Page 52 of The Bones We Break
Once I’m done, I leave the bedroom and walk down the short hallway and into the kitchen to find Dean packing beers into a red cool box. He must sense me because his deep green eyes flick to mine the moment I step into the kitchen and I bite the inside of my mouth at his burning gaze. He doesn’t even bother to hide that he’s checking me out as his eyes start at my boots, all the way up my legs, to my middle and then finally reaching my face. The look of heated approval on his face has my skin flushing. Dropping his hand to the countertop, slowly dragging his fingers across the cool stone, he rounds the kitchen unit and towers over me, his simple black t-shirt is moulded to his body like a second skin, the details of his tattoos peek out from the sleeves and neckline. Dean tips his head to the side and runs the back of his fingers down my cheek, his skin barely touches mine but I feel the scorching path it leaves behind.
“I don’t think I should let you out like this.” He murmurs, his voice is so deep and low that I feel it in my lower belly. “I can put something else on?” I speak quietly, then turn to leave towards the bedroom but I’m swiftly pulled back into place by Dean’s fingers that’s wrapped around one of the belt loops on my shorts.
“Ah. Ah. Ah. Not so fast, baby.” He repeats my words back to me from the other night. “I want people to see you like this. To know that you belong to me. That I’m the one to fuck you every single night and make you come all over my cock whilst you screammy name.You’re my fucking woman.” If Dean wasn’t keeping me in place I can guarantee I’d be a blob of wet slime on the floor. He grins at me and spanks my ass again and I yelp at the contact. “Get your fine ass in that truck, pretty girl.”
The drive to Eli’s home takes about an hour. My nerves bounced all over the place during the drive. I was looking forward to seeing Eli again and meeting his family but I stillcouldn’t stop the dread that sat in the pit of my stomach, settling like sour milk.
We turned into a quiet neighbourhood, the houses that lined the street all sat further back with a small grass front garden and a white mailbox. It was your typical suburban street but it also felt homely. Dean began to slow the truck down until we pulled into a driveway in front of a huge two story house, with a grey door, the outside painted a bright white. My eyes roamed over the house and a sudden cold chill ran up my spine. Eli’s house kind of reminds me of my old home. The shape and colour are oddly similar but I know they’re completely different houses. Dean must notice my silence. “You okay mama?” He asks, a hint of concern in his voice. I blink a couple of times and turn to face him whilst spreading a fake smile on my face. “I’m alright. I was just admiring the house, that’s all. It’s beautiful.” It really is a beautiful home but I can’t stop my mind from drifting back to a harsher time in my life. Dean’s firm hand lands on my thigh and he gives the flesh a quick, but firm squeeze. “Alright.” He says but I know he’s not fully convinced. I give him another quick smile and watch him climb out of the truck until he’s on my side, opening the door for me. I take his outstretched hand and step onto the stone driveway. Tugging my hand, I go to release it from his but he keeps it fully locked inside his own.
“You’ll tell me if you’re not okay, won’t you?” My heart twists in my chest at his concern for me so I do everything I can to block out the anxiety that I’m feeling, for Dean’s sake. Gently, I place my hand on the side of his face and he tucks his nose into the palm before softly kissing the centre. “I’ll tell you. I promise.” I speak with truth. He nods his head in my hand then walks around me to let Lyla out of the back seat before grabbing the cool box out of the boot, the glass bottles clinking together as he begins to walk up the driveway. My eyes scanthe surroundings of the house, automatically trying to see if anything is out of place or if someone is watching me. I don’t find anything suspicious but I know my mind is having a hard time believing it.
Hurrying my steps, I quickly follow Dean up the drive with Lyla walking behind me and watch him walk into the house without knocking first or waiting to be invited in, like he’s walking into his own home. The moment the door opens I’m met with the sounds of children’s laughter and a delicious smoky smell that has my stomach rumbling. Dean steps into the house and announces his presence.
“Eli! We’re here, where are you!” His loud voice booms around the open space of the walkway and I spin on my heels to softly close the door behind me. I knew the house was beautiful on the outside but it’s even more so on the inside. The warm decor has me feeling right at home. As you walk in there’s a console table sitting just left of the door, a vase of white roses sitting in the centre. Further past that is an open plan living room with a large corner couch that looks like it’s made of feathers and clouds. A small glass coffee table in the middle and a beautiful brick fireplace. The large window at the front of the house allows all the natural light inside which makes the room glow. A staircase sits in front of us with family photos that line the wall and I can’t stop the pang of sorrow from hitting my chest as my eyes run over the heartwarming photos. I never had family photos in my childhood.
