The Air I Breathe

by K. Renee

  I swallow, and he kisses the side of my temple.

  “You’re moving in with me. I’m not taking no for an answer.”

  I pull back enough to look at him, and he’s a mixture of angry and scared. I hate that I am the reason for this. I never meant for any of this to happen.

  “What if the baby is his?” The question scares the heck out of me, but I know it’s something we have to talk about at some point. As much as I want this baby to be Sager’s I can’t be certain. If Alec is the father, I know that things will never be easy. He will use that against me and make our lives hell.

  “We’ll deal with it together. I’m not letting you go back there alone. He wants to touch you again, he’ll have to go through me first.”

  He kisses my forehead, and I lay my head on his shoulder, letting him hold me right where I belong.

  Sager puts his hand on my stomach, and I can’t hold back the tears anymore. I cry, and he holds me until I finally pass out from the exhaustion and stress.

  Twenty

  Sager

  If G wasn’t with me when we went over to get Cameo, I would have killed that son of a bitch.

  We busted down the door, and as soon as we got to their bedroom, I saw his hands around her neck, and I snapped. Pulling him off of her, I hit him over and over, not caring about the consequences. I’d gladly go to jail for killing him.

  G had other plans though. He pushed me away from him even when I tried to go after him again and told me to go to Cam. He called the cops and made sure that Alec was still there when the cops showed up.

  Holding her in my arms now, I let the anger melt away, and I thank God that she wasn’t hurt worse than she was. She’ll have handprints around her throat for a few days, if not weeks but she should be okay. The cop told me to make sure she goes to see her doctor once she’s up to it and to come by the station to make a statement.

  “Sager?”

  I look down at her and tears are still in her eyes.

  “Yeah babe?” I brush the hair out of her eyes, and she cuddles her body farther into me.

  “I’m sorry.” I push my lips to hers to silence her.

  “Don’t. Don’t say sorry for something you didn’t do. This was all him.” She bites her bottom lip, and I run my hands up and down her back.

  “I just don’t know what’s going to happen now. I have nothing. No clothes, no money, nothing.”

  “I already told you that everything will be fine. I’ll make sure you have everything you need. Don’t worry, babe.” She nods her head sadly, and I squeeze her tighter.

  “In the morning we need to head to your doctor and make sure everything is okay and the police station. They want you to file a report.”

  Her lip trembles and I know it’s killing her inside. She never wanted things to come to this, but it did, and now we need to deal with the fallout the best we can.

  “For what?”

  “Domestic violence. He’s in jail until his lawyer can get him out, which shouldn’t take long.” She pales, and I can feel her body start to shake. Cameo is terrified. “I won’t let anything else happen, Cam.”

  Her hold on me tightens. “I’ve got you. Everything will be okay, I promise.”

  A knock on the door has her clinging tighter to me. Mandy pokes her head in and gives me a sad look. “Are you guy’s hungry?”

  I look down at her, and she shakes her head no. “No thanks, Mandy.” She smiles before closing the door again.

  “I’m sure your friends think I’m an idiot.”

  “No, they don’t. They don’t like the position I am or was in, but they know how much I love you.” She puts her head on my chest when I lay back against the pillows.

  “You were right. I should have ended it when I fell out of love with him, but I was terrified. Part of me thought that once you had me all to yourself, you would get tired of me and you would have left too. I couldn’t lose both of you.”

  “I’d never let you go, Cameo. You are the one I want to be with. Now and forever.”

  I know I had talked to her about leaving him and being with me before, but she thought it was all talk. That I only wanted her because I couldn’t have her but it’s not true at all. I want her because she’s what I’m addicted to. She’s the one thing that I can’t get enough of.

  “Can we go to your place?” Her voice is quiet, and I’m sure she doesn’t want my friends to know everything that happened today.

  “Yeah, we can go home.”

  She looks up at me, and I brush a tear from her cheek. “Home?”

  “It’s going to be your home too. I already told you, you’re moving in with me, and I am not taking no for an answer.” This brings a small smile to her lips.

  “You are amazing, even after everything I’ve put you through.”

  “I would do it again if I had to.”

  She kisses my neck, and I crawl over Cameo to the edge of the bed.

  Sitting there, I look over my shoulder at her, and she still looks troubled, like she isn’t sure that it’s over between her and Alec yet. I already know that we will be in for one hell of a fight and I’m not worried about that. I’m only worried that she’ll go back to him if he threatens either of us.

  I have this aching feeling that she’ll sacrifice herself to protect me.

  “Cameo.”

  She looks over at me and waits for me to say whatever it is I’m about to say.

  “Promise me that if he tries to threaten either of us, you won’t go back to him. Promise me that you’ll stick it out with me.”

  She picks at an imaginary piece of lint on the bedspread.

  When she doesn’t answer me, I kneel on the bed next to her and force her to look at me. “Promise me, Cam. Promise me you will let me take care of both of you.”

  She wraps her arms around my neck and pulls me down on top of her. “I promise, Sager.”

  ---

  The next few days go by in a blur.

