Loved by the Plus Sign

by ChaShiree M.

  Loved By The Plus Sign

  A Tattooed Brides Novella

  ChaShiree M.

  KinkyBoo Publishing

  Copyright © 2020 by ChaShiree M.

  All rights reserved.

  No part of this book may be reproduced in any form or by any electronic or mechanical means, including information storage and retrieval systems, without written permission from the author, except for the use of brief quotations in a book review.

  Cover Created by KL Fast

  Created with Vellum

  Contents

  Blurb

  Prologue

  1. Vanessa

  2. Pedro

  3. Vanessa

  4. Pedro

  5. Vanessa

  6. Pedro

  7. Vanessa

  8. Pedro

  9. Vanessa

  Epilogue

  Epilogue

  Acknowledgments

  About the Author

  Other Books by ChaShiree M.

  Dedicated to my real-life Vanessa and Pedro Covarrubias. You two are my real-life super couple. I love you both. Hope you enjoy your story.

  Blurb

  Vanessa

  My life has never been a fairytale. I didn’t have the attentive parents, the friends I could talk too, or the home filled with safety and love. What I have always had was a big sister I could depend on and a love for helping others. Being the fat girl was always my Achilles heel until a guy showed some interest in me in college. Then, he broke my heart and butchered what self-esteem I had left. I vowed to never again let anyone have that much power over me. Until Pedro dropped into my life.

  I want to believe everything he says, but, how can I? I might not have a choice when that plus sign shows up.

  Pedro

  I wasn’t looking for Vanessa, but I sure as hell am more than happy when I find her. She is everything I have been waiting for. Beautiful, kind, strong and most of all, MINE!!! Even though she is trying to fight it and doesn't believe it.

  She gives in to what is inevitable one night and finally I can make her see everything I have been trying to tell her. SHE IS MY EVERYTHING!!!! Our future is my reason for living and I won't even let her darken that sun.

  Join Vanessa and Pedro as they let their love carry them to their future.

  Prologue

  Vanessa

  “Wait! Are you breaking up with me?” I find myself asking my boyfriend of two years.

  “I am. I mean let’s be serious. Was it really going to work? I thought that if I told you how I felt about the...extra meat you have on your body and gave you some tips on how to lose it, that you’d listen. I mean how many more ways could I have hinted that you would lose me if you stayed fat?” I know I should feel angry and pissed right now and I am sure in time I will. But right now, I can’t help but drop my jaw as I look at the face of this guy, I have been with for two years, busting my ass to be what he thought he wanted me to be, only for him to basically just stand here and tell me it was all in vain and that I was too fat for him. Let’s not forget he said all of this with a straight face, like it was perfectly understandable.

  “Are you being for real right now?” I ask him, the incredulity I am feeling becoming visible.

  “Yes. Who knows, maybe if you would have at least let me fuck you, I might have been more inclined to stay longer… but then again, I would have seen you with your clothes off so… maybe not. Sorry it didn’t work out babe.” and with that he is out the door. I literally fall onto my couch and sit here. I can feel my body shaking but it isn’t until I feel the wetness on my thighs that I realize I am crying. Visibly shaken up and not sure how I am going to go to work tomorrow and pretend this didn’t happen. I suppose if I am being honest, I can admit I don’t care so much about him leaving me as I do about the reason why. I mean, I look in the mirror every day and I know I am not gorgeous like some. Hell, like my big sister Araya. She is absolutely stunning. Perfect shape and hair. She is strong and smart, and she would never have dealt with him for as long as I have.

  “Jerk.” I say as I wipe my face and go into my bedroom to get ready for bed. Standing in front of the mirror I look at myself and admit, even silently that he is right. I have always been chunkier than my sister Ray. She calls it thicker. I simply call it fat. Getting in bed, I can’t help but cry. Once again something I thought I had figured out for my life, is no more. It is in this moment when I make the decision to stop wishing for things that are obviously not in my future. I am done with love. I am done wanting a family. No more dreams of being a mom and a wife. No more visions of a man loving me the way I am. I am going to live my life the way it is and learn to be content with that. Somehow.

  Two Years Later

  Holy hotness. The man that just walked into my house is gorgeous to say the least. He’s tall, but not massive. His muscles are clearly visible through the shirt he is wearing. But it is the facial hair that has me going all gooey inside. Something about a man with hair on his face does something to me. He is here with Dr. Mark, the one who took care of Lily in the ER. She is one of my students who is living in an abusive household. She called me a few days ago to come and get her and it was apparent to me and my sister Araya, that we couldn’t let her go back there. So, we brought her to my place. Now here I am with my sister standing in my living room, trying to stop the ER doc from carrying her out of the house over his shoulder, as his hot friend looks on and smiles. I feel the hair on my neck standing because he has been smiling at me. I am so not used to men looking at me with anything other than disgust.

  “Mark. Maybe we should come back. Give…” He stops and quirks his eyebrow at me obviously asking me my name. I almost forget it looking at him.

