Chapter Twenty

Dallas

Now

I roamed the halls of the hospital with a heavy heart, thinking about the inevitable exit of my dear friend and how much it would hurt when I finally lost her. I decided to stop in to check on Ollie and found him pacing in his room.

"What are you doing?" I asked with my arms folded over my chest. He looked up at me, fear evident in his features.

"Waiting on a text," he said, holding up his phone.

"You can do that in bed! You know your counts are off!" He'd just received a round of targeted therapy and was at high risk for complications. I saw a tray full of untouched lunch and shook my head. "You didn't eat anything. You know you could get sick any minute and need this calorie intake. What are you thinking, Ollie?"

"I'm not," he huffed out, exasperated. "It's been two hours!"

"Ollie, get back in bed." I ushered him, pulling his tray in front of him when he finally relented and climbed back into the confines of the bed. "And what's been two hours?" I prodded, bringing the fitted sheet over his legs. He quickly threw it off of him and jumped up, resuming his pacing.

"You're going to make yourself sick. "

"I'll deal with it," he shot back, completely distracted.

"What is it, Ollie?" I asked as I stilled him and walked him back to the bed. This time he stayed put as I draped him in the sheet and held up his untouched sandwich to him. He pushed it away as I groaned out in frustration.

"What is it, Ollie?"

"Anna, leukemia, she's fourteen, beautiful, and probably the only girl in the world who can read my mind. I asked her out two hours ago by text, and she hasn't answered me!"

I smiled at him as I pushed him back down in the bed. He looked up at me with evident distaste.

"Don't look at me like that. This isn't some stupid little boy crush."

"Okay," I said as I watched him glance at his phone.

"Seriously, I'm going to have to break our appointment for a future kiss." He ran his hands through his hair and checked his messages again before blowing out a huge puff of air. "She's not answering. She's not interested, and now I'm stuck with this," he said, pressing his hand against his chest. "God, why did this have to happen right now? When I'm too weak to do anything about it!"

"If she's a smart girl, she'll come around," I said, hoping I sounded encouraging. Ollie wasn't buying it.

"Don't do that. Be real. Help me and tell me what to do."

"Nothing you can do if she doesn't return the same feelings," I said. "Honestly, if the feeling is mutual, it doesn't take much more than that."

"I'm sure of it. I saw the way she looked at me."

"Okay, so why are you pacing the floor and driving yourself insane?" I chuckled.

"Dean says to play it cool, but I don't know how long I can hold out. This girl…this girl drives me crazy. I can't stop thinking about her."

"When did you talk to Dean?" I smiled at the thought of the two talking about girl problems. It warmed my heart to know he cared.

"He's come by once or twice a week every time I've been admitted," he said, matter of fact as if I should've known better. I sat stunned as my chest expanded with love and admiration for my man. He had remained in touch with Ollie and decided not to tell me about his visits. He wasn't doing it for my benefit or because he knew how I felt about Ollie but because he enjoyed Ollie's company.

Dean Martin. Sigh.

After close to an hour of consoling a near-desperate Ollie, I left his room only to see a tiny blonde, very close to the description he had given me, lightly rap on his door.

"Play it cool, Ollie," I whispered under my breath as she went in. I wondered if they knew how easily a few minutes of time together at such a young age could change everything.

Of course they didn't.

That was one of the best things about life. It was completely unpredictable, and love was even more so. I couldn't help but recall how just one look at Dean Martin in my high school hall had so much bearing on my future. It seemed Ollie had been taken by Anna the same way.

I prayed right then, with everything in me, that Ollie would live to experience the incredible gift that came with immersing yourself in that type of love. That he would get the chance to experience that with someone worthy of him, and maybe he wouldn't have such a hard time recognizing and holding on to it as Dean and I had.

Then again, how could you recognize the importance of that type of love if you have never lost it? I was instantly filled with gratitude for every tear I'd shed over Dean Martin, every hour of waiting. At that moment, I felt justified for every single growing pain I'd endured in loving him.

With a renewed sense of hope, I found myself on his floor, hoping for a few stolen moments.

I knocked lightly on his office door and opened it. He was leaning over his desk next to a beautiful brunette. They shared a collective smile as they looked up at me.

Helena.

I knew it was her instantly. Dean's smile slowly disappeared as he studied my rapidly paling face. My blood was boiling. A possessiveness toward the man I loved and my future came rushing to the surface. He had never ever given me a reason to believe he would be unfaithful. Still, my urge to protect my new and hard-earned happiness forced me to confront my fear head-on.

