The Sparrow and The Raven

by KA Graham

  “With my life, Dominic, that's not even a question. I sometimes feel my love for you will drown me, and I'm willing to take that risk. It consumes my soul more than anything ever has or ever will.”

  “Trust that I will protect you from the monster of your past. He will never get to you again. If I have to move the heavens and earth, then that's what I'll do. Only for you, my Sparrow, only for you.”

  “Where have you been all my life? I don’t deserve you, Dominic, but I'm never letting you go.” I make my way closer to him when he quickly dodges me and moves toward the end of the couch.

  “I was going to wait for a more romantic setting, but I can’t wait any longer, Isabella.” Slowly - as in I think I might die - Dominic pulls out a small black box from under the couch cushion. Is this really happening? Please don’t pass out, Isabella, please. And please God don’t let this be some sick joke.

  He pulls me onto his lap, and looking at me with sheer passion in his eyes, he begins to speak. “I never thought I'd find happiness again. I didn't think it was in the cards for me. I've held so much darkness and pain inside my heart for so long, I thought death would be better than the life I was living. Then I stopped to get a beer one day and ran into this mouthy, high on caffeine, sexy little thing that I guarantee doesn’t know how sexy she really is.

  My heart stopped in a way that made my brain shut down. I knew I had to make you mine. It was the spontaneous kind of love you only read about in those over-the-top romance novels. There will be times you want to junk punch me, and there will be times I want to tape that smart ass mouth of yours shut. Above all, I want to be your best friend, lover, and baby daddy. I want beautiful babies filling our home with laughter and light. I want to grow old with you, Isabella because you've stolen my heart and there’s no returning it. I love you more than anything in this world, my gorgeous girl. Will you marry me? Scars and all?”

  He opens the box, revealing a pink princess cut diamond with a band of smaller mystic topaz diamonds. Pulling the ring out, he takes my hand, and slips it onto my finger.

  “I haven’t said yes yet, Mr. Hotpants.” I'm crying; full-on, makeup- smeared crying.

  “You don’t have to, because I'd never take no for an answer. You know me better than that, Sparrow.” That sexy smirk of his is back, and I can’t stop myself from pouncing on him.

  “Yes! A million times yes!”

  I was never one to believe in fairytales, and when I met my Captain Hook, I remembered why. But let’s face it; I’d give Prince Charming a heart attack.

  35

  Stepping out of the quicksand.

  It’s been a few months since Dominic proposed to me, and things are good. Really good. I've officially moved in with him, no shock or protest from Raelynn. In her words, “That man sent you to the candy shop and you've been lost in the aisles ever since.” She’s ridiculous but always right, and she knows it.

  For the first time in years, I'm happy, and whatever comes my way, I feel with Dominic and Raelynn by my side, I'll be ok. I've started seeing a therapist, willingly, and it’s actually been helpful. Who'd of thought, right? Maybe it’s because Dr. Layla doesn't feed into my bullshit and she gives it to me straight. Life’s a bitch, but I'm slowly learning to roll with the punches and not freak out the second something doesn't go as planned.

  Baby steps.

  Jackson has sent a few more letters, pouring out his obsession for me, and making me realize how much he needs help. The darkness is still within him, and he needs to find the man he once was, before he destroys himself and there’s no coming back. I’ve decided, for everyone's sake, to cease all contact with him. He’s my past, one I've chosen to move on from. He completed his stint in rehab and was automatically sent back to Oregon, where he’s serving time for drug trafficking and three counts of sexual assault. Needless to say, he’ll have plenty of time to think about all he’s done.

  “Good morning, gorgeous.” That smile on his face lights me up inside. I can’t wait to be his wife. I never thought I'd want kids, but that was a different time in my life. A time filled with darkness and no hope for a happy future. Now, the same thought has me daydreaming of being a momma to Dominic's blue-eyed babies.

  “Good morning to you too, sexy.”

  Sauntering up to me in just a towel, he suddenly has my undivided attention. A few drops of water trickle down his tight abs, and I'm two seconds away from licking them off his hot body.

  “You look hungry, Sparrow. Does my girl need something to eat?”

  “Yes, please. I'm feeling quite famished.”

  “Well we can’t have that, now can we?” He drops his towel as we continue to have a stand-off in the middle of the kitchen.

