Chapter 10
Chapter Ten
The electricity was on when we woke up this morning, and the roads had been reopened, so after breakfast we got back on the road. Part of me hated to leave the bubble that existed in that motel room.
Going home with Justice to face my father is daunting. I know he loves him like a son, and Storm sees him as the brother he always wanted. But how will they react when we tell them we’re going to be together?
Last night feels like a fever dream. I can still taste Justice’s lips on mine. Feel the size of him between my thighs. It’s a delicious ache that I never want to heal.
He’s driving now. One hand on the wheel, his other grips the top of my left thigh. Tattooed and rough.
I fidget with the radio, unable to focus on anything. Unable to sit still. I just want to be back in his arms, skin to skin, hearing him whisper every sin he wants to do to my body.
We’re only an hour from home now. It’s funny. A week ago I couldn’t wait to get home for a break from my life. From stupid Derrick and his groupie sluts. Now I have what I’ve always wanted.
Justice ‘Ice’ Delgado. And I don’t want this ride to end.
“Am I dropping you at the farm?”
“Clubhouse. That’s where Dad will be.”
“You could just go home with me.”
“Tempting offer.”
“I’m not ready to share you with everyone just yet.” He draws my hand to his lips to kiss my knuckles.
“When should we tell them?”
“How about the Christmas party? Devil is bound to be drunk and in a good mood then.”
“Is he ever in a good mood?”
“Since he got that new neighbor.”
“What new neighbor?”
“Mrs. Fox passed away a few months back. Left her place to her long-lost granddaughter or some shit.”
“He’s never mentioned her. Who is she?”
“Greylan Wright.”
“Does he have a thing for her?”
“Something like that. Don’t tell him I said anything.”
“My lips are sealed.” My father has had plenty of women warming his bed over the years but no one who has taken up permanent residence in his life. “Is she pretty?”
“She’s nice.”
“Nice.” I chew over the word, wondering if he’s worried I’ll be jealous if he says yes.
When we come up on the sign that says, ‘Welcome to Blackwood,’ Justice pulls off to the side of the road.
“What are you doing?”
“C’mere.” He tucks a finger under my chin and moves in for a kiss. “You sure you don’t want to come home with me? Once we get back, everyone will want your time and attention.”
“You jealous?”
“Insanely.” He grins and kisses me again.
“Maybe for a few hours. We can show up a little late.”
“Good. Thought I might have to pull out these.” He reaches behind the driver’s seat and pulls out those black fur handcuffs.
I’d forgotten about that bag. “What else are you hiding in that bag?”
“It’s a surprise.”
Justice lives in a cabin not that far from my father.
It’s technically on our property, but it’s located on the opposite end with a private driveway that cuts through the winding creek that runs adjacent to the farm.
The surrounding woods provide plenty of privacy.
I’m not worried about anyone seeing us. We will need to be careful at the clubhouse.
Too many eyes and ears. No one comes out here unless they’re invited.
I grab Mr. Tinkles in his carrier while Justice unloads his travel bag.
The cabin itself isn’t very big, but it’s cozy.
I’ve not been here in years. The outside hasn’t changed except for a swing being added to the porch and a couple of rocking chairs on the other side separated by a small table holding an ashtray.
I let Mr. Tinkles out to explore the rooms and stick his temporary litter box in the bathroom.
I wash my hands and nose around his medicine cabinet. There’s nothing here belonging to another woman. No proof of Tawny leaving anything behind. I wonder how often she stayed over.
“There you are.” Justice leans against the doorframe. “Find what you’re looking for?”
“No. I was seeing if Tawny had left any hair ties,” I lie.
Justice snorts. “You never wear your hair up.”
“Busted.”
“It’s cute that you’re jealous, but you’ve got no reason to be.”
“I know.”
“Do you?” He flicks the tip of my nose. “Come on.” He grabs my hand and leads me back to the living room.
He wasn’t kidding when he said he had the basics. There’s nothing on his walls other than his big-screen television. We flop down on his cushy brown suede couch.
“You’ve got me here. Now what are you planning on doing with me?”
“This.” He cups my face between his hands and kisses me soft and deep, using lots of tongue. “How’d I ever think I could go the rest of my life without this?”
“Seems like a poor choice on your part.”
