She swallowed hard. “Why is it we aren’t having sex already?”
He just looked at her until she sighed dramatically.
“There’s not a lot to tell. I was young. I wanted out of my mother’s house, but without college or marriage, I had no reason to move out. Mainly I know this after the divorce. He was a good lesson.”
“Which was?”
Duke didn’t know why he wanted this so much. But he did and she seemed to get it too. He’d been doing all the chasing and the way she let him in and trusted him with these details made him feel like she wanted to be with him too.
“By the time I started to realize he wasn’t the guy I’d thought, I was married. It was a whirlwind thing. You get me? Like this between you and me. It makes me nervous.”
“Did you know him at all? When you first started it up with him?”
Duke really hoped she’d say no so he could explain to Carmella why they were different from that angle.
“I met him and two weeks later we were married.”
“How old were you?”
“Twenty.”
Duke paused. So damned young. He bet this ex of hers used that to manipulate her every chance he got.
“So I don’t need to say that what you and I have is based off years’ worth of attraction, not two weeks. It went from zero to a hundred once we got our hands on one another, yes. But you’re an adult with a lot of life experience, as am I. I want you but I don’t need to exploit you in any way to survive.”
She reached up to cup his cheek. “I’m trying to keep this casual and you keep saying this stuff. I can’t fight you off right now.”
He knew she meant emotionally, but he didn’t want her to admit her feelings for him like this either. Carmella needed to come to it on her own and at a pace she chose. He needed to be patient with that and back off when she asked him to.
Duke nodded and she continued speaking.
“Point taken about the differences between my marriage and you and me. I was divorced by twenty-two and I didn’t even care that he was gone. I tried as hard as I could. But one person can’t hold a relationship together. No amount of trying on my part was going to make things work. And I deserved more. I won’t be like her.” Meaning her mother. “That’s the lesson. And that’s the divide between me and my mother because she only sees her worth through men. And she has awful taste in men so naturally the worth she gets from them is nothing. One of those horrible cycles.”
He’d never think on this ex as a threat to his relationship with Carmella, but if he ever came across this guy, Duke would have no problem knocking him the fuck out.
“I think that’s a very good lesson. If you don’t know your worth, how can anyone else? I read that somewhere a long time ago, thought it was pretty true.” Duke hooked his fingertips at the sides of her panties and pulled them off.
“I think I might have a few lessons of my own to impart. These are the fun kind, though.”
He kept her legs wide so her pussy was open to his touch.
“I’m a lifelong learner,” she wheezed out.
“A quality more people should have.” He circled a fingertip around her clit and delighted in the way she arched on a strangled gasp.
“No one else in this room now,” she demanded. “Just you and me.”
“Just you and me,” he agreed, shifting to kiss her.
That intensity that overtook him every time he touched her rose to life, drawing him in.
She opened her mouth on a sigh as he kissed her. Shortly after that, a condom got slapped into his palm.
“You should work harder on asking for what you want,” he said, nuzzling her neck and shifting her body down so he could lie between her legs.
“I’ve been told I’m too shy.”
Duke laughed, holding her close, content to just snuggle for a moment until the slick heat of her pussy stroked over his cock and there was nothing else he wanted but to sink inside her.
She’d already had that idea so he was fortunate enough to have a solution in his palm, which he rolled onto his cock before teasing it around the opening of her body until he took pity on her and slid in slowly but surely.
“Yes,” she whispered.
He kept that pace—slow, hard, and deep—letting the pleasure build between them. He watched her carefully, noting the flush gathering on her shoulders.
He wanted her climax. Wanted to make her feel so good, to know he brought her pleasure. Loved the way it changed her expression as she flung herself into it.
He went back to his knees, pulling her up and on top of his thighs. She gave an oof of sound, but held on, not losing the pace. Once he was sure he hadn’t hurt her, he grabbed her hips and bounced her on his cock so that they both moaned.
He let go with one hand, burying it between them to find her clit. She was slick and ready for him, inner muscles tightening around his cock with each thrust.
She was so beautiful. All her flaws and broken parts caught the light and made her a diamond. No one was like her.
Her nose was at his, putting them eye to eye. “Don’t look away,” he said.
She came. He saw it in her eyes before he felt it all around him and it was the last bit he needed to follow her.
CHAPTER
Seventeen
I noticed the other night when I drove your truck that your timing was off a little.” Duke dropped a bag on her desk before he stole a kiss.
“We talked about that,” Carmella said primly.
“I know. I brought burritos. Have lunch with me and then let me look at your truck afterward.”
“Not taking a lunch today. I need to take my mom to the doctor tomorrow so I was going to shift my hour to then.”
“You think Asa and I are running a sweatshop here? Jesus. You don’t need to skip lunch to take your mother to the doctor. We’d never expect anyone here to do that. Your schedule is flexible and you work your ass off.”
“Are you being shirty with me right now?” Carmella asked him.
“I love that word. I’m not shirty. I’m hungry and in the possession of burritos. Come eat them with me. Take the time you need when you need it. Period. You did something the first week and I should have said this then.”
