Chapter 17
I aimlessly staredat the ceiling, lost in my own reckless thoughts. I truly wanted to make things work with Aires, but I was scared. I was terrified of making the wrong choice although he always felt like the right one. From the moment we first locked eyes, I was forever held captive in those bright baby blues.
I was so confused.
I didn’t want to lose him again. Not when we just found each other. Who knows how much time went by when my cell phone began to ring with a FaceTime call.
I answered, “Hey, Grammy.”
“Hey, sweetheart.”
My grandma Mia and I always shared a very close relationship. My mom was only nineteen when she got pregnant with me, so both my grandparents helped raise me. Along with my extended family that went on for miles. If one thing defined my family, it was our love for one another.
Everyone had their own stories to tell, and I grew up listening to them all, but my favorite love story had always been my grandma Mia and grandpa Creed. Those two were written in the stars, and no one could tell me any different. Each couple had their own tumultuous past they had to work through and overcome.
It didn’t surprise me that my grandma was reaching out, she had a sixth sense when it came to me.
Getting straight to the point, she asked, “Are you okay?”
I inhaled a deep breath.
Am I okay? No, no, I’m not okay…
Instead of freaking her out, I replied, “I’m screwed.”
“In what way? The good kind or the bad?”
I chuckled. “Both.”
“So then you’re fucked?”
I laughed. I couldn’t help it. My grandma was the best.
“Yeah, I’d rightly say so.”
“Bailey bug, it’s safe to assume this is boy trouble?”
“That would be a safe assumption, but how did you know that?”
“Sweetheart, it’s always boy trouble when you’re fu?—”
“Right… you would know, I mean, you’re married to the leader of them.”
I could see her grinning on the other end. The best thing about my grandma was that she used to be a rebel, getting into all sorts of trouble. Considering my great-grandma was a saint who could do no wrong, a lot of our family members repeated I reminded them of her.
Forever a people pleaser.
“Now that I think about it, Grammy. I feel like every man in our family can be considered a bad boy at one point in their life.”
“Well, your grandpa is a reformed bad boy.”
“And how long did that take you again?”
She laughed. “A few years.”
“But Grandpa adores you. You’re literally the light in his life.”
“He’s also a huge pain in the ass in mine.”
I threw my head back, giggling.
“Speaking of your grandfather, he’s out back with Luke.”
“Oh, Luke is in town?”
“He is for his birthday.”
My uncle Luke was Grandma’s youngest son. I guess you could say, like mother like daughter, my grandma had my mom when she was young too, she was only twenty, so they were both still relatively young on mother and grandmother terms.
“Oh, that’s right.” I nodded even though she couldn’t see me. “How old is he now?”
“Forty-three.”
I shook my head, thinking about the fact that my uncle Luke had never been married or had any kids.
“Forever the filthy mogul,” I teased, smirking.
I wasn’t entirely sure how he made his fortune other than people gossiping that the apple didn’t fall far from the Jameson tree in reference to him. From an outsider looking in, everyone imagined it was due to all the clubs he owned around the world. I knew enough about that life to know there was more to it than that.
Nightlife always had a way of dragging you down its dark rabbit hole. Given that my uncle Luke was covered in tattoos and his vibe had always been edgy and dark.
“Back to your boy troubles, who is he?”
I shook my head, still staring at the ceiling. “Someone I shouldn’t be messing with.”
“So the best kind?”
I chuckled. “You could say that.”
“Is he an actor as well?”
“You could say that too.”
“Do I know him?”
“Possibly.”
“Are you going to make me keep guessing?”
“Mm-hmm…”
“Because you can’t say his name to me?”
“Force of habit.”
“Fair enough.”
My eyes moved toward the huge bay window in our bedroom. Aires was nowhere to be seen since our huge fight, and I wouldn’t be surprised if he slept in another room tonight.
Brushing the hair away from my face, I took in her words for a few seconds.
“I’ve always wanted you to live your life to the fullest.”
“I am, Grammy.”
“Since you were a little girl, you’ve had everyone pining over you.”
“I know.” I did.
“You remind me so much of me when I was young. Always wanting to make everyone happy and not ever thinking about yourself until finally, I said to hell with what everyone thought was in my best interest and did what felt right to me.”
“You’re making me feel worse than I already do.”
“The truth hurts more than anything.”
