Conquer (Desired Affliction Book 2)

by C. A. Harms

  I tried not to laugh at the fact that he whispered the question. It was like he wanted to make sure no one could hear him ask me.

  “No, you’re not a pussy. You’re just a good guy,” I assured him as I took the phone with me back to bed. I crawled in under the covers and listened to him argue with the guys. He told them that “his Lexi said he wasn’t a pussy.”

  I laughed at his defiance. He was like a toddler. “You’re crazy drunk, aren’t you?”

  “Yes,” he whispered back.

  There was a shuffling of the phone and I could hear him telling someone to give him back Lexi. I laughed once again at his slurred speech.

  “Hey Lexi. You home?” Radley asked.

  “Yeah, I’m here. Kole sounds hammered. You’re driving, right?” I was hoping that I wouldn’t have to go pick up four drunken idiots.

  “Yeah, I’m sober. I only drank a couple beers all night. Kole on the other hand, well, he had a party with a bottle of Patron.” Radley laughed at something. “Um…Lexi, have you ever seen Kole attempt to breakdance?”

  I sat up straight in bed. “Damn it, Radley don’t let him hurt himself. He has to walk down the aisle in two days.”

  Radley hollered something as he covered the phone. After a minute he replied. “He’ll walk down that aisle just fine. Well, maybe…” He chuckled and before I could yell at him he spoke once more. “No really, he’ll be fine. We’ll be there in about twenty minutes. I’m gonna load everyone up.”

  “Okay, be careful,” I replied before hanging up.

  Just as he promised, Radley pulled in the parking lot a little less than twenty minutes later. I watched as he led my drunken man up the sidewalk. I opened the door and when Kole saw me he smiled all white teeth and dimples.

  “Hey there party animal,” I said with a smirk.

  He braced himself on the door as Radley held onto his other arm. “There’s my baby,” he whispered. “Fucking beautiful.” He looked over at Radley and nudged his arm. “Isn’t she hot, Radley? I’m a lucky man, ain’t I?”

  He took a step forward and I moved out of the way as Radley led him to the bed. I helped get his shoes and socks off just before we led him to bed. “You need help or you got it from here?” Radley remained next to me as we both stood at the foot of the bed looking down at Kole.

  “I got him,” I assured Radley.

  I couldn’t help but laugh. Kole’s entire lower half was hanging off the end of the bed. Just when we thought he was passed out he shocked us both.

  Kole spoke in a whisper with his eyes closed. “Hey, Lex?”

  I giggled. “Yes, Kole?”

  I think he actually thought if he continued to whisper Radley wouldn’t hear him.

  “Lex, can we have sex? I’m seeing double right now and if I looked up and saw two of you while you were riding me, that would be cool as shit.” I looked at him in shock as Radley covered his mouth laughing.

  “He’s all yours.” He winked as he began backing away. “I gotta go back and pick up the other two. Those jackasses wouldn’t come out of the back room. They had their own private strippers and I was scared to go in and see what they were up to.” Radley hollered back as he walked down the hall toward the front door.

  “Hey, you do know that Meg is gonna kill you, right? You may want to take her with you. You know, so she sees that you’re not doing anything bad.”

  “Nah, I’ll only be in there for ten minutes.” I heard the door slam shut, cringing at the thought of Radley’s face off with Megan; she was already irritable knowing they went to a strip club.

  It took me fifteen minutes to get Kole out of his jeans and slide him up in the bed enough that he wouldn’t fall off the end.

  I crawled in next to him and curled into his side.

  He was silent and his breaths were steady, so when he spoke I jumped a little in surprise. “Lexi, I love you.”

  I smiled against my pillow. “I love you too, Kole.”

  “I really wanna have sex, baby.” I was just about to talk him out of it when he continued. “I’m just scared to move. I might get sick if I do.”

  “It’s okay. We’ll just have to catch up tomorrow.”

  He let out a deep breath.

