Kiara
"You sure you're ready to do this?" Trey asks softly.
I nod, my fingers tapping nervously against my thigh as anticipation coils in my stomach like a restless serpent. "I called beforehand, and the lady said she's willing to see us. I just hope she doesn't change her mind."
By some luck, I managed to track down where Lucinda is staying. It's been a few weeks, so I'm hoping treatment is going well for her and she has realized that William is not worthy of her and can't be someone who remains in her life is she wants to be free of drugs and alcohol.
We walk into the treatment center and the woman at the front desk signs us in. The building envelops us in a calming embrace. Soft instrumental music plays in the background, blending with the soothing aroma of lavender-scented candles that flicker on the reception desk. Another woman walks us to the other side of the building where the patients stay. The place is nice, like a sanctuary from the outside world.
Lucinda is sitting outside in a chair enjoying the cool, autumn weather. She looks better. Her eyes are bright and brown, she's put on some healthy weight, and she no longer looks like the life has been drained out of her. A small smile tugs at her lips when she sees us. "Hey, they told me you were coming, but I didn't know my future stepson was coming along."
Trey's body grows rigid, his jaw working, but doesn't say a word. Lucinda notices and extends her right hand, revealing a ring that looks thinner than the plastic ring around a soda bottle.
My stomach churns as I realize that she's showing us her engagement ring. Uh, when did William even have time to propose? She's been here for weeks.
The tension is palpable in the air as Trey and I mentally digest what's happening.
"I know what y'all are thinking, but he's changed. He said he's going to start going to AA and therapy for his anger. He doesn't want to lose me."
No! He's not going to change; he's just trying to suck her back in, and she's falling for it!
I refuse to feed into the delusions. She needs an actual voice of reason. I open my mouth to protest, but she says, "Remember, Baby, I can make my own choices. I know you're worried about me, and I appreciate that, but I'm confident that I want this."
Right.
"Congratulations," I say with a tight smile. I fight to keep it in place, but beneath the surface, a storm of conflicting emotions rages. I want to support her, yet a voice inside screams that this is a huge mistake that may end with her death this time.
She laughs. "You don't have to pretend. But I do want both of you at the wedding, along with your siblings, Trey."
"He's not my dad," Trey grits out.
She nods understandably. "I know, not biologically, but he's the only one you have. He promised he would try harder to fix things with you, that was one of my stipulations. The way he treated you as a child and the way he has been blackmailing you for money isn't right and will never happen again."
There's a sparkle in her eye, like she absolutely believes he has become a new person overnight and isn't just waiting for her to get back to the trailer so he can get blackout drunk and beat her to an inch of her life.
We stay for a while and she talks with us about her wedding plans while we listen intently. I can tell Trey is bothered by what she said, but he keeps it to himself. I wonder if he'll want to talk about it later and not shut down on me. I know his childhood is a huge trigger for him, but he's been pretty good at opening up to me. I hope it stays that way as our relationship progresses.
We back into the car and Trey begins the familiar route back to his penthouse. My mind feels like it's going to explode from what just happened, I can already feel the headache coming.
"Do you think he could really change?" I ask quietly.
"Nah." He places his hand over mine as he drives. "I know this is tough for you. The truth is, William will lure her back to that trailer, and she'll likely relapse, restarting this whole process. But she values that you care so much about her, so don't think all your efforts are in vain."
I nod, swallowing the lump in my throat. This is fucking exhausting, I can't imagine how difficult it is for them battling their addictions. William being one of Lucinda's. My mind drifts off to my best friend. I miss her so much, I hope she's doing well.
"You think Candice is okay?" I ask.
"Is she alive? Yes. Okay? Fuck no. Everyone else I can somewhat understand her ignoring, but why you? You're her best friend for fuck's sake."
I'm starting to wonder if somehow she knows about me and Trey. I mean, I had been acting weird since I saw him at the house that day. What if she pieced it together, and she hates me? But I know her; she would've confronted me about it instead of acting like I don't exist.
What if some creep is holding her hostage in his basement and they are using her social media to make it seem she's okay? Or what if Patricia is actually abusive and alienating her away from her friends and family? That's the only explanation that makes sense because the more time that passes, the more shit isn't adding up.
Once we get back to his penthouse, he makes a beeline for the bathroom. "Fuck, I've been needing to piss for the past twenty minutes." I laugh and sit down on the couch to wait for him. Suddenly my phone chimes, and I scream as I open the email. Trey comes rushing out of the bathroom, pulling up his boxers. His eyes are wide in panic. "What's going on?"
