by E. L. Todd
I never, ever expected my dad to say this. “What…?”
“You really hurt him, Trinity. I would be devastated if your mother and I had a fight and she took off her ring and told me we’re done. I’m sure you practically gave him a heart attack. You got upset with him for running away and being immature. Well, Trinity, you did the same thing—just a million times worse.”
Now I felt guilty.
“Don’t ever do that again,” he said. “This is marriage. It takes work and patience. The only question you need to ask yourself is this; is Slade worth the work and patience? Because I can promise you every relationship is back-breaking work.”
“Sean and Scarlet seem pretty happy…”
“There are a lot of things they keep to themselves. Don’t judge the inside of their house by looking through the window. You know nothing of their marriage. Just like you and Slade, they had rough beginnings. Sean was an idiot who couldn’t stop messing up. But look at him now. He’s the most loyal, caring, and protective husband the world has ever seen. I promise you, Slade will put him to shame.”
I processed his words. “You’ve never stood up for him before…”
“I wouldn’t have given him my blessing if I didn’t think he was the right man for you.”
I took a deep breath then shoved my things into my bag. “Well, I should go…”
“I hope you’re going home.” He gave me a firm look.
“I am.”
“Good.” He nodded and stood up. “It’s where you belong.”
***
The second I got home, there were three enormous vases of flowers on the table. One held lilies, another roses, and the last one had daisies.
Slade immediately jumped off the couch like a fireman called to a fire. “Hey.” He walked to me but then stayed a few feet back, awkwardly shifting his weight from side to side. Then he ran his fingers through his hair, something he rarely did. “Uh…I didn’t know what you liked so I got one of each.” He shrugged nervously. “I…hope you like them.”
I’d never seen Slade so unsure of himself. He was normally cocky and confident. Now he seemed to be out of place. “They’re beautiful,” I managed to say. “Thank you.”
He eyed all the things in my hands. “Let me help you.” He grabbed the folders and heavy bag off my shoulders then carried it to the part of the table that wasn’t covered in flowers. “It’s pretty heavy.”
“Yeah…” I put my purse down along with my keys.
Slade came back to me, like he wanted to jump on me and hold me without ever letting go. “I…um…” He touched his hair again. He was at a loss of words. “I love you,” he blurted. “I do.”
My anger and resentment faded away in light of how lost he was. “I’m sorry I did that to you. I know it must have hurt and…I shouldn’t have done that.”
“You’re apologizing?” Disbelief was in his voice.
“I am. I just got so upset and overwhelmed by your…behavior I didn’t know what to do. I just cracked.”
“I should be the one apologizing,” he said. “I didn’t treat you fairly and I realize that I’m sorry.”
Wow, we were both apologizing to each other. That was a first.
“I…I didn’t know that me leaving was making you so angry. I swear to god I wouldn’t have done it if I knew it make you so mad. It won’t happen anymore. I understand I was being selfish and childish. Don’t apologize, Trinity.”
“No, I should have told you how I felt. Instead, I bottled it up inside until I was pushed too far. That wasn’t right.”
“Well, that may have helped,” he agreed.
“You’re so hardheaded that I don’t know how to deal with you sometimes.”
“I know,” he said quietly. “But I would never do anything to risk losing you.” There was emotion in his voice, and it leaked from his eyes. “I never want to be without you again. I did it once and I can’t do it again. I never, ever want you to go…” He took a deep breath like he was about to break down again. “I’m sorry. I really am.”
Now I hated myself for hurting him. I walked to him and wrapped my arms around his neck. “I never want to be without you either.”
His arms moved around my waist and he held me close. His forehead was against mine and he took another deep breath, this time from joy. His hands gripped me like I might fly away like a balloon. “We’re okay?”
“We’re okay,” I whispered.
He kissed my forehead. “Next time I do something to piss you off, just tell me. I won’t do it anymore. Anything you ask, I’ll do.”
Slade was never the type that liked to be told what to do. It was his way or no way. He didn’t give me much leeway when we were first together, but slowly over time he began to give more to me. Now he’d given me everything. “Sometimes I just get scared that this marriage will fall apart, that you’ll keep leaving and then never come back.”
“Never,” he said firmly. “Ever.”
“Okay.” That comforted me. “Where’s my ring?”
For the first time, he smiled. He pulled it out of his pocket then slowly slipped it on my hand. Then he kissed the knuckles. “I don’t ever want it back. So don’t bother giving it to me again.”
“I won’t.”
He rested his chin on mine while he held me close. “Fuck, I’ve never been so scared.”
“I’m sorry…”
“Honestly, I’m surprised you changed your mind so quickly.”
“My dad talked to me.”
“Yeah?” Surprise was in his voice. “And what did he say?”
“That I love you and we should be together.”
He pulled away and looked me in the eye. “Seriously?”
“He said my behavior was unacceptable. How can I expect you to not do things that bother me unless I tell you? He made a good point.”
“He really defended me?” He couldn’t believe it.
“Of course, he did. He loves you.”
