Page 16 of No Right To Love You
It’s an all-out decorating war going on and Jasmine is winning.
“Daddy bear!” Zoe screams out and gets off her stool. She runs into her father’s arms, and he lifts her up.
“What are we doing?”
“Decorating cupcakes then having them after dinner.”
“You haven’t eaten dinner yet?” I ask, looking at January.
“We were waiting for you. So, we can have it as a family.” She gives me a small smile and I nod at her with a wink.
“Alright, I’ll freshen up and then I can be the judge.”
“Alright.” We all agree.
Ocean sets Zoe down then kisses Jasmine and Jeremy in their hair as a hello. He comes over to me and gives me a chaste kiss because I know he doesn’t want it to be too deep. I can also tell something is up.
He walks away and I follow him to the hall.
“Baby, you, okay?” I whisper so the kids don’t hear us. Ocean’s hand is still trembling. “What is it?”
He faces me and looks away for a second then back to me.
“I went to see mom. I just drove and ended up there.”
“Then what happened?”
“Dad was there. I, I almost lost it, January. I just…I can’t believe, I…” he stops himself and runs his fingers through his hair.
I pull him into a hug, and he wraps his arms around me, resting his chin on my shoulder.
“He brought up wanting to see the kids.” I stiffen but relax because I don’t want to alarm Ocean. “I told him no. Then he brought you up and I was going to kill him. I wanted to hurt him again, love. I’ve worked so hard, and it almost slipped away from me.”
“Shhhh, it didn’t.” I whisper as I smooth his hair. “It didn’t and it won’t. You are always in control, and you know what is right for this family. I trust you, Ocean. I trust you.”
“Thank you.” He holds me tighter, and we stay like that for as long as he needs me.
Chapter 13
January
Selena Gomez’ssongHands to myselfblasts in my ears as I prep in the kitchen while the kids have all been dropped off at school. It feels weird to be doing the old routines that I used to do. I know that dad is upset that I’m not taking any calls today, but I need to fix things here and then I’ll go back and fix things at work.
I know that I shouldn’t be dancing but I love this song. I hum to it as I get everything prepped. Ocean loves his eggs made in a special way and I intend to follow it to the T. The way he’s specific about everything was the reason I learned early on that the pickier someone is, the more control they like in their lives.
I don’t mind him being this way, I prefer him just like he is. I stop what I’m doing and take a sip of water. Lately, I’ve been running hot so quickly it makes me feel like I’m having hot flashes. I turn and come face to face with a dress to impress Ocean.
Without realizing it, I spit my water out all over his crisp white dress shirt and he cocks his brow. He snatches the cloth that I have in my apron pocket and dabs his shirt. He shakes his head as he removes his suit jacket, throwing it on the kitchen island. His expression changes from neutral to thatpunishing one that I know too well. “You know, I see that you’ve forgotten about some things,marionette.You’ve forgotten the punishments and the etiquettes when it comes to you and me.” He sounds like the man that I’ve been craving to see again, Mr. M.
I shudder. “I’m not scared, Ocean. I’ve never been scared.”
He chuckles as he begins to unbutton his dress shirt. He removes the cuffs and I focus on them. They’re the ones I gave him for our first wedding anniversary.
“I didn’t say you were scared, did I? I said, you forgot. Such an act, so simple yet so outrageous. Turn around, my love. Let me remind you.”
“No.” I say and take a step back. “I made you breakfast. Eat that first.”
He smirks. “You threw yournoout a long time ago and we don’t go back on our word, do we,marionette?”
