Forbidden Forever (20 page)

"Stop trying to get
away and listen to me. I love you and you are making me hurt you,"
he utters.

I take in a deep breath
and relax. "Okay, Michael. Talk," I say calmly.

"I am sorry for all
this pain. I just don't want to lose you, and I need you to come
home," he utters.

There are no feelings in
his tone. I only hear the monster he has always been. I am always
worrying about Michael and his needs. He sure knows how to win
someone back. As if that would ever happen. I listen to him go on and
on about the same thing. I can't take the poor Michael story any
longer. I have wasted enough my life on the bastard who stands before
me.

"Michael, this is
not what I want anymore. I have moved on and you need to do the
same." I tell him.

The look in his eyes is
the look I fear the most, the look like the night I told him I was
leaving. It was like he completely left his body and the devil took
his place. I slowly slide the drawer open behind and feel inside for
something, anything to protect myself. I grab a hold of something. He
starts walking toward me slowly, mumbling something under his breath.
I can see the red in his eyes and I notice his fists shut tightly at
his side. Without warning, he lunges at me and grabs my throat. His
hands are wrapped around my neck and the air is slowly disappearing
from my lungs. Fear is consuming me and I cannot think about anything
except the pain I feel in my chest and around my neck. I see images
of my children and me and the sadness in their eyes. The fog clears
from my brain and I swing my arms from around my back and I hit him
in hard in the back, stabbing the fork deep into his flesh, twisting
before I release it. He screams from the pain and his hands reach for
his back. I run out of the kitchen, out the front door, and to the
neighbor's house.

I pound on the door as
hard and as fast as my body will let me. Finally, a small old lady
wearing a night robe opens the door. "Please help me." I
beg of her. She lets me in her house and she gets on the phone and
calls 911. The police are there in a matter of minutes. Michael comes
out with his arms over his head. I peek out the woman's curtain
because I don't want him to see me. I know if he does, the memory
will just be one more painful look I will have to endure the rest of
my life. The police knock at the door. I jump sky high even knowing I
just watched Michael be carted off to jail. I am shaking
uncontrollably and the tears just don't seem to stop. The police take
down my statement and assure me that I will be safe. They try to get
me to let someone check me out, but I know I am fine this time aside
from some scratches and bruises. I just want to go home to my kids
and Chance.

I thank the kind woman
who was brave enough to let a stranger in her house and I walk over
to the house to get my keys. I walk in and the keys are on the
kitchen counter. I look around at the home that I once called mine. I
see there are very few things here that remind me of the life we had.
The handful of good memories we had here together I have with me at
Chance's condo. My children are the two greatest gifts in my life
that not even he can take away. I get the keys and leave, never
turning back. On the drive back, I reach in my purse and call Chance.
I know the kids are with him by now and they are in a panic at my
whereabouts. He assures the kids I am fine and I am on my way home.

It takes about fifteen
minutes to get to the condo but Chance refuses to let me off the
phone. I smile at this man who cares so deeply that my safety is his
only concern. I will probably not be able to be alone again after
tonight. My poor children and the thoughts that must be invading
their minds. I hope someday they will be able to recover from this
nightmare their father keeps putting them through. I look at myself
in the rear view mirror. I can see the small pebbles still smashed
into my cheek and I remove them one by one. It will be hard enough on
them all that I try to save them the vision of what I endured. I pull
into the parking garage and before I can make it to the elevator,
three of my favorite people are there at my side, wrapping their arms
around me.

* * *

It has been two weeks
since Michael pulled his stunt and has been taken to jail. His lawyer
met with me today with signed divorce papers and a handwritten
apology to me and the kids from Michael. His words will not change
the way I feel but I will not be one of those parents who forget
about the children involved. Michael needs psychiatric help, so
hopefully my kids will get their father back. He was a horrible
husband but he was always a wonderful and caring father. I sign my
part of the divorce papers and see the man out. I close the chapter
of my life that brought me the two most amazing things the world has
to offer, but now I open the doors on a future that will bring me
great happiness.

Chance comes home from
work with the biggest grin I have ever seen on his face. I know this
means I have a surprise in store for me. He always acts like such a
goofy and excited teenager when he has something up his sleeve.

"I know you don't
want to go back to work at the hospital but... I was hoping you would
like to work somewhere else," he says without fully explaining
himself. He pulls out a small white gift box with a red ribbon tied
around it. I look at his adorable face and reach for the box. I
wonder if this is it. He wants me to me a housewife. I can picture
the ring and all its beauty without even opening the box. I smile,
knowing what he is thinking. I pull the string and untie the ribbon,
open the box and look inside.

It is a silver necklace
with a red pair of lips dangling from it. I look completely confused
and curious at the same time.

"What exactly do
you picture me doing with this?" I ask. All I can think of is my
lips painted in red, somewhere below his belt. "Umm." I
moan from deep in my throat. The thought excites me but I am
impatiently waiting for him to answer. He smiles his sinful smile and
his eyes narrow. He holds out a key in the shape of a guitar and I
grab it still at a loss. "Did you buy me a car?" I ask.

He shakes his head no
and just when I think I am going to burst from anticipation he tells
me. "I bought 'Mouth' for you. I know you love it and you are a
huge fan of music. I thought maybe this might be something you would
want to do," he explains. I watch him waiting for my reaction. I
am literally floored and at a loss for words, but I manage to get
them out to express my excitement.

"Oh my God. I can't
believe you did that for me. You mean it is my bar?" I say
excitedly.

"Yes, all yours.
Your name is on the agreement and the building is paid for outright,"
he informs me.

"Holy fuck! Can we
go see it right now?" I gush.

He hooks the necklace
and lays it gently on my neckline. "Yes, we can, Sapphire."
He smiles.

