by KD Jones
Trig needed to speak with Zara alone. They had some things they needed to straightened out. The opportunity arose the next morning when everyone met at Zara’s suite. Trig walked into the suite and frowned. Torch was already there and they had ordered breakfast. Trig ignored the man and walked over to the table where they sat and handed a bag to Angel.
“What is this?” Angel asked.
“Thought you might like something else to wear.”
Damn it! Zara had not even thought about what Angel was wearing. There were so many more things that Angel was going to need. She had a spare bedroom in her suite, but it wasn’t set up for a child. She felt like a failure already.
“Thanks, Trig!” The little girl’s eyes gleamed pulling out a new pair of jeans and a t-shirt.
“No problem, sunshine.” He turned to look at Zara who didn’t seem all that happy. “Zara, could I speak with you alone for a few minutes?”
“Okay.” Zara stood and looked around for where they might go to talk.
Trig took her hand and pulled her back to her bedroom. He closed the door.
“What’s this all about?!” Zara demanded.
Trig took her into his arms and kissed her. His lips were hard and demanding. They were persistent. He continued his onslaught until she gave in to him and opened up in surrender. God he needed this. He needed her. Reluctantly he released her and stepped back.
“We have unfinished business between us,” he said with a deep timbre.
“I can’t…not right now. I have to put all my effort into helping Angel. She needs me.”
“I understand that, but know this, Zara…I am in love with you. I want to share my life with you and your daughter.”
Zara tried to turn her back on him but he wouldn’t let her. “Please, Trig. I have to focus…”
“What do you feel for me?” Trig asked, lowering his voice.
“It’s not that simple,” she barely whispered.
“Answer my question!” He stared her in the eyes, waiting.
“I love you! Okay? I am totally in love with you. I have never felt like this for any other male, ever. I don’t know what to do about it. How I feel about you doesn’t change things. I have a daughter that I need to connect with. Right now, she doesn’t trust me. I don’t blame her, I really don’t. But she has to come first.”
Trig touched her face gently. Her blue eyes shined with unshed tears. They were there on the verge, just not falling. “I agree. Angel has to come first. She is a child and will need the majority of your attention. But I want to be there with you, to help you take care of her.”
“But…” Zara started to interrupt him but he kissed her soundly.
“Think about us. I have to stay to help with the other children. But when I am done here, I am coming for you and I want that answer.”
“Trig…” she tried to plead with him, but he turned and opened the door to the bedroom. He walked out and Torch and Angel watched him carefully. He approached Angel again and knelt by her where she sat at the table. “I have to go, sunshine.”
“You’re leaving?” She looked between Trig and Zara.
“I have to stay here and make sure all your friends have good safe homes like you will have.”
“I thought you were coming with us.”
“I will come later. I promise. Could you walk me to the elevator? There is something confidential I wanted to tell you.”
Angel nodded her head and stood. She reached for Trig’s hand and they walked out of the suite down the hallway to the elevators.
Zara and Torch watched as Trig said something to Angel. She nodded her head at him. “What is he telling her?” Torch asked.
“I don’t know.”
“You and him are serious?” Torch looked at her with a frown.
“I am focused on Angel right now.”
“Good. He’s a puny human.” Torch smiled smugly.
Zara growled at him. “I love him so back off.”
“Fine.” Torch turned to go back inside the suite.
Trig entered the elevator. Angel waved goodbye and turned back toward the suite. When Angel got closer, Zara couldn’t help but ask, “What did Trig have to say?”
“He said it wasn’t your fault what happened to me and you have been looking for me for a really long time. He said that sometimes the best way to beat the bad guys is to let the anger go and live your life to the fullest.”
“Was that all?”
“No. He also said he was in love with you. He said he wanted to marry you and hoped to adopt me so I would legally be his daughter.”
Zara was floored. He said that? He was serious then. Holy shit. “What do you think of all that?”
“I told him that he better hurry up because Uncle Torch was interested in you too.”
*****
They arrived at the GCFA ship four and a half hours after they finished their breakfast. Zara felt like she was home as soon as she boarded the ship. But what kind of home would this be to raise her child? Would Angel like it here?
She hadn’t expected to see any of her friends, but some were there waiting for her in the lobby. It was Rage, Rachel, Talon, a pregnant Lindy, Taurus, Maya, and Maya’s two adopted children, Luke and Lucy.
Zara walked up to her friends who greeted her with a formal hello. Except for Maya and her kids. They hugged on Zara, who hugged them back. She turned to introduce Tiger’s brother.
“This is my…Angel’s, Uncle Torch.”
The males greeted Torch with a firm handshake and a little bit of suspicion.
Zara then introduced her daughter. “This is my daughter, Angel.”
“It is so nice to meet you,” Lindy said with a kind smile.
“Welcome to the family.” Maya reached out to hug a surprised Angel. Maya’s kids took Angel, hugging her too.
They all went to the elevator and took it up to Zara’s suite. She felt nervous. She wanted to make Angel happy, but she was pretty much clueless on how to do that. She was never a mothering type of person. How was she going to become one overnight?
