Chapter Seven
Amara
T his past week has been a whirlwind of confusion. After the sleepover last weekend, Zoe has been asking to go back again this coming Friday. But I don’t have any control over the court’s ruling, and she has to go with her father.
I have full custody over her, but her father has her every other weekend.
“I don’t want to go,” she signs.
“I know, Zoe, but I don’t have any other choice but to send you.”
“Please, mommy? Can’t I stay home with you?”
Tears of frustration sting my eyes. It’s not directed towards my daughter but at the situation.
“Why don’t you want to go?” I ask her, making sure to speak and sign at the same time. Her lip reading is getting pretty good, but I always make sure to speak so she can get practice in. “You love going to your dads. He has that new kitty, remember?”
“I just don’t wanna go,” she says.
“I’m sorry, Zoe. You have to go.”
If I could keep her away from that bastard for the rest of her life, I would. But I risk getting thrown in jail if I don’t let him take her. Or worse, I risk losing custody.
“Go get your things,” I tell her. “He’ll be here in five minutes.”
Lowering her head, she heads towards her room.
Needing a distraction, I pull out my phone and read the message that Ghost sent this morning.
I’ll be there to pick you up at six. Dress comfortably.
Ghost has sent me a message at least twice every single day since we left last Saturday. One first thing in the morning and one right before I went to bed. Most days, he even threw in another text in the middle of the day.
He’s told me all week long that he plans to take me to dinner on Friday. At first, he offered Sophie and Venom to watch Zoe for me, but I explained that she had to go to her father’s for the weekend, so it wasn’t necessary.
I’m really confused about what Ghost wants from me. He acts like he’s interested in me, but I just know that I’m reading that wrong. I’m fat, and he’s built like a god. There’s no way he’s interested in me more than a casual friend.
Maybe he just feels sorry for me. I mean, he wouldn’t be the first person who wanted to be my friend because they simply thought I was a loser with no friends.
I mean, I really don’t have any friends other than Susan. I lost them all years ago. It’s not easy being my friend when I can’t go out all that much. I get it, but it does get lonely. Susan moved hours away a couple of years ago, so I don’t even get to spend time with the one friend I still have.
Which is why I’ll never forget this past weekend. We had a great time, and I loved hanging out with other adults. We didn’t see much of Ghost, but I knew he was in the building the entire time.
I felt like a schoolgirl knowing her crush was in the next room. Then, throughout the week, when each new text came through, my heart would race with anticipation to see what he would say next. Most of the time, he would ask simple questions. Like what my favorite color is or what foods I don’t like. Then, I would ask him the same questions in turn. The messages weren’t ever long, and we didn’t talk back and forth for more than a message or two, but I’ve really enjoyed getting to know a little about the hottest man in existence. Even if it is out of pity on his part.
A knock on the door has me coming back to reality. My ex stands expectedly on the other side as I open the door.
“Zoe, let’s go,” he shouts in greeting.
“She’s deaf, Ray,” I remind him. “She can’t hear you.”
“Then go get her,” he sneers. “She should have already been ready.”
I don’t understand why he fights so hard to see Zoe when he clearly doesn’t want her. Is it out of spite?
When I reach Zoe’s room, she’s lying on her bed with her tablet. I flick the lights on and off to grab her attention.
“Your dad’s here,” I tell her when she looks up.
I look back to make sure he isn’t near before I sign what I say next. I don’t speak out loud because I don’t want him to hear.
“Do you not want to visit your dad anymore?” I ask.
“No. I want to stay here with you.”
“Alright, honey. I’m going to see what I can do. In the meantime, I need you not to fight me about this. Go with your dad today, and first thing in the morning, I’m going to make some calls about getting his rights revoked. Okay?”
“Maybe Ghost can help like he did with the school?”
“I don’t think he can help with this,” I explain. “This is something that has to be done using lawyers.”
“Fine. I’ll go this time. But I don’t want to go back.”
