Chapter 35
DELILAH
It’s been the best week of my life, which is strange to say considering the mess I’m in. But life with Blade is more than amazing, and I have never been happier.
Sunday offered to give me a manicure in one of the treatment rooms, and I quickly accepted. Blade is out with The Reapers, and we finished restocking the bar and found we had time on our hands.
It’s what I love about living here. There is an easy pace of life where everything you do is appreciated.
It soon became common knowledge that Blade is exclusive with me, and I have been made so welcome. It appears that everyone is happy for us, and I really sense that I’ve found a home here.
Sunday, however, has a troubled mind; it’s evident from the sadness in her eyes, and I enquire gently, “Is everything okay?”
“Not really.”
A deep sigh confirms her words, and she shakes her head.
“Razor won’t ask me to stay. He’s aware I’m booked on a flight to Maine next week.”
“Your new beginning?”
“Yes. The contracts are finalized, the apartment purchased, and I’m required to be there to attend the first day of beauty college.”
“But you don’t want to go.”
I finish her sentence and she nods miserably. “But I have no choice. Razor won’t commit and I don’t want to be his go to girl. I deserve more than that.”
“Of course you do.”
I’m angry for my new friend who has been amazing since I came here. I will miss her like mad but understand her reasons.
“Have you talked to him about how you’re feeling?”
She snorts. “I laid it out several times. I told him I wouldn’t stay here as an unofficial girlfriend. If my role here is nothing less than that, I owe it to myself to look for love elsewhere.”
She sighs, reaching for the bottle of nail polish. “I even told him I’d try my luck with another Reaper.”
“I’m guessing that didn’t go down well.”
“I wouldn’t know. He merely stormed out and hasn’t spoken to me since.”
“I’m sorry, Sunday.”
I really am because Razor is nothing like Blade. He is pig-headed when he wants to be and never admits feelings to anyone. Blade told me he would never ask Sunday to stay out of fear of laying his feelings on the line and having them trampled on.
She sighs heavily. “So, I’ve called his bluff. I’ve threatened, pleaded and attempted to ghost him, but one glare from his eyes and nod of his head and I’m already planning on answering the knock on my door when he wants a booty call.”
I’m miserable for my friend and she sighs.
“So, I’m leaving. I’ve tried harder than most to get through to that man, but enough is enough. I value myself more than that, so this time next week, I’ll be heading off to Maine for a fresh start, courtesy of the Reaper scholarship program.”
She forces a bright smile on her face.
“It’s probably for the best. Anyway, enough about me, what is happening with, well, you know, your situation?”
Nerves rattle inside me and I say slowly, “I’ve been meaning to talk to you about that.”
“Okay.”
I have her interest.
“I could use a favor if you have time.”
“Anything, as long as it’s this week.”
“Tomorrow, maybe.”
“Sure. When and where?”
“Here, actually, because, well–”
I swallow the lump in my throat. “I want to dye my hair back to my natural color.”
“As in?”
“As in, I need to ditch Delilah Grimes; she belongs in my nightmares. It’s time I become Aspen Costello again and face my fears.”
Her smile brightens. “You’ve got it, girl. Does Blade know?”
“He knows I want to, not when it’s happening.”
“Then let’s give that son of a bitch the shock of his life.”
Sunday’s laughter replaces her sadness, and I am glad about that. Yes, Aspen Costello is who I was born, and it was Delilah Grimes who was destined to die on that stone altar. But most of all, I can’t wait to see my parent’s faces when I rock up from the dead.
* * *
Blade is busy. I never realized how many jobs the Reapers get, but most days are spent out in the field, either intelligence gathering or dealing with problems for the government.
I’ve also discovered they work as a military unit. There is discipline here. Everyone knows their place and enjoys the role they play—even the self-proclaimed whores.
I enjoy the company of the women, and the kids and I don’t mind volunteering for babysitting duty. It’s a welcome break.
More than anything, I want to fit in here—earn my place by Blade’s side, and that day of reckoning will soon be upon me.
“I can’t believe it.”
Sunday steps back, her eyes wide.
“Well, hello, Aspen Costello.”
She spins me around and I do a double take because there I am. As I peer at my reflection, I struggle to breathe. Memories crash back at record speed as if my life is flashing before my eyes.
Happy memories, laughter, vacations, friends, even. Then, as if a record is dragged from the deck, those memories are erased by one man. Gideon Fox.
Fear, anger, hatred, domination. I almost can’t breathe as they play on repeat in my mind.
“Are you okay, honey?”
Sunday sounds concerned.
“I think so.”
My eyes sparkle with tears for the wretched memories that have resurfaced and revealed how they broke me.
“Blade will blow his stack when he sees you.”
Sunday giggles and at the mention of his name, the fear is instantly replaced with an inner glow.
