Текст книги "Thief"
Автор книги: Chantal Fernando
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Chapter Twelve
“This is actually really delicious, Dash,” I say, moaning. “There isn’t anything you can’t do, is there?”
“I don’t mind cooking,” he replies, sitting down and watching me devour my plate of food. His house is amazing, something I’d buy myself. It’s two stories, and modern, mainly in black and cream, but with splashes of red and grey. I haven’t seen the upstairs, but I have a feeling it would be just as perfect.
“I don’t mind eating,” I remark, smiling at him. “This is going to be hard to top when it’s my turn to cook.”
He barks out a laugh. “Still competitive, are we, Vi?”
I grin. “I wouldn’t say I’m competitive. I just don’t like to lose.”
“I can see that. Do you ever wonder what would’ve happened if we looked for each other over the years, instead of leaving it to fate?” he asks, changing the subject.
“I thought about it,” I admit. “I just didn’t know…I felt unsure. What would I say? Why didn’t you try and contact me? What if you hadn’t thought about me at all? So many questions, and I didn’t know how you’d react or what you were doing with your life. For all I knew, you were married with children of your own. I think it’s hard, because we were so young, so a part of me thinks—well, what if to you it was just a high school crush or something. Do you know what I mean?”
He nods. “I do. I understand what you mean exactly. I guess I kind of thought you just forgot about me, and if you needed me or wanted me, you’d come to me, you know? I’d go to Max’s gravestone every year and think about him, but about you too.”
I missed Max everyday, even now.
“I’m glad you did that,” I tell him, smiling sadly. “I wish he was here.”
“Me too,” he says. “Who knows, maybe he’d be a professional basketball player.”
“You could have done that if you wanted.”
“I actually got offered a scholarship,” he admits, looking down at his hands. “But I didn’t take it.”
“Why not?” I ask, not understanding why he’d turn down such an amazing opportunity.
“My sisters,” he replies, shrugging. “No one would have been there for them if I left. So I turned it down and stayed.”
“You’re so wonderful, Dash,” I say, feeling emotional. “I wish you could have taken it though, if that’s what you wanted to do with your life.”
“Everything worked out in the end. Honestly, that scholarship should’ve been Max’s.”
Sadness fills me at that comment, because he’s right. Max was definitely heading for huge success. Our eyes hold for a moment. “Everything did work out for you. You’ve done so well for yourself. You should be proud.”
“So should you.”
I lift up my glass of red wine. “Cheers to that.”
We finish up the meal and I help Dash clean up, even though he argues with me about that too. We decide to watch a movie, and I snuggle next to him on the couch, feeling more content than I’ve been in a very long time.
*****
I wake up in the middle of the night, wrapped in strong arms, in a king size bed covered in all white sheets. I must have fallen asleep on the couch, and Dash carried me up here to his room. I relax, lying back down next to him, letting him spoon me from behind. My jeans are gone, so I’m sleeping in just my top and panties.
“You’re not freaking out,” he says in a soft, sleepy voice, making me smile.
“I’m too warm and comfortable to freak out,” I tell him. “And your spooning skills are very impressive.”
He kisses my shoulder. “There’s a lot more where that came from.”
“Good to know,” I say, yawning. “Your bed is so comfy.”
Another kiss on my shoulder, lingering this time. “Go to sleep, Vi.”
I yawn again. “Don’t tell me what to do.”
Dash chuckles just as I fall asleep.
*****
The next time I wake up, I’m alone in the bed and the sun is up. Stretching lazily, I force myself to get up and head into Dash’s bathroom before sliding on my jeans and making my way downstairs. I find Dash in the kitchen, making breakfast.
“Morning,” I mumble, hugging him from behind. “Something smells good.”
He turns around and smiles. “Good morning. I was going to bring you breakfast in bed.”
“Well, in that case, I think I’ll head straight back to bed,” I say, eyeing the bacon frying in the pan.
“Do you want some coffee?”
“Yes, please,” I say, desperately needing some, glancing around the kitchen. He tells me to have a seat then makes me some coffee. I sip on it as he serves us both breakfast.
“I don’t think I’ve ever been this spoiled in my life,” I admit, raising an eyebrow. “Be careful, or I’ll get used to it.”
“That’s what I’m hoping for,” he says, sitting next to me with his own plate of food. “What time do you have to be at work today?”
I glance at my watch. “In about an hour. I need to leave soon to go home, have a shower, and get ready. What about you?”
He pops a piece of bacon in his mouth. “I’ll probably go in around lunchtime.”
“I want your hours,” I groan.
“Perks of owning your own business,” he says, winking at me. “But it’s also a lot of added pressure and stress involved.”
“You’ll have to take me to see your shop sometime.”
