Taeja

7. Chapter 7

7

The words smoothly rolled off her tongue, flipping a switch in Zain.

Playtime was over, and he was going to ravage her.

Taeja inhaled a shaky breath as Zain stepped toward her. Her heart quickened in anticipation and her body shivered from need.

Seconds felt like an eternity until Zain stood tall before her.

Slowly, she dragged her eyes up to meet his. Her face wasn’t exactly level with his dick, but she could see it all the same.

Hard. Pressing against the material of his shorts. Needing to be sucked before filling her pussy.

She licked her lips, her pussy dampening at her actions. Her body was in heat. The only thing that could sate her was him. Every second without him felt like it’d be her last.

Finally, Zain touched her. With those long, rough fingers that knew how to drive her to the brink of insanity. He used two fingers to lift her head so he could see her better. Her lips were slightly parted as short, quick breaths escaped her mouth. Her nipples stood hard at attention the more desperate she grew for him to touch her down there.

And when he opened his mouth to make what Taeja figured would be a dirty comment, the door opened.

Taeja’s eyes widened at the sight of the newcomer. She rushed to her feet, hiding behind Zain’s back. She wanted nothing more than to cling to him as embarrassment ate her alive, but she knew better. This situation was bad enough already. She didn’t want him to feel more uncomfortable.

If he felt uncomfortable at all.

“Mom,” Zain gritted out. “What are you doing here?”

“Sorry,” Kacian stuttered, her eyes wide as she watched Zain shield Taeja’s body with his. The door slammed, signaling Kacian left.

Zain turned to face Taeja, and she dragged a hand down her face with a sob. “Your mom thinks I’m a whore.”

Her father was right. Everything she touched, she ruined. She was a whore. Just like her mom.

“She doesn’t,” Zain disagreed, but it didn’t ease her worry. “Our mom loves you.”

Hope blossomed in her chest, and she stopped fretting to look at him. “Really?”

Zain nodded.

His mere nod didn’t move Taeja. She walked away from him and grabbed her clothes off the floor. While she quickly tugged them on, she mumbled, “This is the second time I’ve done something inappropriate and she knows about it. I don’t know how I’m going to be around her again.”

“Taeja. Calm down,” Zain insisted.

Taeja paused to look at him. She struggled to keep her eyes on him when his dick print was still evident, but she managed. It wasn’t the time to be thinking sexually. “I need to apologize to her.”

He scoffed. “You don’t. She’s grown. She knows what people do in relationships.”

“It’s not as simple as you’re making it seem,” she said, tears rushing to her eyes. “I have to go.” She exited the room, too fast for him to catch her. A part of her was thankful he didn’t chase her. She’d taken only three steps down the hallway when a door opened before her. Taeja froze as she saw the reason for her torment.

Kacian Stark.

“Taeja,” Kacian said with a smile so sickeningly sweet, Taeja could’ve convinced herself that this woman hadn’t seen her naked. “How are you? ”

“I’m embarrassed,” she answered earnestly. “I’m sorry for—”

“Oh, nonsense.” Kacian waved her off. She strolled over to Taeja and linked their arms before walking down the hallway. “I went into the wrong bedroom. This is your house. I should be sorry.”

Taeja’s brows furrowed as she glanced at the older woman. “My house?”

Kacian nodded. “You’re my sons’ girlfriend. What’s theirs is yours.”

Taeja pursed her lips, unsure of what to say. She only knew how to feel. And right now? The only thing she felt was a painful ache in her clit and her heart racing.

Kacian unlinked their arms, stopped walking, then faced Taeja. “I came over to talk to you.”

Taeja’s brows raised as worry seeped into her. “Me?” she asked, and Kacian nodded.

“I want to apologize about dinner last night. My husband has always been a bit harsh on Zain.”

Taeja’s tense stance slackened, and she nodded. Not because she understood. Because she’d never understood how a person could hate a child they raised. She only nodded so Kacian understood that she was listening. “It’s fine,” Taeja said. “We worked it out.”

Kacian smiled. “Good. I’m happy.”

“I am, too,” she replied, smiling and hoping she could be the same for her guys.

