The Blessing

by Elizabeth Price

  Sitting in Zane’s leather chair I can’t help but feel fucking elated. I love the excitement that brims inside of me every time I feel the tattoo gun pierce my skin. Getting inked has always been a rush for me, but my senses are heightened today since I’m getting this tattoo to symbolize the lifelong commitment I’m making to Ronnie. I smile as the needle of the gun pricks my skin. It feels like it’s drilling deep into the bone—but I knew before I sat down this would hurt like a bitch. The process is pleasure mixed with an overwhelming pain. I relish it. I always have. It’s the reason I’m able to sit for such long sessions without the need for a break.

  I’m transfixed as I watch her name become permanently inked into my skin. Veronica. Every time I feel lost I can look down at my finger and know that I’m not alone. She’ll be here with me forever. As soon as Zane’s finished, he pulls the tattoo gun away to clean the fresh ink with some antiseptic. I can finally get a better look at the tattoo. I run the index finger of my right hand over it and smile. It’s fucking perfect.

  “This is amazing, man.”

  “I think your girl will love it,” he says with a smile filled with pride as he looks at his work.

  “I hope so. I haven’t asked her to marry me yet.”

  Zane smiles and shakes his head with a chuckle. “You’re a confident man then. She’ll say yes, I’m sure.”

  I shake his hand and go to the front counter to pay my bill, telling him about my other tattoo ideas along the way, with the promise of coming back. I give him a nice tip for seeing me on such short notice and leave the shop with his business card tucked safely in my wallet. I know I’ll be coming back as soon as I have the finances to do so. I’m fucking thrilled with the way my tattoo turned out. The lettering is so feminine and beautiful—just like my Ronnie. I feel close to her every time I look at her name etched beautifully into my skin. She’s always on my mind, but it’s nice to have a reminder that she’s mine.

  I drop by Quinton’s house to pick up Grey. I could’ve had Ronnie babysit, but she would’ve asked me where I was going and would’ve wanted to come along with me like she normally does. We do everything together—so it’s pretty hard to keep anything a secret from her. I’ll have to figure out a way to get around this when the holiday season rolls around. Besides, having Quinton babysit for the day will give Grey some playtime with Harper. I want him to have another kid to play with. Even though he is just a baby and there’s not much Harper can do with him, she usually plays with him while he gnaws on one of her stuffed animals. It’s entertaining to watch. I can’t wait for him to get a little older so they can actually interact with one another.

  When Quinton opens up his front door, I hold up my left hand for him to see. “Check it out, man.”

  He smiles, and I know he’s thrilled for his sister-in-law. “She’ll love that. Are you going to show her tonight?”

  I feel my face flush. “I wanted to show her when I propose, but I haven’t asked her yet. I think I’ll have to work up the courage to do it this weekend, hopefully. I know I won’t be able to hide this from her for very long. Even if I hid it with a band-aid, she’d probably pull it off and insist on looking at my wound,” I say with a laugh. Ronnie’s very protective of the ones she loves.

  “Well, I guess you’ll just have to distract her then.”

  Quinton fucking winks at me and I almost lose it. My eyes widen at the subtle innuendo in his tone. Is he suggesting what I think he’s suggesting?! I must look as shocked as I fucking feel because Quinton laughs as he moves aside to let me into his home. Grey’s on the carpeted living room floor playing with Harper and a few of her favorite stuffed animals. He looks so happy; I’m thrilled to see him playing so well with his cousin. Well, future cousin. As soon as he sees me, he stops playing and crawls to the sofa, where he manages to pull himself up. He takes a couple of shaky steps in my direction, and I move forward and drop to my knees, proudly meeting him halfway.

  “Good job, buddy!” I encourage. He giggles as I pick him up and wrap him in my arms. “Do you like my tattoo for mommy, Grey?” I show him my ring finger and he tries to stick it in his mouth. I point at the tattoo again and he reaches out to touch it with his small pointer finger.

  “Mama,” he babbles as he looks at the tattoo. “Mama!”

  “That’s right, Grey. That’s your mommy’s name.”

  “Let me see,” Harper says as she rises from the floor, abandoning her toys to join us. I bend down to show her my new ink and she smiles, reaching to touch it just like Grey did. “What’s it say?”