Talon helped Lindy sit on the couch and Rage and Rachel stood behind them.
“You live here?” Angel asked, looking around the suite.
Zara didn’t have much. This was where she lived year round. She didn’t have a second residence for off-circuit times as the other fighters did. “I do. I haven’t had a chance to get things set up for you. But I’ll get whatever you need.” She led her over to the second bedroom that she rarely used.
“This will be your room. It’s not much but you can do anything you like to it.” She opened the door and was shocked.
The once sparse bland room had been decorated. Pink and purple flowers were painted on the walls. A canopy princess style bed was a big feature. There were tubs lined against one wall with all kinds of toys.
“Oh my gosh! This is awesome!” Angel exclaimed, running into her new room. She ran over and checked out this and that. Maya’s kids went inside to show her things they helped pick out.
“How?” Zara looked at her friends in shock.
Maya came up beside her, smiling as she watched the kids playing together. “Trig called me and Taurus right after you guys found her. We didn’t want you to bring Angel home to nothing so we all pitched in. All the male fighters painted and moved furniture around. The women all went shopping. The kids, mine and Hammer’s, helped pick out all the toys.”
“But why?” Zara watched the happiness shine on her daughters face. That was priceless.
“Because…you’re family,” Maya said sincerely.
Zara turned to look at her friend and a tear escaped. She hugged the smaller female to her with all the gratitude that she felt. Maybe a little too much gratitude.
“I…can’t…breath,” Maya said breathlessly.
“Oh…I’m sorry.” Zara released her immediately. Both women laughed.
“It’s okay. We wanted to throw a welcome party but had to postpone that for a bit.
Trig said the IDJ and the GCFA lawyers would have to address what happened in order to insure that you are granted full custody of Angel.”
“But I am her mother.” Zara frowned. Why hadn’t Trig told her all this?
“Trig says it's just a formality, but he will stay until it is all resolved. We will plan a spectacular welcome party though.”
“You don’t have to do that,” Zara told her, watching her daughter again.
“We all want to. Plus, it will allow all the kids to come and get to know one another.”
“Okay.”
“Excuse me,” Torch said from behind them. He walked past them and into Angel’s room. He looked out of place amongst all the soft pink, girly stuff. “I brought you something for your room,” he told Angel. He walked over to the dresser and placed something on it. He stood back.
“What is it?” Angel asked as she walked up to the dresser.
“It’s a picture of me and your father, Tiger.”
Angel studied the image. She easily recognized her uncle, but the other man was the one that drew her attention. She picked up the picture. “He has brown eyes like mine.”
Zara had moved closer and smiled. “Yes. I loved his eyes. They were warm and kind. You have so much of him in you. I am grateful for that.”
Angel turned and hugged Torch. “Thanks, Uncle Torch.”
He patted her head. “No problem.”
“When do you plan to leave?” Angel asked Torch.
“Well, I thought I would stay here and spend time with you.”
“You’re staying here? What about your job?”
“Rage and Talon said I could try out for a spot on the GCFA circuit since Talon is on family leave.”
“Yay!” Angel hugged her uncle.
*****
A couple of hours later Zara was able to close the door on everyone sending them off to their own suites. Angel had played and gotten along great with Maya’s kids. She went to Angel’s bedroom and sat down on the edge of the bed.
Angel opened her eyes. “I felt a connection to you whenever I watched you on T.V.”
“I am so sorry I could not find you sooner.” She brushed a loose strand of hair from Angel’s face.
“What do we do now?”
“We take it day by day and get to know each other.”
“I’m glad you’re my mother.”
“I’m glad too.”
“Will you stay until I fall asleep?”
“Of course.” It didn’t take long. Angel had had a very busy day. She tucked the sheets up under her arms and kissed her forehead. She stood and walked to the door, looking back one more time before heading off to her own bedroom. She could easily see herself doing this every night. Everything would be exactly right. She would have everything she had ever wanted. There was only one thing that was missing from this perfect picture—Trig.
Chapter Eighteen
Each day was a new experience for Zara. Some days were good and some days were bad. She and Angel were learning about each other and they were slowly making progress. Sometimes, after a bad day of Angel arguing with her over something, she would feel like she was failing as a mother.
Thank God for her friends. Maya would tell her she felt like that sometimes too. She said parents were the most critical of themselves and that she shouldn’t beat herself up so much over things.
Her other saving grace was when Trig would call. Sometimes he would do a video call and she enjoyed looking into his beautiful blue eyes. She missed him so much. More than she thought she would for anyone. Every night she would go to bed dreaming of him. She always woke up needing him and her body burned for his touch. She understood he had a job to do, but she wanted him back with her.
Today he had called and asked to speak with Angel. It made Zara curious so she stood to the side and listened in on their conversation. Angel had put it on speaker so she could hear Trig while she continued to play.
“Hey there, sweetheart. You doing okay?”
