by Chiah Wilder
“I was so pissed at you. I might have let my anger take over my actions.” Another hard, long thrust.
“Might have?” Her tits swayed with the force of his pounding, and he molded his hand around one of them, loving the weight of it.
“Fuck, babe. I’m gonna explode.” He trailed his finger down to her engorged nub and flicked it as the back of his legs stiffened.
“Oh, Hawk.” Her legs trembled against him and he knew she’d soon shatter into a million pieces.
He shoved his cock in and out a few more times, and then a rush of intense pleasure burst through, his hot seed filling her quivering pussy. He leaned down and covered her back with his chest, his arms wrapped snuggly around her waist to keep her up. She straightened and he walked her to their bed to lie down. They clung to each other, fused together by their raw passion and lust, never wanting to let go. Their breaths were still shallow and fast, and he could feel her heart beating rapidly against his skin.
“You know, I didn’t really believe you cheated on me,” Cara whispered as she placed her leg across his. “It’s just that Doris sounded so smug and satisfied as if she were saying, ‘See, your man is just as bad as all the others.’ It pissed me off, and I took it out on you.”
“Doris likes to make trouble. Banger’s called her on it many times over the years. He’s told Ruben numerous times that he needs to control his woman better.” He felt her bristle under his touch. “Let’s don’t start a discussion about the ‘control his woman’ comment. Okay, babe?” He kissed the top of her head.
“We’ll talk about that another time,” she said.
He laughed. “Being married to a lawyer can be challenging sometimes.”
“What does that mean?”
“It just means you have to always have the last word, and I think’s it’s fuckin’ cute.”
She tilted her head back and her gaze bore into his. “I love you so much. Even when you piss the hell out of me, I love you.”
He dipped his head down and kissed her deeply. “I love you too. When you were gone, a piece of my heart was missing. Fuck, babe, you’re the only one in my life and don’t ever think for one second you’re not. I should’ve called. That shit won’t happen again.” He wanted to tell her that he acted like a damn jerk and he was sorry he worried her, but it wasn’t his style.
“Tomorrow night I’m going out with some of the women for our ladies’ night. You and the kids will be on your own.”
“Sounds good. I’ll see if Banger, Jax, and Chas wanna come over for pizza and beer. The kids can play together, and Isa can hang out with us.”
She chuckled. “I don’t know if I want you guys corrupting her.”
He ruffled her hair. “Fuck. It’s gonna be hard when she gets to be a teenager and guys start wanting to go out with her.”
“I feel so sorry for Isa. You’re going to be impossible.”
“Actually, babe, you should feel sorry for the boys who are gonna want to go out with her.”
“Oh, I’m sure I will. They’re going to be petrified of you.” She giggled.
He chuckled and warmth spread through him as he pressed her closer to him. Everything was good now. He had his sexy wildcat in his arms again and his two kids back home.
He smiled when he heard her breathing deeply, and he pulled the blanket tighter around them. Staring out the window, he watched the ragged edges of stony gray clouds race across the leaden sky as a silvery mist licked at the treetops and neighboring roofs. Ice drops pelted against the window, and he was glad he was inside with the love of his life snug in his arms.
Chapter Nineteen
Sofia
Out of the corner of her eyes, she watched Tigger as he walked warily into the bedroom, carrying a large bouquet of flowers in one hand and a small plastic bag in another. Closing her eyes, she feigned sleep, trying to ignore the sharp pains ripping through her body each time she inhaled. Blood leaked beneath her skin, making red and purple bruises on her pale flesh. There would be no doctors, no evidence, no mention of his cruelty, only a bouquet of flowers and perhaps a CD of her favorite group.
“Sweetcakes, are you sleeping?”
The touch of his hand on her shoulder made her cringe internally, though his cooing voice made her relax because it meant the cruel monster had been replaced by the groveling lover. The warm, smoky scent of hickory wisped under her nose. He’s pulling out all the stops this time. He was cooking one of her favorite meals, baby back ribs, though the irony was that she’d never be able to eat through the pain that cut short each breath she took.
