by T. L Smith
“Where is Derrick? I know you know. Where is my husband?” Nicole screeches.
“Sit down.”
“No. She knows. I know she does.” Nicole turns, leaning over the table so she’s closer to Milanka. I eye her, to make sure she doesn’t think about touching her. “He went looking for you. I know he did. Then he never came home.”
“Maybe if he weren’t so obsessed with her, he wouldn’t be looking for her.”
Nicole’s beady eyes turn to me. “And you… you don’t even care about your own brother, just this whore sitting next to you.”
“Watch your words, Nicole. Milanka isn’t with a man who treats her like shit and doesn’t love another woman. That stupidity card belongs solely to you.”
“You love her?” Her head throws back with laughter. “Derrick loved her once, too. Look where that got him.”
“So jealous.”
We all turn at Milanka’s words, they were soft, but we all heard them.
“I am not jealous.”
“You are. You’ve always been jealous. I never wanted him, Nicole. And whatever Derrick feels is not my problem.” Her nails dig in as she realizes everyone is watching her.
“I’ll kill you if he doesn’t come home.”
“Nicole… that’s enough. Sit down. You’ve always been in love with him, but everyone knew he didn’t feel the same way. Just be thankful you have his child.” Nicole looks to my father, then sits down in her seat. “I got a lawyer to go over it, Connick, it seems you got that from me.” His finger taps on the table as dinner begins to be served referring to the paperwork.
“Have you told her about her father, Connick?” Nicole breaks my father’s words as all eyes go to her. Milanka’s nails bring blood to the surface of my skin.
“He tells me everything,” she says looking down at her food that’s been served. I forgot about her father, I didn’t think it was something important when I read it on her files. Maybe it is. Maybe she will want to crucify me after this.
“I’m sure he does,” she bitterly says to Milanka.
“We’re leaving.” I grab her hand. Pulling it up with me, she stands as I do. “If you choose to invite me again, put a leash on the dog before it gets zapped.”
Milanka doesn’t make a sound as we make our way outside. Opening her car door, she climbs in, letting me shut the door behind her. She’s quiet as I drive us back home.
“Ask me your questions, Milanka.”
“You hid something from me… again?”
Slamming on the brakes, I pull over to the side of the road. Turning to face Milanka, I watch the agony written all over her face.
“I didn’t hide anything. I didn’t know it was important. I read about it in one of the files he had on you, then that was it. Nicole was just stirring shit.”
“Is he alive?” she asks with hopeful eyes.
“He is.”
“Have you met him?”
I shake my head. “No. I figured you never wanted to know.”
She turns to look back to the road. “Take me home, tonight was tiring.”
“Are you angry, Milanka?”
“No. I believe you, but I do want to know more.”
“I’ll have a file ready when we arrive home.” I shoot a quick message to Cherry who holds all the files and she says she has it, which I knew she would. She emails it my way so I can print it when we get home.
The minute we arrive, I go straight to my office and print it. Milanka follows me in, sitting down on the sofa, waiting patiently. Looking over it, I hand it to her, and her eyes skim the pages then she gasps.
“He looks well.”
“He is. He’s done very well for himself.”
“I see. Why do you think he left?”
I shrug my shoulders because I don’t know. Why anyone would choose willingly to leave her is beyond me.
“Should we make a plan to meet him?”
She looks up to me with hopeful eyes. “I think so, but what happens if he wants nothing to with me?”
I stroke her beautiful face. “You still have me.”
The file is placed down next to her as she looks up to me. “Thank you for tonight… for sticking up for me.”
Milanka kisses my hand then moves it so her hands can touch my jeans. She undoes my pants, pulling my cock free, then places it in her mouth. Taking me in as far as she can, sucking me hard while her hands tug on my balls.
It doesn’t take long before I come. Warning her, she chooses not to move, just stays exactly where she is. My hands pull her hair, running my fingers through it and making her almost gag as I push her down harder. She never complains. One thing about Milanka I love, she gives everything a go even if she shouldn’t.
“Now it’s my turn.”
Milanka smirks pulling back, wiping her mouth. She removes her panties and spreads her legs. Pulling me down, she makes me get to my knees to give her the same treatment she’s given me, which I’m more than willing to do.
When you fuck someone with a touch of sin, with the ghost of an angel, why would you want to touch anyone else?
Chapter 28
Milanka
Standing at the front of his office has me nervous, more nervous than I’ve ever been in my life. What do I do? I think about turning away, and not even going through with it, but then I would regret it. It’s a real estate office. My father owns it, so the paperwork says.
Walking in, the office lady smiles at me and asks how she can help me. I give her his name. She stands, walks off, then comes back to tell me to follow her. His head is down when she opens the door, his face concentrating on his pen and paper as he writes with the phone glued to his ear. She directs me to a seat, then walks out, leaving me sitting here watching him. I knew most of my looks come from my mother because we look so much alike it’s scary. But I can see pieces of me in him too, his hairline, which is a love heart shape the same as mine, and the nose to the lips. When he looks up, I’m still watching him. He looks at me, the pen from his hand drops, then the cell he was talking on falls from his shoulder as he straightens up his head.
