Picking up the phone, she searched for the text she’d received from Violet early in the day. It was time to mend old fences.
Tapping on the phone number she’d asked for, Teal waited until Harper picked up.
“Hello?”
“Hi, it’s me, Teal.” She had asked Violet to make sure Harper was fine with Teal having her phone number. She’d also asked Violet not to tell her anything that had happened, as she wanted to be the one to fill her in. “I got your number from—”
“I know.”
Her cool tone revealed no emotion, and Teal sensed if she wasn’t careful, this conversation would take a sharp left, damaging Trent’s already fragile opportunity to see his son. Sweat building in her palms, she wiped her hands on her shirt and took a deep breath. Before she was able to speak, Harper’s next words shocked her.
“I’m sorry.”
Her gentle tone caught Teal off guard. She tiptoed away from her bedroom, the phone pressed to her ear, heart thrumming in her chest. “E—excuse me?” What was Harper apologizing for?
“Violet told me about what that vile man attempted to do to you, and I’m sorry you had to go through that.” A shuffling sounded from the other side of the line, then Harper cleared her throat.
“Oh, thank you.” What was she supposed to say to that? Teal had never been through this before, and receiving her sympathy was awkward and stressful to say the least. No longer tongue-tied, she added, “I hope it’s okay that I’m calling you.”
“Well, I expected a call . . . just not from you.”
“I understand. I never expected to be the one making this call. I thought . . .” She released a breath and closed her eyes. “Well, I thought when I met the man I was going to marry, our biggest hurdle would be picking a location for our wedding. I never once considered it would be trying to survive an attempted rape—”
Harper cut her off. “Look, this has nothing to do—”
“Yes, it does.” Teal countered, her voice not unkind. “Now, I am not blaming you, but what I am about to say may seem that way. Trent has survived so much. Your father, his parents, and the rest of the world . . . yet he still gets up every time and soldiers on.”
“My father is not an easy man to survive. There are some days I wonder if I got out of that house with my sanity intact. But Ms. Lofton, I know what you are about to ask, and I have a question for you. If the father of your child came to you and destroyed every good memory you had of him, then denied his child, would you feel comfortable—”
“Hell no, and he was a dick for doing it.” The choice was an easy one to make. “But I am not you and right now, you have me.”
“Have you? What’s that supposed to mean?”
“It means, I am not the type to say a man is good when he is a piece of shit. I wouldn’t call you if Trent wasn’t a good man. But I should add, your son is a grown man now. The choice should be his. Shouldn’t we be taking ourselves out of the equation and letting your son decide?”
“Are you suggesting you know what is best for my son?” The ire in her voice was sharp and with good reason. Teal gathered she’d be just as angry if she were in Harper’s shoes.
“No. I’m asking for you to see past the boy Trent was, to the man he is today. I know he fucked up, and if the roles were reversed, you would have a hell of a time convincing me to let him near my child, but that’s just it . . . your son is a grown man, capable of deciding whether or not he wants to speak to Trent. In the past, your choice to keep him away was what any good mother would have done. I can only imagine the pain he caused.”
And she could. As a woman who’d been degraded by men, she knew the emotional toll it could take on a person. Harper had been but a child, forced into womanhood by a bad decision made in the heat of the moment with the man she’d loved. With little guidance, Harper was forced to protect her child from a world that, if given the chance, would destroy him.
Teal steeled herself to finish. “Listen, I don’t have the right to ask this of you, but I have to do it. I know you are expecting to hear that he is a changed man, but that is not true. He often still feels he is not good enough, as if he has something to prove. He’s worked hard his whole life for one goal and one goal only, although he hasn’t even realized it.
“He has only ever wanted to be good enough for his son; spending his whole life trying to fix people, when he was the one who needed healing. Beneath all the curse words, bravado, and inked flesh, Trent is just a man trying to find his way in the world, and I think your son can help him find his way home.”