She was glad he hadn’t or she’d have been mortified.
A burrito couldn’t hurt. And she was hungry. The lunch she’d brought could be dinner and she’d get to spend time with Duke.
“All right then. Let’s have some lunch.”
The room had already begun to fill up, but it wasn’t hard to find a place at the end of a long table and settle in.
“You do realize this burrito could feed four people, right?”
“If you actually can’t finish it, it’s even better cold at two in the morning.” He looked up at her. “Then again, ice cream sandwiches at two in the morning are pretty spectacular too.”
Blushing, she looked back to her burrito and tried not to think about naked Duke Bradshaw in her kitchen, bathed in moonlight as he ate that ice cream sandwich.
“We’re hanging out tonight, right?” he asked her.
“PJ and I are walking Green Lake after work with Ginger but you’ll be here until seven anyway.”
“Does that bug you?”
She looked up at him. “What?”
“That I work a lot.”
“Well, how could you have your own business and keep it successful if you didn’t work a lot?”
He grinned like a dork until she started to laugh. “What? Do I have cilantro in my teeth?”
“Nope. You just roll with things.” He shrugged. “I like it.”
“It’s a gift. Inside I’m a seething volcano of rage.”
He burst out laughing until everyone turned to look.
“Don’t look at me. I found him this way,” Carmella said as she watched him laugh.
He waved them all off as he got himself back under control.
“And don’t you have a thing with your dudes
tonight? Like boy club of some sort? I’ll be here tomorrow, you know.”
“I know. But I like being with you. You smell good. Way better than Asa or Mick.”
“Well, that’s super good to hear. Though Mick has this new cologne that I do like, I’m glad you don’t want to make out with him over it.”
“We’re meeting for sushi at eight. I’ll pick you up at your house at seven thirty. Okay?”
“Sushi? I’m in.” She finished eating and wrapped up the remaining half of her burrito. “I need to get back to work. Thanks for lunch.”
He walked back with her. And while they were alone, she stopped him. “I like being with you too. But I don’t need to be in every moment of your life. I’m totally cool with you being with your friends and stuff. You’re a busy guy.”
“I’ll see you tonight at seven thirty.” To underline that, he kissed her quickly before leaving.
“This place might be cursed, you know,” PJ said to Carmella as she and Asa settled in across from Duke and Carmella. Mick and several other of their friends from the shop were at tables nearby or at the bar.
“Cursed?” Carmella asked her.
“The first time I came here with Asa, like on a real date, a fight broke out and I met his ex-wife. Though I didn’t know she was his ex-wife for months after that.” PJ looked at Asa, who appeared chagrined. “But the sushi is good and they let us come back again, so I guess it’s not cursed after all.”
Carmella laughed and Duke groaned. “Stop it. You’re going to freak her out.”
“Sure. I’ve never seen a bar fight break out before. I might faint if I did,” Carmella said, voice very dry.
“Ooh, grab that eel, please.” Duke pointed at the belt and she grabbed the little blue plate and passed it his way.
“Duke and I bought a motorcycle and a Camaro tonight. We were driving back from the gym and saw them sitting in an empty lot next to a mechanic’s shop. They’re not in great shape, but the bones are good. I think we can turn a profit pretty easily as long as no one loses their mind and spends too much,” Asa told them all.
“Mick is way better than you are at keeping everyone’s eye on the bottom line. And Carmella scares people into behaving.” Duke winked.
“They’re more afraid of her than they are of Asa. I love that part.” PJ waggled her brows.
The joking was lighthearted as they ate and at some point Craig had spilled in with a group of his friends and the entire place had been pretty much everyone he knew.
Duke loved his life. And since Carmella had come into it, things had only gotten better.
Her phone buzzed and she looked down at the screen and frowned.
“Everything okay?”
She sighed. “It’s my mother. Excuse me a bit.” She left the table, exiting the restaurant but standing just outside. He could see her perfectly.
Craig noticed too and gave Duke a look so Duke headed over, leaning next to Carmella’s cousin and keeping his attention on her as she stood outside on her call.
“She said it was her mother,” Duke said quietly.
“I thought she looked upset. I should have figured that. Have you met Virgie yet?” Craig asked.
“No. I know she’s been upset about her father too. Is she safe? I know she holds back under some mistaken attempt to keep me protected.”
“You don’t need to worry about him. It’s Virgie who always hurts Carmella. She’s the problem. And because of that, all you can do is hope it’s not too bad and that she’ll come to you for help. You can’t stop Hurricane Virgie. And Carmella will always be there to clean up after Virgie so the woman doesn’t give a fuck about her kid or trying to be a good mother. Steven is your run-of-the-mill loser. A dime a dozen. Virgie is messed up and selfish.”
Duke sighed. “Thanks for telling me all this.”
“If you use this or anything else to hurt Carmella, I’ll fuck you up. She deserves better than she gets,” Craig said.
“I’m doing my best to never hurt Carmella.”
He moved to her while she was still outside. She looked up from her call and mouthed that she was okay. He nodded and then settled on the bench nearby to finish up his plate of sushi.
