AllFreeNovel
Share Us
“I do.” She sniffed. “Or should I say I did now?” She shrugged her shoulders and took another bite. Her lips wrapped around the bite, her tongue quickly flicking out to catch a drop of icing at the corner of her mouth. My brain conjured up images of those lips and the heat of her mouth wrapped around my already engorged cock.
“So, why didn’t you move back to be with her?” My need to learn more about this woman overrode social etiquette at this moment.
“A lot of bad decisions kept me from coming back.” She finished off her roll and leaned back against the headboard, cradling her mug.
“Such as?” I encouraged her.
“They are all in the past now and can’t be changed.” She skirted my question like a well-oiled machine.
“True, but those decisions brought you to this moment in your life and molded you into the woman you are today. A woman I want to learn more about.” I removed the tray laden with two empty plates, then scooted around her legs and up the bed to sit beside her, leaning against the headboard. Without having to look straight at me, I hoped she would share a bit more. In the future, I wouldn’t be this gracious when having any type of discussion with her, but for now, to earn her trust, I would relax next to her.
Her body stiffened for a moment when I settled beside her, and I watched her muscles slowly relax from the corner of my eye. I waited. I could hear the cranking of the wheels turning in her head. “What’s runnin’ through that mind of yours, pet?”
“I don’t really know what you want to know.” She sighed.
“Everythin’. I’ll let you choose where to start, but understand I won’t leave until you share.”
She leaned her head against the headboard and blew a deep breath out her mouth. “When I was about six-years-old, my mom and dad got divorced. My mom suffered from major depressive disorder and anxiety, so bad that she would have panic attacks over the smallest things. My father couldn’t handle it anymore and left.” She took another deep breath and continued. As her voice filled the room again, I moved my arm to rest against hers, lending support and strength for her to continue. “Mom started dropping me off at Gran’s for days at a time. I didn’t hear from my father again after he left. I didn’t understand what I had done to make him leave.” She paused.
“He left because of his own choices, not because of anything’ you did. It sounds to me like he was a weak and selfish man.” I began to rub circles on the back of her hand, showing in my own small way that I meant the words I said.
“I realized that when I got older, but at six, I didn’t understand. Anyway, mom spiraled into deep dark places, which kept her trapped for days. Gran tried to shield me from it, but by the time I was eight, I knew my mom’s pattern. I think she may have been bipolar, too, just never officially diagnosed.” She turned her hand over, twining her fingers with mine. “She would go on these benders where she was happy, upbeat, and we would shop and go out to eat, to the movies, and then, one morning, she would tell me to pack a bag and drop me off at Gran’s.”
“Sounds like she was coherent enough to remove you when things began spiralin’ downhill again.” I kept my voice calm and soothing, even though learning that this amazing woman next to me had to deal with that type of parent on her own basically pissed me off.
“I guess. After a year of random drop-offs, Gran finally told my mom that she either get the help she needed or leave me with her. She said a young girl needed stability and structure. Mom tried for about a month, but she couldn’t control her episodes, and finally, during one, I guess you would say manic phase, she packed all my stuff and moved me in with Gran.”
“So, your gran took you in at nine-years-old?”
“Yeah, and she raised me. My mom found another guy and began drinking heavily and partying. They found her dead of an overdose when I was ten.”
“Oh, pet, I am so sorry!” I released her hand and wrapped an arm around her shoulders, scooting her to sit flush against my side. I was thankful she didn’t resist; in fact, she snuggled into me, resting her head on my shoulder.
“I understand now that she couldn’t control it on her own, but at ten, I was angry, and deep down, I felt something had to be wrong with me. My dad had left, and then my mom. Gran recognized that I wasn’t dealing well, even though I tried to hide it, and put me into therapy. For the first three months, all I would do was go and sit in my therapist’s office for an hour a week and say nothing. Finally, that fourth month, I broke down. The therapist had me start painting, and she would talk while I took my emotions to the canvas. At first, I didn’t even realize she was working me through my issues until the day I just sat there and cried. “
“Sounds like a smart therapist.”
“She was, and I am thankful she never gave up on me.” I could feel her cheeks move as she grinned. “I spent another year with her, learning how to deal with my emotions, fully understanding that my actions did not influence what my parents had done. She also taught me how to deal with my own stress and anxiety as a growing young woman. I continued to visit with her periodically through high school, too. Once I reduced my sessions to monthly, I thanked Gran for making me go.”
“Your gran sounds like a very astute woman.” I gently ran my hand up and down her arm, enjoying the curves and heat of this woman pressed up against me. Her soft flesh was warm and inviting, her trust freely given at this moment. Her vulnerability had the Dom in me vowing to protect her even if she didn’t think she needed it.
Her muscles tensed at my touch, and she pulled away only moments after snuggling close. “She was.” She swung her legs over the side of the bed and stood. “I should get up and around. Thank you for breakfast.” She randomly grabbed clothes and left the room. I couldn’t figure out what had changed so quickly. I heard the water turn on in the bathroom. Genni could enjoy her shower, but when she finished, I would get answers. In the meantime, I took our dishes back to the kitchen, washed and put them away. I also started a fresh pot of coffee.
My phone rang with Jason’s name and number flashing on the caller ID. Genevieve was still in the shower, so I answered the phone, walking out onto the porch to take the call. “Mornin’, Jason. What can I do for you?”
“You arrived at Genevieve’s bright and early this morning.” Jealousy was heavy in his tone.
“Not that it’s any of your business, but yes, I brought breakfast. Yesterday was a long and exhaustin’ day for her. You would have done the same thing.”
“I would have let her sleep in longer and had actually planned to do the same once I got off shift, but there’s no use now. You beat me to it.” Anger had joined the jealousy in his tone, putting my protective instincts on high alert. It was then I knew I would do everything in my power to make sure she wasn’t alone with him.
“Jason, this isn’t a competition. You know that, right? She needs all the support she can get right now. Not two grown ass men fightin’ over who’s gonna protect her.” Talking to him at this moment was like trying to calm a young stallion. It was harder over the phone since I could only go by his words and voice fluctuations. I tried to remember what my brothers had taught me. I listened to his breathing, sharp short breaths as I waited for his reply.
“Yes, Evans, you just made it one. We both want her, and you don’t like to share. By showing up this morning, you threw down the gauntlet. Whatever happens is on you now, Evans.” Jason disconnected the call.
“Shit.” I glanced up and down the street, searching until I found his cruiser. He had been watching me throughout our conversation. He slowly drove by, glaring at me as he went. The door behind me opened, and Genni’s scent hit me so hard, my gut clenched. The coconut and lime of her body wash mixed with the underlying musk that was all Genni.
“Was that Jason driving by?” She stopped next to me, crossing her arms in front of her. That small action pushed her breasts together and up as if in offering. I knew that wasn’t her intention, but my body reacted instantly.
