by M. Skye
Richmond stormed out of the room, and his companion Lenae stood, staring off into space until she heard Jenna’s quiet, frightened voice come into play. “Mommy, why were you and Papa screaming?” Lenae looked down to her little dimple-faced sweetheart and picked her up, smoothing the stray tears from her eyes. “Were you screaming because you miss the old house?” Jenna looked away and dropped her head. “I miss the old house too. Why do we always have to move, Mommy?”
Running her hands through Jenna’s curly hair, she kissed her on the cheek. “We have to move because Mommy messed up. She talked to someone she shouldn’t have and could have gotten us into a lot of trouble. I’m sorry, baby.”
“Why can’t you talk to people?”
“Because some not-so-nice people want to hurt us. Mommy’s sorry she messed up. Are you upset with me?”
“No.”
“You’re Mommy’s best friend, do you know that?”
“Yes. You’re my best friend too.”
She sat Jenna down, and she ran back to what would be her room for the next few days before they took off again. She really hated having to shuffle her daughter around so much, but honestly, she had no alternative. As much as she threatened Richmond, she knew that without him they were as good as dead. They could never survive without him.
Chapter Thirteen
He kicked his shoes off and lowered his robe to the floor. Never in his life had Tyree felt so exhausted. Never in his life had he felt so out of it. Walking over to their bed, he paused. He was confused and lost. Should he just get in the bed and pretend the past few hours hadn’t happened, or did he hold on to the sour feeling that was taking over his every thought?
He was standing, afraid to get into his own bed. Every time he made a move to pull the covers back, he froze, deathly afraid he would wake the sleeping woman lying before him. With one hand on the comforter and one hand on the bedpost, he stood there silently, watching her toss around.
He knew she must be having a bad dream because she only tossed that way when she was distressed. He knew that about her. He knew so many things about her, so much that he swore he could even read her mind at certain points. He knew all this, but what he couldn’t wrap his mind around was how he missed it. There had to be something he missed. There had to be something that he just didn’t pay enough attention to that made her feel like she needed to take her own life.
Watching her, he would never understand how someone so beautiful could be so damaged. As long as he had known her, she had always had her demons. Even as a child, she never felt like she deserved to be happy. Watching her parents had beaten her spirit to an almost-irreparable state. Being with him had almost brought her out of it, but she still had her moments. Even when they were at the peak of their happiness, he would catch a glimpse of that insecure girl he used to wrap his arms around all those years ago.
Watching her sleep, so unsettled, so uncomfortable, he felt an ache in his chest. That she felt like she couldn’t come to him before was what bothered him. He thought they shared everything. He thought he knew her better. He thought she knew him. He thought....
He paused in his ramblings when she sat up. She was still asleep, but he saw how flustered she was. The anxiety must have been eating away at her. Watching her, he tried to be as still as possible until he saw her head hit the pillow.
How could she have not come to him? How could she have kept that secret for so long? How? The more he thought about it, the clearer it became. He had frozen when she blurted it out. He hadn’t been the man he promised to be. He had let her down. He had to admit, he was shocked when she said it, and a part of him was angry. He was angry that the woman he pledged his life to felt like she had to keep something from him, but could he really blame her? With the way he reacted, he’d be lucky if she ever told him anything again. He really blew it.
Deciding to swallow his fears, he tugged at the thick comforter and revealed his sleeping wife. He longed so badly to reach out and touch her, but he was afraid she would feel it and wake, forcing him to own up to his earlier cowardice. He loved her. He loved her more than he ever thought it was possible to love another person besides his son, but she also scared him. She held in her palm the key to his world, and she had the power to flip that very same world upside down by taking herself out of it. He needed her almost as much as the air he breathed. How she didn’t know that was a mystery.
Just as he thought, as soon as his body found comfort in the cool sheets, her eyes fluttered open. He could see the red outlining her eyes and knew she had been crying. Without a thought, he ran his hand down her cheek, and she just stared back. She was silent, but her eyes were screaming at him. Her eyes held all her fears, all her doubts about him. Smoothing his hands over her flawless cheeks, he felt her stiffen. He closed his eyes. He couldn’t look at her without falling apart. She was everything to him, and he knew that without her he would never be the same.
He could feel her eyes on him, and even though she didn’t speak, he could feel her willing him to make the first step. Slowly peeling his eyes apart, he looked at her, really looked at her. He searched her eyes, looking for the woman he married, but she wasn’t there. All he saw was the scared little girl who used to sneak off in the middle of the night and into his bed when her parents fought. He saw the unsure teenager who never felt as beautiful as she truly was. Looking into her eyes now, he didn’t see his fierce, fearless wife. He saw the exposed interior she displayed only when she was afraid. She was afraid, and he hated himself for that.
Without words, they had the most powerful conversation they would ever have. He could tell she was searching his eyes, and he made sure to let her know the love was still there. He stroked her cheek and kissed her forehead like he had done so many times before and she slid closer to him. He hadn’t realized the abandonment he felt without her close. Burying his hand in her long, dark tresses, he pulled her head back and lined his lips with hers. The kiss wasn’t like their usual lustful, intense kisses. It was sweet and gentle, just like it had been so many years ago.