“I just…” He shook his head slightly. “Nevermind. It doesn’t matter.” His hands moved up my arms toward my shoulders. “You’re here and that’s all that matters.”
“Yeah.”
He squeezed me then rubbed his nose against mine. Then he leaned in and kissed me. It started off gentle but then it became hard and aggressive. His hands snaked to my ass then he gripped me and lifted me into the air. “I hope you don’t have plans tonight. Because I’m making love to you until you ask me to stop.”
“Well, we probably won’t be working for a few days, then.”
“Good. We got our savings to get us by.”
***
Slade was sweet to me, even sweeter than usual. He was tentative and gentle, kissing my shoulders and even my elbows. His fingers were always in my hair, and he treated me like I was a goddess that ruled him. Kisses were always pressed to my temples and he was constantly touching me in some way.
I liked it.
Slade and I didn’t have any more arguments, and the time we spent together was in blissful silence. We didn’t speak often, but it was because we were usually doing other things.
When I was at work in my office, Slade walked inside with a bag of sandwiches. “Hey, baby.”
“Hey,” I said when I looked up.
He came to the desk then leaned over it, giving me a hard kiss. “You look beautiful.”
“Thanks.” I felt my cheeks redden and I wasn’t sure why. “You do too.”
“I look beautiful?” he asked incredulously. “More like totally fuckable.”
“That works.”
He set the back on my desk. “Hungry? I got sandwiches.”
I looked at my watch. “I wish I could but I have a meeting…” I stared at him and expected to see anger.
“That’s okay,” he said immediately. “I’ll leave this here so you won’t skip lunch.” He placed the sandwich on my desk and grabbed the bag again.
At least he wasn’t mad. Our relationship was improving.
“Pick me up?” I asked. He didn’t usually do that.
“I want to take you out to dinner.”
“Oh.” Now I wouldn’t be able to hide the fact I was dieting. “It’s okay. I’ll just make something at home.”
“Don’t be annoying,” he said. “I’m taking you out.” He gave me a quick kiss before he headed to the door. “Love you.” He glanced over his shoulder as he said it.
“Love you too.”
***
He came to my office at five. “You ready to go?”
I shut down my computer then organized my things. “Yeah.”
He jumped on my desk and waited for me to finish. “You’re looking really fine in that dress.” He looked down at my legs.
“Well, thanks.”
He tapped the wood. “How about we…you know? Break it in.”
I grabbed my purse and stood up. “You think my secretary won’t figure out what we’re doing?”
“And who cares if she does?” He jumped down then cornered me against the desk. His face was pressed close to mine and his fingers gracefully pulled up my dress. I didn’t stop him because I liked it when he touched me.
“It’s not very professional…”
He lifted me to the desk. “Being in love is never professional.” His lips moved to my neck, my sweet spot, and then he guided me down until I was on my back. He gripped my hips and pulled me to the edge of the desk. Then he dropped his pants and boxers and slipped inside me.
I immediately gripped his forearms and dug my nails into the ink of his arms. “Oh god…” He always filled me so well, stretching me and making me feel so orgasmically good.
He pumped into me with even strokes, filling me before he pulled out with just his head inside. Then he plunged into me deeply, stretching me all over again.
“Harder,” I said breathlessly.
He smirked while he kept going. “What happened to professionalism?”
“Fuck it.”
“Yes, baby.” He pounded into me hard and fast, sending me into a new realm of pleasure.
My head rolled as the pleasure between my legs stretched endlessly. “Slade…”
“I could fuck this pussy forever, baby.” He leaned over me and kissed me as he slowly rocked into me. Then our eyes locked and he made his final thrusts. “Filling you is the best part.”
I widened my legs so he could insert as much of himself as he could. Then I felt his warmth fill me. I could always feel him come inside me because there was usually so much.
He tensed as he finished. Then he took a deep breath. “Always a pleasure.” He pulled out of me then pulled his pants up.
I lay on the desk, ready for a nap.
“Don’t fall asleep, baby. We still got dinner.”
“I’m not hungry…” I closed my eyes.
“You will be when you smell the food.” He walked around the desk then stopped. He picked up the sandwich he left there at lunchtime. “You didn’t eat it?” He sounded disappointed.
Shit. “My secretary bought me lunch and I felt bad for turning her down.” It was a quick lie.
He relaxed. “Okay.”
Phew. Crisis averted. I was so hungry all the time that the hunger stopped coming. Now I just felt muscle cramping and weakness. But I only needed to push on a little longer. Then I would be at my ideal weight.
“Hurry your ass up,” he said. “We got reservations.”
“Reservations?” I asked. “Isn’t that over the top?”
“Nothing is over the top for my fiancé.”
***
When the host led us to a table, I realized Slade and I wouldn’t be dining alone.
Everyone was there, all my friends and family. Skye got up first and hugged me. “Congratulations.”
“That Slade and I got back together?” I asked incredulously.
“No,” Skye said with a laugh. “That your clothes are going to be in Target. This is huge.”
“How did you know that?” I asked.
“Slade, of course,” she said. “He planned this whole thing.”
