I Just Want You(64)

"Thank you. Dinner was amazing."

After a round of hugs, we're on our way back to my place.

Crew pulls into the drive and turns to face me. "Come home with me," he says, running his knuckles down my cheek.

"It's been a long day. I need to get some laundry done and get ready for this week." 

"I'll buy you more clothes." He leans in to kiss me.

I laugh against his lips. "That's crazy talk. Go home. I'll see you at the club in the morning."

"Please?" He juts out his bottom lip and pretends to pout. Let me tell you something-Crew in full-on pout mode is cute as hell and hard to say no to, but I hold strong.

"Come on, goof, walk me to the door." I push on him until he relents and opens the door.

"Invite me in," he says, placing kisses on my neck.

"No."

His grip tightens on my waist. "Babe, how am I supposed to sleep alone after I finally know what it feels like to hold you all night and wake up with you in my arms?"

"I'll see you in the morning. Kiss me and say good night."

He turns me so that my back is pressed against the door. "I don't like the word 'no' when it comes to you," he says huskily.

"Kiss me," I say again. This time he listens, fusing his mouth to mine. I'm lost in the feel of his lips, the taste of his tongue, when the porch light comes on.

"Fuck," he grumbles.

"I'm sure that's Maggie. She's probably dying to know what's going on with us."

"You gonna tell her you're mine?"

The conversation I had with Sarah filters through my mind. "No, I'm going to tell her you're mine."

"Yours." He kisses me one more time and then backs away.

"Text me when you get home," I say.

"You got it, baby. Get some sleep. I'll see you in the morning.

As soon as I'm inside, Maggie pounces. "Girl! I've been waiting all damn day for you to get home. Spill!" she says, bouncing on the balls of her feet.

"We're . . . together."

"Together, yes, I know this. But he stayed and you spent the day together."

"No, Mags, I mean we're together. As in no more hiding together."

"No shit!" she exclaims.

"What's all the racket about?" Barry asks, joining us in the living room, carrying a half-eaten slice of pizza.

"Oh, you know, nothing much. Just Berklee telling me that she and Crew are an official couple." Maggie claps.

"Official, huh?"

"Yeah. It's still new, obviously, but we're going to go with it and see where it takes us."

"I'm so happy for you. He's got it bad." Maggie grins.

"She's right, you know. All I have to do is look at you and he's ready to piss all around you and mark his territory." Barry laughs.

"He's . . . protective. That's not a bad thing."

"Of course it's not. He's good to you?" Maggie asks.

"Like you wouldn't believe," I tell her honestly. Crew would never hurt me. I feel it in my bones.

"That's all that matters."

"I agree. Now if you'll excuse me, I'm exhausted. I need to change and start some laundry." I leave my roommates to talk about me, because that's totally what they're doing. I sort out a load of laundry, start the washer and head back to my room. I have a text waiting from Crew.



Crew: I'm home.



Me: Good night.



Crew: Night, beautiful.





TONIGHT IS OPENING night and I'm ready. We're ready. The staff is on point, security tight, and my girl went dress shopping this week. All week I've tried to get her to stay with me, or me with her, but she continues to shut me down. Tonight, however, she's coming home with me. I need her in my bed. Not to fuck her, but to hold her and wake up with her. She robbed me of that the first night, and I will get it back. Tonight, I'm not taking no for an answer. I've tried to not push her for fear that I'm too much. Mom called me Sunday night and lectured me about letting her get there, so that's what I've been doing, but I've reached my limit.




 

 

She's mine, after all.

I park my truck in her drive and stare at her front door. I insisted that she ride with me tonight. She didn't give me much of a fight, but then again, I've been here every day this week to drive in together.

I knock on the door and it swings open. "Hey, Crew," Maggie greets me. "Come on in. Berklee's almost ready."

"Thanks. You going to make it to the club tonight?"

"Definitely. I'm so excited to see it after hearing so much about it."

"You could have stopped by."

"Nah, this is Berklee's thing. It's better that she gets to see our reaction to the final product."

"Sorry," Berklee says, walking into the room, and my mouth drops open. Her hair is in curls down her back, her nails and lips red. She's wearing a short black dress, made of some kind of lace, I think. She looks at Maggie. "I have a slip on underneath but you can still see," she whines.