“I think I can manage that,” he says, chewing thoughtfully. “You know, I slept better than I have in a long time last night, even with my raging hard-on.”
I almost choke on a bite of toast. “You probably shouldn’t just say whatever pops into your mind, you know.”
He laughs, violet eyes twinkling. “Are you shy all of a sudden, Vi?”
“I’m just saying,” I reply, shrugging my shoulders, feeling a little amused and embarrassed at his comment. Mainly because I had no idea when we’re going to sleep together. I know there are no rules for things like this, but I don’t want to rush into it with him, even though my body definitely wants to. “And for the record, I slept well, too.”
“Good,” he murmurs.
We finish our breakfast, and then Dash drives me home so I can get ready for work. As soon as I get there, I jump in the shower, brushing my teeth while I’m in there, and then dress in black tailored pants and a white blouse. I put my hair in a high ponytail, and add some light makeup, checking the mirror to make sure I look put together and professional. Happy with my appearance, I slide my feet in my black pumps and get in my car, trying to focus on the day I have ahead of me, instead of the man who I can’t wait to see again.
Chapter Thirteen
“Did you make these sandwiches yourself?” I ask Summer, impressed. They are club sandwiches, and seriously delicious.
“No,” she says, taking a huge bite out of her own. “We have a chef here. The place is a restaurant during the day, although we closed it for a little while to renovate and only just reopened it. It will start getting busy again soon, and we’ll need to hire some more employees.”
“Well, the chef is awesome,” I tell her. “I’ll have to start coming here for lunch every day.”
“Please do,” she says, wiping her mouth with a napkin. “Reid always says I come in and work too much, but what am I going to do? Sit at home? I get bored. I’d rather keep busy.”
“I’m the same. I don’t think I could not work.” I pause. “I could use more holiday time though.”
“Yeah, I think everyone could,” Summer agrees then changes the subject. “So have you slept with him yet?”
I shake my head. “Does no one have a filter anymore?”
“We don’t have any boundaries in our group,” she admits, leaning back in the booth. “What are the fun in boundaries anyways?”
“No, we haven’t slept together,” I confess. “We’ve only been on two dates, and I know it’s kind of different circumstances, but I don’t know. I think rushing into everything could be a mistake. Plus, there’s the whole ‘he had a girlfriend just the other day’ thing.”
“Oh, that little chestnut,” she says, waving her hand in the air. “I kind of felt like he was just with her for the sake of being with someone. She was a bitch, after all.”
“Yeah, but that’s exactly my point,” I say, sighing dejectedly. “I don’t want it to be like that with us. If he just wants to be with someone, that’s not exactly a good way to start a relationship.”
She puts her hand up. “Don’t twist my words, Vi. Those circumstances were with Vanessa, not you. You’re the exception to his every rule. You’re the one for him; I just know it.”
“I’m glad someone knows what’s going on,” I grumble.
“I see it from the outside in,” she continues. “Trust me; the two of you are meant to be. Stop being stubborn and let him in.” She pauses. “Between your legs and in your heart.”
I throw a fry at her, but she just catches it and eats it.
“I don’t get how he can have no concerns though. He just seems so sure of everything, and we haven’t even spent much time together since reconnecting.”
“You’re totally overthinking everything,” Summer says. “Listen to me, babe. Dash is a great man. He’s wonderful. And with your history… It’s your call, but to be honest, I don’t think you can turn away. You’re already in too deep, Vi, because, you see, he’s your exception too.”
I cover my face with my hands. “I crave him so badly, even right now.”
“Don’t fight it,” she says, shrugging. “Just go with it. Sometimes, things just work out. There are no dating rules, so just go with your gut instinct. Go with what feels right.”
“Summer, leave the poor girl alone,” Ryan says, walking toward us with a smile. He takes a seat and steals some of Summer’s fries. “Dash knows what he’s doing. He can handle his woman. You don’t need to be advising her.”
“I’ll advise all I want,” she says, poking her tongue out. “She needs to vent, and I’m here for her. I know Dash well, and I know I haven’t seen him look at any woman the way I saw him look at Vi, with yearning and longing bleeding from his pores.”
“Please don’t let him hear you say that,” Ryan groans, shaking his head. “You’re such a hopeless romantic, Sum.”
She messes Ryan’s hair. “Well, look at you and Taiya, for example. You got your second-chance romance. And Vi and Dash need to have theirs.”
Ryan’s expression goes soft at the mention of his wife. “I know, but they need to figure it out by themselves.”
“And on that note, I need to get back to work,” I tell the two of them. “Thanks for lunch, Summer.”
Again, she refuses to let me pay. “Tomorrow, I’m taking you out and I’m paying, and don’t even think of arguing,” I say as I stand up. “Bye, Ryan.”