“Don’t I know it.” My emotions were getting the best of me, and I stressed, “I can’t let him go. I think I may have loved him since I was a kid.”
Shit. Did I just tell her?
The deafening silence wasn’t helping my suddenly racing heart.
I opened my mouth to say something, anything, but she expressed first, “I always knew you’d reach a point in your life where you’d cross paths.”
I smiled again. My grandma was by far the most supportive person. She always had been and always would be.
“I’m here if you need anything. I don’t care what time it is or where you are, I’m here.”
“I know.”
“You’re a smart woman, Bailey, and I’m confident in your decision-making skills on who you feel is right for you. Besides, he knows who your family is, and he still isn’t scared of where you come from. Don’t let anyone come between your happiness. Especially strangers.”
“Thank you.”
“I love you. You’re my heart.”
“You’re mine too.”
After I ended the call, I didn’t hesitate to go look for Aires. It didn’t surprise me when I found him leaning against the doorframe by the pool. He was lost in his own thoughts like I had been.
I tested the waters. “Hey…”
He didn’t turn around. Instead, he stated, “You want this to be over? All you have to do is say you’re sorry. It’s that simple.”
“I’m sorry.” My eyes widened, surprised it was that easy for me to express.
“I’m sorry too.” He spun to face me before he quickly chimed in, “I’m sorry that I expect people to respect you in the way you deserve. Especially your agent.” He stepped toward me. “I’m sorry that you’re so damn beautiful that I can’t help myself when it comes to you.” Another step in my direction. “I’m sorry for not looking for you sooner. I’m sorry for losing touch.” One last step. “But most of all.” He placed his mouth against my lips. “I’m sorry that I’m going to have to teach you a lesson.”
He leaned forward, catching me by my waist, and threw me over his muscular shoulder like a damn rag doll. Now my ass was right in his face.
“What are you doing?” I shrieked, stunned by the turn of events.
I could feel him smiling against my leg, and then he smacked my ass.
Hard.
“Ouch! What the hell?”
He spanked me harder two more times as he walked. “That was for your mouth,” he said, spanking me again. “That was for letting the man you’re paying speak to you like you’re not his boss.” He spanked me three times. I thrashed on his shoulder, trying to break free, but his hold was too strong.
“That was for being a stubborn little shit and not admitting when you’re wrong and how you feel about me. And last, for denying me what’s always been mine,” he scolded, smacking me one more time.
“Oh my God!”
And the bastard chuckled.
It took everything inside me not to tell him off, but I knew it wouldn’t be in my best interest. After he gently placed me on the dining room table, I hissed upon contact, my ass not welcoming the hard surface.
“Relax,” he encouraged as I gave him a death stare, biting my tongue from saying something I would regret.
“What, Bay?” he baited. “I’ll rub that sweet ass to make it better.”
I wanted to say he would be lucky if he ever saw me naked again.
“If you act like a child, Bailey, I’m going to treat you like one.”
I narrowed my eyes at him, and he smiled as he started to unbutton my blouse. “I’m going to tell you how it’s going to go, sweet girl.” He slid it off my shoulders. “You’re going to be my very good girl.” He took it off and threw it on the table. “You’re going to sit here. Just like this.” He unclasped my bra, throwing that on the table too before he unbuttoned my shorts. “Then you’re going to forgive me for protecting you against your asshole agent who I don’t like for one second. He’s lucky he still has his balls intact.” He glided my shorts down my legs, tossing them in the pile with the rest of my clothes. “Then you’re going to stop letting people boss you around, or I’m going to go to jail for you again.”
I resisted the urge to giggle.
He kissed the tip of my nose, dropped to his knees, and gazed up at me with a look of lust as he skimmed my panties down my thighs. Once I was sitting there naked in front of him, he informed, “Now I’m going to further add to my apology by burying my face between your legs.”
“Aires…”
“Say it, Bay,” he ordered. “We both know you want to. I can see it all over your pretty face, especially now. You’re mine. Only mine. Always been mine, always will be mine. Say it. Tell me what I need to hear.”
He was done with the bullshit and laying down the law. His intense, conflicting stare never left mine. We both fought our own internal battles, but he already proved he’d risk everything for me. When he gripped my thighs and dragged me closer to the edge of the table, I slightly gasped.
He rasped, “Just trust me.”
I exhaled a deep breath, confirming, “I’m yours.”
I was completely unaware of what the future held for us but excited nonetheless.