by London Casey
Then she turned and looked at Donna.
I wasn’t there to know how badly their friendship broke down. And there were a few silent seconds that made me wonder if one of them was going to throw the first punch.
Instead, at the exact same second, they both jumped at each other for a hug.
I smiled.
I saw Prick readying some kind of comment.
Max was right there to shove at his shoulder and motion for the door.
Then Tate said, “We’ll give you all some privacy. Just know, brother, we’re all here. Always here. Feel better.”
I put a fist out, and they all punched at me.
Then it was just myself, Hazel, and Donna.
I said, “I’d go too, but I’m sort of stuck here.”
Hazel laughed, tears in her eyes.
Donna then said, “Nice to meet you.”
“Nice to meet you too.”
“I can’t believe this is happening,” Hazel said.
I reached for her hand again. “Sugar, believe it…anything is real, if you believe it.”
52
HAZEL
PRESENT DAY
We cried as we drank wine. Donna brought two old photo albums, and each picture seemed funnier than the last one. Finally, we found a picture of me and her sitting on the top of her old concrete steps, her old house in the background. I remembered the picture vividly. It was middle of summer, when it felt like everything was too hot, annoying, and you just wanted some relief. Playing in the pool was boring. Playing with the hose would get you yelled at for wasting water. And waiting for the ice cream truck wasn’t cool anymore, because we were in that weird stage of not being kids but not being old enough to do anything fun.
So, we’d sit on the steps and just talk.
For hours.
I put my hand to the page and stopped the entire night.
I looked at her.
“Hazel…”
I shook my head. “It’s been a week. I’ve been tied up with Maddox, getting him out of the hospital and settled. I’ve been waiting for this night for a long time. I’m so sorry, Donna. For everything. I took our friendship and threw it away.”
“No, you didn’t.”
“Just listen to me. Please.”
“Okay,” she said.
“You were right. And I didn’t know how to respond to that. I didn’t know how to get help. I didn’t how to get away from it. And I put you on the spot to cover it all up. How the fuck could I do that to you? What was I thinking? Of course you’d reach a breaking point. Then you did, and I left.”
“Hazel…”
“Not yet,” I said. “You saved me.”
“I saved you?” Donna asked.
“I lived in regret for such a long time. And there were times when he would threaten to go after you. So, I stayed away. But…that night that you called me. When you were drunk. I decided right then that I was going to standup for myself. So, I did. I can tell you stories, Donna. And I will. But I want you to know that I never stopped regretting what I did. And I never stopped thinking about you. I would look you up. I saw how successful you were becoming. And it made me happy.”
Donna nodded. “Alright, my turn, so shut up.” She winked. “I shouldn’t have pounced on you like I did. I get it, Hazel. After I opened my first shop, I got with a guy who…you know…”
“No.”
“Yeah. The first time it happened, I instantly thought of you. Everything I ever said to you. Because now I was then the one cowering in the corner, afraid of him. I finally broke down and was able to do what I had to do legally to take care of him. But I get it. It’s unfair. It’s scary. It leaves you feeling so worthless and dark inside. And that’s the one thing nobody sees. How dark it is on the inside. I’m so sorry, Hazel, I never realized how dark you felt on the inside. My words pushed you away. I could have just thrown you out of my apartment and locked the door. I get it. That’s why when Maddox called me, I was running to the door.” She laughed. “I waited too long. We both did. Stubborn, the two of us.”
“Well, not anymore. I’m happy. Are you?”
Donna nodded to the engagement ring on her finger and smiled. “Very happy.”
“I think Maddox might be the guy to give me one of those,” I said. “And that scares me.”
“It should scare you,” Donna said. “That’s the great thing about it. It scares you, yet you say yes when the time comes.”
I closed the photo album. “Hey. Let’s take a new picture. Start a new book. You and me.”
“I like that,” Donna said. “And, hey, just to put it out there. I could use someone at my shop now and again to take pictures of the hair styles we do. We’ve been using our phones, and it’s not all that great. I was thinking of putting together a book. My…fiancé…”she said in an accent, “he works in finance and knows someone who knows someone who’s willing to publish the book for me.”
“Look at you,” I said. “All famous.”
I set up my camera and set a timer. The first picture we took was normal. Then we took a silly one. And then…well, we spent an hour taking pictures. Laughing. Crying. Hugging. Talking. Sipping wine. Filling our glasses while making goofy faces.
It was amazing.
I hadn’t seen Donna in years, but it was like I just saw her last Tuesday.
I may have had a little too much to drink.
Donna fell asleep on the couch first. I put a blanket on her and kissed her cheek.
I stumbled through my apartment and finally fell into my bed.
My phone then lit up with a text message.
Check your email, sugar
I fumbled with the screen and managed to get my email open.
Maddox had forwarded something to me.
A link.
To a house.
A house?
I looked at it.
It was a beautiful one, too. Right near the edge of Hundred Falls Valley. Complete with an in-law suite. A really big house.
