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They had just returned from a family vacation. My stomach rolled at the thought of this being Harper's mom. It couldn't be, right? Because what kind of person, no, what kind of mother, would leave her daughter in a home with someone who hurt her? Alone and hungry, with no way to take care of herself so that she could start a whole new life.
"Come on," I muttered, leaning forward like it would give me a better view. I wasn't sure what I wanted to happen. If it wasn't Harper's mom, it was back to the drawing board to figure out where she was and pray that I don't eventually have to tell Harper her mom was dead. If it was her mom, I'd have to tell her that her mom left her behind and started a new life without her. I didn't know what pain would be worse for Harper. Regardless of the outcome, Harper was going to be hurt.
The woman spun, a smile spreading across her face as she looked at the three children playing in front of her.
"Is it her?" Aiden gaze flicked from the woman to me.
"Yep." I sighed. I had no doubt it was Harper's mom. I didn't need to look at the picture because Harper was a clone of her mother. The photo I had was an old mugshot from six years ago when Harper's mom was arrested for drugs and solicitation. She didn't look like that now. She looked healthy, happy even.
Harper's mom, Dana Brooks, was a few inches taller than Harper, her hair dark like Harper's, her eyes the same bright blue, but what really gave it away was the same smile, high cheekbones, and dimples.
Gripping the steering wheel and rolling my fingers around it with a force so tight my knuckles turned white, I clenched my jaw. Every part of me wanted to get out of the car. I wasn't sure what I would do, but it wouldn't be good. When I first started searching for Harper's mom, I never thought this might be the outcome. I hoped to give Harper closure, and I was truly hoping to tell her that her mom had a genuine reason that she never returned, like she was incarcerated or hospitalized.
"She definitely doesn't look like she's being held against her will," Aiden said.
My gaze flicked back to the happy family as the man leaned into the woman holding the youngest of the three children, a little girl, pressing a kiss to her lips before throwing an arm across her shoulder and strolling happily together towards the house. My chest heaved with anger as I sucked in long, slow, deep breaths. The more I watched, the angrier I got. I'd hoped she was being held against her will. I'd hoped she hadn't abandoned her daughter, leaving her with someone who hurt her to start a new life.
"So, what now?"
"We leave," I muttered after a long moment, "and I tell Harper." I would tell her that her mother was a disgusting piece of shit who cared more about herself than her flesh and blood.
Aiden's eyes softened as the realization washed over him.
Chapter 38
Harper
I winced as the initial impact of the chilly water hit my skin before going from warm to hot. Holding my breath, I let the hot water scold my face before running down my body. I never knew a hot shower held this much power. The power to heal aches and pains. The power to wash away the feeling of disgust. The power to make me feel better. A hot shower was a luxury where I came from. I was lucky to have running water. I didn't most of the time, and it was always cold when I did.
I closed my eyes and listened to the bathroom door open and then click close. I knew it was Christian. He'd been gone all night. He hadn't said where he'd been, but I knew it had something to do with Noah and protecting me. I hated that this was the relationship we had to have. I hated that he was in danger and that I was the cause.
"Harper." He sighed. "I need to talk to you." Spinning to him, I reached out, filling my hand with his black tee, and jerked him into the shower.
"It can wait," I whispered, grabbing the hem of his shirt and shoving it up his chest. He reached back, pulled the shirt off, and dropped it on the floor. His pants followed. I didn't want to hear any more about Noah or the Southside for tonight. I wanted to be an ordinary eighteen-year girl who didn't come with the load of baggage being dumped onto Christian's shoulders.
Right now, I just needed him.
Tracing my finger over the curves of his perfectly sculpted torso, I let my gaze follow my finger, memorizing every curve, every tattoo, every scar of his perfect body. I walked my fingers down his torso, stopping at the massive erection. I wrapped my hand around his hardness and caressed him. I slowly stroked him as my gaze locked on him. He sucked in a ragged breath as my grip tightened at his base, stroking up and rolling my wrist around his swollen head.
He leaned into me, pinning me against the cold tile wall as his mouth collided with mine. He wrapped an arm around my waist and lifted me up to him before deepening the kiss. His tongue pushed past my lips, tangling with mine.
Pulling my legs up, I wrapped them around his waist as he pressed his body flush against mine. Our mouths tangled together in a frantic need for more. He needed this as much as I did.
His hands gripped my ass as he positioned me where he wanted me. Sliding his thick erection through my slick flesh, rubbing the tip over my swollen clit. My head fell back against the wall, and a moan escaped my parted lips as he slid his lips down the side of my throat, sucking and licking my tender flesh as he trailed down to the hollow point of my throat. My pulse thrummed in my ears as my heart pounded against my chest.
My nails dug into his shoulders as his cock nudged my entrance. I bucked my hips forward, begging for more. Grasping at his shoulders, I desperately pulled him closer, needing to feel more of him.
His mouth claimed mine as he pushed inside me. His tongue slipped through my parted lips, swallowing my moan. He grabbed my wrists, pinning them with one hand as he used the other to grip my ass tighter, driving himself deeper inside me. My chest rose and fell with deep, ragged breaths. Our eyes locked as he filled me. At this moment, he and I were one. Our bodies fit perfectly together, and I knew nothing would ever feel as good as him.
The water turned cold, but it didn't break his rhythm as he drove in and out of me, each thrust harder, deeper, faster. My body tensed as the pleasure built inside me. I bucked my hips forward on a hard snap of his hips. He groaned against my lips as he ground his hips against mine, pushing deeper. He released my wrist, and I clung to him as his mouth claimed mine. My core tightened as we continued our rhythm.
My breathing hitched as he pushed inside me, my body vibrating against his as his muscles tightened, and I cried out as the pleasure grew. His breathing accelerated with each pump of his hips. His head fell into the curve of my neck; his warm breath sent chills racing over my skin, and the overwhelming sensation of all this threw me over the edge. I cried out when my body found its ecstasy. With another hard thrust, his lips parted with a low groan as pleasure washed over him.
After a few minutes, he let my body slide against his until my feet met the ground as we both came down from our high, struggling to catch our breaths. He reached over, cutting off the icy shower water before stepping out and grabbing two towels from the closet.
Crawling into bed, I didn't bother dressing. I was too tired. I wanted to sleep and deal with reality tomorrow. Christian slid beside me, hooking an arm around me, pulling me back against his naked body, and pressing a kiss to my shoulder.
"We can talk in the morning," he whispered. I didn't even have the energy to give him an mm-hmm before I was asleep.
