by Mia Michelle
Sophie has known all along that I have feelings for him and is absolutely thrilled that we are finally together. She doesn’t even seem to mind that he slept over that night. Right now, things are absolutely perfect.
Maybe they are just little too perfect.
Trevor
I turn up my beer and look around at the smoke-filled bar that I haven’t seen in over five years. No one seems to recognize me with my full beard and cowboy hat. They will never believe that I am back here anyway, especially not after what happened.
I don’t care what anyone thinks or says. That fucking cock tease niece of mine deserved it!
I look at the blonde in the corner and admire how hot her ass looks in the cutoff shorts she is wearing. I blink away my thoughts. I am here for one purpose and one purpose only. That bitch niece of mine is trying to make my life hell. Her fucking rich boyfriend has been hot on my trail, and luckily, I’ve managed to stay at least one-step ahead of him. I’ve got more friends than they give me credit for. They give me the heads up in enough time to make a run to the next city. But I am damn tired of running and I ain’t running anymore.
It’s time to finish what I started. And this time, ain’t nothing or no one going to stop me. Yes, now I think I will have some real fun with my hot little niece. And when I am done playing, I will make damn sure he won’t want her ever again.
Skylar
I leave the ballet studio and bid my friend goodbye. Now that my evenings are free, I love being able to come and help the advanced students with their choreography a couple nights a week. It feels so good to dance again in front of people. Sebastian usually sneaks into the studio every chance he gets to watch me. He always looks at me with such pride in his eyes at the end of each and every one of my dances. Dancing makes me feel like I am getting small bits of myself back and teaching them once again how to live.
I love how I feel alive again. He has given so much of myself back to me.
Time seems to fly by, and before you know it, I have completed my internship program successfully. The time we have spent together lately has been so remarkable, and I feel so blessed to finally have my life back to some sort of normal. With both my sister’s graduation and mine happening this weekend, it has been a crazy and emotional week.
Friday night Sebastian and I watch my sister walk across the stage in her cap and gown. The whole time he tightly holds my hand as I let the tears flow down my proud face. It is times like this that I wish my parents were still here. Moments like this that it hurts so much for them to miss. I smile up to the sky, and know they are beaming down with pride right now.
Sophie has been awarded a full soccer scholarship to Boston University. Even though she doesn’t officially start classes until late August, she will start soccer camp in just a week. I don’t know if I am prepared to be away from her that soon.
Saturday afternoon Sebastian, Nik, Sara, and Sophie cheered for Kylie and I as we both accepted our diplomas. I am beyond moved to see that Sara has come today to see me graduate. Sebastian takes us all out for dinner downtown to celebrate, and as I look around at all the people at our table, my heart warms. Each of these people makes up such an important part of my life. They are truly my family now, in every sense of the word.
Unfortunately, Sebastian has to fly out early the next morning on business. He doesn’t want to wake me when he leaves so we decide that I will just hang with my sister for the rest of the evening. I will miss being in his arms tonight, but I am looking forward to spending some girl time with Sophie.
When we arrive back home, a small brown UPS box is sitting at my front door.
“I bet it’s another gift from your man,” Sophie teases me. I smile and play with the diamond earrings I’m wearing that Sebastian gave me earlier today.
“And what if it’s from your man?” I tease back at her.
“From Rylan? Pshh… Nah, he’s too cheap,” she says and we both laugh.
I pick the box up off the porch and notice my name on the package.
“It doesn’t have a return address,” I tell my sister. She shrugs her shoulders and opens the front door.
“Open it!” She says excitedly.
I pull the brown box open and pull out the smaller package that is inside. I slip the ribbon off the silver box and slowly open the lid. I pull the white tissue paper back, and there it is… a large shard of broken glass. Its tip is stained red, and droplets of blood tinge the white tissue around it. I know without a doubt who the package is from. Terror fills me and I slam the box shut.
I can’t let her see this!
