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When Marcus asked her about dessert, she shook her head, though the Oreo cake looked fabulous. "To tell the truth, guys, I'm a bit beat. It's been a long day. I think I'm going to call it a night soon..."
"No, don't do that." Des stroked her leg. "I know you want dessert."
"Want and need are two different things. My ass does not need that."
"I've seen your ass. Cake does lovely things for it."
Julie snorted, but caught the warning look in his eye. To hell with it. She went with honesty, putting her hand on his arm. "If you've had a long day, it's cool if you want to head for home, okay?"
He coiled his fingers around hers a
nd leaned in to brush his lips against her ear. As he spoke against it, she noticed Marcus and Thomas doing their best to look as if they were involved in conversation with one another, to give them the illusion of privacy. "I don't want to go to bed without you, love," Des murmured. "I'm all right. Just quiet."
He lifted his head, looking toward Marcus to restore the four-way conversation. "How long have you two been together?"
"What do you mean?" Thomas asked blandly. "He's just a good looking piece of ass I picked up on the plane. Looked like he needed someplace to go."
Marcus grimaced at him. "Yeah, because North Carolina would be the destination a top grade piece of ass like me would choose for a good time."
"Well, top grade maybe ten years ago. Now..."
Julie yelped as Marcus reached across the table and gave a lock of her hair a brutal yank.
"Little bitch," he pronounced. "Des, you need to beat her. A lot. I'll hold her down."
"I can do the holding my own self, but thanks for the sanction," Des rebounded.
"Doms encouraging Doms," Thomas said to her. "Beware and run."
"We only keep picking at you because you've been so sensitive about this ever since you hit your forties." Julie sniffed at Marcus. "You'll be beautiful to the day you die and you know it. Even then everyone will want one last time to admire your corpse."
"Just make sure Thomas isn't in charge of dressing me," Marcus said, taking a sip of his beer.
"I have a flannel shirt and a pair of overalls that will look great with those overpriced Italian shoes you like." Thomas grinned and answered Des's question. "We've been together a while now. Long enough to feel like we're starting to get the hang of it."
"Looks like it." Des rotated the glass of water in his hand and sat back once more. He linked fingers with Julie's on the table and squeezed, an admonishment as if he anticipated her trying to interrupt.
"Here's the deal." Des's gaze shifted between the two men. "I love her, but I'm not a great bet in the grow-old-together department. I expect she's told you some of that. She says none of that matters and that she wants to give us a good run. I'm selfish enough, and want her enough, to listen. Plus, I think past a certain point it doesn't really matter anyway, does it? Your heart gets stuck on someone. So I guess what I want to tell you straight up is I'm a selfish bastard. I may break her heart because my body gives out, but my heart won't. If I hurt her, it won't be because I don't love her enough."
Julie stared at Des. That heart he was worried about breaking was in her throat. A cheerful cacophony of noise continued around their table: people eating, talking, laughing or watching TV at the bar. The clink of metal and glass added to that rushing undercurrent. Life kept moving on, but things here were quiet, reflecting the stillness inside her as Des shifted his gaze to her, his grip sure and firm. She lifted her chin, telling him...she agreed. She accepted.
Marcus's foot was pressing against hers beneath the table as Thomas reached over, covering her and Des's clasped hands. He'd meant it for her, but didn't seem to mind including Des. Des looked mildly surprised by the affection, but then Marcus spoke, drawing their attention.
"You asked us how long we've been together. Long enough to recognize when someone else has a good start on it. She knew we didn't have to approve of you for her to decide to want to be with you. She's an accomplished, brilliant woman. But we're family, and I've learned that a family's support can sometimes be the difference between success and failure when you're trying to make a relationship work."
Marcus exchanged a meaningful glance with Thomas, full of past history, then brought his eyes back to Des. "You seem good for each other. You have our support, both of you. Unless you turn out to be a dick, and then we'll rip yours off."
"Fair enough." Des toasted him. "Because I'd feel the same way about anyone who hurt her."
"That's the right answer. Just be good to her. She's earned it, a hundred times over. If what she's said is true, sounds like you do, too." Marcus tapped his glass. "Take her home, Des. You both look like you need to call it an early night. We'll be around a few days. If things go right between you, you'll have a lifetime to get to know us both."
Chapter Seventeen
She'd been right about how tired he was. They'd dropped off her car and he'd taken her back to his place in his truck, but he'd said very little, though it was as he said. He was quiet, not unhappy. He held her against him as he drove, letting her chatter and making accommodating grunts as needed.
Once they reached his place, he stripped down to his boxers, drew her to the bed and removed all her clothes but her panties, which seemed to be his preferred nightwear for her. She'd have to talk him into letting her wear something more come wintertime, though usually he had excellent ways to warm her up.
Tonight, he gathered her close and told her he'd had a good time with her friends. While his cock was semi-hard at her proximity, showing an interest in sex, she didn't push it and he didn't either, almost immediately falling into slumber.
