Page 39 of Restless Ink

“Watching you two makes me so happy. I know it’s weird, I know I shouldn’t want it, but if you like each other, then keep going for it. I just want my two best people happy.”

Thea cleared her throat. “We’ve…we’ve been on a couple dates.” One real one, but they’d been together twice, though Thea wouldnothave that conversation again.

“Love it!” Molly took the tea from Thea’s hand and stopped bouncing. “Oh, make sure you make him shrimp linguini one day. It’s his favorite, and I never was able to make it. I’m not a cook, and raw shrimp makes me want to run away in terror.”

“Oh, I don’t know…”

“Do it. We’re trying to make this work, right? Make sure our friendship stays intact as you try this new avenue? Well, I’m just trying to help. He’ll love it. Trust me. Now, I have to leave, but don’t forget the linguini!”

She sauntered out of the shop, pulling on her big glasses again while Thea stood back and wondered how this had become her life.

Times had changed, and yet part of her hadn’t, and she wasn’t sure what to make of it all.

Chapter 16

Dimitri cupped himself at the base of his cock, groaning into the shower stream as he thought of Thea on her knees in front of him, those juicy lips wrapped around his length. He flexed his hips into his fist, licking his lips as he tightened his grip.

He imagined her sucking on the tip of his dick, licking up the drop of fluid as she hollowed her cheeks around him. She’d flick her tongue over him, hum along his length as she cupped his balls in her hand, giving him a squeeze that would make his eyes cross. Then she’d reach around and play with his prostate just like he liked so he could fuck her mouth with care even as they were both lost to each other.

Then, when she was done with him, he’d move to her, lick up every inch of her as he played with her nipples, her hips, her ass. Every. Damn. Inch.

And when she looked into his eyes, they’d both come together, their bodies shaking, sweaty, and pressed so tightly against one another, they’d remain that way until they could breathe again.

“Thea,” he whispered, his body shaking as he came hard, his seed jetting from him, hitting the tile wall in front of him and sliding down into the water below. The water had cooled, and his arms ached from how long he’d been doing this that morning.

Coming three times at the thought of Thea because he couldn’t get his mind and dick off her probably wasn’t the healthiest thing in the world, but it was either that or go to her house later with such a hard-on that he couldn’t focus.

And he wanted to focus.

He wanted to get to know her even more, be part of her life even when they weren’t having sex. He just wanted her.

And they were slowly on their way to that point in their relationship when their wants and needs were being met, and they were finding out who they were together rather than just apart. It should be scary, should have made him worry more than he was, but he was…happy.

Because of Thea.

And now he was cold, aching, and spent because of thoughts of her.

Jesus, he needed to get a grip.

And not just on his dick.

He snorted, finished washing up in the cold water—the colder, the better according to his libido—and dried himself off while thinking of the rest of his evening. He’d worked all day, and had come home to work out rather than grading since his brain couldn’t focus on paperwork that night. As soon as he got dressed, he’d head over to his old place and pick up Captain. Thea had wanted him to bring Captain over for dinner, and he was happy that she was taking them both in, thrilled at knowing how much Thea loved his dog. That meant, however, that he’d have to see Molly tonight, but things were getting better between the two of them. They would never be friends like they had been, but they could be cordial. Plus, she was friends with Thea, and that meant Molly would be there if Dimitri wanted to be in Thea’s life.

He'd find a way to make it work. He had to. After all, he’d been the one to pursue Thea, the one who urged her to be with him, so he was the one who would try his best not to mess everything up when it came to her and the relationship they had with each other and the one she had with Molly.

Yeah, starting something new with a different person might have been ten times easier, but it wouldn’t have beenright. He liked Thea. He…cared about her. More than he thought he would after everything that had happened. He’d always liked her, though, just not the same way he did at this moment.

When he was married, he hadn’t looked at Thea in the same way he did now. Thea had always been there, was always his friend and in his life, but things were different these days.

Things were…better.

And now he had to wonder what would happen next. Because the two of them were still finding their balance, still figuring out who they were to each other. They were friends, and they were…more. They weren’t good with labels and, frankly, he wasn’t sure they needed them. At least not yet. They were finding their way, and in doing so, they were having fun. He never wanted to hurt Thea, but he also didn’t want to hurt Molly.

He might not love Molly anymore, but he didn’t want to throw his new happiness in her face.

Once again, he knew it was all too complicated, but he wasn’t going to walk away.

Not yet.