“Whoa, sis, talk about NOT liking something. How bad can it be? Did someone send you a toaster or something,” she laughs, and I force a smile.
“No... Um… it’s from Sebastian... it’s private. I’ll just put it away,” I stutter.
“Oh, don’t be embarrassed, sis! It’s not as if I don’t know you two have done the deed. You both are kind of loud, you know.”
I frown at her, and she holds her sides while laughing hysterically.
“I’m heading upstairs to change out of these shoes. Want to watch a movie?” she asks me, but I barely register her question because my mind is still panicking over that package.
“Yeah, um… sure, that sounds great,” I reply. Nervously, I double bolt the doors and shut all the blinds. I sit on the couch and pull my knees up to my chest. Slowly, I begin rocking back and forth trying to reassure myself that my worst nightmare isn’t back.
He’s not here… he just wanted to scare you… He’s not here… he can’t hurt you.
Sebastian
I missed her like crazy while I was out of town. I had only been gone for a day and a half, but the homecoming with her is unbelievable. Immediately up on my return I notice that my beautiful girl has grown more and more distant and I begin to become concerned. She isn’t sleeping well at all, and her nightmares only seem to be getting worse. She now screams out Trevor’s name almost every night, and I don’t know why. I try to be helpful and suggest that she talk to me about her dreams, but she keeps insisting that she is fine. She believes that I think her dreams are of the night of the accident, and I don’t let her think otherwise. I want her to tell me herself when she feels like she can, but I am terrified at the changes I’ve noticed in her.
I am still looking for the motherfucker and when I find him, make no mistake about it, he is dead. No one will ever miss the son of a bitch, trust me. I hate what hell she still suffers because of him. The sick bastard better stay the fuck away from her, that’s all I care about. Now, if only there was some way to keep him out of her dreams.
The only time she seems relaxed is when I hold her in my arms. That is where she is right now and where I want her always. I kiss her lips gently and then make my way down her bare chest. I love it when she stays the night at my place. I want her to move in with me, but she insists she can’t until Sophie leaves for college soccer training in another week. I am counting the days until she is my bed every night.
I am supposed to head out early this morning for a meeting, but right now I have a much more pressing matter and it’s right between these fucking gloriously firm thighs of hers. She grins with her eyes closed as I lick down her flat stomach and make my way further down. My beautiful goddess arches her back and tugs the ends of my hair as I lick her sweet juices from her folds. I swear I know I’ve said it before, but I honestly will never be able to get enough of this girl.
Gently, I ease myself into her. This morning, I can’t explain it, but I just need to be with her. Over and over, I slide myself in and out of her magnificent warm opening. Each gentle thrust is pulling her closer to the edge. When she finally grips the sheets beside me and screams, I come violently. Breathlessly, I wrap my arms around her and bury my face against her soft waves.
I don’t really have to go into work today, do I?
Skylar stays on working at Thorne Enterprises even after her internship ends. She becomes the lead design
er over the Yung’s L.A. project and I am beyond proud of how well she is handling the job. It is difficult as fucking shit to keep my hands off her when she is at the office. Just knowing she is a short walk from my office door leaves me making any and every excuse for her to visit my office. And when she is there, I try my damnedest to make sure that she doesn’t think about work, or anything else for that matter. Yes, I’ll admit it… she visits my office quite frequently.
Let’s just say that there is definitely something to be said about soundproof walls.
Sebastian
“I miss you, my beautiful sweet girl,” I whisper in my phone. It seems like a hundred years since I have last seen and held her. Right now, she is in Boston helping Sophie get settled in to her new dorm room. I finally convinced her to take my private jet so that she could transport all of Sophie’s belongings that she needs while away at college. I certainly didn’t want them driving across the country or her driving back all alone. Just the thought of that makes me sick. She is so damn stubborn that she almost turned my offer down. I love how this woman is so independent, but she needs to let me take care of her. She is mine and I will always make sure she is taken care of.
