by E. L. Todd
“Don’t call me that,” he barked.
“I never cheated on Trinity. Whatever Conrad told you was a misunderstanding. I just wanted to clear my name.”
Mike studied my face. “Really?”
“You can ask Conrad if you don’t believe me. I can promise you would I never do anything like that to Trinity.”
He nodded. “That’s a promise I know you can keep.”
At least he had some sort of faith in me.
He sat back down in his chair. “You have my permission, Slade.”
I flinched, not expecting him to say it. “Really?”
He nodded. “But it’s only because there’s nothing I can do to change it.”
It was better than nothing.
“Every mean thing I said to you came from a protective parent. It wasn’t directed to you as my family. I hope you understand the difference.”
I remembered the way he risked his life to protect me. “I do.”
“Now go, Slade. I’m sure my daughter needs you.”
I came to his desk and extended my hand, hoping he would shake it.
He looked at it and a slight smirk stretched his lips. Then he stood up and shook it.
Chapter Thirteen
Trinity
I dread going to physical therapy. Pushing myself to the limit and trying to rehabilitate myself was much harder than I anticipated. I wasn’t expecting it to be a walk in the park, but I didn’t know it would be so hard either.
Whenever I wanted to give up, my therapist wouldn’t let me. He encouraged me to keep trying, and when I thought I couldn’t push myself further, he helped me reach my goal. As the weeks and months wore on, my leg became stronger. I desperately wanted to walk again without limping or having pain. So I focused and kept trying.
Slade didn’t cut me any slack. He pushed me and refused any weakness. Whenever we were home together, he wouldn’t let me sit around. He forced me to exercise and get my blood flowing. He would grab my waist and hold onto me while I did pull-ups. Then he would make me lie on the living room floor and do crunches. He said just because I couldn’t walk didn’t mean I couldn’t do other things.
Slade took me to every class and picked me up too. My refrigerator was always stocked with food and he took care of the laundry and the house. He still found time to spend with me outside of his chores and homework. He didn’t see his dad as often so he was around more often.
Slade took me to my doctor for a check-up, and I was nervous what he would say. An x-ray was taken, one of many I’ve already had, and now I waited in the room for his assessment.
Slade sat in the chair against the wall, his ankle crossed at the knee. His t-shirt showed his sleeves of tattoos. His arms were a display of bright and vibrant colors, depicting the chaos of his preference for art.
When I eyed him in the chair, I noticed his large chest and muscular upper arms. He had lean and toned thighs and legs and an ass that I loved to stare at. Whenever I looked at him, I wanted one thing.
Sex.
His fiery blue eyes contrasted against the paleness of his face. His brown hair was messy but sexy at the same time. His elbow rested on the armrest, and his fingers rested across his lips. I loved his lips.
“What?” he asked.
I turned away. “Nothing.”
The last time we made love was before my accident. I was eager to do it again, to feel that powerful pleasure that radiated through me like the aftershocks of an earthquake. Not having him was torture.
“Then why do you keep looking at me?” he asked.
“Because you’re hot,” I blurted.
He smirked, pleased by that response. “I know.”
“You know?” I asked with a laugh. “I take it back. You’re a dick.”
“You can’t take it back. Too late.” He ran his fingers through his hair then gave me a smolder. “You can’t resist me.”
“When you act like that I can.” I looked at the other wall, ignoring him.
“If we were alone at the house, all I would have to do is give you two fingers and you’d be all over me.”
“Cocky…”
“You make me cocky.”
“I do not,” I argued.
“Come on. You’re the most gorgeous woman in the world and you want me. I’m obviously doing something right.”
When he was sweet like that it was hard to keep my distance. “Cocky is still cocky.”
He rose to his feet then slowly came to me, the dark look of desire in his eyes. He crept to the patient chair in the center of the room the gripped my chin. Slowly, he forced my face toward his, making me look at him.
I melted even though I wished I wouldn’t. Anytime he touched me I was helpless to combat him. I wanted him right on this chair, right now. If the doctor walked inside and took a picture I wouldn’t care.
Slade leaned in and pressed a gentle kiss to the corner of my mouth. He left it there a long time, the heat radiating from both of our bodies. My lips parted slightly, a quiet moan escaping my lips. He inched away and looked at me, the longing heavy in his hooked brows. Then he placed a kiss on the center of my lips. My thighs automatically squeezed together.
“I can’t wait to be inside you again.” His quiet words echoed in my ears after he said them. My spine shivered at the thought. A quick daydream passed in my mind where my legs were wrapped around his waist and my nails were clawed into his back.
“Mmm…” I couldn’t manage to say anything coherent.
He pulled away slightly and smirked. “I can make you wet without even trying.”
My sexy mood evaporated. “And you can make me drier than a desert even faster.”
He smirked then pressed his chest into my arm while his hand grabbed mine. Standing perpendicular to me, he pressed his lips to my hair then kept his mouth there, waiting with me in silence. Our fingers connected together, a silent conversation passing between us.
