Touched (14 page)

It’s almost time to leave, and I can’t find the earrings I packed. Dammit! I’ve looked in my small and large bag. Where in the hell did I put them? I freeze. Oh, no! I hope I didn’t forget them. I turn around as Knox walks into the bedroom, standing there in a black tux with a crisp white shirt and black tie holding a small, black velvet box in his hand stretched out towards me. My eyebrows immediately lower and my lip curls. What is he up to? After I don’t move for a couple of minutes, he chuckles and walks to me as I stand up straight with my hand on my hip. “What? What’s that, Knox? What did you do?”

He takes my hand from my hip, turns it over and lays the tiny box in my palm then steps back. “Open it.” His smile is my undoing, so I look down, open the lid and gasp. Laying in more velvet is a set of diamond earrings, pear shaped and that sparkle so brightly they’re almost blinding. “Do you like?” My eyes move up to his gleaming ones, and I open my mouth but nothing. So I walk the two steps to him and crush my mouth against his as his arms brace around my waist pulling me even closer. “I’m going to take that as yes,” he says grinning against my mouth.

“But when…? How…?” My eyes squint and then look down at the magnificent earrings again, admiring how they sparkle back at me.

I take a step back. My hands begin to shake as I try to remove them from the box, but I’m almost afraid to touch them. My eyes snap up when his hand cups mine, his other hand picks up the earrings from the box and turns his hand over. There they lay in his palm, and he gives me his devilish grin. “Do you need help putting them in?” I smile and shake my head, then take one of the earrings, letting go of his hand with the box and place one in my ear then pick up the other and do the same. He takes my hand and leads me into the bathroom, then turns me around to face the mirror. In the bright lights, they really glitter. Looking into the mirror, I give him a wide smile, my teeth showing brightly, and he smiles back as he puts his hands on my hips.

“They’re gorgeous but you don’t need to buy me expensive gifts. I love them.”

He leans down, resting his chin on my shoulder and grins. “Not as gorgeous as you, Angel.” My heart just left my body as it soared with his loving words. “Come now. We’ll be late for our reservation.”

Ralph pulls the SUV up alongside the curb at what looks to be the finest restaurant around here, but it was a thirty minute drive to get here. Once he’s opened our door, Knox helps me out, my light lavender dress pulling a bit with its tightness. I start to walk towards the front door, but he stops me, pulling me back against his chest as his strong arms move around my waist, his hands on my stomach and I can feel his light breath at my ear. “I didn’t tell you. You look most beautiful in that dress. I think it’s becoming one of my favorites.” Smiling, I turn my head a bit so I can see him behind me.

“Only for you, darling. Always.” He smiles, then his hand moves and pinches my bottom, and I yelp. He laughs as he takes my hand to lead me into the restaurant when flashes from cameras go off all around us. I lower my head. His arm goes around me quickly and Ralph steps behind us to move us into the front door fast. We’re seated immediately at a table for three in the corner, and our waiter rushes over to take our drink orders so fast it made my head spin. Then brings us our drinks in a matter of a couple of minutes.

“Well, let’s make a toast!” Tabbie lifts her glass and raises it to Knox and then to me. “To Knox and Jade, may their happiness never end!” We all clang our glasses together, but before I have a chance to sip, Knox puts his arm through mine, and we drink like we were just had gotten married.

I let Knox order for me, well, because he does that so well. By the time dinner has arrived, I’m starving. “The funeral is tomorrow morning and shouldn’t take more than thirty minutes. Mother didn’t have any friends so it will just be us,” Tabbie states as she plucks her fork into her mouth.

I watch as Knox chews, swallows, then takes a sip of wine. “Have you thought anymore about returning to Florida with us? You know I will call and have the house packed up and have everything shipped there and I’ll get the best real estate agent set up to sell it. You know it won’t get much though, right?”

She stops mid bite and then sighs, laying her fork down on her plate. “I know and I have. I want to but I’m not sure I can do it that fast. I need to go through some stuff and at least pack up my things and some stuff that I really want to keep. I know she was horrible to you, Knox and you know I don’t condone her behavior at all but she was my mother and…” My appetite just left seeing how sad she is.