“Bye, Vi,” both of them say at the same time, leaving me feeling amused.
In the car ride back to work, I make a decision.
I need to be all in or all out with Dash, and I already know what I want.
I’m all in.
I’ve been all in since the first day I met him in those high school hallways.
*****
Dash
Vanessa calls yet again, but I don’t pick up. After talking the breakup through with her Saturday night and all day Sunday, I don’t know what to do to get her to stop calling me and showing up at my house. I fucked up by letting her believe we were anything in the first place. The horrible truth is I was bored and wanted someone to amuse me, and she was there. She’s pretty and she was a safe option, because there’s no way I would have fallen in love with her. We were in no way going to be permanent, and I told her this at the start, so I have no idea why she’s acting like this. I was honest with her and told her I didn’t want anything other than a casual, no-strings relationship, and that this would go no further. She told me she wanted the same, that she wasn’t ready for any type of commitment, which was obviously a lie. This whole thing happened at the worst timing ever, as the one girl I’ve never forgotten came back into my life. I’m not going to lose Viola ever again, so I need to handle Vanessa so she doesn’t cause me any problems.
I wish I never slept with Vanessa in the first place.
My phone rings again, The Weekend playing until she hangs up. She keeps trying to guilt trip me with her tears, like on Sunday, to tell me she needs to talk, but then tries to get me to fuck her instead. I don’t want to sound like an asshole, but I’m more concerned with Viola and her emotional and physical needs. I couldn’t care less about Vanessa and her bullshit. I swirl the scotch in my glass and think about Vi and the time I’ve spent with her.
Fuck.
I smile to myself, just the mere thought of her bringing me happiness.
Vanessa is nothing compared to a woman like Vi.
Vi is just…real.
She’s everything a woman should be.
And I won’t rest until she’s mine in every way a woman can be a man’s.
I can’t let Vanessa stand in the way of my happiness. I know Viola doesn’t like the fact I was with someone when I met her again, and that everything is happening so soon, but sometimes, when it happens, it hits you like a tornado. She needs to realise it’s just us picking up where we left off. I don’t care how many years have passed; to me, Vi is still the same girl who would watch me play basketball, help me look after my sisters, and argue with the teachers because she always had to be right.
She’s mine.
Max once asked me to promise to look after Vi. It was on a weekend that Max was going away with his family, and Vi was staying behind. He cared about her so much; he knew exactly who she was, knew she was someone special. I told him I would, of course, and that he never had to ask, because I cared about her too. He’d slapped my shoulder and told me that if I ever hurt Vi, he’d hunt me down and kill me.
I’d never hurt Vi.
Not intentionally.
Chapter Fourteen
Viola
“My sisters want to see you,” Dash says when I see him next on Friday night, pulling me onto his lap on his couch. “They couldn’t believe I ran into you.”
“I’d love to see them,” I tell him. “Why don’t you bring them here for dinner one time? I’ll show off my cooking skills for everyone.”
“Hopefully they’ve improved since Home Ec,” he says, chuckling at his own joke.
“Excuse me,” I say, poking his chest with my finger. “I was a great partner to have in Home Ec. I did all the theory work, which saved us a shitload of time. We were always one of the first finished.”
“Yeah, because I did all the cooking by myself,” he says, leaning forward and kissing me on the nose. “We were a great team. I was just the better chef.”
I open and close my mouth, because I know he’s right, but at the same time, I want to argue. “We were a great team, yes.”
Dash smirks then kisses my jaw. “You can’t admit I was better than you, can you?”
“Because I don’t see it as being true,” I say, trying to keep a straight face.
“Vi.”
“Yeah, Dash?”
“Kiss me,” he demands, gripping my chin with his thumb and index finger. I kiss him, slowly at first, but then it soon turns hungry and demanding. His phone starts to ring, but we both ignore it, too focused on each other. He pulls back, only to whisper, “I like knowing I was your first kiss.”
“My first everything,” I remind him, kissing down his jawline, his stubble rough on my lips. “I wish I never moved away, to be honest. I never found friends so close again in my new school, and I was only there for a little while anyway.”
“You’re here now,” is all he says, kissing me deeply once more. I move to straddle him, and my hands start roaming over his body. He must work out a lot, because all I feel is hard muscle and soft, smooth skin. I tug on his t-shirt, wanting it off so I can explore more. He takes the hint and pulls it off, placing it next to him on the couch.
“Wow,” I manage to say.
He smiles, giving me the dimples. I fan my hands on his pecs then start to explore with my fingers, tracing his six-pack, and then going even lower, to the top of his indented V. “I don’t think these were here before.”