Teal made her way back to the bedroom to make sure Trent was still sound asleep, before she finished. “So no, this isn’t me calling and asking for permission to speak to Markus. This is me saying that you and Trent both need closure from your past. And when that happens, you’ll see with your own eyes why it is important that Trent be introduced to his son.”
Teal listened as silence ensued.
“Look, I am sorry for what my father put Trent through, I wish I could go back in time and change everything, but I can’t just forget the past, no matter what’s happened to him over the years.”
“He almost died,” Teal shot in, her anger getting the better of her.
“I know, Violet told me the news.” With her sharp tone, Teal understood she was speaking on borrowed time. “You cannot bring up his shooting, as if it has any relevance on what happened in the past, Ms. Lofton.” Her resolute tone brokered no argument.
Teal watched through the crack in the bedroom door, as Trent struggled to get comfortable—his bandaged arm catching in the sheet. “He was shot in the arm and chest while protecting me. He almost died, and your son would have never had the chance to know his father.”
“I understand that, Ms. Lofton—”
“For the love of God, call me Teal.”
There was an indignant huff before Harper said, “Teal.” The sharp tone grated her nerves. “I didn’t walk out on my son, and I am not the reason Trent is not allowed to see Markus. I didn’t make that choice, Trent did.”
“I understand that.” The conversation had evolved into talking in circles. “Please. I know you don’t have to, but I am asking for his sake, and for the sake of your son, give them a chance to know one another. Markus has the right to know what a good man his father is becoming. You deserve that, too.”
The silence was deafening.
Sighing, Teal wasn’t even sure what she wanted from Harper at this point. Frustrated with her inability to move this woman, she opened her mouth and put the final nail in the coffin. “In the end, I get that it’s your decision. I guess I just wanted you to know what he has become, even after he was thrown away by those who should have loved him most.” She hung up the phone before Harper could speak.
The bullheaded woman had pushed Teal’s buttons. Bottom line was, Markus was a grown man, and if he wanted to see his father, Teal would make it happen.
Trent was ready to punch Logan in the fucking face—repeatedly.
Katie, his friend’s beautiful, sweet wife, had hinted to Logan that they’d over-stayed their welcome, but no, Logan seemed dead set on staying for the damned trial of Shayla and Jake. And as of this very moment, Trent’s balls were bluer than fuck. His dick hadn't been used in so long, at this point, he would blow his load the second he accidentally brushed arms with his woman.
Logan stood in front of the sink like a Nancy, drying dishes and running his nagging ass mouth. “Look, after the trial, I think you should sue Jake in civil court.”
Trent glared holes into the back of Logan’s thick skull, hoping he’d realize he was about to get knocked the fuck out.
“I know you don’t want to, but fuck it. He deserves everything he’s got coming to him.”
Trent’s glare softened when Teal came into the room, Katie and Logan’s daughter nestled in her arms. Rose gurgled and cooed, and Katie followed closely behind, with the other baby girl drooling and giggling on her hip.
&n
bsp; Logan continued. “You can take that money—”
“What money?” Teal chimed in.
Trent watched as she swayed her thick hips—a method of keeping a fussy baby quiet, while lighting Trent’s libido.
Logan dried his hands. “From the civil suit.” He pulled the baby from Teal’s hands and placed a kiss on his daughter’s forehead. “I’m thinking—”
“I need to fuck.” All eyes flew to Trent as he stood, eyes locked on his woman’s luscious ass. He was fed the fuck up. Teal wouldn’t touch him the first week, for fear of hurting him. Then the second week, her excuse was, we have company and your staples aren’t out yet.
Trent was seconds from throwing her thick ass over the nearest object in the house, and fucking her so deep she’d taste the tip of his dick by the time he was done with her.
Teal smiled nervously when he moved in front of her. Reaching around her, he picked up his car keys and tossed them to Logan without looking up.
