Ember

by Skye Moon

  Miesha ended the call, making Danica giggle as she stuffed her phone into her purse and continued on her way to Amad’s grave. She and Tucker had been seeing each other regularly for weeks, and the more time passed, the less guilty she felt for allowing someone else into her life, but a large part of her knew that she couldn’t fully move on without closure. Danica had been toying with the idea since the conversation she’d had with her siblings, but only recently did she have the courage to act on it.

  Stopping in front of his headstone, Danica sank to the ground and sighed heavily.

  “Hey, you,” she said, removing the old flowers from their place and setting up the new arrangement. “I know this is the first time that I’ve been here in a while, and if you’re looking over me the way I think you are, then I’m sure you know why.”

  Tucking in her bottom lip, Danica paused to try and get her thoughts together.

  “When you left me, I was a mess. I was lost, confused, angry. Nothing made sense to me. I couldn’t figure out why God would even bring you to me just to snatch you away.” She paused again, clearing her throat. “But lately, I’ve been thinking that maybe all of that pain was for a reason. I think I had to wade through everything that happened between you and I, to be strong enough to help somebody else manage their pain.”

  A smile crossed her face as Tucker’s face materialized in her brain. “He’s a little damaged, but he’s also very sweet, and I think that you would like him for me.”

  Wrapping her arms around her legs, Danica pulled them into her chest as her eyes filled with tears. “I don’t want you, or anybody else, to think that I don’t love you anymore, because I do. But I have to let you go, Amad, and I think I’m ready to do that now.”

  For the next few hours, she sat in front of his grave talking about any and everything under the sun. It wouldn’t be her last time visiting him, but she knew that the next time she came, there wouldn’t be such a heavy burden weighing on her shoulders.

  Danica was to a point where her healing process could truly begin, and it felt damn good to her soul.

  The forty-five minute drive seemed to take her no time at all, and in a last minute decision, she decided to stop by the station to let Tucker know in person that she was back. Her foot didn’t even tap the break hard enough to stop the car when she noticed him standing outside talking to a woman.

  She thought nothing of it until the woman flung her arms around his neck and kissed him. Gasping loudly, she pressed the gas to continue driving, thankful that it was dark outside, and would hopefully keep him from noticing her car. Tears clouded her eyes, and her chest heaved in and out rapidly.

  How could she have been so stupid to believe that someone like him would only have one woman in her life?

  Suddenly, she was second guessing everything the two of them had been doing. Pushing her head firmly against the headrest, Danica sucked back her tears, refusing to shed any over him. If he wanted to play the bad boy role, then he could do it without her.

  Chapter 11

  “You seem different.” Will said, dropping into the seat next to Tucker, running his hands down his face.

  “What you mean by that?” Tucker sat back on the couch, raising an eyebrow.

  “I can’t really explain it but, it’s like whatever it is that’s been weighing on you hasn’t been as heavy lately. You seem happy. Shorty is a good look for you.”

  Despite how much of a simp he felt like, Tucker damn near beamed at the thought of Danica.

  “Damn, bro, she got you like that? Where did you find her? And how do I get one?” Will joked.

  “Chill out,” Tucker laughed good naturedly. “She has a sister, but I don’t think you ready for all that. Miesha ain’t nothing to fuck with, especially since you obviously have some shit going on with Cece.”

  Will’s eyes darted to the table where Cecilia and Allie were sitting at a table playing a round of cards, and he shook his head.

  “Man, I don’t even know where to start when it comes to that damn girl.”

  “The fuck is up with y’all?”

  “Same old shit. We started fucking around on the low, and now she wants more. I was considering it despite the doubts I had about things working out, but then she flipped the script and started sniffing around you like a dog in heat every chance that she got.”

  “Probably because I’m a safe option compared to your ass.” Tucker snickered. “But you know it’s not like that with us, right? I’ve never touched her like that. And it’s damn sure not going to happen now that you’ve told me that y’all had something brewing.”