When Thursday comes, I can barely contain myself. She is flying back this morning and I immediately have Sara cancel my appointments for the rest of the week. I am going to pick up my beautiful girl from the airport and then we are moving her stuff in with me. We are finally going to be together and I plan on it staying that way too.
I watch my plane land at Austin-Bergstrom airport and immediately I feel my tension ease. As I lean against by my black Porsche, I see her emerge from the plane. Her long, dark, glossy waves fly in the wind and she is wearing a short pink skirt and white halter-top.
Shit! This woman takes my damn breath away.
She instantly spots me and runs to me across the tarmac. I meet her halfway and scoop her up into my flowered filled arms.
My heart is safely back with me.
Our mouths crash together and our tongues begin wildly exploring each other. I don’t want her away from me ever again… EVER! For four days, I have felt like my heart stopped beating. Without her, my life doesn’t exist. She has no idea just how vital her love is for me to survive. She is truly my lifeline.
“Take me home,” she whispers in my ear and I think my face is going to burst with the grin it is sporting. She doesn’t have to ask me twice. I am taking her home, to our home. We can move her stuff later.
“Yes, ma’am,” I give her my slow Texas drawl that she’s always loved. We spend the rest of the weekend in ‘our’ bed… in ‘our’ home.
My life right now is absolutely 100 percent perfect. We have been living together for almost a month, and slowly, my girl seems to be getting back to normal. She no longer screams out in her sleep and I start thinking maybe the worst is finally behind us. I just want to make her happy and take away all the pain that she has endured. I will spend from now until my dying day making sure that fucking happens.
I want her to go to lunch with me today, but Kylie is finally back in town from visiting my cousin Nik in L.A. The two of them really seem to have hit it off and I am more than shocked at how they have tamed each other’s wild ways. I think Nik has actually realized he met his match that night at the club. That night… I smile at the reminder of our first time together. I remember each and every glorious moment with her. It was one of the most amazing nights of my life, only topped by the nights spent with her since.
I kiss her good- bye and pretend to pout as she leaves to go meet Kylie. She winks back at me and shakes her head before sticking out her tongue.
Like I said… my kryptonite!
Skylar
Kylie and I decide to have lunch at our favorite Tai restaurant that is not far from my work. She arrives before me and waves me toward our usual table. I haven’t seen her since our graduation and I am beyond ready for some girl time with my best friend. We enjoy a fun lunch as we catch each other up on our Thorne men. She and Nik really appear to be getting serious. He is moving back here to Austin in a month to open up a new restaurant and I’ve never seen her more happy.
Kylie began working at Telko, a well-known advertising firm in Austin, immediately after graduation and seems to love her new job as a marketing assistant. She says that if things go well she may even get promoted in a few weeks to marketing analyst. All of her good news elates me. Everything is going so well for everyone I love and that makes me so incredibly happy.
When I go to pay for our meal, the waiter shakes his head and grins.
“It has all been taken care of, Ms. Rose. I hope you two have a great day,” the waiter says and I know immediately that my favorite guy pulled a fast one on me. I smile to myself… I’ll get him for that one later.
“I will call you soon and we’ll all go out to dinner,” Kylie offers as she slings her bag over her shoulder.
“That sounds great, sweetie. Just let me know when Nik is back in town and we’ll set it up,” I reply cheerfully.
“I’ll call you later, girl. Be sure to tell Sebastian ‘Thank you’ for lunch, Skyster!” she says and kisses me on the cheek.
We hug goodbye and part ways on the sidewalk. A familiar chime on my phone indicates a new incoming message.
SEBASTIAN: I LOVE YOU, BABY!
ME: NOT AS MUCH AS I LOVE YOU Thank you for lunch btw!
My phone begins ringing his silly personal ringtone, making me giggle as I quickly answer it.
“Hello my sweet baby, I miss you,” his voice booms through the phone.
