Dark Universe (The Universe Series)

by Devon Herrera

  “What’s wrong, babe?”

  “You, you stupid hick!”

  “Hey, now… I can’t fix whatever the fuck is wrong if I don’t know whatever the fuck is wrong.” I say, a little bit irritated at her random outburst. It seems we are about to have our first couple fight. Did I leave the toilet seat up? Track mud into the apartment? I’m totally at a loss as to what could possibly be making her so angry.

  “Don’t curse at me, you jackass!”

  “You cursed at me first, blondie!”

  “UGH!” She turns and stomps off to the bedroom and slams the door behind her.

  “God give me strength.” I say a quick prayer and slowly follow her to the room and open the door, carefully. When a frying pan or something as equally deadly doesn’t come flying through the doorway aimed at my head, I push inside.

  Lola is standing in the middle of a room with her hands on her hips and that same ridiculous robe on. Her arms are crossed and she’s positively fuming. “Lola, calm down and tell me what’s wrong.”

  “I’ll tell you what’s wrong. You, Drake Thomas, are not keeping me happy.” My heart drops into my stomach and my first instinct is to start begging. Of course I haven’t been making her happy. I’ve always known I wasn’t good enough for her. How the fuck do I fix this? Just as I’m about to go into full on bitch mode, Lola drops her robe and underneath is the sexiest black lingerie I’ve ever seen. She smirks at me and puts her hands back on her hips. “It’s been a full eighteen hours since you’ve fucked me, Thomas. I suggest you rectify that situation immediately.”

  Oh.

  My.

  Fucking.

  GOD.

  A really large part of me wants to spank the shit out of her for playing such a cruel joke on me, which the other part of me doesn’t really object to either. “You are in so much trouble, sunshine.” I say and then stalk into the room, closing the door behind me.

  She giggles and it’s the sexiest thing I’ve ever heard. “Gotcha!”

  I rush her and throw her onto the bed. I pull the cups of her bra down and lick and suck all across her chest, purposefully ignoring her nipples. She deserves a little torture after all. My girl is anything but passive in the bedroom though, and she reaches down and unzips my jeans. I finally give in and suck one tight nipple into my mouth, flicking it with my tongue.

  She moans and pushes my jeans down my thighs with her feet. When they get to just above my knees, she brings one of her legs up, grabs my shoulders and shoves, rolling me onto my back and straddling me. It only takes me a moment to understand that she wants the control tonight, and I’m all too willing to comply.

  She strips me fast and efficiently, leaving teasing nips and kisses in the process, and then pulls her panties down her legs. We’ve never gone this far without extensive foreplay before, so I’m completely surprised when she climbs back up my body, positions me at her entrance, and lowers herself onto me.

  “Yes!” She hisses as I fill her up. I have to grip onto her hips to keep from pumping my hips up into her. The feeling is absolute fucking bliss.

  I let her set the pace and she starts out slowly. Riding me with the roll of her hips, savoring the depth I reach. Later is for the friction, she rises and falls swiftly, and at that point, I can no longer control the need to thrust. I meet her in the middle, bouncing her back up my dick with every stroke.

  When we climax, we come together. She screams my name like usual, but this time I clamp my mouth shut at the point of release. While my body shakes and Lola’s sharp little teeth bite into my shoulder, I keep from saying those three little words out loud, but I can’t stop them from screaming inside my head.

  CHAPTER 17

  “First getting shot, then getting married. Bad habits.”

  – The Long Riders

  I’m standing at the front of the aisle next to Nick when the music starts to play. I have no idea why I’m so fucking nervous. I’m not the one getting married, but here I am, fucking sweating to see my girl walk down in that pretty blue dress of hers. The double doors at the back of the church open and there she is. She smiles that life wrecking smile of hers and waits for Toni’s girl to throw the petals in front of her. I hear Nick sigh beside me as the little auburn haired girl trots her way down the middle of the rows, throwing flowers everywhere but on the floor in front of her.