Heavy footsteps come bounding down the hallway and I quickly shut down my pity party.
“Uncle Dean!”
“You’re here!”
Two twin girls with pitch black hair that’s tied in pigtailscome racing through the house and Dean quickly has to drop the coolbox before they both launch themselves into his arms, their small bodies getting completely wrapped up in his embrace. They both clamber onto him like little monkeys and a genuine smile spreads across my face at the heartwarming interaction.
“That’s right, girls, Uncle Dean is here!” Dean’s voice completely transforms into something much lighter and carefree the moment he speaks to these girls and I can already see the love he has for them both. A set of bright blue eyes, almost borderline grey fixes onto me and I pause in place. “Uncle Dean, is that your girlfriend?” She lifts her small hand to point at me and Dean spins on his heels with both of the girls on either arm, and I have to quickly tell me ovaries to calm the fuck down, now is not the time to imagine him with my babies. His forest eyes meet mine and a warmth spreads over me. He speaks so confidently as he answers the girl’s question. “Yeah, Sophia, she is.” The little girl who I now know to be Sophia gives me a bright smile, her front two teeth missing, giving her a cute little gap in the middle of her top teeth. Sophia’s twin who’s sitting opposite her in Dean’s arms seems a lot shyer than her so I slowly step forward and extend my hand out for her to shake.
“My name’s Annabelle. What’s your name?” I softly say. Her big chocolate brown eyes snap to Dean before she looks back at me, then she slips her small hand into mine. “I’m.. Elena.” She murmurs, her other hand twisting into Dean’s t-shirt. I give her a warm smile and she repeats the action. “Well, Sophia and Elena. It’s lovely to meet you both and those dresses are wonderful.” Sophia’s smile shines even brighter at my compliment and she quickly wiggles out of Dean’s arms to give me a spin. The baby pink floral dress flows around her as she spins in a circle.
“Girls! Where are you?” A woman’s voice bounces through the house, her tone is full of authority but warm. The woman in question enters the hallway and I’m taken aback by how beautiful she is. This must be Eli’s wife. I can clearly see where the girls’ pretty gene’s have come from. Long flowing black hair falls down her back in soft waves, plump pink lips and a small straight nose sit perfectly on her face and her skin is the shade of warm honey. I find myself staring at her and quickly avert my gaze.
“Dean, my love. I’m so glad you’re here.” Her rich latina accent hits my ears as she speaks to Dean. She gives him a quick kiss on the cheek before turning to face me. Her eyes are a dark shade of chocolate just like Elena’s and I feel like I’m looking at an older version of her. “I see you finally brought this lovely woman then.” She hits Dean with her elbow and laughs. “I’ve heard so much about you, my love. It’s finally nice to meet you and put a face to the name!” She regards me with so much love in her voice as she brings me into her embrace and rubs small circles on my back, I wrap my arms around her at the same time.
“Ana, this is-” Dean begins to speak.
“Erm, I can introduce myselfchico.” The fiery woman holds me at arms length and gives me a grin, Dean immediately shuts his mouth. “I’m Cecilia. I see you’ve already met my girls. I know you’ve already met Eli briefly, he’s around here somewhere, probably setting fire to the garden.” She waves her manicured hand around the open space as she speaks, two silver bracelets jingling together on her wrist and I laugh at the way she speaks about her husband. Cecilia gives me another quick squeeze and then runs her hand over Lyla’s head who’s been sitting so patiently through all of this interaction. “Ahh, my favourite girl.” She coos and plants a kiss on Lyla’s button nosebefore making her way back into the kitchen.
“Alright,Vamosguys before my husband burns everything.” Dean places Elena back down on the floor, then wraps his arm around my middle, tucking me into his side and placing a soft kiss to the side of my head. “Everything okay mama?” His voice drops as he whispers into my ear and I nod my head.
“Yeah, I’m good.” I say and place a small kiss to the corner of his mouth. He interlocks his fingers with mine and guides me into the bustling kitchen.
Cecilia hands us various plates and bowls to take out into the garden where Eli is currently manning the BBQ. The rich smoky smell wafts around the large garden and immediately hits my nose.
