22. Squeak
Whoever said sex can’t or shouldn’t fix problems in a relationship hasn’t had a man like my Deacon working overtime while wielding his intense and gratifying stroke game. Being the recipient of multiple orgasms has given me a pep in my step unlike any sip of a five-hour energy drink I’ve drunk after a heavy study session in college. Sharing a bed with Deacon has been exhilarating after going without him for as long as I had. Waking up in his arms gives me the comfort to handle the sadness of not working and becoming a hermit.
“It’s about time you took me out of the doghouse. This separation has been harder than when you lived hours away. How the hell did you let the bullshit between you and Deacon spill over to me?” Tinker Belle asks, walking into the house with a frown that causes my chest to tighten.
Somehow, disconnecting from Tinker Belle happened gradually and unintentionally, which I hadn’t set out to do. The pain of not communicating with Deacon had me self-preserving, which meant pulling back from everyone but my parents.
“Why did you let me? Not once did you pop up at Mom and Dad’s house. You knew where I was.”
Tinker Belle made it easy to distance myself from her because, other than the few calls and texts she sent, she never forced me to remain constant in her life.
“We have been not only friends but sisters long enough for me to know that when you resign your mind to something, it's best to let you work it out. However, my patience was beginning to run thin because, unlike Deacon’s ass… I ain’t do shit to be put on ice for.”
“Mhm. Tick tock, Tinker Belle,” Deacon says, appearing out of nowhere while tapping his wrist.
Seeing Deacon’s bare feet, sleep pants, and T-shirt has me clenching my thighs to fight against the current thumping against my core.
That’s my man! That’s my man!
My conscience screams like a proud lover, causing a smirk to upturn my lips because, somehow, I’ve been hit with a crazy dart.
“What do you mean, Deacon?” Tinker Belle asks, frowning.
“You’ve only got fifty sum odd minutes for this reunion, so you probably shouldn’t waste them on pointless discussions,” Deacon says, and my brows hike, but Tinker Belle beats me to the punch by asking the question entering my mind.
“Why am I on a timeframe and a short one at that?” Tinker Belle asks.
“We’ve got plans, and your needy ass ain’t about to stall them.” With that, Deacon turns and heads toward his man cave without another word.
“Did I tell you about Deacon’s pet?” I interject when I remember what he has in the basement.
“No. I don’t see any evidence of a pet.” Tinker Belle’s eyes bounce around like a tether ball, and a laugh escapes my mouth.
Grabbing her hand, I lead her to the kitchen so we can talk while telling her about my meeting with Carol Ann.
“Where are we?” I ask Deacon when he picks me up and places me on my feet beside his motorcycle.
There have been many changes within Ribax since I lived here, and with the chaos my life has been battling with my return, I haven’t been able to explore my hometown.
“The place I’m deeming our piece of Heaven on Earth. This is Chasity Peak. I come out here when I need a minute to settle my wayward thoughts. It’s the one place I feel closest to God.”
Deacon’s eyes are staring ahead, and I snuggle into his side, allowing my eyes to take in the city from this vantage point. I can appreciate this place unlike the wooded area Tinker Belle took me. We’re standing at the top of a hill, overlooking the city skyline, and I have never seen anything more beautiful. Instead of being surrounded by overgrown grass and endless trees, flowers everywhere make the area far more inviting.
“I bet the members of Baxtown Iron don’t know you have a soft side,” I say, smiling.
“They won’t either. Don’t be out here breaking couple code by being a snitch, Squeak. You’re too pretty to be covered in stitches and shit.”
“Wow. Are you threatening me, Deacon?”
“Never, love.”
Deacon and I stare into each other’s eyes like we’re auditioning for a rom-com, and payday is coming after surviving on ramen noodles. Love shines bright in Deacon’s orbs, filling me with enough electric energy that could restore the city during a blackout.
“Right here, I understand why a nigga had to go without you. In order for me to appreciate the journey of our forever, I had to mend the broken moment of our past. With only God watching us, I'm telling you that I’m gonna marry you, Squeak.”
The firm and unrelenting calm within Deacon’s words forces me to clench my jaw to kill the sob within my throat. Staring into Deacon’s eyes, observing his intense eye contact and his shoulders that are pushed back has butterflies taking flight within my stomach.
