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After he ended the call, Cali stepped in front of War. “Who was that?”
“A friend. He’s close. If your sister has an issue, I’ll hit him up to come handle things until we can get here.”
“You didn’t have to do that.”
“I know but I can tell you’re worried.”
Cali nodded and released a sigh. “We’ve done this a million and one times. Maybe this will be the time that enough is enough. It has to be her decision. If I make her leave and she’s not ready, she’ll go back.”
War leaned down to kiss her face. “You’ve been doing this for a while with her.”
“Three years. It’s gotten worse over the last year. Before it was just crazy arguments and him being unreasonable. But now…” Cali shook her head. “I don’t know. I’ve never seen him do it, but I know he does. She won’t ever tell me how bad it gets. I want her to be happy. And safe.”
“She will be.” Something about the confidence in his tone, confidence that War would make it his personal mission to ensure Conner was safe, put Cali at ease. Hand in hand they walked back to his Range and just after he opened the passenger door to let her in, Cali turned her body against his, reaching up to loop her arms around his neck. “For the record, you make me feel better. Better than I have been in a really long time, so thank you.”
Cali lifted onto her toes and pressed a soft kiss to War’s mouth. The moment their lips met, she leaned into the comfort of his body. Her arms tightened around his neck while he took a step closer, turning Cali just enough to press her body between him and the vehicle beside them. Her goal was to show appreciation with a quick and easy reward but with the way his lips felt, Cali was stuck.
War’s hands moved up her thighs, across her waist, and settled on her ass which he grabbed tightly. Cali sucked in a ragged breath, allowing her lips to part just enough to give him more access to deepen the kiss. The harder he kissed her and the more she accepted the delightful warmth of his tongue’s fluid motion against hers, the more she wanted that tongue exploring more of her body.
“Fuck, love. You’re testing my patience. I don’t want to have you exposed out here in this parking lot.” He kissed her again, letting his teeth graze over her bottom lip while she peered up at him with hooded lids and dark lashes.
War’s hands roamed her body, caressing her curves through the thin fabric of her dress. He felt the pressure from his dick thickening under his tapered sweats. Where she didn’t have the restraint to pull away, he did. Cali pouted from the separation and felt her lips trembling from how hard he’d kissed her. When a smile curled his mouth, she felt embarrassed.
“We should probably go.”
“Yeah, we should. You cool with going to my place here in the city?”
Cali’s eyes narrowed. “You have an apartment in the city?”
“Yeah.”
“How many women have been there?”
“It’s been awhile.”
“I didn’t ask how long it’s been.” She arched a brow and felt her irritation spike when his smile grew.
“A few and the only thing they touched there is the sheets which were stripped and washed after they left.”
“You’re not helping,” she muttered.
“Stop stressing and get in the truck.” War’s tone offered no room for argument. He motioned to the passenger door and Cali huffed but did as she was told. She had no right to be jealous over his past, but that didn’t stop the feeling from creeping into her chest. Cali wasn’t sure if she was ready to live in a space of vulnerability again but it seemed War wasn’t offering much of a choice.
“This is nice.” Cali’s eyes slowly moved around War’s apartment while standing between his legs as he sat on the sofa. His regard was affixed on her while she took her time taking in every inch of the place she currently had access to. He could sense her unease, being in a place he had shared with other women, but he hadn’t lied when he said they only shared a bed with him. Sex was all they got. No overnight visits, no sleeping in his bed, no showering together after they were done. Those things were too intimate and created expectations.
“Nice enough for you to stay?”
“I’m still deciding.”
He chuckled and leaned forward, placing his hands behind her thighs. His fingers ghosted over her skin and moved further down, over her calves until he reached her ankle. He examined the delicate crystal chain that circled her ankle to decide the best way to get her out of her shoes. Once he realized there was a simple hook, he made quick work of it and slipped her foot from the slim heel. When her bare foot made contact with the wood floor he worked on the right side while his eyes lifted to hers.
“I guess you didn’t hear the part where I said I was still deciding.”
War’s lips curved into a sinful smirk. “I heard you loud and clear. I figured you might as well be comfortable while you’re deciding.”
He would take her home if that was what she truly wanted but that wasn’t happening unless she asked to leave. So far she hadn’t. Once she stood on her bare feet, War’s callused fingers moved over her calves again until they made it past the hem of her dress. His eyes were on Cali when they grazed her lace panties then dipped under them.
“Made a decision yet?”
