“Take your hands off her.”
Blue-green eyes pierce mine, fear filling them. An unfamiliar face blends with the face in front of me.
“I can take it all away from you, you know that? I have the means and the money. I can bury you, make you wish you’d never gotten in my way. If it wasn’t for you getting in my way, we’d still be together.”
“You’re the reason you’re not together anymore. She finally saw you for who you really are—a sleazy, arrogant, spoiled rich boy who can’t handle it when he doesn’t get what he wants. I’ll tear you limb from fucking limb. Stay away from her.”
Flinging his arm up, he breaks my contact and shoves at me.
The man in front of me has broken from my hold, his hands up in the air.
“Sorry, man. I don’t want any trouble.”
Kyle is at my back, letting me know he’s there to help. I nod to the guy, and he slips through the crowd, disappearing.
Taking each side, Kyle and Alex catch me before my leg gives out.
“You okay, bro? You don’t look good.”
Head foggy, I shake it and try to focus on the here and now.
“Let’s go back to the house,” Alex insists. “He needs to rest.”
“Yeah,” is all I can mutter amid the confusion.
Outside, the cool night air is refreshing against the stickiness of my damp shirt and skin. Arm around Alex, she’s staring at me, concern filling her beautiful green eyes.
“What’s wrong? You look like you don’t feel well. Did you hurt yourself walking?”
“No.”
Adrenaline plummeting, the physical exertion and the harsh memory of my fight with Todd has me rattled, my body tensing. Kissing her cheek, I give a forced smile.
“I’m okay.”
“You’re not okay, I can tell.”
“I’ll be okay, I promise. I just need some sleep.”
Ahead of us, Jane is calling a taxi. With Alex’s assistance, I take careful steps toward the bench along the street. An ear-piercing squeal of tires draws our attention to the road. Bumper to bumper, a blue car and a white car crash into each other. The clash of metal is a strident echo into the night. The sounds shake me to my core.
Looking down at Todd, I see the hint of fear.
“Stay. Away. From. Her.”
I turn to leave. My muscles tighten at the tension of a man’s hand on my shoulder. Spinning, Todd’s fist clocks my jaw.
“Fuck,” I blurt, collapsing onto the bench.
Turning the corner, I see a gorgeous woman standing by the entrance of the gym. Bold green eyes are filled with lust as she watches me lower my shirt.
“Hey, you must be my nine o’clock. I’m Carter.”
“Carter? Are you ok?”
Alex’s voice is distant, my head aching, the memories coming too fast.
“Kyle, can you get him some water, please? He looks like he’s going to be sick.”
Arm resting on the weight machine, I toss my towel over my shoulder.
“I’ve seen you in here trying to bulk up. You mind if I give you some pointers?”
“For sure, especially if it gets me biceps like those,” Kyle jokes, pointing at my arms.
“Carter? You all right?”
“Jane’s planning a party at our place. You should come. Alex will be there.”
“Carter, look at me.”
A soft hand on my face, my eyes are met with emerald ones.
“Focus on me, take a slow, deep breath.”
Pulling her against me, I hug her tight, breathing in her vanilla scent as more memories flash in and out of my mind.
***
Showered and in my briefs, I lay against the pillow, Alex tucked under my arm. My beautiful Alex, sleeping so peacefully. Caressing my hand along her arm, I indulge in the feel of her soft skin and the way she smells. All familiar to me.
Taking her hand in mine, I raise it to my lips and tenderly kiss her fingertips. She stirs slightly, snuggling closer to me.
“I love you, beautiful.”
Awakened by my voice, she moves her body, running her hand over my chest, giving me wanted pleasure with her touch.
“Mmm, Carter…you okay?”
“Yeah, don’t worry. I’m feeling better. Thank you for tonight. You helped calm me down.”
With an expression full of adoration, she looks up at me, rubbing her hand along my cheek and jaw. “I’m here for you…always.”
Words I once said to her and I know she means them. She’s been there since the moment I woke up with endless support and patience.
Turning her on her back, I lower myself, kissing her sweet lips. She melts beneath me, her body going soft, her hands holding me close. With slow, anticipative movements, I slide her underwear off her hips, never taking my lips from hers.
Hand to my briefs, she slips beneath them, stroking me in her hand. Biting her bottom lip, I release it gradually.
“Tell me you love me again.”
“I love you, Carter, more than anything.”
“Nothing sounds sweeter than those words coming from your lips.”
Removing the fabric between us, I slide between her open legs, completely losing myself in her love.
CHAPTER FORTY-NINE
—
CARTER
“Shit, man, you remember?”
Glancing over Kyle’s shoulder, I ensure the girls are out of earshot. Toes in the sand, they’re both sunbathing by the shore.
“How much do you remember?” Standing by the pool, his brown eyes are wide with enthusiasm.
“A lot. The memories have been coming since last night and after I woke up this morning. Dr. Keller was right, they’re coming in pieces and in random order. Some of it’s confusing, but I remember the first time we met. Playing Xbox at your house. I remember the St. Patrick’s Day party where Alex and I had our first kiss. The memories started coming after I remembered my fight with Todd. The son-of-a-bitch took a cheap shot to my jaw. I don’t remember what happened after that.”