“I guess so.”
Trig knew something was wrong immediately from her tone. “What’s wrong, sunshine?”
“I think I made Zara mad about leaving my toys out, instead of putting them away. I don’t see what the big deal is,” Angel said with a frown.
“So…you think she came down too hard on you?”
Angel paused as she thought about it. “No. She told me several times that I needed to clean up after myself. I just got carried away playing that I lost track of time. I didn’t mean to make her mad. Do you think she hates me?”
Zara wanted to scream out NEVER but then they would know she had eavesdropped on their conversation.
“Honey, you have no worries there. I have never know a woman to love her child sight unseen for years like your mom loves you. All you have to do is love her back and show her that by doing as she asks you to.”
“I will do my best,” Angel admitted.
“That is good to hear.”
“When are you coming back?”
“I have three more kids to find homes for. I want to make sure the families taking them in are the right fit. But so far, all the families have worked out. I have pictures I’ll bring with me to show you how your friends are doing.”
“Cool. The fighters and their families are throwing me a welcome party. Are you going to come?”
“I will be there. Make sure your mom wears something special for me.”
“Okay. I will. Talk to you later, Trig.”
“See you soon, sweetheart.”
Zara quickly walked away from the door so Angel didn’t see her there. She had hated getting on Angel about the toys, but all her friends insisted that being a good parent meant establishing rules and teaching children to follow those rules. But that wasn’t what really bothered her.
She picked up the chest she had kept all of Angel’s birthday presents in and carried it to Angel’s room. She knocked on the door.
Angel looked up at her. “Come in.”
Zara walked inside and lowered the chest on Angel’s bed.
“What’s that?”
Zara caressed the carved chest lid with tenderness. “Every year for your birthday, I would get you a present, wrap it up, and put it inside this chest.”
Angel climbed on the bed and knelt in front of the chest. “You did? Why?”
“Because I hoped to find you one day, and because…I have and will always love you.”
“You…do?” Angel looked shocked.
Zara nodded her head. “I may not show it or say it easily, but never doubt it.”
Angel looked at the chest with wonder and curiosity. “May I open it?”
“Of course. It’s yours.” She pushed the box closer to Angel.
Angel carefully opened the lid to the small chest. Inside were ten wrapped items. “Why are there ten instead of eight, since I was separated from you when I was two?”
“I wasn’t able to get anything for you the first two years because I was locked away, so I picked up an item for those two years when I first starting working for the GCFA.”
Angel opened each gift one at a time. Most items had the year on it. Zara had gotten her a teddy bear, two dolls, a diary, a princess costume, a fairy tale book, a silver bracelet with her name engraved, a necklace with an amber stone, a picture frame with little wings on the edges, and the last item…a baby rattle.
Angel didn’t look at Zara, but she moved over so she could hug her. Her voice was filled with emotion. “Thanks, Za…Mom.”
Zara’s heart was beating rapidly. It was the first time Angel had ever called her that. “You’re welcome.”
*****
Zara tucked Angel in bed and went to her own bedroom. It had been a long day. Her cell phone vibrated. She smiled knowing who was calling her. She picked up the phone to answer. “Trig?”
“No, you’re Zara and I am Trig,” he replied, laughing.
Zara sat down on the bed and sprawled out. “How are things going?”
“Was not.”
“You were too.”
She paused and then finally admitted it. “Fine. I was listening.”
“How are you doing, babe?”
“We have our good days and our bad days. Today started out bad and ended good. She called me mom, Trig.”
“That’s good, real good, babe.”
“So…when are you coming back?”
“As soon as I can. Are you missing me?”
She turned and laid on her side. “Yes.”
His voice got huskier. “I am missing you too. I can’t stop thinking about you. I want to touch you and hold you so bad.”
Zara closed her eyes imagining him doing all the things he was saying. “What else would you do?”
Trig smiled at her need to hear him talk dirty. “I would kiss your lips. I love your lips. I would suck on the bottom one. That’s my favorite.”
Zara frowned but still kept her eyes closed. “You have a favorite lip?”
“Shut it, Amazon. This is my dirty talking time.”
She giggled. She rarely giggled but this male made her giddy like…well… like the young girl that she had never gotten to be. He made her happy. “Sorry. Please continue. You were sucking on my lip.”
“Right. I would nibble my way down your neck and work my way to your breasts. I would spend quite a bit of time there, sucking on your gorgeous tits. Just thinking about that has me hard.” Trig was breathing irregular over the line.
So was Zara. “What else?”
“I would slowly work my way across your ripped abs, making a path down to your legs. You have the longest, sexiest pair of legs I have ever seen. I plan to have those legs wrapped around my waist soon. I would continue to make my way back up to your sweet pussy and lick you until your wet. Are your eyes closed, love?”
“Mmmm…yes,” Zara responded, touching her breasts.
“When we are together and I finally get in this position, I want your eyes open and watching. I love seeing the expression on your face as I make you come. Then do you know what will happen after I am done loving you with my mouth?”