They slept for a few hours and Jon was woken up by Dixie getting out of bed. He saw her gathering up her clothes and getting dressed after she came out of the bathroom. He sat up and wrapped the sheet around him, "where are you going, babe?"
"I need to get home. I have to work in the morning."
He groaned, not wanting her anywhere near Colby. "Dix, you can stay here. I don't want you going home."
"Look, I know you don't but I have to. All of my shit is there."
"I will buy you new shit. Don't go back there. Please."
She sighed loudly, "You can't buy me all new stuff tonight. Baby, it is late and I don't want to fight with you."
"I don't fucking want to fight either, but I don't want you around Colby, damn it. At all. I don't trust his ass and you shouldn't either. He already told you he is going to try to steal you away from me. I don't want him to have the chance."
"Jon, you just have to trust me. I told you about what happened because I want to be honest with you too. I won't let it happen again."
"Are you sure about that? Apparently, all he has to do is turn you on and you almost fucking forget all about me. Maybe you have other fucking reasons for wanting to go home, huh?" He was scared that Colby still had her heart and he couldn't help but be angry that she was going back to their house to be alone with him. He had tried not to wonder how close they came to having sex earlier, but he couldn't get it out of his head.
"Where the hell is this coming from? Did I say that? I tell you the truth and this is how you are coming at me? We had a great day and you end it by being an asshole. Fine, what the fuck ever."
He growled in displeasure, thinking he probably should have kept his mouth shut. She started out the door and he grabbed her arm. "Dixie, wait. Don't leave like this."
"Like what? Pissed the fuck off at you? Take your hand off me." She jerked her arm back and glared at him. "Just don't."
"I am sorry, goddammit! I don't fucking want you to leave and spend the night fucking Colby too!"
"Fuck you, Jon! You know what, you are a real piece of work. I guess that is what we get for having an affair, not being able to trust each other."
She walked out and slammed the door, angry that their perfect day ended with an argument. She could admit she saw his point, but she was getting tired of trying to reassure him that she loves him. She left him standing in the middle of the hotel room, cursing before he punched the wall. He knew he had really screwed up and now he was afraid she really would go back to Colby. He pulled on his sweat pants and headed out after her, but she was already to her car. She heard him yell for her and shook her head, getting in the Audi and driving back to her house. Jon went back upstairs and opened a bottle of Jack Daniels. He was angry with himself for what he had said, letting his fears make him paranoid.
She saw the lights were out so she figured Colby was already in bed. He had a very long, emotional day with her gone. All he could think about was what she was doing with Jon. He was angry after the phone call he got from Jon and was more determined than ever that he wouldn't let him have her.
She made her way up the stairs and went into their bedroom to take a shower before going to sleep. She saw Colby lying on her side of the bed. He opened his eyes when she came in, but he didn't have the chance to say anything before she went into the bathroom.
A little while later, she came out in a towel and saw him staring at her. "Don't worry. I am just getting something to sleep in."
"Dixie, I told you. You don't have to stay in the guest room. This is still your house and your bed." He pulled back the covers for her. "Stay in here."
"Colby…" she sighed, grabbing her nightgown to put on. She stepped out of the room to take off the towel and get dressed and Colby shook his head, wondering why she was acting modest around him all of a sudden.
"Look, I will keep my hands to myself, just stay with me." He was going to try to be on his best behavior, but he wanted her close to him. He needed her close to him. "Please?" She knew she should say no but she wanted to be near him too. They were both hurting and she needed the comfort that being in his arms brought her. She loves Jon, but there was no way she could lie and say he held her with the quiet desperation Colby did and had always done. He said he would behave but there was a big part of her that didn't want him to keep his hands to himself.
She nodded and he scooted back, making room for her. She slid into bed and Colby rolled over on his back to give her room. He lay back on the pillow and closed his eyes, grateful that she had agreed to sleep in there with him. He thought maybe he could get closer to her once she fell asleep and she wouldn't push him away anymore. "Colby?"
He slowly opened his eyes and saw the questioning look on her face. "Yes, mama?"
"I know I have no right to ask this and it isn't fair to you and I don't deserve it and you should tell me no and to go to hell and you probably will and that is fi…"
"Dixie! Stop rambling! What is it?"
She couldn't make herself say it, but she wanted to be in his arms; she wanted that warmth and comfort from him. She knew it was wrong but after her fight with Jon, she didn't care. She closed the distance between them and nudged his arm back with her head. He smiled and moved it so she could lay her head on his chest. "Can you just hold me, Colby?"
"Of course." He reached over and turned the lamp off then softly rubbed her back. He decided not to press his luck while she was letting him be this close to her. He wasn't sure what had happened with Jon, but he wasn't going to question her. He thought to himself that maybe she wasn't as happy with Jon as she pretended to be and it would be a matter of time before she was his again.
