MattA smile spread across my face as I slipped out of bed the next morning and walked to the kitchen. My heart was full in so many ways. Nothing could tear me down from the high I was on. The woman of my dreams was in my bed, covered in my scent, adorned with my kisses and greedy touches.My father accepted me for who I was, and scary enough, he always had. It was me that needed to get over my difference to him and Damon. It was me who was trying to live in the shadow of my brother, and it wasn't needed anymore.I could simply be me, and that was enough. Erica loved me and treasured what we had. She was all I needed to confirm my security in simply being me.After padding around the kitchen for a few minutes, I decided to make breakfast for her. I was almost done frying the bacon when she stopped at the edge of the kitchen in one of my t-shirts. Her hair was a mess and her lips a little swollen from our kisses.I stopped what I was doing to take her in. My pulse spiked a little, and
Matt"You sure you have to go to this thing tonight?" I dropped her back off at her apartment and walked her to the door."Yeah. I'm sure." She leaned in to kiss me a few times.I slid my hand into her hair and deepened the kiss, enjoying the way she fit against me so well. I'd wanted to take a shower with her earlier that morning back at the cabin, but the mood shifted a little too much after we talked about her nightmare. Something told me that it wasn't some crazy idea she'd come up with, but rather something she was seriously considering. If someone were trying to hurt her, there would be absolute hell to pay. Some part of me hoped that it was Mitch. Fucker."I love you." I moved back and slipped my hands into my pocket. The sound of Zek barking inside the apartment had me smiling. "You want me to take little man back to my place? If you have to go out again tonight, he's going to be alone. Let me have him.""You sure?" She turned and unlocked the door. "I know he still has accide
Erica"I seriously didn't think you were going to make it." Lanie glanced over at me from her bent-over position. Yoga was every Saturday morning, and I tried like hell not to miss it come hell or high water."I had to drive like a bat outta hell for sure." I moved into position and glanced up at the sound of someone clearing their throat."Is there a reason you're late to my class today?" The instructor was a total witch and loved to throw verbal punches at anyone who was even a few seconds tardy, but she was great at what she did. There was no denying that her class would be fantastic. A smile touched my lips as I thought about the last time I was in yoga and Matt was there. She made an example out of him, and Lanie and I stood at the back, laughing the whole time.It was karma that I should be caught in the woman's web next."Yeah. My father died last night." I tilted my head to the side and gave her a look that warned her to leave me be."Oh!" She clamped her hands over her mouth.
Erica"Thank you." I nodded and took the ticket before walking to the door.Mitch walked out, looking like the devil himself. His black suit was pressed perfectly, and fit him like a glove. I had no doubt that every woman in the room behind him had eye-fucked him twenty times. He was beautiful and would make some woman very happy one day, but that woman wasn't me. I was completely sold out to a blond-haired goof that reminded me of the frat boys from my past that I would turn away instantly.Matt had every part of me. There was nothing else left to give to anyone or anything."You look beautiful." Mitch reached out and took my hand before leaning in and kissing my cheek. "Thanks for coming.""I didn't have a choice." I slipped my arm into his as he offered it. I wanted to find some middle ground where I could be cordial with the asshole, but he was threatening to destroy everything that mattered to me."You always have a choice." He glanced down at me, his eyes filled with needy lust.
MattErica not texting me the night before was a little odd, but I blew it off. I wasn't going to let anything small or silly come between us. She meant too damn much to me.I got up to the sound of Damon moving around the kitchen. He'd decided after dinner to stay the night. He was wiped out, and the bastard laid down for a nap and never got up again."Finally," he grumbled as he gave me a look.I moved toward the coffee pot, ignoring him for a few minutes until I got the coffee going. "So, what time did you get up?""Fucking four o'clock. Why didn't you wake me up last night?" He lifted his arms to the ceiling and stretched."Because you were exhausted, man." I grabbed two cups, but he stopped me."None for me. I've already had a pot to myself."I chuckled. "What are your plans today?""I need to get ready for that meeting tomorrow morning, but I can do it later tonight. Why? You wanna go do something."It was nice to have him there. The older we got, the more I appreciated the rela
Erica"Why are we going by Erica's?" Damon gave me a sideways look as we got back in his Mercedes, both of us so full that it hurt to walk."She's not responding to my text." I shrugged and got in the car, buckling up. "She went to some art event last night and was sick over having to see Mitch there."He let out a sigh and pulled away from the restaurant. "I don't understand what the fuck Mitch has to do with all of this.""Did you at least look into him?" I barked and glanced over to pin my brother with a hard stare."Yes, and he's the same guy I told you he was. He lost his wife, he's devoted to dad, and him and his kid don't really get along, but that's pretty normal, Matt. What were you thinking I was going to find?"My phone buzzed, and I pulled it out like it was on fire in my pocket. Erica's text was short, but at least she was texting.We need to talk. I put the phone to my ear to call her. It rang five times and went to voicemail. What the hell?"Alright. So are we going to
EricaThe night before played in my mind's eye over and over as I lay in the bed that next morning. Mitch had been kind and almost sweet when we arrived at his big mansion by the water. The place was decorated warmly, from his wife no doubt. I couldn't have imagined losing someone I loved, and yet there I sat, at the edge of watching Matt walk away.Mitch and I had shared a drink, and luckily for me, I had time to slip a few pills in his liquor, which was insanely effective. He got dizzy pretty quickly, and I pulled him down the hallway and pushed him back on the bed as he passed out.It worked like a charm, and yet, I felt empty on the inside. What if he died in the middle of the night? What if Jonathan got to Matt before I did?I needed to tell Matt everything. I had to.After rolling around in my cold sheets until just before lunch, I finally pulled myself up and walked to the kitchen. Not having Zek there left the apartment filled with an uncomfortable silence. All I had was my th
Erica"Of course I do." I was proud of myself for not skipping a beat."You're a terrible liar, Erica. You've got too much of your father in you." She cackled loudly.I sat in a stony silence, not sure what to say or do. I had nothing left to give, and even if I had... she wouldn't have accepted it. My father's passing hurt her too much for her to be around me. I looked like him, acted like him, was him in feminine form."Everything okay in here?" The nurse poked her head in the room, and I glanced up, not realizing that an hour had gone by. We hadn't said another word to each other. There was nothing to say."Yes. My daughter was just packing up to leave." My mom turned her face toward the window. "Don't bother coming again. I know you don't want to be here, and you know I don't like seeing you.""Mom-""Don't. Come. Again." She jerked her head around and narrowed her eyes. "Period."I nodded and stood up, knowing better than to fight with her. I picked up my purse and walked to the