by S. R. Watson
Landon grabs my chin softly and turns me so he can look me in the eyes. “You are not tainted. Don’t ever say that again. You did what you felt you needed to do to help your dying mom. My fucking sick uncle capitalized on that. Trust me, he’s only seen a fraction of what I have in store for him,” he sneers. “I’m sorry you had to endure that alone or that you felt that you couldn’t trust me with that. I would’ve never judged you. I love you. No circumstances could ever change that.”
It doesn’t go unnoticed that he is speaking about his love for me in present tense. I love him too, but can I just forget so easily how he discarded my feelings and love. He has absolute power to destroy me. What happens when he gets upset with me again? Will he shove more whores in my face so I can feel the hurt he feels? He purposefully tried to break me, whereas I felt like I had no other recourse. I know what my heart wants, but logically what’s best for me. Is this love toxic and destined to fail because of our start and all the past baggage cluttering our path?
“Thank you for giving me a chance to get that out in the open Landon. I really appreciate you coming. Tell Peyton, I’ll be in touch.” He still hadn’t said how he found me, but Peyton must have put the pieces together since Mrs. Mitchell is the closest thing to family I have left.
“What?” He asked surprised. “Heaven, I don’t think you get it. I didn’t fly all this way to leave without you. I’ve come to take you home to our condo. I’ve already gotten the keys and purchased a few things, but I want to you to decorate it—” I stop him mid-sentence.
“Landon, I’m not leaving with you. I accept your apology and I’m glad you don’t hate me after I’ve just shared my darkest secret, but we’re no good for each other. I love you deeply, but you hurt me. You have the power to destroy me like no other. I just can’t forget how much you broke me or how broken I still am. I have to make strides to take that power back Landon.” I get up from the table. I just have to be strong long enough for him to leave out that door.
“I don’t accept that Heaven. You are my world. Without you, nothing else matters. Not school, not football, nothing. I can’t lose you. I reacted badly, but I’m begging you for another chance.” Damn he is ripping my heart out. This is why he has to go. He’s using that power that I just talked about.
“Please Landon. Just go!” I yell as the tears fall harder than before. I run up the stairs taking two at a time until I’m behind the closed doors of my room. I collapse onto my bed and scream into my pillow. I know this is for the best, but it doesn’t make the pain go away. I refuse to leave my room. With each passing hour, my resolve weakens and I regret my decision to let Landon go. I can feel the little progress I’ve made over the last two weeks at numbing myself to the pain, slither away. Mrs. Mitchell has already been by twice to bring me food, but I haven’t eaten any of it. Both plates still sit on the dresser. It’s late and she has decided to try once again. She brings me the dinner that I missed earlier.
“Nevaeh. This isn’t healthy,” she begins. “I told myself that I wouldn’t get involved. I wanted you to work out your issues on your own, but I have to say this. That boy loves you. I can see it in the depths of his eyes. He is hurting as bad as you are right now. I don’t know what he did, but you’re both miserable without each other.”
“Mrs. Mitchell, I do love him, but I don’t like the power he has to hurt me. When he gets upset with me, he uses this power. I just think we’ve been through too much for us to work. I know he loves me, but I don’t know if we’re good for each other.” I half sit up on the bed. This is the first time I’ve expressed my true fear out loud.
“Nevaeh, it’s not my choice to make, but I will offer you some wisdom. Relationships take work from both involved. Things are not always shiny and pretty like in the movies. I can see the love you two share. It’s the kind of foundation you build on. You work through your issues and it will only strengthen your relationship. That man worships the ground you walk on. You just don’t throw that away girl. You fight to hold on to a love like that. Tell him what you just told me and give him a chance to prove himself to you. If he screws that chance up, at least you can live without regrets.” I take in everything she’s saying and I realize she is right. At the very least I owe him a second chance, especially since he has given me two. The first time is when we rekindled our relationship after I broke his heart the first time and again now after he’s learned the ugly truth about my past.