  Everyone laughs but me. I’m far too focused on the vision in front of me. Right here, in this moment, I admit it to myself for the first time. I fucking love this woman. I have as long as I can remember. It’s so clear to me right now. That knot in my chest has always been love. I adore her. I would die for her. I would kill for her.

  Her eyes are completely locked with mine, and when she gets to the front of the room she winks at me and then takes her place. Love. Jesus I never thought I would get here. I look over for the first time, and Nick is practically drooling over Toni as she glides down the aisle. I have to admit that even though she’s not really my type, I’ve never met anyone as poised or graceful as Connor’s cousin.

  It’s completely obvious to everyone when the bride walks in. Not just because we are all facing her, but because the groom practically swoons at the sight of her. The love sick dope. His eyes are bugging out of his head, and he has what I would only describe as a completely inappropriate look on his face for a church setting.

  I’m still pissed at Nina for hurting the boys, but damn does she look beautiful. She’s wearing this simple over the shoulder dress with cap sleeves and a blue and green jeweled sash around the waist. She doesn’t have a veil and her hair is curled and hanging loose around her shoulders.

  I won’t lie…I pay zero attention to the preacher when he starts speaking, I mean they say the same shit at every wedding anyways, but then there are the vows.

  I, Nina Ryan, take you, Connor Wright, to be my lawfully wedded husband. I will love and cherish you all the days of my life. I didn’t know that I could love until I met you. I didn’t know how to look outside of myself and trust until you looked at me for the first time. I promise to always look into your sapphire eyes and see my entire universe. I promise to always protect you and let you protect me. I promise to always choose you over the clumsy, floppy eared sub creature. I promise to kiss you, even when you make me angry, and tell you I love you, even when you forget to make my cider in the morning. My life wouldn’t be whole without you in it. My heart wouldn’t be whole without you in it. I love you.

  I, Connor Wright, take you, Nina Ryan, to be my lawfully wedded wife. You are the love of my life, and my dreams come true. I didn’t even have a life until you. I was lost, and confused, and didn’t know my place in the world until you first looked at me. For the first time in my life, I knew what I wanted and I won. I am the man that I am because of you. I promise to never take you for granted, and put you above anything else. I promise to savor the little things, because they are what are important in life. I promise to try to NEVER forget your cider, although if I do, I promise to make it up to you with that other thing you think I’m so good at. My hearts beats because your heart beats. My life is your life. I love you.

  Damn. Nina leans in for a kiss, and Connor swings her down into a low dip, kissing her far more thoroughly than I’m sure the reverend intended. Good job, man. The music starts up again and we pair up with the bridesmaids. It seems the ceremony had the same effect on Nick as it had on me, because he pushes me forward to take his place with Toni and the entire room laughs.

  Lola grabs my arm and we walk slowly to the doors at the back of the room. Lola leans in and whispers in my ear, “I have something to tell you.” She kisses my cheek and guides me to the parking lot. “Come on we have to drive to the reception.”

  “What do you have to tell me?” I ask.

  “You’ll find out soon enough.”

  We’re all sitting down at the table eating when Lola, squeezes my hand and stands. She clinks her knife on her water glass and raises it. Once the room quiets she clears her t
hroat and speaks. “I had a speech prepared, but things have happened since then and well, I have some things to say.” She turns and looks at me, and for the second time since I’ve met her, she looks nervous. She doesn’t even try to hide it.

  “When Nina first met Connor, I had this feeling that he was going to be the one to break down her walls. There was just something about the way these two are when they are together. It’s electric and I’m sure you all have felt it when you’re around them. I was so happy for you, Nina. You’re my best friend, the closest thing I’ve ever had to a sister and I love you. So, I’m not ashamed to tell you that I was also a little scared. What was going to happen to me when you fell in love, got married and had children. Of course Con Man never does anything half assed and got you knocked up and married sooner than I could say What the Fu…Uh Freak. Sorry Mom.”