He places his hand on hers and smiles. “Haven’t I always taken care of you?” She nods slowly, a tear falling down her sweet face. He reaches up and wipes it away and smiles. “And I always will. Now, we’ll wait a day or two to leave and I’ll help you. I really don’t want to leave you here to take care of everything by yourself and you know how much I’ve wanted you to move to Florida.” She smiles and leans over pecking him on his cheek. He removes his hand and picks up his glass of wine and looks at me. “You ok for a little delay in returning, Angel?” My appetite just came back, and my smile grows. “Good. Glad that’s settled. Let’s finish and get back so we can begin. I’m in the mood for some cleaning.” And, we did just that.

I felt kind of weird, since it wasn’t my house or my family, but I helped as much as I could. While they actually went through things, I cleaned. I figured if he’s going to hire someone to try to sell the place I could make it as ready as possible, without painting and fixing it up, which God knows it needs desperately.

By midnight, it was decided we’d better get some sleep since the funeral was at ten o’clock in the morning. Truthfully, I think Knox was overdone with all the bad memories. By the time I finished in the bathroom, brushing my teeth, removing my earrings and placing them back into the velvety box and getting on my sleep attire, I was beyond exhausted but then once I climbed into bed Knox was all over me. There is no foreplay, no getting ready for the huge size of his girth when he plunges into me hard and fast. This is about him trying to get all his feelings of this place out, and I’m ok with that. He needs this. There are no sounds other than the slapping of skin, the moans from our mouths and our panting as I squeeze the sheets in my hands, my fists clenching them tightly. It doesn’t take either of us long to reach our climaxes, our bodies shaking, sweating and I watch his face through the slits of my eyes when he cries out. The most beautiful thing I’ve ever witnessed. He collapses on top of me then quickly rolls over, pulling me with him until I’m snuggled closely as we try to catch our breaths.

My face lifts with his hand beneath my chin and I see the look of worry on his face and in his eyes. “I’m so sorry, Angel. Did I hurt you? I don’t know what came over me but all I knew is I needed you. I never wanted to do anything but make love to you, not fuck you hard like that. I’m so sorry.” His thumb caresses my skin as his eyes plead with me.

Leaning up I kiss his frowning mouth, then I look at him with the love I’m feeling. “You didn’t hurt me, darling. There’s no shame in how you were feeling and I will always be here for you.” My head lowers, and I kiss his chest over his heart and then look up again. “And… There’s nothing wrong with a good hard fuck. I enjoyed it.” His arm squeezes me then he pushes me over and lies in between my legs, his mouth covering mine in the process and his thumb begins stroking my clit that’s already aching for him again. His nearly fully erect cock rubs back and forth, sliding up and down where I want it to be and then finally moves inside me as a slow rhythm is achieved. My heart starts racing all over again, my body on fire as he makes slow and passionate love to me. I’ll take a hard fuck any time if afterwards he makes love to me. Oh, who am I kidding? I’ll take this man any time and in any way.

§ § § §

I awake refreshed from our love fest last night, but then feel the emptiness when I don’t feel her in my arms. I look over to find her side of the bed made so I quickly get out of bed and into the bathroom to get myself ready for the day. When I get downstairs to the kitchen, I walk into the room with the girls chatting, drinking coffee and eating breakfast. I walk straight over to my girl, my hands grabbing her upper arms as I pull her up and kiss the hell outta her mouth. Tabbie soon starts coughing so I pull my mouth away and help Jade sit back down, then take the seat next to her, scooting it over as close to her as I can.

I look over at Tabbie, who’s rolling her eyes at me. “It was bad enough last night, hearing all the sex noises but do you have to do that in front of me?” My eyes widen but then I give her my best smirk. “These walls aren’t very thick you know.” My eyes snap over to Jade, whose blushing beyond belief and I lower my head before I let out the laugh I’m holding. I have no shame.

Ralph enters the kitchen as we’re cleaning up, informing us that there is a mob out front and that he pulled the SUV into the garage for a safer escape and that we should be leaving in twenty minutes.