“Hi.”
“She told me you died.” He stands like he can’t believe his eyes.
“Sorry?”
“Milanka?” he asks, and I nod my head. “She told me you had died, just after you were born. I named you, then she said you had died.”
That explains a lot—why I never knew about him, or him of me.
“She died.”
He shakes his head. “I’m sorry, was she… well… was she… sober?”
Raising my eyebrow at him, he explains. His voice is so deep, he seems to actually care. How has he been hidden from me for so long? Should I have looked into things more?
“Taryn was addicted… to so many things. I’d had enough. I planned to take you after you were born. But when she came home, she knew. She didn’t have you with her, so when she told me you’d died, I believed her.”
“How did you know it was me?”
“Because you look exactly like her. A beauty like hers was impossible to turn away from.”
“I’ve been told that,” I say more to myself, thinking of the way Derrick described me as an obsession instead of a person.
“Did she raise you well? I mean you look well. Sorry… too many questions.” He runs his hand through his hair, standing, and turning to the window.
“She didn’t, but I have someone now that treats me really well.”
He steps toward me, places his hand on my shoulder. “I would love to meet him, and hopefully get to spend more time with you?”
“Did you marry? Have any more kids?” I ask.
He pulls back and shakes his head. “No, not after… well, I was a mess after that. To lose a child is the hardest thing you could possibly imagine going through. I literally held you the day before, then the next day… yeah, that affected my relationships. I never wanted any kids after that.”
“I’m sorry.”
&nb
sp; “Don’t be, I have you now.” He leans forward to touch me. “Can I hug you?”
I nod my head and the minute his arms close around me it feels like that hole that was gaping is now filled. When we pull away, I see him quickly wipe his cheek, getting rid of a loose tear.
“Thank you for meeting me today. Can we… maybe have lunch this week?”
He nods his head and gives me his cell number.
I walk out feeling good, renewed, and wanting Connick more than ever right now.
Connick’s home when I get back. Sitting on the couch, typing away on his laptop.
He stops when he sees me, closing it. “Why are you smiling?”
“I met him today, I like him a lot.”
His forehead scrunches then it straightens. “You did?”
“I know I said I would wait for you, but I had to do it alone.”
“He was great?”
A smile takes over and I can’t help it. He smirks, standing up and walking into the kitchen, I follow him as we start to cook. Well, I heat up the water for the pasta. My back is to him, but I can feel his stare watching me. Is he waiting for to me to freak out?
“Marry me.”
“What?” I answer him in shock, not believing his words. Turning to him, I see that he’s watching me and his eyes are trained on mine.
“I asked you to marry me, woman. What is your answer?” He looks at me so seriously, like he doesn’t believe the words have left his mouth.
“You want to marry me?”
“I don’t know why I said that.” He turns back around, then slams his hands on the counter. “Yes, I do. Now put me out of my misery, woman, and tell me you will marry me.”
“I mean, I guess I will have to think on it.” My finger taps my chin, but he gets to me before I can run away.
“Marry me.”
I nod my head and he squeezes my ass. “Of course I will, who else would have me?” I laugh.
“Don’t say that.” He kisses me, then pulls back, and from his pocket he pulls out a box. My heart beats fast as he pulls it open and inside is a ring. It’s a heart-shaped pink diamond. The most beautiful piece of jewelry I’ve ever seen.
“I didn’t want to do the ring, but Harlin threatened my manhood if I didn’t.”
Of course, she would.
“I love it.” I really do. It’s perfect. “Take me to bed, now.”
He nips at my ear. “How much I want to do that, but I can’t, the girls will be here soon. How did I end up being surrounded by women again?”
I laugh at him. “You’re just lucky I guess.”
As soon as he pulls away, he starts cooking while I stare at my hand, my finger to be precise. It fits perfectly, and it’s one of the prettiest rings I’ve ever seen.
We eat dinner with me hardly paying any attention at all, and the door bursts open with all the girls.
“Show me the bling, bitch.”
Holding my hand out, they all congregate around us.
“How did he ask you?”
“He demanded.” I laugh.
Connick slides in behind me, wrapping his hands around me.
“Can I start planning? Oh, let me plan it all,” Cherry asks.
“Fuck no,” Connick says, making her turn up her lip to him.
“We might just go to Vegas, Cherry.”
“You can’t do that.”
“We can,” Connick says, he’s on the same side as me. “Now fuck off so I can fuck my fiancé.”
I giggle, but Serena and Cherry gush while Harlin says words that are not appropriate. As soon as they leave, he carries me to our room, making me promise to be entirely moved out of my house before the weekend. Then he touches me, igniting me with his caress. Something that will never change. Even now I look forward to it, every touch and every single moment we get. Because you never know when the last touch will come.