  I get up, I hold Cameo’s hair back as she throws up, I make her breakfast, and I go to the gym. After we got her checked out by her doctor, they said that she needed to take it easy for a few days, so I’ve banned her from coming to the gym with me. She’s on a strict resting only order, and she’s hated every minute of it.

  Even the report with the police was a hassle. They didn’t really care about her getting hurt because she was cheating on her fiancé and it was practically her fault for getting pregnant and not knowing who the father was.

  They really didn’t like me, and I’m sure it’s because I don’t have the type of money Alec has or the clout, but that’s fine. I don’t really give a fuck. I may have also warned them that if he touches her again, I won’t hesitate to take him out.

  They thought it was a joke at first but by the time we left, they knew I was dead fucking serious.

  Walking into my house, I hear the TV on in my room, but when I go in there, she’s nowhere to be found. I head back toward the living room and see her with her hands on her hips, staring at one of the walls in my living room.

  “What are you doing?” I ask, coming up behind her and wrapping my arms around her waist.

  “This place is so boring. Can I paint your walls?” I can’t help but chuckle at her question.

  “I’m sure paint fumes aren’t all that great for the baby.” She turns in my arms and wraps hers around my neck.

  “Please.” She gives me this sad puppy eyes, and I look around the room at the walls. “I need color.”

  “If you really want to but only if I help you. I don’t want you doing this all on your own.”

  She squeals and jumps up, wrapping her legs around my waist. I hold her up by her ass, and she kisses me.

  “We need paint!”

  I shake my head, and she starts going on about paint colors that I’ve never even heard of before.

  “Oh and we can start planning the baby’s room!”

  “All right, but one room at a time. Choose wisely.” I smirk
at her, and she gives me a snarky look.

  “Sager, please!”

  This time I put my foot down and shake my head no. “One at a time, I don’t want you getting too overwhelmed. We have plenty of time to get ready for the baby, and I don’t want you so tired every night that you pass out on me.” She pouts some more, and I hold strong. “I still have plans of fucking you until this little guy decides he’s ready to come.”

  She rolls her eyes at me, and I kiss her neck. “You’ve been horny as hell the whole time I’ve known you, and I hear pregnancy only enhances it.” I waggle my eyebrows at her and this time she pushes my face away from hers with a hand.

  “You are such a pig sometimes.”

  I nip at her ear. “You love it.”

  “Nope.” She giggles as she tries to push me away again. “Now put me down, we have a home improvement store to go to!”

  I shake my head no and walk with her toward the bedroom. The only place she’s going tonight is back to bed.

  “Sager!” she yelps when I slap her ass as I come to a stop right in front of the bed. Right before I toss her onto the mattress, her phone starts to ring.

  Her eyes meet mine, and she gives me a worried look. I watch her roll over to grab it off the nightstand, and when her eyes look at the screen, I see the fear in them. It’s Alec.

  “Answer it,” I urge her.

  She hits the answer button and puts it on speaker. “Hello.” Her voice shakes, and she stares at the floor next to my feet.

  “That baby is mine, and I won’t let you just leave me. You think he’s going to still be here once he finds out the baby is mine? Think again, sweetheart. He’ll leave you because you’re just a no good whore.”

  “He won’t leave me.” Her voice is no more than a whisper.

  “I suggest you stop calling her and talking shit. You don’t know shit about me, but I’d be glad to teach you all you need to know.”

  “Sager Stone. I should have known that you were the one fucking my slut. You seemed pretty interested in her at the social event. But I also know you’re too poor to get in so you must have begged Daddy to let you ride on his coattails again.”

  “I may not have the money you do, but I would never ride on my father’s coattails. Ask him yourself. I’m not even part of that family anymore.”

  “Don’t worry; she’ll see you for what you really are. Poor and unworthy of her presence.” The line goes silent, and anger is coursing through my body. She puts one hand on my forearm, and it all melts away.

  “You are not poor and unworthy. I love you, Sager.” She crawls toward me and wraps her arms around my neck, hugging me tightly to her body. “He’s a dick.”

  I can’t help but laugh at that. “What?” she asks, pulling away from me.

  “I’ve never heard you call someone a dick before. It was kind of hot and funny.”

  Narrowing her eyes at me, she says, “You’re a dick.”

  “I got a dick for those pretty little lips of yours.”

  “Ugh! You are insufferable!” She moves off the bed and stomps off, but I hook an arm around her waist hauling her body back into mine.

  “If I take you to get paint, will you put a smile back on your face?” She turns in my arm and looks up at me trying to gauge the truth in my words.

  “Yes.”

  “Okay, then let’s go buy some paint then, and you can suck my dick when we get back.” She shakes her head at me and groans.

  “You’re a child.”

  “I love you too, babe.” I smirk at her and lead her toward the front door to take her to go and buy her damn paint.

  Twenty-One

  Cameo

  Over the last few months, I’ve gotten harassing phone calls from Alec and threats of taking the baby away when he or she is born.

  I’ve spent far too many nights up late thinking about everything and how much of a mess my life is, but then I look over at Sager sleeping, and I remember that he is worth it all. Having him right here next to me is the reason I am still even standing, let alone breathing.

