Lincoln. Weren’t they adorable making s’mores at the bonfire?” Lincoln had taken a liking to Roni, sitting on her lap, talking a mile a minute, giggling, and sharing s’mores, and she’d loved every second of it.

  “I think you mean s’Moons,” Angela said.

  Jed had coined the name s’Moons because Josie had made gingerbread cookies and the kids had used them instead of graham crackers.

  “Kennedy would lecture you about calling them that, and Lincoln would try to do the same, but it’d come out as one long word that made no sense.” Angela laughed and said, “I swear that kid talks as fast as lightning. Joey’s in love with him.”

  “I can’t wait until you guys have kids. I can be Aunt Roni.” She sat down to put on her boots and said, “Why do you think it’s weird that I’m excited to go on the date with Quincy and the kids? Family is important to him, and I love that about him.”

  “I don’t know. Maybe because you’re twenty-four, not thirty. But I guess it doesn’t matter what you do with him, does it? You’ve been floating on air since you two worked things out. I’m so glad you didn’t listen to me.”

  “I listened to your concerns. But the heart wants what the heart wants, and mine wants Quincy more than you could ever imagine.” Roni had gone to a second NA meeting with him Wednesday night, and it had been helpful. But she probably wouldn’t go to many more. Between the information she’d gotten online, the books she was reading, the things she’d learned at the meetings, Quincy’s sponsorship of Simone, which included phone calls and spur-of-the-
moment meetings when she needed support, and from simply talking with Quincy about his recovery, she was getting a clear sense of what recovery entailed. She knew things could change for him at any second, and she was glad Quincy didn’t try to sugarcoat it. He’d told her that a smell, a taste, or even the sight of something could trigger what he called the beast, and his addiction could take over again, even though he had yet to feel drawn to drugs. She knew the risks, and they scared her, but Quincy was worth it, and the support of his family and friends buffered that fear.

  “I doubt it’s more than I can imagine, considering you come into work every day all bright-eyed and revved up like he has a magical peen,” Angela said, bringing Roni’s mind back to the moment.

  “It must be magic, because you always say that after you and Joey fool around, all you want to do is cuddle and all he wants to do is sleep. But I swear when Quincy and I do it, we get rejuvenated.”

  “Yes, I’ve heard all about Mr. Gigantic Schlong and your hours of sexcapades and post-orgasmic pizzas.”

  Roni flushed with memories of their sexy morning. She hadn’t shared any specifics about their sex life with Angela other than saying things like, We thoroughly enjoyed each other multiple times or His mouth should come with a warning label, but it felt good to participate in girl talk, rather than just listening to Angela’s stories. Roni felt like she was catching up on some of the things she’d missed out on when she was growing up, like actually having a boyfriend and private jokes and experiencing what it was like to want to share her life—and her bed—with someone. She was so used to being alone, she hadn’t been sure how she’d feel spending every night with Quincy, but it had happened so naturally, she couldn’t imagine it any other way.

  “Do you ever wish you had more experience? That you’d been with more guys?” Angela asked.

  “No. I care about Quincy, and that makes it special.” Roni knew that certain things she and Quincy did weren’t new for him, but he’d told her they felt new because he was doing them for the first time with a clear head and a woman he cared about. “I have to be honest, Ang. I always thought you were making up how much you enjoyed sex.” She headed out of her bedroom and said, “But if it’s half as good as ours, then I know you probably weren’t.”