Oceans Collide

by M. A. de Olmos

  The familiar sent of cinnamon aromatherapy candles assaulted my nose, and it got a smile out of me. Aunt Layla was crazy about those damn candles. I honestly had forgotten how much I missed her and how much I missed this house, period. That’s what happens when you turn into an addict and shut yourself off from the world. The house really hadn’t changed much. It was a beautiful house fully restored, because it was one of the few original homes in the area. The cherry wood floors matched the cherry wood counter tops in the kitchen. The warm brown and cream tones of the accents and paint colors on the wall made the place feel cozy.

  “Livie!” I heard Law yell from the back of the house. Oh, shit, that chick was here. Time to see what all the fuss was about with this woman. I followed the sound of Law’s voice and now angry footsteps coming down the hallway, and as I turned the corner, I ran smack into… into Livie. She looked freaking pissed and reminded me of the show Zena, the warrior princess.

  Her hair was black and silky straight. Law had it right. She was fucking exotic. The fullness of her lips, her perfectly pointed nose, and those eyes. They were pools of brown surround by long thick eyelashes and perfectly arched brows. This woman was a goddess. A little on the short side, but she fit like a fucking glove. Law was right about another thing. There was pain in her eyes. And it wasn’t the someone-hurt-my-feelings-and-didn’t-apologize-because-they-were-an-asshole kind of pain, either. This pain was raw and ran deep. Only people like Law and me could recognize that sort of pain. The kind of pain that defiles your soul and leaves your heart bleeding out with no cure or hope for salvation.

  When her pissed off expression disappeared, what I saw on her face was trouble. She was sizing me up from my head all the way down to my Jordan’s. Her breathing was picking up, and I could see her pulse racing wild on the base of her neck. Looking at her face, she had the soft features of Selena Gomez, and the exotic provocative eyes of Mila Kunis.

  When she bit her bottom lip grinding her teeth together, I lost all self-preservation. All I wanted to do was pick this exotic warrior princess up and slam her back against the wall. The way those eyes roamed over me, taking me in, made the tip of my dick wet, and my balls stiff. The way her eyebrows furrowed at me when I called her Zena made my dick jerk, not once, not twice, but repeatedly. I was surprised she didn’t notice, because she was staring me down hard. When she finally stormed off pissed that I questioned her name, I watched that tight ass walk off, and I had to lean up with my back against the wall.

  “Calm down, killer,” I heard Law say laughing as he made his way toward me. He still looked the same to me as he did before I left Dunlap. He buffed out a little bit, but he still couldn’t beat me in a fight. He was one hell of an MMA fighter when we were in it heavy, but he would get sloppy when he lost his ability to rationalize. I, on the other hand, lost control in a different way. When I lost it, my hits where calculated and fueled by the will to take down my opponent by any means necessary. I nodded my head at him.

  “Hey, man, it’s good to see you.” I reached out to him and gave him hug. We weren’t too manly to show each other we cared. We had been through a lot of shit together, so questioning each other’s manhood wasn’t necessary.

  “You couldn’t wait to get back home, could you?”

  “Nope. I keep telling you and Dad I got ADD and can’t wait for shit. So I’m here.” We both laughed. “Place looks good, man. Aunt Layla really tricked this house out.”

  “Yeah you know Mom; she’s obsessed with the place.”

  “I’m surprised you’re still living at home, bro. How many times she try kicking you out?”

  “Every fucking day, man.” We laughed again. Aunt Layla was one crazy lady, but her heart was as big as the universe. I turned my gaze to the front door thinking about Zena… Livie… Sunshine, or whatever the hell she felt like being called.

  “So she has an effect on you, too?”

  I frowned. “What’s that’s supposed to mean?” I asked crossing my arms.

  “It means I saw the way you were looking at her, man. You saw it in her, too, didn’t you?”

  “She’s no ordinary chick, I know that.”

  “Yeah, I know, Ocean. Look, I saw that look in your eyes and even if you can’t admit to it, I know what it means coming from you.” Law stepped in my line of vision looking me dead in the eyes. “I already told you that we need her as much as she needs us. Both of us. I’m not going to stop you from feeling for her, because I know what she can do to a man, but Ocean, if you fucking hurt her, I’ll break your neck.”

