Page 49 of Dreaming
His Nia.
How good it felt to love her.
* * *
Two days later, Dennis stretched and realized Nia wasn’t in bed. Getting up, he drew sleep pants over his lower body and went in search of her.
There were voices in the living room.
A woman with black hair stood talking to Nia, her back to the hallway. Nellie perched on the edge of the couch watching them. She smiled when she saw him in the threshold.
“Good morning, Dennis. We were trying to let you sleep.”
The black-haired woman turned. Her mouth dropped open as her eyes strolled down Dennis’ body.
“Nia, my sweet lord.” Hand on her hip, she looked over her shoulder. “Good for you.”
Groaning, Nia begged, “Don’t make it weird.”
“Oh no, I get it, girl. I, uh, can see what you see in him. Well done, you. I am all aflutter.”
It took a moment for his half-awake brain to register the words.
Morning wood.
“Fuck,” he mumbled.
Turning on his heel, he returned to Nia’s room to shower and dress. The three women chuckled behind him.
When he emerged in appropriate clothing, Nia greeted him with coffee and a kiss.
“I’m sorry. I wanted you to sleep longer.”
He accepted the coffee, set it on the entertainment center, and took her in his arms. Holding her against the wall, he kissed her aggressively enough to make up for not fucking her awake.
A ritual that was quickly becoming her favorite alarm clock.
Drinking down Nia’s moans, he considered carrying her back to bed. Her company could wait.
They were being watched…
Breaking the kiss, he glanced to the side at Nellie and the visitor he didn’t know peering around the dining room wall.
Her silver-gray eyes wide, the woman murmured, “Nellie…”
“Honey, I know it,” Nia’s mom answered. “I hope he has a list of people in his life we can borrow for a hot minute.”
Dennis looked down at Nia and she snickered. “Sorry. Mom has been off the market and Harlow is a workaholic who doesn’t get out much. She also tends to be bitchy with men.”
“Hey…”
Turning her head, Nia asked, “Am I lying?”
“Uh, no. That’s fairly accurate.”
The women returned to the kitchen laughing.
With a sigh, Dennis dropped a quick kiss on her lips and straightened. “No loving you down. Check.”