The doctor walked inside, his clipboard in hand. “Your leg is making excellent progress. Continue with the physical therapy and it will be good as new.”
“Does she still need to wear the brace?” Slade asked.
“Anytime she’s not in physical therapy. But I suspect Ms. Preston will be walking on it again in the next month,” the doctor said.
Hallelujah. I was sick of being handicapped.
He gripped his clipboard as he walked out. “It was nice seeing you.”
Something came to my mind but Slade cut me off before I could speak.
“Can she have…you know…any sexual activity?” he asked hopefully.
The doctor had the grace to smile. “Just nothing strenuous.” He winked then walked out.
Slade clapped his hands in celebration. “Thank god.”
Even though I didn’t act like it, I was just as excited.
***
The moment we walked inside, Slade headed for the bedroom. He pushed my wheelchair inside then immediately picked me up and placed me on the bed. Excitement burned in his eyes and his eagerness was obvious in every move he made.
He immediately pulled off my sweatpants, being careful when he moved it past the damaged leg, and then removed my underwear. He didn’t bother with my shirt, leaving it on.
Then he dropped his pants and boxers and moved over me, his cock hard and ready.
I yanked his shirt over his head because I wanted to see all of him, every inch of him. He seemed to be too anxious to be patient. He just wanted to be inside me.
“Don’t expect me to last long.” He grabbed my good leg then pinned it back, opening my legs as wide as he could without touching my disabled one. He kept his legs away from me, not wanting to go anywhere near it.
“You better make me come,” I demanded. “I’m eager too.”
He gave me a smirk I knew too well. “When have I ever left you hanging?”
He never had. But I didn’t say that.
He pressed his face to mine then slid inside with one fluid motion. “Oh…my
…monkey shit…wow.”
Despite the intensity of the moment, I had the urge to laugh. “What?”
He paused while he was inside me. “I can’t believe how good you feel. I’m trying not to blow my load as we speak.”
My hands moved up his chest and I gave him a second to acclimate. Just feeling him inside me was enough for me. He stretched me just the way he used to, sending shivers everywhere across my body. My hands moved up his chest, feeling his strength. Then I gave him a gentle kiss, moving to the corner of his mouth just the way he did to me at the doctor’s office.
“Trinity…” He moved his hips then stopped.
“You’re literally pussy-whipped.”
He growled. “Well, when your pussy feels this fucking good what am I supposed to do?”
“At least I know you haven’t been getting any elsewhere.”
His eyes lost their intensity. “I thought that was clear anyway.”
I cupped his face and kissed him. “It was. I was kidding.”
“Well, right now isn’t the best time to joke around.”
“Well, I thought it would be a good time to have sex but that’s obviously not going to happen.”
He growled then rocked into me slowly. “I’ll rock your world, baby.”
I gripped his biceps then felt his lips press against mine. Our mouths move together slowly, and his hips moved at a snail’s pace. It still felt good anyway, feeling him move through my slickness.
Slade moved one hand between my legs and gave me the extra stimulation to push me over the edge. He normally didn’t need it but right now he was struggling to stay in control.
He hit me in the right spot and made me come undone, giving me a hot blinding pleasure that left me breathless and weak. Somehow, I forgot how good it felt. My nails dug into his skin until I was completely finished. Only then did I pull my claws out.
Slade let go the second I was done. He thrust inside me completely then breathed hard while he released. A loud groan escaped his lips as he filled me. He pressed his head to mine when he was finished, recovering from the force we both just felt.
Then he released a breath. “I’ll last longer next time.”
I chuckled then smirked. “Babe, it’s okay.”
He looked down at me. “When a guy hasn’t done it in months, his stamina is all wrong. Cut me some slack.”
“I didn’t complain once.”
“I just want to make that clear so you don’t go looking for something better.”
Seeing Slade insecure about his bedroom skills was hilarious. “I really don’t care.”
“Liar. Every girl cares.”
“I know it’s just a fluke. And I wouldn’t look for more elsewhere even if it wasn’t.”
He didn’t move off me. “You feel so good that I don’t want to leave.”
“That’s okay with me.”
He pressed his mouth to mine and kissed me long and hard. An innocent embrace quickly became heated and hot. He lie beside me, still inside me, and kissed me with gentle caresses that were filled with passion and love. The sex we had was mediocre but the affection between was still powerful and strong.
Like always.
***
My dad walked inside with his bag over one shoulder. Naturally, I wanted to stand up and greet him but I was glued to the couch. Slade sat beside me but I knew he would leave. My dad never looked at him or acknowledged him. Months had passed and my father hadn’t changed his mind. It made me realize things may never change.
Slade kissed me on the forehead. “I’ll see you tomorrow.”
“Okay,” I said sadly. I wish I could be with both of them at the same time. But that would never happen.
Slade walked to the front door and faced my father. “Good night.”
My dad met his gaze. “Where are you going?”
I did a double take. What did he just say? Did he just speak to Slade? Or was he talking to me?
Slade shrugged. “Home.”
