Protecting His Forever (7 page)

~*~

We cuddle on the couch for a couple hours, full from breakfast. His hand is running through my hair making me sleepy. I have never felt so relaxed.

“I have to go, baby.” He kisses me on the temple before lifting me off his lap and setting me down onto my feet in front of him.

“Okay,” I tell him, disappointed.

“I’ll be back.” His eyes search my face and his hands push deep into my hair. Tugging at the strands he pulls my head back. Biting my lip, I stand up on my tiptoes and wrap my arms around his neck. His lips meet mine in a searing kiss.

“Goodbye, Kane.” I give him another quick kiss as he sets me back down to my feet.

“Bye, sweetheart.”

He walks over to the door and slips on his shoes. Walking over, I stand by him. Opening the door, he steps out taking my hand into his. He pulls me to him, my head hitting his chest.

I don’t want him to go. This seems crazy, but you don’t understand. What I’m feeling is something I never want to go away, and those feelings are here because of Kane. I’m not saying I love him. But I know I will. That’s inevitable.

Kane kisses my forehead one last time. Closing my eyes, I try to memorize the feeling of his warm lips on mine.

He lets go and walks to his truck. His boots crunch under the gravel of my driveway and my head tilts to the side looking at his butt. He has a big butt for a man, and I’m appreciating that right now in his tight Wranglers.

He climbs in and starts his truck, “Lock your door,” he yells out the window before pulling away. Nodding my head, I watch as he drives away.

Nothing can take the smile off my face.

One Week Later

“In here.” I yell as I try to pull myself off the ground. I was mopping the kitchen floor, and I slipped. Every time I try to stand I slide back down to the ground. I spilled soap and was attempting to clean it up.

Kane walks around the corner and looks down at me on the ground. “What happened?”

“I slipped and fell. The floor’s wet, and I can’t stand.” I huff out and try to push myself back off the ground again. My feet slide out from under me again. Landing onto my belly with a thump.

“Sit still Sydney. You’re going to fucking hurt yourself.” He growls and walks over to me.

His hands go under my arms and he lifts me up. Smiling, I wrap my arms around his neck. He kisses the corner of my lip and walks with me in his arms toward the living room.

He sets me down on the couch and stands in front of me with a small smile on his face. “How is my baby today?”

Grinning I stand up and kiss him. His hand trails up my waist to my hair. Licking the seam of his lips I deepen the kiss. Kane growls and fists my hair in his hands and pulls my head back so he can take control of the kiss.

His hands drop from my hair and go to my ass. I can feel each of his fingers as they squeeze my butt cheeks before lifting me off the ground. My legs go around his waist and I can feel each sway as he walks.

My back hits the wall, hard. Pulling back, I take a deep breath. His lips trail down my neck. He can take my virginity now. I feel like I’m being burned alive!

“Fuck me,” I moan.

“Not yet, sweetheart.” He chuckles against my neck.

“Kane, you’re killing me,” I ground out, frustrated.

“Why didn’t you say so?” He raises up and gives me a wicked grin. He carries me upstairs and into my bedroom. I’m thrown onto my bed.

Gulping, I manage to get out an, “Oh shit,” before I’m left speechless. The tongue on that man.

Later that week

Snuggling deep under Kane’s neck I trail my hand up and down his belly. Thick arms pull me closer to him. He presses a kiss to the top of my head. “Kane. Why did you stay with your mom when she did what she did? You were a kid, but you could have gotten out.”

He sighs and pulls me closer to him. “Because she was my mom. I loved her even though she was a shit mother. She wasn’t always like that. I held on to the times where she was a great mom. A mom that baked me cookies, sang to me, and tucked me in at night.”

“I couldn’t leave her. I wanted to make sure she was safe. I put myself in front of her even as a kid so her drug dealers wouldn’t hit her. I made sure she would eat. I did what I possibly could for her. It was a shit life. When she over dosed, I ran. I lived on the streets for years.” He trails his fingers down my spine while I blink back tears at what my sweet Kane has been through.

“I was hard around the edges. My demons haunting the shit out of me. Still to this day I’m haunted. But I’m not going to let those demons haunt what I have.” Sitting up, I look at him not caring I’m butt ass naked.