  I laugh right along with the rest of the room and reach up to grab her hand. I don’t even think about it, I just want to be touching her right now. Her fingers close around mine and she looks down at me. “I was so scared of being alone, but I didn’t know how to let anyone else in. It’s always been me and Nina against the world. I didn’t need anyone else.” She says all of this still looking at me, and I begin to get nervous. “Then, I went and fell in love.” Holy shit. Holy fuck.

  She must notice my shocked look because she laughs. “Oh come on, Thomas, it can’t be that big of a surprise. I fell in love with a stubborn, misogynistic, jackass, who’s also the bravest, strongest and truest man I’ve ever met. I love you, Drake Thomas. Thank you for showing me what my best friend has. I will never have to worry about her now, because I know that she’s safe with Connor, because I’m safe with you.”

  My mouth is still hanging open and I’m sure I look like the dumbest asshole around, but I can’t get over the fact that she just professed her love for me in a room full of people. It’s so unlike her that I feel as if I’m going to wake up with my face in my plate at any moment.

  “Cheers everyone! To love! To friendship! And to feeling safe!” It’s a small crowd of people who all know Nina and her past, well some of it at least, so the unconventional toast seems to be understood by everyone. We all stand and take a drink from our glass, and as we sit down, Lola leans over and whispers in my ear again. “I know I’ve said it to you before. I wasn’t really asleep. I wanted to tell you this way so you knew that I love you, all of you, and I want everyone to know it.”

  As much as this means to me, I don’t want the first time I tell her to be in a room full of people. I lean over to Nick and ask him to let Connor know that I’m taking Lola home. He chuckles and nods, then leans over to kiss Toni’s shoulder. I think he gets it.

  I grab Lola’s hand and pull her up and practically drag her from the room. As soon as we are in the hall way I turn and face her and her eyes widen. “No, Drake Thomas, don’t you dare. Not here!”

  I ignore her, and bend over, put her stomach on my shoulder and hoist her up into the air, making sure to hold the back of her dress down. She giggles and slaps at my back, so I reach up and spank her on the ass. The man at the front desk looks totally scandalized, so I wink at him and hoist Lola up even higher.

  The drive home consists of Lola attacking any part of my skin that she can get to, and it’s driving me fucking crazy. Driving with a raging hard on is no fucking joke. At every single red light she straddles me and we kiss like teenagers. Completely starving for it. Man I can’t wait to get this woman home.

  The second we’re in the house, we stop to slam into every wall, never once breaking our kiss. We don’t care that we’ve broken; one lamp, two picture frames and a couple vases. I tumble her into the bedroom and toss her into the middle of the bed. I reach blindly behind me and pull out my wallet and keys and open my drawer to drop the contents inside.

  It only takes me a second to realize that I grabbed the wrong drawer and accidently opened one of Lola’s. I begin to close it when I notice a picture sitting on top of the clothes partially buried. I stop, because I’ve seen this picture before, or one just like it. The blonde woman is barely visible because the glass has been broken right over her face. The cracks flow to the center and down to the bottom, but the man in the picture is completely untouched, and immediately I see red.

  “Lola. Why the fuck do you have this picture?” I lift it up and hold it over my shoulder for her to see.

  She’s silent for several seconds and I hear her get up and move behind me. “That’s me and my brother about six years ago. Why?”

  The young Lola in this picture looks so much like my sister that I could’ve sworn it was her. It’s almost identical to the one on her desk. “This, is your brother?” I ask, hoping and praying that there has been some mistake. Please God, don’t let this be true.

  “Yea. Why, Drake? What’s going on? You seem so mad; did you know my brother or something?

  “This is the brother that’s in jail for almost killing someone, right?”

  “Yes, Drake! It’s the only brother I have! Now tell me what the fuck is going on?”

  “I’ve never met him, but I know who he is. I’m assuming the person he put in the hospital was a female. His eighteen year old girlfriend, right?”

