Page 120 of Watercolor Skulls

Lily hugs herself. “It’s not that easy.”

“It can be.”

Her eyes flash with anger, the alcohol burning a fire in her belly. “It’s not. It’s fucking not!” she screams.

I’m stunned. I’ve never seen her so angry. But then I realize she has every goddamn right to be and maybe this is what has been holding her back. She needs to let it out.

“Jackson will be fine because he has loving parents, grandparents, uncles and aunts. And once his sister wakes up to see she’s not responsible for her father’s sins she will be able to help him too.” I point a finger in her face.

She gapes at me, her mouth hanging open.

“I’m sorry you didn’t have anyone by your side growing up, but Jackson will. He won’t have dreams of crying girls. Your father won’t drug him or use him the way he did you. Jackson will never see Senator Ramsey as his father the way you do. Raffe is his father.”

“I hate him,” she says quietly. Then her face raises to the heavens and she screams, “I hate him. I hate him. I hate him.”

Her face turns red, tears streaming down her cheeks. If her father were standing in front of her right now I have no doubt she would wrap her tiny hands around his neck and squeeze the life right out of him.

A raindrop lands on my cheek. What the hell? It was clear just a few minutes ago.

Lily continues to berate the heavens as a flash of light races across the sky, a rumble of thunder following.

Soon the entire sky lets loose. Rain begins to come down harder and faster. “Lily, we can talk about this in the truck.”

She stops screaming and stares at me. Her body trembles as she falls to her knees. I walk over and crouch down beside her. It’s hard to tell where rain begins and tears end.

Her hand reaches up and cradles my cheek. “You are my sun,” she rasps, wet hair sticking to her face.

“Always,” I promise.

“I’m sorry I ran…I wasn’t running. I just needed…”

“A drink?” I smirk.

The corner of her mouth turns up, a grin slowly spreading across her face. “Or two.”

I laugh. “More like eight.” I tilt my head down, giving her a look that has her clenching her thighs together.

“Again, can no one keep a secret around here?”

“No. We have no secrets in the club. I’m sorry I told yours though. I didn’t mean to hurt you. I only wanted to show you what I already knew. That my family, our family, would embrace you. You and Jackson are incredibly lucky to have found each other.”

She places her other hand on my cheek, pulling me close. Lily presses her lips to mine, her tongue pushing into my mouth hesitantly. She tastes like tequila and rain.

When we pull away from each other I smile. “I think that was our first fight.”

Lily leans forward, burying her face under my beard. She nips lightly at my neck, licking and sucking her up to my ear.Jesus. “I guess it was. Can we make up now?” she purrs seductively.

“Let’s continue this at home.” I quickly try to jump to my feet, but holy shit it got muddy fast. I slip, falling back on my ass. She laughs at me but when she tries to stand the same thing happens to her, mud splattering everywhere.

We both roar with laughter. I’ve heard Lily laugh before but this is different, it’s free, unrestrained. It’s…goddamn amazing.

I crawl to her, stopping when I’m hovering over her face. “You look good dirty.”

She stares up into my eyes, my body shielding her from the rain. Those big fucking brown eyes blink up at me innocently. “Do I?” she says quietly. Other than our breathing the only sound is the patter of rain against the earth and an occasional rumble of thunder.

“Oh, you look so good. So good I think I’m going to fuck you right here.”

Her eyes widen, her lips part and those gorgeous hips rise to grind against me. I trace a muddied hand along her bottom lip, smearing the wet soil across her face. Lily is a wet dream come to life and she’s mine.

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