Chapter 28 Vanna
TWENTY-EIGHT
VANNA
Waking up in Stone’s bed after the night we had was... not as awkward as I had thought it would be.
How can it when he’s already helping himself to breakfast between my thighs?
“Morning,” he chuckles against my throbbing pussy. “I thought you’d never wake up.”
“I didn’t want to-” His tongue thrusts inside of me before I can finish my sentence.
He makes a mess of me once again before we even get out of bed. Then, as if he’s always done it, Stone wraps his arms around my waist while I brush my teeth. His stage five clinger is showing, and I’m not entirely sure what to do about it.
I’ve grown used to having absent parents and a noncommittal boyfriend. The love I learned over the years was distant... nearly non-existent. It came in the form of favors and late-night hook ups.
This... whatever this is... is suffocating.
“Hey, so I promised Daphne that her and I were going to spend the day together.” I finally tell him while brewing some coffee.
Stone purses his lips in thought, then shrugged. “Okay. I can drive you over there. I’ll probably hang with Jace anyway.”
Surprised by how well he took that, I gift him with one of my rare smiles and pour him a cup.
As I hand it to him, he asks, “Have you told her about your mom or Tony?”
“No. She’s got enough to worry about with the baby on the way.” I mutter, guilt gnawing at my heart. “Besides, I’m pretty sure she would go on a man hunt if I told her about my mom and I don’t even know what the fuck to say about Tony.”
Stone snorts.
“What?”
“Nothing. Just let me know when you’re ready. I’m going to throw some clothes on.”
I watch as he shuffles back to his room, his blond hair a mess, the tattoos writhing against his bare muscular back with each step he takes. Suddenly, I’m feeling needy.
After an hour, I meet him by our front door, purse hanging over my shoulder. He follows me out of the apartment, locking it behind us and leads me to his car a block away.
“How much does it cost to park here?” I ask on the elevator up to the third floor of the public garage.
“Not much. Like two-fifty a month.”
My throat dries. “Two-fifty? Dude, that’s an entire car payment.”
He scoffs, “That’s like half a car payment and I’m not a dude, Vanna.” His fist wraps around my wrist, and he pins me to the inside of the elevator. “Try again.”
“Lover Boy.”
“Better.” He whispers against my lips. “I wouldn’t even mind daddy.”
“Ugh, not this again.” I groan and it strikes a grin on his face.
“Get used to it, Darkness, because once I get my way, that’s the only name you’ll be calling me.”
“I might have daddy issues, but I promise I’m not looking for one.”
His eyes search mine, “I’m not looking to be your daddy. Just a daddy.”
The wink he teases me with lights a fire inside my core and for a fleeting second, babies don’t sound that bad.
His smile, the sheer hotness of him, the way he makes my pussy leak with just his words…
it terrifies me. But what’s worse is the way my heart stutters when he says my name and the utter obsession reflecting back at me in his gaze.
Frantically, my conscience flails, desperate to cling to sanity while he drags me further into the depths of this psychotic game. Snapping out of it, I swallow, brushing aside the ache he instills in me.
“Speaking of, we should probably stop by the pharmacy again.”
His smile falters and I want to feel victorious. I want to smirk and toss my hair and walk away with that face burned inside my brain, but all I feel is regret.
Straightening, he takes a step back and walks through the elevator doors as they open.
“You just took a Plan B. I’m sure you’re fine. Besides, there’s no way you’re going to take one every time we fuck. That can’t possibly be good for you.”
I shrug. It wasn’t really the plan to take another one. In all honesty, I’m not even worried. I was just trying to get my point across that I’m not having his babies. So, why does my stomach roil with guilt for hurting his feelings?
We stop at the driver’s side of his black Toyota Supra and though my mind begs me not to, I say it anyway.
“I was kidding.”
The visible relief that washes over him reaches me too and weirdly, I feel lighter.
Grabbing my face, he pulls me in and smashes our mouths together in one of his brutal kisses.
“Get in the car, Darkness. No more teasing me. My little soul can’t take it.”
I roll my eyes, pushing off his chest and round the Toyota. The engine purrs to life and we take off, winding the corners of the garage.
It’s a short drive to our friends and when we get there, the condo gives me flashbacks to that first night I met Stone. Suddenly, my wrist tingles and I look at the tattoo there.
“Hey, oh my god, how are you? I feel like we haven’t seen each other in forever.” Daphne wraps me up in a hug and rocks us side to side.
It takes me a second, but I mold around her, sighing at the weight she’s lifted from me with just her presence.
“Hey.”
When she untangles us, her gaze snaps up behind me to Stone.
“It’s so weird seeing you guys together.” She giggles. “How’s the roommate situation going? Last time we saw you guys, you were both bickering like an old married couple.”
Stone slips his arm around my shoulder and yanks me to his chest. Instead of words, he answers her in the form of inappropriate PDA.
Dropping his face to mine, he devours my mouth for both of them to see.
His tongue laps and twists against my own, then leaves a sheen of saliva to gloss my lips as he withdraws from our connection.
I can feel my face heat with embarrassment. Especially, when Daphne stands there stunned, her chin nearly resting against her chest.