“Why, honey? Is there a reason you don’t want to go over there?”
Her silence has my heart racing. Are they hurting her?
“ He doesn’t even talk to me when I’m over there,” she says sadly. “And Connie talks super slow and uses small words like I’m ignorant.”
“It sounds like Connie’s communication skills are stuck in the Stone Age. Maybe we can get her to learn sign language if she ever evolves. Until then, I’ll make sure you don’t have to deal with her Neanderthal talk any more than you absolutely have to.”
She giggles softly, making my heart smile.
“Zoe, let’s go. Connie’s waiting in the car. We have shit to do.”
Grabbing her bag, Zoe hugs me tightly before following her dad out of the room.
“Get the fuck out of my way, you mangy mutt.”
“Hey, don’t kick my dog,” I yell out when Sky yelps.
“I can’t believe you have a dog for your stupid seizures. It’s not like he can stop them. Massive waste of money if you ask me. I’ll bring the kid back tomorrow,” he responds, completely ignoring me. “Got shit to do Sunday, and she can’t come.”
“I love you,” I sign when Zoe looks back.
She mouths that she loves me too, and then she’s gone.
“Something isn’t right,” I tell Sky.
Everything in me is screaming to run out there and grab Zoe away from her father, but I just can’t. I can’t risk her father getting full custody of her.
I spend the rest of the evening cleaning up the apartment in constant worry. When someone bangs on my door, I’m exhausted and aggravated. I don’t want to deal with people right now.
“Hey, babe,” Ghost greets when I open the door.
“Oh goodness,” I sigh. “I got distracted and completely forgot.”
“Everything okay, Snow?”
“Just dealing with Zoe’s father,” I admit. “Come on in. It won’t take me long to get ready.”
“What’s going on with her father?” he asks, closing the door behind him.
“Apart from him being a jerk, I honestly don’t know,” I admit. “He acts like he doesn’t want anything to do with Zoe, but he throws a fit whenever I bring up her not going to his house. Zoe doesn’t want to go over there anymore, and I just don’t know what to do.”
Tears of frustration roll down my face, and the next thing I know, I’m smashed up against Ghost’s hard chest.
“We’ll figure everything out, baby,” he says, hugging me tightly. “Do you have full custody of her?”
“Yeah,” I say. “But I have to let Ray have her every other weekend and alternating holidays.”
Pulling away, Ghost leads me to the couch. He sits beside Sky and pulls me down onto his lap.
“I can’t sit on you,” I rush to say, trying my best to get out of his strong grip. “I’m too heavy. You won’t be able to breathe.”
“You’re sitting on my lap, baby, not my chest. Now, sit still so we can talk.”
“Just don’t stand up too quickly when I get off because your legs might be numb.”
“If they are, it will be worth it,” he says. “Now, back to Dove. So, you have sole custody, but he has visitation rights, correct?”
“Yes,” I sigh, giving in and leaning against his chest. I’m rewarded with a kiss to the top of my head.
So confused.
“You want to take away his rights to see her?”
“With every fiber of my being,” I admit.
“I’ll make some calls and see what we can do,” he tells me. “I have a friend who might be able to help.”
“I was going to call my lawyer tomorrow,” I explain. “But he’s the one who told me to agree with the visitation rights to begin with.”
“Let me handle it,” Ghost says. I’ll give my buddy your phone number, and he can call to set up a meeting.”
“I can’t afford a new lawyer,” I admit begrudgingly. “The one I’m using now is cheap.”
“Did I ask you to pay for him? You’re my woman, and I get to pay for your things. It makes me happy to do this. Especially if it gets that fucker away from Dove.”
“I can pay for my own things, Ghost,” I say hotly. “I’m not a woman that needs to be kept. I make plenty of money to keep me and Zoe living a decent… Wait… Did you say that I was your woman? As in… your woman?”
“Yeah, babe. Thought I made that clear.”
