Page 42 of Dark As Coal

“And only one thing ended it all.” I felt a tear trail down the corner of my cheek, but I didn’t move to stop it, and neither did she, “That man.” I swallowed, “That man I ripped apart limb from limb when I was fifteen. He got off on hurting little boys. He brought a five-year-old little boy to my room. He held a gun to my head and told me he wanted me to molest that five-year-old little boy.”

Adeline was out of her spot on the couch, her hair whipping behind her, and then slowly I stood up, followed her, and found her retching in the toilet.

Tagging a washcloth, I ran water over it and then moved her hair out of her way and pressed it to the back of her neck.

After she was done retching, I helped her with some mouthwash, took her hand, and led us back to the couch.

But what she did next, had me blown the fuck away.

Once I sat back down on her couch, she sat down on my lap, wrapped her arms around my neck, and then locked her eyes with mine, silently telling me she had me. Silently telling me I could keep going.

Therefore, I continued, “I haven’t let a single person touch me since I was fifteen, except for you. I didn’t speak but maybe fifteen words max, before you. And you… damn, Sou… Adeline. You ripped apart everything I knew. And you did that with one fucking word.”

And then, even though I gave her all the words, I needed to show her that I meant every word that came from my mouth.

I carefully lifted her off my lap, sat her on the couch, then I got up, and dropped to my knees in front of her.

Her eyes took in every movement, but she didn’t speak. She waited.

And when I tagged her hand, took in a breath, and placed it on the back of my neck, a fresh wave of tears trailed down her cheeks.

I watched as she closed her eyes, swallowed, and then opened them, then whispered quietly, “Don’t ever stop yourself from calling me Soulshine again. Okay?”

I grinned, “Yes, ma’am.”

That was when I told her about my parents visiting… I didn’t need to say more, because she did it for me, “I ever meet those two, I’m going to need you to find me a shallow grave. I also want Charlie to track down all the men that hurt you, so I can hurt them.”

“Okay,” I whispered.

“And if you ever say you're damaged, I will smack you upside your head, okay?”

I nodded. But I needed to make something known, “Now, let me be clear. Your mine. And I’m yours. That okay with you?”

“More than. But…” I pressed my finger to her lips.

Then I pulled out my phone and sent a text to Asher.

Me - Need a property kutte made. She’s mine. I’m hers. Pass that shit far and fucking wide.

He replied instantly.

Asher - About fucking time.

Tossing my phone on her coffee table, I locked eyes with her once more and promised a promise I would forever uphold, “I won’t fucking hurt you ever again, Adeline. Went thirty-four years without you. Had you. Lost you for two weeks and seven days. I won’t fucking lose you again. I do something that makes you walk away from me, I’ll end myself. Because there’s no world that I ever want to exist in that you are not a part of.”

“I forgive you, Coal Baby,” she whispered against my lips.

Needing her.

Needing to feel her against me.

I did something for the first time in my life.

I made love to a woman.

To my woman.

Chapter 10

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