Page 61 of Alonzo

“Nope. I’m just barely getting our first IRL fuck started.” He stares down into my eyes like he can see straight through to my soul. Then he sighs. And to my surprise—even though everything about this day is unfamiliar and strange—he is neither unfamiliar nor strange. I recognize him. His eyes, the way he tilts his head, his sigh. Even that flashy grin he just unleashed on me without warning. It’s all there.

It’s all him. The him I know.

“What are you wearing right now?”

I blink. “What?” I look down at my body, then back up at him. “I know it’s not a great outfit. I didn’t have a chance to pack before we left Colorado so I’m just bumming clothes from Vann.”

He chuckles.

“It’s not a big deal. We’re not… you know. He’s… you know, young.”

He chews on his lip for a moment, still beaming that grin at me. “Are you naked yet?”

“What?”

“You’re not, are you. And don’t try to lie to me. I can tell when you’re lying.”

I guffaw. “Oh, yeah, you can tell. We’re a couple of regular lie detectors, aren’t we?”

He closes his eyes for one prolonged moment, then opens them up and says, “So tell me what you’re wearing.”

Ahhh… I laugh. I get it. “OK.” I take a breath and think for a moment. “I’m wearing my new pencil skirt.”

He clenches his jaw. “I fuckin’ love those skirts.”

“But my blouse is a little tight today. I accidentally put it in the dryer and it shrank two sizes. My tits are practically popping the buttons.”

“Play with them for me.”

There was a hint of a tingle between my legs when he started the dirty talk, but right now it’s turning into a buzz.

I am about to be fucked. Not on the phone. For real. I’m about to be properly fucked for the first time in over two years. “OK,” I say. “I’m playing with them.”

He grins. “I think you’re lying, Tara Tanner. I want you to prove it.”

“Do you want a picture?”

“Nah. I don’t think I need a pic.”

“Then what should I do to prove it?”

“Describe it.”

“Oh.” I grin back at him. “OK. Well, I just ripped my shirt open and the buttons went—”

His hands grab my t-shirt at the collar and the next thing I know, he’s ripped it down the middle. Like—one second I’m wearing a t-shirt and then next cool air is flowing against my bare stomach, chilling me unexpectedly.

“Nice,” he growls. “I love when things pop. Now what are you doing?”

I’m holding my breath again, so I let it out. God. I’ve missed him. It’s only been three days, but I’ve missed his playfulness and his sexy sense of humor. It feels like an eternity. And I know I came here angry. So ready to tell him off. And my world is pretty much upside down at the moment. But in the same moment of upsidedown-ness, there a hint of right-side-up. And that doesn’t happen often. I know better than most that when you find a good thing you gotta hold onto it. You can’t give in to every little doubt. You can’t just say ‘so long, nice knowing you’ just because your best friend tells you the man you love is a smuggler.

Wait. I forgot about that. “You know… I kinda have some questions for you, Lons. Did you and your brother… and Belinda—er, Rosalie—ever—”

He leans down and begins to nibble on my earlobe. My fingers automatically thread into his hair, gripping it tight like I never want to let him go.

I know he’s changing the subject. I have a feeling there’s a much bigger story behind the truth Belinda spilled about the Dumas brothers. But… do I really need to get all the details right now?

Because good things can be few and far between. You never know when you’re on the edge of a long, hot desert. Or how long it will take you to cross it and come out the other side. You kinda have to take them at face value when they show up. Make the most of them, even if it’s just for a short period of time.