Chapter 33
DELILAH
Inever expected the sense of relief that is hitting me from all sides. It’s as if this one act has made complete sense of my life.
My heart is racing, my skin flushed, my smile happy. I knew it was Blade. The man I have been waiting for all my life, riding in to save me on a steel horse, no fucks to give.
“Thank you.”
He pinches my chin between his fingers and guides my lips to his, the kiss slow, sexy and tasting of me. He is still inside me, and yet I want to go again. To fuck all day and night, to keep the world outside, while we make the most of this day.
Blade appears to be in no hurry and spins me onto my back, his kisses harder, deeper, and sexy as fuck. I love that he is in no hurry to clean up and get on with his day. He wants this as much as I do; I see it in his eyes.
“I’m not leaving, darlin’.”
I sense how serious he is, and it means a lot, and I smile gratefully.
“Neither am I.”
“But you could have so much more.”
I shake my head.
“That didn’t work out well the last time. Perhaps I want a different life now.”
“You deserve better than me.”
“Is that what you’re offering?”
I’m teasing because he is not giving me mixed signals here. His ownership may as well be inked on his chest. Blade and whoever I am now. I can’t decide.
Images from the screen merge into reality, and my expression must fall because he whispers with concern, “What?”
“I never want to leave this bed.”
His gaze softens.
“Then don’t.”
He winks, and it makes me giggle, and his soft smile relaxes me. “It’s good to see you happy, darlin’.”
“You make me happy, Blade.”
My voice shakes. “But what now? I mean, just because we, well, you don’t have to stay with me if you have–”
“No!”
His glare is fearsome; his words thick with emotion.
“I’m going nowhere unless you say so, darlin’. I’m not a man for speaking words but know one thing. I want this. You. A future for us, if that’s what you want. I won’t ever expect anything of you other than what you want to give. You are a free woman, even if you decide to stay.”
“Is that what you want?”
I’m suddenly shy as the doubts creep in, and he sighs, pulling back a little and rolling onto his back, dragging me down beside him.
“I’m not my brother, darlin’. I’m not prepared to watch you walk away without telling you I want you to stay. But it’s your decision to make, and I will not put pressure on you for that. This is me. Take me how you find me. I want you to stay, to see where this goes, and not on a casual basis.”
He shifts onto his side and trails a rough finger down my face and his gaze burns as he whispers huskily, “In case I haven’t spelled it out to you, I want you to be my girl and more than that, I want it to be your choice.”
I have never been in this position before. Choices. Why is that the most valuable gift anyone has ever given me? I smile, snuggling closer and kiss his hard chest with a smile.
“I’m going nowhere, honey. I’m right where I want to be.”
* * *
We spend the day and night locked in the room. Blade has a well-stocked refrigerator, and we raid it whenever we get hungry.
On occasion, his phone lights up with a text, which is usually from his brother. Our evening was spent watching movies and missing the ending when we couldn’t keep our hands off each other.
* * *
When I wake, it’s a new dawn, and it’s with a satisfied smile on my face.
The shower is running, and as I stretch with contentment, Blade heads into the room in nothing but a towel draped over his magnificent body.
His smile is sexy, and lust hits me hard as I swallow and whisper, “Good morning.”
He sits on the edge of the bed, his hair wet and dripping, and he reaches out and drags a thumb across my swollen lips. His tone heavy with lust. “It appears my shower was a little premature.”
“I was hoping you’d say that.”
I pull him down with me and sigh with contentment as he kisses me long and deep, his hands sliding over my skin with an ownership that causes my heart to soar.
It’s lunchtime before we make it out of the room and head to the cafeteria; the supplies no longer fit for purpose in the fridge.
Lou grins when she sees us coming.
“Where the hell have you been?”
She shakes her head. “Actually, don’t tell me; I can guess. Brewer’s been chewing my ear off all morning asking if I’ve seen you yet.”
My heart beats faster because Brewer is the man with all the information, which means he must have news, and I glance at Blade who smiles reassuringly.
“I’ll text him out of his misery.”
Blade pulls out his phone, and Lou rolls her eyes. “I told him to text you, but he didn’t want to invade your space.”
I must blush bright red because she winks. “What can I get you, honey? The full works, I’m guessing.”
“Please.”
I giggle as she grins, her watchful eyes darting between us with a knowing smile on her face.
As she hands me the plate, she leans in and whispers, “It happens to us all, honey. Roll with it and enjoy every second because I’m guessing we’re about to instruct the builders on another house in the grounds.”
Her laughter follows me as I grab one of the tables in the center of the room, and Britney heads past and stops.
“Hey, Delilah. We missed you at the bar last night. Both of you.”
She grins as her gaze slides to Blaze, who is deep in conversation with Lou, and I chuckle, not even trying to disguise the happiness in my smile.
“We watched a movie.”
I shrug, chuckling at the roll of her eyes.
“Is that what you’re calling it?”
She glances around and drops into the chair beside me and whispers, “Seriously, honey, I’m pleased for you. Blade is a sweetheart and one of the toughest nuts to crack around here. When you hold a Reaper’s heart, you’re set for life.”
Her expression is wistful. “Maybe one day my luck will change. Until then, I’m happy to play in the candy store.”
“How come you’re here?”
I’m curious and hope she doesn’t mind me asking, and a sad expression flits across her face.
“The usual. I was turning tricks and got roughed up one night. One of the Reapers was passing and intervened. If I went back to my room, I was guaranteed more of the same from my pimp, so he brought me here.”
She sighs. “They offered me a fresh start, money for a ticket somewhere of my choice, an apartment, a job even.”
“That’s amazing.”
She nods. “It is, and the offer is always there, but my mom lives nearby and isn’t doing so well. She’s undergoing treatment for cancer and, well, the prognosis is bad, so I do what I can and spend as much time with her as possible.”
Blade is approaching, and she smiles wistfully.
“I’m in no hurry to leave, anyway. If she pulls through, I may take them up on the offer and relocate to the coast. Buy us an apartment and set up a respectable life.
Breaks don’t come by easily, so it’s important not to ignore them when they do.
Pray for my mom, Delilah, for both of us because God’s the only one who can help her now. ”
“I will.”
She stands as Blade joins us. “Don’t keep Delilah all to yourself, honey. She needs some girl time too, and it’s cocktails at eight tonight.”
He says nothing and merely grunts, and Britney winks.
“Catch you later, Delilah. Blade.”
She winks behind his back, and as she leaves, my heart is heavy for her. Her life is in limbo all the time her mom fights her battle and I will pray for her tonight and hope they get their new beginning.