I laughed as I looked at the pictures.
Then I text him back.
Planning on buying me a house and having Donna move in?
I giggled again, alone in my room.
Then my phone rang.
“Sugar,” Maddox said. “What did you think?”
“I don’t understand,” I said, feeling my words slur.
“Oh, that wine did you good.”
“Shut up.”
“Need me to come over and tuck you in?”
“Yes.”
Maddox laughed. “That house…”
“I don’t get it,” I said.
“Sugar, I bought it. Today.”
“What?”
“I got bored. So, I bought a house. For you.”
“For me? You’re going to live in the in-law suite?”
“No, sugar. We’re living in the house. And the in-law suite is yours. For your business. I love you, Hazel with the green eyes. You should get some sleep.”
“Wait, wait, wait…Maddox…”
“It’s okay. Just believe, and it’s all real. I’ll see you tomorrow, sugar.”
Maddox ended the call.
I hurried back to the pictures of the house.
I sat up in bed, smiling for a long time. A really long time. I couldn’t stop looking at the pictures.
A house? Maddox? Me? My business?
I told myself I must have had way too much wine. I was drunk and dreaming.
I put my phone next to me and shut my eyes.
I had myself half convinced I’d wake up and it would all be a dream.
But what a dream to have, right?
I woke up with a boulder on my forehead.
I heard voices talking.
I grabbed my phone, and after a few swipes, my eyes went wide.
It was all real. The text from Maddox. The email. The house.
Forcing myself out of bed, I went to track down the voices.
I opened my bedroom door and smelled food and c
offee.
My stomach curdled, and I almost threw up. A wine hangover was terrible. Just terrible.
Then I saw Maddox.
He walked through my line of sight.
“Tell me what you think,” he said.
“You didn’t have to do this,” Donna’s voice said.
“I’m sure you two are feeling it.”
“I think Hazel got it worse,” Donna said.
I stumbled down the hallway and ran a hand through my hair.
“I’m fine, by the way,” I said. “And screw you both.”
“There she is,” Maddox said. He hurried to me and kissed me. “Good morning, sugar.”
“Are you allowed to drive?” I asked.
“Nope,” he said.
“What are you doing, then?”
“Making you breakfast,” he said. “It’s been long enough. And then I’m going to help you pack this place up. It’s moving day.”
“Moving…?”
“I bought that house. It’s ours, Hazel. The place is empty. Things are moving fast. Tate called in a few favors for me, and we’re allowed to start moving in today.”
“Today…”
“Today,” Maddox said. “I move fast, Hazel. When I see something I want, I get it.”
“Should I go somewhere?” Donna asked. “Give you two a minute?”
Maddox and I looked at each other. Then we looked at Donna.
At the same time, we both said, “YES.”
Donna stood up. “I’ll just take my breakfast to go…on the balcony.”
“Sorry,” I whispered.
“Don’t be,” she said. She winked at me.
Maddox scooped me up.
“You can’t be lifting me,” I yelled.
“Hazel, I mean this with all my heart. Be quiet, sugar. I’m going to carry you today, tomorrow, and for the rest of your life. No matter how much it hurts or the risk it may cause me, you are worth everything. And for every day, week, month, and year you had to live feeling like you didn’t have that worth…I’m going to make it up to you. Starting now.”
Maddox kissed me, stealing my words, my breath, and the rest of my heart.
He carried me to the bedroom.
And that day, I figured out a good cure for a wine hangover.
Amazing, hot sex.
53
MADDOX
PRESENT DAY
My hands slid up her hips to her sides. There I held tight as I started thrusting. Her beautiful body reacted to everything I did to her. My right hand eased up and cupped her breast. I loved how full and soft she was. She arched her back and groaned, whispering my name as she locked her legs around my back. I moved harder, faster, feeling every inch of her sweet core.
I thrust and held there, deep inside her. I lowered my chest down to hers and kissed her neck. My tongue flickered up to her ear, and I gently kissed to her mouth. As I kissed her, I started to move again. The subtle change from fucking her to making love to her was natural. Going slow, my cock memorized her body like it had done so many times before.
I broke the kiss and put my nose to hers.
I growled. “Fuck, sugar, you’re so beautiful.”
Her hands clawed at my back. “Stop saying that. Just fuck me right now. Then you can be romantic.”
“Oh yeah?” I asked.
I kissed her lips one more time.
I backed away from her and moved fast. I flipped her onto her left side and thrust back at her. I grabbed her right leg and positioned her right where I wanted her. As I sank back into her, she grabbed for a pillow and pulled it to her face, crying out. I grabbed the pillow and threw it off the bed.
“Sugar, we’re in our own home now,” I said. “Scream all you want and need.”
“Shit,” she whispered.
My left hand cupped her breast. My right hand cupped her ass.
I held her where I wanted her.
I had her where I wanted her.
