Page 29 of Yours To Keep
“Always, Magnolia. I will always take care of you,” I tell her, sliding inside her slowly. After a few long seconds, her eyes flutter closed as the feeling overwhelms her. Even though fucking Magnolia seems to turn me into an animal every time, I don’t want to be rough with her this time. I just want to feel her with me at this moment. The familiar tingle at the base of my spine sneaks up on me and I come deep inside her before I have a chance to stop myself, to make the moment last even longer.
We collapse on the bed side by side, a sheen of sweat coating us both. Pulling her tightly against me, I bury my nose in the crook of her neck, breathing in her sweet peach scent. My lipsgraze her skin, peppering small kisses like I just can’t get enough of her. Because I can’t. I don’t want to.
I feel her breathing slow, and I know sleep will drag her under soon. Sliding the blanket over us, I pull her body flush against mine at every angle.
“What do you want in life, Mags?” I ask, a soft hum coming from her lips.
“I want to wake up, every day, with your lips on my neck, and your cock between my ass cheeks.” She laughs and I sigh against her skin. Her idea of forever doesn’t sound half bad. I can’t help but laugh at this vixen in my arms. She may look like an angel, but her dirty mouth and dirty mind are anything but.
thirteen
Walkingthrough the front door at Revamp is a bittersweet feeling today. Usually, this place brings me nothing but joy. I feel a sense of pride when I help someone find a new outfit they feel comfortable and confident wearing. But with everything going on in my life right now, I don’t want to be anywhere but next to Dalton. That’s where I feel the safest. Before the front door even closes, Malcolm is in my face.
“You’re late Magnolia,” he bites out, teeth clenched. What crawled up his ass today?
“Uhhh…no I’m not. I was scheduled for 10. It’s 9:59, Malcolm.” My mind doesn’t have the patience to deal with his attitude today. Pushing past him, I head to the back to drop my purse and get ready for the day.
“Early is on time, Magnolia. On time is late,” he says, his daily manta grating across my nerves.
“Back off, Malcolm! I’m not in the mood for your bullshit.” I see the surprise in his eyes. I’ve never spoken to him, or anyone else, that way in my life. But it felt good, powerful. I owe him nothing.
“Watch the way you speak to me, bitch!” He snaps, gripping my arm tightly.
Before I know what I’m doing, my fist connects with his nose and a sharp crunch rings through the silence. A sharp yelp sounds, maybe from him or maybe from me. Blood pours from his nose as a dull pain radiates across my knuckles. I have never hit another person in my life, but damn, it felt good.
“You bitch! What the fu-” he starts, but I cut him off.
“I quit, Malcolm. Go fuck yourself,” I snap, pick my bag up and walking back to the front door. Anxiety doesn’t slam into me until I’m out the door and halfway down the street to my house. My heart races as I grip the strap of my purse. Pinpricks break out across my skin as I pant out heavy breaths.
What the fuck did I just do? And why did I love the way it felt?
I’ve never had a panic attack until right now. Digging furiously through my purse, I scramble for my phone. My nerves calm slightly as my hand wraps around the device, my fingers dialing Dalton’s number without a second thought. It rings barely twice before his voice comes through the speaker.
“Hey, baby. Miss me alr-” His flirty voice is cut off by my panicked tone.
“I need you. Now.” My words are rushed and clipped as my heart pounds against my ribs. It doesn’t make sense for me to feel such anxiety right now, but I do. That’s mental health for you, I suppose.
“Where?” He says, the sound of keys jingling in the background.
“My house. I’m almost there,” I say, walking up the steps to my apartment. The line disconnects as I fumble with my keys.
Finally, I get the building’s door open, and I race upstairs to my apartment. Slamming and locking the door behind me, Ifall onto the couch, drawing my knees up under my chin as the anxiety flood my system.
I hit someone. I quit my job. Both were necessary evils, and I have no reason to feel such anxiety over it. But I still do. I absolutely love Revamp, and I don’t know where this leaves me for the future. But everyone has their breaking points, that point when you just can’t carry the weight of everything swirling around in your mind and heart. Apparently, this is mine.
Blood pounds in my veins, the ambient noise around me fading into the background of my racing heart. I rock back and forth gently, hoping the motion will ease some of the nervous energy continuing to build inside me.
A heavy pounding against the door has me scrambling from my seat and racing to open it. Throwing it open, I collapse in Dalton’s arms. I barely register the gun in his left hand as he backs us up into the apartment and closes the door behind him. I cling to his soft cotton t-shirt, letting the feeling of the cool material against his hard chest soothe me.
“Do I need to clear this apartment, or is this a different kind of problem, angel?” His voice is soft, but there’s an edge to it. It takes me a few moments to realize what he’s asking. Clear my apartment? He’s asking if there’s an immanent threat facing us.
“No need to clear, just a little menty b,” I snort out a laugh and he relaxes slightly, setting his pistol on the bar as he wraps both arms around me. He holds me so securely, like I’m precious to him. And I’m starting to believe I am.
“What happened, Mags?” He asks, kissing my hair softly. I’m still clinging to him, but he makes no move to push me away.
“I punched Malcom in the face and told him I quit,” I say, explaining as simply as possible. He tenses beneath my hands, pulling back just enough to look me in the eye.
“What the fuck did he do, Magnolia?” He asks, his voice deeper and darker than I’ve ever heard before.
