Chapter 17
North
I finish my pancakes, crossing my knife and fork over the other, resting them on the empty plate in front of me.
Enjoying the view across the table from me.
Delayni sighs, sated with a belly full of food.
I could never see myself with anyone else.
Even when we lose each other in the world, she is the only one for me.
“Now,” I crossed my arm over the other, resting them on my chest. Her attention shot to me at once and she gazed at me through partly hooded eyelids.
“Now what?”
“What do you want do know first? We have a lot of history to go over, and I honestly don’t know where to start. Maybe the beginning? That’s where most people typically start when the tell stories, right?”
Her eyelids bat and the sexiest shade of pink splashes across the tight apples of her cheeks.
She chews on the corner of her mouth and wiggles around in her chair, clearly, something is on her mind.
I could find out by plucking her thoughts right out of her head, but I don’t want to do that to her.
I want to give her a chance to tell me what is going on.
“How about a quick rundown with the ending at the beginning?” She playfully smiles, licking her lips and covers her plate with her napkin after wiping her face clean.
“What are you not telling me? Why would I start at the end? Do you not want to hear everything about us? I know everything about you, well, the other versions of you, but your soul never changes, just where you end up.”
She sighs. “I dreamed of the of my first death while after I fell asleep in your arms.”
“Is that all you remember?”
“No, North. I remember everything. Every kiss. Every heartbreak. Every death. And every tear we shed for one another.”
I’m speechless. I don’t know how to respond to her.
I was fully prepared to take things slow, letting her get used to everything little by little.
I kind of had a timeline mapped out. Not one that South would ever approve of, but a good one for me.
I smile and then bite the end of my thumb, mostly just to have something to do, so I’m not standing here staring at her like a blubbering idiot.
“So you don’t need me to tell you anything? ”
“I do have one question.”
“Anything.”
“How did you all end up being bikers? That’s a story I’m interested to hear.”
“It’s a good one. The short version is they don’t take shit from anyone and if you’re a brother, you’re a brother for life. Unless you’re a complete fuck up. The other version is a bit longer, though.”
“I’m good with the short version for now,” she smiles, her attention staying on mine.
“How did you end up in prison?” I ask truly curious, but also trying to collect information to help her out later, without coming right now and saying it.
“Erm. What was the question again?” she feigns amnesia, her tongue wetting her lips with anticipation.
“It,” I rest my forearms on shitty table we occasionally use to eat at but is usually a catch all. “Doesn’t,” the plates between us clatters to the floor after on forceful swipe of my arms. “Matter right now.” My body leans over the table and hers meets me halfway.
My mouth lingers so close to hers that her breath warms my skin and the sweet scent of syrup mixed with coffee prickles my skin.
“I agree,” she licks her lips once more, inching forward, her knees now on the table. “We can comb over the details later, if that’s ok with you?”
“Sounds like another perfect plan to me.” I tell and her she gulps, pulling her head away from mine and my hand caught it, fisting her hair. “Where are you going?”
“I haven’t brushed my teeth in like twenty-four hours and even then, it was with cheap state-issued toothpaste.”
“Get the hell over it woman! Do you think I care what brand of toothpaste you used or even the last time you used it? I’ve been waiting to kiss you for a long ass time, and I’m sure as shit not waiting for you to go worry if you have nasty breath or not.”
She climbs across the table and straddles me.
Our mouths collide and I swear it I can feel my heart clench within my chest. Our tongues dance with one another, a constant back and forth battle for power as we figure out a comfortable medium between us.
I let her take the lead at first, fisting my hands in her hair, and pulling her face closer to mine.
Needing to feel her closer. “Wrap your legs around my waist.” She does and I hook my hands underneath her thighs, as I stand, never breaking the kiss.
I carry her to my bedroom and throw her on the bed, ripping my shirt off, and kick the door closed.
This was not at all how I thought the evening would go, but hey I’m not complaining.
Her hand runs down my chest and stops at my belt. She looks up at me and smiles. “I’m so glad you all found me,” she admits, kissing my abs lightly.
“Me too. I’m sorry it wasn’t sooner,” I cup her face and bend down to kiss her. She undoes my jeans and I take her clothes off as fast as humanly possible, needing to be inside her.
“Do not apologize. You apologize too much, North.” She pulls me on top of her and I shake my head.
She stops me by putting her hand up right before I push inside her. “You don’t?”
“Ok. You have a point, but that’s only with you and I’ve hated the fact that you were lost for this long. So, I figured I have some apologizing to do.”
“Believe me, no one is perfect, North.” Her arms wrap over my shoulders. “Now how about no more talking for a while?
I nod in agreement, lining myself up and rocking into her.
Every bit of stress and anxiety falls off me as soon as I’m right where I was always supposed to be—with her—but life got in the way.
Something always gets in the way, but I’ll tear anyone apart that tries to get between us this time.
I have no problem spilling someone’s blood for crossing me.
I will burn this world down to nothing but ash if I that’s what I have to do to keep her. I am not letting her go again.
Our pace increases, neither one of us is going to last much longer. After I rock into her one more time, she moans in my ear and arches her back. “I love you, North,” she declares, breathless and sated.
“And I love you too, Delayni.”