Thirty Four
April Tenth
Whitney
“That’s the last of it.”
Fade set the box down with a grunt. “Why do you have so many clothes?”
Whitney smirked, hanging shirts from the open box next to their bed. “I had two closets. You should be nice to me, I could have picked the house next to Shianne.”
Their new home was one of the smaller ones on Third Street, closer to Whitney’s job. A thousand-square-foot, three-bedroom, two-bath with a tiny kitchen and an attached dining room. Cozy, but perfect for the two of them. They’d even been assigned a new shared vehicle: a red sedan.
“I’m just saying—”
Fade held up a shirt from her box, inspecting it. “I’ve never seen you wear this.”
She snatched it from his hands. “Because I haven’t worn it yet. And I already have a donation pile, thank you very much.”
“Come here.”
He tugged her toward him, one hand cradling her chin, the other slipping around her waist. Whitney’s breath slowed. She was ready for a break anyway. Her hands settled on his shoulders until one found his hair tie, sliding it free and letting his hair fall loose.
Fade sat on the freshly made bed, and Whitney tipped into him, only to pull back a moment later, her fingers brushing the hem of her shirt. She tugged it over her head and let it fall to the floor.
He couldn’t stop the smile spreading across his face. “Remember, Whitney, don’t be afraid to say anything. I won’t ever get upset with you.”
His voice softened as she unbuttoned her jeans.
Standing in just her underwear, she stepped back between his legs, hands sliding up to frame his face. She didn’t waste time, her mouth crashed into his, her tongue sliding against his as he fell back on the bed, pulling her with him.
When she finally broke the kiss, she grinned. “I’m not putting in the work to get you naked too.”
His hands answered for him, dragging his shirt over his head and pulling her flush against his bare chest. As soon as skin met skin, she dipped down, flicking her tongue across one of his nipples and the metal of his piercing caught on her teeth, making him groan. She smiled against him as he worked his pants down his hips, kicking them off along with his boxers.
Whitney’s gaze dragged up his body, slow and heated, locking onto his eyes. He recognized that look immediately. His grin turned wicked. “You’re fucking ready.”
He placed her onto the pillows and climbed over her, dragging her toward the center of the bed. Their mouths met again, hot and hungry, as his hand slid between her legs. He pushed her underwear aside and slipped two fingers inside her before she even had a chance to kick them off. Her body arched against him, but she couldn’t focus enough to push the fabric down.
He took his time. Lips and teeth grazed her neck, then down to tease each nipple until her moans filled the room. She’d thought about this moment for weeks, finally living alone, no need to hold back.
Fade twitched in her hand when she reached for him, his voice rough against her skin. “You like that?”
She nodded, breathless. “Good. Are you ready to break in this bed? This house? Our marriage?”
His eyes flashed, teasing, but there was no mistaking the heat behind it.
Whitney moaned. “I’m ready, Fade.”
He pulled his fingers from her slowly, watching every reaction her body gave him. “Legs together, please.”
She asked, knees drawing in.
“You got it, babe.”
He bent her knees, twisting them to the side and curling them around his thigh as he slid inside her with one slow, deep thrust.
Her head fell back against the pillow. Fade angled over her, eyes never leaving hers, and her hands moved to her chest, teasing her own nipples while he watched.
“Good girl,”
he whispered. His hand trailed up her body, brushing along her throat and down her chest before planting beside her head for support. He rocked into her, the rhythm building, his eyes dropping to her hands as she teased herself.
“Fuck—”
Whitney’s voice broke between moans. “Fade, I’m close.”
His hand wrapped gently around her throat, and the pressure sent her over the edge. She tightened around him with a strangled cry, and his name spilled from her lips again and again.
But he wasn’t done. Fade shifted, lifting her legs and draping them over one broad shoulder without losing his pace. His palms gripped her thighs as he drove into her, and her whole body arched from the bed, hands fisting the sheets.
“Oh fuck—”
she gasped as his calloused hand slid up to cup her breast, his thumb brushing her nipple. Her own fingers trailed lower, sliding against where they were joined and the sensation overwhelmed her.
Fade groaned above her, his thrusts growing rougher. “You feel so fucking good,”
he whispered, his hair falling around his face as he chased his release. A few more powerful strokes and then he stilled, pulsing deep inside her with a low, broken moan.