His eyes connect with mine, hard and serious. My body wracks with chills at his expression. “I’m not going to let those demons haunt what I have because, baby, I’ll fight harder for you. Always.”

I let out a gasp as my heart skips a beat at his words. That man… Jumping up I wrap my arms around his neck at a loss for words. One thing for sure is I’m falling hard for this man. He is perfect in every way.

Two weeks later

Kane and I have been together for one month. We didn’t discuss it. It just happened. To some people that doesn’t sound very long, but we spend every waking moment together. Kane? It’s hard to explain someone like him. Over the last month I have come to know him on so many levels. His demons, his sadness.

Kane has changed, but not in a bad way. He’s protective, caring, tender and passionate. He’s the kind of man who opens the door before you but smacks your ass as you walk in. He’s controlling, and it drives me crazy, but I know he does it because he cares.

Since that first date, Kane has become my world. My almost every thought is on him. He’s the last thing I think of before I go to sleep and the first thing I think about when I wake. He stays the night a lot.

My phone ringing brings me out of my thoughts. Walking into the kitchen, I grab it and hit talk.

“Hello?”

“Hi. Want to go out tonight? I really want to go to a bar.” Braelyn asks.

Braelyn has become the old Braelyn over the past month. She is still scared a lot, but every day I see more of the old Brae popping out, and I think a huge reason for this is Ethan. There is something there between them.

“Sure! Want me to pick you up?”

“That will be great. Be here at nine?”

“Sure, babe. See ya later.” Hanging up, I go and collapse onto the couch reading my new favorite book.

Getting a text, I pick up my phone and wince. It’s from Kane:

Kane: Want me to pick up some dinner?

Me: Girls night with Braelyn. Sorry.

Kane: No, have fun. Where are you going?

Me: Bar.

Kane: Be careful and call me if you drink so I can come and get you.

Me: I will. :)

Picking my book up, I veg on the couch for the rest of the day.

~*~

I pull up at Ethan’s house at ten until nine. I’m wearing a tight red dress that shows off my curves. It goes past my thigh so it’s more than decent. It shows cleavage but not a lot.

Walking up Ethan’s porch steps, I walk on inside. Hearing yelling, I run into the kitchen. Ethan is towering over Brae who has her arms crossed across her chest with an angry expression on her face. Looking between, them, I ask “What’s going on?”

“You’re not going out like that,” Ethan growls at her.

“Yes I am!” she yells and stomps her foot.

Getting a good look at Brae, I understand why Ethan is having a meltdown her dress is really short; the back of it, well there isn’t one. Her cleavage is having a race of who can pop out of her dress first. This isn’t going to be good. Braelyn is wearing what they call ‘a little black dress’.

Leaning back against the wall, I can’t wipe the smile off my face. Braelyn isn’t one who allowed anyone to tell her what to do, and Ethan is the kind of man who thinks his way is the right way.

“I repeat. Your ass is not going out in that.” He steps closer to her so they’re touching. Braelyn’s eyes narrow, and I can image horns sprouting from her head.

“What did you just say?” she asks in an eerily calm voice.

“You heard me.” He arches an eyebrow at him.

She steps around him and walks over to me. “Let’s just go.” She grabs my arm and all but pulls me toward the door.

Then Braelyn is pulled away from me. She squeals as Ethan throws her over his shoulder and carries her up the steps. She bangs her small fists on his back. “I’m going to murder you, Ethan!” She screams loud enough to wake the dead.

I take a seat on the couch because I know Ethan won’t stop until she changes. I get why Ethan doesn’t want her dressed like that. She was raped. Every guy who sees her dressed like that won’t be able to keep his hands to himself.

She walks past me with her arms crossed across her chest. She’s wearing a longer black dress that shows less cleavage. Her jaw clenched tight she walks out onto the porch.

“Sydney. Call me if you need anything,” he tells me but looks at Braelyn standing out on the porch. Nodding, I walk outside.

“You ready?” I ask Brae as we climb into my car.

“That fucker,” she curses and slumps into her seat. Biting my lip, I try to control my laughter.

“How did he get you to change?” I ask curious.

“He changed me himself,” she grounds out while staring out the window.

Nothing can stop my laughter this time. “Oh God, that’s great.”