I text the kids and tell
them to meet us there, but I leave out the part that is mine. I am
the owner of Mouth. This is the coolest thing ever. We park in the
front and I get the key out and open the door. Walking in feels
different than the first time we came here. I guess knowing that it
is mine, I can see every detail of the room. I can see myself here
every day, meeting new people and discovering new artists. Maybe one
day I will discover the next Hunter Hudson. The thought sends chills
down my spine. I pull out my phone and text Sierra and tell her to
get her ass over here with Brooke and John. John and Sierra are
always connected at the hip these days. It is the cutest thing ever.
She deserves to be happy and finally settle down her wild ways.

Callie and Kaleb walk in
together and they are both curious as to what is going on. "Why
did you want us to meet you here, Mom?" Callie questions.

I look at both of them
and I can't help but grin ear to ear. "This is now my bar!"
I gush, spinning around,
holding out my arms
.

"Shut up,"
Kaleb jokes. "Mom, how...umm." He is speechless.

"Wow, this is so
cool. I love it," Callie squeals.

"Chance bought it
for me as a gift and gave it to me today," I explain to them.

"Dang, dude, that's
BA," Kaleb adds, walking over to him and punching him in the
shoulder.

I love their way of
showing affection; it's so caveman. I giggle as they scope out the
room. Callie walks over and gives me a big hug, something I will
never complain about getting.

"I am so happy that
you have found someone who treats you so special. You deserve this
and so much more, Mom," she murmurs.

"Morefinity,"
I whisper.

"What does that
even mean?" she asks.

"I love you more
than infinity. Morefinity!" I laugh.

"You and your
unique way of explain things. I love it." She giggles.

Sierra, Brooke, and John
arrive and I explain to them my news. Brooke joins the kids and scope
out the place while Sierra teases and calls me the Business Woman of
the Year and jokes about opening a second bar. She is always cheering
me on even when I am scared shitless of trying something new. I love
having that best friend that, no matter what, always has my back even
if I look like a fool mooning someone out the car window. Sierra is
the one who would join in so I wouldn't look like a fool by myself.
John and Chance sit at the bar and John holds his arm up to order
some drinks. I used to be a waitress in my younger years so I know
how to pour a drink or two. I fill everyone a shot and we toast to my
new business.

The owners have agreed
to show me how they do everything and will stay on to help me for the
next two weeks. I am so grateful that they are such wonderful people
and willing to help me get up and going. I love so much about the
place that there isn't anything I want to change except I want to add
a
teen only
night. I think there aren't enough places for
teenagers to go to and stay out of trouble. We set Thursdays for teen
night and during those nights we will close the bar down completely.
I have a new glass case being put in that will go over the liquor
shelves and lock for the sneaky teenagers. On those nights I'll
probably sit behind here so I can be extra careful. I couldn't handle
it if a child got alcohol from my business. On the other nights kids
are always welcomed but the few times we have come here I only saw a
handful of them. It is a family bar and grill, but I think most
adults come here to have fun without the responsibility to watch
their kids.

Everyone leaves and goes
to do their own thing, which leaves Chance and me completely alone. I
run and jump on stage and stand at the microphone. I tap my fingers
on the mic and whisper in the lips for Chance to come sit down center
stage for a private showing. His tall muscular frame moves closer
with every step. He grabs a chair on his way and places it dead
center of the microphone. He takes a seat and his charcoal black eyes
watch my every move. I can't believe I am about to do this with him
watching. A year ago I would have never seen me doing this and now
after only several months with this man, I am confident in my own
skin, confident enough to act like a fool but strong enough to seduce
him with my body. I turn the music on and pull the mic to my mouth
and in the lowest sexy voice I can manage, I say, "I'm a slave
for you." My inner Britney comes out and I start swaying my hips
from side to side slowly. I roll my head back and grab my hair with
my hands. I am singing the song as I do my best attempt at dancing
like Britney Spears and I probably look like the biggest dummy up
here on this stage, but I know in my heart that the man sitting
center stage is getting turned on.

I can see the glimmer in
his eyes and the devilish grin stretching across his face. I get more
into the moves and think less about how I look. Leaning into the
microphone I sing "Baby, don't you wanna, dance up on me."
I slide my hand down my breasts to my stomach and before I can get to
the "Get it, get it" part of the song, he jumps on stage
and pulls me into him. I can feel his hard cock on my leg and I press
harder and rock my hips to feel the friction between my legs. He
eases me onto the stage floor and slips my shirt over my head,
trailing his fingertips slowly from my neck to my breast. He undoes
the front snap of my bra and licks my nipples one by one. I let out a
moan and I raise my hips up wanting more. I want him in me. The
erotic feeling I am getting from being on this stage is almost
turning me into a porn star for my man. Not one person is watching
us, but just thinking that they could be is enough. I step up my
usual moves and I roll him over so I am straddling him, my hair
hanging down and lightly brushing over his chest.

"You look mighty
hot like that, Dr. Turner. I do believe I would like to have my way
with you," I tease. I stretch across him and grab the microphone
that I dropped when he first laid me out on this floor. I take the
cord and wrap his arms together with it. A devilish smirk spreads
across his face when I lean down to kiss him. "Oh, baby, you can
always have your way with me." He lies so still I can see every
breath he takes. I release him out of his jeans and ease myself onto
him, rocking in rhythm to the music. Chance's breath hitches with
every move I make. I slowly turn around so that my back is facing him
and I move up and down. The different position gives us both a whole
new stimulation. It takes less time for me to find my spot and I
don't know if it is from the submission move, new position or the
location but Chance joins me and let's go. I relax and move to lie
next to him. He rolls over and kisses my forehead as he pulls me
closer to him.