“Well, you didn’t,” I say, getting up from his lap and pacing. “I don’t even remember you asking. Was it when I was recovering from a seizure? I’m pretty sure I only had that one in front of you, and that was the time I peed all over your couch. Oh no. Did I ask you, and you said yes out of pity? Am I your pity woman? I’m so sorry. I take it back. Just pretend like I never asked you. Why didn’t you tell me that I acted like a fool, Sky? Some sidekick you are.”
“Finished?”
“Huh?”
Leaning forward, Ghost grabs my hand and pulls me right back on his lap.
“Eyes, babe.”
“Wow, your eyes are very green.”
“And yours are beautiful,” he smiles. “I thought my intentions were clear, but I guess I’m not very good at wooing a woman.”
“You’re wooing me?” I ask.
“Apparently not with much finesse,” he admits, running a hand through his hair. His gaze locks onto mine with a fierce intensity. “So let me be absolutely clear so that there are no more guessing games. I, Rhett Montgomery, think you are the most stunning woman I’ve ever laid eyes on. Over this past week, getting to know you has been the best part of my days. I want to know you better, more than anything. I want to see where this thing can go between us if you’ll have me.”
If I’ll have him? Is he nuts?
“Your name is Rhett Montgomery?” I ask because I’m not ready to get into everything else he said.
“Yeah, baby,” he smiles. “My name is Rhett Montgomery. I’m not sure if you heard or not, but I did say a few more words other than my name.”
“I heard,” I whisper. “Is this a prank? Did your buddies bet you money to see if you could fool me into thinking I was wanted? Are you waiting for me to get naked before everyone rushes in, laughing at how disgusting my naked body is?”
I look around the room to see if I can spot his phone propped up somewhere, recording everything that’s happening.
Somehow, in the span of a few seconds, Ghost has me flat on my back with him hovering dangerously close to my face.
Thank the good lord that I purchased a wide couch.
“Let’s get one thing straight,” Ghost growls, his hand sliding down my body and gripping my hip tight enough to leave marks. “This body is fucking perfection. I can’t wait to have you in this exact position, completely naked and at my mercy.”
Before I have time to process his words, Ghost’s mouth is on mine. “Open for me, baby,” he whispers. “Let me taste you.”
My mind reels at what’s happening. The hottest man I’ve ever met is holding me down and demanding that I kiss him.
“Ghost,” I gasp, but he doesn’t allow me to say anything more. The second I open my mouth to say his name, his tongue pushes its way in and stakes its claim.
“So fucking good, babe,” he mumbles.
By the time he’s finished, I’m panting and on the verge of a spontaneous orgasm. My hips thrust upward as if reaching for something and Ghost chuckles.
“My girl is sensitive,” he says, kissing the corner of my lips, my cheek, and then my neck. “I bet I could make you come just by sucking on your nipple.”
I don’t have it in me to push him away as he reaches down the top of my shirt and pulls my boob out.
“Let’s try,” he says, right before latching onto my nipple and sucking. I feel him reach his other hand beneath my shirt. My mind screams for him to stop before he feels my rolls, but between him sucking, licking, and biting all over my breast, I can’t for the life of me remember how to talk.
“Most beautiful breasts I’ve ever seen,” he mumbles before going back to his ministrations.
“Ghost,” I moan. “I think I’m going to…”
“I know, baby,” he says. “Give me what I want, Snow.”
His hands are everywhere, leaving a trail of warmth wherever he touches. I’m hanging onto the edge of a cliff, but the second he squeezes one nipple and bites the other, I fall.
“That’s it, babe,” he says. “Fucking hell, you’re beautiful.”
“Wow,” I exclaim once my mind is back in working order. “That was unexpected.”
“You’re beautiful,” he repeats. “Your body is beautiful.”
Grabbing my hand, he places it on his very hard situation.
“This is what you do to me without even trying, Snow. Even the thought of you makes my dick hard. Please, believe me when I say that you’re beautiful. Body and mind.”
“Wow,” I repeat. Because what’s a girl to say to all of that? “Do you, uhm, want me to take care of this?”
