Grace
Usually, whenever Ken found her next ‘perfect guy’ or whenever Ty had a date with Connor, we’d all meet up to discuss their men, to sigh over the romantic fantasies and get some greasy food into our system while we’re at it.
But for some reason, I didn’t want Ken or Ty to find out about Daniel yet. Of course they’d be supportive and encouraging, but going out with Daniel was something that my mother will never approve of and it made me feel naughty as Hell doing it. Like I am making up for my High School years when I’d watched my silent crush, the school’s bad boy Harry Grover ride into the parking on his motor bike with a different girl on his arm each morning. Though his concept of loyalty had been non-existent, I still couldn’t get over how blue his eyes were and how his blonde hair had caught the light when he was on the field playing basket ball with his pals.
Daniel wasn’t H
GraceMy breathing finally came slower after fifteen minutes of lying still on the couch. The post-orgasm haze cleared from my eyes and I felt my back ache from the uncomfortable position and Damien’s heavy weight on top of me.Damien’s breathing was still a bit ragged when he popped up on his elbows on either side of my head, his cock inside me, moved a bit causing me to gasp and I felt it harden again, just a bit. Daniel groaned, eyes closed and sweat appeared on his forehead. “I’d love nothing more than to stay right here all night, but that’s not what I want us to be like. A relation based only on sex never ends well and I don’t want this to end so soon.”Pulling out on a groan, Daniel pulled out tissues from the box on the table and wiped his semi-hard cock clean of any cum. Throwing the crumbled tissues into the bathroom, he looked at me with his brows furrowed. “Shit! I forgot protection.&rd
GraceDaniel’s family consisted of the head chef, the sous-chef, two trainee chefs and three waiters; all men of varying ages and sizes. But what I did understand from the introduction was that none of them were Daniel’s blood relative, yet they were nothing less either.George Vitale, the head chef, was a man in his early 50’s and had a short built and a bulging tummy. He also had salt and pepper hair cut close to his scalp and kind grey eyes. Then was the sous chef, who appeared to be in his late 40’s and very similar to George in height and appearance, was Mike Vitale, George’s younger brother. As for the helpers and the waiting staff, they were all part timers who had different day jobs but at the end of the day, came over to this restaurant at the end of the day where they were a close knit family. To Daniel these boys were his friends, brothers even. It was clear on their faced how excited they were to have Daniel he
GraceI don’t know how we were able to get through dinner, but we did and we even managed to say a proper goodbye to Daniel’s family. And then there was the fact that Daniel’s left cheek was smeared with lipstick, which his cousin and brothers teased him about mercilessly. I have to admit though, I wasn’t completely innocent when I’d kissed his cheeks, but he’d made it worse when he’d shifted his face to kiss my lips. Kevin seemed more smug than the others since he now something scandalous to hold against his cousin, unfortunately, it wasn’t scandalous enough.“There ain’t gonna be any monkey business in my house!” George had said gruffly but his eyes had twinkled with laughter.We’d then bid goodbye to everyone and had set out on our way back home. Halfway through the ride, Daniel had informed me it’d be his house we’d be going to because it had a bigger bed and
GraceThe obnoxious sound of my cell phone going off woke me up early the next morning.I groaned and reached for my bedside table but all I could feel was air. I let my hand drop to the bed, but another groan coming from beside me had me opening my eyes in haste and finally taking in the room I was in.Daniel must have brought me to his house after I passed out in his arms. It made me blush even thinking about having sex in his car. But also, Daniel’s voice kept reverberating in my head.And you think that make you any less intriguing?I turned carefully to find Daniel’s face at the crook of my neck and one of his hands thrown over my waist while the other was under my head. Shit! It must be limp by now! I rose cautiously from the bed, careful not to wake him up and got off the bed by lifting his arm and placing my pillow under it so he would think that he was still holding onto me.I found myself dress
GraceI woke up with a start to find my phone ringing on the bedside table.I rubbed the sleep from my eyes and looked at my clock to find it was 3.39 am. The lights were off in my apartment and I’d closed off all windows except one so the air could circulate and keep the room cool. It was already mid November; winter was just around the corner.I reached over to grab my phone from the bedside table bedside table and answered it without looking at the screen. “Hello.” I yawned.“Sorry for waking you up. I just had to come see you.”I shot up in bed. “You’re here? Now?”“Look out your balcony.”I pushed the blanket off me and stood with shaky feet. I was wide awake as I opened the balcony door and walked out into the chilly night air. Looking down over the railing, I saw the familiar mop of midnight hair leaning against the side of his silver Sedan.&ld
