Page 84 of Redemption
A distinct thud comes from the other side of my closed door, drawing what little was left of my sanity away in a fit of absolute madness. “DARIUS MOTHER-FUCKING CRUZ, YOU GET IN HERE RIGHT NOW, OR I SWEAR TO JESUS I WILL DRAG YOUR ASS IN HERE!”
My stage whisper must be just loud enough for him to hear because not a moment later, the door swings open. Eyes wide with concern, Darius scans me, head to toe, and then the room in its entirety, before asking, “What’s wrong, Sandy Pants?”
What’s wrong? Everything’s wrong. My guys were stolen away from me by a crazed post-apocalyptic cult, my ex came back from the dead and decided to go on a sightseeing excursion with me that will inevitably end with us infiltrating the very same fucking apocalyptic cult, and, oh yeah, ZOMBIES HAVE TAKEN OVER AND ARE STILL SURROUNDING THE HOUSE!
The shit has hit the fan, motherfuckers!
But the most recent occurrence of mind-blowing ass-fuckery is the fact that my stubborn ex-fiancé has been sleeping on the floor just outside the bedroom for the past two damn nights, and I’m about to lose my shit if I hear his entire backcrack one more time as a result of his battered, overzealous ass creeping up on middle-aged hell and lacking the proper lumbar support to combat it.
“Nothing,” I huff shortly in response to his worried stare. “Just... get over here.” I pat the space next to me on the bed, simmering down my anxiety-driven madness as I pull back the sheets.
He takes a step into the room but hesitates. I can see his skepticism from here, his reluctance to provide himself even the smallest bit of comfort if it means potentially making me uncomfortable.
But the thing is... he doesn’t make me uncomfortable.
He makes mehungry.
There’s a yearning inside of me that misses Jax, Cole, and Hawk immensely. The fact that we’re still confined to this stupid house and can’t get to them is killing me. Who knows what they’re going through? What they’ve been through? If they’re even still alive?
If I could go to them right now, I would. But seeing as we’re still surrounded by the horde, we don’t have any choice but to stay put and wait them out. Which puts me and my ex-fiancé in one of the most sought-after situations ever seen in romance novels.
Forced close proximity, second chance love, with a single goddamn bed.
Jax would be riveted, I’m sure.
As for me? I’m itchy. Not like, in a bedbug kind of way, because... eww. Gross. But in an “I’m kind of missing Darius a little bit, too,”kind of way. In a “Holy damn,has he always looked this good?”kind of way. Or, possibly, even a “Maybe wecan see if the guys are willing to add a plus one to the mix?”kind of way.
And that’s not good!
I’m already psychologically on the cusp of insanity. Or... maybe I’ve already fallen over the edge and am currently in the middle of one doozy of a spiral, but I don’t need to add to the madness!
One dick is enough for any person. Having regular access tothreedicks is verging on an exhibition in overindulgence—not that I’m complaining one bit, mind you. It iswellreceived but, then again, also entirely concerning when it comes to UTIs and yeast infections. Especially in a post-apocalyptic world where running water and hygiene products aren’t always readily available.
Four dicks, however, is just asinine. We’re not collecting Pokémon cards here, people! I should not be wanting to ‘catch them all.’
“But you do!!!”
FUCK OFF, YOU HORNY CUNT OF A TWATWAFFLE! RETURN TO THE HOLE FROM WHENCE YOU CAME!!!
Regardless of my annoying feelings towards him and the fact that Me-two is currently cheering me on from the sidelines while I’m purposely throwing the game, I refuse to continue this ridiculous endeavor of his. There’s even a perfectly good couch in the living room that he refuses to use, claiming he would rather stay as close to me as possible. Which led him to staging a campsite right outside my door.
Well, fuck that noise.
Not anymore.
I can hold back my lizard brain for the night so he can get some actual sleep without waking up feeling like he was run over by a semi-truck, dammit!
The trope shall not win! There may come a day when my willpower fails, when I may discuss such opportunities with the guys and see what the future holds for all of us, but it is not this day! This day... we fight! You hear that, Twinsky?! NOT TODAY!
“Look, don’t overthink this,” I whisper, collecting my sanity enough to feign lucidity. “Just... get in here and get a decent night’s sleep for once.” I see him start to move his foot, but, once again, he stops, holding himself back from what I know he wants. “Darius... Please. Think of it this way. If this stupid horde of ass munchers decides to finally leave in the morning, we’re out of here. Which means, quite soon thereafter, we’ll be going up against the very same people you don’t want anywhere near me. We need to be on our A-game, alert and ready for anything. If one of us is lagging, we’re fucked, and you know it.”
Finally seeing the light, Darius sighs and closes the door behind him before making his way over to the bed. But, instead of taking off his boots and joining me under the blankets, he stays fully clothed and lies down on top of them, shuffling around a bit with the pillows until he’s settled on his back.
As the mattress cradles him into its welcoming softness, Darius lets out a groan of contentment. “Ooh, holy shit,” he moans, causing me to smile softly to myself.
“Better than the floor?”
“Somuch better than the floor,” he chuckles, wiggling around a bit more on the plush fabric. The moment soon passes, and the air settles between us as we both grow quiet. Thoughts drift in and out. Memories resurface. Time carries on. Ironically enough, I told Darius to come in here to get some rest, but nowI’mfinding it difficult to fall asleep. My brain simply won’t shut up, and it has everything to do with the man lying right behind me.
