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She rolled her eyes again, but didn’t argue, pressing her lips together as if she was trying to keep from smiling. Another time, he might have disciplined her for rolling her eyes at him like that, especially while they were in Black Light. But not tonight. They were both on edge and he wanted her full, real reactions when they were talking about something this serious, not just the respectful ones.
If she was trying to remain a respectful sub to a Dom, she might suppress some of her emotions.
“Yeah well.” She sighed. “I guess that’s what we should talk about… is it a good idea to keep doing this? To keep sneaking around and keep our parents in the dark?”
“Forever? No. But right now… I don’t know.” He managed to keep his gaze steady on hers, but it was an effort. He could see the uncertainty in her dark eyes, and also the hope.
He didn’t think she was ready for this to be over yet either.
“We have only been seeing each other for a few weeks. And you’ve been gone about half that time. So, I’m not sure that counts.” The tone she used was almost accusing, but he could tell she was mostly joking. Little brat.
“There is that. I don’t think we’ve spent enough time together at this point to feel like we should tell our parents. Not until we’re… you know. More serious.” If they got to that point.
But he was trying to fight against those kind of thoughts because Susie was right. They were a self-fulfilling prophecy. There was every chance they could get to that point. He was already halfway in love with Juliet. Maybe more. It didn’t matter that they’d only been technically seeing each other for about a month, and that he’d been gone for half that time. They’d been spending the majority of the time they could be together with each other. He’d never jumped straight into sleepovers with any of his past girlfriends.
Never wanted to.
Plus, he was already risking more for Juliet than any of his prior relationships just by doinganythingwith her, and so was she. Because she meant more to him, already. Which was so fucked up, but he couldn’t help how he felt.
After all, he’d tried to stay away, and look where that had gotten him.
They were already serious.
“How serious can we get if we’re always hiding?” she asked, her tone somewhat joking, but not entirely. It was a good point.
“I don’t know.” He sighed and reached his hand across the table, wanting to touch her. Wanting the connection. She immediately reached out, sliding her cool fingers against his, and something inside him relaxed. “I think more time, at least. Make sure we don’t… you know.”
“Get into our first fight and break upafterwe’ve told them?” Her lips quirked.
“Exactly.”
“Yeah, I don’t really want that either. I just don’t know how to tell when the timing is right.” She sighed. “I ran into Emma in the locker room and told her what was going on… I was thinking she might have some insight because she’s also in a… less conventional relationship.”
That was one way to put it. Supposedly polyamorous relationships were becoming more accepted in society, but they definitely hadn’t been when the Cartwright-Davidsons had not only gotten together but had gone public with their relationship.
“What did she say?”
“She thought we shouldn’t read too much into their reaction tonight. They could have been trying to keep Amara from pressuring us into doing something we were uncomfortable with.” Juliet shrugged, toying with the straw in her drink with her free hand. “I’m sure I looked pretty uncomfortable.”
“I did too.” The theory made sense. Unfortunately, it didn’t guarantee a good reaction from their parents, but maybe it didn’t guarantee a bad one either. “That’s a good thought. But… we’re in agreement? We still don’t want to tell them yet.”
“Not yet.” Juliet shook her head, one side of her lips curving up in a kind of resigned smile. “Maybe in a few months. If things are going well. Maybe sometime after we make up from our first fight.”
Orlando had to laugh, because she wasn’t wrong. After talking to Susie, he had to wonder if he might have run at the first fight, thinking it was a sign… but Juliet’s confidence that they would get through it made him feel a little better. She was willing to consider a real future with him.
Shouldn’t he do the same for her?
No matter what his mom and Cameron had gone through, or Lawrence and Mona, there were couples out there who stayed with their first spouse. Hell, the Cartwright-Davidsons made it work. While their situations weren’t the same, he could only imagine the pressure that was on them about their relationship, especially in the beginning. And they’d not only made it through, they had kids and were still happily married with no sign of things blowing up.
Maybe he and Juliet could do it too.
“Last call!” Susie glanced their way, at their still full drinks, from behind the bar.
“You wanna get out of here?” Orlando asked. His libido had returned. All he wanted to do was get back to one of their houses and get her into bed. Take his time and really feel her against him, around him. Coming to Black Light had been a refuge, but now that they’d talked it through, he was feeling a hell of a lot better. Talking to Susie hadn’t hurt either.
“Yup.” It looked like Juliet was on the same page. She got to her feet without glancing at her drink, and Orlando did as well. It had been an excuse to come here, to reconnect at the place where they’d first connected.
And it confirmed what he’d really felt — he wasn’t ready for this to end. He was starting to think he never would be.