She starts laughing a few moments after I do. “God, that man makes me want to commit murder.”

“I understand that. Believe me,” I mumble the last part.

“Let’s have some fun tonight.” Brae grins and claps her hands mischievously. Shaking my head, we ride the rest of the way to the bar in silence. Braelyn looks out of the window deep in thought. It’s really a club, but I have the habit of calling it a bar because I’m a small town girl.

This club just opened a year ago. Purple, blue, and red strobe lights are everywhere even on the outside. It’s not very busy yet, which is a good thing. I’m not much for crowds.

“We’re here,” I tell her as I park the car around the corner so we can actually leave when we want to. Drinking tonight will be very doubtful. Braelyn needed this night, and it’s going to be about her.

Grabbing my wristlet and phone, I open my car door. Stepping out, I slam my door closed and walk over to Brae who is still sitting in the car. Not moving.

Opening her door, I peer inside. “What’s the matter?”

She looks up at me, fear written on her face. “I’m scared,” she barely whispers.

“I know, honey. I’m not drinking tonight. You have fun, and I won’t leave your side. You’ve been through hell, Brae. You need to let loose and have fun. You need to live.” Grabbing her hand, I pull her out of the car.

“Thank you, Sydney.” She gives me a hug before letting go. A small smile on her face, she stands tall with her head held high. Smiling proudly, I lock my car.

It’s almost completely dark out. Braelyn grabs my hand and looks around wildly at her surroundings. Squeezing her hand, I hurry to the front doors.

We are carded and then we go inside. Brae visibly relaxes. Looking around the room, I look for somewhere to sit. Spotting a table off to the corner of the room, I tap her shoulder then point in the direction of the table.

She nods and we walk to it. The loud music blares through the speakers. Braelyn sits in front of me across the table. Turning on my phone, I see five texts from Ethan and one from Kane.

Kane: you make it?

Me: Yes, just made it.

Ethan: You guys make it?

Is she okay?

Call me if you need anything.

Please watch over her Syd.

?

Shaking my head, I message back.

Me: I have my Taser, and I’m not drinking. She won’t leave my sight. Everything will be okay, Ethan.

Another message pops onto my screen from Kane.

Kane: Be safe.

Me: I will I promise.

Ethan messages back, but I ignore it. Brae is chewing on her thumb nail nervously.

“Let’s get you a drink.” Standing up, I pull her from her seat and straight to the bar.

~*~

An hour passes and Brae has a nice buzz going. We’re on the dance floor dancing, keeping our distance from everyone else. Making sure my purse is on me, I keep an eye on the crowd around me.

Running my hands up my body, I shake my butt seductively. Brae comes up to me and takes my hands so we’re dancing together.

Three songs pass before she whispers into my ear, “I need to pee.”

Laughing, I pull her in the direction of the bathroom. She stumbles behind in her four-inch heels. Moving through the crowd, we get bumped into a few times. One man runs into me hard. Hitting the floor, I land on my hip. That’s going to leave one hell of a bruise. Glaring up at the man, I see him staring at something beside me.

My eyes widen when I take in Brae’s expression. She is pale as a ghost. Her body shaking. The man is stepping closer to her with a creepy grin on his face. Climbing to my feet, I stand in front of Braelyn.

Braelyn presses her head into my back. My hands grip my dress. The man gives me a murderous look, but I keep backing up away from him.
Breathe, Sydney, stay calm. Braelyn needs you.

“I’m not leaving here without her,” the man roars in my face as he steps close enough that his stench has me gagging.

“Yes, you are.” Not backing down, I slip my hand into my purse and pull my Taser out and put it behind my back. He’s not looking at me but at Braelyn behind my back.

Shuddering, I keep backing up. His face contorts in anger with every step. This man’s hair is so greasy and grime is covering his face; it smells like he’s been washing his face in shit and pee.

I know what’s going to happen before he does it. He rushes me, but my Taser is ready for him. I put the Taser to his neck and his whole entire body shakes before his eyes roll in the back of his head. He hits the ground with a thump—not moving.

Turning around, I grab Brae’s hand we step over him and run to the bathroom. I may or may not have stepped on his balls in the process. Brae follows behind silently.