Page 62 of This Time Around

“May I?” he asks, gesturing for a hug.

“Of course.”

He gives me a quick hug before he leaves, and I’m actually glad I ran into him. It’s like a weight has been lifted.

I knock, but realize they will never hear it over all the noise and make my way inside. The living room is full of people I don’t recognize, but I spot Knox in the corner by the fireplace, talking to an older gentleman.

I smile and wave, offering him a silent hello as I make my way to the kitchen. The island in the center has basic party food alongside fancy hors d’oeuvres, and various bottles of wine, whisky, gin, and tequila line the counters. I scan the room for Ana, and let’s be honest, for Luke, but don’t spot either of them.

Deciding I need help to calm my nerves, I grab a glass and pour myself a generous serving of Tempranillo.

“She is nothing I would have expected. Knox is delicious,” a bleach blond next to me tells the woman she is talking to. Both of their backs to me as they talk in hushed whispers.

“Right? I was expecting tall, fake boobs. You know someone who wears a lot of makeup, makes a statement on his arm. The way he talks about her, you’d think she was pure perfection.”

I roll my eyes. I hate women like this.

The other woman’s husband, judging by the band on his ring finger, leans in to kiss her cheek. While doing so, he grabs a cracker and keeps walking towards the living room where Knox is. Clearly, the kiss was a courtesy when what he actually wanted was a snack, and not the fun kind.

“If Knox was who I came home to every night, I’d put in a little more effort. I wouldn’t want him to wander,” the first woman continues. “All the moms are waiting for the green light, so they can make a move. Especially the single ones.” She laughs.

Her friend smiles, “You are one of those single moms.”

“Then I speak from experience,” the first woman’s smug voice causes my eyes to narrow into slits as I try to burn daggers through the back of her head.

I watch as they both go silent and I follow their gaze to Ana, coming out of Riker’s bedroom. She is absolutely glowing, and these two women are not the only ones who notice. I glance in Knox’s direction who is mid conversation, but as if her presence is a magnetic pull, without looking in her direction, he quickly finishes his conversation moving towards her. He makes his way over to her, bites his lip ring and wraps his arms around her. As he pulls her into his chest, he peppers her with kisses, causing her to giggle.

“Not sure she has to work very hard to keep him around,” the married woman states with a slight swoon to her voice. “He seems pretty consumed by her. I would give my left tit to have my husband look at me the way he looks at her. Odds are you need to give up on the obsession and move on.”

The bleach blond perks up. “Oh, did you see the eye candy in the garage? He was getting a beer out of the cooler and the veins on those tattooed forearms were so hot. Think he’s single?”

Now I perk up, instantly knowing she is talking about Luke, and fuck no, he is not single.

“He looked like he was by himself. Shoot your shot if nothing else, oh, there he is,” the married woman cuts out, hitting her friend on the arm.

I glance up at the door across the kitchen, only to lock eyes with my man. Fuck, he is hot. He is wearing a black button up with the sleeves rolled up. I notice how perfect his hair sits, and the recent trim of his beard. However, my attention quickly shifts to the look he gives me. It’s dark, not one I usually garnish from him.

“Holy fuck, he’s staring in this direction like he wants to destroy someone. I bet he could manhandle you in bed,” the married woman continues.

You have no fucking clue.

I swallow, my mouth running dry as he stalks in my direction and I’m not sure if I should be nervous this is the end of us based on his face or if I should put my knuckles up ready to fight, but I know for sure my panties are soaking wet based on the aching pulse between my legs.

“Do I look ok?” the blonde in front of me asks her friend as Luke approaches, mere feet away.

Hot is all her friend gets out before Luke places a hand on the blonde’s shoulder cutting her off.

“Excuse me,” he cuts in with urgency, pushing between them staring daggers at me. I hear a faint scoff from the two women, but can’t focus too much attention on it. Fuck. He’s… I don’t know what he is. My heart is pounding and my hands are clammy. “What are you trying to do, B?”

My eyebrow raises, not knowing what in the hell he is talking about. “I’m drinking wine, trying to calm my nerves,” I reveal honestly, inhaling his mint and cedar scent, and it makes my toes curl in my boots. His hand slips beneath the crop top I am wearing as he places a hand on my waist and the sensation of his skin on mine causes a small whimper to leave my mouth.

“Fuck,” he smolders, leaning down to whisper in my ear, only it’s not a whisper. “I’m done. Done missing your smell, the feel of you wrapped in my arms, of your warm skin against mine in our fucking bed, B. Most of all I’m done missing your taste on my tongue, and then you walk in here like this, making a sexy little noise. I have nothing left, B. Fucking put me out of my misery.”

The words hang in the air between us, heavy and raw, and for a moment, all I can do is stare at him, heart racing, mouth dry.

I could walk away. I could make this easier for both of us.

But the weight of what he’s asking... of what we both want...