“I don’t claim to know her or what you’ve been through. She needs help, and maybe you could give her what she needs to get that help. She had you young and weak. I don’t think she knows herself, Tripp. I was given my dad to be strong for me. Maybe no one has been strong for her.” A single tear escapes as I whisper my last sentence. “You were strong for me with Delatorre. Be strong for your mom and help her.”

Without a word, he moves to be beside me. His arms wrap around me, pulling me into him. Something has changed. He pulls back, wipes my tear away and whispers, “okay” before he kisses my forehead.

Feeling at peace, I smile at him. Taking my hands, I place them on each of his cheeks and pull him into me for a soft, slow kiss. The waitress bringing our dessert interrupts us. Tripp stays sitting beside me as we share dessert. Taking care of the check we walk back out and head home.

Doll gets to me. I can’t say no. I’d lay the world at her feet if it meant her happiness. I don’t want to bring tears to her beautiful face. She wants me to hear Lucy out, fine. It won’t change anything but it will give Doll peace of mind, so be it.

Once we’re home and in my bedroom, all thoughts of anyone else evaporate. My woman is in my house, and soon she’ll be in my bed. This is how it should be. Taking Doll by the hand, I walk us to my room. Turning around to her, I cup her face as I lean down and kiss her. When she moans into me, I trail kisses down her neck while I unzip her dress. She’s pawing at my shirt. Breaking away, I pull her dress and my shirt off. Looking at her standing before me in a red lace bra, matching panties, and those shoes, I growl. My erection is painfully pressing on the zipper of my jeans. I unbutton and unzip them to give myself some room before I begin kissing her again. Pushing her back as I kiss her, we make our way to the bed. Laying her down gently, I quickly untie and remove my boots and socks.

Starting with her right leg, I massage up her calf as I brush my lips against her ankle, then her knee. Going to her left leg I do the same. At her thighs, I open her to me, trailing my tongue on the inside of her legs. Stopping at her core, I breathe in her scent. She’s relaxed under me as I graze her mound with my teeth over the lace covering her. She rocks up seeking more. I push her panties aside and insert one finger as I let my tongue lick between her folds. She’s drenched and rocking into me. I circle my tongue over her clit and then suck. Inserting two fingers, I kiss along both of her inner thighs. Nipping at her hips, I work my way slowly up. Keeping a steady pace as I finger fuck her, I pull her breasts out of the cups of her bra. Swirling my tongue over her erect nipples, I then blow across them. Their peaks are calling out to me. Her hands on my head are threading through my hair. Doll is rocking hard against my fingers, as I begin rubbing my thumb over her clit. I suck hard on one of her nipples, sending her over the edge.