Chapter 14
Serena
That can never happen again.
As much as I loved every moment of it. Never again.
It is not normal to let a man who practically stalked you, and who’s basically a stranger, to tongue fuck your pussy. Who in their right mind would do that?
But then again, I wouldn’t necessarily say I was in my right mind. All I know is that I wanted to feel like I had some sort of control after what happened with Tyler. And damn, did I feel in control last night.
I couldn’t fall asleep, my skin burned from his lingering touches, and when I woke up in the middle of the night cold, scared, and alone, that was all I could think about. I wanted to feel his touch, feel safe again.
Before I knew what was happening, I was at his door and staring at his, admittedly impressive, erection through his sweats.
That feeling I've been becoming all too accustomed to when it comes to Isaac, shoots between my thighs, and I squeeze them together to try and dull the ache. Okay… maybe again.
I can’t help but imagine what he would feel like inside me.
I reach over next to me hoping for round two, only to be met with disappointment when I find that the bed is empty. Instead, I let out a sigh and roll out of bed. Tugging my shirt on, I follow with my panties, adjusting my shirt as I step into the hallway.
The house is quiet except the faint clattering coming from down the stairs. That is, until my stomach growls as I make my way towards the stairs. If I were trying to sneak up on anyone, they would immediately know of my presence by my stomach alone.
I grab the railing and make my way down the stairs, each step creaks beneath my feet, the smell of something sweet hitting me before I reach bottom. Another growl, even louder this time.
I turn the corner and see Isaac standing at the sink in the island, washing dishes in his grey sweats. And only his sweats. My mouth waters, and I’m not sure if it’s from the food cooking behind him, or the sight of him being so domestic at the sink.
Now I know why people say that grey sweats on men are like lingerie for women. Hot damn.
“Are you going to stand there gawking all day,” Isaac doesn’t even glance up from the sink, “or are you going to sit down and eat the breakfast I made you?”
“I wasn’t gawking.” I scoffed.
“Whatever you say Serena. Now sit down and eat.” He gestures towards the other side of the island with a soapy fork to a plate that is stacked with pancakes smothered in syrup, scrambled eggs, and two sausage links.
So that’s where the wonderful smell was coming from.
I sit down across from him at the island bar and start cutting into the pancakes. When he turns around to the stove, I freeze mid chew. On his back is the most beautiful tattoo of a phoenix that I have ever seen.
Starting at the base of his lower back is a bed of ashes, where a large, dynamic phoenix spirals upwards and dominates his back. The wings are outstretched with a blend of crimson, orange, and deep gold with a hint of blue. Almost like flames.
Surrounding the bed of charred ashes are smoldering embers, and wisps of smoke tendrils dance around the magnificent bird, creeping up the back of his neck and around his shoulders.
At the base of his neck, is the head of the phoenix, tilted upward with intense eyes looking towards the sky.
And if you look long enough, they seem to almost glow.
He turns back around to face me, our eyes meet and my face instantly heats.
“How are the pancakes?” He asks, a coy smile on his face.
“Mmm… they’re good. Thank you” I reply.
“It’s my pleasure. I figured you would be hungry after all of the excitement from yesterday… and last night.” He winks and then his eyes harden, his face getting serious. “How are you doing?”
How am I doing? I haven’t really stopped to think about it. Then I remembered… Belle. And all at once, reality hits and everything comes flooding back. My wrist aches, my head throbs and my entire body is sore.
“I am alright, given the circumstances.” Tears prickle behind my eyes. “What are we going to do about Belle and my house?” The thought of Belle in the back of the car all night rips through me.
“I’ve already taken care of Belle.” He drops the bowl he was washing in the sink and walks around the island, standing behind me placing his steady hands on my shoulders.
“I have a friend who is going to cremate her, and when she is done, we will get her ashes back and get her a beautiful urn. As far as your house,” he gently massages my shoulders, and I wince when he touches the burns, “we will have to go there later tonight after my shift at work. Which reminds me, we have to leave soon in order for me to get the bar ready.”
So that’s where he must have been last night. “You didn’t have to do that for me.”
“Yes, I did, and I don’t want to hear another word about it.” His hands still and he leans down, kissing me on the cheek. “Now eat up and be ready to go in forty-five.” Before I can get another word in, he is out of the kitchen and walking upstairs.
It is really annoying how bossy he is. And it’s also really annoying how much I kind of enjoy it.