  After a minute of silence he whispered once again. “A stripper girl licked my neck. I think I threw her off my lap. I remember her stumbling backwards.” Another deep breath escaped him. “Are you mad?”

  I felt a little sick at the thought. “Nope, not mad. We’ll talk tomorrow; just go to sleep.”

  I continued to listen to him breathe and finally realized he had passed out.

  ***

  After a night of grumbling and a lot of tossing in his sleep, Kole was finally waking up. I had already been up for a few hours just waiting for him to join the living.

  I sat on the edge of the bed and watched as he began to stir. His arm came out next to him and began feeling for me. When he realized I wasn’t there his eyes came open. He turned to face me and smiled his sexy morning grin.

  “Morning. What time is it?” he asked, turning toward the clock. “Shit, I slept half the day.”

  After he registered what day it was, he exclaimed, “Fuck, Lexi, you got class in an hour.” I smiled as he sat up and scooted his way across the bed toward me. He kissed my forehead. “I need to brush my teeth then I need some kisses.” He lifted my chin and kissed my nose.

  I still hadn’t said anything. He slowly registered my silence. “Why are you so quiet?”

  I arched my brow and answered him. “Can you explain to me how or why a stripper licked your neck? Oh, and maybe why she was on your lap?” His eyes went wide and he grabbed my hand.

  “I never touched either of them. Radley got two strippers to take us four upstairs to a room. They both came at me at once and the moment I felt the first one touch me I jumped up out of the chair. I promise. Then I went back out to the bar, where Rad and I sat and got drunk—well, I got drunk.” He looked worried.

  After a silent moment I leaned forward and kissed his cheek. “Okay.” I crawled from the bed and went toward the kitchen to get my things together for class.

  My back was to the hallway, but I heard him shuffling in my direction. His hands slipped around my waist and rested on our baby. He slowly traced circles onto my stomach under the edge of my shirt.

  “Don’t be mad at me, baby…please,” he whispered, sounding a little panicked.

  I turned in his arms and wrapped mine around his waist hugging him close. “I’m not mad. I don’t like that she got that close, but I’m not mad.”

  I kissed his lips softly. “Thank you.”

  Kole looked down at me. “Thanks for what?”

  I smiled at him to ease his worried mind. “Thanks for stopping it before it went any further.”

  He shook his head and let his eyes close.

  “You’re so amazing.” His lips brushed against mine and it tickled causing me to laugh lightly.

  “I love you, but I never want to hear of anyone but me being in your lap or licking you anywhere. Got it?” He nodded his head and grinned against my lips before he kissed me.

  “I got it.”

  I walked toward the bathroom hollering over my shoulder. “Oh yeah, and by the way, Megan bitch-slapped Miley last night. She deserved it and I was happy I was there to see it. It was the highlight of my day.” I went into the bathroom and he followed right behind me, once again looking puzzled.

  “Um, should I ask what happened or leave it alone?”

  “Leave it alone would be best, but I know you’re curious.” I paused as I felt the temperature of the water. When I turned back to look at him he smiled.

  “She spouted off about showing up here that night and Megan was already in a mood. She was defending my honor and yours. End of story. It really was fun to watch, though. I wish I had recorded it.”

  I heard him chuckle as I pulled the shower curtain closed behind me just before he shut the bathroom door.

  When I
stepped from the shower, I was face to face with Kole who held my phone out to me. “What?”

  “You need to call Megan.” I didn’t like the look on his face.

  “What happened?” I asked, feeling my stomach tense with worry.

  “Call her. I just got off the phone with Radley and, um…let’s just say that things are rough right now between them.”

  I looked at him questioning his concerned look. After I realized he wasn’t going to explain any further, I took my phone and dialed her number.

  When she answered I could tell instantly that she had been crying. Her voice shook and was just above a whisper.

  “Meg, what’s going on?” Megan rarely cried over something that truly wasn’t worth it.

  “I’m done. It’s over…we’re done,” she said in explanation, still leaving me confused.