  “Vanessa. My name is Vanessa.” I say my eyes down face burning up.

  “Vanessa.” He whispers. Like he just learned a secret word or something. “We should leave and let Vanessa have time to talk to Lily. Considering what she has been through, it should be her choice. Don’t you think? You don’t want to be another controlling man in her life. Do you?” Who is this guy? If I was any other woman, I would be throwing myself at him right now. Hearing him try to look at from this poor girl’s point of view is more than enough to make a hussy. But I have had more than my share of rejection, so I keep my mouth shut.

  “I would never hurt her, Pedro. She was brought to my E.R. that night because she is meant to be mine. I want to protect her from the asshole whose life I am going to take. Jesus, Pedro. You know.” Doctor Mark says to him clearly distressed by the thought of something happening to her.

  “Yes. I do know.” Pedro responds looking right at me. I suck in my breath, trying to keep my body from waning. “Look, give Vanessa your number and let her call you when she has had time to figure this all out. How does that sound?” He says talking to the both of us. I nod my head not trusting myself to speak. As soon as they walk out the door, I lean against it exhaling all the air I have been holding in, my head spinning and dizzy. Why did that just feel like something else? Something...epic. Like my life just changed.

  1

  Vanessa

  Two Weeks Later

  “Do you have to go to the newspaper club today?” I ask Lily as I pack up my bag to leave school for the day. It has been two weeks since the day my sister and I picked her up from behind the bleachers and so far, she seems to be flourishing. Her bruises and injuries are healing nicely, and she is even smiling more than I have ever seen her smile. The one thing that takes that smile right off of her face, is when we have to go and talk to the lawyer my brother-in-law Travis hired to strip her father of his rights and give me temporary guardianship over her until her 18th birthday in a little more than sixty days.

&nbs
p; “No. They canceled it for the spring fling tonight.” She says her voice a bit wistful as she looks off in a daze walking to the car.

  “Oh yea. I forgot that was tonight. Did you want to go? We could go shopping right now. Find you a dress or something.” She shakes her head no. “Are you sure? It’s your senior year. I don’t want you to miss anything.” I am about to bring her in for a hug when one of two male voices that have been a constant for the past few weeks intercepts.

  “Yes, she is sure. She has no need for a dance. Isn’t that right, Lily.” I turn to face Mark, as he has told me to call him.

  “Well it should be her decision don’t you think?” I cross my arms, so he knows I mean business.

  “I agree. I believe she did decide. She said no. Besides, she and I have plans already. Didn’t she tell you?” He looks at Lily and smirks, more than evident she didn’t tell me anything.

  “Lily. Is this true?” I ask her, making sure my voice is low and soft, so she knows I am not upset. I am not her mother and I am not trying to be. However, I feel more than responsibility for her. She is like...the little sister I never had. I want her to know she can talk to me. “Lily?” I say her name again and touch her shoulder wanting her to look at me.

  “Yes.” she whispers her eyes finally meeting mine and grabbing some more of my heart.

  “That’s fine, sweet girl. I just want to be sure it was your choice and you didn’t feel pressured into it.” I say the last part looking at Mark.

  “Two weeks and that is what you think of me. I would never force her to do anything. You know that. Don’t you baby?” He pushes her hair back from her forehead and I have to admit that the adoration and devotion I see coming from his eyes even makes me envious. She nods her head and blushes.

  “Well great then. Alright. Do you need anything? Here. Takes this twenty. Just in case.” I say trying to hand her money. Before she can reach for it, Mark pushes my hand away.

  “She doesn’t need money. There is nothing she could ask for, need or want that I won’t die trying to give her.” With that he escorts her to his car next to mine and opens the passenger door. This guy really gets my goat.

  “As her guardian, I have a right to know where you are taking her.” I say not moving so he knows I am serious. I hear him grumble with his back turned to me. I look over at Lily and see she is giggling. She always says that the banter back and forth between the two of us is funny.

  “If you must know, we are going to the movies because my lady over here wants to see the Little Women remake. Afterwards, we are going to go to my place.” I see red warning signs buzzing all over my mind.

  “I don’t think so!” I tell him walking closer to his car in case I need to pull her out. “There is no reason for her to….”

  “Yes, there is. It is going to be her home on her 18th birthday. I want her to see it. Figure out if she likes it. I want to know if I need to look for a new home. I am not going to touch her before her birthday. You have my word.” He moves in closer to me, his voice lowering an octave. “I need her to be comfortable with me. I know you don’t believe me, but she is my everything. I will never hurt her, Vanessa.” His eyes convey what even my heart knows to be true.

  “You really love her.” The shock in my voice loud and clear.

  “I really do. From the moment you brought her into the ER, something in me changed. Please. Trust me. If you trust me, so will she.” I look at her in the car, nerves all over her face.

  “Have fun, Lily. See you when you get home.” I rub her cheek before nodding at Mark and walking away. Who am I to stand in the way of something like that? Even if I am worried about how her heart will feel when it is all over.

