“You ain’t going anywhere. Sit your drunk ass down.” Mace left no room for discussion and moved to block the doorway with his larger-than-mine frame. I realized I had no energy left and I started to deflate.
“I don’t got shit to say to either of you two bastards,” I shot out, walking over to the small single sink that butted up against the back wall. As quickly as I could, I rinsed off my bloody knuckles and grabbed a handful of paper towels to dry them.
“Jude.” Mace’s voice had lost its fierce unmovable anger and held a gentler tone. “This isn’t you. What the hell, brother?”
“What the fuck do you care? You’ve been acting like I’m dead for the last three fucking months,” I jeered at him. “You don’t give a fuck. You’re busy being fucking happy. Both of you. Telling everyone they can’t have what you have. Telling me I’m not worth shit. Well guess what, asshole, I’m not. That what you wanted to hear?” I took a deep breath and flicked my busted hand, trying aimlessly to stop the throb. “Now get out of my way and let me stay out of yours.”
Hostile wasn’t the word for how I was feeling. Small, defeated, worthless and more than sorry for myself was more accurate. Simply put, I felt alone.
“Hear me out. You don’t like what I have to say, then you can go.” Jude crossed his arms over his chest and looked directly at me. His eyes bore into mine, waiting for me to argue.
“May as well. Won’t be anything I haven’t already heard,” I hissed.
“I’m sorry.” He implored with a strong steady voice. “I’m sorry, Jude. I had no right to be angry with you. I see now you loved her.” He took a stuttered breath and cleared his throat. “I was more hurt that you kept it from me. She’s my baby sister. It’s kind of like your kid dating. I overreacted, and by the time I realized, it was already too late. Or so I thought.” He dropped his hands by his side and continued, “You’re my family. She’s my family. I love you both and I won’t stand in the way of that now. I was wrong.”
“Fuck me.” I dragged my hands down my face and held back the emotion that was bubbling to the surface. Trip stood off to the side leaning against the desk, a look of confusion on his face.
“I’ll leave you two—” Trip’s words were cut short by my own.
“Too little too fucking late. She’s done with me. I didn’t fight when I had the chance and she’s done. She’s in love with that cocky motherfucking cowboy.” I dropped my head down and stared at the blood drops on my boots.
“Don’t assume, Jude,” Mace argued back.
“I’m not assuming. I went to see her. I told her I won’t stop loving her and she shut me down. She may as well have slapped me in the face with his dick.” I raised my head, conveying what I couldn’t put into words.
“That only leaves one thing to do then.” Mace frowned. The room stayed silent for a moment while he walked to the rows of storage shelves and picked up two bottles of whisky.
“We get fucking wasted and try to forget.” Throwing a few notes on Jimmy’s desk, he walked out the office door and into the pub. Trip and I following behind as he bee lined for the parking lot.
Haven
“Morning sugar.” Dylan’s rasping morning voice had my lips turning up at the ends. I buried my face deeper into the pillow and moaned at the feeling of his hands running slowly up and down the backs of my legs.
“Waking up with you is quickly becoming one of my favorite things to do.” He nestled his nose into the side of my neck and ran his hand higher onto my bottom.
“I’m really okay with this waking up thing myself.” I smiled still not moving for laying facedown on the bed.
One finger teased the edge of my panties while he dropped little kisses over my shoulder. My hips rose slightly, inviting him to stop teasing and get to the place I wanted him.
“So impatient,” he mumbled teasingly against my skin. A sharp intake of breath was all I could answer with as he slid one finger under the small layer of lace that was my underwear, and slipped it inside of me.
“I think I could happily tease you all morning.” His finger moved torturously slowly in and out, briefly stopping to rub my arousal over my clit, then sliding back inside.
“Dylan… don’t be mean.” I moaned breathlessly. Another finger joined the first as he moved his mouth lower down my back, never once straying from his mischievous hand action.