Olivia brushed her hair back from her shoulders, missing the long length, but enjoying her new inverted bob. It took less time to deal with in the mornings, and with everything going on in her life, she needed that time.
With a smile, she took a sip of her martini and looked around the hotel bar. There were a few businessmen around, mostly keeping to themselves, but there were a few giving her looks, as well. She ignored them since she wasn’t here for them.
No, she was here for him.
And herself, of course.
It wasn’t just for him that she’d put on a slinky wine-colored dress and heels that would hurt her back later, but thankfully, she wouldn’t be keeping them on long. Of course, if he didn’t get here soon, she might just have to slip them off her feet soon, but she wasn’t going to do that quite yet.
There was still time.
“Is this seat taken?”
Again, that deep rumble of a voice sent shivers down her body, and she crossed her legs to keep her lady parts in check. They seemed to have a mind of their own when it came to a certain man and his voice.
She couldn’t blame them, however.
She turned to see a very sexy man with longish hair and a beard she knew he kept clean and conditioned with a special beard care routine. In fact, he’d used the kit he received for Christmas on it that morning so it would smell of sandalwood and be soft against the inner silk of her thighs.
The man always took care of her by taking care of himself.
“You’re welcome to sit,” she said with a smile, “but I won’t be here for long. I need to go upstairs.”
His whiskey-colored eyes darkened. “Let me walk you then,” he said, low, his voice so husky she squeezed her thighs together.
“Thank you.”
She ignored the looks any others might be giving them and put her hand on his outstretched arm before going with him to the elevators. They were the only ones in their cab, but she didn’t move closer, didn’t brush her body against his even though she desperately wanted to. When they made it to the room at the end of the hallway, he took a key out of his pocket and pressed it against the sensor.
Then they were inside. The door closed behind them, and only the sound of her deep, ragged breaths filled her ears.
“You’re so fucking sexy,” Derek growled.
“You fill out those pants just fine,” she said with a wink. “Is that your cellphone in your pocket, or are you happy to see me?”
He grinned, then winced when the cellphone in his pocket buzzed. “Shit, I need to take that. And, yeah, my cock is also hard for you, but still.”
She just shook her head and went to sit on the bed, waiting for him to take the call. It wasn’t his mother’s ring, and even then she wouldn’t have minded if it was his mom. She had been doing better over the years, but still needed to talk to her son every once in a while. Olivia knew the need and understood it, even if her relationship with the other woman wasn’t exactly warm. It wasn’t strained either, though, and Olivia counted that as a win.
“Yeah, she can have the purple drink. It’s sugar-free, but she doesn’t know that. And it’s okay you called, that wasn’t on the list, and if she’s insistent, it’s always better to call. Yeah, thanks. See you tonight.” He hung up, and Olivia rolled her eyes.
“Stacey wanted the purple drink?” Their daughter was sweet and quiet and did her best to mind her manners, but she was in the middle of a purple phase, and that meant she wanted to eat and drink everything purple. The babysitter hadn’t known that since it was a new thing, so the phone call made sense.
“She wouldn’t drink anything else, and Kendra was worried.” He set his phone on the table next to where she’d put her purse. “I was going to say, ‘where were we,’ but did that just kill the mood?”
She shook her head, her hair flowing around her face. “We’re parents, husband of mine, we’ll make do. Now, why don’t you come to bed and show me exactly what’s in those pants of yours?”
He chuckled and leaned over her, kissing her softly. “Since you asked so nicely.”
Then he showed her, twice, and she fell in love with her husband, the love of her life, all over again. They didn’t always get to play strangers like they were tonight, but every once in a while, their date nights were versions of what they had been before, and she loved it. She loved this man and all his facets and layers. He was her everything, and she knew that she was so damn blessed to have him in her life.
He was hers. Her Derek, her husband, her everything. He’d given her a baby girl who made her life even brighter. Olivia had inked butterflies down her back and sides that he kissed nightly. He knew her inside and out, and she knew that she’d cherish this time with him always.
Once, they’d only had nights. Now, they had forever.
She’d broken her rules, and she would always be grateful that she had.
She’d fallen in love.
She’d made her commitment.
And she’d told him everything.
Because he was her everything.
And now, as he held her close, she knew those nights had only been the beginning. Their inked nights to come would bring more heat, more love, and more of them.
For this night of the month, and every one to come. Finally.
* * * *
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