He stayed there for a moment, chest heaving, before finally sliding out and collapsing beside her. His fingers gripped her thigh. “That might’ve been worth the wait,”
he murmured, voice still ragged. “But I’m gonna need a few more rounds like that to be sure.”
Whitney rolled toward him, a satisfied smile on her face. “I think I like having our own house. Can you imagine if I was that loud with roommates?”
He kissed her forehead. “I love hearing how good I make you feel.”
“I thought you just liked hearing your name.”
He grinned. “It’s like you’re branding your moans. It makes sure everyone knows who they belong to.”
“Wow.”
She snorted. “You really are a dork.”
“But you still choose to love me.”
“I do.”
She brushed her lips against his. “I love you so much.”
“I love you too.”
May Eleventh
Whitney
“Are you okay with me wearing my blue dress to the ball?”
Whitney asked, pushing an earring through her ear.
Fade leaned against the doorframe in his dead man’s suit. “Yes, it’s fine. Why would I be mad?”
“I didn’t know if it was special.”
She smoothed the fabric at her hip. “And I can’t wear anything fun under it.”
“You could wear nothing under it.”
He smirked.
She slipped on her second flat shoe. “That would be too easy for you.”
Her hips weren’t bothering her anymore when she walked but she could handle heels for a short time, but not a full night. Besides, Fade had confessed how much he liked her in flats. He reassured her he loved her in heels too, but there was something about still being taller than her that he enjoyed.
“Are you ready then?”
He bounced off the doorframe.
“Yes.”
She grabbed her clutch and brushed past him. He flicked off the light and squeezed her ass in the hallway.
“Oh, babe, don’t start,”
she warned.
“What do you mean?”
He opened the front door for her and swung it shut behind them.
“I feel like we spend every ball seeing who can rile up the other person more.”
She stopped at her car door, waiting for him.
He grinned. “Not the last ball. Wolfgang and Juniper had to ruin that one.”
“Don’t be a dick.”
He opened her door and offered his hand, a habit that stuck after her accident.
“Thank you,”
she murmured as she adjusted her dress around her legs.
Fade slid into the driver’s seat, and as they pulled out, Whitney glanced his way. “You look hot, by the way.”
“Not as hot as you.”
“Not hot enough to go to prison for,”
she teased under her breath.
Fade laughed. “Between the two options, I think you’d be glad I didn’t kill your brother. Could you imagine how awkward it’d be if I did? For starters, I wouldn’t be here. And if I somehow still ended up here and Aldous showed up alone? I don’t think you would’ve stayed with me.”
“It was a joke. You don’t have to get technical.”
“Sorry I didn’t knock you up when you were a stripper,”
he shot back with a grin.
“I wish you would have. I wish I knew you then.”
“And then you sleep with my stepdad? That’s weird.”
Fade parked the car and stepped out.
Whitney rose just as he lifted her up, her body pressing against his. “I fucking love you.”
“I love you too, baby.”
He kissed her deeply. “Let’s go find your friends.”
She looped her arm through his. “Our friends.”
“Right.”
They entered the room, finding the table with Wolfgang and Juniper at it. Whitney waved with a smile, “Hey guys!”
June got up to hug Whitney and Fade before satting back down.
After pulling out her chair next to June, he hovered over her, “I’m going to go get you a drink.”
He kissed the top of her head and walked to the back.
“Are we second here?”
She set her clutch on the table.
“I haven’t seen Brittanya, Shianne or Rachel yet. Marilyn and Amy stayed home this year.”
Whitney made a sad face at the news. “I love your hair like this though.”
Whitney had curled it into big wavy curls and pinned one side back for a classic hollywood look.
“Thank you.”
She leaned in. “Did you make sure to go commando?”
June smiled. “You’re never going to let down that you talked me into that with Wolfgang are you?”
“Does he know?”
She whispered.
June glanced at Wolfgang to see if he had heard and went back to Whitney. “No and don’t tell him.”
“Are you guys fighting? Why does he look pissed?”
June ended up scooting her chair closer to Whitney, “Uh, let's think back to last year. I think my ex showed up and things got turned upside down for a minute.”
“Well we all know he’s–”
She crossed her finger over her neck.
June’s eyes widened. “Who is we!?”