Connick came into my life in a disturbing way.
He implanted himself there without my consent.
Then he stole my heart with a single look.
Connick made me do things I never would have done when I met him. He took my hand and guided me to his darkness, but what a beautiful place that is to live.
Even with our sins, even with my demons…
I will love him.
As he will love me.
Because that’s what love is about.
The unexpected.
Grab it. Take it. And don’t let it hold you back.
Unless you are Derrick.
Then you are fucked.
Epilogue
I love her, like a lion loves its prey, like a snake loves its meal. I love her. From the way she moves in her sleep to the slight yawn that leaves her beautiful lips when she wakes, I love her. I have to keep on reminding myself that it’s a good thing, that it’s not something I should be afraid of. Because I’m not afraid of her, or even loving her. The complete opposite, in fact. Now I’m afraid of what would happen if I didn’t have her love in return. Would she still open her eyes with a smile touching her lips when she sees me first thing in the morning? Would her hands still roam my body like she can’t get enough of me?
Her green eyes stare into mine, and the moment they do, I know that no matter what happens, no matter what I do, I know I did good because I have her. I did really fucking good.
And if I ever lost her, I know no one else could hold me the way she does. She has been my it. And I would be happy with that, because I had been given the opportunity to love her. And her love is all I will ever need in this life.
Author’s Note
THANK YOU TO YOU.
To all who are reading this and got this far, I’m so happy to know that you got this far and let me to be part of your life for just a few hours. To keep up on my releases, and possibly some more favorite characters, you can join my mailing list here Newsletter
I hope you enjoyed The Savage Love Duet, if you loved it I would love if you could possibly leave a review on Amazon. They mean more then you could possibly know.
Also, come hang out with me in my fan group here: Fan Group
Bad Things by Emily Goodwin
Copy right
BAD THINGS
Love is Messy Duet
Book One
Copyright 2017
Emily Goodwin
Prologue
Diana
A year ago…
I carefully blot up the blood that’s dripping from my nose. Pain sears through me and tears fall, streaking little clean paths on my blood-stained skin. I cringe when the rag touches my broken skin. Wincing, I drag it down, cleaning up the dried blood. I watch scarlet-colored water wash down the drain as I rinse the rag under warm water, and bring it to my face again.
My body shudders as a sob escapes my lips, but there’s no sound to hear. I’ve perfected silently crying, hiding my tears from the world. Once I’m done wiping away the blood, I go about my normal routine of removing my makeup and brushing my teeth. I change into my PJs and look at the closed bathroom door.
My eyes fall shut. How the hell did it get so bad? I should have left.
Yesterday.
The day before that.
Last week.
A month ago.
I kept hoping, kept thinking it would be all right. That things would get better. That he meant it when he said he loved me. He was so good at the game I didn’t know I was being played. He took away my control little by little until there was nothing left and I was a prisoner in my own home. It happened so gradually I didn’t see it coming until it hit me smack in the face.
He hit me.
This was the first time.
He said it would be the only time.
But I don’t believe him. Things were fine between us until tonight, until I told him that periwinkle was blue and not pink. It was something so small, so unimportant. Something I thought was funny. But he had a bad day at work and snapped, like he always does. Though this time, instead of hitting me with his w
ords, he used his fist.
And now I’m scared and alone, and it’s cold outside. Too cold to walk outside, but that doesn’t matter. I look out the small bathroom window. Snow falls down around the sleepy town. Softly. Gently. It’s so pristine. So white. So perfect.
So unlike me.
Tears fill my eyes and I sink down onto the closed lid on the toilet. I put my head in my hands, muffling another sob. I don’t know where my car keys are, and I won’t be told until morning when I need to leave for work.
I wipe my eyes and stand, going to the vanity. Hidden in the bottom of my makeup bag, wrapped in a small ball of tissue are two white pills. I take them out and place them on my palm. My throat is thick and it’s hard to breathe.
Pain tingles across my face. I close my fingers around the pills.
I know what I have to do.
Cole
Five years ago…
“I had your ring cleaned.” I reach into my pocket and pull out a small velvet bag. “That way it’s extra sparkly so you can show it off.” I turn the bag upside down and the diamond engagement ring falls into my palm. I sit on the bed next to Heather and slip it on her finger.
She holds her hand close to her face, admiring the large center stone, and smiles. “You’re so thoughtful.”
I shrug. “I just want you to be happy.” And I do. Making my fiancée happy makes me happy, as lame as that sounds. She links her fingers through mine and rests her head on my chest. I flick my eyes to the closed door and listen for a moment. The house is quiet.
“We have some time before my parents get back,” I say and wiggle my eyebrows. We’re in Orlando for Thanksgiving, staying with my parents for the first time since we got engaged. Several other family members are flying in, and we have plans to go to Disney World this weekend. I don’t normally get excited about shit like this, but fuck, I’m looking forward to it.