"What the hell are you doing?" I asked crossly. They weren't far apart, and though Dean seemed oblivious, her posture was intimate. I narrowed my eyes.

"What business is it of yours?" the brunette said, her perfectly painted lips pursed. She was absolutely stunning, and an even bigger surge of jealousy struck me at the realization.

"Because I fucking love the man standing next to you, and I want to know," I said honestly, no longer willing to let time, misunderstanding, or anything else come between us. I stood there, shaking my knees weak, feeling completely vulnerable and like the jealous fool I was being.

"Nothing is going on, Dallas," she said with a sad smile. "I was just leaving. Thank you for the check, Dean." She brushed past me with a sarcastic filled, "Good Luck." I took in a breath and let a single tear run down my cheek.

Dean seemed alarmed by our exchange but quickly ushered her to the door, giving her a warm smile as she left. She leaned into him for a hug, which he rebuffed, keeping his eyes trained on me.

He shut the door, pausing briefly before turning around to eye me. "That was uncalled for, don't you think?" He took a seat in his chair behind his desk.

I made absolutely no attempt to stop myself. Still tearful, I climbed into his lap and brought my lips to his. "What is it, Dallas? Why would you react that way? Helena is not a threat to you."

"What was she doing here?"

"We sold our place in New York and had to sign the papers and split the funds. I didn't realize she would come in person," he said.

"She's still in love with you."

"It doesn't matter."

"I'm not going to apologize for hating her," I said, pulling him closer.

"Talk to me," he said, nuzzling my neck.

"I'm still a bit insecure when it comes to you, Dean, and I need you to fuck it out of me right now, once and for all."

"Ah, I see." He lifted me off his lap, standing me up in front of him, then pressed the phone to reach his service. "Reschedule my one o'clock—" he looked at me and grinned "—and my two o'clock." I stood there trembling, still full of adrenaline from the fear of the last few minutes.

"Dally," he scolded, sliding my blouse over my head, "I've proved my love over and over again." He said, taking my lips in a suggestive kiss before backing away.

"I know, Dean. You don't think I know how ridiculous I'm being? Trust me, I know how pathetic it is," I said, watching him trail kisses along my bra seam and licking his way across my chest. "I just can't wait until you start balding or grow hair in strange places so I don't have to worry about it anymore." He paused on my chest and burst out laughing as I joined him, half-naked on his desk.

"I was a free man for minutes when you burst in here demanding sex," he said, unbuttoning my slacks. "So, I guess I'm still a hot commodity." I pulled away from him as he unclasped my bra with a grin. "No, you were not a free man, and that's not funny. If you hadn't been such a damned gigolo since I met you, this wouldn't be an issue."

"Hmm, you're a sexy woman when you get jealous," he said, wrapping his lips around my now free nipple, tonguing, and biting gently. I tilted my head back as he pulled my slacks down, leaving me in my panties. "Fuck this is hot. You naked on my desk is going to ruin the rest of my consults. I won't be able to think of anything else."

He put one foot on each one of the armrests of his chair, and he looked up at me with fire in his eyes. I moaned as he brought his hands up, massaging my legs on either side, and stopped short of my pussy. My breathing escalated as he said nothing. It was a thing I had discovered in my time with Dean. The more turned on he got, the quieter he got and the more clipped orders he gave. I loved it, and it let me know that right now, I had all of his attention. He spread my legs as he dipped in, leaving a hot trail over the tip of my thin panties with his tongue. I reached for his hair, and he caught my wrists, refusing to let me touch him as his tongue glided up and down my covered slit, driving my moans.

Still gripping my wrists, he brought them up to each side of my head, then clasped my hands above me, sitting back down again, taking my underwear with him so I was exposed in front of him.

He leaned in, licking and sucking me until I was close to the edge. I caught his eyes on me as he plunged his tongue inside. I gasped out his name and saw his devilish grin. I loved that grin. I was in for it. He flipped me on his desk and laid me flat as he spread and licked me from top to bottom. I gripped the edge of his desk as his fingers and tongue plunged into me, and he slipped his pinky into my puckered, untouched entrance. I screamed for the entire floor as I came hard into his mouth. He moaned as I bucked and rode his tongue. I loved the sound of his moan because it meant he was losing control. When he'd had his fill, he moved around his desk quickly as I lay there spread and spent.