To emphasize my point, I gently squeeze the hand that Ghost placed on his most delicious parts.
“Babe,” he groans, removing my hand. “This wasn’t about me. My dick is an impatient bastard, but I’m not. You’re too important to simply fuck. Come on, let’s go. I want to take you to work with me tonight. There’s a fight that I’m required to watch.”
Standing, he turns to give Sky some attention.
“A fight?” I ask, sitting up and fixing my shirt before he can see anything. “At the Cage?”
“The Undercage,” he corrects. “And yes. Does Sky’s harness have everything you need?”
“Everything but my meds. I probably shouldn’t go to the Cage,” I say. “The hot atmosphere and the flashing lights are just too much for me to handle. I don’t want to give my body reasons to have a seizure.”
“We’re going before it opens and heading to the cage part of the Cage.”
“Oh,” I reply. “Where the not-so-legal fights take place?”
“I see the girls and Knox have been talking,” he says with false disappointment. “Yes. Where the not-so-legal fights take place. Anyway, you can sit in the box with me. It’s air-conditioned, has one solid light, and most of all is completely safe.”
“Well, alright,” I smile. “I have four more questions first.”
Ghost, still kneeling next to Sky, turns and looks up at me.
“Hit me,” he says.
“Okay, question one. Are you going to be the one fighting?”
“Negative,” he says. “I don’t often fight. I just pay the ones who do. Second question.”
“Alright. What happens if I have a seizure while we’re there?”
“Then, I’ll take care of you, babe,” he says seriously. “Next question.”
“What if people see?” I ask shyly.
“What if they see what?” he asks, confused. “You have a seizure?”
“Me,” I admit softly. “What if they see that you’re there with me?”
“Careful, Snow,” he says. “I’ll take you to the center of the cage and claim that mouth of yours where they all can see. As a matter of fact, that sounds like a smart idea. I don’t want those mother fuckers thinking you’re free game. Third question.”
Oh my.
“Uhm, okay. Can we take Sky inside the box with us? I guess that should have been the first question, huh?”
“Sky will always be with us no matter where we go,” he says. “No exceptions. What’s your last question, baby.”
“Forget about it,” I say quickly. “I only had three questions. Are we leaving now? I just need to put my meds in Sky’s harness, get some kibble, and change into my safe underwear.”
Kill me now.
Standing, I rush to the kitchen and fill up the treat bag with kibble. Arms wrap around my waist from behind and pull me flat against a very hard chest. Ghost’s hands rub my round stomach and even squeeze my fat as if it’s the best thing he’s ever felt.
I’m so dang confused.
“What was your last question, babe?” he asks roughly.
“It was nothing,” I breathe. “Silly, even.”
“Amara,” he growls.
Shocked, I turn in his arms and look into his eyes. “You’ve never called me by my name,” I say. “I thought I was your Snow. I like being your Snow.”
“What was your last question, baby,” he whispers, kissing my forehead in a move so sweet that I might just die.
Sighing, I hide my face against his chest and just ask that damn question.
“Am I your only woman? And, if I’m truly yours, does that mean you’re mine? Only mine?”
Ghost tightens his hold on me for a few seconds before pulling away and looking into my eyes. I know he can see how worried and embarrassed I am. I don’t want to sound needy, but I can’t even wrap my head around what’s happening between us, let alone filter my own emotions.
“I am yours, and you are mine,” he says. “You sealed both of our fates the moment you walked into my club.”
This man is going to break my heart. I know it as easily as I know I’ll have another seizure. But I push those thoughts aside and accept the hand that Ghost holds out.
I know how this will end, but for the first time in my life, I don’t care. Ghost may be lying about his interest in me, but I’m still going to play along until the end.
I’m sure that makes me a lonely, pathetic loser, but I can’t live on ‘what-ifs’ no matter how scary the outcome seems.
“Now, go change into your safe panties so we can go.”
Kill. Me. Now.