  That morning that Alec confronted me was by far the worst day of my life. I thought for sure he was going to kill me, but Sager saved me.

  In a weird way, Sager has saved me more than he could ever know. The nights I spent in his arms during this whole ordeal are what made it a little easier. Sager Stone doesn’t even know what he’s done for me in the last eleven months, and today, I want him to know.

  “Why are you even awake?” he mumbles, grabbing hold of me and pulling me into his arms. His hands automatically go to my stomach that is starting to get bigger by the day.

  “I can’t sleep.” I bury my face into his chest, and he kisses the top of my head.

  “You still thinking about your dickhead ex?” I nod my head yes against his chest, and he takes a deep breath. “He’s not going to stop until he gets what he wants and I ain’t letting him have either of you.”

  “I know, but if the baby is his, we can’t keep him or her from him.”

  “He can go fuck himself. This baby is mine; I don’t care what a piece of paper says.” I smile against his chest and he squeezes me. “Now go back to sleep.” He lifts his head enough to see the clock on the nightstand and continues. “It’s only three a.m. and unless you want me to fuck you, I’m tired as shit.”

  I press my lips to his chest and close my eyes.

  More thoughts fill my head and soon I can’t lie in bed any longer. Getting up, I walk through the house in just one of Sager tees and end up on the sofa in the living room. Secretly, I think that Sager hates the color that we painted the walls, but he’s been a great sport about it. The teal color looks amazing with the couches, and I even added a few pieces of art to the wall that make the room seem bigger.

  When I showed him the final touches, he smiled and said he loved it, but the look on his face was anything but love. I know he’s letting me change things because I all but begged him to, but he’s been so supportive since. He even helped me pick out a crib the other day.

  I had been looking in thrift shops for new artwork and a few random things since I still don’t have a lot of clothing. When I saw the crib, I knew it was the one, and when I told him about it, he told me he wanted to buy me a new one that we picked out together.

  Although I thought the gesture was sweet, I knew this one was perfect. It was funky and practically brand new still. I knew a coat of paint would make it even better. When I finally drug his butt down there to look at it, he gave in when I promised him a blow job.

  No man willingly gives up head, well at least mine doesn’t.

  It is currently in pieces on the living room floor on a paint cloth for me to start painting next.

  The other day Sager mentioned buying a new place, but I refused. I love this house, and I want to live in it for as long as possible.

  Sometimes I think that the money thing gets to him. He wants to spoil me with expensive things, and the only thing I want is him. I never needed the money when I was with Alec. I rarely even spent any unless it was for him and even then, he bought pretty much anything he wanted himself.

  Me, I was good with anything that I liked, whether it was a thrift store find or something from an expensive boutique somewhere we traveled.

  Getting up from the couch, I go in search of the bags I brought home earlier when I went shopping. Sager was stuck at the gym late, and since he couldn’t tell me no, I bought him a little something, and I wanted to get it ready for him.

  I look in the first bag, and when I come up empty, I search in the second one. I pull out the wooden block and set it on the table along with the other supplies that I got. I take my time cutting the photos that I had printed online and put them in the order that I want them in before slathering one side of the block with glue.

  Once I get the edges smoothed out perfectly, I stare at the photo. I still remember the day he took it. We were lying in his bed, and he said that he wanted to remember every moment he’s ever sp
ent with me, so he pulled out a camera and snapped this photo. He said that he never expected to meet a woman like me and that even though he hated being the other guy, he couldn’t let me go because I was the air he breathed.

  The one good thing that he couldn’t let go of no matter how wrong it was.

  I think that was the day I started to fall in love with him. He even begged me to leave Alec that day, but I didn’t listen. I got defensive like I did every other time and stormed out of his place because I didn’t want it to be true.

  I didn’t want to mean so much to someone else because I didn’t deserve it. I still don’t, and he refuses to see it. In a way, I am so lucky that he stuck around even though I pushed him away at every turn.

  Once I get every picture on the block, I let it dry before painting a coat of Mod Podge on each side, waiting for it to dry before moving to the next. After a good hour, I finally get it done and spray a coat of gloss over half.

  As soon as that side dries, I turn it over and spray the other. All six sides is a little reminder of the last nine months and the trials and tribulations that we’ve been through.

  Sure there are parts of us that I hate to think about because of who I hurt in the process, but I love Sager more than I ever thought possible. And even though I am terrified as hell about this baby, I love it just the same.

  A little after six, I hear Sager call out my name, and I giggle as I lean back on the couch cushions. This couch is the one thing that he refused to skimp on, and I have to agree, it is so worth the money. He didn’t even spend a whole lot on it, but it did cost a chunk of change, as he put it.

  But it matches the room perfectly and is one of the most comfortable things I’ve ever sat on.

  “Cameo,” he calls out again, and I finally push off the couch and head toward the bedroom.

  “You know you don’t have to yell out my name to get me to come.”

  He grins at me and motions for me to come to him with his finger. “I know that, I can get you to come with my tongue, fingers, or dick anytime you want.” When he pulls me into the bed with him, I laugh and press a kiss to his lips.

  Sometimes he is so crude, but either way, I love him anyway.