“I curse and tell things like I see them.”
“I know.”
He took hold of her hand, stopping her from eating. “I don’t think you do understand.”
“Then tell me.” Whenever he touched her, she forgot about everything else. The only two people to exist in the world were him and her. But she loved her son and wouldn’t dream of forgetting about him.
“I f**k. I’ve got a dick, and I f**k pu**y. I don’t build it up into fake poetry and shit. This is what I’m like.”
She stared at their joined hands. “I’m not an idiot. I don’t expect you to be anything else.”
“You work at a church.”
Laughing, she looked into his eyes. “The church was suffering for volunteers. I took the job for a very small income, but I don’t go to church, Butch. Don’t get me wrong, I’m a believer but nothing else.” Staring down at her plate, she licked her lips. “I’ve f**ked, and I’ve got a kid to prove it. I don’t want you to pretend to be something you’re not. What I ask is for you to know that I’m not used to the way you talk. I need to get used to it, but I don’t want you to change.” Her mother believed in respect and hated cursing.
“Tate would love you.”
“Tate?”
“She’s Tiny’s daughter and a total bitch. However, she seems to attract nice women toward her. Angel and Sophia are nice women. Wait, no, I think you’d be better around Prue. She’s the only woman I know to put Tate in her place.” He was laughing, and then he stopped. “Crap, that hurt.”
“What did?” she asked, concerned.
“I’ve been part of the club for so long I didn’t even give a thought about my memories of them. It’s not all bad, and I miss them.” He smiled even though it didn’t reach his eyes.
“You don’t have to quit the club for me, Butch. We’re friends.”
“I want more.”
She licked her lips, picking up her fork for something to do. “I know you want more.”
“Do you?”
“I don’t know what I want.” She answered him as honestly as she could.
“If you want me to leave you alone, tell me.”
Shaking her head, she returned her gaze to his. “I don’t want you to leave. I love being around you. You’re funny, and I want something.” Pushing hair out of her eyes, she stared at him. “This is hard. I’ve never been with another man but Matthew’s father. He was my first, and after everything that happened, I didn’t think there would be another man. Who wants to look after another man’s kid?”
“I do.”
His words brought her gaze back to his.
“What?”
“You heard me. I don’t give a f**k who gave you Matthew. He left, and he’s not even in touch with you. I want to take Matthew as my own.” His hands were pressed down on the table. “I’m going to lay it out for you, and then you can decide what you want.”
Do I want him to do this?
Once they passed this line there was no going back. They were friends, but the moment he said what he was about to say, she knew in her heart it was going to change everything. No one could go back when their emotions were laid out clear to see.
“I want you, Cheryl. I want you in my bed, in my life. You’re here.” He placed a hand to her heart. Her own was pounding against her chest in panic. “I love Matthew as if he was my own. This is what I want, and I hope one day you can trust me to give you what you need.”
“This is insane.”
“Be honest with me. Do you want me, or was that an act out there?” he asked, pointing behind him.
“It’s not an act. None of what I feel is an act.”
“Then give us a try. I promise I will never let you go. I want to be with you. You’re my woman, Cheryl. You know it, and so do I. This is going to happen, and we can fight it all we want, or we can just do it.”
She chuckled.
“Talking about what I want has never been one of my strong suits.”
“I’m not exactly a genius. I think you did really well.” His words were touching. They were not romantic or filled with fake lies and poetry. They were direct, straight to the point just like the man himself. She found him refreshing. Her mother may not like him, but Cheryl adored him.
“Come on, babe. Give me a chance.”
“Okay. I’d really like that. Does this mean we’re going steady?” She dropped her head as heat filled her cheeks even more. “I’m sorry. I didn’t date much through high school. I don’t have much to compare it to.”
“I think we’re more than going steady. That kiss has to be second or is it third base? Shit, it has been that long since I’ve dated I don’t even know what bases we’re at.”
“We could make it up as we go along?” she said, offering it up as a suggestion. He was putting her at ease with every passing moment.
“I’m good.”
Her ni**les tightened as his gaze ran over her body.
Their relationship had changed, and there was no going back anymore. She didn’t want to go back.
****
Butch washed the dishes, conscious of Cheryl by his side. The red dress did wonders for her full curves. Her ni**les were clear to see as they budded against the front of the dress. Most of the meal he wanted to lean forward and push her dress down so he could watch those tits move. Her full body was driving him crazy. All he wanted to do was bend her over the table and take her from behind. He was itching to get his hands on her naked.
Pull back.
He didn’t want to pull back. Laying his feelings and desires on the table had been the best thing he’d done. There was no way for them to move on until she knew the truth of what he wanted.
Tiny had visited him again at work to ask him about his past. It hadn’t taken Whizz long to find the truth of everything that had happened. Butch no longer cared about the past. He was old enough and wise enough to take care of his own family. He told Tiny that he was going to make Cheryl his woman.
She took the plate off him. He saw she was shaking, but he didn’t mention it. Their relationship had changed, and there was no going back. Butch had thought long and hard about the future. Taking on Matthew would be an absolute dream. He adored the kid as if he was his own. No man should ever get pissed about helping bring another man’s son into the world. Butch would consider it a blessing to give Matthew a wonderful start in life.