  “It’s says ‘Veronica.’ ”

  “Like auntie,” she replies with a smile.

  “Just like your Auntie Ronnie.”

  She smiles and gives me a nod of approval. “I like it.”

  “Do you think your auntie will like it?”

  “Yeah, she’ll like it,” she replies, giving the ink a thumbs-up before going back to her toys.

  “You ready to go, buddy?” I ask, standing up with Grey, who’s staring at Harper’s toys with open curiosity. As the words escape my mouth, Harper’s back on her feet and comes toward us. To my surprise, she comes to me and wraps her arms around my thigh to give me a hug. I’ve never been good around children, so it’s odd reconciling the thought that I have a son and niece now. Well, I hope she’ll be my niece, but that’s all up to her beautiful aunt.

  “Say ‘bye’ to Grey?” she asks with a pout.

  I smile at her, then lower him down for her to hug him goodbye. Watching them interact is so fucking cute. Harper kisses his forehead and Grey shoos her away before giggling and reaching out to touch her cheek. I’ve got a hunch that they’ll grow up to be great friends. I don’t know when Grey will end up with a brother of sister, and to be honest, the thought does make me feel a bit nauseous. I’m so thankful he has Harper to fill that “sibling” role at the moment.

  “You guys heading out?” Quinton asks as he leans against the wall and smiles at his daughter.

  “Yeah, I’ve got to get home to Ronnie. She’ll start wondering where I’m at if I don’t go soon.” I pause and look down at my exposed ring finger covered in a small shield of Saran wrap. “Actually, do you have a bandage? That might be better than nothing. I don’t want her to get a glimpse of this until I’m ready.”

  Quinton nods and gestures for me to follow him to his kitchen. He grabs a bandage from his obviously well-used first-aid kit and I quickly wrap it around my finger. Ronnie will definitely notice it and she’ll want to play nurse with me just like she always does when I have the slightest injury. She notices absolutely everything. So, there’s no way she won’t notice her name wrapped around my finger in black ink.

  “Where’s Eden?”

  “She’s out shopping for Harper,” he replies with an eye roll. “Like she doesn’t have enough stuff already. You’re lucky her sister doesn’t like to shop.”

  “Ronnie shops for Grey; she just doesn’t like to shop for herself. She’s so selfless, I just wish she would treat herself every once in a while.”

  “Well, if she spent more time with her sister she’d be doing that constantly. Thankfully, she has you around.”

  I can’t believe he thinks Ronnie is lucky to have me. I find that laughable because I’m the one who’s lucky to have her. I thank him for watching Grey, say goodbye again to Harper, then head out.

  On the drive home, I tap the steering wheel along with the obnoxiously upbeat tempo of Grey’s CD. I try to think of ways to distract Ronnie from my tattoo until I have enough courage to pop the question. Per usual, I can’t come up with anything good enough, and I arrive at her apartment far too soon. All I can do is pray for the best.

  She looks a million times better than she did last night. She seems happy and at ease. I presume that fucker has left her alone. I know if he continues to harass my girl—I’m going to lose my cool and track him down. Luckily, it seems like he’s going to fuck off by his own free will. Ronnie jumps off the couch as soon as I
walk through the door and presses her sweet lips against mine. Kissing me thoroughly before pulling away to give Grey a quick peck on the forehead.

  “What was that for?” I ask with a satisfied smirk on my face.

  “What? I can’t give my boyfriend a kiss when he comes home?” she challenges with a sly grin.

  She’s acting different. I wonder if she’s still worried about that prick and has just decided to change her tactics on how she’s going to handle it around me. Maybe she’s more worried about how this guy might affect our relationship than she previously let on. I’ll spend the night showing her that I’m here to stay if that’s what it’ll take. I’d be more than happy to take her to bed and do so.

  “How’d today go?” I ask, wanting to know if that fucking douchebag tried to contact her again.

  “It was fine,” she smiles, not a trace of discomfort written on her face. Maybe things really have cleared up for her. “Want me to make dinner? I don’t know if you guys ate while you were out.”

  “No, we waited for you,” I say as I bend down to kiss her forehead. “Why don’t you relax with Grey and I’ll cook tonight?”

