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“Arwen, you’ve lived through hell and back. I don’t even know the extent of it, but I’m sure it’s much worse than anything I can imagine. However, I want you to know at this moment, I’ve got you now, and you can rest assured I won’t let anything happen to you. Not with me breathing, that is. I’ll fuckin’ die if it means keeping you safe,” I tell her, stroking my thumb across her cheek.
Arwen’s eyes are glossy from the tears still spilling over as she stares at me. I don’t blink or break my gaze away from hers. In this moment, I want her to know I mean every word. She’s come to mean that much to me, and I’m not letting anything, not one damn thing, touch her without going through me first.
CHAPTERSEVEN
ARWEN
One Week Later . . .
“I’m making dinner,” I declare, walking into the kitchen to find everyone already in there. They all look at me then each other.
Since everything with Eliya was handled, it’s as if a weight has been lifted on the Fort. Everyone is more relaxed in a way I didn’t realize they weren’t.
“Baby, don’t take this the wrong way but do you know how to cook?” Cedric asks, popping a grape into his mouth, his lip twitching.
“Yes,” I huff, planting my hands at my hips, and giving him my best glare. Though, it’s difficult to because he’s Cedric. “I know how to cook. I’m really good at cooking.”
“You do know it’s Mara-Lee’s kitchen? That’s her domain,” Vex says cautiously, giving Mara-Lee a side glance.
“She can cook if she wants to,” Mara-Lee giggles and snags a couple of grapes from Cedric’s bowl.
“What’s up with that laugh?” Finley smirks, leaning back and resting her head against Vex, who is standing directly behind her. Their son, Dominic, is situated next to them in his highchair playing with the puff things he loves to eat.
“No reason.” Mara-Lee shrugs and looks at me. “Do you know what you need?”
“Yep,” I say, nodding and reaching in my back pocket. I pull out a slip of paper with my list that’s needed at the store, lift it and wave it in the air. “See. Got it right here.” I giggle and look to Cedric. “Will you take me to the store?”
Cedric pops another grape in his mouth and nods. “Yeah, baby, I’ll take you to the store.” He chuckles and looks to Mara-Lee. “You’re coming with.”
“Why do I have to come?” Mara-Lee demands trying to act shocked.
I’ve learned Cedric doesn’t like stores of any kind and refuses to go into a store. The one time he did, he grouched the entire time we were inside.
“You damn well know, and I’m betting you two have already discussed dinner with each other,” he states, calling us out on what we actually did do.
Sure, I know how to cook mac and cheese, but that’s it. No, we’re going to the store because she doesn’t feel like cooking, and I ordered us dinner from a restaurant that’s in the same shopping center as the store we’re going to get Cedric to drive us to. On the paper is just a list of items I do need to get while we’re at the store. I also am making dinner for everyone using my first ever paycheck. It’s a celebration.
“Well, let’s go so we can get back.” I giggle, rolling my eyes at Cedric.
Grumbling under his breath, he puts his bowl in the sink and closes the distance between us. “You’re lucky you’re being cute.”
Smiling brightly, I reach up on my tip-toes and kiss him briefly. “Only for you I am.”
Taking his hand in mine, I all but drag him out of the Fort with Mara-Lee following behind.
Going out, I’m still nervous, but being with Cedric, he makes me feel safe, no matter where we are. The other day he even took me out to dinner at a restaurant connected to a hotel on the boardwalk. I got to dress up in this beautiful black dress that barely covered my rear, but still, it looked classy. Cedric appreciated the dress and the shoes I’d matched with it considering he’d told me to leave the shoes on while he gave me yet another experience. Wall sex. I think it might be my favorite yet.
I climb into the passenger seat while Cedric gets in behind the wheel, and Mara-Lee slips in the back seat on my side.
Cedric pulls out on the road and takes my hand. This is something else I’ve learned about him . . . he loves touching me no matter what he’s doing.
Fifteen minutes into the drive, we’re going through a light when I hear the squeal of tires. The impact sends us skirting sideways. I scream out Cedric’s name seeing his head against the steering wheel.
Everything happened so fast. Yet the only thing I could think is why didn’t the airbags deploy?
I hope to God he’s okay. He has to be okay.
My door is ripped open, and I fight being pulled from the depths of the wreckage. I don’t want to leave Cedric. I can’t.
