41. Isn’t the Saying an Apple a Day?

FORTY-ONE

Grab them before they're gone.

The simple sentence ran through my mind over and over as the old, gray-haired seamstress poked me with her needle without saying sorry. The single line sent my brain spiraling with thoughts I hadn't considered.

I knew Delilah was a talented writer. She always had been, but she always told me she was too scared. I assumed she was writing for fun on the plane, or maybe I was just a big fucking idiot. I'd encouraged her to try her hand at it when she was in college but she shut me down.

It just isn't for me. I'm a reader, not a writer. Who would be interested in what I have to say anyway?

I was. I wanted to know every single thought that ran through her mind.

The Del I left behind two years ago felt safe in her comfort zone and preferred to stay there. The Del I came home to last month was stronger and knew what she wanted.

I was getting ahead of myself. Surely she was just doing Aurora a favor by delivering her books.

Parker:

Hey pretty girl. Jo keeping you busy?

Del ??:

I forgot what it was like to have girl friends who actually want the best for you. I know she's technically your friend but I think I'm going to keep her for myself.

Parker:

I suppose I'll allow it.

She deserved a good friend like Jo. Fuck, my concerns would have to wait.

I'd contemplated saying something to Jo about being friends with Del, but I didn't want to force anything. I wanted Del to move to Seattle, but I also wanted her to want to be here. I also knew her and Jo had a lot of things in common and hoped it would happen organically.

"Lift your arm, lover boy. Your little girlfriend can wait until I'm done."

I flinched as the grouchy old woman stabbed me, once again, and the guys waiting their turn laughed. I did as I was told, afraid of the repercussions if I didn't.

"How is Del liking the city?" Noah asked. He was holding Lily while I got poked and prodded. His mom had moved to Seattle when they had Stassie, and it worked out great for them. She retired from her job, they paid for her living expenses, and she babysat whenever they needed someone to watch the girls.

"It's only been two days, Noah."

"Yeah I guess it took her 20 plus years to decide she liked you." I could hear the smirk in Peter's voice before I turned to face him with a glare.

I ignored him. "I'm taking her out tonight."

"To Gustoso?"

"Yeah, I think she'll like it."

"It's very public."

"I'm very serious about her." I tuned out the chorus of mocking oohs and ahs.

"Are you worried about how she'll handle everything?"

"Not really. The airport went okay."

"This'll be a little different," Brett said, like I'd never been to the prestigious restaurant before. It was well known, and the entrance was usually lined with paparazzi trying to get photos of people wealthy enough to get a reservation. It wasn't our usual kind of hangout, but we weren't our usual kind of selves anymore. We'd both grown and changed. This was my life now, and I wanted to see if she wanted to be part of it. I refused to hide anything from her. Especially after I saw how it affected her when I didn't tell her the full extent of what that magazine published.

"I know. I want her to make a decision with her eyes wide open."

Landen, a young rookie, spoke up. "What woman doesn't want to get dressed up and be photographed with a pro athlete?"

We all looked at him. He was a new addition to the team and had been taking advantage of his slight celebrity status.

"Things are a little different when you have kids, buddy," Noah supplied. "Parker isn't just dating Del to get in her pants."

"Yeah, he already did," Peter coughed out behind his hand.

I glared at him hard, until he suddenly found his hands to be fascinating. Shocker.

Noah continued like Peter hadn't said anything. "Parker needs to see if Del actually wants this life. She's already had her personal business highlighted in magazines for the world to see. Her life will only get less private if they get married."

"You're really going to marry this girl?" It was a laughable question, but Landen hadn't been with us in Buffalo.

"I wanted to marry her long before I even knew I had a shot at pro ball."

"What's your gameplan if she shoots you down, bro?" Peter was playing devil"s advocate, but I didn't need him to voice my insecurities.

"Not likely," Brett countered.

I cleared my throat and stood up taller. "I'm not going to have a gameplan for failing. I'm going to work my ass off to be better than anyone she's ever been with and hope like hell she wants me back."

"If you want my advice," the woman pinning my tux spoke up, "I've been married for 50 years, four kids, two grandbabies." She listed off her credentials. "An orgasm a day makes for a happy wife."

I choked on a laugh. I'd almost forgotten she was there. I glanced over at the guys to see them holding back with barely leashed restraint.

I felt like a teenager with the way my face heated. "I will… keep that in mind."

"Oh, and it's good to learn if she's a flower girl or if she'd rather have chicken nuggets."

Del would always want both.

Stunning. There was no other word to describe the way Del looked when she stepped into the living room. She refused to let me see her before she was ready so I was surprised by her appearance. I wasn't sure it would've made a difference, but holy fucking shit, I was the luckiest guy in the world to have her on my arm tonight. Hell, I still had trouble believing she was giving me the time of day.

