Page 44 of Tasting Innocence
Chapter Seventeen
We watchTV cuddled up under his covers for an hour and a half before we journey back downstairs, hand-in-hand, to warm up some more pizza.
After I take a bite, Dex laughs and then uses his thumb to wipe some sauce off the corner of my mouth. “Such a messy eater,” he teases.
I snort. “I really am. I’m always dropping food on myself.”
“Your brother’s the same way. If I didn’t know y’all were adopted, I’d think for sure you were blood related.”
I laugh. “He’s a way messier eater than me, but you’re right. We have a lot of similarities. He just has dark hair and eyes.”
“I’ve talked to Zo about it, but haven’t asked you. Do you ever wonder about your biological parents?”
I finish chewing my food before I answer. “I have, but I don’t dwell on it. I’m sure I ended up exactly where I should be. My parents are the best, and I’ve had an amazing childhood. I couldn’t imagine having anyone else be Mom and Dad. They are the most understanding and loving parents. When Zo came out, they didn’t flinch.”
“Yeah, I love your parents.”
I grin, but it slowly turns into a frown as I study him. I can’t help but feel bad because I know he wishes his family was like mine, instead his mom left and his dad is hardly around.
“I assume you haven’t heard from your mom since she took off?”
“Two years after she left, she showed back up, but her and my dad got into a fight and she left again. I haven’t seen her since.”
“I’m sorry, Dex.”
He shrugs it off. “I’ve gotten over it.”
“Are you planning on moving out when you graduate college?”
“Yeah. I could do it now, but…” He trails off, staring at his hands as he cleans them with a napkin. “I don’t know. I guess I was just giving me and my dad a chance to have a relationship. Once I move out, it’ll likely never happen. But I think that ship sailed already anyway.” He looks up at me. “Don’t get me wrong, he’s not a bad dad, but you know, he’s just absent. I know his childhood was pretty fucked up, and I don’t think he has it in him to show affection.”
My heart breaks for him and all I want to do is gather him in my arms and give him all the attention and affection he’s missed out on his whole life.
I put my pizza back in the box and step between his feet and wrap my arms around him, resting my head on his bare chest. He reciprocates the action, placing a kiss on top of my head.
“Don’t worry about me, Vi,” he says with humor in his tone. “I don’t have it as bad as other people.”
“I know, but everyone deserves…” I stop myself and pull away to look into his eyes. “I think you’re really great, Dex. And I like you a whole lot,” I say with a smirk.
He grins, running his knuckles down my cheek. “I like you a whole lot, too.”
I stretch up onto my tippy toes and kiss him softly on the lips, but he reaches down and cups my ass with his hands, hauling me up around his waist.
“Dex,” I squeal, wrapping my legs around him.
“No more deep stuff. I just remembered something.”
“What’s that?”
“A fantasy of mine.”
“Fantasy?” I question with amusement. “What fantasy?”
“The one where I lie you down on a table and eat you like a meal.”
“Oh.” My pussy clenches at the thought.
“And I just so happen to have a table right here,” he says, walking me over to the dining room table. “And I’m still hungry.”