“Deany boy! You made it. Hey Ana!” Eli shouts across the garden, his muscular arms open wide and a pair of tongs in his hand. He wears a black apron over his white t-shirt and running shorts that says ‘Daddy’s Cookin’on the front in bold white letters. Me, Dean and Cecilia make our way over to the garden table and place the bowls and plates down as Lyla and the girls run circles around the garden. Dean gives me a quick wink and starts towards Eli, they instantly wrap each other in a quick embrace before laughing at something that Eli has said. The feel of Cecilia’s hand on my shoulder knocks me from my trance as she holds a glass of rose wine in front of me, the pink bubbles popping sporadically in the glass. “I thought you could use a little something to calm your nervesmi amor.” She sends me a soft smile, her cocoa brown eyes shining brightly. I lift the cold glass from her, and take a seat around the table, Cecilia sitting in the one next to me.
“Thank you, for this.” I lift up the glass and take a sip, the fruity taste dances on my tongue. “I didn’t think my nerves werethat obvious.” She takes a drink herself before resting the glass on her knee and looking back at me. “I know a woman on edge when I see onemi amor,it takes one to know one, you know.” My smile drops a little at her words and I consider whether Cecilia has been in the same position as me before. My eyes scan over her body, I don’t see any older scars but I know myself that the mental wounds run deeper than skin.
“Don’t worry Ana, I won’t make you share your whole life story but just know that I’ve been in your shoes and those shoes can feel real lonely at times, so if you ever need me, I’m here.” Her hand falls onto my knee and without any hesitation I place mine over hers, knowing I’ve made a friend in this fierce woman. Blinking my eyes furiously, I will away the tears that are welling in my eyes before looking at her.
“Thank you. You have no idea how much that means to me.” I say, my voice quiet but loud enough for Cecilia to hear me. She leaves my gratitude hanging in the air knowing we don’t need to say anymore on the matter, a silent understanding between the two of us. She pulls her hand away and begins uncovering the delicious food on the table then shouts over to her husband who’s still chatting away to Dean like two old women who have a week’s worth of gossip to catch up on.
“Eli! Will you stop chatting and eat please,dios mio!” I smile at their banter and how at ease they are with each other, it instantly makes me think of mine and Dean’s relationship, how over such a short space of time we’ve already gone through quite a bit and yet we still manage to smile at each other. Eli practically jumps at his wife’s command before taking the food off the BBQ and bringing it over to us.
“My apologies,mi luna.” He says to his wife and places a kiss on the top of her head, then her cheek. Her warm skin flushes under his affection and I turn my head away to give them someprivacy, noticing that Dean has taken the seat that’s on the other side of me, and places his palm on my thigh, the tips of his fingers tucking under the frayed fabric of my shorts. He seems at ease here, so carefree, like there isn’t a looming danger that threatens to break us apart and I wish with everything I have that we could stay like this forever. He rests back in the chair and crosses one leg over the other and rests his ankle on his knee, then pulls his black sunglasses down from his cap, the beaming sun casts him in a warm glow. He almost looks angelic, like a God. My eyes follow his every movement from everytime his nose scrunches to when he brings the rim of the beer bottle to his lips, his Adam’s Apple bobbing under the tattoos as he swallows the amber liquid down. I’m transfixed on him. Constantly wanting to remain in his orbit. To memorise everything about him in case he ever disappeared from my grasp.
“I can feel you staring at me, pretty girl.” He says remaining face forward, the corner of his mouth tipping up ever so slightly. “Oh yeah? How can you tell? I could have been looking at anything.” I say, trying to keep my laugh at bay. Dean turns to face me and I can see my own reflection in his sunglasses and even though I can’t see his eyes, I know they’re staring right into my soul. “Whenever you look at me, my skin sets alight. It burns under your gaze and I know right then that my soul is connected to yours.” His words fall effortlessly from his lips and I’m taken aback by how much they affect me because I know also when he’s looking at me. I feel his gaze wrap around me like a warm touch whenever we’re in the same room, my skin comes alive and yearns for him to be close. Dean’s thumb traces small circles on my skin as he continues to look at me.
“I hope you know how much you mean to me baby.” He says with so much sincerity and I nod my head and give him areal, true smile. I’ll never know what I’ve done in a past life to deserve this man but I’ll do everything I can to keep him.
The evening rolls by quickly and the conversation between us all flows with little effort and I find myself relaxing more and more. The wine that Cecilia keeps handing to me is probably helping too as a small buzz weaves its way through my bloodstream, making my head feel fuzzy and warm. I rest my head against Dean’s firm shoulder as he lazily strokes his fingers over my thighs, sending a delicious current of electricity straight to my core and I shamelessly rub my thighs together. My hazy state forces me to close my eyes for a moment but the world behind my eyelids keeps spinning. Dean’s heated breath whispers against the shell of my ear and I immediately zap back to life.
