Revive (A Redemption Novel)

by Marley Valentine

  Gripping the back of her neck, I pull her face toward me and fuck her mouth with my tongue. Thrusting into her, I’m a man unhinged, ready to explode. My hand finds her swollen clit, and I prepare her to meet me at the edge.

  With a final slam down on my cock, her pussy starts to throb around me. Roaring in relief, we ride out the wave; bodies weakening, hearts pounding. High on the rush of being so close to her, all the tension gone, dissolving into nothing.

  Her clammy body crumples on to mine, her head nestled perfectly in my neck. “I’m sorry, I don’t even have the energy to roll off you.” She yawns as I stretch my hand out to throw the blankets over us. “Do you mind if I just lie here for a little?”

  Cocooned away from the world, my fingers skate up and down her spine. At peace. Fulfilled. Happy. “You can lay here for as long as you like.”

  “I can cancel my plans,” she yells from the bedroom. “Emerson won't mind.”

  The morning starts off slow and sluggish, sex and a shower together making it harder for us to part.

  “You guys have plans,” I call back, as I clean up last night’s mess in the kitchen. “I’m not going to fuck that up.”

  “What about if Jagger comes and the four of us can do something?” With her head tipped to the side, she walks toward me, dressed and glowing, while attaching her earring to her ear.”

  “Just tell her to bring Jagger, but don't tell her I’m here.” A guilty look crosses her face. “Okay, what are the chances she hasn’t already told him yet.”

  “Why? What’s the big deal.”

  “I just want to surprise my brother.” It’s a half lie. I’m really hoping to avoid giving him time to think of a million questions and reasons of why being here with Taylah is a bad idea. After the way he acted at football practice the other week, having to explain myself to him, is not how I want this to go down.

  “So, he doesn’t know about us at all? Even the texting?”

  “He knows I gave you my number.”

  “Oh.” She nods, slowly meeting me on the same page.

  “I told you, I fuck and run. Jagger knows my deal.”

  “Well, you did the first part right.”

  “That I did, didn’t I?” Finishing up in the kitchen, I make my way to the couch, and unceremoniously collapse on it. I tip my chin up at her, smugly. “I gave you some good dick, right? Fucked you good and proper.”

  She stands in front of me, mildly unimpressed. Her earrings secured and her hands on her hips. “I’m sure Jagger would love to hear all about it.”

  “I’ve got other things to tell him too, don’t you worry.”

  “You do?”

  Leaning over, I grab her, guiding her to stand in between my legs. “I could tell him how we plan to do it all over again tonight.” She bites her bottom lip, refusing to smile at my antics. Instead of continuing with the sex talk, I try a little bit of truth. “The most important thing he needs to know is this is undoubtedly one of the best weekends I’ve ever had.”

  “Really?” Her voice perks up at my revelation, while a slight flush creeps up to her cheeks. I fold my hands over hers and bring them up to my lips.

  “You know it.”

  Loud knocking cracks through the noise coming from the television. In a few steps, Taylah opens the door and an excited Emerson walks in with an extremely perplexed Jagger behind her. Em’s eyes beeline for me, and I can’t help but smile at how happy she is to see me.

  Every time I see her, I thank the universe Jagger found her. She brought him back to life in a way I don’t think Dakota or I ever could.

  I stand to hug and greet her when Jagger notices me. His face morphing from mild rage to understanding. He doesn’t miss a beat when it comes to any other guy looking or touching his woman. “Relax, it’s me, you fucking caveman. No one’s trying to steal your girl.”

  Emerson and Taylah laugh in the background, used to his possessive habits.

  “What are you doing here?” He holds out his hand, which I take and pulls me in for a one-armed hug. I choose not to answer him.

  “Ladies, we are sorry to love you and leave you,” I announce. “But we’re going to head out and meet up with you both later.”

  Already aware of the plan, Taylah and Emerson give an unfazed response as they potter around the house getting ready to leave themselves.