“Sounds like something he’d do, knowing face-to-face, you’d annihilate him. But fuck that, your memories are coming back! This is great news! When are you going to tell Alex?”
“I’m not ready to tell her yet. I want to surprise her, and the timing needs to be right for that. There are a few things I need to do first.”
Kyle pulls me in for a hug, patting me on the back.
“I won’t say anything until you’re ready. But damn, man, it feels good to know you remember.”
Coming out of his hug, I tip my head toward the girls. “They’re on their way up here.”
Dropping into a patio chair, I smile up at Alex in her dark green bikini and sexy beach wavy hair. Her grin is wide as she falls into my lap, kissing me on the cheek.
“I have an idea if you guys are up for joining me.”
Looking at her with interest, I twirl a strand of her chocolate hair around my finger.
“What do you have in mind, beautiful?”
“I want to get a tattoo.”
Mouth curving, my eyes roam over her sexy body, then return to her exquisite eyes.
“What would you like to get and where?”
“A saying that has stuck with me. I was thinking here,” she points to her lower, left side.
Grazing my thumb across her bare skin, I imagine how gorgeous she’d look with ink there. Eyes full of lust, she watches me as I caress her skin. I have no doubt we’re both remembering last night and how good it felt.
“It’ll hurt getting it on your side, but I’ll hold your hand through it.”
With a quick squeal of excitement, her smile beams.
“I’m going to get one too,” Jane grins. “I want something cute on my wrist.”
Kyle drapes an arm over her shoulder. “Tattoos are addictive, babe. You can’t get just one.”
“We’ll see. I only want one. Just something small and cute.”
Kyle kisses her cheek and pulls ba
ck smiling. “Yeah, we’ll see.”
“I looked into the options before coming and there’s a shop called Paradise Ink that had a lot of great reviews online.”
“You want to go now?”
“Yes,” she says, her enthusiasm evident.
“You won’t be able to get in the ocean, pool, or hot tub for the rest of the night,” I warn.
“That’s okay. I’m hoping going early can get us in.”
“All right. Let’s get cleaned up and get going.”
It doesn’t take us long to find the tattoo shop. When I enter, I hear the familiar buzzing of tattoo needles, and I’m brought back to the day I got the tattoo in memory of my father. Pain, harsh and unexpected slams into my gut.
“It looks good, C. Dad would like it,” Kevin tells me, looking over my fresh ink.
“I miss him.”
“I do too.”
A visit to see Kevin is one of the first things I’ll be doing when I get home. I can imagine his reaction now. Glancing over at Alex, I see she’s nervous, nibbling her lip. Putting my arm around her, I rub her back.
“It’ll be fine,” I assure her. “You’ll love it when it’s all done.”
With my reassurance, she stops nibbling her lip and leans into me.
A tall man, with his hair pulled back into a ponytail and tattoos covering all his visible skin except his face looks up at us and tips his head.
“Welcome to Paradise Ink. Coming in for a tattoo or piercing?”
“Tattoo for her,” I tell him.
“All right. I can get you in, in about thirty minutes. Just need your driver’s license and for you to fill out this form and sign it.” Handing Alex a clipboard, he points to the highlighted signature line.
“I’m going to get one too,” Jane shares, stepping up to the counter.
“Are either of you getting something big or detailed?”
They both shake their heads no.
“Ok, then I can get you in too. Driver’s license and sign here.”
Thirty-five minutes later, Jane and Alex are sitting in tattoo chairs next to each other.
“What do you want done today?” Ponytail asks.
Raising her shirt, she points to her lower side. “I’d like, She conquered her demons and wears her scars like wings, written in cursive with some kind of bird or wings.”
“All right. Let me put together a drawing and see what you think.”
He walks off, and I wink at her. “That’s gonna be a beautiful tattoo.”
With a girly grin, she takes my hand into her lap, rubbing her thumb over my fingers.
“I’m nervous it’s going to hurt really bad.”
“It will at first, but then your endorphins will kick in, and it won’t be so bad. Plus, I’m here. When it hurts squeeze my hand.”
“I love you. I’m so glad you’re here with me.”
Brushing her hair away from her face, I caress her cheek. “I know, beautiful. It means a lot to me that I get to be here with you for your first tattoo, especially one so special.”
“I love it!”
Jane’s voice pulls our attention her direction. Her tattoo artist has the ink outline on her wrist. She’s staring at it, grinning.
“What do you think?” she asks, raising her wrist for all of us to see.
It’s an infinity symbol with a small phoenix bird outline as part of the curved side of the infinity symbol. The artist did a nice job drawing it. It looks good.
“It’s adorable! I can’t wait to see it when it’s finished,” Alex replies, excited.
“You ready to begin?” Jane’s artist asks.
“Yeah,” she enthuses.
While we wait for Alex’s tattoo artist to return with his drawing, Jane’s begins.
“Oh, my fucking God!” she screams. “That hurts!”
Kyle holds her hand, looking down at her in amusement.
“You’ll be okay, babe. Suck it up.”
