Page 144 of Invisible String
“I know you always do.” Her arms wrap around my neck, and her head falls safely on my chest. My hands are under her dress against goose bumps on her soft skin. Pride filled me when she was waiting for me at the gym. I didn’t care who saw me with my girl. It’s unlike me to let my guard down in front of the guys. They’ve never seen me show PDA. I could tell Carlos likedRainey from the second I saw her when I walked in. He had the look of a proud father with his smug smile. He’s been wanting to meet her for so long. I knew she would fit into our little family.
Once I shut the door, I double secure both locks. Daisy wags her tail, jumping off the sofa. Kissing Rainey repeatedly with soft presses on her lips, I climb up the stairs with her.
She hums into my neck, then sucks. Fuck me. “You always smell so good.”
“And here I thought you were asleep.” I was tempted several times to take her into the bathroom for a quick fuck, but then Xander and Leo showed up, arguing like an old couple.
“It’s hard to sleep when I’m pressed on your hard body and your bear’s claws are squeezing my butt.”
I guess I do have a good grasp of them. “I can’t help it; you have the perfect ass.”
Her head lifts to peer at me. Like always, I can’t help but smile at her beautiful face.
“You truly are a ray of sunshine. You’re my peace.”
I lay her on the bed, but before I step back, Rainey pulls me in for a fireworks show of kisses. Her lips taste like a ripe strawberry—her body molds to mine. We kiss as if we haven’t kissed for months.
I slide off her. “We better stop. If I keep kissing those lips, you know where it leads to. You’re tired.” I take off my shirt, tossing it into the hamper. “I’m going to take a quick shower,amor. Would you like me to grab your pajamas, or would you prefer to sleep naked? I’ll take the latter. It will benefit us when we wake,” I tell her over my shoulder, taking out a pair of boxers she had folded nicely in my drawer next to hers.
When I turn to face her, her eyes are already dancing with mischief, caressing me. “I’ll join you.”
Running my hand over my jaw, I smirk. “Showers together only end up getting you dirtier, then cleaning up. It’s a repetitive cycle, sunshine.”
“I like the sound of that.” She grins with a small yawn she tries to hide.
“No, you’re tired.”
Rainey shakes her head stubbornly. “I’m fine. I missed you all day. I need to shower anyway.” She stands and walks toward the drawer. She pulls out a pair of underwear. Like she’s going to need them after. “Oh, my gosh, Max. I forgot. I… keep forgetting.”
“What is it?”
She reaches into her underwear drawer, her fingers brushing against the fabric, and retrieves a small, covered box nestled in the far corner. “This is the gift I bought you for our Christmas in July,” she says, her voice tinged with nostalgia as she attempts a fragile smile.
My chest tightens; the memories of our shared struggles pierce through me. I lift the lid of the box, revealing a delicate sterling silver necklace that glimmers softly in the dim light—attached silver boxing gloves with champ on it.
“This is a good luck charm.” She smiles. “I hope you like it.”
Receiving gifts isn’t something I’m accustomed to. Over the years, during my time in various homes, I’ve only received a handful, if that.
I’m not a crier, but this woman does something to me. I swallow the emotions of her kindness. “Gracias, corazón. It’s beautiful. I appreciate the thought you put into it. You’re my good luck charm, and now, whenever we are apart, I’ll have it around my neck. Good thinking, baby.” I kiss her lips passionately until she pulls back.
“Oh, one more thing. I hope this doesn’t upset you.” She fidgets with her fingers. “The day when my mom had dinnerwith us, I saw you at the pawn shop. The following day, when you left, I went to the pawn shop. I asked them what you pawned. They said it was a loan until you picked it up. They gave you thirty days, and you only had two days left. Since I didn’t have proof, they showed it to me, then said I would have to buy it. So I did.”
My breath catches as she gives me the box containing my mom’s wedding ring.
I was torn apart, thinking I had lost it forever. That ring held immense sentimental value for me. It was the one thing I had hoped to pass down to Rainey when the time came for me to propose. I had envisioned sizing it for her and perhaps adding more stones. After I left Tahoe, I couldn’t shake off the feeling of loss and called the pawn shop a week later, desperately clinging to hope. My heart shattered when they said it was sold.
“I thought I lost my mom’s wedding ring. I took it from my dad those summers ago before Tahoe. It was something I wanted to keep of hers. I knew my dad would never notice.” The words are stuck in my throat, unable to fully express my gratitude. “I needed money, so I pawned it.”
Rainey’s eyes water. “Oh, baby, I know. You didn’t have to do that to take my mom and me to dinner.”
She’s always been good at putting two and two together.
“What kind of man would that make me,tesoro, if I can’t pay for two beautiful women’s meals? My mom would have scolded me. I would do it again if I had to.” I swallow, holding the ring in the palm of my hand. “Thank you so much, baby. I think about this all the time. How did I get so lucky to have a woman like you in my life?” My finger tangles in a strand of her hair. My words of gratitude grip in my chest.
“It’s okay, Max. You don’t have to thank me. I don’t need more words. I’m just happy it’s back to you. I’m just glad I bought it before it was sold to someone else.”
My God, she’s perfect. I grip her by the waist, pulling her to me, not leaving space between us. “I’m going to show you my gratitude in other ways.” My breath fans her neck, causing her goosebumps. “Tell me what you want.”