“What if I’m too late? What if he’s thrown in the towel? He’s probably back at school with another girl in his bed by now to erase my memory.” That visual hurts to think about. The blonde pops into my mind.
“I don’t think that’s likely dear, seeing as though he is passed out on the sofa downstairs,” she smiles.
“What?” I can’t believe he’s still here. Exactly fourteen hours has passed since I saw him this morning.
“He has been on the front porch all day, refusing to leave. I brought food out to him and he was very thankful. He ate the food, but he wouldn’t come in at first. Tonight I insisted that he stop being stubborn and come in. After dinner, he crashed on the sofa. Let me just tell you. He is every bit of an emotional mess as you are. I’ll leave you to think about that.” After she leaves, I don’t have to think long. He stayed.
I WALK OVER TO the sofa where Landon is sleeping and lightly tap him on the shoulder. It’s completely dark, with the exception of a slither of moonlight shining through the sheer curtains. I can just see him wiping the sleep from his eyes. He sits up, unsure what to do next. I grab his hand and pull him up. The moonlight casts a light across his sad features. I head towards my room, with his hand still in mine. Once we’re behind closed doors and in the light, I can see how red and swollen his eyes are. He must have cried himself to sleep. I know the feeling well. Fuck words. I have to have this man now. I have to take his pain away. I grab both sides of his face and bring his lips to mine. I can feel his shoulders relax as he deepens the kiss. Tears of relief well in my eyes.
“I love you Heaven,” he says breaking our kiss. “Please say you’ll come home with me baby.” He wipes the tears from my eyes as I nod yes.
“I love you too Landon. I’m ready for us to finally have a real chance.” And it’s true. Everything is out in the open and he still chose me.
“Me too baby. I’m not perfect, but I promise to do everything in my power to never see hurt in your eyes again.” I answer him by pulling down his sweats and boxer briefs.
I watch as his cock rises to attention. He kicks his sweats off and pulls his shirt over his head. I take a second to admire his naked perfection. I can’t believe he is all mine. He quirks an eyebrow at my perusal.
“Have you missed your cock baby?” Again, I nod and a wicked smile crosses his lips. This is the man I needed here with me—my confident alpha male. “You have too many clothes on,” he says gesturing to the tank and panties I’m still wearing. I remove my panties first while he drinks me in. My tank is barely over my head before he’s picking me up. I wrap my legs around his waist. I can feel his dick nudging at my entrance.
“Fuck me Landon,” I beg. I know we’re going to have to be quiet. Mrs. Mitchell’s bedroom is down the hall.
“With pleasure love. Jesus, your pussy is soaking wet already,” he exclaims as he slides in to the hilt. “This first time is going to be quick baby. It’s been so long, I was starting to go through withdrawals.” His first thrust is powerful and I bite my lip to keep from screaming out. He wraps his hands in my hair the way I like and begins to pound into me. His thick cock fills me to capacity and touches every spot I need it to. I hold on for the ride as he bounces me on his dick at an accelerated pace. I squeeze and savor every inch of his girth and it causes him to fuck me even faster.
“Landon,” I pant in his ear. “I’m going to come.”
“Fuck yes. Come on me baby. Show me how much you love this dick.” The grit in his tone is raw and sexy. He gives my hair a tug and it is all that I need to giv
e him just what he’s asking for. I scream his name—forgetting where I am. He quickly covers my screams with a kiss. He groans into my mouth as he begins to come with me. His hips buck as he empties himself in me. We bask in the afterglow for a few minutes just holding onto each other and bringing our breathing under control. He finally sets me back on my feet. I think he is done with me until he turns me away from him and bends me over my dresser.
