15. A Prophecy #3
Standing in front of the mirror, Deja gently grazed the scar on her neck before tying her hair up for an elegant look.
Looking over her short black dress, she bit her lip as her eyes lingered on her body.
Her breasts and ass were bigger, but so were her thighs and her stomach.
Her slim waist had disappeared. The prominent stretchmarks on her arms and breasts made her frown.
Sighing with frustration, she grabbed a sweater to cover herself up.
“You know we love that about you.”
Glancing at the bedroom doorway, she saw Caleb leaning against the doorframe with his hands in his pockets. “What?” she asked.
“The beautiful lines etched across your skin that make your face turn up with disgust, yet ignite my desire to fuck you senseless,” Caleb said, approaching her. Deja rolled her eyes as Caleb walked up behind her. His hands gently caressed her shoulders before peeling her sweater off.
“Look how fucking sexy you are…” he whispered in her ear, staring at her through the mirror. His hands sensually massaged her breasts over her dress before running down her plump stomach. “Goddamn, baby…”
Deja felt goosebumps on her skin as Caleb hardened behind her. “I’ve gained a lot of weight…” she admitted.
“And I fucking love it,” Caleb grinned, nibbling on her ear.
Leaning back against his shoulder, Deja smiled. “I love you…”
Caleb looked at her seriously through the mirror. “...you’re gonna make me bend you over this dresser-”
“No! I have to meet the girls in like 10 minutes!” Deja laughed, pushing him off.
“I can make you cum in fiv-”
“Caleb!” Deja laughed, pushing past him.
“That toy’s too sharp, Keith. She could poke an eye out,” Ian warned.
“It’s a fucking rattle,” Keith said.
“Keith,” Jax said, covering Chloe’s ears as she sat on his lap.
Keith rolled his eyes when he looked up as Deja entered the living room. “Holy shit, baby girl. Are you fucking kidding me?!”
“Jeezus, Deja,” Ian muttered, looking her over. “What kind of outing is this again?”
“You guys are supposed to say ‘Wow, Deja, you look great!’,” Deja said.
“You look stunning,” Ian said. “So stunning that you should stay in. With us.”
“They’re jealous,” Caleb grinned.
“Damn right, I’m fucking jealous,” Keith snapped.
“Extremely. That should have been a given,” Ian said, annoyed.
Deja rolled her eyes with a grin as she looked at Jax. “And you?”
Jax’s sharp blue eyes slowly raked over her body, sparking a fire in her belly before he met her gaze. “You look breathtaking…” Jax said.
Deja smiled as Caleb rolled his eyes. “Take off the filter,” Caleb said.
Jax covered Chloe’s ears. “I want to fuck you out of that dress.”
“There we go,” Keith said.
“How is that possible?” Deja asked.
“It’s possible,” all four of them said simultaneously.
Jax handed Chloe to Ian and stood from the couch to approach Deja.
Taking her hand, Jax spun Deja around to get a full look.
Deja looked up at him with hungry eyes as he undressed her with his gaze.
His fingers caressed her shoulder. “As much as I want you to stay, I want you to go enjoy yourself. Besides… that pussy needs a break…”
Deja laughed, but Jax was already tilting her chin up as his lips found hers. His hands rounded her waist before he palmed her ass, squeezing so hard she lifted onto her toes, and a whimper fell from her lips.
“This is how it starts…” Caleb grinned.
“No- Okay- I’m going,” Deja chuckled as she pushed Jax off. Grabbing her purse, she headed for the door. “I just pumped. There’s breast milk on the dresser. Don’t forget to-”
“We got it, baby. Just go. Have fun,” Caleb said, closing the door.
“Look at you, miss thaaaang!”
With a wide grin, Deja twirled as her friends cheered. She hadn’t felt this carefree in a while. It didn’t make much sense. Just days ago, she was on the run from a cult of serial killers. And then she became one of them.
Perhaps that’s what made her feel so much safer and confident. As if taking the life of another gave her a completely different one. The bruised branding on her neck was a reminder of what she was capable of. What did she have to fear? Who? She was a Reaper now.
“Your post-baby body is bangin’!” Diamond said, slapping her ass.
“Girl, stop lying!” Deja laughed.
“She’s not even lying. You look good,” Shawna winked. “Mr. Bartender, sir. My fine-ass best friend needs a drink.”
“Non-alcoholic, please. I’m still breastfeeding,” Deja smiled as she leaned over the counter.
“Dang, I forgot,” Ari pouted as she stared at two cocktails. “Guess I’ll have to drink these all by myself.”
“I’m mad she actin’ like she got one of them for you,” Diamond grinned.
“I did!” Ari laughed as Deja rolled her eyes.