Jon tried to call her but it kept going to voicemail so he figured she turned her phone off. He was tempted to go to Colby's but he knew it would turn into a brawl if he showed up at their doorstep. Dixie was angry enough and he figured it would be better not to piss her off even more. He didn't understand why he let his jealousy get the better of him and his mouth run away with him. He hated what he said and now her words were ringing in his ears. 'I guess that is what we get for having an affair, not being able to trust each other.' He despised the thought of her not trusting him, and he was furious with himself for making her think he didn't trust her.
Dixie laid her cheek on Colby's chest and rested her hand on his side. She shut her eyes, calmed by the sound of him breathing. He held her close to him, not realizing how much both of them evidently needed this. She soon fell asleep and he was not far behind her. A couple of hours later, he got out of bed to go to the bathroom, and she had rolled over into his spot while he was up. He softly smiled down at her and eased back into bed behind her. He pressed his body against hers and heard her softly moan and arch her back. He gently gripped her hip and buried his nose in her neck. He kissed the smooth flesh of her shoulder, grinning at the sighs coming from her lips. He felt himself getting turned on but didn't want to push for too much and have her freak out on him like earlier, so he told himself to be happy with how it was right then. He whispered, "I love you so much, Dixie. I will be enough for you again." He drifted off to sleep again with the woman who still held his heart right beside him.
When her alarm went off, she noticed he was still clinging to her and she didn't want to move. He heard the alarm as well and groaned, rolling over to turn it off. "Ugh dammit, I don't want to go to work today."
"Then don't. Stay home today, with me."
"You know I can't do that. Even though I would rather."
"I know, but it was a nice idea. I will go put on some coffee for you, mama while you get ready." He got up and she couldn't help but stare at his body. His long, toned torso and his dark skin, the briefs he was wearing hanging low on his slender hips, the outline of his perfect cock straining against the cotton. She bit her lip, trying to tear her eyes away from him, but he caught her staring. She looked up at his face; his lips curled into a smirk and felt the flush in her cheeks. "It's okay. You can have all of it you want, just say the word." He leaned down and gave her a quick peck before walking out of their room. She shook her head, not able to believe she just checked him out like that, right in front of him. She picked up her phone and turned it on, seeing twenty-two missed calls from Jon and six text messages. She knew it would probably make her mad, so she ignored them, not wanting to be in a bad mood before work.
She went to her closet and picked out grey pinstriped pants and a black sweater. She pulled her hair up in a clip and sat at the mirror to put on her makeup. When she was done, she slipped on her shoes and went downstairs and into the kitchen. Colby already had her cup of coffee made and handed her a bowl of oatmeal. "Cinnamon raisin, your favorite."
She smiled, "Thank you."
"You're welcome, babe." He scooped some into his bowl as well and sat down across from her. "You look nice this morning, Dix."
"Thanks. This is good."
He took a bite and they sat in an uncomfortable silence until he decided to speak up. "I thought I might make us dinner tonight and we can talk about some things. And I want to give you your Christmas presents."
She looked up surprised at him. "What? I thought you threw them out."
"Of course I didn't. They are in the coat closet. I was angry, but I wouldn't throw our gifts away. So what do you say... a nice dinner, some wine and opening presents with me? We can have little belated Christmas."
She couldn't stop the smile that came to her face. She really didn't feel worthy of him being so nice to her but she would admit it made her happier than she had the right to be. "That sounds great. You want me to stop at the store for anything on the way home?"
"No, actually I think we still have everything." She focused on eating her oatmeal and Colby reached for her hand. "Dix, I am sorry I threw the tree and the ornaments and stuff out. I was just upset."
"Don't apologize, Col. I told you that you have no reason to apologize for shit to me."
"Some things, yeah I do." He looked back down at his bowl and they both finished eating. He stood up to put it in the sink, and Dixie caught herself staring at him again, at his strong back and down to his round ass. She got up as well and handed him her bowl and cup, fighting the urge to touch him. He turned and faced her, her green eyes locking with his. "Um, I'll be home after 5 okay."
"Okay." Before she could walk away, he touched her arm. He captured her head between his hands and leaned down to press a chaste kiss to her head. "Have a good day, mama."
"I will try. You too. See you tonight." She went to get her purse and keys and as she left, she turned back to look at him and saw him smiling. She smiled back and lowered her head. "Bye Colby." She shut the door and breathed deeply, trying to compose herself. She thought everything was like before, their mornings together before she left for work. She wouldn't deny that waking up in his arms again felt right and she wondered if she had made the biggest mistake of her life in leaving him. He clearly was still in love with her and wanted her and she was beginning to doubt if she could have with Jon what she had with Colby.