My overwhelmed eyes didn't know where to look first. Tan heels guided my eyes up her smooth legs to the short hem of her metallic, midnight blue dress. She sparkled under the overhead lights with every angle she gave me. The straps looped around her neck, leaving her shimmery shoulders and naked back open for me to see and touch and kiss

I took her hand in mine and spun her around with a low whistle. "You're out of my league, Delilah Howard."

She snorted an impolite laugh that only made me more attracted to her. "Ass kisser."

I leaned in close to her ear. "I'd like to."

A hint of a smile tugged at her lips. "Maybe later, big guy." Her eyes trailed down my black dress shirt and pants. Her blue eyes heated with desire as she assessed me. "Actually, now would be good." She tilted her head like she was thinking it over.

Tempting. All she did was tempt me.

"Come on, let's go before we don't make it out the door." It was like pulling teeth, but I managed to get us downstairs without taking her clothes off.

The car was another story, though. We sat alone in the back of the limo and I couldn't keep my fingers from tracing over her silky smooth legs. They were right there and resistance was futile.

"And I thought physical touch was my love language, Mr. James." She softened into my touch, leaning her head on my shoulder and staring out the window. The sun was just beginning to set, creating a pinky-orange hue against the building lights shining in the reflection of the snow that had fallen this afternoon. I was taking Del to an early dinner because we were adults in a serious relationship. I wanted her to know I was serious, and I wanted her to see how she could fit right into my life here.

"Maybe you're rubbing off on me." My warm palm closed on her chilly inner thigh where she had them crossed tight enough that I knew she was affected by the tension buzzing between us.

"I wish you'd rub something." Her words were gritted out like she didn't want to admit it, but she was also gaining more confidence around me. Her walls were crumbling slowly and I was being patient, even though I wanted to take a jackhammer to them.

"Needy girl," my breath whispered close to her ear. "What's going through your dirty little mind right now?"

"How you practically had a boner when you saw me in my dress."

"Did you see yourself? Fucking gorgeous." I slid my foot around the front of hers and spread her legs further apart. She let out a cute little gasp that had my pants growing tight. "How could I not be affected by you in that dress? You bought it to tease me, didn't you? You wanted me to be tortured all night."

"You bought it." The words fell from her lips in a rush when I found she hadn't bothered with panties tonight.

"Hmmm," I murmured between kissing her neck and exploring the expanse of her legs. "I bought you this slutty little dress? Does that mean I get to take it off?"

"Not before you buy me dinner." She relaxed back into the seat and leaned away to give me easy access to her neck.

"I can work with that."

"Less talk, more follow through."

For how much she enjoyed teasing me, apparently my girl didn't like when the roles were reversed.

"You want me on my knees for you?" I asked, slowly slipping a finger into her tight cunt.

"Always." Her answer was breathy, but sure.

I sent a quick text to the driver and slid down off the seat to kneel before her. Tugging her dress up to her waist, I took her ass in both hands and pulled her to me with her legs draped over my shoulders.

"Look how pretty you are like this. Gorgeous little mess," I praised before diving in and tasting every inch of her that I could reach with my tongue and lips.

Glancing up, I watched her eyes flick to our reflection on the privacy screen and darken with lust. I loved her like this, unapologetically asking me for what she wanted through the way her body moved against me. Her hips pressed into my face and her hands threaded through my hair.

Her back bowed when my fingers entered her again and she moaned in time with the way her pussy squeezed around me.

"Fuck. You taste so sweet, Peach."

She only hummed in response, head thrown back, eyes closed.

"I want you to watch, baby." She peered down at me but I nodded back at our reflection. "Yourself. Watch how pretty you look when you come on my face." A blush crept up her cheekbones, adding to the pretty pink already there from her makeup.

I didn't give her time to question me, just returned to lavishing her with my mouth and adding pressure to the spot that made her rock into my hand. I loved her wild and unthinking. I loved feeling her body writhe against me. I didn't want to rush it. I let her use me to get herself there, taking cues from her movements and breaths.

When my name slipped out of her mouth, I knew she was close. Her whole body tightened around me and she started to shake as she came. I continued until she sagged in the seat and pushed my head away.

"Okay," she breathed heavily. She held my stare as the fingers I had buried in her perfect cunt seconds ago disappeared past my lips. I watched a shiver start at her shoulders and work its way down to her hips.

"Fucking delicious." I helped her fix the skirt of her dress, though I wasn't ready to say goodbye to those sexy parts.

I situated myself next to her and willed my dick to chill the fuck out. I knew what was waiting for us on the other side of the car door once we arrived at our destination. I could only hope I'd done my best to prepare her.