“Ahh… Mr. Thorne I presume,” I sarcastically answer my phone. He immediately begins laughing on the other end.
“Did you have a good girls lunch with Kylie? Nik sure seems to be hooked under her crazy spell,” he adds.
“She’s not crazy,” I giggle.
Well… okay... so she is a little crazy, but she is an awesome best friend.
“She’s pretty crazy about him too. Must be something about the Thorne men, huh?” I joke, but suddenly my voice hitches. It is then that I see two evil eyes glaring daggers at me from across the street. My feet freeze to the spot, and I feel the world start spinning around me as my body erupts into frenzied panic.
No, it can’t be him… Trevor?
I blink my eyes and scan the crowd around me. I don’t see him anywhere.
Was that really even him? Where did he go? NO! OH GOD!
Fear overtakes me, and I cannot breathe. Pain ripples through my chest and my knees begin to buckle, and I start to sway. I barely remember a woman yelling before I feel my head hit the concrete. My phone hits the pavement and lands directly beside me. My head is pounding from the fall, and I can hear Sebastian frantically yelling my name through the speaker of my phone. I feel people kneeling close to me, and right before I close my eyes, I see him in the crowd across the street; his evil smile grows even wider. His hair is longer and his beard covers his rugged face, but those eyes… There is no doubt… It’s him. Trevor is back. He will never let me stay alive. I close my eyes and give in to the darkness.
I wake up to an annoying beeping noise and a sharp pain in my head. It hurts to open my eyes and I blink slowly at the hospital room around me. Sebastian is in the chair beside me with his hand draped on my arm. My sudden movement startles him and he sits up and scoots toward the bed. I notice it is dark outside.
How long was I out?
He forces a worried smile at me.
“I’m going to go get the doctor,” he says nervously.
“No, wait. How long have I been out?” I ask him.
“Almost thirteen hours. A lady heard me shouting on the phone after you collapsed. I made it there just before they loaded you in the ambulance. My God, Skylar! You definitely know how to scare the living shit out of a man. What happened? Were you feeling ill or something? Kylie said you were just fine when she left you,” he says concerned.
“No, I just… I don’t know what happened,” I
lie.
I can’t tell him…I don’t want him to know.
A nurse and doctor that are making their rounds interrupt us. The doctor informs me that I only suffered a slight concussion and a bruised rib from the fall. I should be fine to go home first thing in the morning. Sebastian doesn’t leave my side for the rest of the time I am in the hospital. When we arrive home, he fusses over me entirely too much, insisting that I stay in bed and rest. I don’t want to alarm Sophie so I plead with Sebastian not to contact her. I especially don’t want her back at home right now. I know Trevor will stop at nothing to hurt me and I couldn’t bear to lose anyone else in my life.
My nightmares have returned and now wake me nearly every night. This morning images of Trevor standing over me laughing as he sliced into my face and chest fill my dreams. I feel the glass going into my lower back and lodging near my spine. I can smell the alcohol on his breath as he forces his kiss on my mouth.
I jerk awake and yank back the covers. I barely make it to the bathroom in time before I throw up in the toilet. Sebastian isn’t far behind me and holds my hair back as I continue heaving until there is nothing left to expel. I try reassuring him by saying that I sometimes get sick after my nightmares, but he doesn’t seem convinced. I hate not being able to tell him about all of this.
I strip and turn the water on in the shower. I zone out the minute my head submerges underneath the stream of hot water. I feel Sebastian move behind me, but I don’t move. I feel numb…lost.
Without saying a word, he gently massages the shampoo into my hair. I am like a zombie and I allow him to go through all the motions for me. After he is through, he shuts the water off and wraps me in one of his thick towels to begin drying me off. Then he moves me to the bedroom where he gently slides the brush through my hair. Once he is done, he slips one of his t-shirts over my head, then lifts the covers, and pulls me into him. Gently he strokes my back while he rests his chin on my head. I slowly relax into his arms and come out of my trance.