Tyree looked across the room and out the window to notice the rain beginning to fall. As the rain danced across their roof, it lulled him into a soothing memory, a memory he would never forget. Holding his fragile wife tightly in his arms with a storm brewing made him think of a night many years ago. It was the night that meant everything in his young life.
The phone rang in the dead of night, and he knew it was her. He didn’t even have to hear her voice to know she was upset. It had just become the norm. Looking at his bedside table, he read the clock and realized it was five past midnight, and he reached to retrieve the phone. He heard her sniffling when he answered, and he sat up suddenly.
“What’s wrong, Mia? What happened this time?”
It took her a minute to calm down enough to speak, but when she did, he could tell she needed him. “They were screaming. I heard the door slam, I walked out to see what was going on, and I saw her.”
He didn’t have to ask who the “her” was. He knew she was referring to her mother. Things had gone from bad to worse between her parents, and every time they fought, Mia seemed to be the one to hear it. “What was she doing?”
“Ty, it’s bad. She’s using drugs. I’ve heard him call her a coke whore, but this is the first time I’ve seen it with my own eyes. I didn’t want to believe it was true. I just . . . I don’t know what to do. I just want to leave this place.”
He sighed and ran a hand over his head. He had promised they would be out of there as soon as graduation was done, but they still had three weeks before that could happen. Things were just happening too fast with her family, and he couldn’t protect her from everything like he had hoped. “I’m sorry. I know I promised you it would be over soon. I wish we could go tonight, but we have to graduate, and then we can go anywhere we want before college starts.”
“You promise?”
“I promise. I just wish I were there with you now. You sound so sad, and I
just want to be next to you.”
He could hear the silence on her end, and when he went to say something, she spoke up. “You could just come over.”
He wasn’t sure if it was a good idea. He had been trying to respect the boundaries in their relationship, but it was growing harder with every minute they spent alone. Their friends and siblings had served as a buffer between them, but when they were alone, he wanted to touch her, to feel what it was like to really be with her.
“I don’t know, babe. It’s the middle of the night, and it’s raining.”
“Please?”
There she went with the begging. She knew he always caved when she asked in that voice. She sounded so weak. He couldn’t leave her like that, not tonight. “Okay, I’m on the way.” After throwing on his basketball shorts and a tank with a hoodie, he grabbed his keys and walked out, shutting the door. He got as far as the stairs when he heard a voice behind him.
“Going out?”
He turned to see his mother standing with her arms folded over her chest.
“I need to see . . . My girl needs me. Her parents are crazy, and she needs someone. I promise I won’t be out long.”
Karen studied him, and it felt like he was under a microscope for those few seconds. When she let out a sly smile, he grinned back at her. “Thanks, Mom. I knew you would understand.” He rushed to give her a hug, and she kissed his cheek. He turned and walked a few steps down before she called out to him again.
“Give Mia my love, and tell her it will get better.”
He stood frozen for the moment and looked at her, noticing the weird grin she held.
“What? You thought I didn’t know? I see the way you look at her, and if her parents don’t notice it, they’re damn fools. I know it’s been a struggle for them, but they have to know what it’s doing to their kids.”
“Either they don’t, or they don’t care. I just want her happy.”
“Then don’t keep her waiting. If you need to, bring her here and get a room fixed up.” She turned, and he could tell something clicked in her head. “One of the guest rooms, not yours.”
He laughed and sent her a wink on his way out. Once he made it out the door and to his car, he turned, looking at his house, and he felt a wave of sadness. True, he wanted to take Mia away from her problems, but he would miss times like this, where he just talked to his mother. She always seemed to know what was going on with him, and he loved her for her concern. He needed Mia away from her mother and father, but he also needed his mom. He started his car and drove away, trying to figure out what he was going to do to make things right for everyone when an idea came to him. He wasn’t sure she would go for it, but he had to try. Their futures were at stake.
Driving through her back gate, he found humor in the fact that no matter how much security they had, he always seemed to be able to sneak in undetected. So many nights he had taken the same route to get to her and was never seen. He would sneak in the back, with the gate code Mia had given him, through the servants’ entrance, and up the back staircase that led straight to her room. For some reason, her parents had their rooms on the other side of the house and only Mia, Janelle, and Rick, when he was home from college, were on the west end.
Tyree parked his car and took his normal passage to her, and before he could reach the stairs, he saw her coming down. Looking at her short white silk gown made his heart leap in his chest. He had seen her in next to nothing many times before, but seeing her like this was different. She was beautiful. The gown hugged every curve, displayed every perfect crease her body had to offer, and gave him an excellent view of her delicious legs. His hormones were raging. He wanted those legs wrapped around him, squeezing him, pulling him deeper inside her. Shaking the dirty thoughts, he looked into her eyes. He had to admit his girl was gorgeous.
Standing, staring at her, he only made a move when he felt her hand grab him and pull him toward the stairs. He followed her quickly, and when they made it to her room, the door closed, and he felt himself being pushed against it. He was caught off guard by her aggressiveness and fell into her kisses until he found himself getting overly excited. Pulling away, he stepped back, touching his fingertips to his swollen lips.