“Ooo-we!” Katie’s voice came from the living room. “Let me just get the car seat. I know that look.” Placing her baby gently in the seat she stood and glanced over to her husband. “Baby?” She walked over and pushed Logan out of the door. “We will just head to the park up the street with the kids.”
“The fuck we will—” Logan called as she pushed him out of the door.
Just as Trent grabbed his woman and pulled her against him, Logan, the kids, and Katie came back through the door.
“For the love of God, will you just leave—” His words were cut short when a woman in a blue pantsuit strode into the kitchen. “Who the fuck are you?”
Her lips straightened in a grim line. “Mr. Reed, I presume?”
Trent nodded and looked to Logan, a silent question in his eyes. Logan shook his head and shrugged. He didn’t know who she was either. “Is there something I can help you with, Miss—”
“Chaster. I’m with Child Services.”
With her words, Logan stepped forward. “What do you want?”
Without sparing Logan a glance, she pulled papers from her leather briefcase. “Ms. Shayla Haynes gave birth to a female child two nights ago at county.”
Teal’s hand flew to her mouth. “Oh my God, I thought she was only seven months along?”
Trent took the papers and scanned them while everyone else spoke.
“It’s okay, preemies these days have a much higher survival rate,” Katie murmured.
“Why the hell did they send someone here to tell him that?” Logan questioned.
Looking up from the paper, Trent stared into the eyes of the woman who was offering him a chance he thought he’d never have.
“Trent, what the fuck is going on?” Logan demanded, as his daughter’s light giggle softened his anger. Her little, chubby fingers pulled at his beard. Logan’s large, tattooed hand came up and disentangled her fingers and kissed her palm, before placing her hand back down at her side.
Trent wanted that.
Ms. Chasten pulled more papers from her leather case. “The father has waived his parental rights to baby A—”
“Baby A?” Trent asked. The sound of the nondescript name grated his nerves.
“Yes, with the father having signed away parental rights, and Ms. Haynes having not given the child a name, we have issued a temporary name for the child.”
Trent’s seethed, his anger nearly taking over, as this woman talked about the child as if it were some unimportant object.
“What are those papers, Trent?”
The question came from Katie, but Teal had already pulled them from his hands. While it’d taken him forever to figure out what they were, within seconds of having looked at the paper, Teal’s gaze shot to his. “She’s legally giving him her baby.”
Trent’s heart stopped dead in his chest. He reached up and placed a hand over his heart, only to feel that the fucker was thumping away like crazy.
“If he signs those papers today, and gets them notarized, the state will move forward with the adoption.” Ms. Chasten hefted her leather bag up her arm. “Most people get a lawyer for this. I would recommend that course of action, especially since baby A was born addicted to drugs.”
Trent growled. “Emma Mae,” he barked, ruffling Ms. Chasten’s feathers, and causing her to jump and grab her chest.
She cleared her throat and fluffed her graying hair. “Am I to assume you’ll be acquiring a lawyer and sending him these papers, signed?” Pulling her leather bag close to her side, she took a small step back toward the door.
Trent rubbed the back of his neck. “Shit . . . I—” He looked to the one person in the room whose opinion mattered.
Teal had placed the papers back to their proper order. Flipping through each one, she pulled out two sheets and placed each one on the counter.
Trent followed her when she walked to a drawer. “What are you doing, baby?”
Rummaging around, Teal finally found what she was looking for and handed it to Trent. “Here.”
Trent took the pen. “You want this?”
“I’m not ready to be a mother.” His heart dropped and his knees nearly buckled. “But I am also not ready to see another little, dingy kid running around a carnival alone.”
Trent would always choose Teal first, no matter what. And the fact she was not making him choose between the love of his life and a helpless little girl had him wrapping her in his arms and hugging her tight. He threaded his fingers with hers, the cold metal of the engagement ring knocked against his finger. He glanced down at the symbol of his undying love for this smart-mouthed woman. Trent had never known what a traditional family was like, and he was sure as fuck never going to know now.