“You’re welcome to stay if you want.” He walked around Slade and put his bag down.
What? Did that just happen? I looked at Slade and silently asked, “What’s going on?”
He shrugged in response but there was a smile on his face.
My father leaned over the back of the couch and kissed my forehead. “How are you doing?”
I was speechless at his conversation with Slade. “Uh, good…”
He patted my shoulder then sat beside me on the couch. “How’s the leg?”
“It’s good. Physical therapy is hard but I’m making progress. I can walk on it.”
He breathed a sigh of relief. “That’s good to hear. I’m proud of you, Trin. I know this has been hard.”
“Well, everyone made it a lot easier on me…”
Slade stood behind the couch, his arms across his chest.
My dad looked at Slade. “Can I have some privacy for a moment?”
“Sure.” Slade headed to the door. “I’ll get some coffee.” He walked out and shut the door.
“You don’t hate him anymore?” I blurted.
My dad gave me an affectionate look. “I never hated him. You know that.”
“Well, it didn’t seem like he was your favorite person…”
“He wasn’t. Still isn’t.” He rested his elbows on his knees. “But he hunted me down almost every day so I didn’t have much a choice but to let it go. Your plan worked.”
My plan? What? “Sorry?”
“Having him harass me at work.” He stared at his knuckles for a moment before he turned his gaze on me.
What was he talking about? “Huh?”
His eyes narrowed in suspicion. “You really didn’t know?”
“Know what, Dad? What are you talking about?”
He smirked then chuckled lightly. “I guess he was telling the truth.”
I waited for him to explain.
“For the past two months, Slade has been coming to my office three days a week trying to get my forgiveness and acceptance.”
My mouth closed immediately, the shock taking hold. So when he said he was helping his dad at the shop he was lying. He was trying to patch things up with my dad, trying to get his approval.
“And he was damn annoying,” my dad said with a laugh. “He sat there all day and cornered me every chance he got. He said a lot of bold things to me, something I’d kill someone else for speaking. But he never gave up.”
My heart had slowed, thudding irregularly in my ears. “Slade…”
“He cares about you a lot, honey. I don’t know many people would go to such lengths just to make things right.”
“Yeah…” I fidgeted with my fingers in my hand.
“So, if you want to be with him, you have my support.”
That meant the world to me. Now I could be with Slade and not have to distance myself from my father. We could be ourselves, show affection and be happy. “Thank you.”
He studied my face for a moment. “But I need to stay something.” His voice was dark and cold.
“Okay…”
“We both know what kind of guy Slade is. This relationship doesn’t end in a happily ever after. It ends with him leaving. I need you to understand that. I don’t want to watch him hurt you, and at least if you know the end before the beginning, you can be prepared for it. It’s pretty clear that you want everything from him, and I know he can’t give it to you.”
It was my darkest fear. “I have faith in him.”
He sighed in sadness. “Trinity, I love that you see the best in people. More people need to do that. But Slade isn’t the marrying type. I’m not saying there’s anything wrong with that. We all walk our own path. But don’t expect him to change.”
“He said he could never give me a relationship and love but he did that.”
“But for how long?” he said sadly. “Trin, I just need you to understand that. So when he breaks your heart he doesn’t completely cripple you. And I need to know that you still
want to be here even when you know it will end someday.”
I did. I wouldn’t trade what I had with Slade for anything else in the world. Even if it burned and fell apart, the future couldn’t erase the past. But no one knew Slade the way I did. He wasn’t the cocky arrogant jerk everyone knew. He was much deeper than anyone realized. I believed in him, believed that we could have all the things I wanted. I knew Slade loved me, and he would rather give me everything than let me get it from someone else. “However this story ends, I still want to be here.”
He nodded but there was sadness in his eyes. “Then you won’t hear another peep out of me.” He put his arm around my shoulder and pulled me into his side. We watched TV until Slade returned.
Slade sat on the opposite couch and crossed his ankle at the knee. “What should we watch?”
“The cooking channel,” I said.
Slade raised an eyebrow then shook his head. “No, we aren’t watching that garbage.”
“That garbage taught me everything I know,” I argued. “And you love my cooking.”
“Let’s watch the game,” Slade said.
“Yeah.” My father grabbed the remote and changed the channel.
“Hey, this is my house. And I’m the one who’s crippled,” I said.
My dad tossed the remote at Slade. “Which means you’re easy to bully.”
I rolled my eyes. “Jerks.”
Slade headed to the refrigerator. “Beer, Mike?”
“Sure.”
He grabbed one and handed it to my dad before he drank his own. He sat on the couch again and cheered during the game. My father did the same.
I stayed in my spot, trying not to cry. Seeing my father and Slade get along was what I wanted more than anything. They were both important to me and it killed me inside that they couldn’t be in the same room together. But now they were getting along just like they used to. I was so grateful Slade worked his ass off to make my dad come around. Only extreme patience and determination could have made that happen.
I watched Slade from my spot on the couch, seeing the way he held his beer. Feeling my gaze on him, he turned to me. Our eyes met from across the room