  I stared back at him wanting to punch him dead in the fucking nose, but I couldn’t. I couldn’t deck him, because he was right. I did feel something for her. In that, brief moment, I felt my heart beat again. A heart that I haven’t felt beat since I held my bloodied and dying sister in my arms on the side of a goddamn road. I shrugged my shoulders at him. “I can’t make any promises, Law, but I promise you I won’t hurt her intentionally. If that makes you feel better.”

  He backed up a bit. “Let’s go. She’s probably freaking out outside, if she hasn’t stolen my truck and drove herself home.” We both laughed and headed toward the front door.

  Chapter Sixteen

  Livie

  I heard the door open and close behind me along with the laughter coming from the two new amazing men in my life. Yes, I just said they were amazing. Law already managed to etch his initials on my already shattered and damaged heart. Now I had to deal with another threat. Ocean was a threat, because he had made me feel things I’d never felt before, and never allowed myself to feel. I needed to reign in those feelings, because no one wanted damaged goods, and I was more than a defected item. I was broken, and who would want someone that physically harmed themselves?

  “Hey, Sunshine, you ready to head out?” Law asked me as his arm of muscles wrapped around my shoulders. I breathed in his Irish spring scent and sighed.

  “Yeah, I’m ready. I need to get back to my room. My dad probably called the national guards on me already.”

  Ocean stormed past me and headed for his Range. “You guys coming or what?” he yelled over his shoulder as he opened the driver’s door and hopped into his seat.

  “Come on, Sunshine, I promise he doesn’t bite.” I followed his lead and let him settle me in the back seat of Ocean’s ride. Law treated me as if I were his seven-year-old little sister if he had one, and I let him. I missed being treated as if somebody cared, as if somebody wanted me around. I missed feeling loved.

  Once Law jumped in the front passenger seat, the engine of Ocean’s sexy Range purred to life, and he took off. When Ocean adjusted his rearview mirror and fixed it on me, I nearly died. Every now and then, he would look into the mirror and lock eyes with me holding his stare for seconds at a time. I could feel him trying to figure me out. He was trying to read whatever it was that was happening between us. I knew he felt it too, because the bulge in his jeans while they were in the house was unmistakable. No one should have a dick that big, and I hadn’t even seen it yet! All of me wanted to see it, feel it, ri…

  “Sunshine, you okay?” I have to stop spacing out!

  “I’m fine Law,” I said giving him a smile. “I just really want to get to my room… I need to call my dad, shower, check my messages… oh, and the IPad should be there by now.” When I looked up Law, he was grinning at me and I realized I started rambling. I felt Ocean slam his foot down on the gas, and he really took off. The man drives like me… a maniac. LUCY! Oh, how I missed my Lucy, she was probably pissed at me for leaving her for so long. Yes, my car has feelings, and whoever tried to tell me any different could shut the hell up.

  I looked into the mirror again and caught Ocean looking at me. I wanted to ask him what the fuck he was looking at, but I knew exactly what he was looking at. He was looking at me, seeing me, and I didn’t want to hide anymore. Not from him. I looked down at his arm, and his hand was gripping the gear shifter as his elbows rested on top of the white leather console.
As he loosened and tightened his grip on the shifter, the muscles of his forearm rippled and twitched.

  When my body started to buzz to life, again with that sexual energy, I looked away. I was thankful that Ocean and Law were in their own world talking about random things. It gave me time to calm my nerves. I closed my eyes and rested my head against my headrest, and listened to their voices. Law’s voice sounded almost childish with excitement, while Ocean’s was deep and controlled. I honed in on Ocean’s voice, letting it take me to a place so beautifully calm and serene I was afraid to open my eyes again… so I didn’t…

  ‘Mummy, you promise I won’t hurt little Antonio. Sweetheart, you would never hurt your little brother, you love him too much already. Here, Liv, put your hand right here. I placed my hand over my mom’s tummy, and immediately felt the kick. I feel him, mummy! He’s really moving! Eww, it feels funny, mummy. Why do we have to wait so long to see him? I wish I could see him now. Well, Liv, he still has to grow and get strong like you, but he’ll be here before you know it. I giggled hysterically as I felt the tiny pokes from my baby brother’s feet. Oh, Liv, I love you, little girl, you know that, right? Of course, mummy, I love you, too. My mom’s face turned pale white, and she grabbed her sides. Liv… Livie! Yes, mummy. Go to my room and get mummy’s phone, baby, something’s wrong. As I jumped off the bed, I saw the blood sloshing between my mom’s legs as she fell forward hitting the ground hard.’