“I love you.” The words slip from my mouth without my consent, and Deacon’s eyes twinkle with merriment before a wide yet cocky grin forms.
“You better because I’m not letting you go again.”
Pulling my body into his, Deacon leans down and plants a soft yet passionate kiss on my lips. My breath hitches from the zing surging through me at feeling of Deacon’s lips on mine before our tongues begin exploring.
Unplanned but not untrue… I’m in love with Deacon.
“So, Mr. Redmond, what do you have planned for us to do up here?” I ask when our kiss ends minutes later.
“Plan our future as day becomes night.”
“I just thought about something,” Deacon says, yawning.
We spent several hours at Chasity Peak before yawns prevented me from answering Deacon’s many questions about a wedding the lack of an engagement would forestall.
“What?”
“You haven’t gone to see Carol Ann yet. She’s gonna think you don’t like her, Squeak. I put on one of her new tutus and everything.”
“Keep it up, and you’re gonna be crying to Carol Ann because I’ve left your ass again,” I say, snickering.
“Shid. You’ll fuck around and be having a bonding session with Carol Ann while painting her nails, trying to figure out if she can give you an escape route.”
“What?”
Shifting my body, I look up at Deacon to see his heavy, steady gaze already on me.
“Don’t play with your freedom. I’ll lock you in the room with Carol Ann without blinking before you escape again.”
Lord, this crazy man. Please allow me to see more of his softer side when we get married.
Hold on… What the fuck is wrong with me?
My face twists and wrinkles as I war within myself from the conflicting thoughts echoing in my mind.
“Tomorrow, we’re going downstairs so you and Carol Ann can come to an understanding. I can’t afford y’all to be at odds and shit. You’re already gonna have to confirm to our kids that she’s harmless. The only way you’ll be able to do that is for you to find out firsthand.”
“Go to sleep, Deacon,” I say, rolling my eyes and disconnecting our contact, ending the conversation I refuse to have any longer.
*bzz, bzz*
Vibrating from a phone on the nightstand makes my heart rate spike, and my mouth twists when Deacon starts shifting me to disconnect our bodies.
Here we go with this club shit. I swear I’m gonna punch this nigga in his throat if he attempts to leave this bed again.
“What’s good, bro. You straight?” Deacon asks, causing me to roll my eyes and cross my arms when his eyes meet mine. “You got this woman sending me murderous looks and shit. Mhm. Hold on.” Removing the phone from his ear, Deacon hits a button and speaks again. “She can hear you.”
“Aye, sis. Don’t murder my nigga. I just got home from the hospital and needed to touch base with him,” Shadow says. My brows wrinkle hearing the news from him.
“Hospital?” I say.
“Another story for another day. Let me know when you can come out for a little bit, bro. I’ve gotta sit still for another week or so,” Shadow says before beeping sounds around the room.
“What happened to Shadow that had him in the hospital?” I ask Deacon after he returns his phone to the nightstand before rejoining me in the bed.
“Let’s just say you’re not the only reason I’ll be picking off Satan Cobra members like cotton on a plantation.”
My eyes bulge while blinking profusely, and my mind stutters when I try to connect the dots.
“T-they hurt Shadow,” I say as more of a statement than a question, and a deep frown mingles with the ache in my chest.
“Hurt Shadow, killed my nigga Sleepy, and gave Leggs a reason to leave the club she’s been in for over a decade.” The blank, empty, yet sinister expression in Deacon’s orbs has a shiver easing down my spine.
Oh my God! Am I the reason Satan’s Cobras went after Baxtown Iron?
“Unfurrow your brows and clear the fog in your eyes. This shit ain’t on you, Squeak. Baxtown Iron and you having the same enemy is purely coincidental.”
Deacon’s words hit me like a dart, and I nod wordlessly while trying to reconcile my mind to his information. Of all the rivals and ghosts Baxtown Iron and I could have alike, why this one?
Because God knew you would need someone heartless like Deacon to remind you that the Boogeyman doesn’t exist.
Uh, I’m not sure if God would be cool with taking this kind of credit.
The silent ministrations between my conscience and me cause silence to serve as background noise in the room.
“The only thing you need to concern yourself with is how you’re gonna get your mom to accept her future son-in-law,” Deacon says, kissing my forehead.