  “I think it’s safe to say that whatever that was, is a wrap. I’m trying to find me a Dani.”

  “Then you better get the fuck in line, because if you talking about my wife, Dani, then you shit out of luck,” Charlie teased, passing behind the couch.

  “I’ma kill him.” Tucker’s jaw twitched while Will laughed.

  “Yeah,” he clapped his friend on the back. “She put something serious on yo ass.”

  “You don’t have to tell me, trust me, I know.”

  “Aye, Tuck, you got a visitor!” Wade called, making his way inside the station.

  Thinking it was Danica, he hopped up quickly and rushed outside. He stopped short when he realized that it was Monae instead.

  “Hey,” his greeting was laced with confusion. “What are you doing here?”

  “I got your message,” she waved her phone into the air before slipping it into the pocket of her jacket. “I’ve been meaning to stop by for days, but I had to get my head right and get a grip on what I wanted to say.”

  Tucker was at a loss for words. When he texted his apology to Monae, it was because he felt that he’d never given her a proper one, and couldn’t move on with Danica without giving the proper closure to that situation.

  Monae was a good woman that didn’t deserve everything that he dumped into her lap. Tucker felt that he couldn’t truly consider himself a man until he owned up to it. But the last thing he anticipated was her showing up unannounced to his job.

  “Baby,” she let out a wistful sigh that had him groaning internally. “I don’t know what happened with you, but I’ve been waiting for this moment for so long.”

  “Moe,” Tucker’s mind quickly worked to try and find a way to diffuse the situation before it could get any worse. “Before you finish, I need to tell you…”

  Not waiting for him to finish his statement, Monae threw herself at him, wrapping her arms around his neck and pressing her lips against his. Even with their history, she felt foreign as hell to him, and Tucker quickly pushed her away.

  “Kee,” Monae’s face twisted. “What’s wrong with…”

  “That message wasn’t for us to try and fix anything, Moe,” He cut her off. “I gave you an apology, because you deserved it, but our relationship ran its course, and I don’t want it back.”

  Blinking a few times, she took a step back from him. Tucker could see the hurt written all over her face, but he wouldn’t let that keep him from standing firm with his feelings.

  “I-I don’t understand,” she finally spoke, narrowing her eyes. “I thought that this was you wanting to fix us. I thought that…”

  “I’m seeing somebody, Moe.” Tucker announced, wincing at the sharp intake of breath she took. “At least, I’m in the beginning stages of seeing somebody, and I’m happy where I’m at. The last thing I want to do is hurt you, but…”

  “No,” she held up her hand, letting out a humorless chuckle. “It’s my fault for showing up unannounced without taking the time to clarify your intent behind the message.”

  “Moe, I…”

  The siren blaring interrupted him, and he shot her an apologetic look. He didn’t want the conversation to end on that note, but duty called.

  “I’m sorry,” he offered up before rushing back into the station to grab his gear and hop on the truck. When they crossed the city line into Ganton Hills, his stomach twisted into kno
ts. Brighton Heights wasn’t the best, but Ganton Hills was the slums. Their call wasn’t the only thing they’d have to worry about in that city.

  It was filled to the brim with crime lords, feuding gangs, and a whole other assload of shit that Tucker didn’t have the time or energy for. When they got to the scene of the car accident, there was nothing there outside of the black truck with shattered windows running in the middle of the street.

  “Cece,” he called, getting out of the truck and surveying their surroundings very carefully. Moving towards the car, she stuck a hand inside before glancing back at him with a grim expression. “DOA.” She announced.

  Headlights shining in their direction instantly put him on alert. “Everybody in the truck, now!” He ordered as the unmarked car came to a stop.

  “Tuck,” The tall, well-built man greeted, climbing out of the car.

  Tucker relaxed a fraction of an inch when he realized it was GHPD lead narcotics detective, Samir O’Neal.

  “O’Neal,” he replied, jerking his head towards the car. “You need help with this?”