  “Livie! Livie! Dammit, Livie wake the fuck up! Ocean pull over the damn car, she looks like she’s about to puke in her sleep!”

  “I hear you, man, chill the fuck out!” The yelling made my eyes flutter open and staring at me turned in their seats with their asses to the road were two very worried men. I looked at Ocean who was so livid his forehead was sweating, and then to Law who looked like he was going into cardiac arrest.

  “Sunshine, you okay?”

  “Yeah, what the hell was that?”

  Two different approaches from two very different men. My heart was having a fucked up ping pong match. It wanted Law to soothe and protect me, but it also wanted Ocean’s body to heal and consume me. I didn’t know how to answer either question, so I brought my knees up to my face on the back seat and buried my head between them. “Sorry,” was all I could manage now. My body was itching for that self-inflicted pain I needed very badly right now. It was the only thing I’d known that could take this pain away. I heard a door open then slam shut, and the car door closest to me opened. I refused to look up so I didn’t move a muscle.

  “Law, drive. You’ll get to her hotel faster than I will, so I’ll sit with Liv.”

  Oh my god, he just called me Liv… no! Only mommy called me Liv. FUCK FUCK FUCK. I could feel the panic attack coming on. My breathing picked up, my heart was racing so fast it felt like it was in my throat and the uncontrollable shaking set it. Two powerful arms picked me up from off the seat and placed me on his lap. I knew it was Ocean, aside from the fact he told Law to drive. I knew it was Ocean because the electricity from his touch was starting to settle into my bones.

  He shifted a little more to get comfortable and leaned his body at an angle; I assumed he was leaning against the door with his back. Again, the arms adjusted me to fit perfectly into his body, and I felt a leg kick up behind me. I was snug and tightly wrapped in his arms protectively. I felt his gentle hand brush away the hair from my face hooking it behind my ear and then I felt his breath hitting my face.

  “Breath, Liv, you’re okay now. I got you.” My body obeyed his command on its own, and I felt my breathing slow and stabilize. My heart also slowed to a normal pace, and even though my skin was still crawling, he calmed me with his touch.

  “Sunshine, you okay now?” I opened my eyes to see Law looking at me with tears in his eyes. I smiled the best I could and nodded my head in a yes motion. With that, he turned in the driver’s seat, started the car, and pulled back onto the highway. I took a deep breath inhaling the smell of Ocean. It was spicy and salty smelling at the same time. I rested my head back onto his chest, and he gave my body a light squeeze before my body and mind crashed into darkness all over again.

  Ocean

  The minute I looked in my rearview mirror and saw Liv’s pale face, I knew shit was gonna hit the fan, and hit the fan it did. Law was panicking at the sight of his Sunshine looking like a goddamn ghost. Her face had lost all of its caramel color, sweat was pouring from her forehead, and her breathing was out of control. She wasn’t just having a nightmare; she was fucking living that nightmare.

  When she finally woke up, her eyes were wild and frantic. She had that deer in the headlights look, and the headlights must have been the size as flying saucers, because Liv was losing it. Law’s subtle approach pissed me off. Why the hell would he ask her if she was okay, I mean look at the woman. She clearly was not okay, but when she didn’t answer either of us, I had had enough. When I picked her body up off the seat, she was as cold as ice and stiff. That pissed me off all the more. I didn’t know why I felt I had to fix her so bad, but at that time I didn’t care.

  Once I settled her between by legs and pushed her up against my body, my nerves started to relax. My body responded to her and hers to mine. I wanted her to relax and she did. No coaxing and no begging. I asked and my body did the rest. When she finally fell asleep, I let myself relax completely.

  “Law, what the hell was that man? She do this all the time?” I looked up at him in the rear view, and he frowned at me.

