I leaned closer but she glared at me. “Go home Patrick! Go!”
I felt like someone had reached through the walls of my chest, taken my heart into their fist and squeezed the life out of it. I opened my mouth, but the look on her face said that it wasn’t going to matter what I said right now. I turned around and left.
As I passed Damien and Rick in the parking lot, it took every ounce of self-control inside of me to keep from pummeling him to death. He’s really lucky that I am not my father.
KIARA
Angie pressed the soft cloth to the cut near my lip and I winced. I had bruises on both of my arms where Damien had grabbed me and on my back from where he shoved me into the counter. I shifted on the stool and she whispered, “Be still.”
I looked over at my sweet baby, asleep in the chair a few feet from us. He wouldn’t leave my side until he finally passed out.
“I’m okay, Angie.”
She sighed. “Physically, maybe. I called Marge and told her to take you off the schedule for a week…”
“Angie…”
“Don’t argue with me,” she said through gritted teeth. “You may be okay physically, but you need a break, and Kalen needs you here at home.”
“Are you angry with me?”
“No. I’m angry with the situation. I hate seeing you go through this. I hate seeing Kalen go through this. What might have happened if Patrick hadn’t shown up?”
“The problem was that I went out with Patrick in the first place. I shouldn’t have done that. This is my fault.”
“Okay, now I’m mad at you! This is not your fault…but you cannot continue to let that monster run your life. One of these days he’s going to kill you and then when will Kalen be? You are going to have to press charges or he will never leave you alone.”
“And put my son’s father in prison?”
“Your son’s father put himself there. Are you really willing to give up a chance with your new life… with Patrick…for this? This is how you want to live your life? This is how you want Kalen to grow up?”
Tears were rolling down my cheeks. “I thought I was doing the right thing for Kalen.”
“I know you did, honey.” Her tone softened. “But I’m telling you that you’re not. He needs to see his mother be strong enough to say enough and refuse to live her life this way. And he needs a good man like Pat in his life…and so do you. You have got to believe you deserve that.”
My head was spinning. I wanted nothing more than to be with Patrick, but I had such a hard time imagining a better life.
“Idowant him,” I whispered.
Angie smiled and kissed my cheek. “Then go get him.” I nodded and looked at Kalen.
“Go, I’ll tuck him in. He’ll be fine.”
“Thank you.”
“I love you. Go get your life.”
When I got in the car, I dialed Patrick’s number. Mrs. Rose answered. “Hello?”
“Rose?”
“Yes. Kiara? How are you dear?”
“I’ve been better, Rose. Where is Patrick?”
“He went home. He must have left his phone at the center. He was awfully upset honey.”
I started crying again. “I know. I hurt him. I’m so sorry.”
“He told me what happened. I’m so sorry you had to go through that.”
“What can I do Rose? I don’t know what to do. Is Kalen going to hate me for putting his father in jail?”
“Honey I don’t think your son will hate you no matter what decision you make. I used to think my sons would hate me for not leaving their father. They didn’t, but now that he’s in jail I do realize that just because you love someone…or a part of them…doesn’t mean that you can change who they are. You have to do what’s right for you and your son. Is he a good example? Would you want your son to be like him?”
“No! Not ever!”
A silence hung between us before she spoke again. “Do you care for my son, Kiara?”
“So much.”
“Then I think you have your answer. I know I’m biased, but Patrick is a good man. He would never hurt you.”
“Thank you Rose. Is he at home?”
“Yes. Remember this…Your son’s father has chosenhisway of life. You didn’t choose it for him. He knows by now that you won’t ever live with him or marry him because of it…yet he continues on. He’s not going to change. Unless you let him accept his own consequences, he’ll continue to heap the blame and the pain on you and your son.”
“I’ll remember that. Rose… do you think it’s too late? Do you think he’ll still… want this, want me?”