  “Did you all set this up?” Jagger asks, catching on.

  “Yes. Can we go now?”

  “What’s the rush?”

  “You’re about two seconds off saying something that’s going to make this very uncomfortable, and I would like to get out of here before it happens.”

  “This twin thing sucks. I was really going to embarrass you.”

  “I have no doubt. Now can we go?”

  After a brief nod, he turns to Emerson, hugging and kissing her goodbye. I take it as my cue to do the same and fold Taylah in my arms. “I’ll see you soon okay?”

  She tips her head up, welcoming my goodbye. The minute I feel her mouth on mine, I regret making plans. And her tongue seeks out mine, I know she’s thinking the exact same thing.

  Jagger clears his throat, and I still waiting for his comment. “Was this how I was going to make it really uncomfortable?”

  Embarrassed Taylah lowers her head, and I glare at Jagger. Lifting her chin up, I give her a quick peck. “Best weekend, remember.”

  With nothing but affection in her eyes, she repeats after me. “Best weekend.”

  “You’ve been too quiet for too long. Just say what you want to say already,” I urge Jagger. We’re fifteen minutes into the drive back to my place and he hasn’t said a word since we got in the car.

  “What do you want me to say?”

  “Anything.”

  “That wasn’t what I expected.”

  “What? Taylah and I?” I know he has something to say, but what shocks me is how much I want to hear it. I don’t need his approval, but time and time again, I go seeking it, and I don’t know why.

  “No. Yes,” he switches on a frustrated sigh. “I mean, I assumed something was going to happen, you’ve brought her enough the last few times we’ve seen each other. But I thought it would be a more of a feel-good time than what I just saw.”

  “What you just saw?” I echo with confusion.

  “I’ve never seen either of you with other people, so I could be way off, but that looked a whole lot more than something casual.”

  It feels it too.

  “I don't think it's casual,” I admit to myself more than him.

  He turns to me with curious eyes. “So you’re really going there?”

  The disbelief in his voice reminds me why I’m an idiot for having this conversation with him. “Do I have your permission?”

  “That’s not what I meant,” he huffs. “I shouldn’t have said what I said last week. You can be with whoever you want to be.”

  “Considering you didn’t ask my permission before you slept with Sasha, I wasn’t planning on listening to your warning anyway,” I throw out angrily.

  “That was low.”

  A small amount of guilt washes over me, but not enough to regret saying it. “It's still true.”

  After a few missed beats, he responds. “Hendrix, I’m sorry.” He hangs his head in shame, his apology as sincere as ever.

  “I know you are.”

  “Are you ever going to forgive me?”

  “I forgave you the second I met Dakota, but some days I still find it really hard to forget.”

  We arrive in my driveway in silence, knowing words provide little to no comfort. I lead us inside, throwing my keys on the dining table and heading straight to the kitchen for some coffee.

  Hesitantly, he follows my footsteps. “Tell me about Taylah.”

  I wait for the drone from the coffee machine to slow itself down into a stop before answering. “What do you want to know?”

  “What changed your mind?”

  “She did.”

  “I
just don't want shit to get even more fucked up for you.”

  “There’s nothing she could do to make it worse.” I bring the mug of hot coffee to my lips, embracing the scent of the hot liquid. “I feel good around her, and for the sake of just living in the moment, I'm going to see where it goes.”

  “You deserve to be happy.”

  “Then how come you fight me on every decision I make?”

  He taps his fingers on the bench before saying whatever it is on his mind. “Honestly, I still can’t get my head around you and Sasha not being together.”

  “Come on, bro. Even I’ve finally realised that ship has sailed.”

  “I just thought you’d be able to get past everything we went through.”

  “Me?” I run my hands through my hair in frustration. “When I lost the only family I had, grudges and heartache weren’t options anymore. It was a clean slate for me. A lesson learned. She’s the one that couldn’t make it work.”

  “But why?” He’s not expecting an answer to the question, but I do it anyway.