“I’m making ribs. I know how you love them. I picked up some coleslaw and have potatoes boiling.” His lips pressed against her temple and she trembled. “Talk to me.”
Cracking her eyes open, the light from the hallway pierced them. “The light. It hurts my eyes,” she croaked, and he leapt up from the bed and closed the door, blocking it out. At that moment, he’d do anything for her. He’d treat her like he used to in the beginning. If the pain wasn’t so acute, and her cheeks weren’t swelling up, she could almost pretend that nothing had happened. Tigger always could. He was extremely adept at ignoring how his criticisms, punches, and kicks made her feel. For now, he’d make sure she knew she was his everything, but as she knew so well, it would only last until the next time he lost his temper.
“Let’s go in the living room. I picked out one of those girlie movies you love. We can eat in front of the television.”
Trying to sit up, her mind screamed out as pain seared through her chest and she fell back down, sweating and pulling her legs closer to her body. “I can’t,” she panted.
“Hang on, sweetcakes.” Tigger ambled into their bathroom, and she heard the familiar squeak of the medicine cabinet opening. Soon he returned with a glass of water and two white tablets. “Take these. They’ll make you feel better.”
“What are they?” she asked as he put two pills in her palm.
“Pain pills. Let me help you.” As he raised her up, she gritted her teeth, then popped the tablets into her mouth and swallowed them. “You’ll feel so much better. You just gotta be better at not making me mad, you know?”
Over the years she’d learned to agree with him, so she nodded. She used to believe she was responsible for the anger, but since Wheelie started coming around, she felt differently. Thinking of Wheelie made her smile even though it hurt like hell. He was so attentive, so gentle, and the way he looked at her and kissed her made her feel like a woman again. Tigger hadn’t made love to her in months. It was his way of punishing and controlling her. It used to bother her when he’d withhold sex; it made her think she couldn’t satisfy him anymore. The longer he stayed away from her, the less she wanted him. Then Wheelie had come over when Tigger was away, and he made her feel special.
“What’s going on in your pretty head?”
Her heart leapt in her throat. I have to stop smiling. If he finds out I’m thinking of another man…. Like a true predator, Tigger could smell fear and sense weakness. She couldn’t let her guard down. I shouldn’t have been thinking of Wheelie. Not with Tigger around. She had plenty of time to think about him when Tigger went to the club, which was often.
“Just thinking about how we first met and how happy I am we’re together.” Does he believe me? I think I sounded convincing.
He bent down low and kissed her gently on the mouth. “I love you. You know I do. You’re mine. All mine forever.” She winced and then coughed, tears streaming down her face. “Aren’t the meds helping yet?”
“They will,” she whispered. The truth was they were already working, the sharp soreness having dulled to a constant ache. For the first time since she laid eyes on the handsome, buffed biker, Sofia wished she was with another man—Wheelie.
Wiping her wet cheeks, she mustered a small smile for him.
“That’s my girl. I’ll get you some dinner.”
Biting the inside of her lip, nausea rolled over her, but she knew she’
d make herself eat; otherwise, the doting Tigger she’d fallen in love with years before may very well transform into the raging beast from earlier in the day. She wouldn’t survive a second beating so soon.
After they ate, he placed a pillow on his lap and put her head on it. Raking his fingers through her hair, he dipped down and kissed her forehead. “I love you more than anything. I’m never letting you go.” He pulled her hair a little too hard.
Whispers of panic scattered inside her. “I don’t want you to. I love you too.”
Seemingly satisfied with her answer, he brushed the back of his hand over her swollen cheeks. “Want to watch a movie?”
“The meds are starting to work, so just put in a movie you’d like. I’ll probably fall asleep.”
“Good girl.” He bent over and kissed her lips. “If you felt better, I’d fuck you, but we can do it another time. You’d like that, wouldn’t you?”
“Yes.”
He turned on the television and channel-surfed until he landed on a rerun of Rocky. She grimaced and closed her eyes. There’s no way I’m watching men beating each other up. Why do men love boxing? Tigger was obsessed with it and won and lost plenty of money on the games.