  “I’ve known her all of two days, bro, but I’m guessing this shit happens a lot to her. I have no clue what sets her off but it’s deep.”

  “No shit. Has she said anything about her past? I mean, you’ve got to know something about this girl, if you’re treating her like you can’t live without her, bro.”

  “Yeah. Look who’s talking. You just met her an hour ago, and she already has your heart wrapped around her pinky. You’re a sucker for her as much as I am, but I don’t want her in that way. I already told you that.” I wanted to argue back with him on that point, but it was pointless. Law knew me better than I knew myself, and if he honestly meant it, then it was the truth, and I couldn’t argue that kind of truth.

  “Alright, old man stalk-a-lot. What’s the plan? What do we do then?”

  “I talked to my mom this morning, and she begged me not to go, but I have to meet up with the old bastard. He can’t take the house, Ocean, I won’t let him.”

  “I know man so what do you have in mind?”

  “I called Sunshine’s dad early this morning and explained everything to him. He gave me the contact to a good legal team and they are going to step in on my mom’s behalf. “Wait… why would Liv’s dad help you so easily? What’s that all about?”

  “Dude, her dad is Antonio fucking Acosta. The same Acosta that would mop the floor with my dad when we were kids. It turns out that we sort of ran in the same circle growing up, but just didn’t know it. He trusts me to take care of her, so I guess it’s cool or whatever.”

  “You did mean it when you promised to take care of her, right, Law?” I gave her body a squeeze not ever wanting to have to let her go.

  “You know I did, what kind of question is that! Anyway, once we get back to the hotel and she snaps out of whatever that was, I want you to stay with her while I go to the studio and talk to Mack. I secured the lease for the first six months, so I wouldn’t have to worry about any set backs like this ruining shit. I’m going to get us three plane tickets to Boston and a hotel. I want you and Sunshine to come with me. If we’re going to run Hawt’s Martial Arts Studios together, we get through this shit together.”

  I nodded my head in agreement. “What’s the name again?” I asked trying not to laugh and wake up my Liv. Damn I just referred to her as mine… this shit is going to get bad before it gets any better.

  “You can laugh, now but it was your girl that named the place.” I looked down at Liv and smiled. “So she thinks were hawwwtttt then?”

  Law
bust out laughing as he jerked the car into the next lane. “Same thing I said when I heard it, but I like it, so we’re keeping it,” he said as he snorted out loud.

  Fucking nerd.

  Chapter Seventeen

  Ocean

  Liv was still knocked out when we got to the hotel. Law reached into her pockets, found her phone wallet, and got out her room key for me. If I were not carrying her body up to her room, I probably would have decked that nosy ass bellhop in the face. I’m sure he was probably watching out for her, though. Who wouldn’t?

  When I got to her room, I laid her in her bed and watched her for a while. She was holding on to something, but I had no idea what. Her father was a good man, wealthy man, and apparently took really good care of her. Other than that, I really couldn’t pick up much besides her pain.

  I turned around and walked the suite to make sure it was cool for me to leave for a little bit. I needed to get some fresh air and think this shit through without being around her. As I walked out, I grabbed the key off the table next to the door and stuffed it in my back pocket. I figured she would need her space when she woke up, and I didn’t want to get my ass handed to me for staying uninvited.

  I checked in with my dad, and he was spending time with Aunt Layla. He said she couldn’t wait to see me to slap me upside my head for not visiting her first. I couldn’t protest to that, and she’d slap me upside the head anyway. After about forty-five minutes wondering around the hotel, I headed back to Liv’s room. I don’t know why I was calling her Liv, but it just sounded right to me. I wouldn’t dare call her Sunshine, Livie, or Zena, though. I laughed out loud thinking about what she would do if I called her Zena again.

  I knocked on her door somewhat hard. I was hoping she’d be up by now. I knocked again a little harder for safe measure before I used the room key to unlock the door. I opened the door slowly and stepped inside the suite closing and locking the door behind me. As soon as I entered her bedroom, I heard the shower running, and my breath caught in my chest. I turned around to face the closed door of the bathroom. I could only imagine what her tight body looked like glistening under a hot shower. Thinking of her in the shower had my dick jerking again. I swear the thing became possessed when I started thinking about her.