Embracing Series Box Set #1-6

by Delisa Lynn

  “That’s my girl. Give me all of you, Audrey. I need you so damn bad.” He groans as he wraps his hands around my waist and pushes his erect small dick into me.

  “Mmm, me too, Ian, me too,” I say, letting him get comfortable. Then I let him have it. I bang his head against the wall and bring my knee to his crotch. Bet his dick isn’t hard anymore.

  “Stupid fucking whore. You’re going to regret that.” He tries to catch me. I take off running out the door. Just as I reach the elevator, I see he is on my heels, so I run to the steps. It’s only three flights and I ran track, so surely I’ll make it down the steps.

  I take them two at a time. The entire time, he is behind me, screaming and cussing. “Ian please, I’m pregnant. I don’t want to hurt my Blossom,” I say, tears in my eyes.

  “You fucking whore, I knew you were fucking him. No way will you have his baby.”

  No matter how fast I run, it seems like he’s always right on my heels. There’s only a few more steps before I reach the door.

  “No, Zander isn’t the father. It’s someone else.” I can’t tell him the truth. I don’t want him going after Zander too.

  “You know you can’t lie. I’ll hurt you if you don’t do as I say. I love you, but you know better than to fuck with my emotions. Be a good little whore and stop running from me. Let me love you, baby.”

  “Leave, please. Just leave me alone. I hate you. I will never let you touch me again.”

  As I finally reach the last step, my left leg gives out and I go flying into the door, stomach to the ground and head into the door. Just then, someone opens the door and I yell, “Help!” Ian turns around immediately and runs back up the stairs.

  “Audrey, is that you? You’re bleeding. Don’t move, I’ll call 911.”

  “Yes, Mr. Dutton, can you help me, please? My ex, he went the other way. He’s trying to kill me and my baby. Please help me. Oh no, my Blossom! God, please help me.”

  I feel the wetness around my legs. I look down and see I’m covered in blood. I rub my stomach and burst into tears. I lay there, crying hysterically. I didn’t even get to tell Zander about our baby. I can’t lose her.

  Mr. Dutton calls 911. I lay on the cold floor while Blossom bleeds through my clothes. Now she’s my star in the sky. The cramping is a pain that I’ve never felt before, but nothing will ever hurt as bad as losing my child. It’s all because of that stupid bastard! He’ll pay for what he’s done, even if I have to hunt him down myself. I will make him pay for everything he has done.

  “Audrey, honey, lay still. The EMT’s are on their way. I hope the police can catch that guy. Do you want me to call anyone for you?” he asks as he holds my hand.

  “Thank you, I’ll be okay. I hope they catch him and throw him in the cell with Big Al so he can show him a few things or two. Oh my gosh, I am in so much pain,” I cry out. God, I would love to see Zander’s mocha eyes staring at me right now. I wish I would have told him about our baby.

  “I hear the sirens. They’re here. Don’t move and I’ll lead them to you. Will you be okay here?”

  “Just go, please. I need to get the hospital,” I sob. I can feel my knees shaking and my teeth chattering. Mr. Dutton walks out front to let the paramedics know where I am.

  A young woman comes to me first. She looks like she’s my age. Her eyes are filled with sympathy when she realizes what had happened. She hooks the blood pressure machine up to me and starts an IV drip.

  “Sweetie, my name is Joy. I will stay with you until we reach the hospital. I know you’re in pain. We’ll do everything we can to make you as comfortable as possible. Is there anyone I can call for you?”

  “Thank you. Can I get more blankets, please? My phone is in my room. Are the cops in there?”

  “Yes, I will have Wayne get your phone for you. We are going to take you to Mercy in the city. Is that okay?”

  “Okay, I need my purse. Can he grab that? My phone is in it.”

  “Yes, I’ll tell him. The police will want to take a statement from you. We can wait ‘til you feel up to it, though. Okay, I’m going to roll you through the front. There’s a lot of people out there.”

  “Can you please stay with me? I’m hurting so bad. My baby is gone, isn’t she?”

