Page 24 of Dark As Coal

That was until I saw his nostrils starting to flare.

That alone got me unstuck as I continued to make my way over to him.

I stopped moving when I was ten feet in front of him.

The silly riddles I used weren’t going to cut it this time. So, I had to try something I read about when dealing with someone who was in a red haze as they referred to it.

But what it really was, in my opinion, was a panic attack.

Keeping my eyes locked with him I spoke ever so softly as if I were coddling a wounded animal that wanted nothing more than to tear anything apart that got too close to it so it wouldn’t get hurt again, “Breathe with me, Coal. In and out.”

Taking his hand that wrapped around the door I grabbed it and placed it over my heart, “Feel this, Coal. Feel this. Feel my heart beating.” As I said that I placed my free hand over his and felt his heart beating erratically.

And then I whispered the words he had whispered to me on a night when it was storming, we were lying naked in front of my fireplace, “You told me that your heart only beats for me while you were falling asleep. I didn’t tell you that mine only beats for you. Feel me, Coal. Just me.”

We stood there for long moments and then as I saw his whole body go lax, I smiled up at him, and winked, “Coal Baby, I took the day off. So how about you use me and let go of everything you’re thinking about right now? Give it all to me Coal.”

Angelyn started again with her mouth, “Now that he’s calm, I’ll take care of him.”

Without even breaking my gaze with Coal I said as harshly as I could muster, “You try to come near him or touch him and I will fulfill the threat that Asher gave you.”

She was off her goddamn rocker when she followed that up with, “Bitch, that man is mine.”

And that one word, Coal tried to take his hand from mine, his dominant hand. The one he used to pull his gun, but I didn’t loosen my hold.

“Has his dick ever been inside of you?” I asked her while still looking at Coal.

I heard her snap, “No, but that doesn’t matter. We connect on a personal level.”

Every single person in the room started laughing but Coal and myself.

“Personal level my ass. Has he ever said one word to you?” Rome asked her.

“No. But he doesn’t need to.” She was fucking delusional.

Then, I repeated those same words, “Coal Baby, I took the day off. So how about you use me and let go of everything you’re thinking about right now? Give it all to me, Coal.”

Just like that, whatever had him upset was gone because a small smile formed on his face and then before I could even blink, I was up and over his shoulder as he carried me up the stairs and to his room.

And if I had known the events that would follow… I would have made such a drastic move a long time ago.

He was thrusting in and out of me. I needed more. I needed it harder. Therefore, I moaned, wanting, needing, “Coal, please. Harder.”

“Don’t want to hurt you,” he whispered into my neck.

I gritted my teeth, trying, trying to not let my temper explode from me. And when he pulled out and pushed into me, I lost the strenuous hold I had on it.

Then I snapped, “Then get the fuck out of me, and go find another girl you’re not afraid is going to break.”

He stilled, “That really what you want?”

“What I want is for you to open your fucking eyes and see me. Me. Not a woman that’s three times less than your size. I want you to see my curves, see that I’m strong. I’m strong enough to take everything you give me.” I snapped at him.

If it were even possible, his entire frame went even stiller.

“And here’s a shocker for you. Maybe, hopefully, you can comprehend every word that’s about to fall from my mouth, but basically. I. Want. You. All. Of. You. I don’t want some half-ass bullshit. Been waiting my whole life for the right man to come along. And that man is on his knees behind me. Now, fucking give it all to me.” I gritted out every word.

Chapter 5

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