  “Because Sasha is Sasha’s worst enemy.”

  Each holding a cup of coffee, we spend a few minutes lost in the past and everything we endured to bring us to this point.

  “For what it’s worth, Taylah looks good on you.”

  Not wanting to spend the rest of the day at loggerheads, I help him out a little. “She really does look good on me.”

  He nudges my shoulder. “Are we good?”

  “Yeah, bro. We’re always good.”

  16

  Taylah

  “Oh my god, you’re actually alive,” Emerson squeals. I roll my eyes at her theatrics, before leaning in and giving her a one-armed hug. “I feel like I haven’t seen you in forever.”

  “Relax, drama, It’s been two weeks, and I’ve been busy.” Sitting down opposite one another, I place my handbag on the chair beside me, and start scanning the menu. “And, I’ve seen you at work.”

  “Please don’t talk about that place,” She cries. “I’m not loving it right now and I don’t want to be reminded of it.”

  “Fuck, if I don’t know that feeling too well.”

  “Yeah but I feel like your regular dates with the dick has gotten you through.” She hides behind the menu, her eyes sparkle with mischief.

  “Not gonna lie he makes the shitty days a lot better.”

  “Him or his dick?”

  An innocent shrug and an accompanying smile gives her my answer.

  Pushing back our weekly breakfast, Emerson and I finally managed to carve time in our schedule and catch up. While I have been really busy, Hendrix Michaels has become my addiction, and I’m not even sorry. After a great first weekend together, attached at the hip is an understatement.

  There’s no ruse, no rules, no games and no worries. We’re drowning, and neither wants to come up for air.

  “You look like you’re in love,” she says, surprising me.

  Shocked, I stay silent and ponder her statement. Am I? “I’m happy.”

  “Tell me about him.” She’s excited and curious, a stark contrast from the original warning she gave me when I first mentioned taking a chance on Drix.

  Avoiding her stare, I shut down her enthusiasm. “Not yet.”

  “What?”

  After the awkward conversations we’ve both had with others about whether or not whatever we have is a good idea, I tell her the honest truth. “I don’t want to share this part of us with the rest of the world just yet.”

  Taken aback by my choice to keep something from her for the first time in history. I try to justify it. “Everyone had an opinion and I’m in too deep to hear them right now.”

  The rest of the morning takes a while to take off, and against both our wishes we end up talking about work.

  Finishing off, we wait for the bill, before we make the already planned small walk from George St to The Rocks, to check out the markets. Perusing the stalls is one of my favourite things to do. I’ve dragged Em all over Sydney before, hoarding one too many nicknacks. It’s our thing and hopefully it bridges the gap I just created.

  The waitress appears taking the money, only to leave the table, and make way for an unexpected sight.

  “What are they doing here?” I ask shocked to see Jagger and Drix walk in the café.

  I watch every person’s body turn, as they head toward us. With each step they fill the small and dainty space with masculine beauty. They’re quite a pair, and if I wasn’t satisfied knowing what it was like to have Drix in my own bed, I’d be jealous of anyone who had.

  I glance over at Emerson, and her conflicted eyes find mine. “You did this?”

  “You’ve been there for each of my happiest moments. I just don’t want to miss out on yours.“

  I stretch my hands out to the middle of the table, and she does the same. “I love you.”

  “I love you too.”

  Giving my attention back to Hendrix, a loud sigh leaves my mouth. “Does it ever wane?”

  “What?”

  “The need to want to be stuck to him at all times.”

  The look of yearning she gives Jagger answers my question. I turn my head, and my heart jolts to see Drix looking at me the same way. Impatient to greet him, I stand, and his strides show he feels the same.

  “Fancy meeting you here.” His large hands, cradle my face, as he leans in for a kiss.

  My lips touch his, and talking seems overrated and unnecessary. He deepens the kiss, offering the smallest flick with his tongue, sending my body into a frenzy. I pull back, and look up at him, “I vote to never have to go out in public again.”