As the voices on the screen grew more distant, the pain sensitivity lessened. Tigger ran his fingers up and down her upper arm as she let the little white pills do their job, giving into them. Drifting deeper and deeper, she welcomed the sleep. It was the place where there was no hurt, no fists, no cruelty.
Only dead-silent nothingness.
Chapter Twenty
Addie
Addie pulled Chas back from the door and gave him a hard kiss on the lips. “Have a nice day,” she said against his mouth.
“I can come back after I drop off Hope at school.” He feathered her face with kisses.
“That’d be great, but Cherri and Belle are coming over to help make the gift bags for the fundraiser this Saturday.”
“Do you need me to help?”
Laughing, she pushed him toward the door. “I can’t picture you wrapping gifts and stuffing bags.”
“I’m good at unwrapping clothes.” Reaching around her, he patted her ass.
Rolling her eyes, she chuckled. “That was corny at best.”
“What do you want at seven thirty in the morning?”
“Are we going, Daddy?” Hope stood by the car. Chas jumped down the two stairs and opened the car door.
Addie smiled as she saw him securing Hope in her car seat. Waving at both of them, she closed the garage door. Warmth spread through her, loving how great her life was with Chas. She had the family she’d always wanted, not the one Ian had wanted to give her all those years before. When she thought of the woman she’d been with Ian and the one she was with Chas, it amazed her that she’d let Ian distort her reality so much.
“I have band practice after school tonight,” Jack said as he grabbed a breakfast bar she’d put out on the counter. “Belle’s going to take us.”
“What time do I need to come and get you guys?”
“Around six.”
Jack, Ethan, and three other friends of theirs had started a rock band the previous summer. Jack played bass and Ethan was the rhythm guitarist. She and Chas had gone to their first gig at the school talent show in the fall, and she’d thought they were pretty good. Chas accused her of being biased, and she supposed she was, but the boys definitely had talent, and she liked that they had something to do other than getting into trouble.
After Jack left for school, Addie made sure everything was ready for the women when they came over in an hour. Lighting an apple cinnamon candle, she inhaled deeply, loving the warm, robust scent. Cinnamon, nutmeg, and vanilla were the candle scents she loved most, and if she was having a bad day, all she had to do was light one, stir a generous helping of hazelnut creamer into her coffee, sit back, and look out the window, watching life unfold.
An hour later, Addie opened the door and Cherri and Belle walked into the house.
“Did you make apple pie?” Belle asked.
“It’s the candle I lit. I love the aroma,” Addie replied.
“It gives off a cozy feel. I love candles, but Jax’s freaked about fires, so I have to use flameless ones. It’s just not the same as the real deal.” Cherri handed her jacket to Addie.
For the next two hours, the women worked steadily on wrapping, stuffing, and decorating a hundred gift bags. The bags would be given out on Saturday night to all volunteers and the mothers of the children who would be at the event receiving gifts. Brighter Lives selected sixty-five children to attend the event and receive their gifts that night. The other toys collected would be distributed to other families the following week.
The chime of the doorbell interrupted their workflow, and Addie jumped up and went to see who it was. Opening the door, she cursed herself for not checking the peephole first. Brianna, decked in a white faux fur coat and thigh-high leather boots, stood on the porch.
Addie sucked in her breath and opened the screen door. “Can I help you?”
Wrinkling her nose as her gaze wandered up and down Addie, Brianna clutched the jacket collar with her gloved hand. “Is Chas here? I need to talk to him. I saw him last night at the hospital and I forgot to ask him something.”
Typical Brianna. “Chas isn’t home, but there are such things as phones, you know.”
Brianna laughed. “How’s Jack? Is he home?”
“He’s fine, and he’s in school. Look, some friends of mine are here and I have to go. I’ll tell Chas you stopped by.”
“Actually, I’d like Jack to spend the weekend with me.”
What fucking gall! “That’s not going to work out. We’re all going to a big charity event on Saturday, and on Sunday we have family plans.
