He rips off my clothes, then his. My back slams against the fridge as he slides into me and devours my mouth.
As Jaxon spends the rest of the night fucking me on every surface in the house, the other surprises he mentioned are momentarily forgotten. Whatever other terrible thing he has in store can wait until morning.
Dahlia passes out in our new bed. After finishing five minutes ago, she rolled over and mumbled something about needing a quick nap before I could ravage her again. Her words, not mine.
I gently brush her sweaty hair from her forehead and kiss her. She stirs enough to return the kiss before she softly snores against my lips. I grin and peck her on the nose.
“I’ll be back, flower.”
She doesn’t wake up this time, and her snores become louder. My smile widens. I’ll never get annoyed with her for snoring. She’s been sleeping harder because of her meds, and they also cause her to snore. I’d rather she do that than have another episode where she harms herself. Besides, if I can wear her out this much, then I did a damn good job.
I roll out of bed and dress in a fresh pair of black jeans and a black V-neck shirt. I need to finish the job with the Three Stooges locked in the other house before the ten hours of the Reckoning is over. Checking my cell phone for the time, I realize how late it is. It’s not even four a.m. yet. Myfriends should already be back from attending the party and having their own fun in town. I don’t mind that I missed out. Dahlia will always be more important than everyone else.
I put on my helmet and ride my motorcycle to the house under the blanket of bright stars in the sky. My high beams light up the road as I ride up a hill and curve through a large neighborhood that needs more TLC. I’ve been spending the last year and a half tending to the overgrown bushes and fallen tree limbs to create an aesthetically pleasing street. During that period, I waited patiently until I could make Dahlia completely mine.
My friends’ motorcycles are parked in their usual spots outside the mansion. Instead of hanging out inside, they’ve started a contained fire pit in the front yard. Music plays through speakers, and they each have a beer in hand.
“I didn’t think you would come,” Ryder says in greeting.
Aiden swallows a sip of his beverage. “Thought we had to finish the job.”
“I got sidetracked.” I pull my helmet off and shake out my damp hair.
Ryder eyes me, once again holding that knowing look. I meet his stare, daring him to say something.
“Finally got your dick wet?” Hawk asks.
I turn my glare toward him.
“Hawk,” Ryder says, and shakes his head in warning.
Aiden groans and throws his head back. “When are we going to talk about the elephant in the room? I’m sick of dancing around it.” He dips his chin and points at me. “Dude, we know you’re banging your sister.”
“Aiden!” Ryder and Hawk yell at the same time.
I narrow my eyes and look at each friend. “How long have you known?”
“Fuck me.” Hawk sighs, swigs his beer, and loudlyswallows. “We’ve known you’ve had the hots for her since middle school.”
“Listen,” Ryder says as he approaches me. “Your feelings for her have been obvious for a long time. We’ve been afraid for you and Dahlia and how others will receive your relationship. You’re our best friend, Jax. We’re not going anywhere and will support you and Dahlia. If we didn’t, we wouldn’t be here with you right now.”
“It’s a little freaky,” Aiden says with an embarrassed smile. “But who are we to judge? We have our vices. Besides, Dahlia is a cool cat, and if anyone deserves you, it’s her.”
“It’s the other way around,” I say.
“What?”
I brush past Ryder and grab a beer from the cooler. “If anyone deserves her, it’s me. Even though I sometimes feel like I don’t deserve her at all.”
I meant what I said to her earlier. If I ever make her cry, I don’t deserve her. She’s everything good that I lack. I’m a sinner and she’s a saint. I’m a monster and she’s a princess. Yet we come together so perfectly, like shooting stars colliding and painting the night sky in bright lights. She gives me what I’m missing.
I was the one who picked up her broken pieces and put her back together, little by little. She may still have cracks, but that’s what makes her unique.
Aiden shrugs, then downs the rest of his beer before he throws the empty bottle into the fire. “Whatever you say, man.”
“Are we going to have fun now?” Hawk asks.
I smirk.
