Chapter 7 #2
“Yeah, we have so much to talk about. But yeah, I found an advertisement for the café with Sol’s face on it, so I went to see for myself.
I knew you fought because your face and name are everywhere.
The only thing is…I didn’t know you two were together until now.
Color me fucking surprised. I’d like to hear the story. Did they take you both in?”
We have so much to talk about, and I’d like to hear what happened to him the day he left. Drake is still himself, but unhinged, just like me. I see it in him. This life hardens you. The things you see and hear, no young child should go through.
“No, a lot of shit happened after you left. I went to another home. I didn’t see Rainey again until I moved to a new city and school. We were fourteen.” I’m still overwhelmed to have Drake in front of me. All in a good way. “We’ll talk more.”
“Rainey?” Drake questions.
Right, he doesn’t know.
“Yes, her adoptive name,” I say, squeezing Rainey’s hand for reassurance. I know it’s very fresh, and I’m not sure what I can and can’t say, so it doesn’t trigger any trauma. What Collins did was not right. She is still dealing with that part of her life, along with the past.
“Oh.” He nods. “I’m glad to see you found her because damn, you had it bad for her then, didn’t you?”
I groan with a smile on my face. He’s back to his teasing like he never left.
Rainey dabs the cotton ball against my eyebrow, her touch gentle despite the sting of peroxide. “I’m proud of you,” Rainey praises, her eyes watering. “You kicked ass like I knew you would. God, Max, it was such a dream to see you out there in your element tonight.”
I steady myself on the little vanity stool, fingers finding the silk of her dress.
We got home twenty minutes ago. The ring doctor checked my cut, and it was fine.
I didn’t need stitches. When we drove home, blood started trickling down, and Rainey panicked, locking me up in our bathroom.
Drake is on his way as well. He had to make a quick stop before coming.
“Gracias, amor mío.” My hands roam around her plump ass and give it a tight squeeze.
“Max, don’t move me. I need to apply an antibiotic ointment.”
“Did I tell you how beautiful you look?” The hem of her dress hovers three inches above her knee, revealing a stretch of toned calf. The shimmering black silk fabric clings to each curve as if it had been painted onto her body, revealing the gentle slope of her waist.
“You have and thank you. You have good taste.” She laughs when I waggle my brows at her.
She swats me playfully on the shoulder, her cheeks turning pink. “Stop moving.”
“You look good in anything.” She does. I gaze into her eyes as she adds the ointment.
She’s like a wildfire butterfly, gracefully vibrant, rare, untamable, and consuming everything in her path.
She lights up any room she enters. A static electricity crackles in her wake.
The world throws hurricanes at her, and she tears through them.
And soon she will leave nothing but ashes at their feet.
Someday, hopefully soon, she’ll see what I see—not just a woman, but one who’s fought through a battlefield, who deserves everything good this world has been withholding from her.
“Yes, you mentioned that as well. After trying on twenty dresses.” She laughs.
“And you bought them all. I only needed one.”
Every dress she tried on looked gorgeous on her.
I couldn’t resist. After all, I didn’t work my ass off to sit on a pile of money.
I’m low maintenance. Our money is for her and our future.
So be it—she looked good in twenty different heels, too, so I bought them all.
Handbags: I bought them in all different colors to match each dress.
Some of those dresses were too short for my liking…
but I still bought them. I’m confident enough to know where I stand.
That would be between her legs. And, of course, her heart.
Any man who looks at what is mine in a sexual way will get knocked out. I’m possessive of what’s mine.
My dick pulses at the touch of her delicate silk skin as my fingertip travels up her dress. With my index finger, I hook it under her panties and tug on them.
“Max,” she groans, her brows furrowed deep in worry. “I’m trying to…”
“I know, baby, you’re trying to fix me.”
This woman always wants to fix me emotionally and physically. Every cut, scrape, or bruise she tries to heal. And makes me protein-balanced meals so I don’t faint, she says. But then she won’t let me help fix the storm in her head.
“Don’t look at me that way.”
“What way?” I tease.
“You know. Not when I’m trying to make sure it doesn’t bleed again.”
I run my finger along her slit. Her lips go in a straight line, trying to suppress those moans I live to hear. “I’m love drunk.”
She snorts. “How much did you drink?”
“I only had two Modelos at the arena. I had to drive us home.”
“I could have driven us home.”
Yeah…no. She did offer, but I’d rather drive us.
“I plan on drinking when Drake gets here. It’s a good way to celebrate.”
“It is.” She kisses the tip of my nose. “I think I got it to stop bleeding.” She sets the Q-Tip down and wears a proud smile.
My hands are still wandering under her dress.
She’s so damn wet for me. I tug her closer so I can run my lips along her stomach.
Daisy scratches at the door, whining. “Daisy, go lie on the bed. Your mom will be there in a bit,” I say.
She stops, and you can hear the click-clack of her paws.
I go back to blowing kisses on her belly.
Damn, do I wish I could have her stomach swelling.
I’m ready for a different chapter in our lives, marriage and kids, but I know she’s not ready for it with everything that has happened to her. I’ll wait as long as it takes.
“Should I order dinner? A late dinner, that is?” Rainey sucks in a breath when I curl two fingers inside her.
“Sure. Order anything you want.” Getting off the stool, I get on my knees. “Lift one leg up, amor.” She does what I say, lifting her leg on the stool. “I’m not going to be hungry after this.” My tongue rolls up and down between her wet thighs.