by Mays, Nikki
Chapter 5
Michelle
Three days later and I'm still dying! The guys looked so absolutely ridiculous in those crowns and tutus. I swear for the rest of my life, anytime that I have a bad day, all I'll have to think about is that day. The only two who fully embraced it was JJ and Rocco. Hell, Rocco didn't leave Amari's side the whole day. That sweet girl was in heaven! She made sure to tell us how cute Rocco is. Someone has a crush. Luckily for her, her first crush is a complete sweetheart. Not all of us were that lucky.
The fundraiser ended up making $76,000 for the Gladestone family. It couldn't have gone any better. All of the vendors were amazing. The weather perfect, food was scrumptious and the backdrop of the entire SWAT team walking around dressed as the princess' made the day a total win! Jeff and Tracey were so grateful and thanked everyone profusely. I don't think that there was a dry eye when Tracey talked about everything going on with Amari. It's hard work raising a child. But a child who is sick and needs you round the clock?
I have so much admiration for Tracey. I don't know how she does it. Anytime I've ever seen her, she always has a smile on her face and a kind word for everyone. Even rude people who talk about Amari having down syndrome like it's freaking leprosy. You would think that people wouldn't be so horrible in this day and age. I couldn't believe when some woman told her that she didn't want Amari playing with her son. That woman's stupid reasoning? Because she didn't want her son to ask about her eyes.
I've been in such a good mood that I haven't even minded that Damon has pretty must insert himself into my life without even asking. I mean, he inserted himself years ago with the whole stalking thing, but he's worse now. I really should be more upset that he was a complete weirdo for so long. I know that I should've been more freaked out about everything that I learned. Marc, Morris, Declan, and my former best friend were very forthcoming when I refused them any more sweets. Those four sang like a damn canary. They need to find sugar addicts anonymous or something. Absolutely ridiculous how easily they gave Damon up.
Although, I think Declan would've told me without any prompting. Apparently, he's super pissed at his broody another half. Blackmailing your brother is bad. Blackmailing your brother with inserting your mom into his love life is just wrong on so many levels. I offered to help him get his revenge and he told me everything that I could ever want to know about what my growly grumpy bear has been up to. I'm not sure whether to flattered or scared about his persistence and the lengths that he went to. I'm just going to go with flattered because it's easier on my sanity. Seriously, who threats someone that only went on one date with someone?
Damon has been pretty much living with me since Sunday. He followed me home after the fundraiser and invited himself in. Since the poor guy dressed as a princess and did everything that I asked, I figured that I might as well cut him some slack. I didn't realize my mistake until later that evening after we had ordered in some food and finished a movie. A normal person would've gotten up after the movie finished, said their goodbyes and left. I forgot that Damon is anything but normal. When did I remember this fact? When I got up to go to bed and he made no move to leave.
"Okay well thank you for dinner. I'm beat and I think that I'm going to head to be." I say looking over at Damon sitting stretched out on my couch.
"Alright." He gets up and starts walking to the door. What the hell? I mean I didn't expect like a life-affirming kiss or anything. But geez, he could at least say goodnight. I sigh as I get up and start grabbing the empty Chinese containers to take to the kitchen. I look up when I hear Damon at my sliding glass door by my fireplace. "What are you doing?"
"Locking up." He replies without even looking at me.
"Umm, I can do that before I go to bed."
"I might as well do it now. Why don't you finish taking those containers to the trash and then go get ready for bed? I'll be in once I'm sure everything is secure." He says while walking around checking doors and windows. And let's cue sudden bad feeling.
"Why don't we just say goodnight now, that way I can lock the door behind you without having to leave my room again," I say but already getting the feeling that this is not how it's going to go. Nope, not at all.
He stops dead in his tracks and looks at me with a frown. Even his damn frowns are sexy. No! Focus you damn hormonal bimbo! "Why would you need to lock up behind me when I'm not leaving?" He asks in a relaxed stance, while I'm now frowning deeply with my hands on my hips.
"Why do you think that you're staying? I don't remember any part of our conversations today that had me asking you to stay. You pretty much invited yourself in to begin with." Oh, that bad feeling is getting worse. And the bad part about it? It's not even a bad feeling, it's a damn good one. But I'll think about how I've gone mental later, much much later.
"I figured that was kind of a given when you agreed to be mine after I jumped through your sadistic hoops." He says with a smirk. They most definitely weren't sadistic.
"I never said that I was yours," I say on a sniff.
"You never said you weren't either. I took your silence as acceptance." He says right before he goes back to check out my place while completely ignoring the glare that I'm sending his way. I'm getting extra grumpy realizing that he's right. I never said that I wasn't and I should know that someone like him would take things how he wants to see them.
"I'm not having sex with you!" I blurt out in a yell like a psycho. I really need to get a muzzle for myself when he's around.
"Not tonight." He agrees as he walks towards the bedrooms dismissing me again.