Grace“Chug! Chug! Chug! Chug!”The crowd went wild as two men, who looked more like teenagers than men, threw back bottles after bottles of beer while the crowd cheered them on.I saw Daniel approach from the corner of my eyes and the crowd parted like the sea upon feeling his presence and then I watched him ‘talk’ to the two boys, who seemed angry at first at being interrupted, but as soon as they saw Daniel’s face, both of them became exceptionally pale while the crowd dispersed from around the bar counter to find other ways of amusement.“Wow, that was quick,” Ken looked around at the people who had stood around us a few seconds ago but were now busy performing on the dance floor. “That kinda had a high school fight written all over it.”“Tell me about it,” I shook my head as Zach the bouncer picked them up with a grip on their collar and went to throw them out o
GraceI wiped the blood away from Daniel’s hand with a cotton swab and placed the stained swab into a disposable plastic bag along with ten other swabs. There had been two large chunks stuck to his hand and another three smaller ones and right now, I was making a temporary bandage so Daniel doesn’t bleed out while his personal Physician arrives.“Grace, I think you should go over to your friends’ place right now. She’s hurt; she’ll need you there.” Daniel said for the nth time. We were back in Daniel’s living room, me sitting on the coffee table while Daniel sat on the couch so I could clean up his hand properly.“Daniel, shut up and let me bandage you!” I snapped at him, but my hands shook; my vision hazy with unshed tears. He’d lost a lot of blood and it wasn’t stopping. He needed to get stitches and fast. Where on Earth is his doctor?“Grace.” Daniel pl
GraceKen opened the door s soon as I’d knocked on it, her hands filled with greasy junk food and chilled bottles of beer.She sighed in relief as soon as she saw me and handed me one of the two trays she was holding, as soon as I’d shut and locked the door behind me. “Thank God you’re here! I’d ordered too much food and I was worried me and Ty would be bouncing around the house tomorrow if we were to eat this by ourselves.”“How is she?” I asked her as I placed my purse and the tray on the coffee table and took off the jacket I’d worn over the flowy orange dress I’d worn to the club today. I picked the tray back up and walked to Ken bedroom where Ty was.“She’s taking a shower.” Ken pointed towards her bathroom door where I could hear a shower running. “She’s been crying all this time, but I think it’s good for her to let it all out. Who&rsquo
EpilogueTatiana’s P.O.V5 Years later...“Happy birthday to you! Happy birthday to you! Happy birthday to Diana, Tony and Abigail! Happy birthday to you!”As all of us clapped, our three precious girls, all four years old, Diana and Abigail with their father’s dark hair and Tony with her mother’s blonde locks, blew out the candles to the humongous cake we had ordered and dived right into it without offering us any.“Girls!” Grace’s stern voice was heard over the infectious giggles. “What happened to staying clean until dinner?”“Sorry, aunty!” Those came from Diana and Tony.“Sorry, mummy!”That came from Abigail.All three spoke at the same time in between little giggles before diving back into the cake and stuffing their chubby little cheeks with chocolate frosting. Even at four,
Chapter 65:Tatiana’s P.O.VA constant beeping noise cut through the haziness in my mind and woke me up from my peaceful slumber.I tried to open my eyes but they wouldn’t budge and my throat felt raw and itchy. I needed water. Where was I? It was so blissfully quiet in here. I didn’t want to wake up. I wanted to stay right here, forever.Scream! Scream louder, you whore!My eyes snapped open as everything that happened came back to me. Connor! He had hurt me! He had tried to kill me! Then why wasn't I dead? Where was I? Why was everything so hazy and white?Tia!Damien! He had been there! He had come for me! Is that why I was still alive? Was I in a hospital?“Nurse! She’s awake!” Someone yelled from next to me, making me wince. The sound was too loud.And just like that, the quiet was gone and everything around me buzzed into activity. The next thing
Chapter 64:Damien’s P.O.VAs soon as we reached the hospital, Tia was immediately rushed to the operating theatre. Daniel and Victor went on to fill all the necessary documents while I waited outside with Grace and Kendra and watched as the lights turned red and several doctors and nurses entered the theatre, ready to operate on Tia.“It’s going to be okay, Grace,” I heard Kendra assure her as the two women huddled together at one corner. “Ty’s strong; she’s always been a fighter. She’ll pull through. She has to.”“I know. She’ll make it. I know...” Grace spoke before she broke down in Kendra’s arms.I collapsed on the chair opposite to them, too exhausted and emotionally drained to comfort either women. But thankfully, their husbands returned on time and took them into their arms, whispering sweet nothings into their ears as they held t
