#Book 4 - Page 52 (1/2)

“Oh come on, Dex,” she said, throwing her arm around him and leading him to the cab. “We’re on your side. Always have been. Now get in, p.i.s.shead.”

She opened the cab door and pushed him lightly. Then Emily followed. Rebecca looked at me and said, “I’ll take the front. Get in, Perry.”

I did as she said. It was weird to have Emily between Dex and me, but at the same time it left a bit of needed distance. It gave me time to compose my thoughts. That was until Dex pa.s.sed the bottle of Jager across Emily and straight to me.

I took it and downed a shot against my better judgment. It didn’t even burn anymore. Either I was drunk or my whole body was on fire, inside and out. Maybe it was both.

“Trying to get her drunk, Dex?” Rebecca asked from the front seat, eyeing us briefly.

“Hey, no drinking in the cab,” the driver admonished.

“Oh, relax, we’re dropping them off first,” she said, placing her smooth hand on the cabbie’s shoulder.

I gave the bottle to Emily, sank back in my seat and turned my focus to the window. Seattle looked so different in the snowfall. The urban grit was replaced by a picture postcard scene. In the morning it would probably be all grey slush, but in the evening it was pristine. There was barely anyone around and the buildings looked like icicles rising from the ground. The orange glow that the streetlights scattered on the snow looked less garish and gave off almost a warm, homey feel. Maybe everything was looking better because I just had one of the best nights of my life. Maybe it looked pure because I could still taste the somehow inoffensive taste of Nicorette, Jack Daniels and cigarettes on my lips, could feel his hands on my thighs.

Everything had changed. Everything was going to change. This wasn’t some s.e.xual encounter in the woods. The whole week had been building up to this moment. As Rebecca hinted at, it had to happen. If not, just so I could get it over with. So I could stop wanting him every five minutes. So I could just let it all out.

I breathed out slowly, my breath fogging up the window. I felt Emily’s small hand on my bare knee. I looked at her and smiled quickly, then looked at Dex. He was leaning against the cab window, holding the bottle now, looking like he was pa.s.sed out.

As soon as the cab stopped in front of his apartment, though, he straightened up instinctively. He leaned forward, thanked the cabbie and handed over the cab fare before anyone could protest.

“Talk to you soon,” he said, patting Rebecca on the shoulder and giving a quick wave to Emily, and exited the cab. I looked at the girls in surprise.

“Well, I guess…thank you for-”

“Perry,” Rebecca said slowly. She eyed the cabbie. He sighed and put the car into park, knowing this could be a long girly convo.

“Perry,” she resumed. “Let’s do lunch tomorrow, OK? I think we’ll have a lot to talk about. I a.s.sume we will. Am I right?”

“I hope so,” I said quietly.

She gave me a quick smile. “I thought so. Go get ‘em, tiger.”

I laughed at that and said goodbye to Emily, too, giving her a quick hug.

I got out of the cab. Dex was already down by the main doors, waiting for me.

I joined his side. The cab honked twice and we both turned in unison to wave.

He produced his keycard and the door buzzed open. He held the door for me but didn’t touch me as I pa.s.sed him and strode into the tiled lobby.

I walked to the elevators. He pushed the b.u.t.ton. We got in. Neither of us had said a word. As the elevator went up, we stood beside each other in awkward silence. I even stared at him, blatantly, hoping for something, anything. He just put his hands in his pockets and stared up at the ceiling, letting out his breath in slow stages.

When we reached the floor, we walked down the hall to the apartment.

He unlocked the door and I stepped in. I expected to hear Fat Rabbit scratching at the bathroom door but he must have been asleep. It was silent.

“Jenn?” Dex called out tentatively. There was no answer, though it sounded like the dog stirred a bit. As he locked the door behind him, I walked over to the kitchen counter and leaned against it, easing off both of my shoes.

I moved the shoes over with my feet. I could sense Dex behind me. The tension was unbearable. I could hear him kick off his own shoes and then take off his suit jacket. He flung the jacket forward so it ended up in the living room.

Then he walked toward me, the sound of his feet steady on the floor. I remained still, leaning forward against the counter, my breath caught in my throat. I was afraid to move, afraid to breathe.

He stopped right behind me. His presence, his energy, was overwhelming. He reached over and picked my hair off of my shoulders and pushed it to the side of me. I quivered a bit at his touch.

I felt him lean closer and lay his lips on the back of my neck where the welt was. I closed my eyes, enjoying the feel of his hot kiss. He moved a bit over, placing one hand gently on my right arm and moved his lips along the ridge of my shoulders. It sent actual s.h.i.+vers down my spine, s.h.i.+vers I couldn’t contain. I kept my eyes tightly shut, trying to regain the slightest bit of composure while he was working away at unraveling my nerves.

His lips came down to my shoulder and then back up again. He reached over and tucked his fingers underneath the line of my jawbone and gently moved my head to the side in a slow, excruciating attempt to have me face him.