I pulled Cherry back from the door to her apartment, bringing her body flush against mine, stealing another kiss from her sumptuous lips.
“Dylan,” she complained, “I’m going to be late for work.” But I heard the breathiness in her voice, betraying how little she minded the kisses and caresses I showered her with.
My beast rumbled with a territorial desire to keep her with me. It had been a struggle to let her out of my bed this morning after tasting her and making love again. If it had only been work, I’d have persuaded her to take a sick day. But when Cherry had said that she should try to see Fern this morning before school, I’d allowed her to get up. She’d smiled so tenderly when I’d asked if I could join her this morning to meet Fern properly.
Just as Cherry made another attempt at reaching for the door, it cracked open, framing Fern’s face. As she saw me, a smile spread over her face. “I knew you and Mom would make up.”
Cherry said brightly, “You were right, Sweetie.” I cast a questioning gaze at Cherry, and she explained, “I told Fern we’d fallen out, but she was sure we’d make up again like she always does with her friends.”
My lips twitched as my gaze raked across Cherry with humor. Was that what we’d just done, made up? Twice.
As Cherry flushed, I remembered we had an audience and said, “We are a hundred percent made up. In fact, we’re best friends forever, Fern.”
Fern squealed happily, which in turn, brought Lara to the door. Cherry reintroduced me to Fern’s nanny. Then, Cherry invited me in, and Fern entertained me in the living room by showing me each of the toys I’d bought for her and telling me about them. Meanwhile, Cherry chatted to Lara and thanked her for spending the night, reassuring her that her “work” emergency had been resolved. So that’s what she’d told Lara and Fern. I was pleased that no one else knew how distressed Cherry had been. I knew how much she prided herself on being able to handle everything herself. And I knew how capable she was of doing so. After all, she’d done everything by herself for seven years, but I was touched that she’d lowered her guard enough last night to show me her vulnerabilities and let me in.