Loving War(56)

Dale’s wicked grin doesn’t match his usual mature manner. He seems to be happy with the fact that Kode is going to destroy Pete.

“You need me to grab you a phone?” Dale asks.

Kode shakes his head. “Nah. Got one of my tech guys programming one right now.”

“Well, I’m about to head out. Unless you need anything.”

Kode groans, looking over his shoulder at me like he’s torn about something. But I’m still grinning uncontrollably. This thing between us means a lot more to him than I realized, and nothing feels better than knowing that.



***

KODE



As much as I don’t want to leave Tria right now, I’ve still got an errand to run. I also had some work to do, but I guess that shit will have to wait.

“Actually, I need you to go somewhere with me,” I tell Dale. “Just give me a minute with Tria, and I’ll meet you outside.”

Dale shrugs while heading out, telling Tria bye, but she doesn’t respond, and I turn in her arms to face her again. She seems a little dazed for some reason, and her beautiful smile infects me, forcing me to smile for no real reason.

“What’s that grin for?” I ask her, leaning in to kiss her soft lips gently, trying not to get myself too riled up.

“Nothing,” she says shyly while shaking her head, her smile only getting bigger as a light blush creeps up her neck. “How long will you be gone?” she asks.

I’m thankful she isn’t asking where I’m going.

“Not long. We can call in some takeout when I get back if you want to.”

A night in with Tria sounds great after this hellacious day that is only going to get worse before it can get better.

“I’m cooking for you. Something different,” she says with a shrug.

I love it when she cooks for me. There’s something sexy about being in the kitchen with her while she strives for perfection. I prefer it when she fucks something up because she’s pretty damn cute when she’s pouting.

“Don’t start cooking without me. I’ll help.”

Her grin seems to be permanent, and I don’t want to say anything at all to take it away.

“I won’t. Where are you going?”

Shit. If I tell her, that grin will be lost, and she’ll have to deal with a reality she doesn’t deserve. But I can’t just outright lie.

Fortunately, inspirations strikes.

“Our New York trip is back on for this weekend, so I need to take care of a few things. They called before my phone was obliterated. The meeting was rescheduled at the last minute for Saturday. We’ll leave in the morning so we can be in New York tomorrow. Then we’ll spend the night tomorrow, Saturday, Sunday, and come home Monday. Unless you’ve got any meetings or anything else going on here. I can have you back sooner.”

She wraps her legs around me, and I try not to get distracted by the fact her tits are barely encased by a tight sports bra and nothing else. Unfortunately, it feels like fucking forever since I was inside her, and right now I’m hating the fact that I need to go.

“I don’t have any meetings until next Tuesday,” she announces.

She looks so damn happy, and it makes me hate her fucking father that much more for pulling me away.

“Then I’ll be back soon. Pack your stuff.”

I kiss her while pulling her closer, letting her feel how much I’m affected. She tugs my bottom lip between her teeth, biting down just hard enough to make my erection painful, and I silently curse while forcing myself to release her.

“Hurry,” she says while I adjust my cock against the painful zipper of my jeans.

“Believe me; I will.”

I wink at her while backing away, but she hops off the counter and grabs my hands, her eyes going down to my battered knuckles. Her eyes soften as her smile fades, and she pulls my hands up to her lips, placing delicate kisses on all the scrapes.

It’s an affectionate action that has me breathing in rasp, shallow breaths. Concern and care goes into each kiss, and I watch, fascinated, as she finishes.

“I’ll see you when you get back,” she says while getting on her tiptoes and pulling me down by my neck to kiss me again.

This kiss is different, carrying with it meaning beyond a simple send off. Waves of conflicting emotions gather inside me, swarming me and confusing the hell out of me. When she finally steps back, I lean forward, almost feeling as though gravity is pushing me closer to her.

“I’ll pack your stuff, too. Since you’re going to be busy. That way you can just spend the night with me without worrying about it.”

I battle with myself, trying not to fucking grin like a damn girl. “Two suits. The rest can be casual.”