Chapter 71: Dreams Vs. Reality
- RAYA -
"Will you have dinner with me tonight?" Dex asks against my lips.
We’re still tangled in one another. His hands are cupping my face, fingers in my hair. All of the dreams I’ve had with him that were forgotten and controlled by writing them in the journal start firing back to life in my mind—released now from their slumber—and I nod in answer to his question, biting my lip as I do.
Dex smiles, and I wonder how we’re going to let go of each other. I can tell he doesn’t want to break away, and I’d be content staying in his arms like this all day long. But I’m also not going to be a threat to his position at work when his brother is still plotting against him.
He kisses me one last time, his hands trailing down through my hair, and I keep myself from arching into him like I want to. I keep myself from moving the way I know will provoke him to stay and continue.
When he finally does pull away, his gaze stays on me—soft and desiring.
"I will let you know when they’re coming to do the locks and security on the guest house. My motorcycle is also being delivered today. You may hear all of that going on outside. But if you need anything or there is anyone you are unsure of, call me," he says. "I’ll be at the photoshoot, but I’m not really essential. I can leave if I need to."
"I’ll be fine," I tell him with a reassuring smile.
"I love seeing you in my shirt," he smirks.
When he finally leaves, I’m left sitting at the kitchen island in a daze, fingers lightly touching my lips because now I know what it’s like to kiss Dex Mobius for real. And yet it feels like it’s a dream. This is all too good to be true. Things happened that were awful in the past several days, yes, but this—being here with him, fed by him, wanted by him, in his clothes and house and bed—it is too good.
I can’t help but wonder when the spell is going to break that is currently encasing reality in this beautiful, delicate glow. It can’t be this easy to have the man of my dreams, can it? What challenges are awaiting us?
"We’re too different," I whisper to myself in preparation for whatever difficulties or rejection may come, and my eyes sweep over this lovely house with the all of the beautiful memories he had with his parents as a child. It’s so different from what I experienced.
I’m not jealous—not at all. Nana and Rory fill my memories of childhood with lovely things as well, but it remains true that what Dex grew up with is much different than what I did. I just... come from a different world—a world not adorned with such luxurious things. Who knows how much this ridiculously comfortable holey shirt cost?
Even if this isn’t a forever thing with Dex, maybe I should just let him dress me up in his clothes and his lifestyle and his world for a little while so I can enjoy spending time with him. Maybe the ending to this story with him doesn’t matter as much as everything in between. Right now, it’s perfect because it’s brand new. I’m grateful for that. Just kissing him and looking forward to dinner tonight is more than I ever would have imagined happening in reality.
While eating breakfast, I’m smiling the whole time thinking about how Dex was on his way to work but turned around just because he wanted to kiss me. And he decided to pick me up breakfast on the way.
"Too perfect," I shake my head with a soft laugh. How in the world did he stay so sweet and wonderful and not end up like his brother?
Rory texts me, my phone chiming with the notification. ’How are you feeling?’
Oh, if she only knew. ’I kissed Dex Mobius, and it was the best kiss of my life.’
’Wow. I was talking about your health, but okay. I would hope he’s at least a good kisser if you’ve been dreaming about him this long.’
I roll my eyes and giggle like a school girl. I feel like I’m 13 and just had my first kiss, only this was mind-blowing instead of terribly awkward and cringy.
Then Rory sends another message. ’I’m happy for you. Just be careful.’
’I will.’
’And let me know when you sleep with him,’ she adds, and I laugh more.
’What? Why?’
’Details of course!’
’No way. I’m keeping all of those details to myself. I don’t hear about you and Westin!’
’Do you want to?’
’NO!’
’We can totally trade stories. I’m good with that.’
’LOL No thanks.’
Nope. I’m keeping every single delicious detail of Dex Mobius all to myself.
—————
- DEX -
Headed to work for the second time this morning, I have a stupid grin on my face that I’m convinced no one can remove. Raya was wearing my shirt, and she looked so incredible in it. And those possessive thoughts only grew louder—the ones that keep growling "Mine" in my mind. Her in my shirt was like a physical manifestation of that desire. It took every ounce of control I had to stop kissing her.
Once I’m settled in the office, I make a call to arrange for everything at the guest house this morning, and with some extra persuasion and no small cost, they agree to take care of it as their first priority.
’Security company coming around 9.’ I text Raya.