As she began to climax, I felt an impossible pulse against my shaft, and I had to stop for a second. I hissed, realizing there was no way I’d be able to hold back. I pulled back and pounded forward again. I leaned over her body, my hands going to the bed. I lowered myself down, desperately needing to kiss her. She twisted her body so she could kiss me back and slapped a hand to my face so hard it echoed through the room.
“I’m…”
She tried to apologize, but I just kissed her.
My lower back bucked into her, needing her, demanding her, wanting all of her pleasure, wanting her to feel my pleasure. And she did. She felt it. Because when I started to come, I couldn’t control myself. Hazel brought out the most feral instincts in my body.
She groaned each time I was inside her, our kisses getting wilder by the second.
And then…
I slowly moved away from her body after we were done. But we didn’t stop kissing. Kiss after kiss after kiss, pulling her nude body tight to mine. Holding her there as we were left in the shadowed memory of our love. My hand touching the small of her back, keeping her body tight to mine.
I eventually rolled to my back and pulled her down on top of me.
My hands grabbed her ass, and I growled.
Hazel propped herself up, her hair hanging everywhere.
We just stared at each other.
Then we started to laugh.
For no reason. Because it just felt good to laugh. Because being that comfortable with someone was the greatest feeling in the world.
Her eyes devoured me worse than her camera lens ever could.
I’d forever be in trouble…but I liked trouble.
As far as love went?
I loved Hazel with the green eyes.
“Can I take the blindfold off now?”
I opened the door and pushed her inside. “In a second.”
I had her walk next to me through the new St. Skin shop. The place was far from done. We still hadn’t even hired a single new person yet. Things were put on hold when I got stabbed. Tate was determined to make this a family thing. But that didn’t mean we weren’t still trying to get the shop going.
Since the stabbing, I hadn’t done a single tattoo. Going that long without inking someone was unheard of. Fucked up as it was, it hurt to move my hand sometimes. The worst thing I could do was mess up a tattoo. So, I needed to take time…and as far as I was concerned, time was up.
I opened the door to my new room at the new shop.
“Take the blindfold off,” I said.
Hazel did. She looked confused. “This is…”
“My room,” I said. “I know. At the new shop. But I got a chair here. And I got some supplies.”
“For?”
I grabbed her hand and ran my finger down her wrist. “For your tattoo, sugar.”
“What?”
I grinned. “Do you trust me?”
“Yeah…”
“Do you want a tattoo?”
“I’ve always wanted one, yeah. I just never knew what to get.”
“Then let me take care of you, sugar.”
I walked her to the chair and sat her down.
I got her comfortable.
For the first time, I was actually nervous.
I never got nervous doing a tattoo. But this was Hazel…this was different.
“I want you to stare at the ceiling and breathe,” I said.
“I trust you, Maddox,” she said.
She gave me her wrist, but it meant so much more.
It was the first tattoo in the new shop. And I was going to do it without a sketch. Just by what I saw in my head.
Pretty risky for a guy who had been out of commission for a while.
I buzzed the needle a few times to make sure it was working. Then I took a deep breath, and I went to work.
The craziest thing about inking Hazel was that it felt natural. It felt good. It was a reminder of why I started tattooing and why I loved it so much.
I only came up for air when I was finish
ed.
I looked at her and saw the look on her face. A mix of shock, a little pain, but realizing she survived it with ease. Which meant she’d want more.
“There,” I whispered.
I backed away and I let her look at her wrist.
She let out a gasped. “Maddox…”
I had tattooed a little camera on her wrist. With a heart in the middle.
“So, when you look down you see what you truly love, Hazel. Capturing those pictures and those moments. Stealing memories to give to people so they have them forever. That’s a really special thing you do.”
“It’s the same as what you do, Maddox. You put it on their skin.”
I lifted her hand to my mouth and kissed her fingers. “So, we were broken, still trying to figure out how to heal, exposed for each other to see, and all we want to do is make sure others never feel the way we do.”
Hazel nodded. “I wouldn’t change anything, Maddox. I know that probably sounds-”
“I agree,” I said. I stood up and leaned over the chair. I kissed her. “But now, we get to imagine our life as an empty frame, and we get to fill it.”
“What’s the first thing you want to do?”
“Honestly? I want to get you home and see you wearing nothing but this tattoo.”
“After that?”
I shook my head. “That’s all I want right now, sugar. I don’t want to plan anything else. Let’s just keep our eyes, heart, and camera ready for whatever comes our way.”
Hazel smiled as she blinked, her eyes glistening with tears. Then she whispered one word to me.
“Deal.”
THE END.
FROM THE AUTHORS:
Back into the world of St. Skin… what a ride it’s been. Each book has been an instant hit and that’s because of you. YOU. We are forever grateful for you being there to read, leave reviews, tell your friends, and cheer us on. This book was hard. Most of you know that Jaxson pulled the plug on this book during release week. The topics were close to home for both of us. But bringing this to life was important. We hope you enjoyed the book, connected with the story, and we hope you’re ready for more St. Skin. Maddox and Hazel… forever in our hearts.