“Spread your legs Heaven.” I do as he says, ready to take what he is getting ready to give me. He enters me from behind and I can’t help but back my ass into him. He slaps my ass and I welcome the sting. “I need to reclaim this pussy. Tonight you will have no reprieve. You’re mine,” he growls. I grind against him with each stroke. He reaches forward and massages my clit as he gives me the fucking of my life. My hips are out of control as I begin to fuck him back. I need him harder—deeper still. He answers my silent request by matching the tempo I’ve set. He slams into me and I moan my approval.
“Oh Landon, you have an amazing fucking cock,” I praise.
“I love you out of control sweetheart—the rawness that spews from your lips makes my dick rock hard. You want it rough, deep, hard. You want me balls deep and I am going to give you just that.” His hips piston forward as he gives me everything that I want. I can’t get enough. My pussy clenches him with every stroke. “You’re going to make me explode if you keep clenching my dick like that sweetheart,” he warns. I can’t help it. His aggressive fucking is taking me to new heights of pleasure. He purposefully angles his hips and rewards me with a wicked grin. He knows what that move does to me. He turns my face to the side and captures my lips in a passionate kiss in anticipation of the fucking scream that is ripped from me. It comes out as a long ass moan instead as I come all over his thick cock. He’s not far behind me and I milk every last drop of his orgasm from him.
We move to the bed and I lose count of the number of orgasms that Landon brings me to. He was supposed to return to his place on the sofa before daylight, but we are both spent. We tell each other that we’re just going to cuddle for a little bit and then he will go back downstairs before Mrs. Mitchell gets up. We’re both grown, but we want to show her respect—not that we showed any to her house. It couldn’t be helped. Needless to say that plan was an epic fail.
A knock at the door has me jumping up. Landon’s legs are tangled with mine. The morning light brings with it exquisite memories of last night, but now we’re about to be busted. Maybe she’ll think Landon left. Yeah right.
“Nevaeh, breakfast is ready,” Mrs. Mitchell calls through the door.
“Okay,” I answer so she doesn’t come in. I don’t think we put the lock on the door last night. He was supposed to be back downstairs before sunrise.
“Oh and bring Landon with you. I know he’s in there.” She doesn’t wait for me to answer. I can hear her walking away. Damn. We are so busted. Landon and I get dressed and head downstairs. We take a seat at the kitchen table, neither of us can look at her. I know she has to know what we got up to last night.
“I’m sorry,” I finally say as she puts food on the table.
“Nothing to be sorry about Nevaeh,” she reassures. “I knew that nature would take its course. I just had to let you know that he was downstairs. I’m glad to see I wasn’t wrong. The glow you’re both sporting is telling,” she smiles. I hang my head so she doesn’t see my face flush crimson. “Don’t be embarrassed dear. These walls are thin.”
“Oh. My. God.” I gasp. Landon and Mrs. Mitchell both laugh and I blush harder. That fucker is not even ashamed. That’s men for you.
“So, I’m guessing you’ll be leaving to go back with Landon?” I nod because I can’t talk over this lump still in my throat. “Good. It’s been nice having you here, but it’s not where you belong.” We eat breakfast and Mrs. Mitchell uses this time to get acquainted with Landon.
I step away to call Peyton from my prepaid phone. She totally tore me a new one. She confirmed that she was the one who told Landon where to find me. I swear she curses me out for at least thirty minutes for the grief I put her through. After that, she calms down. She tells me that Giselle has let the apartment go and moved into the sorority house. She just started dating one of their frat brothers so she’s not hurting too much it seems.
“I’m moving back,” I tell her.
“Duh. I knew there was no way in hell Landon was coming back without you once I turned him loose on your trail,” she laughs.
“It’s too late for this semester, but I’ll re-enroll for the spring. I’ll use the down time to get a job to save some money and work on my first book.”
“You do know that Landon tore up that check the minute I handed it to him. That ten grand is still sitting in your account.”
“Ugh. That money just feels so dirty now. It has baggage and everything I despise about my past attached to it,” I say.