That not tonight is still haunting me days later. He was true to his word and did not try anything sexual at all. Although once he stripped down to his black boxer briefs I was rethinking that one and that insufferable jerk knew it too. His stupid smirk said it all. All we did was sleep with him wrapped around me like a deranged octopus. I'm not sure if he really sleeps like that or just didn't want me to get away while he was asleep. I never took him for the cuddling type. Then again he never really screamed "stalker" either. But I've slept in the cozy arms for the past few days, so I guess he does like to cuddle, who knew?
We're just finishing up for the day and I'm excited to get home. I might still be a little tiny bit annoyed with him but I can't deny that I love having him with me. Even with him being almost mute most of the time, his presence is a welcome change. I guess I never realized how truly lonely I was being by myself all the time. Hell, after my last relationship, I relished being alone. But now not so much. Or it might just come down to the man himself. Either way, I'm happier than I've been in a long time.
I'm finishing up wiping down all of the counters and I can feel him. Without having to turn around I know that my sexy broody grumpy bear is standing in the doorway. I know just by the goosebumps on my arms and the way the hair on the back of my neck is standing that he's there. I can almost feel his eyes caressing me as he stands there watching me. I've become addicted to how I make me feel.
"How was work grumpy?" I ask letting him know that I know he's being a creeper. Not that I mind but he doesn't really need to know that. I doubt he would care either way.
"Must you call me that?" He asks me while pushing off the doorway to walk to me. I turn around fully just in time for his wonderfully soft lips to find mine. With all of his scruff, I thought that his lips might be rough. I found out I was very wrong the night of our first sleepover. I even asked him if he used Chapstick. I was in such a kissing haze that I didn't even care that he looked at me like I was stupid because of that question.
"Yup," I mumble against his lips. "You're always going to be my grumpy bear. I highly doubt that you're ever going to become a social butterfly. If that ever does happen, I'm having you committed for a seventy-two hold." I tell him as I start to climb him like the spider monkey I've decided that I should be. I can feel him grin against my lips. That's one of the other things that make me really happy. I love being able to get him to smile and laugh.<
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"Are you ready to head home." He asks most likely realizing that he's probably stuck with grumpy bear forever. I appreciate his willingness to give into me. It shows me how much he likes me.
I've decided to appreciate his stubbornness. Most women have trouble finding a man who will commit. Mine was committed before I even knew it. As my dad would say "at least he doesn't half-ass shit". Nope, he's a hundred percent kind of guy. I do plan to reward him handsomely in sexual favors once we get to that point. I'm sure it will be such a hardship for me to have my hands all over his body, but a girl got to do what a girl got to do.
"Yeah, I'm ready. I was just waiting for you actually." I say against his luscious lips. His lips really are like big heavenly pillows of sexiness. He and Declan have lips that most women would kill for. Life is so unfair at times. Men always have the best lips and eyelashes. Do they appreciate it? Of course not!
"Alright. Let's get out of her then. We can pick up dinner on the way home." He tells me as he grabs my hand and leads me towards the back door. I wave goodbye to Mel even though she paying me no attention since Morris appears to be whispering naughty things in her ear judging by her flushed cheeks.
We walk outside and head for Damon's truck. Mel has been picking me up in the morning since my place is on the way anyway and Dam brings me home. I have to say that I've enjoyed going home at a decent hour and having dinner with him. It really reiterates how lonesome my life has been lately. Although, the sexy wall of muscle next to me played a part in that.
"What are you in the mood for?" Damon asks me once we're all buckled up and he's started the engine.
"I could go for some fettuccine alfredo right about now. Tony's on the fifth street has a pretty good one even if it's obvious that they used boxed pasta." I tell him while looking out the window. It goes quiet, so I look over at Damon to see why we haven't moved and found him looking at me peculiarly. "What?" I ask when his staring starts to unnerve me.
"You can tell that they use boxed pasta?" He asks skeptically.
"Of course! It's so fluffing obvious once you've has fresh pasta from scratch." I reply.
"You've has pasta made from scratch? Around here?" He asks while now side eyeing me as he pulls out onto the street.
"Well yeah, Dam. I make my own pasta. My mom is a southern woman through and through. If you want biscuits and gravy, she's your woman. But pasta is a beast that she just can't seem to tame. Even spaghetti turns disastrous with her. So, I found a recipe years and years ago online from an elderly lady from Italy. Most Kitchenaid mixers come with a pasta attachment and the rest is history. Plus, fresh pasta has such a different taste and even texture compared to boxed pasta. It's fairly obvious if you've ever had both." I tell him.
It's true though. Fresh pasta is so different from the boxed stuff you get at the store. Even the boxed pasta from those organic stores pale in comparison. There really is nothing quite like fresh homemade pasta. And I'm not even going to get into how many chemicals and other useless crap the boxed stuff has in it!
"You make your own pasta?" He asks with a weird look on his face. It's a cross between wonder and disbelief.
"I just told you that I do," I reply. My tone is snarky, indicating that I think his question was stupid. I mean was he not paying attention to my whole spiel? "Why?"
"I just didn't really see that one coming."
"What's the big deal? I'm a baker Dam. I obviously like being in the kitchen. Did you think that I wouldn't be good at cooking as well?" I answer.