Chapter 63:Damien’s P.O.V“Tia!”I’d heard the strangled cry for help just a second ago and it momentarily frozen me on the spot. She was hurt and I had no doubt that her ex was in there with her, torturing her as I stood and wasted my time ringing the doorbell. I couldn’t see anyone else in the apartment next to hers and I didn’t have time to call for help. I looked around the door, trying to find a rational place where the spare key might be since it wasn't under the welcome mat, but my mind wasn't working properly. So I did the only thing I could, I took a few steps back and ran into the door with all my strength.The door jerked but it was strong, it came back to its original position and wouldn’t budge. So I tried again, and again. Fear and anger had gripped me in a chocking hold at the fact that while I was wasting time trying to break down the door, something bad was happe
Chapter 62:Tatiana’s P.O.VI was woken up from my nightmare by someone throwing ice cold water on my face.I blinked and opened my eyes but my vision was blurred. What was wrong? Why was my head hurting so much? Why couldn’t I reach for my head? My hands felt like they were tied behind my back in an uncomfortable position.The pounding in my head increased with every breath I took until it was almost unbearable. Something must be wrong! Why couldn’t I see properly? All I saw was through a red haze.And then, almost like a lightning bolt had hit me, I remembered exactly what had happened. Connor, my ex-boyfriend and abuser was here in my apartment and he had been waiting for me to show up. I’d tried to run as soon as I’d seen him sitting on my bed with a knife in his hand, but he had been faster and he’d caught hold of my hair and given me a hard shove where I’d fallen face
Chapter 61:Tatiana’s P.O.VThe cab dropped me off at my doorstep and I collected my baggage and entered my apartment building. But as soon as I stepped into the elevator, an unknown fear clutched at my stomach.I shook it off, thinking that it might be a post break-up trauma kind of thing. Then again, I was never Damien’s girlfriend to begin with. How could it be a post-breakup trauma if I wasn’t even in a relationship?Swallowing the lump in my throat, I exited the elevator and took out my apartment keys from my pocket and unlocked the door, but as soon as I stepped into my apartment, something felt off.Deciding not to take any chances, I stepped out of the door and reached my hand up to the 204 sign above my door. Not many people knew but it was my secret place to hide my spare key. I carefully unscrewed the bottom nail with my fingers and since it was a designer nail, it came out easily. Ther
Chapter 60:Tatiana’s P.O.VI closed my eyes and rested my head against the seat, relieved that the dreadful flight was over and to be finally away from Damien.But my relief was short-lived as the cab came to a stop a couple feet away from the airport terminus and none other than Damien Romano climbed into the back seat with me.“The cab’s taken.” I told him curtly before I closed my eyes again, trying to avoid the sting of tears.“I just want to talk.” He told be before telling the cab his location and settling back into the seat.I stayed quiet and turned my head towards the window to avoid his gaze that was burning holes in me. There were a thousand things that came to my mind but I couldn’t transform them into words. What was I supposed to say? I’m sorry I fell in love with you? I’d rather cut my tongue first. I couldn’t-wouldn’t beg for
Chapter 59:Tatiana’s P.O.V:The ride to the airport was quiet and tense. It was clear that the others felt it too since Grace and Ken voluntarily decided to sit beside me instead of with their husbands. Damien and I didn’t talk but Grace and Ken tried to make small talk so that the silence doesn’t become constricting.I caught Ken giving Daniel a ‘What did your brother do?’ look from the corner of my eyes. I also watched Daniel give a small shrug in return. But I think they already knew the truth, at least my friends did. It wasn't Damien who was at fault, it was me. Me and my stupid feelings. Damien had warned me right from the start that we'd have nothing more than physical intimacy between us. Anything more and he'd be gone.I hadn’t planned on him finding out either. But he had and now I feel like I'd tricked him into something he never wanted to be a part of. And it wasn’t h
Chapter 58:Damien’s P.O.VI love you, Damien.NO!It can’t be! This is exactly what I had been trying to avoid, haven’t I? I had told Tia specifically that I couldn’t do feelings, that I couldn’t trust another woman with my heart after what Marian did! I even told her my story. Even my family, even Daniel didn’t know all the details but I’d told Tia...Why did I tell her all that? Especially when I had sworn off relationships for good. Maybe it really was my fault? Had I gotten involved without even wanting to? Had I given her the wrong message all along? But what had I done than any other man wouldn’t have?Was it the gifts I’d given her? But I’d given gifts to everyone, to Daniel and his new bride and even to Victor and his wife.*“Oh! Damien, these look wonderful!” Tia looked at me with her wide green eyes filled with