  “Nah, we got it.”

  Tucker didn’t need to hear anymore. After making sure his team was secure and accounted for, he hopped in the truck so they could get back to their normal stomping grounds. On the way there, he attempted to call Danica to help settle his nerves.

  His eyebrows came together when he got her voicemail. He knew that she’d planned to head out of town to visit her ex’s grave, but her not checking to let him know she made it home safe wasn’t sitting well with him. There wasn’t anything he could do about it until his shift was over, but if he didn’t hear from her by the time it ended, then he didn’t have a problem hunting her down.

  Chapter 12

  Pulling the comforter around her body, Danica’s heavy eyes blinked lazily. She was tired, but sleep had been avoiding her since she saw Tucker kissing another woman. The past three days of her life were spent mourning the fact that he’d come along and made her fall in love with him, when he wasn’t really in their situation the way she was.

  Love had been the furthest thing from her mind, but with Tucker, it was easy. She could see beyond the handsome face and uniform, deep inside to the broken man calling out for her. At least, she thought he was calling out for her. Clearly, he’d been in the streets for any and everybody to claim.

  Shifting underneath her blanket, she stared up at the ceiling cursing herself out in her head. Danica would give herself a day to mourn their friendship and what she thought they were building, before forcing herself to get over it. As quickly as the love had come, she was sure it would wash away.

  Her heavy eyes blinked again, finally on the verge of closing when a loud boom sounded against her bedroom door.

  “You dressed?” Casimir’s voice penetrated the veil of silence in her room.

  “Cas, go away.”

  “Yo ass has been DND’ing me for the past couple of days, I ain’t going nowhere. Now you got clothes on or no?”

  “What I have is a massive headache and the need to be alone.”

  “Alright, fuck it.”

  Before she could object, he was pushing her bedroom door open. Danica was indeed clothed underneath her blanket, and didn’t flinch when his face came into view.

  “What the hell is wrong with you?” He demanded, taking a seat at the edge of her bed.

  “If my phone being on, do not disturb, wasn’t clear enough, then let me clarify. I don’t want to talk.”

  “Unlike the rest of the punk ass people in our family, you don’t scare me, and I don’t care if you want to talk. You’re my sister, and it’s my job to protect you.”

  “Am I not older than you?”

  “That ain’t got shit to do with the cost of tea in China. What’s up with you, Dani? Talk to me.” Stretching out across her bed, playfully hitting her arm.

  “I think things with Tucker and I are finished.” She admitted, knowing that he wasn’t going away until he got what he wanted.

  “I figured it had something to do with him, when he dropped by Mom and Dad’s looking for you.”

  Her eyes widened at that particular piece of news. “Wait, he did what?”

  “He said, I came by your Mom and Dad’s house looking for you,” Tucker’s voice tugged at her heartstrings as he strolled into the room looking good enough to eat.

  Danica turned her gaze on Casimir, who just shrugged after pulling himself into a sitting position. “Don’t be mad at me, sis. Talk to the man.”

  He left the two alone, and Tucker took a seat on the bed, gently caressing her shoulder. “What’s going on with you, Dani bae? Why you icing me out?”

  “Just go,” she smacked his hand away, laying down and turning her back to him.

  “I’m not going anywhere.” He declared. “Not until you tell me what’s up. Are you feeling some type away about us after visiting Amad? I know…”

  “It has nothing to do with Amad, and everything to do with you,” She replied icily. “I don’t want to see you, and I don’t want to talk to you.”

  “I don’t understand why you’re so upset with me. If anything, I should be the one angry that I haven’t heard from you since…”

  “Since I rode past the station and saw you kissing whatever woman you were standing outside with.” Danica’s tone was filled with venom as she sat up, turning to glare at him. “Really, Tucker? I can’t believe that you would do something like that to me after everything that we’ve…”

  One of his large hands cupped the side of her face, throwing off her argument. “Dani,” His voice rumbled deeply. “I can imagine what you might be feeling after what you saw, but I would never do something like that to you.”

