This is Love, Baby(60)

God, I’m so freaking lucky.

“Hey, babe,” he says with a wink as he approaches and the band grows silent. When he falls on his knee, several girls squeal, including Audrey. “Will you go to the homecoming dance with me, Baylee Marie Winston?”

My knees buckle and my jaw hurts from the smile that stretches across my face revealing my teeth which are now finally free of braces. With a shaky hand, I accept his rose and nod.

“Yes, of course I will go with you!”

He launches from the floor at me and tackle hugs me against the locker, his strong arms enveloping me in a heated embrace. Warm lips meet mine and he kisses me as if I’m the only girl he could ever want.

“Thank you,” he murmurs against my lips.

I lean my head back against the locker to better look into his expressive jade-colored orbs. “For what?”

“For letting me love you,” he says, his brows furrowing together in a serious manner. “I’ll never stop. No matter what. Always know that, babe.”

They are earnest words and weave themselves into my heart. Is this the all-encompassing love Mom always gushes about when she talks about Dad? Because I feel it. From the ends of my hair, all the way down to the tips of my toes.

Brandon is my best friend and I love him.

“Promise me you’ll always be mine,” he says sternly, his eyes darkening slightly. “Promise me, Baylee.”

My heart stops for a moment in my chest.

His declaration terrifies and thrills me at the same time.

“Always, Brandon.”

A choked sound jerks me from my memory and my eyes fly open. I shriek when I realize Brandon’s heavy body has collapsed on me. He’s still—too still. Something warm trickles down my cheek toward my ear and I start gagging upon the realization that it’s his blood. All over me.

I start screaming and squirming to get him off me. Gabe hobbles over to the bedside and pushes Brandon onto the floor, the heavy thud echoing in my heart. My eyes remain fixated on his unmoving form. The only thing moving is the blood as it continues to pour from his forehead.

He’s dead.

Gabe killed him.

The devil slayed the dragon but he took my sweet boy away in the process.

Despite my horror over having seen it actually play out, this went as planned. In our war, my strategy was to use one opponent to take out the other. And it worked. I need to move on to my next move. If I lose my focus now, I’ll completely break down and I can’t. I have to be strong.

For the baby.

For War.

For me.

“Gabe,” I sob, my entire body shuddering, “you’re the only person I have left.”

He leans down over me and strokes my hair in a loving way. “I told you that you were all mine, baby. I love you.”

I nod in vehemence, as if I wholeheartedly agree with him. The bile in my throat is sour and stings. I’m seconds from throwing up everywhere.

Breathe.

Observe every move.

Take out your opponent.

There’s only one pawn standing between you and your king.

Taking several calming breaths, I wave toward the bathroom door. “Could you grab me a towel?” I ask in the most level tone I can muster, hoping I can distract him long enough to implement part two of my plan. All I need is a few seconds’ distraction.

His eyes narrow and he runs his finger along my bare calf. “But you look so pretty with this blood all over you. His fucking blood,” he snarls as if the very thought of Brandon disgusts him. “You should wear it proudly, baby. It makes me want to suck on your clit until you wake the neighbors with your screams.”

I tremble and hold back my tears. I should have known I couldn’t outsmart Gabe. He’s like the black knight, anticipating all of my moves before I even make them.

I am not a weak pawn.

I am the queen.

Quickly devising a new plan, I peel the blood soaked hoodie from my body and toss it away. Brandon’s blood is beginning to dry on my throat so I quickly smear it down over my bare breasts.

Gabe’s eyes darken and he growls. “Jesus, you look so fucking hot right now, sweet girl.”

I flash him a shy smile. “I should be trying to run,” I whisper. “But all I can think about is having you inside me.”

He groans and crawls onto the bed beside me, taking Brandon’s spot. “Straddle me. My body hurts too fucking bad to do this any other way. I want to play with your pussy while I watch that blood run down your tits.”

I sit up, sliding my palm across the bed, I make contact with my saving grace, and do as I’m told. My hand fists the wondrous piece and I twist my arm behind my back, pushing my tits forward to dazzle him with. All done in a graceful, fluid motion. The bandage on his nose has me halting my movement. “I don’t want to hurt you,” I lie. Truth is, I want to sit on his face and smother him with the pussy he seems to adore.