“Honey, ever since things got bad in our family, Pat was the one that held us up. He hasn’t been with a woman that he cared to tell me about since he was a kid…and he tells me everything. He doesn’t want to lose you…and he doesn’t want to be with anyone else.”
I raced to Patrick’s apartment, praying the whole time that Rose was right and I wasn’t too late. He protected me…he stood up for me…he did what no other man has ever done for me. Rose is right; he is a good man…the best. If I lose him, I will be losing the best thing that ever came into mine and my son’s life.
PATRICK
The whiskey burned as it went down my throat, but as soon as the glass was empty, I poured another. I wanted to be drunk enough to forget the look in Kiara’s eyes when she told me to leave. I downed the next shot and let my eyes fall on the photo of my brother Shane and his wife Kenya and I at their wedding. Shane told me that night that he was finally complete. I believed him. That’s what I want…I thought I’d found it with Kiara. I thought she was the missing piece.
I threw the glass into the fireplace and took some small pleasure in listening to it shatter the way my heart had when she’d thrown me out.
I walked over and looked out over the bay into the lights of the city. None of this mattered if I was all alone. Dropping down onto the couch, I let the pain lull me into sleep. Just before I drifted off I heard the doorbell.
I sighed, thinking it was either my mother…or she’d sent Colin over to check on me. I heavily made my way to the door and pulled it open.
I was shocked to see Kiara standing there. She had tears staining her face and her eyes were weary. It only served to make me want to kill Damien again…no matter how angry she got with me.
“Can I come in?” Her voice sounded smaller than usual.
Absently, I stepped back and let her in. She paced over to the window and stood looking over the skyline. I closed the door and waited. From here she looked so beautiful with the foggy city lights flickering around her. She finally turned to face me. “I’m so sorry, Patrick.”
“For what?”
“For pushing you away. You protected me. You stood up for me…I’m just so afraid.” She looked down. I wanted this woman so badly.
“What are you afraid of Kiara?” Was that my voice that sounded so small too?
“I’m afraid…oh God Patrick, I’m afraid Kalen will hate me for what I have to do and I’m afraid that… eventually all of this will be… an illusion. That you’ll change.”
I smiled, slowly making my way in front of her. “Kalen worships the ground you walk on. What you should be worried about is that he won’t leave you until he’s forty.” She gave me a half smile and looked up, her eyes glittering with tears.
“I’m not going to change into a monster, Kiara. I had plenty of opportunities to do that when I worked with my father and I refused. I will never hurt you.”
She swallowed hard and straightened her back. “Okay. So, can we still be friends?”
I tried not to smile. “Friends? Is that what we are baby?”
“I don’t…I mean…what do you want us to be?”
I took her hands in mine. “I want us to be everything. God, I love you Kiara. I want to be everything to you…and your son… I want to be totally yours baby.”
The tears were spilling down her cheeks again. She wrapped her arms around m
e. “I love you too.”
The world tilted on its axis and a piece of my life felt complete. “I need you Kiara...”
“I feel the same way,” she said.
I put my arms around her and propped her up against the glass wall. I found her lips with mine and we kissed deeply, sucking and licking each other’s lips like we were starving. I didn’t want to rush her after everything she’d been through but the way she whispered my name told me that this was what she wanted.
We both quickly peeled off our clothes as our hands sought to touch every part revealed. She reached down and took my cock in her hands.
“I need you right now,” she whispered into my ear. I moaned loudly as she lined me up with her opening. This was my woman and I wanted to give her every fucking inch of me.
Reaching down, I picked her up and she wrapped her sexy legs around me. I pressed her back into the glass as I pushed hard into her. Pulling one of her hands above her, I pounded my cock deep inside of her making sure to leave marks along her neck with my mouth. I wanted her to know she was mine.
I kept kissing her and sucking on her tongue working my way gently over her cut. She groaned into my mouth. I could feel her juices running down my thighs as I relentlessly drove my cock into her. I’d never needed anyone as badly as I needed her tonight. She pulled her mouth away from mine and panted. “Fuck Patrick…oh yes!”