  I win the battle when I not-so-gently, push him up against the counter. Taking his hard cock into my hand, I begin to stroke him from bottom to top. Practically tearing my own clothes off, I sink down to my knees. I suck his balls into my mouth while squeezing his cock with my hand. Letting my tongue lick the tip, I tease him for a bit.

  Moaning quietly, Dominic gives me a subtle warning. “Sparrow, don’t be a tease, let me inside that sexy mouth of yours.”

  Using both his hands, he pushes inside my mouth, and I have to steady myself so I don’t fall over from his urgent thrusts. Just when I think he’s at his breaking point, he pulls out of my mouth and lifts me up onto the counter. Pulling me just to the edge, I wrap my legs around his waist as he slips inside me.

  Grabbing the bottom of my ass, he steadies me as I ride his cock. I can feel him ripping my body apart in a delicious way. With each movement, I’m closer to my release, and I'm sure he’s not far behind.

  “Dominic, please…”

  “What, gorgeous girl? Tell me what you want!”

  “Now who’s being the tease, Mr. Barnes?” I can see the look in his eye turn ravenous, and just like that, his fingertips dig into my ass cheeks, and we’re both panting and sated.

  “I guess you're going to need another shower, sexy, seeing how you’re all dirty again.” I try to saunter past him, but he’s too quick, grabbing me by the waist.

  “Do you realize just how much I love you, Isabella? I thought my soul was lost forever until I found you. You're my missing puzzle piece.”

  “Always and forever, Dominic. Now let's go get cleaned up so I can feed my man. Real food this time.” He lifts me up, carrying me in his arms, and I'm as content as I've ever been.

  “Which means we’re going to the diner?” Laughing at me as I pout, he knows me too well. Someday I'll learn to cook, but today is definitely not that day.

  Tomorrow doesn't really look that good either.

  Life has thrown me for a loop, time and time again, but what I've realized is that the struggles make you into a stronger version of yourself. You have to keep climbing or you'll never reach the top of the mountain.

  “You’re not okay

  And that’s okay

  You’re not obligated

  To be perfectly fine

  Feel what you feel

  But don’t let it

  Control your life

  Rain storms

  Give way to rainbows

  And without sadness

  You’d never know

  What it means to be happy”

  RH Sin

  Epilogue

  Five years later

  “Momma, Aunt Rae Rae isn’t being nice. She needs a timeout. I always get a timeout when I’m bad, and she’s being a very bad auntie!” Out of the mouth of babes. Sienna, my three year old bundle of energy, is the spitting image of her daddy, with the attitude to boot.

  “Oh, darling girl, what did Aunt Rae Rae do this time?” I try to make a straight face so she knows I’m listening to her pleas for punishment.

  “She eat all my cookies! She’s a bad girl!” Her little pudgy finger is pointing straight at Raelynn.

  I can see Raelynn out of the corner of my eye laughing to herself, while she eats the last of the cookies I made t
his morning. She was beside herself with joy when she found out Dominic and I were pregnant. “Finally, you’ve made me an auntie! It took long enough. I was beginning to think sexy was shooting blanks.”

  We decided it would be best to wait until we were married, wanting something special after all the chaos we’ve endured and survived. Our wedding was perfect and just for us - barefoot on the beach, hand in hand, with Shinedown playing in the background. Afterward, instead of kissing his bride like a normal man, Dominic scooped me up and christened me in the ocean as a Barnes woman. God love him.

  It didn’t take long for Dominic to knock me up, of course, and he had the arrogant pride written all over his face when I told him the news. He’d kiss my round belly every day, saying, “Daddy will see you soon, my little sweet pea.” He was convinced it was a girl and he was right.

  Sienna follows him around like he’s a real-life superhero, and in some ways he is. She’s Dominic’s twin in every way, and it makes my heart melt. You never know pure, unfiltered love until you've had children of your own. I still have my bad days, but her cute little face makes even the darkest days seem brighter.

  Eight months ago, an officer came to our front door notifying us that Jackson got into an altercation with another inmate and was stabbed to death with a homemade shank. He hadn’t gotten his shit together and was still causing trouble, even behind bars. I was technically his only family which was the reason they notified me of his passing. It took me a few months to get over the fact that Jackson was dead, and I had lost someone I once loved with all my heart. I hope his soul is finally at rest, and as morbid as this may sound, I truly hope he’s found in death the peace that he wasn’t able to find in life.

