EricaI felt a little more alive when I opened my eyes the next morning. The hangover was almost a welcomed pain seeing that it demanded my attention over the emotional bullshit I was still suffering from.Kent and Karen's wedding had played in my mind's eye all night, the trip to Jamaica the first time I got to be part of a family. They'd pulled me in and put me to work. I was there to support them, but more than anything else, I wanted Matthew to see me. Really see me.A smile lifted my lips as I rolled onto my side. He'd been a hot mess on that trip, and all the others after it. I intimidated him something horrible, but it was all part of the story, part of my charm."Not anymore." I closed my eyes and pulled the covers up around my throat. He wasn't intimidated by me now that I belonged to him, or used to. He saw me as a woman, as a partner, as someone he could protect and cherish.I had to fight for us. I couldn't just let the shit lie where it was.Rolling over, I reached for my
Erica"I feel the exact same way." I slid down the front of his body and let out a breath I hadn't realized I was holding as he moved back. "Mitch was bidding on that fucking painting of me the night of the art show. He wouldn't back down, and I could see how upset you were getting. I freaked out." I lifted my hands in the air. "I didn't know what to do, but as hard as you've worked all your life to figure out who you were, I wasn't going to let the bastard take the moment from you.""So you did what?" He put his hands on his hips and lifted his eyebrow. He had no clue how cute he was copping an attitude in the middle of my hotel room.I was still trying to convince myself that he was actually standing there across from me. My mind wanted to make it a dream, to convince me that I wasn't worthy of a man like him coming after me. But I'd felt him against me. Flesh and blood."He was interested in me, and trying to pursue something with me, but I told him you and I were together and that
MattI made love to my girl all night long, reveling in the feeling of her skin pressed against mine. I'd have sold my soul to hear her cry out in pleasure again, but around five that morning, I finally curled up behind her and let her rest.There was no way in hell I was sleeping and missing a minute of our reunion. It had only been a week since we'd left each other with no hope, but it felt like a fucking year.And all over her trying to protect my pride. My heart burned in my chest as I ran my fingers down her side and nestled the back of her neck."I love you beyond words, Erica Hall," I whispered against her skin. She moaned and rolled her hips, waking up the monster between her thighs.I had to two options. Give her what I wanted to give her, or let her rest up. I'd be taking her home later that day. It was time to start our life together, the way we should have before all the shit with Mitch went down.Open. Honest. Communicating all the damn time.I kissed her again before get
Matt"You really like the painting I did?" She sat beside me in the car, a smile on her beautiful face. She had no makeup on, and her hair was wild as shit, which was just the way I liked her best.The windows were down in the car, and I could barely hear her, but the feeling of the wind against our skin was needed. Freedom was ours when we were together. It was a great reminder."I love it, baby.""My dad used to love looking at my art, but I usually had to hide it under my bed." She glanced toward her open window. "My mom hated it. Called it a complete waste of time.""She's a cold-hearted bitch, Erica.""No. She's just mean. She thinks that things should be the way she wants them, and if they're not, she shuns them. She just doesn't get it.""How is she? Have you seen her lately?""Yeah. This last week. The day you broke things off with me." She glanced over at me. "Sunday?""Fuck. Seriously?" I shook my head. "That had to be the-""Worst day of my life." She finished my sentence f
EricaTwo weeks later"Why don't you just tell me where we're going?" I glanced over at Matt as we rode toward the mountains. The last two weeks had been fast and furious. I had moved into his place, both me and Zek. It was bliss, and the time we had together just strengthened the truth that we belonged together.I had started to paint again, mainly just to shut Matt up. He was after me to find myself, to explore my soul and learn who I wanted to be. He was happy to fund my me time for as long as it lasted.The only thing he complained about most days was how fast I painted compared to him. He was embarrassed by it, which left me wanting to go even faster. Silly man. I wasn't rushing. It was my natural pace to move with efficiency. There were too many pictures to paint and not nearly enough time in the day."Be patient, beautiful." He took my hand and laid it on his leg before dragging it up to the thick bulge between his legs. "You're turning me on."I snorted. "What? I'm not even do
MattTwo Months Later"Please tell me again why the hell you two made me come to this." I glanced over at Erica and back at Bethany. It was mid-January in Dallas, which beat Seattle for sure, but being out and shopping for wedding dresses with two very girlie girls had me wanting to fake diarrhea."Because we need a male perspective. Come on. It's going to be fun, and you're my only sibling. Jeez." Bethany slipped her arm into mine. "And Erica is here because the two of you are inseparable.""And because you need someone with an eye for the arts." Erica wagged her eyebrows and slipped her arm into my other one. She glanced up at me, stealing my heart for the millionth time. "Are we inseparable?""Yeah. Especially when we do it like dogs. You know, they say that-""Matt!" They yelled together and let me go."Gross. Good grief." Bethany slipped her arm into Erica's as they walked to the dress shop, leaving me standing on the sidewalk by myself.I pulled out my phone and texted my brothe
EricaFive Months Later"So much has changed, has it not?" Erica stood encircled by my arms as we watched Damon and Bethany leave their wedding reception."It has, but it's been amazing." I moved back as she turned in my arms and glanced up at me. "Is everything ready for Kendal?""Yeah." He smiled and glanced around, his expression that of a little boy at Christmas. Kendal Tarrington was like a part of the family to Damon and Matt. His life had been such shit lately, but he'd finally found his way out of the dark hole he'd fallen in. He was going to propose to his girlfriend Dana, and we were all in on it.I was happy as hell for them, but I couldn't help but feel a little jealous too. I wanted my ring and my date. Matt and I had been together for almost eight months but had been in love for years."Let's get where we can see." I forced my wayward thoughts away and reached for Matt's hand, pulling him toward the dance floor. "So sweet!""Yeah. It's so good to see Kendal happy." Matt
MattTwo Months Later"Come on, baby. We're going to be late." Matt stood at the bedroom door and gave me a look. "You don't look so good.""What?" I turned around in the mirror, the black dress I'd bought fitting me great. "I love this thing. You don't?""I love everything you wear, Erica." He walked into the bathroom and picked up the little blue stick I'd peed on minutes before. "I meant that you look pale. When the fuck is this thing going to show us what's up? We're going to be late.""We'll look at it when we get home." She moved out of the bathroom, leaving me standing there, staring at a pee-stick."What? We're supposed to go all night and not know if you're pregnant?" I put it down, cursed the universe and walked out."Yes. I'm not pregnant. I keep telling you that.""Damon said you probably are." I grabbed her purse. "Your tits are sore, you're barfing all the time, and you've not let me make love to you in three days!""Three days." She put her hand on her hip and gave me a