  “You sure?” she asks, obviously trying hard not to laugh at the idea of me making anything.

  “Babe, I can make a few things. I did have to survive somehow before I met you.”

  She takes Grey from me and relaxes in the living room, while I settle in the kitchen and look up recipes on my phone. I choose the first thing that doesn’t look too difficult and begin working on our dinner. My cooking isn’t up to par with Ronnie’s, but I’m still able to make baked macaroni and cheese without too much trouble. When we sit down to eat, I notice how much Grey loves the food—which makes my heart swell with pride. I know it isn’t the healthiest thing for a baby, but I’m happy to see him eating something besides his usual stuff. He can be so incredibly picky for a ten-month-old! Of course, I don’t have another baby to compare him to. Grey falls asleep in his high chair after getting his belly full. I can’t help but smile at how perfect tonight worked out for me. Ronnie bought a pack-n-play to keep at her apartment for the nights I stay here, and I’m more than happy to tuck him into it for the night because I’ve been dying for some alone time with my girl. We haven’t had sex since yesterday evening two and I’ve been yearning for her. I always feel so close to her when we come together as one. I also want to assure her that some prick isn’t going to hurt our relationship.

  As soon as I finish tucking Grey into bed, I go back to the kitchen to find Ronnie cleaning up. I take a moment to stand in the doorway and enjoy the curve of her perfect ass before she notices me. She flushes under the heat of my gaze and stops cleaning.

  “Come to bed,” I implore as I hold out my hand for her to take.

  She puts the sponge down and dries her hands off with a towel before she walks across the kitchen to take my hand with a shy smile on her face. She always gets so bashful before sex until she gets naked—then she loves to fucking jump me and beg for my cock. It’s so arousing, seeing my girl uninhibited and losing control like that. She’s so raw… so beautiful and sexy… I can’t believe she’s all mine.

  “I’ve been thinking about this all day,” Ronnie moans as I pull her into the bedroom.

  “Me, too. I can never get enough of you,” I reply as I yank off her shirt.

  I stand still, looking her over for a moment. God, she’s so fucking beautiful. Her tits look incredible in her black, push-up bra. I take a moment to appreciate them before I pull down one of the cups and lower my mouth to her nipple. Any tension that the day has caused immediately dissipates as I suck on her. I could worship them all day if I had the chance. Sucking on her nipples is as arousing as it is calming to me. She runs her hands through my hair as I play with her. I continue until I’m throbbing in my jeans. I only pull away when my erection becomes too painful in its confides. I want to fuck her into the mattress and claim her as mine.

  I slow down my pace, but I still give her lips a few rough kisses as she unbuttons my pants and unzips my fly. She pulls out my cock and pumps it in her hand, showing me how rough she wants this. My girl loves being fucked hard just as much as she loves it when I make love to her slowly. It’s obvious which one she wants tonight. Our kisses evolve into something more passionate. I quickly become so horny I can barely think straight. I need to be inside her. Every action of mine becomes primal.

  We strip each other naked and I throw her on the bed, kissing my way up her legs until my mouth is on her wet, little pussy. I fuck her with my tongue, causing her to moan and writhe on the bed. She’s so fuck-hot like this. I begin to stroke my cock as I watch her fall to pieces. I can easily get myself off at the sight of my girl. Maybe we could do that sometime? On a night where I’m feeling much more patient. God, just the thought of it is hot enough to make me blow my load. I give her core one more kiss before climbing up her body so I’m covering her, my cock throbbing at her entrance. I press my lips onto hers, and in the same moment, I thrust inside her. I know I won’t be gentle with her—I just can’t. Not tonight. I pull out and slam back inside of her before finding my rhythm, fucking her body into the bed. I know she loves it by the way she smiles and moans beneath me. Rising to my knees, I take her legs and wrap them around my waist, so her hips are in the air as I continue my unforgiving pace.