Jade walks into the bathroom as I finish brushing my hair. Her arms sliding around my waist as she gives me a sweet look into the mirror. “How you holding up? Anything I can do?” I turn in her arms, capturing her body and holding it close.

“I’m actually not doing too badly right now, since you’re near me.” My mouth finds hers quickly, our tongues moving around each other’s and her moan is quiet compared to mine. When I pull away my eyes turn dark as I gaze into hers. “Anything you can do? Sadly, we don’t have time even for a quick fuck.” She bursts out laughing, calming me even further with the sound of her happiness.

“Knox we need to…” Tabbie runs through the bathroom doorway, then stops abruptly and covers her eyes. “Oh, geez! Really? Now?”

Jade and I both start laughing, but I relinquish my hold on her and walk past Tabbie into the bedroom, pick up my suit coat from the bed and put it on. “You know, if you’d learn to knock first those kind of things could be avoided,” I smirk.

She turns to leave. “Yeah, well. Don’t worry. I’ve learned my lesson and will be knocking in the future especially when we get to your house.”

My eyes snap to Jade. Her fingernail is in between her teeth as she nervously bites it. I must talk her into giving up her apartment and moving in with me, even more so now. I don’t think I can bear even one night without her.

After getting settled in the car Ralph backs out of the garage, and I’m so relieved that the windows are darkened enough that the paparazzi can’t see us very well but that doesn’t stop them from snapping their cameras anyway. It doesn’t take us long to get to the funeral home, and I notice we have an entourage of vehicles that followed us. Once we park I remove my jacket, and as we step out of the car, I throw it over Jade’s head to help cover her from the offending flashes, and we make haste getting inside the building. It’s quite a small funeral parlor, but a ton of room since only the three of us are here. She had no friends. Hell, she barely left the house. Tabbie insisted on having an open casket but only for a few minutes, so she could say her goodbyes. Me? I waited out in the entryway until it was closed, but Jade went in there with her for moral support. She’s one of a kind, my girl. When the very quick service was over, I covered Jade with my jacket once more as we walked to the SUV and helped her inside. The mass of vehicles followed us again to the cemetery, but the police escort that Ralph called in prohibited them from entering to closely to the grave site.

The minister said a few words, and then we watched as her casket was lowered into the ground, my arm was around Tabbie the entire time as she cried for the loss of her mother. “Ralph, please take Tabbie and Jade to the car. I’d like a few moments alone.” Ralph nodded, and Jade squeezed my arm and gave me a sad smile, then she put her arm around Tabbie, and they headed towards the SUV.

I closed my eyes as all the unpleasant memories washed over me, one by one. All the anger, the torment, the pain and the loneliness sweeping through my body and mind completely overwhelming me until I opened my eyes and saw the casket sitting there, down deep in the uncovered ground. “I came here for Tabbie. Only Tabbie, not you. You’ve never really had me beaten, you know? I may not have been strong as a child, but I grew strong and despite your horrible beatings, your misguided insecurities, and your vulgar mouth, I became the man I am today, proud, caring, loving and successful. I hope you burn in hell.” I start to turn, but stop myself and look down one more time. “I wash myself of all the bad memories of you and leave them here to rot. No more will you pull me under. No more.” When I turn this time, Jade is standing a few feet away and the smile, the show of pride on her face bowls me over. We meet halfway, throwing ourselves into each other’s arms, and I feel the wetness of her tears against the side of my face. I look up at the sound of a horn honking and Ralph is standing next to the SUV that is suddenly crowded by paparazzi. Jade looks up at me, winks, then smile as she turns, taking my hand, we walk proudly to the car, no covering her head with my jacket this time and no hiding. We are united. We are one.

Once we’re back at the house, Tabbie announces she’s heading to her room to pack and Jade and I walk into the kitchen. I pour myself a glass of Jack Daniel’s and a glass of wine for her. Bringing the bottle of Jack with me, I sit at the table and set her glass in front of her. She raises it and in my confusion, I follow her lead raising mine as well.

“Here’s to a new beginning. For you and for me.” We clink our glasses and as I take a gulp it comes right back up, spewing all over the table when she blurts, “Our life together at your apartment.” Her laughter and giggles are sweet to my ears until I jump at the next sound that fills my ears.