  The entire drive home my mind is a whirr with questions, thoughts and feelings I don’t know what to do with. One of which is Pedro. He has been texting and calling me every day, sometimes multiple times a day. I have yet to answer. It’s not that I don’t want to, but to be honest, I’m terrified. I don’t think my heart could stand to be broken again. This is my thought the whole ride home, my stomach feeling queasy. It isn’t until I get out of the car and my stomach begins to rumble some more, that I realize I haven’t thought about food. “Pizza it is.” Pulling up my Uber Eats app, I order my sausage, peppers and onions pizza and go upstairs to change. Falling on my bed, I take a deep breath. “Why does this day feel so much longer than the rest? Spring break cannot come fast enough.” Making myself get back up, I put on some sweats and a t-shirt and walk downstairs to grab my wallet. The pizza should be coming any minute and I need to get some papers graded before tomorrow.

  Ding Dong.

  Crap. I run down the stairs haven taken too long to grab my wallet. “I’m so...Pedro! What are you doing here?” I am more than shocked to that anything left my mouth finding him standing here in front of my door holding my pizza box.

  “I came to see you. May I come in?” he asks leaning against the door looking every bit as sexy as I remember a few weeks ago. My initial instinct is to tell him no, especially given how I am dressed. My mouth apparently is not my own because before I stop it, it is saying, “Yes. Please.” As my legs that also don’t belong to me, move aside so he can get in. What the hell is happening to my body? He walks into my living room like he owns it and sits the pizza down on my coffee table.

  “You haven’t been returning my phone calls, Vanessa. How long did you think I was going to let that go on?” His voice booming through me, making everything inside of me wake up and take notice. I find myself frozen to my spot, unable to say anything, fearful that I am going to let on how much I crave him, even when he is not around. “Nothing to say, tulip?” I melt. I love when he calls me tulip. Though I have yet to ask him why. I am so stuck in that thought, that I don’t realize he is upon me until his hand wraps around my waist and he brings me into his chest. “That’s fine, tulip. You don’t have to say anything. I would much rather put your mouth to work a different way.” His mouth lands on mine and I lose it. I can feel the tears running down my face, even as we ravage one another. Why does this feel so right?

  2

  Pedro

  I feel the wetness from her eyes as my tongue dances inside her mouth making sure to take each tear as they fall above her lip into me as well. All of her belongs to me, even her sadness. “Stop. Mmm. Stop Pedro.” She says pushing me away and pulling me back. Everything inside of me is telling me to keep going. Convincing me she simply needs a little help concluding what I already know. We were created with each other’s heart in a safe place until we met.

  “You have nothing to be sorry for, baby. I am sorry. I should not have pushed you.” I say stepping back trying to get ahold of myself. I turn and hang my head for a second gathering myself, talking myself out of pulling her back into my arms and taking her.

  “Maybe you should leave. I appreciate you stopping by, but this ...” She says waving her hands back and forth between the two of us. “Can’t happen. OK? I don’t do this. Not since…” she stops just short of finishing her statement, hurt and pain written all over her face. The detective in me is clenching and unclenching my hands, my head repeating the mantra over and over to not leave here, go to the office and look up her life so I can find the dead fuck that made her feel some type of way about herself. If I walk out right now, I will only be proving her messed up view of herself right and I am not about to feed into this shit. No. I have to take a different approach.

  “Naw. I think I will stay and have dinner with you. What’s on the pizza?” I ask sitting down on the couch opening the box. I could give three shits what is on the pizza, but I need her to know I am not easy to get rid of. “I won’t bite. Well, at least not yet. Come. Sit and eat.” I say patting the seat next to me. She stands in the same spot, swaying back and forth trying to decide, biting her lip making me bite mine. “Please sit baby. I am barely holding it together. Your wall is looking sturdy right now, tulip. You want to test it out?” I ask her my eyebrow raising up, proving how ser
ious I am. She squeaks as the realization dawns and she sits rather quickly. “Thank you, love. Now eat.”

  “What if I don’t want to eat?” She asks her attitude making her sexier.

  “Oh? Something else you have in mind, do you?” I start unbuttoning my shirt, seeing how far I can take it.

  “Fine.” She picks up a piece and takes a bite. Watching her throat move up and down is not helping my situation right now. Damn it.

  “Where’s Lily?” I know she is still staying here.

  “Your friend came and picked her up as we were leaving the school. They should be coming back soon.”

  “Well I don’t want to be here when she gets back. She might need to talk to you. Where do you want to go out to tomorrow?” I ask nonchalantly not bothering to give her a conversation about it.

  “I’m sorry. What are you talking about?” Her face, astonished and doubtful.

  “We are going on a date tomorrow and this is not a question tulip. I am done waiting on you, baby. This is going to happen. The question is; how much fun are you going to give me in enticing you?” She stands from the couch and begins moving toward the door.