I slid a hand down between us and dipped my fingers in her wetness, taking the time to flick her clit while I was there. She cried out and I brought my wet fingers back up and spread the juice across her nipple.
Still fucking her, I leaned down and sucked it into my mouth. She used the muscles in her thighs to clench onto me tight and bounce up and down. She was getting close. So very close.
I pulled my mouth off her and brought it up to her neck. I kissed and sucked and bit there before putting my mouth to her ear.
“Come for me baby…come for me…”
“Come with me!” She screamed out. I was right on the verge. I thrust a few more times hard and deep before she went rigid in my arms. I let myself go then and we both cried out as I rocked a few more times up inside of her, milking out every drop.
“I love you!” I panted out.
“I love you too,” she said in a sexy, husky voice.
I needed her again. As I carried her down the hall to the bedroom she giggled in my arms.
I’d never felt so right.
EPILOGUE - KIARA
“Colin hates kale.” Camilla said this as she stuffed a piece of it in her mouth.
Rose snorted. “I used to make him eat it. It’s good for him.”
Camilla laughed. “He told me that you made him sit at the table one night until almost midnight because he wouldn’t eat it.”
“That boy,” Rose said, shaking her head. “He exaggerates. It was from six to seven. At seven I finally gave in. He ate it after that every time I made it though.”
I couldn’t help it, I laughed. That made Camilla break too.
“What?” Rose said. “What’s so funny?”
“He never ate it,” Camilla said, gulping air between laughs.
“What? Yes he did! He cleaned his plate.” Rose looked between us confused.
“No, Patrick cleaned it for him. He told me that he felt bad for Colin so when you went to the kitchen to get them something they’d asked for, he ate it.”
The shocked look on Rose’s face was comical and Camilla and I started laughing again. I rubbed my hands over my big swollen belly.
“I wonder if Kalen will love this little one enough to eat his spinach for him?”
Rose snorted. “I’m sure he will. Tell him to just look at his giant step-daddy. Uncle Colin would be that big too if he ate his own spinach.”
We all laughed again. My heart was so full. I never dreamed that I could be so happy. Patrick and I had gotten married downtown and this summer…after our baby comes…we’re going to renew our vows in a small ceremony underneath the oak tree at my grandpa’s house in West Virginia…I can’t wait.
“Honey! I’m home!” Colin burst in the back door and right behind him came the two most beautiful males in the world as far as I was concerned.
Kalen ran up to me with a huge grin. “Mama! I caught one! I caught a fish!”
I clapped my hands together. “You did? I’m so proud.” I grabbed him and hugged him to my chest sweetly.
Patrick looked down at us and smiled. “I caught one too,” he said, feigning hurt. “How about I get some of that action?”
I smiled up at him as he wrapped his arms around us both. Everyone in the world that I needed to be complete was with me now…finally.
THE END
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The following is an excerpt of Veronica Maxim’s military romance Dangerous Love Benefits - your FREE copy is available on Instant Download in our Book Club!
COLE
The first thing I noticed when I woke up from surgery was the smell of roses. That was weird. Of all the things I associated with hospitals, roses wasn’t one of them. I’d been expecting pain, the smell of disinfectant. Maybe even men in face masks staring down at me. But not roses. I tried to open my eyes, but the anesthetic still had me foggy and exhausted.
My training kicked in. Intelligence is what gives you the upper hand. So what did I know?My name is Cole Huntley. I was shipped back from the Middle East after sustaining a burn the size of a dinner plate over my hip and abdomen. After an eighteen-hour flight from hell, I was rushed into the emergency room, knocked out cold, and prepped for emergency surgery.
I could assume that I was still in the military hospital, and I seemed to be lying on a bed. Must be in a ward. Not much noise around me, but I could hear the sound of birds singing. Muted, as though it came from the other side of a window. Middle of the day. As for the smell of roses… well, nobody was going to leave flowers by my bedside. The smell had to belong to a person.