  A few minutes later we come together. I rest on top of her for a moment as I catch my breath, before rolling off her and pulling her against my side. I cuddle with her as we listen to the sound of the rain outside. I love holding her like this after sex. I almost like this as much as sex itself. It’s the one time I get to unwind and show her just how much I love her. Ronnie drifts to sleep, sated after everything I gave her. Holding her, I enjoy the rise and fall of her chest against mine. I work on planning my proposal in my head. I want it to be everything she could’ve hoped for and imagined growing up. I know every girl plans their wedding when they’re younger; I’m sure Ronnie was no different. I want to give her the entire world, but until I can manage to do that, I’ll give her all of me and hope that’s enough.

  chapter 35

  bloodstream

  For the first time since starting my job, I decide to grab a bite with the guys after work. While I don’t think Jaxson told them about my issues with alcohol—they do seem to have some understanding when it comes to what activities are in my comfort zone. So I don’t have to worry about a bar tempting me while we eat, we go to a diner near the site where we’re working. As we begin to socialize, I wonder why I’d been so fucking nervous about this. I didn’t realize how much I had in common with these guys until now. Maybe some of these dudes could actually become my friends. Time seems to have escaped me—I didn’t realize how late it was getting until Ronnie shot me a text. She knew I was going out after work—but it’s almost six o’clock; I’m sure she’s expecting me at home. I unlock my phone to read her message. My jaw tenses as I view the words displayed on my screen.

  Please come home.

  A chill slowly begins to creep down my spine and my stomach twists into a knot as I absorb her words. She’ll usually end a message with an “I love you” or something like that, but this is straight to the fucking point and completely out of the norm for her. Is she mad at me for going out? She seemed cool with it earlier—even pushing me into going when I had second thoughts. Did she change her mind whilst I’ve been away? I’ve always been fucking horrible at reading women, but Ronnie hasn’t been one to play games with me. Maybe something is wrong…

  “Hey, sorry guys, but I’ve got to get heading home,” I say, suddenly feeling cold all over.

  What if she’s in trouble… What if something happened to Grey!? Fuck, I need to get home now. I’d be fucking gutted if anything happened to them: the most important people in my life. Jaxson must sense my distress because a look of concern colors his features as he stands to walk me out.

  “Is everything okay, man? You look fucking spooked.”

  “Ronnie w
ants me to come home, but there was something strange about her text. I need to take off just in case it’s something bad.”

  Jaxson nods, still seeming worried for me. “Well, man, if you need me—I’m only a phone call away.”

  I know he’s telling the truth. Jaxson has been a good friend to me since I started working this job. I nod as I silently pray it won’t come to that. Maybe I’m overreacting—but the gnawing in my gut tells me that something isn’t right. He pats me on the shoulder before heading back inside the diner. I jump into my truck, trying to stay calm as I start it up. I throw it in reverse and back out of my spot before accelerating out of the parking lot—heading down the street. Due to my speed, I arrive at the apartment complex sooner than I probably should have. Fuck safe driving; I need to know what the hell is going on. I’m freaking the fuck out as I run up the stairs to Ronnie’s apartment. When I reach her door, I take a moment to pull myself together—knowing I’ll need to be level-headed if something fucked-up has happened.

  My stomach drops at the sight before my eyes as I enter her apartment. She’s on the couch, holding Grey protectively in her arms as a man stands in front of her. His posture doesn’t seem entirely threatening, yet Ronnie is leaning away from him with a look in her eyes which is defensive as well as fucking murderous. She has her arms protectively wrapped around Grey like a mother bear trying to protect her cub. Everything about her body language screams, “Get the fuck away from me!” The fucker’s towering over her in a way that makes my blood boil. He has sandy blonde hair, tanned skin, and is wearing a preppy outfit which shouts, “Don’t fuck with me because my dad is a lawyer!” He’s my exact opposite in every way. It suddenly clicks in my mind that this fucker is her prick ex-boyfriend. I take a deep breath and clench my twitching fists. I’d love nothing more than to get the chance to make contact with his snarky fucking face.

  “Ronnie, who’s the prick?” I ask—although, I know the answer. I just want him to know how lowly I think of him right off the bat. The fucker has the nerve to turn around and glare at me. I give him a hostile glare right back and hold my gaze as I take another step forward. One thing I learned in my years of fighting was to always get your opponent to drop his gaze first. It makes you the dominant party straightaway. If they don’t have the courage to maintain eye contact with you, they don’t have the courage to do much else. Like the prick he is, he drops his eyes and looks back to Ronnie.