Duke had learned patience early on so he hoped Carmella didn’t think she could outwait him. The need to protect her and make sure she was okay was a slow burn.
This situation with her family rubbed him the wrong way. He had a difficult time getting over the fact that the very people who should be helping her were taking advantage of her instead. He hated that these people took advantage of her. Hated that she was so upset.
But that’s not what she needed. She’d made a choice and he had to respect it. Even if he hated it. So he did what he could to keep his judgment a hundred miles away when he spoke with her about things.
“I can’t help that, Mom,” he heard her say. “Even if I wanted to, I don’t have it. And if I did, I wouldn’t give it to you for this.”
She was quiet and he wanted to punch someone.
“I’m going now. If he wants that, why isn’t he taking you to the doctor tomorrow? Yeah, exactly. So I’ll see you at ten. Please don’t make me wait for you because I need to get back to work.”
With a sigh she put the phone in her pocket and looked up at the sky. “So that was embarrassing.”
“Not for you,” Duke said, working to keep his voice even. “You have no reason to be embarrassed.”
“Anyway. Let’s go back inside. Everyone is waiting.”
“They’re all having a nice time. No need to hurry. It’s a nice night. Let’s just relax a bit before we go in. I brought you salmon rolls.” He held up the plate.
“You did?” She joined him, taking the plate. “Thank you.”
“Why are you always so surprised when people are nice to you?”
“I am not.”
She apologized all the time and kindnesses weren’t as normal for her as they should be. No one should be surprised by someone being grateful. He just wanted her to be happy.
“I could say something witty like, are too. But you heard it in your head before I said it. What’s up?”
“She wants a loan. But it’s him, asking through her. It’s the usual. Nothing new.”
“How much?”
“No way are you giving my mother money, Duke.” Carmella’s voice was sharp enough to slice.
“You’re right. I’m not. I wouldn’t do that to you. Though if you need it, all you have to do is ask. But that wasn’t what I meant. I was just asking for details.”
She sighed. “I’m sorry I jumped on you.”
“Stop being sorry.”
“I’m not sorry then.”
He smiled. “Good.”
“She wants three thousand dollars. Three thousand dollars! Crazy. If I gave her that money, he’d be betting within an hour. She knows I can’t afford it and she asked anyway. God, you wanted me to share and now I bet you’re so sorry you asked.”
Duke took her hand. “I’m not at all sorry. I want you to tell me what’s going on or I wouldn’t have asked to start with. Can I do anything?”
“No. You listened. That was nice. I expect I’ll be seeing him the next time I go over there to deal with her. I’ll relay this to him myself. He needs a job. He’s a decent enough mechanic so he can find one. Then he can handle his own bills and pay my mom some rent.”
“Do you want me to see if anyone I know is looking for help?” It was hard for an ex-con, especially one who wanted to keep his life straight and on the right track. There were a lot of shops around the area that tried to hire people fresh out of jail or prison if that person had the motivation and willingness to work hard. Duke was pretty sure Carmella’s dad was a piece of shit, but he’d help her if he could.
She turned to him and he saw the tears in her eyes. “No way. I’d never want him to associate with people I work with or for you to get tarred with whatever he’s going to do to screw things up. But thank you for asking. For off
ering. It means a lot. You’re a very nice man.”
“I’d do anything for you, gorgeous,” Duke said, meaning every word.
She didn’t say anything else, just put her head on his shoulder for a few minutes until they went back inside with their friends.
CHAPTER
Eighteen
Duke had been watching her office for the last half an hour. His ever-punctual Carmella had not returned from taking her mother to the doctor and he was beginning to worry about her.
Everyone had told him the father wasn’t a threat to Carmella’s safety, but her mother was unstable too and, as far as Duke was concerned, had shown very little concern for her daughter’s well-being.
A person like that was capable of anything if they could write it off somehow as someone else’s fault.
“Is everything okay?” Asa asked as Duke took a break and headed to get a soda.
“I have to tell you, man, her mother makes PJ’s family look like the freaking Waltons.” He didn’t want to break her confidence. But he had to talk to someone and he knew Asa would never reveal anything he said, not even to PJ.
They headed out to the small courtyard between the shop floor and what was the old showroom and would be added shop and administrative space once the new showroom was finished and running.
“It’s times like these I wish I’d have never quit smoking,” Duke said as he cracked the can and took a long sip. “I can’t say too much. She’s so private and I don’t want to betray her trust. I’m just worried about her. Family shit.”
Asa nodded. “You’ve met PJ’s family so you know I understand what you’re going through.” Duke had to agree; PJ’s father was one of the worst people he’d ever met. “I know you’re used to being the one who gives advice, but listen to me here. I know you. I know you want to go in and knock heads and make people treat her better. But with family, it’s tricky. You have to tread carefully. Let her talk to you without trying to fix it. I heard that on television and it’s totally true. Don’t put her in a place where she either stops telling you, or feels like she has to choose.”
Asa was right. It was hard to hear advice when he was the one people came to usually. And maybe it sucked a little bit more because he wanted her to come to him for advice and she didn’t.