“Good,” Kacian said with another smile before leading her to the kitchen, where they saw Damon leaning against the counter by the sink.

Damon glanced between the two before his eyes settled on Taeja. “Did you find Zain?”

Taeja cleared her throat as she broke away from Kacian and sat at the island. “Let’s not talk about Zain…”

He raised a brow while Kacian sat on the stool beside Taeja’s. “Did something happen?”

Maybe she imagined it, but she detected a trace of worry in his tone. She shook her head. “No.”

“Okay,” he replied before glancing at his mother. “Why are you here? ”

“I told you I wanted to apologize to my daughter-in-law,” Kacian said.

Taeja perked up at the label, and it made her smile. Awkward situations aside, she loved how much she fitted into Damon’s and Zain’s family. She should’ve known that this was how things would’ve been. When she met Kacian, the woman was sweet and ensured she was comfortably settled in. Things only started going downhill when Andrew arrived home from work and had the confrontation at the table.

Damon glanced at Taeja. A small smirk was on his face. “You like that, huh?”

She grinned. “Maybe.”

Chuckling, he looked at his mother. “She has a big ego, Mom. Did you see how her head got bigger when you said that?”

Taeja gasped. “Damon!”

Kacian chuckled, grabbing her handbag off the counter. “I’ll leave you to it.”

“Where are you going?” Damon asked, and Kacian rolled her eyes.

“I’m the parent, Damon.”

“I know, but I’m just asking you a question. Maybe I could drop you there because I’m leaving soon.”

“Where are you going?” Taeja asked.

Damon cleared his throat. “A friend.”

Taeja’s eyes narrowed. She didn’t like Damon’s tone. If Kacian wasn’t here, Taeja would’ve pressed Damon for an answer.

“I forgot that Andrew dropped me here. I’m going to the mall,” Kacian said, shifting the conversation to small talk for several minutes until she looked over her shoulder.

Zain entered the room. He was dressed in a black tee that gripped his bulging muscles, and grey sweatpants. As he walked past Taeja, his strong, expensive cologne clouded her senses.

A man that smelled good always had a special place in her heart.

“I thought you’d never join us,” Kacian mused.

“I was having a shower,” Zain said.

Kacian’s brows creased. “Who takes that long to shower?”

Zain’s gaze flickered to Taeja, who blushed before glancing away. In her peripheral, she saw Zain lean on the counter beside Damon. She felt them looking at her. All the attention made her heart quicken its pace.

Not giving Zain the chance to answer, Kacian asked Damon, “Will you be ready soon?”

“Yes. Take Taeja with you.”

“Take me?” Taeja’s brow raised as she looked at Damon.

He nodded. “You have a problem with my clothes, so you’ll need your own when you stay with us.”

“I don’t have clothes to go out, and I don’t have my card—” She stopped talking when the brothers reached into their pockets.

“I got it,” Zain said, moving toward her.

“I took my wallet out first,” Damon said, taking longer strides toward her.

“I was here first.”

“She’s going to take mine anyway, so you can go back over there.”

“Fuck off.”

“Zain!” Kacian hissed.

They ignored Kacian and offered their cards to Taeja.

Looking at the cards and the brothers’ visible insistence for her to take theirs, Taeja smiled. She accepted the cards, then leaned over to kiss them on the cheek. Damon’s was long and hard. Zain’s was quick and feather-light.

“Thank you,” she said to them as she sat back down.

“Damon’s card has a limit,” Zain told her.

Damon scoffed as they walked away. “I have a black card now.”

Zain seemed impressed, but he didn’t say it. Instead, he shrugged as they leaned on the counter and faced her.

Kacian rolled her eyes before looking at Taeja. “Good luck with these two,” she muttered, making Taeja give her a small smile. Hopping off the stool, she said loud enough so her sons could hear, “Are you ready?”

Taeja looked at her clothes. “Yes, but we have to stop at my house.”

“No problem,” Kacian said, glancing at her sons, who were whispering amongst themselves. “Let’s go.”

They leaned off the counter. Zain headed toward the garage and Damon came to her. Kacian followed behind Zain. When they were out of earshot, Damon stood between Taeja’s legs and wrapped his arms around her waist.

