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“You can pay me back by inviting me to stay and watch the movie with you, if you don’t have plans.”
“I don’t,” she answered, excitement over the unexpected suggestion humming inside her.
“Point me to your outdoor trash, and I’ll take this out while you put yours away.” He put his empty container and napkins back in the bag as she nodded toward the door off the kitchen.
“Right outside that door. Thanks.”
Lily found herself grateful for Reed’s take-charge attitude, a trait she’d believed he reserved for when he was in Dom mode. He seemed to know she was still puzzling over his impromptu get-together. Padding to the refrigerator, she put her leftovers inside then went to get the movie ready. She was slipping it into the DVD player when he returned, his tall, broad-shouldered body seeming to shrink her small living room.
Taking a seat in the middle of the sofa, he held out his hand, her heart somersaulting as she took it and he tugged her down next to him. He put a booted foot on his other thigh, the bent knee lightly touching her leg below her shorts, the denim rough in a tingly way against her bare skin.
Tucking their clasped hands against the inside of his thigh, Reed stated, “Ready when you are.”
“Oh, ready,” Lily returned, flustered from the warm rush of blood flow through her veins. This could be the longest ninety minutes of her life if they stayed this close, his hand wrapped around hers through the whole show.
During the next hour and a half, Lily couldn’t think of a time when she had enjoyed watching a movie with someone else more. Unless it was Vickie and/or Levi joining her, she preferred trying to solve the mysteries by herself. But Reed knew when to stay silent so they wouldn’t miss a clue, and when to mention an observance, twice catching something she missed because she’d been more attuned to his nearness than on the show. When the credits rolled and he rose from the sofa, tugging her up with him, needy, lust-filled expectations caused her pulse to skip a beat.
“Good movie,” Reed said, keeping hold of her hand as he headed to the door, squashing her hopes he would stay the night. “Thank you for letting me intrude on your evening and sharing it with me.”
“I enjoyed it, and your company.” At the door, Lily again questioned his motive behind this visit if he hadn’t wanted more than a shared meal and movie.
“You’re confused because I’m ending the evening without seducing you into another scene.” Wrapping his free hand around her braid at her nape, he yanked, the tug on her scalp pulling her head back, her face upward. She opened her mouth, and he took advantage of her surprise to cover her lips, gifting her with one of his devastating kisses.
Unable to help herself, Lily moaned, leaning into him as he drew their clasped hands behind her to press against her lower back. She returned his kiss with enthusiasm, holding nothing back, welcoming his stroking tongue and following the slide of his mouth over hers. Her lips were throbbing when he released her, their heavy breathing the only sound for a moment.
“To answer the question in your eyes, this was about more than sex.”
Her throat went dry. “How much more?”
“The start of a relationship. You’re ready, and so am I.” Reed picked up his hat from the small table next to the door and put it on then gave her a quick kiss. Opening the door, he said, “It’s my turn to assist Jordon at Casey’s tomorrow night, if you want to keep me company.”
Excitement flitted inside Lily, causing her stomach to cramp and her heart to race despite her mind still processing how she felt about entering into another relationship. Her nerves quivered at the idea, yet she couldn’t think of another man she had ever craved as much as Reed these past few weeks. Not even John, whom she had loved with her whole heart and tried so hard to hold on to.
Stepping onto the porch with him, she sucked in a deep breath. “I’ll try.” She didn’t want to commit until she thought it through, not after she had fallen so fast for John and jumped at the chance to marry him way too soon.
Reed grinned, as if he sensed her longing to grab his offering and run with it then pinched her chin. “Try hard. Good night, Lily.”
“Good night.”
Waiting on the porch as Reed backed out of the drive, Lily resisted the urge to run her fingers over her tingling chin. There was no doubt she loved his touch, whether it was a soft caress, a light graze, or a sting-inducing pinch. He lifted a hand then drove down the street, leaving her to ponder how selfless his actions had been each night they’d gotten together. His focus had been on her, and only her needs to the exclusion of his own. That alone made him stand out from every man she’d ever dated, and sealed her decision to give what was brewing between them a chance. She’d wasted enough of her life rethinking and regretting her marriage.
Feeling good about her decision, she pivoted to go inside then paused when a car went by. The driver looked suspiciously like Pam even though her head was averted and the corner street light didn’t cast much illumination this far from it. Other than when John had spouted his empty promises, Lily couldn’t recall a single person who annoyed her as much as Pam had in the last six weeks. If all Pam wanted was for Lily to accept her apology, she would do so first thing in the morning if it meant putting an end to this unnerving stalking.
She fell asleep with her body still tingling from Reed’s touch and awoke groggy after tossing and turning all night, her skin warm with hypersensitivity. All of that boosted her eagerness to see him again later. In the meantime, the laundry and groceries wouldn’t get done by themselves, but first on her list of chores was to call Pam. She picked up her cell phone from the charger next to the bed, sat down, and decided what to say as it rang.
“Hello? Lily?”
“Yes. Pam, did you drive by my house last night?”
Pam met her blunt question with a long pause before answering. “Yes. I didn’t know you saw me. When I came up your street, I noticed a guy in your driveway.”
Lily thought she detected a trace of accusation in Pam’s voice, and her comments didn’t explain anything, both of which put her on the defensive. “And? He left, so why didn’t you stop? Your behavior is creepy, which is making me second-guess my decision to accept your apology and move on from what happened between you and John.”
“Shit. I’m sorry, Lily. I lost my nerve to approach you again. Have I blown it, or can we mend fences?”
“I’ll be honest, Pam,” she replied, standing to pace barefoot across the carpeted floor. “I can forgive you easy enough since walking in on you with my husband was the catalyst I needed to end my marriage. I’m over all of it and happy, so, yes, I forgive you. If by mending fences you mean hanging out as friends again, then no, I can’t go that far. Not because I’m holding a grudge but because you would be a constant reminder of the mistakes I made for way too long. So, please, don’t come by again.”
“But if we happen to bump into each other around town, you won’t snub me?”
