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Blair
The night of the memorial service was the last night Brede, Aden and I stayed at the hotel. The next morning, Brede installed an alarm system, camera, and reinforced all the doors and windows at Paula and Jim’s before we moved in. Aden warned Brede it was risky, and that none of those things would stop the police from arresting him, but Brede said he was tired of running.
The first thing I did was clean the house, removing all traces of their tragic death while Brede went grocery shopping, in disguise, of course. When he got back, Brede pretended he was okay, but I know he was still grieving and unnecessarily blaming himself. He wanted everything in the house kept exactly in the same place, so Aden and I abided by his wishes.
For the first few nights, all three of us slept together in the living room because Aden and I knew Brede wasn’t ready to sleep in beds. That would make us more than guests, which would mean his parents weren’t coming back.
By mid-week, I was ready to suggest that we see about renting another hotel room nearby until we leave for North Carolina when Brede finally gave an inch.
“Tomorrow you want to, um, go shopping? Maybe find some new bedding and decorations or whatever for their room?” he asks as we sit in one of the recliner’s watching late night television. I’m curled up to his side, hugging his chest. Aden’s still awake on the sofa, and I’m not sure when he last slept or had something to eat. His behavior is even more erratic now than before, but mostly he’s been quiet, withdrawing into himself.
“Yeah, shopping would be fun,” I answer, placing a kiss on Brede’s cheek. Turning his head, his lips capture mine and ignite a frenzy inside me. Apparently, the same goes for Brede when his palm suddenly grabs my ass and yanks me up his body so I can feel his hard cock against my stomach.
Ah, so that’s why he’s finally giving in to sleeping in a bed. He’s horny.
While two weeks ago he would’ve fucked me right here in front of Aden, I know that’s not gonna happen. He meant what he said about no more sharing, not even letting him watch us together.
Aden doesn’t seem to care either way and has been eerily silent, lost in his own head lately. Sure, he occasionally jokes with us, but something’s been off with him. Brede’s been drowning in mourning, so I’m not even sure if he’s noticed his brother’s silence. Maybe we’ll have a chance to talk tomorrow when we go out.
...
Brede
“Are you sure you’re okay with this?” Blair asks as we stroll through Macy’s hand in hand, almost like a regular couple. People stop and stare at us, maybe because she looks so young, but probably because they want to know what an asshole like me is doing with this beautiful woman. My baseball cap is pulled down to hide most of my face. The media hasn’t mentioned my name much lately, but that doesn’t mean the police have forgotten me.
“I’m sure I’m okay,” I answer Blair. “Now pick out something you like. Bright and happy colors or whatever the fuck.”
“You’re so romantic,” she teases with a grin before leading me to the bedding section of the store.
It doesn’t take her long to find a bed displaying a comforter set she likes. It’s a big, fluffy, white number with large blue and purple flowers printed on it. There’s even a decorative pillow with a butterfly or dragonfly on it.
“Too girly?” she asks.
“Baby, it’s okay. You’re a girl, you know.”
“If you don’t like it, we can keep looking...” she says as her mood-ring green eyes flit around the room.
The last bedroom she had was when she was eight. I can’t imagine what her room at the mental hospital was like, probably boring and sterile, so I want to buy her whatever makes her happy. It’s gonna be strange sleeping in my parents’ bedroom, but it’s either there or get another bed for my old room since it only has bunks.
Despite how much I want for my parents to come home, to walk through the front door like all the times before, I need to face the fact that that shit ain’t gonna happen. They’re gone, and the only comfort I have is knowing they left this world together. It would have been horrible for Paula to have passed away years before Jim because he would have missed her so much. Which makes me think of my dad rotting away in prison after losing Blair’s mom way too soon. I’ve only known Blair for a few weeks, and I can’t imagine my life without her.
“I dunno, baby. Let’s try it out first,” I hedge, just before I grab Blair and toss her onto the mattress, making her squeak when she bounces. I follow her down, climbing on top of her, and kissing her lips before she can protest. Her legs automatically spread, welcoming me between them, even though we’re in public.
God, I need her tonight.
It’s been too long since we’ve been sleeping in those uncomfortable recliners in the living room. Tonight, we’ll finally remedy that.
Fuck that, I’m ready to take her to bed now.
“I like it,” I say against her lips before I reluctantly roll over and stretch out next to her, flat on my back before I fuck her in the middle of this store. Tilting her head, Blair looks over at me through lust-hazed, midnight blue eyes, her cheeks pink with arousal, her butterscotch hair fanned out around her like a halo. She’s so fucking gorgeous it hurts, and she’s mine.
We may have had a bumpy ride, but we made it here, to an almost normal life. There’s still a trip to North Carolina we have to eventually make, and the police I somehow have to figure out how to get off my ass. But I know that despite whatever obstacles come, I’ll try to give Blair everything she could ever want or need. And without a doubt, I’ll worship and protect her until I take my last breath.
“I love you,” I tell her, the words rolling freely off my tongue even though it’s the first time I’ve ever said them to a woman.
“I love you, too,” she replies just as easily before brushing her lips over mine. “Take me home,” she says.
“Yes, ma’am,” I agree, jumping up and pulling her to her feet.
Once we find the king size comforter set like the one we rolled around with, I insist she pick out some dresses since I have plenty of things to wear at the house. When we pay, I make sure to use the cash I pulled out of my parents’ account, the blood money from her dad, or from the woman who wanted her and him both dead.
While I want to think we’re safe and in the clear, I’m not stupid, and I don’t think that Nadia bitch is either. When she figures out the hitman is dead, she’ll send someone else after us. So for now, we’ll lay low, use cash, and try to avoid going out in public too much until we’re ready to take a road trip.
