7. Chapter 7
Chapter 7
***** Demon *****
“Do you believe that wishing on stars can come true?”
I twisted the locks of a piece of her hair around my finger as I thought about the question. I mean, it was a fairytale, to wish on something like that. But hadn’t I made something once, on a whim?
“I don’t know. Do they come true or is it fate?”
“Good point, Hugh. And what a way to dash someone’s dreams.”
“What did you wish for, and did it come true?”
“I guess that depends on you.” She shifted, resting her arms on my chest, and then rested her head on her arms, looking at me. “Did you mean what you claimed? That I’m really yours?”
“I swear, Brandi, no one is taking you away from me. This isn’t casual sex. I’ve done all the meaningless shit. I said if I was ever lucky enough to have you sleeping in my bed, it would only ever be the one bed you slept in.”
“Then yes, my wish came true.”
I couldn’t help but raise a brow at that.
“You wished to sleep in my bed?”
She smacked my chest, but she grinned.
“I wished to have you, Hugh. All of you. All of us. And it might have taken some time, but it finally happened. I have no wish to leave, no wish to want anyone else. Just you. Always has been you.”
I didn’t know what to say to that. Hell, I didn’t know what to think of that.
I mean, sure, I’ve wanted her for ages, thought I hid that thought too.
And I would always say that my biggest regret was that I didn’t try something sooner. Would it have been worth it? Of course. But at the same time, I’m also not sure what that would have done to Brandi.
I believed everything happens the way it does for a reason.
Three years ago, she might not have been able to stand up to her dad, to be strong enough to say no more. But now she was. Now she was willing to fight for us.
“You think I’m crazy?”
“No, not at all. I’m just thinking about the past. About things that I might have done or might not have. Things I might have said. Ways I might have acted.”
“You know, I was running on impulse years ago with that kiss, and I don’t regret it, but I don’t think we were ready. Life in the gang isn’t easy. And I feel there would have been a target on your back.”
I frowned at that, wondering why that was. Sure, guys were jealous of my closeness with her dad, but that didn’t mean crap. I mean, look at the way things turned out. I still got screwed over.
“Why? What would have been so different?” I asked her.
“You might not have caught wind of it, but I would hear guys go and talk to my dad every time I showed up. They wanted to marry me, biker fashion. I didn’t think I was any prize, and my dad always shot them down, but had I picked you, stayed with you, they would have gone after you, no doubt about it.
“And not that I was worried you couldn’t hold your own, because that’s not the case, but in an outnumbered fight, they would have taken you down. And I don’t think my dad would have protected me after choosing you. So, I would have been left to those wolves.”
“You know, Brandi, it’s amazing to me how you came out of that so strong and brave.”
She laughed and I loved the way that sounded. In fact, it probably moved to the top of the list of my favorite things coming from her. That and her moan. They were noises I vowed to always hear, night and day, if she let me.
“You make it sound as if I had a choice here. Not with my dad. My dad wanted what I could do for him, the image I gave him, nothing more. He liked having power over me, liked being able to control me, liked how the ladies flocked to him because they thought he did such a good job with his daughter.
“But my dad, he didn’t care. I had to learn to fend for myself or I would be dealing with jerks that were bigger and meaner than you.”
I ran my hand over her arm and nodded. But I hated that she was right, and she was forced to have grown up a certain way because her dad was a big kid himself.
“How often do you fall asleep counting the stars?” she whispered, and I followed her train of sight. The night sky was gorgeous and so amazingly clear.
I even had a telescope that I kept locked away, only pulling it out at certain times. Being one with nature, no matter the time of year, did something to my soul. It refreshed me, and I never thought it was possible.
“A lot, actually. That’s why I have the windows this way. And the skylights. I love watching the sky and love watching nature. I can’t have pets because there’s far too much wildlife up here and damage could be done, but I’m fine with just me.”
“Still just you?” she teased, and I grabbed her side.
“No. Now that everything is in the open, I want you. I don’t know how else to express it.”
She shifted, pressing her body more against mine, a wicked grin on her face.
“You could show my body again, maybe then my brain will register the facts.”
My eyes narrowed at her playful nature, but I wasn’t about to argue. If I had to spend a lifetime showing her the truth behind my words, I would. And I would enjoy every moment of it too.
I rolled her on top of me, her beautiful face with the backdrop of the night sky and I was lost to her. My heart was forever hers.
***** Vixen *****
I grinned as I stretched, my body feeling sore in ways it hadn’t been before. At least, not in any way that I could recall. And it was a wonderful feeling. I peeked an eye open, my breath catching at the colors streaking across the sky.
When was the last time I woke up before the sun?
I grabbed the discarded shirt and slipped it on, going to look out at the rising star. I leaned my head against the wall, in awe of the beautiful scene.
