Page 12 of Ma Belle Marguerite (Hidden Secrets #1)

Giselle cuts in, “I’ve had a feeling the past few years that something was off.

I’ve run into Rex at several events; he’d always ask about you.

I didn’t tell him anything because I was pissed at him for leaving you and then having the nerve to act like he cares behind your back.

” Looking nervous, Giselle continues, “I didn’t want to say anything because you were finally so happy with Adrien.

I know you guys didn’t marry for love, but you were in a good place. ”

I’m at a loss for words. Giselle might have known that Rex still cared and said nothing. She didn’t even tell me she had been around him at events, let alone had conversations. What happened to chicks before dicks?

“I see you spiraling over there. Take a breath and think of things from Giselle's point of view,” Camille says in a calm voice. Of course, she is the voice of reason.

Looking at Giselle, I say, “Give me a second. I know that you’d never do anything to hurt me intentionally.

It is just a lot to process on top of everything the last two days.

” I need to trust that my girls always have my best interest in mind.

They have never given me a reason to doubt them before.

I reach over and hold Giselle's hand, and I see her let out a breath. “I love you, and you’re like the sister I never had. You too, Camille.” Something like this will not be what comes between our friendship.

Now Giselle is tearing up. “Back to Rex.” Giselle wiggles her brows at me. “Are you going to see him again? Going to get your foot-popping kiss after so many years of secretly pining?”

Clearing my throat, I move back into my spot on the couch and smile.

“I’m going back to see him, yes. I left him all the letters to sift through.

” After taking a sip of wine, I continue, “With his concussion, I’m sure it’ll be slow going for him, but I felt butterflies when I saw him. I forgot what those feel like.”

Camille does her signature catcall, “Get it, girl! That’s exactly what you need!

Don’t let guilt eat away at you. Rex was your first; he has always been the one you pined after, even though you were happy with Adrien.

” We had many conversations about my guilt over the years.

I’m sure they are happy to have a change in topics for once.

“Adrien would want you to be happy, not stay sad and lonely, even if it is Rex,” Giselle adds. “He may not have liked him for breaking your heart but he’d want you to at least see why he did it and finally have answers.”

“I know. I just need to figure out how to feel now. Do I believe Rex and let him back in my life? I mean, he says he still has the letter he thought I sent and will give it to me. I need to think of Brielle and Remi, too. This will be hard for them no matter what happens.” Will my kids accept him?

“I say to make him grovel a bit, but hop on that horse as soon as he’s cleared for duty, if you know what I mean.” Giselle never holds back with her words. “Angry sex is some of the best sex!”

“Don’t be so crude, woman.” Camille shakes her head with a smirk on her face. “Do what you feel will make you happy. Zero judgment from us either way. The kids may have a hard time at first, but they will come around. Give them some credit; you raised them well.”

“You just said the same thing but nicer.” Giselle rolls her eyes, making me laugh. She looks like Remi when he is pouting because his sister beat him at something.

After a couple hours of drinking and talking about the girl's recent love lives I need to get cleaned up and go to bed. There are only so many sex stories I can listen to while thinking about Rex.

“On that note, I need a quick shower to wash the hospital off me, and I’m exhausted.

” I also need to deal with other things.

Thinking about Rex, and the past us, has me feeling a little needy.

“You guys can crash here. I don’t want you to drive after all the wine we just drank. ” I don’t need to lose anyone else.

“Goodnight Bella, love ya” Camille slurs, proving my last thought right. “We’ll figure out where to crash. Go get some sleep.”

“Yeah we can clean up in the morning.” Giselle sets her glass on the end table beside our three empty wine bottles before reaching over to give me a quick hug. “Get some rest, love you.”

I didn’t even realize we drank that much. Oopsy-daisy. “Night girls, love you too.” I take my time going up the stairs so I don’t trip and make noise waking the kids.

When I finally enter my room, I let out a big breath. Everything is starting to hit me hard. Between Adrien, the kids, Rex, a new job, and the booze, I’m getting overwhelmed. Hopefully, a hot shower will help. I’m wound way too tight.

After a quick pit stop at my nightstand to grab my favorite toy, my pink rose. It has this amazing suction that mimics the feeling of actually having someone down there. It has been forever since I’ve got off, so this should be quick and relieve some tension.

I turn the shower on before stripping down. I put music on my phone to drown out any noises I may make in case the kids wake up and come into my room while I’m in here.

Before I step into the shower I toss in a lavender scented puck, great for stress relief and to make me sleepy.

The hot water feels amazing running down my body, rolling over all my curves and dips.

It burns off the gross hospital feeling while easing the strain in my muscles.

My favorite part of this bathroom is the rainfall showerhead.

I don’t know how I lived without one before. I feel like I’m at a spa.

I grab my loofa and wash myself quickly before grabbing my toy.

Turning it on, I place it against my clit, and instantly a tiny shiver goes through my body.

It’s like I’m a teenager again. Rex has always been able to wind me up with a simple touch.

I can still feel his forehead against mine.

The way his thumb softly moved along my cheek through my tears.

Being so close to him had me feeling things I didn’t expect.

Having his face so close to mine, right there inches away from a kiss I was so desperate for, made me want to say fuck it all and forget everything in the past.

I adjust the setting on my vibrator to make it feel more like Rex is touching me. I can already feel my orgasm building.

Moving my hands over my body, I think back to how we used to lay on the hood of his car.

I mimic how he would touch me, and it has me panting.

I can feel the ghost of his fingers on my nipples, his mouth on my neck, kissing and biting, leaving marks to claim me.

I imagine Rex kissing down my chest and then stomach until he reaches my clit, licking slowly around it while he moves his fingers inside me to match his tongue.

The ways he used to edge me and make me come so hard it was like I was seeing stars plays in the back of my head.

The song that was playing finishes as a knock at the door jolts me out of my memories. For fuck sake, can’t a woman have ten minutes to get off? “Who is it?” I manage to get out without sounding too breathy. I think anyway. The shower isn’t helping calm the effects of the wine like I’d hoped.

“Bitch let's go! You said a quick shower, and it’s been more like twenty minutes. Give your toys a rest before you wake up the kids!” Giselle has never sounded more annoying before.

“Seriously, Giselle! Let a woman have a shower in peace!” I yell back. Oh crap, the kids. “Sorry, almost done.” I try to make it quiet, but it echoes in the bathroom.

Laughing, she yells back, “Yeah, shower my ass. I could hear your vibrator and moans over the music! You got five minutes before I shut the hot water off so I can shower, too.” I hear my bedroom door close as she leaves.

Well, there goes the mood. Leave it to Giselle. I turn the shower off, dry myself, and dress quickly before Giselle returns and yells at me some more. I hide my toy in the cabinet to deal with later. I just want to curl up in my bed and sleep.

Tomorrow is another day, and thankfully I have my small village here to help me through.