Glancing over her shoulder, Deja spotted Kristin and Joseph standing a few feet away, looking as if they were in a heated discussion. “They gonna do this all night?” Deja frowned.
“Girl, they been doing it for weeks,” Shawna muttered, sipping her drink.
“I thought things got better. Isn’t that why they’re both here?” Deja asked.
Diamond shrugged. “We don’t really know. They put on a face when they’re with us…”
Deja twisted her mouth as Joseph and Kristin walked back towards them. “Sorry about that,” Joseph smiled. “Deja, you look great. I’m glad you could come out with us.”
“Me too,” Deja smiled. “I missed you guys.” Kristin remained silent, staring absentmindedly.
“We missed you, too,” Joseph said. “Babe, I’ll get you a drink,” he said, nudging Kristin.
Kristin’s lips tightened as Joseph waved the bartender over. Reaching over, Deja touched Kristin’s hand until she looked at her. “Hey, beautiful,” Deja smiled. Kristin tried to smile, but instead looked like she was about to cry.
“Hey, ladies, you wanna dance for a bit?” Deja asked the girls.
“Hell yeah!” Ari said, grabbing Diamond’s hand.
“Not y’all leaving me!” Shawna shouted, following after them.
“Joseph, we’ll be back. I’m gonna go twerk on your girl,” Deja said, dragging Kristin into the crowd.
“Twerk away,” Joseph grinned.
Kristin groaned as Deja pulled her into her arms. “Now, tell me what’s going on,” Deja insisted.
Kristin frowned. “I found these texts on his phone… from another woman…” Kristin’s eyes teared up. “He’s flown out to see her twice… in California…”
Deja sighed. “Oh no, hun. Did you confront him about it?”
“I did,” Kristin said, choking back a sob. “He claimed it was for work. But I looked her up. Deja, she’s a model. Joseph is in the medical field.”
Kristin’s words morphed into sobs as Deja consoled her. “Are you sure, Kristin? Maybe it’s something else…”
“What else could it be, Deja?” Kristin cried. “What other reason would a fucking x-ray technician fly out to freaking California to see a model?!”
As Deja tried to calm her, she glared at Joseph sitting at the bar. She wanted to believe her friend wasn’t a cheater. But as Kristin sobbed, Deja couldn’t help but feel protective… and angry. “Why’s he here then, Kristin?” Deja asked. “Why bring him with you?”
“I didn’t want to,” Kristin whimpered. “He insisted he come. I mean, we’re still living together and trying to work things out. He says I’m being paranoid, but…I just don’t know. I love him, Deja. I want this to work, but I don’t trust him…”
Deja pulled back to look at Kristin. “You need to move out.”
“Deja, I can’t-”
“If he’s making you miserable, then you need to move out,” Deja insisted. “I’ll help you find a place to stay.” Kristin sniffled as Deja affectionately wiped Kristin’s tears. “I love you so much,” Deja said. “You’re my sister. We’ve helped each other through breakups before.”
“I’m still not a fan of Jax,” Kristin smirked.
Deja rolled her eyes. “You gone have to get over that, boo,” she said as Kristin laughed.
“I know you love him. I’m just… protective of you…” Kristin said.
“And I’m protective of you. You’re my girl,” Deja said, kissing Kristin’s cheek.
Kristin smiled. “I’m gonna use the restroom.”
“I’ll come with you,” Deja said.
“No, I’ll be quick—promise,” Kristin said, squeezing Deja’s hand. Deja smiled as Kristin walked off before her smile fell. She glanced at Joseph sitting at the bar and quickly approached him.
“Hey-” Joseph started.
“Are you cheating on Kristin?” Deja blurted.
“What the fuck, Deja?!”
“Joseph, she just cried her heart out to me.”
Joseph’s face fell as he averted his gaze. “She’s just… confused…”
“About what?” Deja asked. But Joseph remained silent. “Joseph, we’ve been friends since college. You’ve seen me looking crazy as hell after a week of all-nighters when I was hopped up on coffee and pulling my hair out.”
Joseph chuckled. “You almost went bald.”
“Shut up,” she grinned, playfully shoving him. Grabbing his hand, she softened her tone. “Talk to me, Joseph…”
Joseph looked at her as his jaw tensed. “I’m not cheating on her…”
Deja exhaled her frustration when she spotted someone standing several feet away… watching her. She swallowed hard as her blood ran cold. “Deja?” Joseph asked.
“One second.” Deja walked past Joseph but paused, hesitant to walk any further. Grabbing her phone, she quickly texted Caleb.
Deja
Where are you?
Caleb
At the hotel. Why?
Deja felt her chest cave in as she looked ahead, but the man who had been watching her was gone.
“...Jamie…”