AllFreeNovel
Share Us
“No. I don’t. I’m telling you that you have taken something that should have reduced you, changed you, trapped you, maybe even erased you, and you have made it something so insignificant that you can leave it out of your life story and no one will know it’s missing,” I explain.
The light in her eyes changes. It softens, becomes more luminous and she relaxes in my hold.
“You really don’t care?” she asks.
“Of course, I care. But not in the way you think. I’m sorry you lived through that. I care that you think it’s something you should be ashamed of.”
“I worry sometimes that it’s in my blood,” she whispers and clouds roll into her eyes. So, I sit down on the bed with her still in my arms.
“What is?”
“That violence. Not because I feel inclined to it. But because I always know when it’s coming. Will I pass it on? Will it suddenly rear its head?” She sounds dejected.
I squeeze her a little.
“My grandfather was a cruel man. Everyone acts like he walked on water because he donated money for a hospital and because his name was Rivers. But I know what he was. My father, for all of his failings, raised me to believe I am my own man. He sent me to Gigi to make sure Thomas wouldn’t ruin that. And as much as I resented it then, I’m very grateful for it now as an adult. Because I can see that left to Thomas, I’d probably be just like him. Forgetting that my name is more than an access card for us. It can also be one for others. There is no such thing as a generational curse. There’s intent and action.”
“Then why do you feel responsible for what Kingdom has done? Why are you spending this money and time on the flood victims?”
“Because I can. Because it’s a chance to correct the course, and I’m taking it. I’m
not trying to raise people from the dead, Tesoro. Just trying to fix things going forward.”
“What if I make the same mistakes they did?” she asks.
“I hate to break it to you, Tesoro. But, you have your own flaws to worry about. You’re stubborn, impulsive, and for all your instincts about violence, you seem to walk into danger all the time. Like falling off cliffs that you go walking down at night.” I tap the tip of her nose with my finger.
“Don’t touch my nose; it’ll make me sneeze. And thanks for the praise.” She shoves my shoulder lightly.
“Tell me mine,” I ask.
“Your flaws?”
“I know … you probably have to think really hard about it,” I joke.
“You’re possessive, cynical, and suspicious,” she says without missing a beat. I let out a bark of surprised laughter, and then I kiss her softly.
“And you’re perfect. And mine,” she adds.
A cloud breaks over us. Sun streams in, and it feels like the return from a long march, and I’m so glad to be home.
When I break the kiss, she cups my face and sighs my name.
“Yeah, that’s better. Next time you say my name, though, I want you to scream it,” I say, then stand up and throw her onto the bed.
THUNDER
CONFIDENCE
I land on Hayes’s mattress with a small bounce and little shriek. My heart is thudding as I push my hair out of my eyes and see him looking at me like I’m the very last meal he’ll ever eat.
His nostrils flared, his eyes hot with desire, and his lips are flushed. Mine tingle, sending signals to him that they want to feel him. All of him. I’ve missed him more than I can say. Sex was one of the ways we communicated.
We would say “I love you,” “I hate you,” “I’m scared,” “I’m angry” when we fuck. And now, I’m hungry to know everything he’s kept from me in the time we haven’t touched each other.
“Tesoro,” he says huskily and pulls his shirt off. I can’t believe all of that is mine. He pulls his jeans off, too, and the most beautiful cock in the world peeks out of the top of his boxers.
“Come here.” I crook my finger and he lies down next to me. He slides one of his strong, warm hands up my thigh and cups my pussy.
