BlazeSometimes when I dress up for these parties, I don't even recognize the person staring back at me in the mirror. No, that's a lie; I do recognize myself, but the me I see is the one who let everyone else control her life. It's the sixteen-year-old girl who was being groomed to marry a rich man and become a society maven. If I close my eyes and think hard, I can still see her. With her platinum blonde hair, wearing her pearls like a southern debutante does, clear eyes innocent as hell only wanting to please her parents. I can remember her very clearly. She wore pink lipstick and looked at men underneath long eye-lashes, and she giggled when a boy with proper family lineage would pay attention to her. Daphne would shrink into the crowd, smile prettily, curtsy, and be the envy of every other southern debutante in the room. The memories aren't happy and I don't like reliving a past that's painful. Squaring my shoulders, I lean closer to the mirror, making sure the fake lashes
TrevorI've never ridden in the back of a limo before. Not even for my high school prom like so many have done. Blaze told me we would have a ride. Silly me, I figured it would be a friend or a family member picking us up. I never expected to see a stretch limo pull into my drive."When you said we'd have a ride, this wasn't exactly what I imagined," I take a drink of the beer I got out of the fully stocked bar.She takes a drink of her wine. "Yeah, well my family spares no expense - ever. Especially when they like to show me what I'm missing."The way she says the words makes me wonder if she does miss it. There's a catch in my gut. "Do you miss it? They can give you a lot of luxuries I'll never be able to give you."She's quiet for a heartbeat, and mine almost stops. "No, none of those things have ever been important to me. You know I don't touch the money in my trust unless there's something I really want. I've never missed this stuffy-as-fuck life. I mean look at me tonig
BlazeThe over-the-top opulence in this house is enough to make me want to puke. It's exactly why I ran as quickly as I could as soon as I turned eighteen. I'm sipping on a glass of champagne as I hear my dad talking to Trevor about how he supports our armed forces. It would be childish of me to say my dad supports them by writing a check and wearing a flag lapel pin on Veteran's Day. I'm sure that counts in the "better than nothing" category. Trevor's holding his own, though - I have to give it to him. The look my dad gave him when they were introduced wasn't pleasant. If Trevor had been a bug and dad had been the shoe, he would have crushed him. But Trevor gave him the firmest handshake I think ol' pops has ever gotten in his life. That alone puts him on a level of respect for Damon Coleman."I've been trying to talk Daphne into giving up that little job she has," he flashes a smile over my way, winking at Trevor. If only they'd known each other a year ago, daddy would have
BlazeI'm waiting for the moment he makes his move. Every part of my body is on alert. My nipples push against the lace of my bra, my fingers clench against the wall in front of me, and between my legs I ache more than I've ever ached before. My breathing is labored as I wait, eyes closed, forehead leaning against the solid surface, dying to see what he does, where he touches me first. "You've never had another man in here? What about some horny teenage boy?" he breathes close to my ear. Trevor comes up so close behind me I can feel the heat pouring off his body. Flattening my palms, I push myself back far enough so we touch. It's a whisper of one, but it's enough for now. Tilting my head, I can feel the hair of his beard tickling against my neck. Tucking my chin down, I try to nuzzle against him. I shake my head. "No, never had a man before you, or a boy either. You're the first, the only.""Better fuckin' well be the last."I open my mouth to tell him he's it for me, but
BlazeGlancing at my reflection in the mirror, I again don't recognize the woman staring back at me. Instead of someone with a polished updo and perfect makeup, I look alive. More alive than I have in months. Turning my head from side to side, I see my neck bears the evidence of what happened a few minutes ago with Trevor.Reaching up, I run my fingers along the already purpling bruises and finish taking down the hair he wrecked with his fingers.Luckily for me, I curled it before I put it up. Using my fingers and a comb I found in one of the drawers in the bathroom, I go to work, trying to make it look less "just been fucked" and more "beachy waves". Once the hair is as good as it's going to get, I take in my face with a critical eye. My lipstick, true to my words earlier, still hasn't smeared. My mascara is a different story, it's smudged under my eyes. A quick dab of water-softened toilet paper and I've fixed it as much as I can. This is as good as it's going to get. Openin
Trevor"Sit right there and I'll bring you a drink."I kinda love how my mom still assumes I can't fend for myself. On the other hand, I'm a grown man who's lucky to still have the use of his body after everything I went through. "I got it, Mom.""Let me take care of you, Trevor," she leans in giving me a hug. "Let me enjoy the fact you're still with us."Hardly anything anyone else has said hit me the way these words from my mom hits me. I have to bite back the wave of emotion those simple words bring forth. I'm not even sure why this affects me more with such a punch in the gut. I watch as she goes into the kitchen before I turn my attention to my best friend, Renegade."How are you?" He looks up from where he's rocking the carrier my niece is sleeping in with his foot. Dark circles form half-moons under his eyes, and I'm pretty sure he hasn't seen a razor in a week. "Tired as fuck," he admits. "But I've never been happier in my life."I can tell, even with the haggard
Blaze"I'm so tired," I sigh as I take my shoes off, sinking my toes into the plush carpet in Trevor's living room. My feet still hurt from wearing the heels I did last night."I am, too," he yawns as he takes his wallet out of his back pocket, putting it on the table next to the door. "It's been a long couple of days."I collapse on the couch, snuggling into the blanket I left last time I'd laid there watching TV. Yawning, I glance up at Trevor. "Why don't you come watch mindless TV with me? We can fall asleep in front of the Christmas tree like an old married couple."He laughs, the sound deep and rich. I love when he laughs like that. I'm thankful every time I hear it. I must close my eyes and doze off slightly, because the next thing I know, I jerk awake. Trevor is sitting on the other end of the couch with my feet in his lap, massaging the hard knot I have located in the ball of my foot from wearing those shoes last night."Oh dear God, that feels amazing, please don't s
TrevorI'm treading water, waiting for Blaze to come out of the women's section of the locker room. She just got off work, and I'm doing one of my last physical therapy sessions before they'll be releasing me. The month of January is flying by, but I can't wait to know what my game plan is for the rest of my career, and truthfully, the rest of my life. I have an appointment with the shrink tomorrow, and I just need to make it through this workout.We're the only ones here, and since it's near closing time, I think we'll probably be the last ones to show up. Luckily for me, I know the owner and we have a key. I love working out in the pool because there's little impact on my joints, and right now, they do hurt if I abuse them. The physical therapist told me in the next few weeks that should go away and then I'll be able to rejoin my guys in the Moonshine Task Force. Truth of the matter is, I'm so ready. Sitting around is definitely not the life for me, I can't fucking stand it. I he