Stunned, I just listened.
“It made me realize I never really loved him, that I never should have married him. My heart was never in that relationship. If it were, I would have tried to be a better wife, but honestly, I never really cared. With you…this is real love. This is what love is supposed to feel like. I wanted to apologize to him for wasting both of our time.”
“I don’t think you deserve all the blame, even if that’s all true.”
She shrugged. “He told me he was still glad it worked out the way it did, because he’s happily married with a baby on the way. He said what they have is real, and from what I said about you, what we have is real. So, he told me I shouldn’t feel bad about anything—because we both ended up exactly where we were supposed to be.”
At first, I was a bit uncomfortable with her spending time with her ex, having lunch, but when she said all of that, that anger went away. She told him she loved me, that she loved me in a way she never loved him. They were happy for each other. “He wasn’t the right person for you…”
She shook her head. “No, he wasn’t. And now I feel a lot better about it.”
“Good.” I was glad the weight had been lifted off her chest. “Because you’re the right person for me, and I’m the right person for you.” Maybe all of this did happen for a reason. I was married to the wrong person, and so was she. But then we found each other…and that was it.
She smiled. “You are.” Her hand moved to mine and held it again. “Our relationship makes so much more sense. You understand I’m dedicated to my job and are never bothered by it. But I also do everything I can to be present with you, so it’s the perfect compromise.”
It used to unnerve me when she talked about her deep feelings for me, but now it chased away my jealousy, made me feel warm, made me feel lucky…that she loved me the way she did. If I were her ex, I would have lost her, and I already knew how shitty that felt. “I’m a lucky man.”
She rolled her eyes slightly, playfully. “I don’t know about that…”
“I am a lucky man, baby.”
“I’m the one who hit the jackpot.”
“Why?” What was so much better about me than her? Because I didn’t see it.
“Seriously?” she asked. “Well, for one…” She pulled down the front of my boxers to reveal my dick, which was soft, but still impressive.
I chuckled.
“And then this.” She pressed her hand over my heart. “And this.” She rested her hand on the side of my head, indicating my brain. “You’ve literally got it all.”
“If that’s the criteria, you’ve got it all too.” My hand grabbed her ass and squeezed. “There’s this…” I pulled her shirt up and kissed her bare tits. “This.” Then I moved to her heart, beside her left breast. “This.” I kissed her neck until I reached her hairline, pressing a kiss there. “And this.” Now I was on top of her, aroused when I hadn’t been just minutes ago, my boxers still down and my hard dick out. “Looks like we’re even.”
She cupped my face and wrapped her legs around my waist. “We’ll never be even, Deacon. But the fact that you think so…is the reason why I love you so much.”
Seven
Deacon
“You really don’t mind?” I felt bad leaving Cleo alone with Derek to go have a beer with Tucker. But I didn’t have the time I had before, when I could have my driver drop me off at any time. Derek had usually been with Valerie. But now that flexibility was a luxury, and it was possibly a permanent situation.
She moved her palms to my chest and kissed me. “Of course not.”
Derek was on the couch with his toys, having already said goodbye to me.
“I’m not working, so I don’t mind at all. Derek and I will probably color.”
I just felt bad leaving her to watch my kid while I went out. I was going to a bar, which made it worse because I’d probably get a few free drinks. I would have taken her out to dinner, just the two of us, but now with Derek, I couldn’t do that either.
I was so happy to have Derek more, but it really did change my life completely. Even when I lived with Valerie, I had more freedom. I could work as late as I wanted without worrying if Derek had someone to watch him. If Valerie really left, I’d have to sacrifice a lot to make it work as a single father.
But he was worth it.
“Alright. Thank you.” I gave her another kiss before I walked out. “I’ll be home in a few hours.” I left the condo and had my driver take me to the bar. I would have just walked, but it was cold. It was December, and Christmas was just a few weeks away. I’d have to get a Christmas tree and some decorations soon to make sure Derek had a nice holiday.