This was something I could do every morning. This was something I could write about remotely. My blog had taken off and it provided me with the means to support myself, and it was something I could do anywhere.
I often talked about living in the city, about the chore of traffic and headaches. Wouldn’t it be nice to talk about night skies, shooting stars, snowstorms, rain drops, and mornings like this? I think my faithful readers would love it as much as I do.
Sitting here, laptop on my lap, taking in the wonder, with a cup of coffee in my hand.
Well, maybe not sitting here. I’d rather be sitting on my man’s lap if I was being honest.
I giggled to myself, almost gasping at the strong arms circling my waist.
“This is a sight.”
“The sunrise?” I teased.
“That too. But I meant seeing you with the colors coming in, nothing but my shirt on, showing me a glimpse of those glorious legs that have my markings all over them.”
“You’re just far too happy to prove you own me now, aren’t you?”
“Hey, you can’t blame a man for wanting to mark up his territory. And sweetheart, you’re so mine.” He nuzzled my neck, and I grinned, enjoying all of this. “What woke you up?”
“I think the constant buzzing of my phone did. But I didn’t want to check. I wanted to enjoy this without being hounded by him.”
“You’re sure it’s your dad?”
“Without a doubt, sadly. You really don’t have a problem with me living here, right?”
“Why would you think that, Brandi?”
“I’m just making sure. I was thinking about all the things I could write about while living here, and it’s amazing. The stories, the pictures I could paint, and then show. And still, that wouldn’t do it justice. I just don’t want to be getting all these thoughts and then find out it’s not what we hoped for.”
“I nearly lost my life for you. I almost lost you as well. I won’t do it again.”
I turned around in his embrace, my arms wrapping around his neck and I kissed him softly, gently, putting all my feelings and emotions into that simple kiss.
He needed to know I was right here with him; whatever life threw our way or wherever the road took us. We already had a solid foundation, even if there was an age gap.
And honestly, Hugh did not look his age. I always saw women eyeing him. No doubt, after the last few days, he could outperform anyone younger than him.
I mean, my own body was telling me to rest far away from this man, but that wasn’t happening.
I pulled back, smiling at him as I stared, running my fingers over the back of his neck.
“What is going in that head of yours to bring that smile to your face?” he asked, making me giggle.
“Just thinking of you, thinking of all you did to me, and will do to me. And how your stamina and your skills have put you so far out of the realm of normal.”
“Well, that’s a good way to boost a man’s ego, you know?” He leaned down and nibbled on my neck, making me moan at the feelings flooding my body.
“Will this be what our life will look like? Days making out and lounging in bed?”
He lifted his head up, a gleam in his eye.
“Do you find something wrong with that, because I sure as hell don’t!”
I squealed as he lifted me up over his shoulder, making my bare ass. He made his way to the bed and dropped me down, making me bounce.
“Now, should I start to show you all the way the idea you have has merit?”
I opened my mouth to start agreeing when my phone went off again. I sighed, knowing that I needed to at least respond to the man, or he was never going to leave me alone. And though any trace of a location was off on my phone for him not to see it, it didn’t mean he wouldn’t find a way to figure out where I was.
“Let me see what he wants.”
“Sure. But we both know he just wants to be a jerk.” He reached over, grabbed the phone, and handed it to me. “It’s his middle name, or some bullshit he spewed.”
“His middle name is Jeff,” I told him as I sat against the headboard and took the lock screen off, groaning at the message number. “Blow my phone up, Dad,” I muttered, clicking the icon, then the thread.
How soon till I see my girl?
Is everything alright?
Did you take the long way here again? I hate that path.
Don’t know why you always take it.
I blushed as I read that one out loud because Hugh and I both knew why I took it. He chuckled and pulled me close, kissing the top of my head.
See, this is what I liked about him. This nature that no one knew about.
Damn it, Vixen, answer this piece of shit.
I checked the time on that message, seeing it to be around four-thirty this morning, which means he was drunk. I rolled my eyes.
“I hate that man when he’s drunk, he’s nasty as shit.”
“That early in the morning, he was lit. That’s probably the message that woke you up.”
“I really do dislike my dad,” I told Hugh, who only shrugged in response, because what could I do? At least now I had this man to support me.
I took a breath and read the new message that just came in.
Woman, where the hell are you? Answer this phone right now!
I swear, Brandi, if you’re with some douche, I’m going to hunt you down and cut off the man’s dick for touching you.
Now answer me.
I’m fine Dad, had bike problems and ended up late on the road, so stayed at a hotel.
I hit send and then looked at Hugh, my hand cupping his cheek. “Don’t worry about my dad, I’ll take care of him. He’s a dick, but he would never lay a hand on me.”