  “Raelynn, stop messing with that child! You know how she gets, and I’m not in the mood to deal with little miss attitude today.” I’ve been feeling miserably ill for weeks now, and I have a feeling I know the meaning behind it. Dominic Barnes and his insatiable need to make baby number two a reality. I'm pretty sure the deed is done.

  “You’re just cranky because you’re preggers and in need of some sexy time. The fact you can't have wine is killing you also. Where is baby daddy anyways?”

  How the hell does she know I’m pregnant? I don’t even know for sure.

  “Yes, you’re preggers. Don’t try and deny it. We don’t need a test to prove it, and you know it, Cracker. Woman up for criminy sake!”

  Damn her…

  Just as I’m about to start talking shit to Raelynn, in walks Dominic with Tyler following close behind. He’s been living with us for almost two years now, having been released from the hospital into our care. It’s been a difficult transition for him, but Dominic and I have been by his side the whole way. That man of mine is a fucking hero, and I’m grateful every day that he decided I was the one he wanted to share forever with.

  Tyler has been spending time with one of his old counselors from the hospital. Her name is Morgan, and I love her. Like girl crush love her. She's Bringing out a new side to him. He's falling for her even if he won't admit it. I'm not blind though, and I can plainly see the subtle flirting and little looks they give each other. All in due time, I guess, but I'm loving it. He deserves to be happy in this life.

  “Hello, ladies. We come bearing gifts!” Dominic has his hands full with two boxes of donuts from my favorite pastry shop, and a liter of Mountain Dew. He’s totally getting laid tonight as if that was even a question. He’s turned me into a goddamn sex fiend!

  “Sugar and caffeine. Totally why I married you. Gifts from a God. Now gimme. I'll even excuse the fact you took Bessy Two without permission.” Yes, he replaced Bessy with a brand new forest- green Range Rover, fully equipped to entertain little miss attitude. I may have shed a tear or two for my old girl, but Bessy Two is badass and I can't deny it.

  Raelynn gives him an all-knowing smirk, and I want to throat punch the both of them. They always conspire against me. Looking back at Dominic, I whisper, “You know too, don’t you?”

  “Gorgeous, it’s hard not to know. You’ve been extra hot for my ass lately, and those tits of yours are talking back to me.” He gives them a squeeze for reassurance.

  Asshole... some things never change.

  “I love you, Mr. Barnes. Now kiss me and give me my caffeine and donuts!”

  “Yes, ma'am!” He kisses me like it’s the first time, and that’s how it feels every time he touches me. I savour every touch and look he surrounds me with. We were two broken hearts that needed mending, and we did it together. The Sparrow and her Raven.

  THE END

  Playlist for The Sparrow and the Raven

  Dead Memories - Slipknot

  Too Good At Goodbyes - Sam Smith

  Praying - Kesha

  Song #3 - Stone Sour

  Worst Part of Me- I Prevail

  Heathens - Twenty One Pilots

  Unsteady - X Ambassadors

  Shatter Me - Lindsey Stirling

  Wild Hearts Can’t Be Broken - Pink

  Worst in Me - Julia Michaels

  Shape of You - Ed Sheeran

  DJ Khaled - Wild Thoughts ft. Rihanna, Bryson Tiller

  Him and I - G-Eazy & Halsey

  In My Blood - Shawn Mendez

  I Don’t Think About You - Kelly Clarkson

  Stupid Boy - Keith Urban

  Dark Side - Bishop Briggs

  It Will Rain - Bruno Mars

  Wrong Side of Heaven - Five Finger Death Punch

  Losing Sleep - Chris Young

  Control - Halsey

  How Did You Love - Shinedown

  Say You Won't Let Go - James Arthur

  Alive - Adelitas Way

  Behind These Eyes - Eyes Set To Kill

  Truth or Dare - Bad Wolves

  Written In The Sand - Old Dominion

  If You Want Love - NF

  Meet KA Graham

  KA Graham grew up in a small town in Oregon. Through the years, her love for writing and poetry turned into something she had only dreamt of - writing her own book. She's faced many obstacles in her life, through the love and devotion of her parents, she has always kept herself grounded.

  She is an avid reader, blogger and does PA work for a few authors which keeps her quite busy. She’s a hard rock music lover and horror movie buff with a love and appreciation for tattoos. Her addictions include copious amounts of caffeine, Chinese food and Haribos candy.

  #EmbraceTheLove #ForgetTheHate