Colby was grinning when she left, knowing he was getting to her. He felt in his heart that he could love her better than Jon ever could and he was going to fight like hell to show her that. He made up his mind that they would have a fantastic night and after that, she would stay with him.
Meanwhile, Jon was going crazy. He hadn't slept well and couldn't get their fight out of his head. All he could think about was what she could be doing with Colby while they were alone. It was consuming his thoughts, bordering on obsession. She still wouldn't answer his calls or respond to his texts. He thought about going to the hospital where she worked, but he knew if he caused a scene there, she would hate him. He felt all alone now that he had betrayed one of his best friends, and the other friends he had hated him now for what he had done. Now he didn't even have the one person that mattered most to him. He knew he let his mouth override his brain and he shouldn't have said what he did about her and Colby. He couldn't stop the gnawing in his belly that he was going to lose her all over again.
Dixie had a long day at work, full of meetings and still catching up on work. She still hadn't finished her resignation letter, now questioning if she was doing the right thing. Jon had called her more and texted her, begging her to respond, but she was too angry. Colby texted her and asked her to bring home some milk and another pie, and sent her a picture of him frowning when he said he had burned a frozen pie. She was laughing at his pouty face when her assistant Marie came into her office. "Dixie, I brought these reports for you that we just got from payroll. That must be from Colby to make you laugh like that," she said with a smile. "I can always tell."
Her words caught Dixie off guard. "What?"
"Colby always makes you smile. I know how much you love him because I see it in your eyes, even when you are just reading at a text from him. God I wish I had what you have. And I don't mean a famous and rich boyfriend! I mean one that is gorgeous and sweet, who loves you so much too. I remember the first time you brought him to the Christmas party that you were so perfect for each other and how happy and in love you two looked. You are a lucky woman."
"Yeah, very lucky," Dixie muttered, guilt washing over her again.
"Anyway, we are still waiting for the reports from accounts receivable but I will call them and tell them you need the paperwork today."
"Yes, thanks." Marie went back to her desk and Dixie was mulling over what she had said. She had to do some serious thinking about her future and some soul searching to do.
Before she went home that night, she stopped at the store and bought a pie as he asked and got a few other things. When she got home, he had taken all the presents out and the house smelled like turkey. He had hung the stockings back up and was coming out of the kitchen when she walked in. "Hey, mama, you're home." He took the bags from her and she followed him into the kitchen. He had food spread out everywhere and her eyes lit up.
"You have outdone yourself, Colby," she said with a smile.
He laughed, "Well, maybe. But I wasn't doing anything else today. I wanted to do this." He put things away and put the pies in the oven. "I will try not to burn these!"
She giggled, "and how did you manage to burn the other one?"
"Forgot to set the timer! Didn't think about it until I smelled it!" His laugh made her smile; it was like music to her ears. "So how was work?"
"It was fine, just busy. Still buried in reports from when I was off." As she was talking he was moving closer to her. He was standing in front of her now, their bodies almost touching. She could smell his cologne and feel his body heat. She saw the smoldering look in those brown eyes, knowing that look very well. She shook her head, regaining her control. "Uh, I am gonna go change."
He nodded and thought about following her, but changed his mind. He knew he had to be careful or he would push her away again. But then he thought about it, maybe she wanted him to be spontaneous and forceful and started towards the stairs. Again he stopped himself, curtailing his hormones. 'No, she is fighting how she feels now, just have to wait until she gives in to her heart. Don't rush.'
Dixie was up in their room getting undressed. Being near Colby was getting to her. He was reminding her more and more of why she fell in love with him, and making her think things could be like they once were. She was still ignoring Jon but decided she should respond to him. She knew he was probably going out of his mind not hearing from her, but she needed time to think and he needed to stew in his own words for a while. She picked up her phone and sent him a quick message.
'I am fine. Had a long day at work. You are right, we need to talk.'
'Babe, thank God you finally replied. We will talk, whatever you want. You want to come over and have dinner and we can make up? I hate you being mad at me and I know I was being an asshole and I shouldn't have said that to you.'
'No you shouldn't have. But I can't tonight.'
'Why the fuck not?' Jon was getting angry all over again, already knowing the answer to that felt like he was the other man in her life again and he didn't like it. He was supposed to be her boyfriend now, but here she was spending the quality time she should be with him, with her ex instead.
'You are with Colby aren't you?'
'Yeah. He and I need to talk as well. We are going to open our gifts to each other and have supper. I will call you later.'
'Yeah, sure.' He refrained from texting her back what he really wanted to say to that. He threw his phone and it broke on the floor. "Goddammit! That devious, underhanded motherfucker! He is gonna steal her back away from me, right out from under my goddamn nose!" He punched the wall and his knuckles started to bleed. "Don't do this to me again, Dixie! Please. Not again."