Brianna narrowed her eyes. “I’m family too.”
“It’s just not going to happen. As I said, we already have plans with Jack.”
Brianna stepped closer to Addie, who still stood in the doorway, holding the screen open. “I’m Jack’s mom. So stop acting so fuckin’ high and mighty.”
Licks of anger rose inside her. “You’re the one who gave up your parental rights. I adopted Jack, and I’m more of a mother to him than you ever were.”
“I was using and drinking back then. Things have changed. I’ve cleaned up my act.”
Even though it was cold outside, Addie was burning up. “That’s great, but we still have family plans this weekend. I really have to go.”
“You self-righteous bitch! It doesn’t mean shit that you have a piece of paper saying you’re Jack’s mom. I’m his real mother. He’s got my blood flowing through him. My blood and Chas’s, and no fuckin’ piece of paper will ever take that away. Chas will always be tied to me.”
Remembering an article she’d read about stress and anger management, Addie counted to ten while inhaling and exhaling deeply. “I have to go.”
Brianna put her foot in the way and pulled the screen door open wider. “I hired a lawyer and now that I’m clean and sober, I’m going to take your fat ass to court and challenge it. You fuckin’ turned my son against me!”
“This is ridiculous, Brianna. Do what you want to do, but I’m done talking to you.”
Brianna sneered. “Chas must be hungry for a sexy woman with a good body because he couldn’t take his eyes off me. I’ve known him longer than you, and I know what he craves.” She brought her face in closer. “And flab and a big ass aren’t it.”
A bolt of white-hot anger ripped through her, and she didn’t count to ten, take deep breaths, or think of a peaceful place. She raised her hand and walloped the smirk right off the evil ex’s face.
Staggering backward, Brianna’s arms flailed before she gripped the potted tree next to the door. “Bitch!” she yelled, straightening up.
“There’s more where that came from unless you take your skinny, bony ass out of my sight.”
In that frozen second between disbelief and reality, Addie saw Brianna�
��s face transform from shock to pure hatred. At lightning speed, she flew at Addie, her hands over her head, long sparkly nails clawing. Addie yelled out and pushed Brianna back, then stepped out onto the porch. The fight was on. Clumps of hair, broken nails, sharp kicks, and a few well-placed punches had both women red-faced and breathing heavily.
“What’s going on?” Belle asked from behind Addie.
Not answering, Addie jerked Brianna’s long hair hard, and the woman lost her balance on her high-heeled boots and slammed face down on the porch. The area beneath her stained darkly from the flow of blood. Pushing up, she wiped the back of her hand over her mouth. Streaks of crimson painted the white leather gloves.
“Fuck you!” she cried, lunging toward Addie.
“Get the hell out of here and leave us alone!” Addie cocked her head and her disheveled hair dangled, swinging slightly in the icy breeze.
Belle and Cherri ran out and grabbed Brianna’s arms. The woman twisted and jerked in a vain attempt to get free. “Leave me alone. Let me go!”
“You need to go. Now,” Belle said as she turned Brianna so she faced the stairs. “You shouldn’t be coming over and upsetting people.”
Brianna pulled away and looked behind her. “If I broke a tooth, your fat ass is paying for it.” Cherri handed her a handkerchief, but Brianna swatted it out of her hand. “You’re all fuckin’ bitches.” Grabbing the handrail, she clomped down the stairs and stalked away.
“Are you okay?” Cherri murmured as she went over to Addie.
“What the hell happened?” Belle asked, her gaze still on the woman as she drove away.
Addie wiped her nose. “I let her get to me, dammit. It’s the one thing I didn’t want to happen. She just pissed me off. I can’t believe we fought it out on my front porch in front of the neighbors.” She groaned.
“Let’s go inside. It’s freezing out here. And with a skank like her, you have to fight it out. That’s all she’ll understand. I got into plenty of fights when I stripped. That was the only way I earned respect. Believe me, she’ll think twice before dragging her ass over here again.” Cherri handed Addie a tissue. “She scratched you pretty good under your eye.”