I finish eating and go upstairs to figure out what I am going to wear.
Shouldn’t take me too long, seeing as how I didn’t exactly have a lot of time to pack.
Settling on a high waisted black skater skirt and a slightly oversized teal sweater tucked into the front, I grab my black canvas shoes and meet Isaac downstairs.
“I wasn’t sure what your rule was on shoes in the house,” I say as I dropped my shoes by the front door to slip them on.
“Is that what you’re wearing?” Isaac eyes me up and down before opening the door.
“Why? What’s wrong with what I have on?”
“Nothing, as long as you don’t care that I burn it later.” My eyes widen and he smirks. Something tells me he isn’t kidding. “Let’s go, we are going to be late.”
“Actually, can you just drop me off at my house?”
“HA! You’re a funny one.” Isaac snorts as I approach the passenger side door.
I cross my arms and stand next to the car. “I’m not joking.”
“Absolutely not. Out of the question.” He glares. I puff out my chest and turn towards the door.
I wrap my hand around the door handle and pull, when Isaac’s hand slaps against the top and slams it shut. I whip around, my pulse spiking as I meet his glare.
“Move.” I say, my eyes flashing.
Isaac doesn’t step back. He doesn’t crowd me either. There’s just enough space between us that I can feel the heat of him, the tension coiled underneath his skin. But not too little that I feel suffocated.
“Serena,” he says, quieter now, “look at me.”
“I am looking at you.” My jaw tightens. “And I’m telling you, that I am going home.”
“To the place where your ex just tried to kill you?” His gaze locks onto mine. “That home?”
My stomach twists, but I push through the feeling. I have to learn to stand my ground sooner or later. “That is my house, Isaac. My things are there. My life is there.”
“And Tyler knows that.” His voice sharpens just enough to cut. “Which means it’s the first place he will go back to.”
I pause. Just for a second.
And he sees it.
“You don’t get to control me. You don’t get to tell me what I can and can’t do.” I fire back.
He sighs. “Mi Vida, this isn’t about control. This is about you being alive tomorrow.”
My fingers tighten around the doorhandle, but I don’t move.
My chest rises with a shaky breath. “You don’t get to just,” I gesture between us, “decided what I do because you think it’s safer.”
“I don’t want to decide for you.” He steps closer, swallowing the gap between us, “I want you to choose not to walk back into a situation that could give him the opportunity to finish what he started. Tyler wasn’t there when I arrived.
Which means he walked out. Which means that he can walk back in.
” He voice lowers. “Not to mention, he is God knows where telling God knows who about what happened.”
His words land harder than I expected them to. He’s not wrong.
“They could be at your place right now, waiting for you to return to finish the job.” His eyes flare, as if imagining what would happen. “And I protect what’s mine.”
My grip loosens on the handle and something in his expression shifts.
“If you want to go inside,” he says, measured, “I won’t stop you. On one condition.”
His hand drops from the door, but he doesn’t step back.
“I enter the house first. I will clear every room first and make sure it is safe. You grab what you need, and we leave.”
He pauses.
“And if you still want to stay there after that,” his eyes lock onto mine, dark and unwavering. “I’ll walk away. Your choice.”
The words settle between us, and my heart stutters.
I look at the door, and then back at him. My chest tightens and I take a deep breath before letting go of the handle. Images of blood and Belle lying lifeless on the floor flash in my mind, and I realize I am not ready to be back at home. No matter how badly I want to reclaim that part of my life.
I know when to accept defeat. And honestly, he makes a lot of sense. A thought that I will take to my grave. Which, evidently, could be sooner than I thought.
“...We go in. Get my stuff. Then we can leave for the bar.”
Isaac nods before opening my door, and I get in. Leaning over to put on my seatbelt, I feel his hand linger when he clicks it into place.
My breath quickens with him so close. Why does he always smell so damn good? The urge to run my fingers through his hair hits me and it is hard to ignore. I start to raise my hand but quickly return it to my side when I see him backing out of the car.
His fingers trail lazily across my lap as he backs up. Just when I think he is leaving, halfway out the door, his hand slides up and gently wraps around my neck, pulling me towards him.
His lips crash against mine. The force of it pushing my head back against the headrest, stealing the breath from my lungs. My mouth parts and his tongue meets mine, sweeping and languid. Time seems to slow, and then suddenly, he’s gone.
Taking my sensibility with him.