Hayden
Ozean. It hits every time.
Me
Thanks, buddy.
TWENTY
SOPHIE
As we sat at the table in the restaurant, my hands surrounded the thin stem of the extra-filthy martini the waitress had just delivered. I brought it up to my mouth, smelling the brine and vodka before my lips surrounded the glass, and I took a sip. It didn’t matter that I’d gotten off last night in the most lustful way, my body finally satisfied; I needed this drink. After all the Colson talk between my brother and Troy, not to mention Colson getting my number and texting me, I’d also earned this drink.
“No toast?” Hayden held his bourbon in the air.
Dottie had ordered a vodka lemonade, her way of being daring. My girl had a Shirley Temple. And everyone’s glass was in the center of the table, waiting for mine to join.
“Oops.” I extended my arm, joining the others, and since no one said anything, I announced, “To family.”
Dottie’s smile was warmer than the air outside, and the way she looked at Hayden, my daughter, and me with such amotherly stare made me miss home even more. “It feels so good to have you all here.” She put her hand on Abbi’s shoulder. “And to be back with my Abbi girl.” As Abbi turned toward her, Dottie put her fingers under Abbi’s chin. “Do you know I held you when you were only a few hours old?”
“Was Isooolittle?” Abbi asked.
“You were a peanut,” Hayden said.
“He’s right,” Dottie replied, pushing up her glasses. “You were little and perfect, and you snuggled right into me. I’ll never forget it.”
Neither would I.
While they took their first drink, I went in for my second, which was just as good as the previous. My eyes closed as my throat took down another swallow, with hopes that each one would erase a little more of Colson from my mind. He still had this vicious control over my body that I couldn’t explain, especially given that he was a man I hated. So, why did I think about him so much? Why did he have the power to make me tingle?
Of course, what hadn’t helped were the texts he sent.
He wanted to come over tonight.
He wanted to …
I know your body. Your cravings. I know your need to feel submissive, which you didn’t allow me to satisfy. Therefore, I know you’re fucking dying for me to tie you up.
Every pore was awakening like he was blowing against me. Every inch of skin was yearning for his caress. My pussy ached for friction, whether that came from his finger, tongue, both, or that deliciously pierced dick. I wanted?—
“Mommy, I’msooohungry.”
When my eyes opened, my little girl was gazing at me to solve her starvation, which was equivalent to throwing myself into a cold plunge.
I recrossed my legs, squeezing my thighs together, taking a long pull from my glass to give those thoughts a final push.
Dottie tickled Abbi, and my girl melted into Dottie’s arms. “You just ate all those cookies a few hours ago. You can’t besooohungry.”
Abbi giggled. “I can always eat cookies, Dot!”
I handed Abbi the tablet from my purse. “We’re going to order in a few minutes, baby. Do you want …” My voice trailed off, as she was completely ignoring me now, fully invested in whatever was on the screen. Hunger, I was sure, was the furthest thing from her mind.
“Back to the old cookie tricks, huh?” Hayden teased Dottie, his fingers brushing through the side of his beard.
A beard that reminded me of?—
Stop it, Sophie.
