Page 55 of Viper
Jaylen sighs and walks over to me, his black tee stretched nicely, showcasing his muscular chest, and I look up when he stops near and says, “I’m not going anywhere ever again.”
My heart races with his words, and I try not to look more into them until he holds up a white shirt, his own, and my tears fall as he says, “I thought you might like this to sleep in…”
I don’t hesitate. I grab the shirt and bring it to my nose, inhaling, and his cologne enters my senses. I relax instantly, making him chuckle as he gently wraps his arms around me and I place my head against his chest, not removing the material from my face.
This is the guy I remember from our relationship, the one who always made me feel like he loved me, the one who didn’t care when I took his shirts. The one I kept at home and even though his smell is gone, I can’t sleep without it.
I feel him kiss my head, and I close my eyes, enjoying the sensation, and he whispers, “How are you doing, shorty?”
My tears fall at his nickname, and I press myself deeper into him, causing him to tighten his arms around me. I admit on a whisper, “My therapist gave me homework,” as he gently runs his fingers through my hair, soothing me.
I never want to leave his embrace again, his warmth bringing me the comfort I need.
“Is that so?” he confirms, and I look up at him, locking eyes with his hazel ones that mesmerize me as I keep my body pressed against his as much as I can with the bump and reply, “She wants me to write a letter about how I see my future.”
He smiles gently as he runs his fingers through my hair again and asks, “And how do you see it?”
“I don’t know anymore,” I admit, my eyes racing between his.
Jaylen grips my hair and pulls me even closer, placing my head over his chest, and I close my eyes as his chest rumbles as he says, “You do, you just have to let yourself want it.”
“What if I’m scared?” I ask with a whisper, not opening my eyes.
“You still write it no matter what. Don’t think about everyone else’s feelings, write how you see it and then go through it with your therapist before you try and make your wishes come true,” he says before he pulls back a little as he cups my jaw and we lock eyes again.
“You need a clean slate, Lake,” he says, “You need to put the past behind you and to focus on your present and your future. Focus on what you want and fight for it.”
“But I’m broken, Jaylen,” I remind him quietly.
He shakes his head and denies, “You’re not broken, you’re just a little cracked, and instead of putting a band-aid over it, you're fixing it.”
He places a kiss on my forehead and says, “Come take a seat, I’ve got another present for you,” and I comply, allowing him toguide me to the light brown chairs before I take a seat, not letting go of his tee.
He takes a seat right next to me before he grabs the box off the table, and I furrow my brows as I take it from him before opening it.
A strong cinnamon smell hits me, making my stomach grumble, before the buns with white icing come into view, and I look at him with teary eyes.
“You said you’re craving them,” he whispers as he cups my cheek and gently rubs his thumb along my jaw.
This man…
He’s my everything.
Swallowing hard, I gently close the lid of the box, breaking our connection before I climb him like a tree and beg him to take me home, and he moves his hand so I can place the box on the table, and I admit, “They’ll be gone by tonight,” and he chuckles.
I sigh, sitting back in the chair, and I clutch his shirt, not willing to let it go in case he decides to take it back with him, which is silly thinking, really, but my emotions are all over the place right now.
“I’ve never slept with Cherri, shorty,” he admits out of the blue, and I look up from his tee that he’s sprayed his cologne on in shock. He smiles sadly, “Growing up, I didn’t touch any clubwhores, especially not Cherri.”
“Why?” I ask, stunned by his admission.
He shrugs then admits, “Because I didn’t want to sleep with women half the brothers had, brothers I see as family, I mean, my dad sleeps with those women, meaning it would be like screwing him.”
I scrunch my nose because eww, and he chuckles.
Wait, does that mean…
My heart pounds, and I ask, “And the ring girl?” He tilts his head and frowns, and I admit, “I went to your fight and she wasall over you,” I clear my throat, “She came into the café, gloating about what you did.”