  His eyes twinkle with playfulness, “sounds like the perfect plan to me.”

  Sliding my hands around his body, I lean my head against his chest and look at Emerson. I mouth thank you, equally grateful and guilty.

  Her eyes dart from mine to Drix’s, and back again. “It was a team effort.”

  Emerson tilts her head to the exit. “Ready to go?”

  “You let us crash your day. We’re good with whatever.” Drix answers her, but he doesn’t look at anything but me. I feel the bubble re-wrap itself around us, my worry gone; the rest of the world non-existent, just like I wanted.

  Leaving the café, Emerson and Jagger lead the way, leaving Drix and I trailing behind, arm around my shoulders, hand in his back pocket. “How was your morning with Jagger?”

  “Not as good as being here with you now.”

  I pinch his arse through his jeans. “You’re just so smooth aren’t you.”

  “Jagger called me a miserable fuck, and told me to call Emerson and organise to meet you. He was right. I fucking missed you.” He kisses the top of my head. “It’s a win win for all of us, I say.”

  Threading my free fingers into his, we fall into a comfortable silence. One where being in one another’s presence far outweighs the need to justify our feelings with words.

  As much as I love being in his arms, my shitty attitude to Emerson plays on repeat. “Can you give me a second?”

  He narrows his eyebrows, “What’s wrong?”

  “I was a bit of a bitch to Em before and I just want to apologise one more time.”

  “What happened?”

  “Can we talk about it later?”

  “You know I won’t forget.”

  I draw a cross over my heart. “I promise, I’ll tell you.”

  He tips his chin at Emerson in front of us. “Go, make it better.”

  A row of white awnings come into view, the markets a continuous strip of stalls that serve everything from food, used books, jewellery and clothes.

  Feeling lighter, and less guilty, I take Drix’s hand and lift his arm from around me. Skipping ahead, I tug at him to follow. “Come on, Sexy we got things to see. Food to try.”

  “You trying to fatten me up?”

  “Yes.” I let go of his hand, and walk backwards. “Just so I can have you work it off later.”

  His eyes breathe me i
n, as I indirectly promise he can use me to let it all out. “So, are you in or are you out?”

  In two large steps his hands are on my waist, his forehead pressed to mine. “Can’t we just browse casually like normal people?”

  “And what would be the fun in that?” I place my hands on his chest, giving him a little nudge “Here’s what we’re going to do. We go down the food aisle, and we each get a turn to feed the other.”

  He raises an eyebrow at me and clicks his tongue. “What’s the catch?”

  “Your eyes have to be closed.”

  “It sounds messy.”

  My hands latch behind the back of his neck, and I bring his face down to me. Tilting my head to the side, I whisper into his ear, “I promise I’ll let you clean me up later.”

  We've been to more than ten food stalls, somehow falling into a pattern of only choosing desserts. Each stop became an experience my body and my mind wasn't prepared for.

  I wanted to taste food, he wanted me to taste his lips. Sweet or sour, he convinced me everything tasted better this way. I lick the flavour off his lips, and he gives it back as he strokes the inside of my mouth.

  It was all foreplay. He knew how to drive me wild with the simplest of touches. Public place be damned, he made sure I was lost in him, and I stayed where only he could find me.

  “Okay. Okay. This is the last one,” I announce. He starts to close his eyes, but I decide otherwise. “Keep them open for this.” Tilting his head to the side, his facial expression questions what I have planned. I place the small caramel filled chocolate at the edge of my mouth, the other half poking out.

  I move closer to his face, my intention clear. Or so he thinks. He leans in to bite the other half, but I move.

  “What are you doing, Crazy?”

  Without answering, I keep moving further away. Chocolate in between my teeth, and Cheshire cat grin to match. It only takes Drix sixty seconds to be fed up, and catapult towards me.

  A shriek leaves my mouth, leaving the chocolate to fall right out. His hands grip the front of my jeans and drag me to him “You made me lose the chocolate,” I pout.