Chapter 25 #2
“Hey, hey.” His arm folded across his torso and he grimaced, swinging his legs over the edge of the mattress. His feet on the floor, he sat up and set the beer down on the nightstand, sweat beading on his brow again.
At a very slow, deliberate pace, his palms spread across my lower abdomen, his fingers curling around my sides.
A shiver ran down my spine, my pulse erratic.
Leisurely dragging his touch upward, over the bandages wrapped around my ribs, he tipped his head to gaze up at me.
I was panting heavily, my cock hardening as I peered down the length of my nose.
“You ain’t an idiot, Vin. I just ain’t in no condition to be doing nothing. If you think we ain’t gonna finish what we started, you’re crazy. I still want that nut one of these days.”
Adrenaline shot to my head so quickly, I grew lightheaded.
Groaning, I bent over, grabbed the sides of his face, and smashed my mouth to his, thrusting my tongue to the back of his throat.
He grunted, slinking his arms around my waist and crossing them, his hands spread wide over my shoulder blades, fully returning the kiss.
Just before I gave in and took things farther, the front door creaked open, tiny footsteps echoing through the house. “Daddy?”
I tore away and stumbled backward, gasping for a breath. Pain ripped through my groin, the desire fizzling instantly. “Goddammit,” I hissed, plunging my hand into my jeans to rearrange.
“Shit,” he muttered, cradling his forehead. “I swear, it seems like we’re fucking cursed. What the hell, man? Can’t we ever finish something? Jesus.”
In my mind, a voice chimed in that it was fate trying to stop us from making a huge mistake. These weren’t inconveniences, they should be seen as blessings in disguise.
Still, I knew what it felt like to have that man inside me.
Though his orgasm had been interrupted, some of his cum filled me, and that was something I could never forget.
It hadn’t felt as good as it had with Billy when we first fell in love, but that was because we haven’t had a chance to fully be invested with one another yet.
Besides, Billy had loved me, still did. Dash did not, never would.
He was still riding the haze that fell over us when we were locked in that house, thinking we might never leave alive.
The longer we were back in the real world, the more he’d realize he wanted nothing to do with me.
Not sexually or platonically anymore. I’d ruined everything.
Piera came charging down the hallway, barreling straight for her father. Dash turned gray, his eyes bulging. Panicked, he shook his head and threw his palm out, leaning away while shouting, “Vin!”
I lunged forward and scooped the little girl into my arms before she pounced on him, causing further damage to his wrecked body…taking it for myself. Hissing against my teeth, she was a lot easier to pick up than her father, but it still hurt like hell. “Hey there, acorn. How you doing?”
She was whimpering, unshed tears in her dark brown eyes. Her chin quivering, she was staring at him, a finger on her bottom lip. “Daddy?”
“I’m okay, acorn,” he exhaled with relief. Pain contorting his features, he scooted back into the pillows to get comfortable. “Promise.”
I smiled and fixed the sleeve of her Barbie tee shirt, swaying her side to side. A moment later, the bedroom door filled with Janelle, one of our sisters in the Serpents. Her hands on her hips, she smiled and shook her head.
“I swanney, Dash. What the hell have you gotten yourself into this time?”
He snickered bitterly, repeatedly picking up his head just to lay it down again until he found the right spot. “You know me. Always looking for trouble. Thanks for taking care of her while we was gone.”
Her smile fading, she cleared her throat and inched closer, clicking her nails together anxiously. “Is it true? Everything being said about Jackyl?”
His eyelids lifting, he looked at her then me. Sadness weighted my chest and I looked away, still not okay with everything that went down. I doubted I ever would. My best friend, my brother-in-law, was dead.
“Yeah,” he muttered while pinching the bridge of his nose.
“And Tiny?”
I flinched and shifted my weight to my other foot. Piera finally noticed the bandages on my chest and began picking at it curiously.
“She’s gone. As we speak, she’s moving to Tennessee with her boyfriend.”
Scratching behind her ear, a pinkness rose to her cheeks, her sight bouncing back and forth between us. “Is that okay? I mean…” She huffed, averting my gaze. “You know, she’s a sister, and all—”
“It’s safe,” I snarled, infuriated at her insinuation. “And for you to suggest it ain’t is fucked up, Janelle. Who the fuck do you think you are? Jackyl’s dead, but since I’m the one who is gonna take his place, since she’s my sister, she still outranks your ass.”
She blanched and pouted, her throat constricting. Her light brown eyes misting, she began to shake. “I didn’t mean nothing, I swear.”
“Get the fuck outta here,” I barked, jutting my chin.
She looked at Dash and whimpered.
“What the fuck did I say, bitch? Huh?”
Dash snorted when she continued to ogle him. Shrugging his arms out, he stated, “He’s gonna be the next boss, girl. You best listen.”
“But, I—”
Getting just as irate, he shot up to a sitting position and grunted against the pain.
“You really think I’m gonna defend you right now?
Tiny’s been around for a decade, you been here two years.
I trust her more than you any goddamn day of the week.
She was raped, Janelle! She was drugged, brainwashed, and raped, and now that she’s free and trying to start over, you wanna start something? ”
“No, I swear!” she whined, shaking her head vigorously.