Whitney grabbed her arm. “Just us four, I didn’t tell anyone. June, I promise.”
“How did you find out?”
“Wolfgang told us, he thought you had already told me.”
The corner of her mouth rose. “I was shocked honestly, I didn’t think he had it in him.”
Their attention turned to Orion with Rachel behind Brittanya and Aldous wandering to the table to join them as Fade took his seat next to her with a whole bottle. “Oh wow.”
Whitney looked at him.
“It’s for the whole table, Whitney.”
He burst her bubble, grabbed her hand to kiss her knuckles.
********
Margaret had gotten up to do her announcements. She tapped the microphone before clearing her throat. “Good evening everyone. I hope everyone is having a splendid time. I’m going to read the yearly report before we move on with our night.”
She paused as the room simmered down, “The school will be getting a well needed remodel this summer and should be done by the next school year. Food production is up by thirty percent, way to go! I’m proud of what we can accomplish as a community. Around the island we have made upgrades to electrical work and installed cameras in more remote places for security purposes. This last year we had two babies born. Congratulations to the parents of Elodie Rowe and Sasha Jones, beautiful girls. We also had two weddings this last fiscal year: Mister and Missus Ian Pohl and Mister and Missus Fade Zemanek, a round of applause for these lovely unions.”
The crowd applauded for both couples, Whitney barely noticed. She felt a quiet satisfaction, knowing everyone now understood Fade was hers. She thought back to their early days, back when people had assumed they were together before they even were and smiled. Fade’s hand settled on her thigh, his eyes warm and proud as he squeezed gently.
“And now,”
Margaret continued, “an announcement from the head of security.”
Whitney’s head snapped up as Orion stood. Wait, head of security? When the hell had that happened?
She watched as he took the mic and walked back to the table, Rachel standing just in front of him. Her stomach twisted as she realized what was happening.
He knelt.
The room erupted with cheers and applause, but Whitney felt hollow. Orion hadn’t told her, not about the promotion, not about the proposal. They’d never been particularly close, but she’d hoped they could start building something. She was working on her relationship with Aldous and thought her and Orion were on the same page. But clearly, he hadn’t felt the same.
She fake smiled at the news and she really was happy for him, she just wished she was more involved. They were too much alike, looked like their mother, but acted like their father. Whitney knew how to control actions around their father. Like they said, she looks too much like their mother and that upset their dad the older she got. Her brow furrowed as she caught eyes with Aldous. ‘Did you know?’ she mouthed.
He responded with a shrug and a nod. Of course he fucking knew. She thought to herself.
Rachel said yes and the people cheered. She sat soothing herself internally, faking a smile. She just wanted to be part of her brother's life. Everything they've been through, she was not about to rip that Band-Aid off again. She had thought that they had mended their relationship and it wasn't even Rachel's fault. She wanted to talk to Orion. “I'm gonna go grab a drink.”
she said, beginning to stand.
Fade set his napkin on his plate. “Do you need me to go?”
“No, I really need to take a breath.”
Fade grabbed her chair as she turned away and she headed to the line waiting for her turn, surprised to see Orion follow behind her.
“Congratulations,”
she said. “Was that just the spur of the moment?”
she asked him.
“No, I've known for a while.”
He was practically glowing.
“The proposal? The promotion?”
Whitney crossed her arms. “Why didn't you tell me?”
He leaned down to her. “I lived without you in my life for so long, it's hard to adjust to having a sister again.”
She stepped back. “I would like to just have a relationship with both my brothers, I don't try to favor one of you.”
“What? I'm not compliant like Andy? I’m not fucking your little roommate?”
She ignored his comment and looked up at him. “Owen, I want to make this work. I broke up with my husband for six weeks to show everyone how serious I was.”
“Boo hoo. You weren't talking to me either, Ronnie, so I don't know why that matters.”
She stepped forward. “I want to make things work. I am truly happy for you, I just wanna be included in your life and I’ll include you in mine. That’s all I am asking for, we didn’t have this chance growing up. I thought you were on the same page as me about moving past old stuff.”
“Alright, fine.”
Orion was quick to agree to make her quit talking. “I'll try and remember that I have a sister.”
“You're a dick.”
she nudged him but before she could turn away, he pulled her into a hug. It took her by surprise, but she let herself melt into it, hoping, maybe, this was a start.