  “I’ll stay with you, dear. We’ll get you to the hospital.”

  I nod my head. I lost Blossom, I know it. As hot it is, I’m so cold.

  It seems like the hospital is a million miles away. Once we arrive, they take me into a small room. Joy stays by my side. I’m grateful because, although I have no clue who she is, at least I’m not alone.

  The nurse informs me that they will do what’s called a dilation and curretage, which will clean my insides out. My baby died inside of me and they are just going to clean her out of me. All I have left of Blossom is the ultra sound I got last week. As I rub my stomach, I feel like I let her down. She is gone because I’m so stupid. If I’d just not answered the goddamn door, this wouldn’t have fucking happened.

  I think about the last twelve weeks. The small life that was once growing inside of me is now gone. Ian will pay for what he did. Even if I have to shank him my damn self, he will pay.

  “Audrey, we should contact your family and friends. We would like to keep you a few days. You lost a significant amount of blood.”

  “I’ll call my friends. Will I be okay? I mean, will I be able to have other children?”

  “You’re young. You should be just fine,” she says.

  What the hell does my age have to do with all of this? Tears well up in my eyes. I lost my child, my Blossom.

  ***

  Audrey

  I missed a bunch of calls from Evan and Brody. Finally, I call Zander and tell him everything, except that I was pregnant. Was. I can’t believe how dumb I was to open the goddamn door. Then to let that cock sucking motherfucker kill my baby…Zander will be here any moment after a call like that. I dry my eyes. I need to be strong.

  I ask the doctors and nurses not to tell Evan and Brody. I don’t even let my father know I’m in the hospital. I call Tatum but I don’t tell her about Blossom either. Not only did I lose my baby, I also have a mild concussion, a sprained ankle, and a fractured rib. I cry for my baby, the baby I was going to tell Zander about today.

  I turn the TV on and a rerun of Full House is on. I love this show. I can look at Uncle Jessie all day long, no matter how old he is. I hear voices coming from the hall. It sounds like Evan and Zander. I turn the TV off.

  As soon as they enter the room, the strength I worked so hard to build up falters. Seeing Zander makes me feel vulnerable.

  “I’m so happy to see you, so fucking happy. I hate him. I am so mad at myself.” I sob into Z’s chest.

  “I’ll wait out in the hall,” Evan whispers.

  “Hey, no tears. I’m here and that fucker will never come near you again,” Zander says. His eyes are bloodshot and I can see the veins in his neck popping. “I’m going to find him and kill him. God, why did I leave you alone? This is all my fault.”

  “I’m just really sore. This isn’t your fault.” I scoot over a little and let him lie next to me. It feels good having his arms around me. God, I love him so fucking much.

  “Audrey, I am not going anywhere. I love you and we are going to make this work.” He kisses me.

  “No, we can’t. We can’t be more than friends.” I feel tears in my eyes.

  “Yes, we can. Why are you pushing me away, goddamn it? Look what happened when I left you alone. That son of a bitch hurt you. Trust me, he will never get that close to you again.”

  “We can’t be together because you are you and I am me. It can never be more than this. I love you and always will but I can never be with you. Please, just go,” I beg. I wanted him to be here with me. Why am I pushing him away? I can’t keep doing this.

  I need him so fucking bad…

  “What? You’re pushing me out of your life?” he says with tears in his eyes.

  “Yes, I
don’t want you. I don’t want anyone. Just leave, please.” I cry into my pillow.

  He gets up and walks out. I hear him hit the wall and cuss. I lie there and cry. I’m so fucking stupid, but I can’t let him hurt me the way Mr. Kelley hurt mother. She was broken and resented him and everyone. I can’t let Zander turn me into her, so I have to turn my feelings off and let the only man I will ever love think I want nothing to do with him.

  I lost our child and Zander that day.

  Chapter Fourteen

  Three Years Later

  Zander

  After graduation last year, I decided to move back to Birmingham. There was nothing there for me. After Audrey told me she didn’t want anything to do with me, I moved out and back in with the guys. Every time I saw her, I wanted her so goddamn bad, so I did what I do best. I continued fucking all the wrong girls, worked, and finished school.

