Hand of Thorns (22 page)

"Okay. I'll be ready." Even though I don't want to be.

"Monica. I love you. You're my sister and my best friend."

"I love you too, Sumner. Thank you." My voice is restless at this point.

She hangs up the phone, and I set mine on the table, still staring at Leon. Neither of us say anything for a bit. It's when he glances at the flowers again, I finally open my mouth. "Thanks for the flowers." Except, I sound anything but thankful.

"Glad to see you liked them."

I look at the broken glass surrounding them rather than at the man who stole my heart before shredding it to pieces. "Why are you here?"

"Why are you crying? Did it really piss you off that much that I sent you flowers?"

"You think this is about you?" I glance back in his direction. "Figures your ego would assume such a thing."

"I'm not going to apologize for what I said. I warned you time and time again I'm a fucking asshole. I
am
sorry, however, for hurting you."

I roll my eyes. "Figures."

"Monica, stop this." His voice grows in frustration. "What is going on with you?"

"What is going on with me?! Are you serious? I fucking fell in love with you and you destroyed my heart! I was never going to be first in your heart. I'm exhausted and frustrated. School is taking a toll on me. This pregnancy is wearing me thin. My friends all have their own lives, and I feel so damn lonely all the time, when I'm not busy with school or attempting to actually sleep, which I hardly get. Then add in that my mom is a selfish fucking bitch, who decided to overdose on cocaine the morning of Valentine's Day. That seems to sum this bullshit of a life up!"

He steps towards me and I try to back up but the counter stops me from going anywhere. He places his hands firmly on my shoulders, looking me square in the eyes. "I fell in love with you, too. And you walked away after I fucked up, rather than sticking around to work shit out. You’ve told me time and time again you wouldn't walk away, that you loved me too much for that. That you loved my flaws, too. So who broke whose heart, Monica? I've tried endlessly to speak with you, to make you smile, to make you call me back, and it takes your mom overdosing for you to call and... bitch at me. Grow. Up."

I shove at his hands to stop touching me, but he doesn't budge an inch. "Don't you dare turn this on me!"

His face only gets closer to mine. His nose flares as he takes deep breathes, trying to ease his rage. "Turn this on you? Stop being so damn vain. This isn't about you. This isn't about me. This is about us."

"Us? Really? Where in
us
does Ellie and Spud fit in? Huh?"

"You knew I was in a relationship when this all started. You obviously knew a baby with Ellie was part of the deal, seeing as you're the one carrying her."

"But... But I thought I had a chance."

"A chance for what?"

"To be more than your mistress!"

"You aren't a fucking mistress," he seethes. "I keep telling you that."

"And you keep proving your words wrong, Leon. Who am I if not your mistress?"

His fingers grip into my shoulders. I don't even know if he is aware to the fact he's doing it, or that it actually hurts. I don't bother telling him because I want to know what I am to him. I've stepped away from him this long, so whatever it is he's about to say is a make it or break it. If it's the wrong thing, I'm walking away for good.

"Monica," he says in a much softer, yet still timid tone. "You are the love of my life."

"How can you say that though?"

He leans in closer, his lips nearly gracing mine as he speaks. "Because it's true. Hawaii was hell, we barely even spoke to one another. Every day since we rarely say anything to each other, and I'm pretty fucking sure she has her own fling at this rate. And you know what? I. Don't. Care. Because I don't want her, I want you. You, Monica."

My lips collide with his in a force so hard, I'm almost certain I'm going to knock him over. He immediately furthers our kiss, wrapping his fingers into my hair as he holds me against him. I had given up hope for this moment to ever exist with him.

We slowly walk towards the bedroom where Leon lays me down. He is delicate in the way he undresses me, and I love the way he smiles down when he examines my body. I haven't felt at all pretty lately with how large I've gotten, but he makes me feel beautiful, just from the shine in his eyes.

Once he's undressed, his lips skim against my earlobe. "You are insanely beautiful," he whispers. I tremble at his words. He continues to kiss down my body, examining different parts of my body with his mouth, making it more sensual than anything I've ever experienced. By the time he makes his way back to my mouth, I'm breathing with need, ready to have him inside of me.

"Leon," I whisper breathlessly. "Will you... make love to me?"

His eyes look back and forth at mine. I feel weak with desire. I'm ready to grind against him. I need to get off from Leon's touch, but he deliberately gazes down at me, not saying anything. I slip my fingers into his unruly dark locks, ready to pull him down to kiss me more.

As I pull him close to me, he says, "I'd love nothing more."

Leon is unhurried with his movements, gently rocking into me while his hands linger across my skin. He presses kisses against me while I moan in pleasure, absorbing his love. I've found an addiction of my own, one I don't want to break the habit of. Leon is undeniably my drug, and I need to stop fighting any feelings I have for him. I give him my all; my heart, my body, and my soul.

He bites down on my earlobe when his thrusts start to increase. The feeling intensifies my already orgasmic sensation, and I'm about to come apart. "Baby," he breathes. "I'm going to come. Are you ready?"

I moan in response. Leon adjusts himself to be on his knees, pulling my hips up to meet his thrusts. He rocks into me hard, while pressing his thumb against my clit. I scream out in pleasure while he continues, then suddenly I feel as his orgasm hits seconds later. With one last hard push into me, he allows me to slowly fall back onto the mattress. The intensity between us is uncanning.

"I love you," I pant. “And I’m sorry.”

Leon comes down to kiss my mouth. "I love you more."

"Impossible."

"Completely possible." He chuckles, kissing my mouth once more. "I want to bring you out to dinner."

"Really?"

"Can I?"