"Open, baby." I heard the zip and looked up as I licked my lips. He cupped my head, thrusting himself in my mouth. I moaned again instantly, ready to return his favor. I cupped his sac and looked into his eyes as he shut them briefly, moving in and out of my mouth. He reached out, massaging my back with his open hands, bringing them up to stroke my face sweetly as I sucked, licked, and drew another moan from him.

"Stop," he said, pulling himself from me. My pussy was drenched as he took himself in his hand and stroked a few times.

"Right here," he said, tapping the edge of his desk. I brought my entrance to him as he'd asked. He hooked my legs over his shoulders, and I waited on him, knowing better than to beg. It had never worked. He licked his thumb, massaging my puckered backside as my eyes widened, and he thrust into me with both his thumb and his length. I was blinded by ecstasy as he pounded into me. I watched his muscles flex as he moved his hips, mouth parted.

He slowed his pace as he hit my spot repeatedly, once, then twice, pulling himself all the way out and then sliding in full thrust to hit it again.

He worked me over completely, and when he decided I'd had enough, his eyes and voice commanded me. "Come, Dallas." I clenched when he rubbed my G-spot repeatedly, then screamed out in surprise as his finger plunged deep inside that forbidden place. I was suddenly gripped with an entirely different orgasm. Dean came with me, and I heard his praises as my body ripped into another wave. I lay there with my mind completely blown and my eyes wide.

"What in the hell was that, Dean?" He scooped me into his arms and sat us on the couch in his office, both of us completely wasted on each other. He took my mouth into a deep kiss, and I thrust my hands into his hair, letting him explore me until he had his fill.

"That was me fucking away the past, Dallas. Now I'm going to make love to my future." He took my mouth gently, easing me beneath him. "I love you, Dally."

As far as I could tell, my future looked bright, and my vagina would be speaking in tongues.

"Dean! I can't find my necklace!" I raced into the bedroom. "I'm positive I put it on the bathroom counter last night. I can't find it!" I said in a panic. He remained in bed, having come in late last night from a delivery.

"Do you have to yell? It was a full moon last night. I delivered three babies!" He protested with a groan throwing a pillow over his face.

"Dean," my voice shook. "Oh, God, what if it fell in the sink!" I quickly made my way to the kitchen, grabbed my toolbox, and ran back to the bathroom. I took the wrench out, and the damn thing hit the floor with its weight. I lifted the twenty-pound tool as I maneuvered myself under the sink and quickly started cursing when the capping would not move.

"Babe, I'm freaking out here. Please come and help me."

I saw Dean's pajama-clad legs first as he squatted under the cabinet to peer at me with a smile. God, he was gorgeous. Would I ever get used to it?

"What the hell are you doing?" He chuckled.

"My necklace! Weren't you listening to me?! I can't lose…I love it. He opened his hand to reveal my necklace dangling from his fingers.

"You shit! You had it! God!" I dropped the wrench, shimmying out of the cabinet, then stood glaring at him. He closed his hand quickly and walked out of the bathroom just as I reached for it.

"Give it to me. I need to get going. That wasn't fun—"

I paused when he turned back to me quickly and hit his knee. "I'm going to give you a choice." I took in his appearance, noting his sexy, sleepy, dazzling smile, beautifully sculpted bare chest, and disheveled hair. The look on his face was filled with awe and love just for me. He reached over to the bed and pulled the box from underneath my pillow. He scrunched his nose at me, knowing I realized I'd screwed up his surprise proposal.

Of course, it was under the pillow.

"I had backup," he winked. My heart exploded as he grabbed my hand. "You were never supposed to have that damned necklace this long. It was a promise for something more." He opened the box, but I didn't bother looking at the ring. I was way too interested in the man watching me, eager for words I'd waited years to hear, filled with all the love my heart could hold.

"I've waited a very long time to ask you this question, and since we both agreed not to waste any more time, I thought I would go ahead and ask. I'll never again make you a promise I won't keep. I love you, Dallas. Gift me the other half of my heart. Marry me, be my wife?"

I nodded quickly, throwing my arms around him, unable to utter a single word as I cried into his chest. He picked me up, carrying me to the bed, cradling my head in his palm, and looking down at me as he set the open box on my chest. My eyes wandered to it—it was absolutely perfect. He removed the ring as I raised my finger and slipped it on.

"It's about time," I croaked, my face soaked with tears of joy.

"Sorry I'm late," he whispered as he cradled my face above me.

"Way to go, Martin," I murmured as his lips came down to meet mine.