There was a person who smelled like roses in the room with me. I decided to make myself known. A little bit of major emergency abdominal surgery wasn’t going to get me down! I cleared my throat and said, “There’s plenty of room in this bed if you need to take a nap too.”
At least, that’s what I tried to say. The anesthetic wasn’t having it though, and I ended up just mumbling a long string of unintelligible syllables. Oh well. Worth a shot.
“Oh, you’re awake,” said a female voice. It’s hard to tell without looking, of course, but this woman sounded attractive. She soundedsoft. Silky. Her voice was like a caress. I sensed her leaning over me. “Can you open your eyes?”
“For you, sweetheart, anything,” I mumbled. It came out a little better this time, but still not perfect. I’m sure she got the gist. I tried to pry my eyes open, and to my surprise, I succeeded. Light flooded my brain. I was on a clean, white, sterile hospital ward, and leaning over me was one of the most beautiful creatures I’d ever seen.
“You’ve got to be the most beautiful nurse I’ve ever seen,” I said. Third time’s the charm – this time my words were a little slurred, but otherwise intelligible. A frown crossed the woman’s face.
“I’m a doctor,” she said. “Your doctor, in fact.” She looked me up and down. “My name is Dr. Piper Phillips, and I’ll be supervising your recovery.”
I swallowed hard. A civilian. Not a great start. But the doctor really was beautiful. I’d never seen anyone with hair such a golden color, or with a set of features so perfectly arranged. Her skin was smooth and radiant, and her blue eyes bore straight into me with a sharp intelligence. Not only that, but her breasts were stunning. Hidden, of course, beneath a sensible blouse, but I could see they were full, rounded and heavy.
“Well,” I said, doing my best to sound casual despite the fogginess, “You gotta promise to go easy on me, Doctor Piper. I’ve been in battle. The fight of my life.”
That seemed to reach her – a tight little smile flashed across her lips. I felt like grinning. Once
you’ve made a woman smile, you’re halfway there. I lay back on my bed as she read my chart and checked me over. I can’t say I didn’t enjoy it. My pulse spiked just looking at her.
“How long have you been a doctor?” I asked as she was updating my chart.
Piper looked at me with that piercing gaze. “Four years now. Why do you ask?”
“Just curious,” I said. “You look very young. You must be one of those gifted ones.”
That got a little bit of a smile too, but not much. I could tell that she was holding back, keeping herself professional. That only made me more determined to crack her shell. I knew it was possible. I’ve got a sixth sense for when women are attracted to me. It’s one of those things that I just know. It’s not the best superpower in the world, but it has its moments.
“Are you wearing perfume, Doc?” I asked, making it sound like I’d only just now noticed.
“A little,” said Piper without looking up.
“Roses?”
“Yeah.” She glanced up at me this time. Each look from those perfect blue eyes was its own reward. I would have loved to have her stare at me all day. Not to mention have those tits hanging over me again.
“Huh. Well then, thanks!”
“For what?”
“Your perfume was what woke me up. First thing I was aware of.” I looked her up and down, taking in her pert little body hidden beneath her sensible clothes. My cock stirred from deep below and I imaged wrapping my big hands all over her tight curves. Oh yes, she would fit nicely under me. Her face flushed as my eyes hovered over her lips. Fair’s fair – she had been checking me over a minute ago. “Believe me,” I said, “there are worse ways to wake up. In fact, I’d have to say you’re the nicest thing I’ve opened my eyes to in quite some time.”
That did it. The smile that broke onto her face – just for a second – was a genuine one. Wide, not forced, and it reached her eyes. I smiled back, and for a minute I felt the hot tension between us. Piper glanced away. She hung my chart up on the edge of my bed and swiveled on her heel.
BWWM: BEFORE I WAKE: A Bad Boy Billionaire Book Collection (African American Interracial Series) Page 302