I can't get the words out, so I just hand him my phone. As he's looking at it, I finally snap out of my shock. "Holy shit, they want to offer me a book deal!" I exclaim.
Trey's face lights up with a genuine, proud smile. He pulls me into a tight embrace, his eyes reflecting the joy he feels for my success. "I'm so proud of you, Cupcake. I told you that you had nothing to worry about, your book is amazing!" he says matching my enthusiasm, and I savor the warmth of his support.
I've been waiting to hear back for weeks, and this is the good news I've been hoping for. I'll set up a virtual meeting with them and see what they're talking about, maybe even hear from the other two publishing companies I sent my manuscript to. Ooh, maybe I'll even get my first book tour this time around!
Pulling away from Trey, our eyes meet and I see so much love and adoration in his. I capture his lips in a kiss, our tongues dancing together in a passionate duet, sending shockwaves of pleasure throughout my body.
He picks me up, and a delighted squeal escapes my lips as he playfully tosses me over his shoulder. Swiftly, he tosses me on the bed and secures me beneath his weight, kissing me with fervor. "I want to make love to you all night long," he murmurs.
Excitement and lust course through me. I want that just as much as he does.
"Then do it," I whisper, raising my hips to meet his.
He slides my silky panties to the side and fills me to the hilt with a single thrust. I gasp as he releases a sexy groan right into my ear. I'm so fucking wet, I can hear it as he pulls completely out of me and pushes his dick back inside just as quickly. Over and over again until my body is quivering with need. Once both of our thighs are covered in my juices, he decides it's time to start fucking me with deep, passionate thrusts. He intertwines my fingers with his and presses them against the bed on either side of my head.
"I love you so fucking much," He says before sucking my earlobe into his mouth.
"I love you too," I breathe. My heart races as I finally declare my feelings for him even though I've felt this way for a long time. It feels like the perfect moment. When he confessed a few weeks ago, fear of the unknown held me back, but now, I feel like shouting it from the rooftops.
All action pauses as he pulls back to look at my face; although, I swear I can feel him grow harder inside me. A blaze of unrestrained passion fills his eyes. "Really?"
"You were already aware of it. I'm just finally... confessing it out loud," I respond with a blush.
He chuckles. "Took you long enough. I've been waiting weeks for you to say it back," he teases.
"Was the wait worth it?"
"Fuck yeah," his voice is a seductive growl as he captures my lips again. His powerful hips snap against mine and my moans turn into loud cries into his mouth as our tongues continue battling for dominance. My muscles clamp around his huge cock, pulling him deeper inside me. As deep as he can fucking go. Our breathing becomes uneven and ragged, our bodies clashing together in a frenzied desire to reach our orgasms.
"Come with me, Cupcake," he demands.
Our kisses become sloppy and needy as we near the edge of oblivion. With one final thrust, we climax together. Stars burst behind my eyelids, my orgasm so intense that it consumes all of my senses and all I can see, feel, hear, smell, and even fucking taste is him.
Fuck, I think that was the most amazing sex we've ever had!
We lay naked and breathing heavily like we just ran a 5k, basking in our afterglow. His arms are around me, his hot, sweaty body flush against my back. I can feel his dick throbbing on my ass, and I contemplate working it back inside me when there's a loud, insistent buzzing coming from the front room.
"Did you order food?" I ask, still breathless from our shenanigans. He sits up, looking purely irritated.
"No. I don't know who the fuck that is," he mutters.
"Is it your ex this time?" I ask teasingly, although that encounter was nowhere near funny. I can't believe Jordan just showed up to my apartment like that. I still haven't spoken to my Mom since nobody gave her permission to give him my address.
He chuckles. "I don't have an ex, Cupcake."
Wow, so I'm really his first girlfriend?
I suspected it, but now that it’s confirmed, that fact is somehow even more terrifying.
The persistent buzzing sound continues, and he grumpily gets out of bed. "We'll talk about that another time. I'm going to go get the door now and cuss them the fuck out for acting like the damn police."
I settle back into the bed, eager for him to hurry up and come back to bed. Maybe he left a light on in his car and someone came up to notify him. He buzzes the person in and soon I hear the door open.
"Candice?" he says loud enough for me to hear.
My heart drops in my chest.
Fuck!