  My chest tightened and at first I thought she was over exaggerating because she was upset he was at a strip club.

  “Honey, you can’t be mad at him for just being in the strip club. It was just a bachelor party and he came home to you.” I tried to make it better but it backfired. Her crying grew louder and at this point I could barely understand her words. “Megan, slow down, take a deep breath.”

  I could hear her breathing and blowing out slowly, trying to do as I suggested.

  After a few moments she spoke again. “Lexi, this morning about three o’clock Radley still wasn’t home so I called his phone and some girl picked up.”

  Her voice shook and I placed my hand over my mouth to hide my surprise. I looked up to see Kole watching me and instantly knew he had already been on the phone with Radley.

  “He went home with some stripper from that nasty club, Lexi.” She took a deep breath. “Do you know what he did then?” I shook my head no as if she could actually see me. “He came home stumbling through the door apologizing for not being home sooner. He smelled like some cheap ass perfume and had lipstick on his shirt.” She started sobbing again and it broke my heart in two.

  “Meg, I’m coming over, okay? Just take deep breaths and stay calm.” I felt her pain. “I’ll be there soon.”

  When I hung up I looked at Kole and shrugged my shoulders. “What do I do? What do I say to her? I can’t defend him, Kole, not when I don’t know the truth.”

  He walked toward me and placed his hands on my shoulders. “I don’t think he cheated. I talked to him this morning after she threw him out. He said he went back to get the guys and, um…well, they started doing shots and then one thing led to another. He woke up on the floor at Mason’s house and the stripper from the club was next to him. He said they were both fully dressed.”

  I pulled back from him and looked into his eyes. “That still doesn’t make any of this okay.”

  “I know.”

  I got dressed in a rush and threw my hair into a sloppy bun. “I’ll be back later. I need to go talk to her.”

  I gave him a quick kiss goodbye before driving to Megan’s house to console my best friend and hopefully heal her shattered heart.

  Chapter 39

  Kole

  Radley and I stood in the back room of the church and he looked beat. He hadn’t talked to Megan since she threw him out. He looked miserable.

  “How are you holding up?” I asked.

  “You want honesty or do you want me to lie to ya because it’s your big day?” He arched a brow as he looked over at me waiting for my response.

  I reached out, squeezing his shoulder and he looked up from the floor. “I want the truth. How are you?”

  “I fucked up big time, man. Nothing happened with that girl.” I already knew that by the glum look on his face. And the fact that the man was head over heels in love with Megan. “I couldn’t have cheated on Meg, drunk or sober. The girl means too much to me. I just don’t know how to fix it. She won’t take my calls, and she won’t answer the door when I try to see her. Hell, I fuckin’ slept on the front porch last night and she said nothing when she left to come here. She walked past me like I was some lawn ornament.” He looked up at me. “What do I do?”

  “Just stop trying so hard. You have to prove to her that she’s your world. You have to show her that nothing means more to you than her. Megan’s a hard one, but she loves you, and just so you know, she’s not doing as well as she appears.”

  Radley shook his head and let it hang to the floor once more.

  I had hopes that something about a wedding might make Megan sentimental and remember the good times she shared with Radley. Maybe Radley and she would find some time to talk later now that they both had time to cool off and think about the situation.

  I stood near the altar with my hands shaking. It wasn’t because I nervous or having second thoughts. It was pure excitement. I couldn’t wait to see Lexi walking towards me wearing her dream wedding dress. It was insane how damn much I loved her. There wasn’t anything I wouldn’t do for her.

  “You got your speech ready?” Radley whispered over my shoulder.

  “It isn’t a speech, dumbass, they’re my vows,” I whispered back. “I got it all up in here. No one knows, so keep it quiet. I never told Lexi to prepare anything.”

  Radley laughed. “She’s gonna be pissed that you didn’t let her know, dude. She’s gonna feel unprepared.”

  That thought had crossed my mind when I decided to prepare my own vows without telling her. I just hoped that she would understand I needed to say my own words. I didn’t want to repeat the general vows that were spoken by millions every day. I wanted her to have my words in her mind when she thought back, remembering our wedding.