  “Whatever.” She jerked out of his grip. “You can’t possibly think that I would believe you over my own eyes.”

  “I’m not disputing what you saw, Dani bae, but I’m telling you the circumstances of what you saw aren’t what you think. The night I opened up to you about everything with Charlotte, I realized that I played a role in pushing my ex-fiancée away. I texted her to apologize so I could have a clear conscience about moving forward with you. She took it as if I wanted her back and popped up at the station to talk. Before I could shut her down, she kissed me, but I shut it down before it went too far.”

  “Yeah,” she snorted with a toss of her head. “And why should I believe that?”

  “Have I ever given you a reason to doubt me?” His question was swift and suddenly had her doubting what she knew for sure that she saw. “I’m not telling you that you don’t have the right to be upset, but talk to me. You can’t just disappear on me like that.”

  The pain in his voice suddenly had her feeling like the villain. She wanted to comfort him, but her common sense kicked in.

  “I don’t want to be in this if I’m not the only one.” She cleared her throat, glaring lazily at him through her heavy lidded eyes. “I don’t do the main chick, side chick, whatever chick thing.”

  “Dani bae,” his lips curled into a smile as he reached out to pull her into his lap. She didn’t resist. All that Danica craved during her time in isolation was to be in his arms. “You haven’t figured out how I feel about you by now?”

  “That’s kind of hard to do when you’re out here putting your lips on other wom…”

  Leaning in swiftly, Tucker captured her lips with his, successfully shutting her up. Pressing her hands against his chest, Danica feebly attempted to push him away. He didn’t let up.

  Her body shuddered as he lifted her sleep shirt up and over her head to reveal her bare breasts. Danica fought the urge to whimper as he lowered his head, pulling one of her nipples into his mouth.

  Dropping her head back, she forgot all about being upset with him as her body once again fell under his command. Their clothes practically seemed to disappear, and Danica lifted herself enough to slide down his length.

  Her head was gone from the moment she felt him stretching her pulsating walls. Push
ing her hands up her body, Danica palmed her breasts while rolling her hips carefully. The way his mouth fell open motivated her to work harder, and she lifted herself to the very tip and slid down over and over again.

  Palming her ass, Tucker squeezed tightly while hissing. “Shittttt, baby, slow down.”

  She couldn’t if she wanted to. The pressure in her center was building, and Danica was chasing a high. She planned to get it by any means necessary.

  Grunting loudly, Tucker lifted her up and pulled out of her tunnel long enough to lay her on her stomach and slide back in.

  “Put that ass up,” he commanded, sinking his teeth into his bottom lip.

  She did as he said, mouth lax and eyes closed. Gripping the sheets, Danica pushed back at him, determined not to let him control the situation. When he pressed a palm against her lower back, she assumed it was to deepen her arch.

  When she felt his thumb circling her ass, she nearly lost her shit.

  “Fuck, yes!” She cried out, licking her lips and looking back at him. “Give me more!” With his thumb buried in her forbidden hole, Tucker seductively stared down at her while pumping in and out of her dripping center.

  “So fucking sexy.” He whispered, making his dick jump inside of her.

  With her face buried into the sheets, Danica’s mouth was wide open as she accepted everything he was offering her. “Yes, yes, yes!” She whimpered with each clap of her ass against his stomach. “Mmm, right there!”

  Her entire body jerked as her orgasm hit hard enough to make her see stars. Tucker fucked her right through it.

  “That’s it, Dani bae,” he coached. “Let that pussy come all over this dick, shit.”

  With her eyes rolled in the back of her head, Danica couldn’t do much other than take the punishment he was giving. He didn’t seem to be holding anything back, and neither was she.

  Once she pulled herself together, Danica adjusted her arms so they were both in front of her, gripping the sheets. Pushing her upper body up as far as it would go, she sent her ass back at the same rhythm he was stroking her.