“Get the fuck out.” He looked at Ms. Chasten as he said the words, then turned his attention back to Teal. Picking her up with his one good arm, he carried her to the bedroom. His arm ached and burned, but he powered on. He didn’t care about the indignant huff he heard from Ms. Chasten, or the bout of giggling from Katie.
Trent let Teal down the moment he made it to the bed. “Get undressed.” With one hand he unbuttoned his fly.
Hesitantly, Teal’s hands made it to the buttons of her shirt. “Are you sure? You look like you’re in pain.”
“Shut the fuck up and undress.” Trent was already half-naked, his dick at attention.
Hand on hip, and lush lips set in an adorable pout, Teal said, “Oh, I know you didn’t just order me around.”
Trent reached for her, trying to yank her into his semi-naked embrace.
She backed away. “You won’t be pulling that he-man shit with me, Trent Reed.” The playful glint in her eyes had his dick jumping in anticipation.
Trent stood in front of her, naked from the waist down, breath rushing out of him like a fire breathing dragon. The thought of her saying no made him want to roar. “Get your ass over here and help me get out of this godforsaken shit,” he demanded, struggling to pull his sling down his arm.
Giving in, Teal helped him out of his sling and T-shirt, allowing them to drop to the floor. Soft, warm fingers gently splayed across Trent’s stomach, causing sparks of electric to spread across his skin.
Her fingers traced over an old tattoo he got back in his twenties. It was a series of significant numbers from his lifetime. A timeline of sorts. The tips of her finger traced the number twelve, and Trent’s mind took him back to the first time he ever got his dick wet. It was thought to be a loss of innocence, but Trent had seen it as nothing more than a dare.
She lifted her hand and moved to another number. It was in a larger font than the rest, and was one of the most significant numbers in his chest. Her gaze moved over the number just as her fingers had before. “Twenty-seven?”
“When I made my first hundred thousand,” he explained.
Moving back, she pointed to another number.
Looking down, his chin rested on his chest. She’d pointed to the number eighteen. He smiled so large, his jaw cracked. “The day I moved into my own place.�
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Teal grasped his dick, while pointing at the twenty-eight. “And this one?”
Trent closed his eyes and let his head fall back. “I can’t remember.” His brain went fuzzy and the only thing on his mind was trying not to explode in Teal’s hand. “Not when you’re touching me like that.” His voice had taken on a guttural tone. “Fuck, Teal.”
His hips jerked with each tight pump, until his balls drew up and he had to still her hand. He bit his lip and yanked her to his chest. “I know what you are trying to do.” And there was no way he was going to let her jerk him off.
Her need to coddle him was pissing him the fuck off. He would not have his woman think him weak. For fuck’s sake, he’d been shot before. It was not that big of a deal.
When Teal’s body slammed into his, he shoved his knee between her thighs. Even as she opened her mouth to ask if he were sure, Trent felt her need through her shorts.
Grabbing onto her ass cheek, he used it to thrust her up his knee. The contact sent Teal’s head back and pulled a moan from between her lips. Quickly, Trent placed his lips over hers, stealing the sound with the thrust of his tongue. And when Teal sucked the tip of his tongue into her mouth while grinding on his knee, he knew it was time.
Roughly he released her, ripping the silk blouse from her body. When she opened her mouth to protest, Trent reached around and slapped her ass. As she sputtered and gasped, Trent fell to his knees and quickly yanked down her barely-there shorts and panties.
Standing, he twirled her around and shoved her onto the bed, ass high in the air. All the movement caused a burning pain to shoot up his arm and through his chest, but those sensations were dwarfed by the ache in his cock.
Trent stood behind her and lined himself up with her entrance, rubbing the tip up and down her slit, his stomach clenching with the contact. Pushing into her tight opening, he thrust until his balls touched her thighs. Pulling almost all the way out, Trent grabbed her ass cheeks and spread her wide open as he slammed into her again and again.
Indelible: Beneath His Ink (Teal and Trent Book 2) Page 20