Page 39 of Yours To Keep
“Is that a threat or a promise? Because I wouldn’t complain,” I say, and he laughs. The feeling of his lips barely brushing against my core is enough to drive me wild, and I know he sees it.
“Fucking red heads, I swear.” Is all he says before closing his mouth around my clit and sucking hard. I cry out, unable to stop myself or remember that we’re currently in a public place right now. My right hand threads through his hair, drawing his face even closer to me and he obliges, licking and sucking in even strokes. My nails rake across his scalp and he growls.
“Keep quiet, angel. Don’t want somebody finding the princess of this castle in such a compromising position now, do we?” I can’t respond. I can only hang on for dear life as the pleasure builds throughout every nerve in my body. His tongue swirls over the most sensitive parts of me and I feel every crack in my self control edging towards the shatter.
“So fucking sweet. Be a good girl and come on my tongue, angel. Show me who this pussy belongs to,” he says, his voice raspy as the heat of his breath brushes my skin and he laps at my core furiously. I can’t hold it back anything. My orgasm hits me like a bolt of electricity, ten thousand volts straight to the clit, and I choke down a scream.
“Fuck, fuck, fuck, fuck, Dalton!” I squirm, not wanting to get away but barely able to handle the sensation of his mouth on me.
He stands, wiping his mouth in the sexiest way I’ve ever seen before, crashing his lips against mine. Tasting myself from his lips is the most delicious sin I’ve ever swallowed. His hands frame my face and I dissolve into his kiss. I never want the joy and peace I feel in his arms to end.
“I love you, Magnolia.” He says, pulling back to look me in the eye. He stares into my soul, reaching his hands into my chest and gripping my heart to steal forever. Tears burn my eyes as I see the truth staring back at me. He loves me, wholly and completely. I can see it all over his face.
And for once in my life, the idea of someone loving me doesn’t seem outrageous. It seems like I’m exactly where I’m supposed to be.
“I’m yours, Dalton. Heart and soul. I love you.” I whisper, kissing him like I might never get another chance. Pulling him closer, I wrap my arms around his neck and let him hold me so tightly it steals my breath. These arms are my home. This man is my safe harbor after a lifetime of sailing through storms. I will never love another the way I love him.
twenty-one
We exitthe bathroom to a few condemning but curious looks from the ladies waiting outside. Magnolia blushes the deep red color I love most on her and I smirk.
“So sorry, ladies. The zipper was stuck.” I say with a shrug, and Magnolia chokes out a strangled laugh. No matter what she says, I know she loves how crass I am.
“There you guys are,” Ember says with a smile as we reenter the living room. The girls all huddle close to their men as Eli and Everett whisper something heatedly to each other and Breaker’s deadliest stare is locked on someone outside the back window. I follow his gaze and see the one man I knew would have the fucking audacity to show up here. I flex my wrist, the twinge of pain from falling on it fueling my fire, all my rage focused on one man.
Aaron Montgomery, a fucking dead man walking.
I will watch the life leave his eyes and feel not a second of remorse for it. I could get over his bullshit attempt to kill me. Better men have tried and failed. But he came after my woman,and for that he dies. I feel Magnolia tense beside me and I know she’s caught on to what we’ve all seen.
“It’s okay, angel. He comes anywhere near you and I’ll skin him alive,” I say, placing a sweet kiss against her temple. Her spine straightens, and she rolls her neck.
“I know you will,” she says with a smirk. That’s my girl.
“Let’s go outside. I think they’re gonna start the fireworks show soon.” Rory says, looping her arm in the crook of her husband’s elbow.
We make our way back outside and I catch sight of Magnolia’s parents talking and laughing with another couple. I’ll say this, her mother is an excellent actress. To the naked eye, it seems like she’s the perfect example of what a perfect southern wife should be. She laughs at the perfect time, compliments her husband as if they were made to be a matching set. But underneath it all, she’s the biggest snake I’ve ever known. The same man that she laughs next to here in front of these people has a target on his back because of her. She’s a twisted, sadistic bitch, and she deserves everything that’s coming to her.
“You sure we can’t call Sebastian?” Rory whispers to Breaker, and I scoff.
“Who’s Sebastian?” Magnolia asks, and Breaker glares at his wife.
“Just a mafia boss who owes Break a favor.” I shrug and Magnolia’s eyes go wide.
“What the hell? Why does a mafia boss owe you a favor?!” she squeaks, clutching my arm tighter.
“I’m not calling Arsenio, princess. I wouldn’t bring it up again in such a public place unless you want him to pay us a house call. That’s the kind of shit you don’t talk about in a room full of so much money.” Breaker says.
“You want me to call Axel? He’s still obsessed with my wife, so I’m sure I could guilt him into losing a body or two in thebayou.” Everett shrugs and Kelsea rolls her eyes. The son of the Bayou Reapers president took a liking to Kelsea as soon as he laid eyes on her, and I’m not above exploiting a connection if I really thought it would protect Magnolia. But involving anyone else in this mess is the last resort.
“Nobody is calling anybody. This is my mess and I already feel like shit involving all of you. I won’t put anybody else at risk.” Magnolia says, and I squeeze her hand.
Aaron stares at us from across the pool deck as Magnolia’s mother comes up at his side and whispers something in his ear before disappearing into the crowd. To anyone else at the party, it probably looks like just another session of secret swapping among the upper class, but we all know better. My gut twists, and I have the aching feeling those two are going to do something really fucking stupid.
Before I lose my control and rip his heart out with my bare hands, I shift my focus back to my woman. The fear in her eyes makes my blood boil. I wish I could take that pain from her and turn it into something good, something that could bring her joy and relief from all the anxiety she carries. But I know it will end soon enough. I swore to her she would never know this kind of pain again and I won’t break a promise to this woman as long as I live.
“Don’t do something I’m gonna have to bail you out for later,” Everett whispers to the right of me and I shrug. As much as I’d like to do something rash, I’d never embarrass Magnolia that way. I want to shield her from every ugly thing in this world, but at the same time I want to encourage her to stand tall in her own strength and resiliency. She’s an incredible woman and she should be so proud of herself.
“Magnolia Azalea, get over here immediately!” The sharp whispering tone of Magnolia’s mother’s voice cuts through the din of noise all around us. Magnolia squeezes my hand quickly,as if something startled her. The amount of fucking audacity this woman has astounds me.