“Baby, what are you doing? I thought you knew we were just going to sleep. I don’t think—”
He heard the deep sigh and watched her move to the bed. “Why won’t you sleep with me? I thought you loved me, and I know I love you. What’s the problem?”
Tyree sat down on the bed and pulled her against him. He rubbed her back soothingly and kissed her forehead before pulling her back to look in his eyes. “You know I love you, Mia. I wouldn’t have said it if I didn’t mean it. I just don’t want you to give yourself to me and regret it later. So much has been going on since we started this. I know we’ve known each other our whole lives, and there is love there, but I don’t want you to mistake loving me with being in love. We’ve been friends for as long as I can remember, and I just can’t take that step until I know it’s what you truly want.”
He felt her hand sliding up his chest, and when she placed her hand around his neck, his head turned to her. “I love you. I’m in love with you. How else would you explain all this? I’m eighteen, and the only boy I’ve kissed is you. The only boy besides my brother who has held me when I cry is you. You’re the first person I call when I’m happy and the first I call when things are bad. I really feel like you would drop the world for me, and I couldn’t think of anyone else I would want to give myself to for the first time or any time after that. I need you to love me that much.”
He gripped the sides of her head and gave her a gentle kiss. Pulling back, he stroked her cheek with his thumb. “I already love you so much more than that. Baby girl, you’re it for me. I’ve never wanted anyone as much as I want you. I just want to be sure you’re ready.”
“I’m ready. I’m so ready I could burst. I know they say young love doesn’t last, but I don’t think we will have that problem. I’m going to love you forever.”
“Forever?”
“Forever. I hope that’s what you want.”
“It’s exactly what I need. You’re sure about this? I mean, I wanted it to be special for you.”
“It’s special because I’m with you. Knowing that no one else has been this close to you and that I am the only one makes it more special than you know.”
Tyree laid her back on the bed, kissing her all the way down. He wanted to wait. He wanted more for their first time. He wanted candles, flowers, and music. He wanted her to feel how much he needed her. Sitting up on the bed, he saw the look that crossed her face and felt bad. He never meant to make her feel like he didn’t want this, but he couldn’t help feeling like he was cheating her.
He stood, pacing the floor, and she sat up, crossing her arms over her chest. The rain was beating against the window, and the thunder crackled, being followed by a bolt of lightning. It was then that he saw the tear streaking her cheek. Moving slowly from the bed, she stood and crossed the room to the door. He reached for her, but she brushed his arm away.
“Stop, Ty. You don’t want me. I see that now. I know they say sex is not as fun if you’re with a virgin, but I thought you would understand. I guess you’d rather be with someone who knows what they’re doing.”
He grabbed her wrist and pushed the door shut. Pressing himself against her, he felt her breathing hitch. He knew she felt his bulge, and he placed his hands on her hips. Pulling her back enough to turn her around, he attacked her neck, pressing her against the door.
“I want you, baby. I want you.”
“Ty.” She hissed his name between kisses and wrapped her arms around his neck. He picked her up by the hips and carried her back to bed while she wrapped her legs around his waist. Walking to the front of the bed and kicking it to be sure of the location, he slid her down and stepped back to admire the scene. When she sat up, he ran his hand down her lips and kissed her neck, trailing his tongue to her ear.
“I swear I want you, and I don’t know what I’m doing either. If you won’t hold it against me, I want to try something, but you have to trust me.”
She nodded, and he abandoned her body, walking to the dresser, shuffling around until he found what he was looking for. Placing a CD in her player, he turned to find a smile on her face.
“Leaving your music here now? How sneaky.”
Walking over and pulling her up, he ran his hand over her smooth skin. Everything about her was perfect, from her flawless skin to her round, supple ass. He couldn’t wait to dig his fingers into it and grip it, pulling her against him. He felt his erection growing, and he knew he needed to take care of himself before he ended everything prematurely. He hadn’t actually had sex before, but he had done things, with other girls of course, but he wanted this time with her to be everything she dreamed of.
Sliding his fingers up her body, he pushed the straps of her gown over, and she pushed him back, lowering her feet to the floor. When she stood, the gown floated away from her body, revealing her in nothing but black lace panties. He swore he had never seen anything more perfect than this until she hooked her fingers in the sides of her panties, sliding them down.
Watching her sent him into a daze. He wasn’t sure this was real. He wasn’t sure this was all happening, that the girl he had loved his entire life was standing in front of him, ready and willing. It was a dream. He convinced himself none of this was happening until he felt her lips on his neck. For a virgin, she had a handle on this teasing thing. She sat on his lap and pulled at his hoodie bringing the tank along with it. His chest was bared to her, but she wasn’t stopping. Standing from the bed and pulling him with her, he lost his breath when he felt her small hand pull the strings of his shorts and drop them to the hardwood floor. His boxers were next, and in removing them, her fingertips grazed his hardened shaft. The moan that escaped him seemed to have startled her, but she kept going until they were both completely naked.