She set the cards aside to throw her arms around his neck. “Which friend are you visiting?”

The corner of his lip curled upward. “Are you jealous?”

She wanted to deny it, but she’d never been a great liar. “Yes. So, tell me.”

He shrugged. “She’s an old friend,” he said before leaning in to place a kiss on her nose. “Nothing for you to worry about.”

“Whateva yu seh, Damon.”

He sighed. “After all that we talked about last night, do you think I’d be with another woman today?”

Her mind drifted to her old flings, and she shrugged. “Yes.”

Damon frowned. “Do you have trust issues?”

“Sometimes.”

“Well, you need to trust that I wouldn’t do you like that. We wouldn’t do you like that,” he said. “Do you want to meet her?”

“Yes,” she answered without thinking.

“Okay. I’ll let her know,” he said before his eyes flickered to her lips. “Kiss me.”

She leaned up and captured his lips with hers. His grip tightened around her waist, pulling her closer to him. The longer their kiss lasted, the faster the jealousy seeped away. Damon kissed her sweetly and possessively. It was gentle, with a firm reminder that he was hers as much as she was his.

Pulling away for air, Taeja smiled as faint tingles danced along her lips. “You’re lucky you’re good with your mouth. It makes it hard to stay mad at you.”

Damon chuckled, kissing her forehead. “Have fun and remember to eat.”

Taeja nodded, hopping off the stool before running upstairs. She grabbed her phone before returning to the garage. There were three parked cars — a luxury, high-end SUV, and two cars, one being an older model she didn’t care to name — and a bike.

Taeja approached the backseat of the throttling car. When she opened the door, she was surprised to see Kacian seated there. “Sorry,” she apologized before walking to the front and sitting across from Zain .

He shot her a glance before he drove out of the garage. He listened quietly while Kacian and Taeja spoke the entire journey.

As they parked before Taeja’s house, a weight fell on her shoulders. It was nice being in her safe bubble with her guys, but she was back here now. She could already imagine all that her father had to say to her, and the only thing she could do about it was sigh.

She froze as Zain laced a finger beneath her chin, turning her to face him. His hair obscured his face like it always did, but she saw a peek at his furrowed brows while his eyes swirled with unasked questions.

It made her feel that familiar feather-light feeling in her chest. The way these men cared for her in only a few days made her constantly swoon.

And occasionally… it made her worry.

Would they feel the same if they knew the type of person she was beneath this bold, happy exterior?

“I’m fine,” she promised, freeing herself from his grasp so he couldn’t see through her. “I won’t be long.”

“Take your time,” Kacian said from the back.

Taeja opened the door and set one foot out when the sound of the driver’s door made her look over her shoulder. She knew Zain wasn’t the type she could convince easily like Damon, so she didn’t try to tell him that she didn’t want him to accompany her.

Inhaling a shaky breath, she exited the car and closed the door behind her. She took hesitant steps toward her house. Zain stood closely behind her while she opened the door.

It was eleven a.m. now, so Jerry should be at work. They entered the house. Faint talking drifted from the living room. Taeja’s brows furrowed as a remote clicked and the talking stopped.

“Taeja?” a voice came from the same direction.

Taeja’s heart plummeted to the floor. She quickly turned to Zain and begged, “Can you wait outside, please?”

“No,” Zain said.

“Zain, please—” Her trembling fingers grabbed at his shirt as she pleaded with him. Her heart raced as footsteps approached the foyer.

Zain remained unmoved as Jerry stopped a short distance away from them.

“So a dis yu do a daytime?!” Jerry snarled. “Bring man ina mi house like yaa work or pay nuh bill in ya?!”

His words were set out to hurt her, and it made her heart sink.

No, Taeja couldn’t feel her heart beating at all. Sighing, she faced her father.

Jerry’s arms were crossed while he glared at her and Zain.

“I didn’t know that you were here, Jerry,” she said, exasperated.

“Would that make a difference? And who are you, sir?” Jerry asked, taking a bold step forward.

Zain took a step forward, too.

Taeja’s hand shot out and wrapped around Zain’s muscular forearm. “Zain,” she pleaded. “Stop.”