  I finally have a degree in law. I was offered a position at a firm right outside of Birmingham in Arcadia. I accepted it and rented a small farm house. Eventually, Evan, Brody, and I will open a firm together. They both graduated, but Brody is in Ohio with Nikki and Evan is still in New York. Audrey graduated early and is back here, in Birmingham. Her father fell off a horse last year and injured himself badly. She helps her step mom take care of him and works for the state as a prosecutor.

  I still love her. I can’t help it. She’s who I’ve always wanted. Sometimes I look at her pictures and wonder what the hell I did to her to make her not want to be with me. I know I messed around with a lot of girls, but I would have always been faithful to her.

  I’ll actually see her tonight. She and my sister are still close and they’re coming to my parent’s for dinner. I need to look my best and be on my A-game.

  After going to the cleaner to pick up my suits, I stop at Styles, our local boots store, and buy some new cowboy boots. I have to wear suits all the time because of my job, so I rarely have time to dress casual. Tonight, I will, though.

  I pick out the newest boots and grab a new hat. Then my phone rings, but I don’t recognize the number.

  “Yeah, this is Zander.”

  “Zander, it’s Audrey. I need you to get to Bridgemont Medical Hospital now. Fucking Thayer tried to kill Tatum. She’s bad. Please get here. I warned her, I gave her the gun, and I’m glad she used it. That stupid fucktard. I want to kill him myself.”

  “I’m on my way. Don’t leave. Call Evan, now!”

  I’m about twenty-five minutes away from that hospital. I do about ninety in a sixty mile zone. When I finally reach the hospital, I see Audrey. She’s as beautiful as ever. She runs to me, crying, and hugs me. I wrap my arms around her and cry with her.

  “She is alive…barely. I couldn’t get a hold of Evan. You should try. I want to go kill Thayer my damn self.”

  “My parents here?”

  “Yes, they are.”

  “I’m calling Evan.”

  I try to think of what to say to him as I pull up his number. I sigh when he answers. “Hey man, it’s me. You need to come to Alabama now.”

  “What’s wrong, Zander?”

  “Just get here. I’ll pick you up at the airport.”

  ***

  Zander

  Tatum is being released today. Thayer beat the shit out of her and would have killed her if she hadn’t taken the gun and shot him instead. I never liked him. I knew he was an ass, and she deserved better.

  Tatum and Evan are finally together. They’ve been dancing around their feelings since we were kids. They both kept getting mixed up with the wrong people. It took my sister almost dying for them to realize they are meant to be. Took them long enough.

  I put miss smut mouth Audrey in her place yesterday. She was running her mouth, as usual, and I grabbed her and kissed her so damn hard she was seeing fucking stars. I don’t know what has kept us apart all this fucking time, but after knowing my sister almost died, I’m not letting Audrey walk out of my life again.

  “I’m picking you up around seven-ish, so be ready,” I tell Audrey as she hands me a cup of coffee.

  “Umm, where are we going?”

  “You’ll see. Just be ready.”

  “You’re just going to start fucking bossing me around and shit?”

  “Nope, I’m not bossing. I’m just telling you. Also, pack a bag because you’re staying with me tonight.”

  “I guess I have no say in this, huh?” She sits down.

  “None whatsoever. I told you, you aren’t getting rid of me.”

  “I can’t believe I’m listening to you. I have a huge case I’m working on. I have to be home Sunday evening.”

  “Well, I didn’t say I was keeping you all weekend.” I wink at her and she rolls her eyes.

  “Fine, I’ll see you tonight.” She picks up her purse and heads to the door.

  “Audrey, wait.” I walk toward her. “You can’t leave without giving your man a kiss.” I bend down and pull her bottom lip between my teeth. She looks at me with those beautiful eyes. Then I slide my tongue in her mouth. She lets out a small groan.

  “I’ll see you at six-thirty.” She hugs me. “I know you said seven, but I’m sure you haven’t changed.”