“I hope so.”
I’m a little nervous about that because Blade is used to seeing me as Delilah. He likes her and can’t keep his hands off her, but Aspen, she is different. More aloof, the rich heiress. It’s all there at the change of the color of my hair, and I resist the urge to ask Sunday to change me back.
I can do this.
I am Aspen Costello and, dragging in a deep breath, I turn and smile.
“Thank you, Sunday. You have worked a miracle.”
“I merely applied the bleach. Tell me, though, I’m curious.”
“What about?”
“Is it strange being yourself again?”
“It…”
I peer at my reflection and dig deep for my real thoughts on this matter. The woman gazing back at me deserves better. I let her down. I was weak. I didn’t fight for her, and I owe it to her to fight for the woman she should be, not what she became.
“Delil–”
Blade’s voice sweeps through the room and then stops abruptly as I turn, the shock on his face causing Sunday to giggle.
“What do you think of your woman now, Blade?”
Sunday teases, but I’m almost afraid to witness his reaction.
“If I may ask you a favor, darlin’.”
His low, husky drawl is directed at Sunday, but his eyes gleam as they pin me in place.
“Can you give us a minute?”
“A minute?” Sunday chuckles. “Don’t talk yourself down, Blade. My work here is done.”
She winks as she closes the door behind her, and Blade can’t tear his eyes from mine.
My entire body weakens, melts into a puddle of delirious lust as he moves slowly, his burning gaze never leaving mine for a second.
I stand, my freshly dyed locks swinging to my shoulders, and I lean back against the counter, the mirror behind me. He stops inches from me and without a word reaches out and runs his fingers through my hair.
“Fuck.”
His low hiss increases the heat between my thighs, and his hand drops, snaking around my waist as he tugs me hard against his body.
“I’m pleased to meet you, Aspen.”
My eyes twinkle.
“You must be Blade.”
His hand inches under my top from behind, and he pushes me back against the counter, his leg pushing mine apart, his head dipping to my lips. He tugs my lower lip between his teeth and sucks gently. I moan as his hand pushes up against my breast.
I am delirious with need as he pushes my t-shirt over my head as I fumble with his jeans. There is only one outcome possible right now, and it begins and ends with him buried deep inside me.
I palm his cock, running my nails against the skin of his balls, his low hiss exactly the reaction I was aiming for.
“Fuck, baby.”
His groan is tortured. I am the same, and I guide him toward my drenched pussy, pulling him in deep.
“Fuck.”
I bite my lower lip as he moves in slowly at first, then deeper, one hand lifting my leg over his arm as he pushes inside me. Sweat glides down my back as he bites my neck, his teeth dragging over the sensitive skin, the gentle thump of my back as it hits against the marble top.
I hold on around his neck as he takes me, his sheer size shielding me from view should anyone enter. It adds to the excitement, wondering if anyone will and his low whisper against my ear cause shivers to ripple through my entire body.
“You may have changed your hair, your name and your appearance, darlin’, but you’ll always be my woman, Aspen, no matter what name you go by.”
He thrusts harder. Driving his point home. Owning me, possessing me, completing me.
“I love you, Blade.”
I don’t care that he stills, that I went there and laid bare my feelings. I had to tell him.
I pull back and grip his face hard in my hand, my expression fierce.
“Deal with it, soldier, because I mean every word.”
The fierce passion in his eyes excites me as he pushes in harder, fixing that possessive stare on me, pinning me in place.
“Love, darlin’.”
He growls, his gentle strokes painting his ownership inside me.
“Love is too small a word for what I experience when I look at you. It’s an emotion, a feeling, a sense, and an epiphany. Love is four insignificant letters; you deserve a fucking bible of words. You say you love me.”
He spins me around, lifting me high, so my legs wrap around his waist, still buried deep inside me, still thrusting into my body as if we are not having a deep and meaningful conversation right now.
“Then stay here with me. Be my old lady, the mother of my kids. Be by my side while we ride through life together, wherever it takes us, and be my obsession for eternity. I won’t take less than that.”
“Blade.”
Tears spill as I sob, loving how he carries on fucking me slow and leisurely as he opens his heart to me.
“Promise me you’ll never leave me.”
I cling on, my tears dampening his shoulder, and as his hands close around the back of my head and hold me protectively, I come so hard on his cock, he grunts, “Fuck!” His cum shoots deep inside me, endless, coating me inside. Marking me as his, claiming me forever.
I slump against him and gasp, “I love you, Blade, and of course I will stay with you, whatever your terms are.”
“I’m never letting you go, darlin’. Nobody will ever hurt you again.”
His arms close around me and hold me so tenderly, as if I will break. It strikes me that as Aspen Costello brought my memories back, none of them mean a tiny bit as much as the one we just made.
My life begins today, and what a life that will be.