Free Obsession 3 by Treasure Hernandez Page B

the items in the trunk, she got in the passenger seat and as Ray pulled off she looked to her apartment and mumbled the famous last words, “I’ll be back.”
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    When Ray walked into the house it was after midnight. She hadn’t been home in two days. One of the nurses called in sick and so she had told Secret she volunteered to take her shift as well. It wasn’t unusual for doctors and nurses to have to camp out at the hospital on some occasions.
    â€œBecause I’m not married and don’t have kids, I’m usually the one everyone looks to, to volunteer to fill in,” Ray had told Secret over the phone the night she called her to tell her she wouldn’t be home from the hospital.
    Exhausted, Ray made her way into the kitchen to try to find something to eat before she turned in for the night. The house appeared to be dark except for the nightlight air fresheners plugged in throughout the house. Once she entered the kitchen, it was more so dim than dark. It had a tad more lighting than what the nightlights had produced.
    â€œWhat the . . . ?” she said as a look of wonderment took over her facial expression.
    â€œSurprise,” Secret said in a whisper. The baby was upstairs sleeping, and although nine times out of ten she wouldn’t have heard her voice, she still didn’t want to take any chances.
    â€œWhat is all of this?” Ray said as she walked over to the island that separated the kitchen area from the dining area. Laid out on the island was a smorgasbord of finger foods such as chicken tenders, meatballs, cold cut rolls, and a relish tray. There were cheese crackers and a fruit tray as well. Ray’s eyes wandered to the bottle of Moscato in an ice bucket with a long-stem candle on each side that sat in the center of it all.
    Secret followed Ray’s eyes to the bottle of wine. “I hope you don’t mind. I’m under age and couldn’t buy alcohol on my own. I found it under the bar downstairs.”
    Ray just stood their speechless.
    â€œTah dah!” Secret spread her arms wide. “It’s for you.”
    Ray put her hand over her heart and her eyes lit up. “What? Why?”
    â€œDo you really have to ask?” Secret said. “Besides the fact that you work your butt off and you’ve let Dina and me stay here almost three weeks?” Although Secret’s apartment had been cleaned last week, the cleaning crew spotted what they thought were mice droppings. This was reported to the landlord who had the place exterminated. Secret had just gotten the word today that the exterminator had returned to her apartment to do a check, and the coast was clear. She and Dina were safe to move back in.
    â€œBut, I wanted to help. I told you that already.” Ray looked at the spread again. “You really didn’t have to do all this. It’s late. You need to rest when the baby is resting.”
    â€œLike you said, I figured out a way to thank you and this is it.”
    â€œOh, and I do love it.” Ray, with her arms spread open, walked over to Secret and hugged her. “Thank you, Li’l Muffin.” She squeezed Secret in tightly. When she pulled back her arms were still around Secret. Secret was staring into her eyes smiling. Ray smiled back. Before she knew it, Secret was getting closer and closer until her lips pressed against Ray’s.
    Secret gave her a quick but soft peck. Ray stood there, not really returning the kiss, but not refusing it either. Before she could even reply one way or another, Secret’s lips were pressed against hers again. This time it wasn’t a quick peck. This time Secret allowed her lips to relax on Ray’s then she slightly slid her tongue into her mouth.
    For some reason Secret anticipated Ray rejecting her, maybe pushing her away, but surprisingly, Ray took in her tongue and began to suck on it. Secret had no idea what she was doing. Never in her life had she even