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Briella:What’s going on with Taylor? And Lucy? I heard about your little showdown at Lucy’s house. Don’t try to lie. I’ll know.
I think about lying. I truly do, but Briella’s known me a long time and I don’t know how to lie to her. My mind whispers…you just don’t tell her the whole truth. My guilt from keeping my own secret chokes me. But this isn’t my secret to share. I turn on my bedside lamp.
Me:I can’t talk about it. It isn’t my business to tell.
Briella:Tate, I swear, you tell me what’s going on or I’ll come there and tickle it out of you. You know I can.
Me:Ha-ha. You can’t come here. It’s midnight…and she’s here. Leave it alone Bree. I have it handled.
Briella:See that’s what I’m talking about! You have WHAT handled?
Me:Bree, how do you know any of this anyway?
Briella:Oh Tate. You know I don’t reveal my sources. I may be at the police academy, but I have my ways. I’m home on the weekends, so you can tell me now or I can face off with you this weekend.
Me:I can’t, okay. I made a promise.
Briella:Are you falling for her?
Me:Bree, I’m not doing this. It’s late, go to sleep.
Briella:Tate, don’t be stupid and let her slip through your fingers. You deserve someone as wonderful as her. But so help me, if you hurt her, I’ll kick your ass.
Me:Goodnight, Bree.
Briella:Goodnight, Tater. We’ll talk soon, you can count on it.
I stretch and lay my phone back on my nightstand and stare at the ceiling. When Lucy called me earlier, I don’t know what I expected. It certainly wasn’t hearing the fear in her voice and Taylor threatening her followed by the sounds of things being slammed. At that exact moment, I was glad I’d driven to town for some groceries, which obviously I didn’t get. My heart nearly stopped as I listened to himhurther. I couldn’t get to her fast enough. It was in that instant, I knew without a doubt, I need to get my shit together and be the kind of man she deserves, because the truth is…Iamfalling for her.Maybe I already have.
If it means facing my mother to get answers and put the past behind me, then so be it, I’ll do it. I hear scratching at my door and Rocky’s whimper. I sit up and run to it. He nudges me as soon as he sees me. He takes off to the guest bedroom.
I step in the room to find her still asleep but having a nightmare. She’s physically thrashing and crying. She keeps saying, “No, no, please stop, don’t hurt me.”
Shit.I run my hand over my face to try and calm my own racing heart so I can calm hers. I go to her side and gently caress her face, careful not to startle her in any way. She’s covered in sweat and tears.
“Lucy, love, it’s me. You’re safe. It’s Tate. Please, baby, can you hear me?”
She suddenly goes still and opens her eyes. “Tate?”
“I’m right here, love. You were having a nightmare. He can’t hurt you. I won’t let anything hurt you.” I stare into her eyes, hoping I canmakeher feel my promise and know it’s true.
She sits up and brings her knees to her chest, trying to wipe her tears which are steadily streaming. “Lucy, sleep in my bed with me. I’ll hold you so you know you’re safe.” She nods but cups her face with both hands. I pick her up and carry her to my bed. Rocky follows behind us but stays at the door and lies down.
I tuck her in my bed and lie down beside her. She’s not crying but it’s still fresh on her face. “I don’t know how to get past this, Tate. He can even find me in my dreams. How can I get away from him if he can find me there?”
I turn her face so she’s looking right at me. “I won’t let him. I’ll keep you safe and show you how you should be treated. We can erase the traces he left behind. I’ll help you…if you let me.”
I’ll help you because I love you. I want you to dream of me…of being with me,my mind whispers but I can’t say the words out loud. I may know where my heart lies but I can’t press her right now. She’s got too much on her. I’ll just have to show her, little by little, day by day, until she can heal enough to maybe love me too.
She doesn’t make a sound… just sits up and takes off the T-shirt she was wearing, revealing her full, bare breasts and a bright pink thong. She pushes me flat and pulls down my shorts and boxers, taking me in her mouth.
“Lucy, baby. If you don’t stop, I’m going to—” she doesn’t let me finish, she cuts me off with a kiss. Her tongue plays with mine. I’m painfully hard, but as much as I want her, I can’t let her do this, not when she’s vulnerable.
I break the kiss. “Lucy, we can’t do this. You’re hurting. It wouldn’t be right, you’re vulnerable right now.”
She leans in to kiss me again. “I’m on birth control and I’m clean…are you?”
“I’m clean,” I tell her trying to calm my desire. The next thing I know, she slides her thong to the side and impales herself completely on my length.