"Um… yeah, of course." I try to suppress my smile, but it's useless.

He lays next to me, turning me so my backside is pressed against his chest. His dick is pressed into the curve of my ass, but it doesn't feel uncomfortable nor awkward as I'd assume it would. He runs his fingers over my stomach, causing Spud to kick. "Wow, they've really intensified, huh?" He states.

"Tell me about it. It's constant now."

"How have you been feeling?"

"Exhausted. Uncomfortable. Huge." I laugh. "Six weeks, I keep telling myself. Six weeks and I don't have to feel this way anymore. Other than my body being ruined, I'll feel like myself finally."

His fingers curl into a fist. "Don't insult yourself that way."

"It's true though."

"No. You have no idea how gorgeous you are. I don't think I could ever look at another woman the way I do you."

His words warm my soul, but it doesn't change the fact. "I have gained forty three pounds already."

"You were really skinny before."

"And I have tons of stretch marks."

"Each one I love."

"And I'm going to have those muffin tops most moms have."

"I'll still love you and your body, because I know what you've accomplished with it. It doesn't ruin your body, baby, if anything it empowers it."

I close my eyes, melting into Leon, loving what he is saying, even if I don't exactly agree. "Thank you," I whisper.

"For what?"

"For making me feel better, even for a little while."

I feel him press his lips against my head, while he tightens his hold on me.

We fall asleep for quite some time just like this. When I wake up, Leon has his arm still draped over me, softly snoring. I have to pee extremely bad, but I don't want to break his hold. Cautiously I remove his hand, wishing I didn't have to, then I sneak to the bathroom, latching the door lightly so I don't wake him. When I come out I realize it's all pointless because he's awake, watching me creep towards the bed.

"What time is it?" he asks with a sensual grin. He’s staring at me suggestively while I’m completely butt naked.

I peek out into the living room quickly. "It's a little before one." As soon as I say it I remember I have to leave with Sumner soon. "Shit, I have to leave in like forty minutes."

"Why?"

"Sumner is picking me up to see my mom."

"Do you have to shower or anything?"

"I already did this morning."

"Well you have forty minutes until she's here. We could shower, cuddle, or fuck in the meantime." He winks and I swear his dick twitches at the same exact time. It thrills me, and I'm instantly turned on once more.

Feigning innocence, I shrug, smiling ear to ear. "Or… all three?"

He practically jumps out of the bed, and I turn with a squeal to head back towards the bathroom. He captures me in his arms before I can turn the shower on. Nuzzling my neck, he says, "I love when you act naughty for me."

"And I love being naughty with you."

He reaches into the shower to turn it on, then we walk forward to get rained on by the cascading water. Having sex in the shower is a chore when you're this big, but we manage without falling. While soaking wet, Leon brings me into the bedroom to continue pleasuring me. While I'm on my back, he falls to the floor in front of me, placing my legs on either side of his head, using his shoulders to keep them positioned correctly. He licks between my legs. Using his fingers and mouth together, he brings me to another intense orgasm, and I scream out while gripping into his hair.

By the time I've gotten off for the third time this morning, he stands up from between my legs, positing himself just right. He stares down at me, biting down on his lip as he pushes his erection into me. I scream out in ecstasy, loving how he makes me feel, both inside and out. There is no making love this time. He's fucking me... hard. I feel bad for the people living around me, because they certainly have to be hearing a lot of screaming coming from me.

When Leon gets off this time, his eyes roll back in his head. I'm not sure I've ever felt as powerful as that moment, knowing it was me who caused him to feel that kind of intensity. He collapses on the bed next to me, smiling over at me, as I lay here completely spent. "That was..." I can't even finish the sentence.

He grins proudly. "Yeah, it definitely was."

"I should probably get dressed now."

"I can help with that." He leans in to kiss me.

"Good," I tell him. "Because I am far too weak to do it myself."

He chuckles softly as he stands to gather my clothing. Once he's done helping me get dressed, I brush through my hair while he also clothes himself. "So dinner tonight, right?" He asks.

"Yeah, I'd love to."

"I'll be back at five then. I already made reservations for six."

"Wait... what? You had already made reservations."

The side of his mouth pulls up in a smile, his cocky nature on full display. "See you at five."

He starts to head for the door but I attempt to stop him. "What do you mean you already made reservations? Who said I'd forgive you?"

"No one." He shrugs one of his shoulders. "Your friend is here though." He turns to face me. I see Sumner's car out the kitchen window, but she's not in it, so I'm sure she'll be inside in no time. I don't want her to flip out on Leon, so the less time he's here, the better at this rate.

I ignore the fact he had enough faith that we'd work things out, and step forward to kiss him. "I'll see you at five then."

"I love you, beautiful." My heart beats faster at his words.

"I love you, too."

As he opens the door to step out, Sumner steps in. She glares at Leon for all of two seconds before walking through to give me a sad smile. "How are you feeling? You ready to go?"

"I'm fine, and yes I'm ready."

Leon stares from the other side of the door frame for a few moments before disappearing, as I head over to grab my purse.

"What happened to your flowers?" Sumner asks as we head out the door.

I lock up and start walking down the stairs. "I broke the vase."

"I see that. Why?"

"If you're trying to get me to talk about how much I hate Leon, it's not happening right now. I don't want to bring up stressful things when I'm already going through enough."

"I'm your best friend, you're supposed to tell me everything, regardless to how much it hurts."

"Why? So you can walk away for weeks again?"

She shakes her head shamefully. "I'm sorry, Monica. You know I'm sorry. I was hurt, but I was also selfish. I'm here for you, I promise. Tell me what's going on?"