"You're a rare breed Doll, that's all. I didn't mean anything bad by it. I'm just having trouble comprehending that some jerkoff hasn't swept you up already." He replies and I give him a very unladylike snort before I answer.
"How could someone sweep me up with you jumping out of the shadows to scare them off?" I ask. I look over and he's now wearing his sexy smirk. That look really is lethal to my libido.
"Touche. You have a point." He says while looking way too pleased with himself. Men are absolutely ridiculous! "Alright, let's get some dinner and get home. I'm beat and could use a beer." He says while driving us to Tony's.
"Rough day?" I question.
"Not rough just annoying. Declan's still pissed at me for blackmailing him. So, he's doing everything in his power to annoy me every chance he gets."
"You have to admit that it was kind of messed up how you blackmailed him," I say.
"He's my brother. Blackmailing each other is a given. He's done it. So why is it messed up?" He asks.
"It's not messed up that you blackmailed him. Every sibling has done to each other at some point. I've even blackmailed Marc a few times." I explain. "But tell him that you're going to get your mom involved in his love life? That's messed up on a whole different level. Even you have to realize that Griz."
"It could've been worse." He says.
"How? What could be worse than threatening to get your mother involved in his love life?" I ask. I'm pretty curious as to what he has to say. There really isn't anything worse than your mom all up in your love life. Trust me. Mine keeps trying to set me up with every eligible bachelor that she comes into contact with. If they're a member of her church even better! He looks over at me with his eyes filled with mischief and mirth.
"I could've threatened to tell mom about the time that he accidentally butt dialed her while he was banging some chick." He replies in a smug tone while pulling in front of the restaurant and putting the truck in park. I can't even comprehend what he just said.
"I don't understand. Did the call not go through or something? And who doesn't have a lock on their phone these days?" I mean seriously, everyone locks their phone!
"Well apparently the idiot didn't have one or it didn't work because he ended up calling mom during his "fuckathon", his words not mine, and she answered." He tells me.
My hands fly up in front of my mouth. "Oh my God! Did she hear it?" I ask on a gasp.
"Yup." He says while smiling big. I think this is the biggest smile that I've ever seen from him. Of course, it would be because his brother did something stupid. "But somehow that fool got mom to believe that he accidentally called her while he was watching porn." He says through a laugh.
"And she believed him?" I ask while starting to giggle uncontrollably. This is one of the funniest things I've heard in a while.
"I don't know if she truly believed him or if she just really really wanted to. Unfortunately, the chick was a screamer and kept yelling out "Harder daddy harder". I think mom was so traumatized from the call that she was willing to believe whatever bullshit he was spewing." He says with tears running down his cheeks.
"Your poor mother. First, she had to raise the two of you. Then she has to deal with this." I say feeling really sorry for the extremely sweet woman that I've met twice.
Their mother is honestly the sweetest woman that I have ever met. She is also their opposite in the looks department. If I want to know what Damon will look like in a few years, all I have to do is look at his dad. The guys are spitting images of him. Their mom is 5'2, green-eyed with dirty blonde hair and fair skin. Their dad is dark hair, dark eyes, tall and tan. They really make a striking couple. Hmmm, I wonder if that's how Dam and I look together?
"So see. I could've really been a dick and blackmailed him with that. I decided to be nice to him."
"Yeah. You're a regular Ghandi." I reply. He snorts while getting out of the truck.
"I’ll be back in a few minutes. Sit tight and lock the door after me." He says right before he slams the door without waiting for my reply.
"Sir yes, sir," I mumble to myself grumpily. Men!
Damon
After dinner, we're just sitting on the couch relaxing. I've never been a guy that's big into cuddling and all that other shit but I have to admit that I like sitting here with her in my arms. It feels right spending my evenings with this sweet and sassy woman. I didn't even mind that we're watching some show about a bunch of useless rich teenagers trying to fi
gure out who shot one of them. At least she isn't torturing me with that Fifty Shades of porn shit.
Sleeping next to her every night and barely touching her has been torture. I am trying really hard to be the guy that deserves her. But I swear to Christ the outfits she wears to bed each night keep getting worse and worse. I was doing fine with those stretchy pants and a T-shirt. I could handle that. Hell, even shorts and a T-shirt I could deal with no problem.
But I'm pretty sure that she was trying to put me into an early grave last night. How was she trying to do that? By wearing nothing but a tiny ass pair of panties that only covered half her ass cheeks and a tight as sin tank top that showed her nipples. I had to stay in the bathroom for twenty minutes to get myself under control enough to be able to get into bed with her.
And what does the little vixen do when I climb into bed? Nothing! She just smiled sweetly, which I'm really thinking wasn't too sweet, kissed my lips, rolled over and went to sleep. I laid there for three fucking hours trying to regain my composure. I'm turning into a teenage boy who's getting his first glimpse at a pair of tits.
She has got to be doing this shit on purpose. There is no way in hell that she has no idea what her fine ass body in the outfit does to me. She's ditzy, not dense. I keep praying for the patience that doesn't seem to come. In all honesty, I would rather become instead of the patients. She has to know what she's doing.