  “You know me so well, sweetheart.” I kiss her cheek and watch her walk out of the hospital.

  ***

  Zander

  I made wonderful plans for tonight. I’m picking Audrey up and taking her out to a small Italian restaurant close to my firm. Then she is coming back to my place with me. She will probably disagree, but she isn’t leaving on Sunday.

  I finish some work in my office, then start getting ready. I get rid of any evidence of any other women. Of course, there isn’t much. I’ve been sleeping with an old friend. She’s lonely and I didn’t want any commitments.

  Audrey texts me her address. I had an idea of where she was living but wasn’t sure. As soon as I pull up in front of the new development, I can tell this is definitely Audrey’s place. Nothing but the best for her. She’s always been like that. Although she comes from money, she isn’t snooty and doesn’t flaunt what she has. She has a lot of class even though her smut mouth creeps out often.

  Once I ring the doorbell, she appears. The dress she’s wearing makes my dick hard instantly. The things this woman does to me…I was only with her once. There is no woman that compares to her. We didn’t just fuck that night. We made love, although neither of us admitted it.

  She pushed me away for a reason and I’ll find out what that reason was. It might take time, but I don’t mind. I’m not going anywhere.

  “You look beautiful, as always.” I lean in and kiss her. I’ve been yearning to feel her lips on mine for years. The smell and taste of her is indented into my brain.

  “Thanks. I wasn’t sure what to wear since I didn’t know where we were going. Would you like a drink? I actually have some of your favorite beer. Well, I know it used to be your favorite,” she says with a wink.

  “Heineken? It’s still my favorite, but we better get going. We have reservations.” I look at her small overnight bag. “I hope you packed enough clothes for work on Monday.”

  “No, I didn’t. I’m coming back home before Monday.” She pushes her bottom lip out. Her pouty face won’t work on me.

  “Get your work clothes. I want you to stay with me for a few days. We have three years to catch up on. Trust me, once you stay with me one night, you won’t want to leave.” I wink.

  “You’re going to drive me crazy.” She storms back into her bedroom and comes back with a briefcase, an overnight bag, and some dress suits. “Don’t flatter yourself, these were already ready. I just picked them up from the cleaners.”

  “We’ll see how long you stay. Let’s go.”

  She looks pissed. I know she probably thinks I’m a dick, but I’m not letting this woman go anywhere.

  “Let me guess, I can’t take my car either?” she says as I open her door.

  “Not tonight. We’ll get it Sunday. You’re mine all week
end, sweetheart.”

  “Lucky me,” she says sarcastically.

  “My love, you are very lucky. You get all this.”

  “Oh my gosh, Zander! Shut the hell up and feed me.”

  “Sure thing, darling. I’m pretty hungry myself.” I wink.

  “How long have you been back here?”

  “A little over a year. I’m actually leasing my current house. I have some land picked out. That’s where I’m having my new place built.”

  “That’s great. I figured my little condo would do for now. I actually got a job offer for Main and Bridge, but I’m not sure I want to accept. I like where I’m at now, and with my dad not being able to do much these days, I like to help him and Mom out.”

  “How is your father doing lately? I actually went and saw him about a month ago.”

  “He’s doing much better. Oh, he never mentioned it.”

  The rest of the drive, we talk about work and our families. I love that she loves her job and loves helping people. I hope she doesn’t take that other offer. No way in hell am I letting her move that far from me. I not only see her in my future, I see her as my future.

  Chapter Fifteen

  Audrey

  Dinner was wonderful. We’re on our way back to Zander’s place. There was no fucking way I was turning his fine ass down. I’ve missed him so much the last few years. After the Ian attack, he moved out of my loft and back in with the guys. I worked and stayed to myself. I talked to Evan and Brody when I saw them, but other than that, I tried to forget about Zander.

  It wasn’t as simple as I thought it would be. Since my miscarriage, my life hasn’t been the same. I lost a part of me that day. I never shared the miscarriage with anyone. I regret pushing Zander away instead of telling him that day in the hospital.