“Zain,” Jerry repeated scornfully. “Get out of my house! And you—” He pointed a finger at Taeja. “I am tired of talking to you about your disgusting behavior! Mi cya manage yu at all! You are a likkle who—”

“Finish that, and it’ll be the last word you ever say,” Zain said, his tone dark.

Jerry was taken aback by Zain’s venomous tone. His eyes darted to Taeja before narrowing on Zain, who returned the fierce glare. “Nuh bwoy naa come ina my house and bad mi up! Taeja, tell this man fi leave, or yu can leff wid him, too!”

“She’ll leave then. The fuck.” Zain opened the door with one hand and used the other to reach for Taeja’s.

Taeja stepped out of his reach and looked down at the floor. She felt Zain’s scorching gaze on her, but she didn’t dare look up. This was her father. She couldn’t just leave him.

From her peripheral, Jerry pointed a finger toward Zain. “Get out! Watch ya, you are not going to leave? Alright, do not move. Let us see if you are bigger than the law.”

“I am the law.”

Her boyfriend’s words sent chills up her spine. Her head snapped up, and she looked at him with fear-stricken eyes. Zain looked like a completely different person. His hands and jaw were tightly clenched. He looked seconds away from beating Jerry into a pulp.

As much as her father wouldn’t be winning any awards for ‘best father’ soon, the man was still her flesh and blood. She didn’t want any harm to come to him.

And she knew Zain wouldn’t leave her here.

“I’ll leave,” Taeja gave in, her voice low.

Zain’s eyes snapped to hers. “Get your things.”

“Get what things?!” Jerry barked. “I told you to do something, and you are making this man tell you to do next? In my house?! I tried with you, but this is the last straw, Taeja! The final straw!”

She watched through teary eyes as Jerry marched to a nearby cabinet and opened it. He rummaged through it, then returned with a waterproof folder. He shoved it in her hand and pointed at the door. “Get out. I do not want to see you again until you change.”

Taeja’s first tear fell. Her heart slowed as it sank to the soles of her feet. “Jerry—”

Jerry turned his back, pausing for a second before he stomped out of the room.

Zain approached her. He took her hand in his and wiped a finger beneath her eyes. “I’ll take care of you, Taeja.”

She didn’t believe him. Not at all. Those were the same words Jerry had told her when she asked where her mom was, and now he was kicking her out.

Unfortunately, right now, Taeja had no other choice but to believe Zain. Even if it was half-heartedly.

Numb, she nodded, allowing him to lead her out of the house. Her lips quivered with each step toward the car. It felt like she was burning a bridge she hadn’t fully crossed.

Looking down at the folder that had all her identification documents, her tears fell harder. Taeja couldn’t help but blame herself. Her father had always warned her that one day she’d cross a line he’d never forgive her for, and she finally did.

But could she be blamed? The only time Jerry gave her attention was when she messed up.

She was in a shell when Zain opened the car door for her, then gently closed it behind her after she sat.

“What happened?” Kacian asked from the backseat .

Taeja couldn’t find her voice to answer. She loudly sobbed as she watched Zain jog around the car and sit across from her.

“What happened to her, Zain?” Kacian asked, her voice laced with worry.

“Mom, not now,” Zain said, his tone clipped as he reversed out of the driveway. “Take the car and go to the mall.”

“Okay…”

Taeja felt Kacian’s eyes bore into the back of her shaking body. She hated that she was loudly wailing in this confined space with them when she wished to be alone, but she had nowhere else to go.

Her cries died down to hiccups by the time they parked in front of a house. It wasn’t Damon’s; the ride was too long. Taeja didn’t care to take notice of anything as Zain helped her out of the car and into the house, but she did hear when a car drove off as soon as he closed the door behind them.

Her vision was blurry as Zain led her through the house, into a bedroom, and helped her into the bed. She rolled over onto her side, facing away from him, and clutched the folder to her chest. Zain threw a blanket over her, and the bed dipped behind her seconds later. She should’ve been happy Zain was staying with her, but her sorrow was a more overpowering emotion.

“I want to be alone, Zain,” she said, her voice hoarse.

He took a few seconds to reply, uncertainty in his tone. “You sure, Taeja?”

She nodded.

He left.

Uncontrollable tears fell.