He smirks and looks at me with heavy-lidded eyes. “Do I get my turn now?”
I pull my top off, surprising him, going by the look on his face. With his gaze on my black and gold lace bra, the one I wore just in case something like this happened, he sinks his teeth into his lower lip and says, “I don’t think those were there before either.”
I look down and have to agree. They went up a size.
“You’re so fucking perfect, Vi,” Dash breathes, looking at me as though he really can’t believe I’m right here in front of him, sharing this moment with him. I’ve waited my whole life to have a man look at me how he’s looking at me right now. I’m far from perfect, but it means everything that he thinks I am. I lean forward to kiss him, and feel his hardness pushing up against me. Reaching behind me, I undo the back of my bra and let it fall open before sliding off each strap.
“Fuck,” he whispers, cupping my breasts with both his hands and bringing his mouth to one of them, gently licking before sucking it into his mouth. My mouth opens as I suck in air, pleasure spreading through me. How long has it been since I’d been with someone? Months. Four, to be exact. And the fact that it’s Dash touching me has my head in the fucking clouds. I thread my fingers through his hair as he pays attention to my other nipple before glancing up at me. I kiss his lips some more, not being able to get enough, never wanting them to leave mine. His hands run down my bare back then grip my ass, squeezing.
“Bed, now,” he growls, standing with me still in his arms. I wrap my arms around his shoulders and hold on as he takes a few steps toward the staircase. His foot is about to touch the bottom step, when the doorbell rings. Dash curses out loud, while I say the same word in my head.
“Can we ignore it?” I ask, looking toward the front door.
“Best idea you’ve ever had,” he murmurs, kissing me.
The bell rings again.
We both freeze.
Dash puts me down and says, “Go wait for me in bed. I’ll get rid of whoever it is and be there in five minutes.”
I nod, kiss him, and then make my way up the stairs, my boobs jiggling with each step. I stop at the door to his bedroom when I hear his voice, followed by a woman’s. I turn the light on and glance around his room, realising I left my bra and top downstairs on the couch. A bad feeling settles in my gut that it’s Vanessa who’s here, and when I hear her raised voice, I know I’m right. What is she doing here? I open one of Dash’s drawers and find a t-shirt to put on, just in case she decides to come up to his room. The last thing I need is to be caught half naked in his bedroom, even though I’m not doing anything wrong. I sit on his bed and sigh heavily. About ten minutes later, which feel like an hour to me, Dash walks into the room, looking frustrated and a little angry.
“What happened?” I ask as he looks at me dressed in his t-shirt.
“My clothes look good on you,” he says, sitting down next to me, his t-shirt from downstairs back on him.
“Dash?”
He lays back on the bed and covers his eyes with his arm. I nestle my head on his shoulder and wait for him to speak.
“Apparently, she wanted to talk then saw your car out the front and completely lost her shit,” he says quietly.
“Does she drop by like that often?” I ask, trying to keep my voice even. The truth is, though, I don’t like her dropping by. She has no reason to, and even though it might make me insensitive, considering the situation, I just got Dash back, and I don’t want to have to share him.
“It’s only been six days since I broke up with her, Vi,” he points out, which makes my head spin. It really hasn’t even been a week, yet so much has changed. I stare up at the ceiling, the mood completely gone, even though my body hasn’t really caught up with that fact.
“Should we just go to sleep?” I ask him, kissing his shoulder.
“She kind of killed the mood, didn’t she?” he groans, kissing me on top of my head. “I guess I’ve waited years and years to have you again, so what’s a little more time?”
I smile at that. “That, plus I haven’t had sex in months.”
“As far as I’m concerned,” Dash says, his voice now a low growl. “You haven’t slept with anyone since me.”
I start to giggle at that, which turns into full-blown laughter. “Double standards much? You probably had sex the day you dumped Vanessa.”
He goes silent.
“Please tell me you didn’t fuck her after you left the bar?” I say, my eye starting to twitch. If he did, I would be gone. I’d walk out right now and never see him again, soul mate or not.
“Fuck, of course not. Is that what you think of me?” he asks, holding me tighter, as if he knows I wanted to run.
“Then what?”
He sighs and admits, “Before we came to the bar and I saw you. Again, I had no idea I’d be seeing you, Vi. I haven’t even thought of another woman since I laid eyes on you again.”
“Why is life so hard?” I moan, burying my face in the crook of his neck. “Let’s just hide under the sheets and pretend the outside world doesn’t exist.”
“Anything worth it never comes easy,” he says gently, running his fingers across my neck. “I just want you, Vi. In my bed, in my house, all your girly shit in my bathroom. I just want you. I always have. And you know what?”
“What?” I ask a little hesitantly.
“I’m going to have you.”