  I took my place at the front while my groomsmen and best man took their place alongside me.

  My mom was the first to enter, walking toward me. Once she reached me she kissed my cheek. She looked in my eyes. “Kole, this is one of my happiest days.” Her eyes glistened with tears as she stepped aside. I swallowed past the burning within my throat and turned once again to face the door.

  Natalie entered next followed by Megan. I watched as her eyes connected with Radley’s and they filled with tears. She quickly looked away and Radley blew out a frustrated breath next to me. I looked at him and whispered, “Dude, she has every right to be pissed. You’re just gonna have to man up and take the glares and the drama, your stupid ass created it. Now you have to let her go through it in her own way and accept it.”

  The music changed as I watched the doorway ahead. Lexi and her father stepped into view. My knees instantly felt weak and my eyes blurred with emotion. This was it—I was about to marry my best friend. When she took the first step toward me I felt the first tear drop. At that moment I didn’t give a shit if the guys called me a pussy. Screw ’em.

  I fought the urge to kiss her the moment she reached me. Her lower lip trembled as she looked up at me. I mouthed “I love you” and winked at her. It hit her then and the tears fell from her eyes.

  I shook her father’s hand and he placed Lexi’s shaking hand into mine. I could see Megan straightening the train of her dress as she stepped up to meet me.

  I honestly couldn’t tell you a word the priest spoke. I was completely hypnotized by the beautiful girl in front of me. I had wished over and over for this day and here we were.

  “Kole has prepared his owns words for Lexi,” he announced and Lexi scrunched up her eyebrows. She didn’t appear mad. Instead she smiled up at me.

  I took a calming breath before I began.

  “Hey, baby…” I smiled and she looked down to hide the blush that spread across her cheeks. I lifted her chin by placing my finger so I could look her in the eyes. When she looked up into my eyes hers filled with tears.

  “Hey,” she whispered back.

  “I know we never talked about sharing our own vows, but I couldn’t let today slip away without letting you and everyone else hear my words.” I smiled down to my beautiful girl.

  “Lexi, sometimes I feel like you’re a dream. Every day I fall in love with you all over again. Your smi
le, your eyes and your amazing heart captures me and takes me on the most amazing ride. You make me weak in the knees whenever you enter a room and I promise to spend my life giving you everything I can. I promise to cherish every moment we have together and I will always take care of you and protect you. I promise to be faithful and honest. I’ll give you the world, because you’ve already given me everything by agreeing to become my wife. You’re my best friend, Lex, and I can’t live without your love. You give me so much strength and everything I do is for you and the life we’ll live. You, me and our baby,” I placed my hand onto her stomach. “I fell hard for you and no one can ever weaken that. My love for you grows every day. You own my heart, Lex; it is completely yours.” I attempted to blink back the tears, but they ran down my cheeks before Lexi reached up to wipe them away with her gentle caress. I leaned into her hand and kissed her palm.

  I took a deep relieving breath and realized I said so much more than I had originally rehearsed, but it was easy to tell her how I felt. It just began to flow from me and I knew I could have kept going.

  “Now, Lexi, you have also written something for Kole you would like to share.”

  I looked at the priest and then quickly back to Lexi. She was smiling her megawatt, beautiful, sexy smile. No wonder she wasn’t upset—she planned the same damn thing.

  Chapter 40

  Lexi

  “You actually thought you could outdo me, huh?” I whispered to Kole and winked. His return smile made me laugh.

  “I’ve spent the last three weeks going over everything. All the way back to when I was twelve and a hunky fifteen-year old, dreamy guy took me for ice cream. I know for you it was just a nice gesture for the little girl who had a crush on you, but for me it was so much more. You were so kind and gentle. You never treated me like a little pest. Instead you set the bar for my future. All through grade school and high school, no one ever compared to the Kole who let me crush on him without making me feel embarrassed by it.”