A dark chuckle comes from Jace as he approaches. “Called it.”
I clear my throat uncomfortably, but luckily Stone chimes in. “Clearly, we made up.”
“Clearly.” Jace smirks at him.
“So, how’d it go? Telling your mom about ending the engagement?” Daphne wonders.
Dropping my head back, I groan. “It didn’t.”
“What?” She barks, her stare narrowing on Stone.
He shrugs. “What?”
“Dude, you realize your mom is out there planning your wedding, right? She’s already texted me about bachelor duties.”
Jace seems just as pissed as Daphne and honestly, I don’t blame either of them.
“I mean, at this point, we might as well just do the damn thing.” Stone chuckles.
I gasp and elbow him in the ribs. “One, that’s not how you ask. Two, the answer is no.”
“I mean technically I did ask and technically, we’re still engaged. You’re wearing my ring.”
Unfortunately, he’s not wrong. I can’t seem to part with it. However, it sits on my right hand now.
Jace and Daph share a look, then busy themselves with random things around the house.
“I’ll just grab my shoes.” Daphne starts.
“Hey, why don’t we head into the studio.” Jace finishes.
Stone and I laugh it off watching them battle the awkwardness that is this new thing between us.
Before I follow my friend out the condo, Stone pulls me in for one last kiss. This time, quick and sensual.
“Have fun.” He mutters, then smacks my ass when I turn away.
Down the hallway, Daphne lets out a low whistle.
“What?” I shove my shoulder into hers lightly.
“Oh nothing. It’s just that, you seemed so against liking him. Now he’s basically forcing you into a marriage and you didn’t even fight him on it.”
A choked scoff fumbles from my lips, “Jesus. I don’t fight him on it because it’s useless. He’s delusional.”
“Should I be worried?”
“No. I can handle Stone. He’s just intense and I’m reluctant, you know?”
We step out onto the sidewalk and head towards the subway, weaving through the cluster of oblivious New Yorkers.
“Please don’t tell me it’s because of Hunter?”
I consider her question and honestly, no. It’s not because Hunter is holding me back. Although now I know he didn’t just walk out on me, that was Stone, and he lied about it. Yet, I can’t find it in myself to be that mad at him.
“There’s something unhinged about Stone that, if given the freedom, he’d drown me in his riptide. There’d be no surviving him.”
“That sounds dangerous.” Daph mumbles.
We find an empty seat and some kid bust out his boom box. He climbs up the poles, his feet miming a walk up a wall. It’s impressive, it always is.
As I stare at the performer, I wonder how she’d take it if I told her everything that has happened between us.
Instead, I blurt out a confession I have yet to mull over myself.
“My mom showed up, Daph, and he... took care of me in a way I didn’t know I needed. He didn’t force me to handle her like Hunt did, didn’t complain when I broke down. He just picked me up and helped me back on my feet. So, yeah, he’s a little crazy sometimes, but when it matters, he’s there.”
“Oh shit. You’re like... in love.”
I can feel the blood in my face drain. “Hardly.”
She pinches her lips to hold back her retort and decides to switch topics.
“I didn’t know your mom visited. Is she still hanging around?”
“No. I haven’t seen her. Stone kicked her out and she hasn’t tried coming back.”
Daphne combs a hand through her blond hair and nods. Then, wraps her arms around me for a quick comforting hug before the train stops. We push our way through the crowd and exit through Grand Central Station.
First stop we make is for coffee on our way to Macy’s, then inside the department store we head to the baby section. I watch her as she peruses the tiny jammies and outfits.
“When do you know if it’s a boy or girl?” I ask, pinching a soft blanket between my fingers.
“Wednesday, when I’m twenty weeks, but I was debating if I should just wait until the end to find out.”
“Why the hell would you do that?”
“Why not?” She smiles thoughtfully. “I don’t really care what the gender is, as long as they’re healthy.”
“Bleh.” I aim a finger down my throat. “Cliche much?”
“It’s cliche because it’s true, Van. Not everyone is allergic to kids like you. Which I really hope changes because I’m going to need you.”
“I’m not allergic to kids and I most certainly am not allergic to this one, specifically. I will cherish my little niece or nephew.”
She pauses for a moment, placing the onesie in her hand back on the rack.
“Jace told me that you and Stone were talking about babies.”
My eyes widen, “What the fuck?”
“Look, I know it’s not really our business-”
“No, that’s not it, Daph. Why is he telling Jace that? We didn’t talk about babies. He-he-ugh!”
I drag my palms down my face in frustration. This man is going to be the death of me.
“What?”
“Nothing. He’s so infuriating sometimes. We’re not talking about babies. I mean, he is. I’m not.”
She twists her fingers together nervously, “I mean, why not? He takes care of you, right? I mean, would it be so bad to have kids at the same time? You’ve told me you want them.”
I sigh, “I don’t know. I do want kids. I just feel like such a mess right now.”
“Look, Van. None of us have it together all the time. That’s what makes us human. You should follow your gut. Whether that’s having babies with Stone or not.”
Hoping to end the conversation, I nod and squeeze her hand. Thankfully, she gets the hint and moves onto another subject. One that doesn’t have to do with my babies, but hers.