“I’ll make it up to you.” He kisses me again, and then we hear it. The crunch of tires on his gravel driveway. “Fuck.” He gets up and glances out the window. “If I tell you to stay put, will you?”
“Why?”
“Please, Bean.”
“Okay…”
He sighs and puts on his boots, followed by his leather cut and his jacket over it. A hard expression clouds his eyes as his mouth hardens into a firm line. “I’ll only be a minute or two.”
Justice leaves me sitting on his couch and walks out.
The second the door shuts, I’m at the window peering out at the red car parked behind my father’s SUV we’ve been traveling in.
A woman steps out of the driver’s side. Not just any woman. Tawny is here. Did Justice lie to me about where they stand? He told me they were over. She’s my opposite. Tall and blonde with a big bust and an even bigger ass.
I can’t hear what they’re saying, but going off the way she’s moving her hands and jerking her head around, she’s pissed.
“Who’s in there?” she shrieks.
Oh God. I know that pain. I don’t particularly like her, but I never want to be the woman that does another woman like dirt. Even a bimbo like her.
I need the truth, and there’s only one way to get it. I grab my coat and slip my boots back on. When I open the front door and cross my arms, I get it.
“Is that Neva? Did you dump me for her?”
I smile at her words. My man didn’t lie. He was nicer and said they ended things but dumped before coming to pick me up, tells me something. Deep down, Justice knew that there was a possibility with me. He came to pick me up single.
“She’s like your sister. That’s what you told me.”
“It’s none of your business, Tawny. You have no business being here.”
“I’m pregnant, asshole,” she yells, and my world stops spinning.
“The fuck did you just say?”
“You heard me. I’m having your baby, and you’re here shacking up with her.”
My stomach drops. My heart lodges in my throat.
I slam the door closed behind me and find Mr. Tinkles. I get him in his carrier and grab my father’s keys off the coffee table. I’m going to be sick, but first I need to get out of here.
I storm down the driveway, marching toward them with my kitty in tow.
“Where are you going, Bean?”
“Don’t worry about it. You’ve got your hands full.”
Tawny smirks at me, satisfied with her little outburst and the scene she’s made. Bitch.
“Just wait. We’ll talk about this. All of us.”
I shake my head. “This has nothing to do with me. It’s between the two of you.
” Sliding into the driver’s seat, I click the locks and place Mr. Tinkles in the passenger seat.
After I adjust the seat and mirrors, I start the vehicle and pull forward and get turned around so I can go around the skanky bitch who just ruined everything.
I can’t be with him knowing she’s having his baby. Ride me like you want to make a baby with me. Those were his words. Did he pull the same shit with her? Lucky for me, I’m on birth control, and the chances of my being pregnant too are less than one percent.
But part of me wanted it. To create a life with him. To be his ol’ lady. It was all so close I could taste it, and now…
I shake my head as he stares at me, looking defeated.
“Neva,” he calls out my name as I continue past him.
I drive past my father’s driveway and to the clubhouse.
My anger keeps me from bursting into tears.
The sad part is I’m not even mad at him.
I’m pissed at myself for getting so wrapped up in my fantasy of him.
Guess he was right. I’m a magnet for trouble.
I get halfway down the road when the low air pressure alert sounds for one of the tires. Great.
I pull off on the side of the road and get out. I’ve got a flat. Perfect. I grab my bag and Mr. Tinkles. My dad’s house isn’t that far back. I can walk home and call him or my brother to deal with the tire. There’s no way I’m asking Justice for help.
I can’t look at him right now. I can’t think about Tawny having his child.
One that could have been mine. I march down the road toward home.
A car comes up, driving weirdly slow in my direction from Justice’s direction, which is weird because he’s the last driveway on this road.
No one comes this far up our holler. No one.
The hair on the back of my neck stands as the car gets closer.
I squint as the sun reflects off the snow. It’s too cold for this right now. I shiver and debate between cutting through the woods for home or running back to the car. Neither prospect is good, and I’ve got Mr. Tinkles to consider.
Shit.
As the car gets closer, I recognize the passenger. Jenny Lynn. The woman from the bar who was eager to be my friend. The woman Justice said was pissed about her husband subscribing to my Only Coeds site.
Oh, my God. They followed me home. They’ve been following me the whole time.