Chapter 12
Michael
Music pumped through the speakers, and I tried not to wince at how loud it was, knowing full well I was blowing my eardrums out to Beastie Boys and Alice in Chains when I was their age.
Kids and adults flowed in and out of rooms, laughing and joking with one another. The pressure of school and exams was lifted, and the air was thick with excitement and relief.
As promised to Lucy and the other parents, I was hosting a graduation party back in our hometown of Koby Plains.
The senior kids from our former Koby Plains High were all here, as well as a few new friends they’d made in their new schools.
Their parents were all present because I wasn’t stupid enough to agree to watch over a bunch of rowdy kids.
My mouth smirked at the thought. Funny how I still thought of them all as kids, but when I thought about Dina, all I could think about was how she was all woman.
My gaze roamed around the room, unable to stop myself from seeking her out.
When she’d first arrived, we greeted each other as if nothing was amiss.
She called me Mr Thomas like she always did in public, and I nodded and smiled at her in that fond manner I used to think of her as.
I’d even asked what her summer plans were, as if I hadn’t already mapped out our life together. I’d meant it when I said she was mine.
When my starved gaze eventually found her, my jaw tightened, and a deep, searing jealousy overwhelmed me.
Fuck.
She was standing in the corner talking to some young guy I didn’t recognize. My body rumbled with renewed anger at the clear interest in his grin. Unfortunately, I couldn’t kick the kid out.
I tipped my beer out in the sink, not wanting to risk a kid snatching it up, before I boldly walked straight up to her. “Dina, Lucy is looking for you.”
She startled and turned to look at me. Her cheeks deepened in color. “Oh…where is she?”
“Upstairs.” I sent her a meaningful look, and her blush turned from pink to red.
I made my way upstairs, which I’d blocked off from the party. I waited in the shadows with clenched fists, and when I saw her slowly come up the stairs and onto the landing, I immediately grabbed her and pushed her directly into a spare room.
Before she even opened her mouth, I covered her lips with my own, my tongue licking against hers, even though I could taste her reluctance. Eventually, I felt her body relax, and her fingers curl against my shirt as we breathed into each other’s mouths.
“You taste so good,” I murmured.
She pulled back from me and tried to shove me away. Her cute little brow was furrowed in anger. I didn’t think she’d appreciate it if I grinned.
“How dare you? How dare you kiss me after how you treated me?”
“Dina…”
“You treated me like a piece of ass.”
“That’s not how I thought of you, that’s not how I think of you.”
She looked away, her bottom lip trembling. All the amusement left me at seeing her distressed. I shuffled closer to her, slowly and gently, before closing my arms around her tense frame.
“I’m so sorry, Dina,” I said against her hair.
“Lucy told me that nothing happened to her while you were with me. I thought maybe that’s why you rushed back, but–”
“No. No, she wouldn’t have been able to say anything.”
She wiggled out of my arms and glared at me. “What’s that supposed to mean?”
When I shook my head, she scoffed. “You’re keeping secrets, Luce is keeping secrets–”
“It’ll all make sense soon, I promise.”
“Michael…”
I pulled her close again and brushed small kisses across her brow, her cheeks, eyes and nose.
I breathed in her unique scent, allowing her essence to calm my fraught nerves.
Having her close again restored my equilibrium.
She gave me peace, and I now knew that there was no way I could’ve ever let her go. I would’ve come after her eventually.
“I'm sorry, Dina. Please believe me. Please forgive me.”
She whimpered, and I took that as consent to touch her further. My hand glided up her smooth thigh, brushing against the edges of her panties. I could feel the damp heat from her wet pussy, and with a groan I shifted her panties aside. The fingers skimmed against the mouth of her pussy.
“Fuck, you’re so wet.”
She whimpered, clutching onto me as I rubbed her pleasure spot. “Please, please…”
I caressed her wet hole and tucked a finger inside her tight warmth. She moaned against my mouth, panting her pleasure–
The door to the bedroom suddenly burst open, and I immediately yanked Dina behind me. She yelped and stumbled before wrapping her body tight behind my back. I could feel how mortified she was at the interruption. I turned on our intruder before I snarled when I saw who it was.
Roman fucking Drake.
His eyes widened when he saw Dina, who was trying desperately to hide her face behind me. I was relieved to see that it was only him. Lucy was nowhere to be found.
From the look on his face, I knew he recognized her as Lucy’s best friend. I’d watched him like a hawk when Lucy introduced them earlier today. But he seemed only to have eyes for Lucy.
“Er, sorry. I didn’t realize this room was…occupied.”
“Drake. Fuck off.”
“Michael!” Dina chastised.
Roman smirked, but to his credit, he kept his gaze only on me. “Don’t worry. Your secret’s safe with me, Thomas.”
Without a word, he vacated the room, closing the door behind him as I quietly seethed.
Bastard.
“What do we do?” She sounded scared.
I turned and gathered her trembling frame up in my arms. “He won’t say anything. He can’t talk. Trust me.”
“He’s your friend. Isn’t he?”
I rolled my lips in. I couldn’t tell her who he really was without betraying my daughter. However, I was sick of all the secrets and the lies. I was tired of sneaking around to steal a little bit of pleasure from the woman I loved. It also wasn’t fair on Dina.
It was time. No more hiding and feeling ashamed. Whatever anger Lucy or Dina’s mom wanted to give to me, I could take it. It’ll be worth it in the end.
“Michael, what’s going on?”
I kissed her lips gently. “I need to be alone with you.”
“Come to my house,” she whispered. “My mom said she’s staying with a friend tonight.”
My brow furrowed. That was weird. Claire never went anywhere. But I didn’t care about that right now.
“When this party is over, you’re mine.”