’Okay :)’
I stare at the phone and at her message, replaying last night and this morning in my mind. It’s too early to ask her to just move in with me, right? I groan and scrub a hand over my face. Yes, it’s definitely way too early. But why? When you find someone who you’re sure about, it shouldn’t matter.
Everyone else would likely think I’ve lost my mind, but that obviously doesn’t bother me. It never has. And I can only imagine what kind of trouble will find her next if I’m not around. At least I can scare the creeps away, which brings my thoughts once again to my stupid ass brother who is still not in the office...
Grace comes to my door, and I sit up from where I’m reclining back, daydreaming about Raya and also how to punish my brother in the most acceptable way possible that won’t get me in trouble with the board. I’m not sure there’s anything I could possibly do to lose the promotion to my brother with how much he has screwed up already. But I can’t just kick his ass like I want to either.
"You look happier than I’ve seen you," Grace observes, standing next to the table. "Care to share? Is it your friend in the guest house?"
"How did dinner go with Jay?" I ask, ignoring her question.
"It was nice," she says with a small smile. "He’s fun, and he makes me laugh. He’s obviously not my type, but..."
"Come on, Grace," I shake my head. "What’s your type?"
"Well, you obviously." She rolls her eyes.
I sigh. "You’re here early. The shoot isn’t until 10."
"I was up," she shrugs. "And since I know the next CEO, I thought it wouldn’t be a big deal to hang out here until it’s time."
"There’s a coffee shop a few blocks down. Why don’t you go hang out there?"
"And get clobbered on the street like that girl did last week? No thanks," she scoffs.
Leave it to Grace to make it seem like an accident involving someone else somehow endangers her.
"Who told you about that?"
Her eyes wander for the briefest moment. "Jay did. Last night. It sounds terrible." Her eyebrows pinch and she starts fidgeting with her clothes and her hair while avoiding my eyes, and I lean back in my chair again.
"So how long have you been talking to Lawson?"
"What?" She frowns. "I haven’t been talking to him. Why would you think that?"
I tilt my head to the side, waiting for the truth. It’s not hard to tell when she’s lying, and she’s lying now. But she doesn’t say anything further.
"Stay away from my brother, Grace. He’s trouble."
"I don’t want anything to do with your brother," she grimaces and walks over to sit on the sofa against the wall, folding one long leg over the other.
"But you told him someone was staying at the guest house," I guess.
"Oh, is that a secret he wasn’t supposed to know about?" She purses her lips and wraps her hands around her knee.
"Do you really plan to sit there for an hour?" I ask, beginning to lose my patience.
"It’s comfortable here. Why are you being so growly now? I’m not going to bother you. It would be nice to get something to drink, though." She bats her eyelashes with an expectant smile.
I try to mask the extent of my annoyance while I get up and walk out of the office to ask someone to wait on our model for the day. I’m certainly not going to do it. Cricket and Jay were both at the shoot yesterday, so I look for one of them and then revise that plan when I think about how uncomfortable it might make Jay to have to cater to Grace’s every whim today when they went out last night. Who knows how it went between the two of them?
Cricket is sorting papers on her desk when I catch sight of her. "Cricket, would you mind helping Grace today?"
"Oh, of course. What does she need?" She sets down what she’s doing and looks around for her.
"She’s in my office," I tell her. "Would you mind?"
"Do you want her out of your office?" Cricket nods with a grimace. "I’ll take care of it."
"Thank you."
With that now taken care of, I decide to go check with Jeremy, the Creative Director for the project, to make sure everything is ready for the day. On my way to his office, I catch sight of Lawson finally making his way up the stairs, and he’s walking next to my cousin Luciano. What in the actual fuck.
"Dex, look who I ran into!" Lawson chuckles, gesturing toward my cousin.
I bite back a growl and go greet them both. "Luciano, how are you?" I smile, shaking his hand.
"It’s been a long time, Dex. It’s good to see you."
"I haven’t been home long," I explain.
"Right. I heard your father is sick. I’m sorry. We’ll keep him in our prayers."
Meanwhile, Lawson is standing by with a polite grin like he didn’t just orchestrate this somehow and isn’t thrilled as hell about it. How he would have ended up purposely or accidentally "running into" Luciano is beyond me.
"So you’re going to be taking over the company, I hear," my cousin says, and Lawson pats me on the back.
"I’ll let you two catch up."