There was a banner that said CONGRATULATIONS that hung from the ceiling and a cake at the end of the table. My brother hugged me next, followed by everyone else, including my father.
Then I turned to Slade. “You planned this?”
“Yeah.” He put his arm around my shoulder. “You’re accomplishing so many things. My lady deserves a celebration.” He gave me a grin then rubbed his nose against mine. “I’m so proud of you. And I’m a lucky bastard for getting to share my life with you.”
“That was really sweet, Slade.” I never expected it.
“I said I was going to be the best damn husband in the world,” he said with a serious face. “And I intend to make it happen.” He pulled out a chair for me and waited for me to sit.
“I never said you had to be the best husband in the world. You’re perfect the way you are.”
“I know you didn’t,” he said. “But I want to be—because you deserve it.”
Chapter Fifteen
Clementine
The last conversation I had with Ward played in my mind. When I thought about our relationship it depressed me. He was the one, the man that would always have my heart. I hated myself from trusting him when I shouldn’t have, but in heart I knew I didn’t regret it. Even though it ended painfully I wouldn’t trade what we had for anything. And even though I was having his baby alone and it changed my life forever, how could I ever resent that? I was having something I would love as long as I lived—and it would contain a piece of him.
Ward’s emotions were all over the place. One moment he was pretending I didn’t exist. And then at another moment, he was telling me how much he despised me, that just looking at me set him off in a rage. Then he came to my apartment and helped me build the crib. Even complimented me and said he admired me for raising the baby on my own.
It made me wonder if I should tell him the truth.
But if he hated me, no good could come from it. I couldn’t stand to let my child see two parents who couldn’t be in the same room together. Some of the things Ward said to me were borderline abusive. It wasn’t an environment I wanted my child to know. And I wasn’t stupid. Ward was obviously seeing other women. Would he want to stop his search for the right woman and start his real family? Wouldn’t I just be holding him back?
It was best if we stayed this way. For just a moment, I thought we could both be parents to this baby. He helped me build that crib and encouraged me. He was even a friend at the time. But what would happen next time I saw him? He would be back to screaming at me again. His emotions were all over the place.
Work went by slow because there wasn’t much to do. That was the only thing I didn’t like about my job. It was a little too easy. Sean liked to do a lot of things on his own. The important people he preferred to speak to immediately had his direct line to his office. I usually took care of the people who didn’t matter. Organizing his schedule was easy because he just had meetings. Other than that, he took care of his own things. I assumed Mike was just as easy.
I wondered whom I would work for after Sean left. Would I be Skye’s secretary? Or Conrad’s? That didn’t seem so bad. They didn’t seem like they would be terrible bosses.
I checked on that house whenever I had downtime. It was still for sale, and I checked every day hoping nobody had bought it. But when I checked it that afternoon, I was sad to see it was sold—and at a higher price. Whoever wanted that house was willing to pay extra just to have it.
I sighed then exited out of the page. Now my dream was gone. That house was perfect. Maybe it was for the best. When it was for sale I kept conjuring all these crazy ways of scraping up the cash. I even considered stripping again but that was no environment for a pregnant woman. A lot of men smoked cigars in there.
At lunchtime, Skye came to my desk. “Hey, you want to
get lunch?”
I was tight on money because I was saving for the baby. I didn’t have extra cash to throw around, which was why I brought a lunch every day. “Actually, I brought something. But thanks.”
“Come on,” she said. “You never eat lunch with us and you’ve been working here for weeks.”
“I appreciate the offer but no thanks.”
Skye sighed in irritation. “As your boss, I’m commanding you to go.”
I glared at her. “That’d better be a joke.”
She couldn’t keep a straight face. “Okay, it was. But I have the company credit card. Lunch is on PIXEL.”
“They just pay for your lunch?” I asked incredulously.
“It helps with taxes,” she said. “It’s hard to explain. Just come.”
I knew she wouldn’t give up. And it would be nice to see my brother. “Okay, fine.”
“Great,” she said. “I’m sick of seeing you in isolation over here.”
“I’m not isolated,” I argued as I grabbed my purse and walked with her. “I see Sean all the time.”
“Please,” she said. “You look bored most of the time.”
“Well, your dad is the simplest person in the world.”
“Actually, he’s just a control freak,” she said with a laugh. We reached her office where Cayson stood. He was on the phone.
“Yeah, just send the packages to Scott and he’ll take care of it.” Cayson nodded. “Yeah. Thank you. Bye.” He hung up. “Who’s hungry?”
“I’m starving,” I said.
Cayson looked me up and down. “You look nice.”
My brother never complimented me. Today I was wearing a floor-length skirt and a black blouse. The curve of my baby bump was noticeable. I didn’t hide it anymore. Now I just embraced it. “Uh, thanks.”
“Shall we?” he said.
We walked down the hall, and to my horror, Ward stepped out of his office.
“Where are we eating?” he asked as he put his hands in his pockets. He seemed to be in a good mood. When he looked at me, there wasn’t anger in his eyes. But he didn’t smile at me either.
“I don’t care,” Skye said. “I’ll eat an alligator at this point.”