Peyton snorts. “Fuck that. That creepy fucker owes you for all the shit he put you through, not to mention the bruises. He took advantage of a sensitive situation from the start. Don’t think about that slimy asshole. Take that money and move forward.” Peyton is a force to be reckoned with when she gets wound up.
“I guess you’re right. All of this started with his manipulation of my vulnerability.” I can’t say that I will use the money, but I’m content to let it sit in the account for now. Peyton and I say our goodbyes and hang up. All is right in the world. I have the two people I love the most back in my life, a condo to go home to, and a fresh start without skeletons keeping me on the edge. This is a new chapter in my life that I can finally look forward to.
PEYTON AND I ARE at Landon’s championship game and our team is kicking ass. I jump up and down with the rest of the crowd as Landon completes a Hail Mary pass for a touchdown right before half time. Our team leads by seven. We’re all pumped up and excited for our boys. I don’t even flinch at the sexual comments some of the women are making about ‘Thor.’ He’s mine. Eat your heart out bitches. I smile to myself. Let them have their fantasy, I have the man. I’m the object of his desire. I have no idea that I’m about to find out how true that statement is.
The band and flag corp enter the field to start the halftime show. Peyton hops up and starts pulling toward the front row. I think she wants a closer view of the show until we are let onto the field. What the fuck is going on? I see Landon walking back out of the tunnel with his team behind him. The band begins to play John Legends’ “All of Me” and I’m speechless. Tears sting my eyes because Landon is being romantic. I don’t know what he’s up to, but I know he isn’t a big fan of public displays of affection—unless he is trying to make me jealous, but we’re past that. He stops in front of me and someone hands him a mic. I think he is going to sing for me so I laugh.
Upon closer inspection I see that the band has formed a heart formation. My heart slams against my chest as I realize for the first time what all of this may be for. When he gets down on one knee, my suspicions are confirmed. Peyton squeals behind me.
“Heaven, you are my world. You’re the air that I need to breathe. I want to spend forever with you. Will you do the honor of becoming my wife?” Just as he pops the question, the jumbo tron comes goes live with us on the big screen. ‘Will You Marry Me?’ is written in bold letters across the top. I’m shaking I’m so freaking happy. I only wish my mom was here for this moment. I finally get my happily ever after.
“Yes!” I cry. “Yes. I will marry you. I love you.” The crowd goes wild. The clapping and stomping is thunderous in the stands.
“I love you baby. You’ve just made me the happiest man in the world.” He slides a humongous ass diamond on my finger before giving me a sexy grin. He moves to the side and I see his dad followed by Mrs. Mitchell coming through the crowd of his team to join us. His dad and I had already settled our differences when he learned the truth and I knew he was here for the championship game. I’m shocked that Mrs. Mitchell is here. The planning that he and Peyton must have
done to make this moment as special as possible, must have taken them weeks.
“Oh Landon, I can’t believe you did all of this. When did you have time to plan all of this?” Peyton and Mrs. Mitchell look at each other with knowing smiles.
“With plenty of help from those two,” he confirms, gesturing towards Peyton and Mrs. Mitchell. “I wanted my proposal to be as memorable as our wedding will be. We began planning the moment I brought you back home with me a few months ago.” His satisfied smile has my heart bursting at the seams.
“Yeah, and I helped pick out that two carat rock on your finger,” Peyton chimes in. “You’re welcome.” The princess cut is beautiful. They did a great job finding a ring that I would have chosen. I hug Peyton before sticking my tongue out at her in our usual banter. Mrs. Mitchell regards us with watery eyes.
I pull her into a hug and cry. I’m so happy. She is my stand in since my mom couldn’t witness this moment. Landon’s thoughtfulness is just an inkling of why I love him so much. She knew all along that he was the one.
“I told you that man worshipped the ground you walked on. I knew then he was a keeper. He wanted this moment to be absolutely perfect. I have to say, I wasn’t surprised when I got the call. I knew he was going to make you his wife. You’re a keeper too,” she smiles.