Fulfillment by Golland, M. (best large ebook reader .txt) 📕

down to kiss him. The crowdthen broke into applause, some even sounding a few wolf whistles,but I didn’t pull away, my lips were stuck on his—perfectlyattached. He threaded his fingers through my hair and tightened hisgrip as his tongue found mine, lovingly caressing it withpassionate strokes. Eventually, he loosened his grip and releasedme from his kiss.

“You areincredible. I’m...” He shook his head and looked down, his eyeslevel with my chest. “I’m just so...” He looked back up to my face.“I...thank you—”

I interruptedhim, seeing he was struggling for words. “You’re welcome. Sometimesit’s easier to hide something furtively than it is to hide itblatantly,” I said with a sneaky smile, reversing his earlierexplanation.

“Nice work,Alexis,” said Will, while tilting his beer in my direction. “Now wecan finally get rid of Derek.”

Derek stoppedby the chair Bryce and I were sitting on. “I heard that,arsehole.”

I climbed offof Bryce’s lap and stood up, giving Derek a hug. “Thank you somuch. But, fuck I’m glad that is over.” I whispered into hisear.

He chuckledand pulled away. “You did great.”

I rolled myeyes. “I did miss that chord.”

“What chord?”he said with a shrug of his shoulders, obviously trying to dismissmy mistake.

Bryce stood upand shook Derek’s hand. “Thanks, Mate. Although, I’m not too surewhat to think about your ability to spend so much time with my girlbehind my back without me knowing.”

Derek pattedBryce on the back. “You should be worried about that, Mate,” hesaid playfully before he moved away to pull up a chair next toCarly.

“Mum?”

I turned toCharlotte. “Yes, Sweetheart.”

“Do you wantto be in my band?” she offered like quite the bargainingprofessional. “You can play the guitar and help me sing the songs.I’ll be the lead singer though.”

I laughed andran my hand down her head. “Sure. I’d love to.”

Bryce insistedI take my seat back on his lap while the band finished their drinksbefore having to get up to perform their final set. He made hispossession of me quite obvious through his touch, whether it washis hand placed on my lap or his fingers that gently caressed mylower back. Every now again I would catch him staring up at me orat my hands, and when I did catch him staring at my hands I wouldmove them to find his, seizing them and breaking his trance.

“Are youalright? You seem a bit lost in thought?” I whispered as I leanedback into him.

Heinconspicuously moved my hair away from my neck and with a voice nolouder than my own, breathed out. “I’m just thinking about all theways I can show you how much I fucking enjoyed that performance,how fucking perfect it was and how fucking perfect you are.”

I took a sipof my wine and swallowed heavily.

“If you arenot already carrying our next child, my love, you will be by theend of the night.”

I leanedforward and put my glass down then turned back to him. “Well, bestyou hurry up and finish this set. We have work to do.”

CHAPTERTWENTY-SEVEN

Bryce, Derek,Will, Matt, and Lucy played the remainder of their gig, and Iwatched the ease with which they all complimented each other. Noneof them were serious die hard musicians in a sense that they wantedto live and breathe performing, they all just seemed to casuallyenjoy being able to get together and play for a group of people. Iwondered if, at any stage during the past, they’d wanted to becomea professionally-signed band. My curiosity would have to beaddressed later.

Now that thegig was coming to a close, I found myself starting to think aboutmy pending conversation with Rick, the one I planned on having withhim when we dropped Nate and Charli off at the house. A year ofseparation between the two of us was fast approaching, and I neededto discuss with him my wish to apply for a divorce. I didn’t reallyknow how he would react to my request, and it worried me that itwould ruin the good progress we had made with each other oflate.

“Ready to go?”Bryce asked, as he slid his hand across my back, resting it on myhip.

“No, Alexisand I need the ladies room,” Carly insisted. Do I? I gaveCarly an unsure glance, her expression enforcing that I did. Oh,okay...I do need the loo.

“Be back in aminute. I’ll meet you at the car.” I gave him a quick peck on thelips and followed Carly to the bathroom.

As we pushedthrough the door, I gave Carly my questioning stare. “So why thelast minute toilet trip?”

“Because Ineed to go,” she answered flatly.

Okay, wellI guess I’ll go too. I entered the cubicle next to her. “Whyelse?” I probed further as I awkwardly relieved myself.

“Because I’mstill shitting bricks,” she divulged. Not the best choice ofwords while in the toilet, Carls.

“Literally orfiguratively speaking, Carls? We are in the loo, remember?”

“Figuratively,you idiot! I’m terrified of having sex with Derek, and clearly hewants it...tonight!”

“Carls, forGod’s sake just screw the man. What is wrong with you? I’ve neverseen you this apprehensive about intimacy, ever!” I flushed thetoilet and made my way to the sink.

Carls followedshortly after. “I don’t fucking know. I hate this feeling. What.The. Fuck, is this feeling?”

“I think it’slurrvvee,” I purred like an adolescent idiot.

She shruggedit off. “Pfft. It’s not love. I barely know him.”

I flickedwater at her head, getting her attention. “You love him.”

She wiped herhead and made a spitting noise at me. “You’re disgusting.”

“Well, you arefalling for him at least. That’s the only explanation.”

She looked ather reflection in the mirror as if she were trying to catch herselfin a lie. “Urgh! You’re right. I think I’m falling in love withhim, and I haven’t even seen his cock yet. This is insane.”

I moved to thehand dryer, raising my voice over the loud hum. “No, it’s not. It’sexciting and wonderful, and the first time you have sex with him isgoing to be great.”

A smile teasedat the corner of Carly’s mouth as she joined me to dry herhands.

“Go homeCarls. Shave your legs, arms, pussy and toes if you have to—”

“I don’t havehairy toes. Who has hairy toes?”

“Shavewhatever needs shaving, then moisturize and do all the fucked upshit we think we have to do before