  Lola takes a step back and I finally turn around with the picture in my hand. “How do you know that, Drake?”

  “Why is this picture broken?”

  “I threw it against the wall. Tell me how you know it was his girlfriend.” She looks like she’s on the verge of tears, and I can tell she’s already put it together.

  “I think you know the answer to that.”

  She shakes her head and her face crumples. Her hand comes up to cover her mouth and tears stream down her face. “Emory. Fuck! You’re mother’s new last name is Emory, isn’t it?”

  I drop the picture back into the drawer and close it, nodding. “Lori, your sister is Lori Emory. But you said her name was…Oh my God. Lauren.”

  “Yes. And your brother is Nate Scott.”

  “Nathan Scott Chase.” She drops down onto the bed and sobs. I want to go to her, but I can’t seem to move.

  “What does this mean, Drake?” She asks, and it’s obvious what she’s asking.

  “I don’t know.”

  CHAPTER 18

  “I'm not afraid to die like a man fighting, but I would not like to be killed like a dog unarmed.”

  - Billy the Kid

  I’m such a fucking asshole. What the fuck is the matter with me? I’ve been so worried my whole life that I was going to turn into my father. Then I find a girl who loves me for everything I’ve always thought was wrong with me, and I walk out on her. For what; because her brother is an asshole? Way to fucking go, Thomas. Good job.

  I just left last night. After the shit hit the fan, I bailed. I didn’t know what to do. I was angry, but now I don’t know why. So what if I’m dating the sister of the guy who beat the shit out of Lauren? Who cares? I need to go to her. I’ll probably have to beg on my fucking knees to get her back after last night, but I’ll do whatever it takes. There is no way I’m letting her go.

  I throw the shovel down and turn to walk out of the barn, and standing right behind me is her father. God damn it. What is it with her family ambushing me? “Good morning, Mr. Chase.”

  “Come have a seat, Son. We need to have a talk.”

  “Yes, Sir.”

  We walk over to the tack room where his wife and I talked only a few days ago. His expression is almost a mirror of hers that day. Worried, afraid, and determined. “There are some things I need to tell you. I wanted to tell both you and my daughter, but it doesn’t look like she’s home.”

  I almost bolt up from my chair right then. Where the hell would she go? “What is it you wanted to talk about?”

  “It’s about my son, Nathan. I know that you already know some, but it’s time you learned the whole truth.”

  “Sir…I think you’re about nine hours too late. I know.”

  “You know?” His eyes
widen and he leans back, as if he thinks I’m going to start swinging at any moment.

  “Yes, I found out last night. I saw a picture in Lola’s dresser and recognized him. Honestly, I can’t believe I didn’t figure it out sooner. The timing was way too coincidental. I think maybe I was deluding myself. Who the hell knows?”

  He rubs his hand down his face and takes a deep breath. “How did you take it?”

  “Honestly…I could have handled it better. I’m not sure if your daughter will ever speak to me again.”

  Before I can even flinch, his hand comes up and he smacks me gently on the back of my head. I’ve never been hit without retaliating since that night with my father. Its part of the reason why I was so convinced that I was just like him. Maybe it’s because it was an innocent act, not meant to hurt me, but I don’t just snap like usual.

  “You dip shit. You’re the first man my daughter has looked twice at, never mind the fact that she just professed her love for you in front of thirty people. Tell me you at least told her you love her too?”

  I hang my head and he swears. “You don’t have to tell me I’m an idiot, Sir. I already know that.”

  “Well what the fuck are you doing here?” He asks.

  “I was just going to get her when you showed up.”

  “I think that’s a good idea. She likes raspberries, hates roses, loves sun flowers, and her favorite thing in the whole world is…”

  “Riding. I know. Thanks, Mr. Chase.”

  “Before you go, I want you to know that I’m so sorry for what my son did to your sister. I can’t tell you the guilt I’ve carried around all these years.”

  “It’s okay, Sir. You’ve more than made up for it with your daughter.”