If she could move, I think she’d smack him. Her flip-flopped feet try to wiggle, but Kyle gives her a stern expression, warning her to be still. Biting her lip, her cheeks get rosy as she muscles through her pain.
Alex’s hand instinctively squeezes mine as she watches Jane struggle. Bringing my chair closer, I lean into her ear, using my other hand to massage her shoulder and upper back.
“Don’t be nervous. You can handle anything.”
Head turned my direction, she looks me in the eyes, studying me. The recognizable longing fills her irises followed by the expression I’ve come to love, the one that tells me she adores me and loves me with all she has to give.
Soon, beautiful. Soon I’ll make everything right.
Ponytail arrives, and she takes a calm breath before looking at his drawing. Moisture fills her eyes as she stares at it.
“It’s perfect.”
“Turn to your side for me.”
Shoulders lowered, she’s composed as she raises her shirt. Placing the paper on her skin, he smooths it out, getting the guidelines set correctly. Peeling the paper off, we both look at the drawing on her skin. Emerald eyes light up as she looks at it, then at me.
I know what this emotional journey is like for her. It’s more than just ink on her skin. This is her way of letting go, another step toward healing. It’s her way of saying, I have scars, but I’ve overcome the wounds.
Taking my hand, her green eyes look up at me with a mixture of apprehension and self-assurance before she pinches them closed.
“Open your eyes. I want to know how you’re feeling through this.”
Sitting up, she removes her tank top then lowers herself as I move between her legs. Holding my tip, I move it against her clit, and her eyes close as I’m covered in her silky wetness.
“Open your eyes, beautiful. I want to see everything you’re feeling.”
Bright, green eyes meet my gaze as I slowly slide my head into her. Beneath me, her pleasured moans grow louder as I thrust deeper.
“Carter…you feel incredible.”
“You do too, beautiful, so damn good.”
“Please don’t stop loving me like this.”
The arousing memory fades, and I bring her fingers to my lips, kissing them as the needle touches her skin.
***
An hour and a half later, Alex gradually rises from the chair, stretching her arms and shoulders. Keeping her shirt lifted, she walks to the mirror, and her pretty eyes are alight with joy.
“It’s stunning. I love it!” Finger curving around the inked and red skin, she traces the outside of the tattoo.
“Let’s get it wrapped,” Dillon, her artist, tells her.
Hurrying back to the chair, she sits still while he puts cream on it then covers it.
“Remove the bandage within three hours, then wash your tattoo with anti-bacterial liquid soap. Gently pat your tattoo dry with a paper towel. For the first four days, rub a small amount of ointment on your tattoo. Stay out of the ocean, pools, and hot tubs. You can get an infection because this is an open wound.”
“Got it,” she assures him.
Lowering her shirt, she stands and comes to me, her grin wide and her cheeks rosy as she throws her arms around my neck.
“I would not have been able to get through that without you. Thank you.”
Needy for her kiss, I claim her lips, holding her head in my hand, tangling my fingers in her hair. She pulls back, blushing, and I give her ass a squeeze.
“You handled that like a boss.”
She giggles, and I wink at her.
“Let’s check out, beautiful. It’s our last night here and I want it to be unforgettable.”
***
Sitting on the sand, the cool ocean water whips across my feet. Arms folded on my elbows, I stare into the yellow and gray horizon. Awake before Alex, I practiced walking without a cane, determined to have my feet touch the ocean water without assistance. Keeping my mind focused on the sensation in my thigh with each step, I was able to achieve my goal.
It may be a small feat, but it tells me I can do this. With practice, I can walk on my own again.
Behind me, I hear someone approaching. Quietly, Alex sits next to me. Reaching my arm out, she snuggles up to my side and leans her head against my chest.
“It’s so beautiful here. I don’t want to go home.”
“It is. This trip has been the escape I needed.”
“Me too. I loved every minute of it. Especially being with you and waking up with you.”
Looking at her, I see the sadness in her eyes. For her, she feels like this is a separation, going back to two separate homes, two separate lives.
“Alex,” placing my hand under her chin, I raise her gaze to mine. “I want you to move in with me.”
“Are you sure?” Eyes full of surprise they moisten with emotion. “This isn’t too fast for you, is it?”
Always so caring, so considerate of me. Rubbing her cheek, my mouth creases into a smile.
“No, it’s not. I know what I want, and that’s you…in my life, in my home, and in my bed.” A single tear falls from her eye and I swipe it away. “Will you, move in with me?”
She laughs to herself as if my question is foolish.
“The better question is when can I move in?”
Running my hand over her face and hair, she tilts into my touch.
“This weekend.”
“That’s perfect.” Leaning up, she holds my face to hers, giving me as much passion in her kiss as I know she feels.
CHAPTER FIFTY
—
ALEX
As I load up my car with my first run to Carter’s house, a feeling of elation courses through me. I’ve barely seen him this week, but he’s made it a priority to call and text me often and came over for dinner and to stay the night in the middle of the week. He’s apologized for being busy, but I understand. He’s had a job interview, physical therapy, an appointment with his therapist and Dr. Keller, and spent a lot of time this week with his family, especially Kevin. It’s made me miss him though and even more thankful we’ll be living together.
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