Page 41 of The Fight For Survival
Knocking on the front door, the sound of it opening reaches my ears.
"Cade?" Braylon.
"In here," I call back.
"Hey, I was just-" He cuts off as he notices my bloody knuckles and rushes over, grabbing my injured hand. "What happened?"
"Lost a fight to the living room wall."
Cursing, Braylon searches through the freezer, retrieving an ice pack. He comes back over and holds it to my hand. "How is Mia?"
"Not punching walls."
"Maybe she needs to?"
Letting out a huff, "Yeah, maybe."
After a few minutes of icing my hand, Braylon pulls away. "You have a first aid kit?"
"In the cabinet above the coffee maker," I say as I sit at the kitchen table. I rest my head in my hands, grabbing fistfuls of my hair, ignoring the sting in my hand. I embrace the pain. It's better than the ache inside my chest.
"Fuck, I miss him," I let out a choked sound, not noticing the shake in my shoulders until I feel Bray pull me into his arms. "I know you do," pulling me in tighter. "Let it out, man. The grief will kill you otherwise." Sobbing into his shoulder, I hear a choked gasp, causing our heads to snap to the doorway. I find Mia with her hands to her mouth, tears streaking her red, puffy face.
She rushes over to me, pulling me into her arms, causing Braylon to step back. "I'm so sorry, Cade," she cries in choked sobs. "I've been so selfish in my grief." Pulling away, I grab hold of her face. "No, baby! You have every right to grief the way you need," I tell her, stroking her cheeks. "you carried him for nine months, made a perfect son for us." her tears run too fast to keep up with trying to erase them.
"Then why did he have to die?" She cries, hitting the floor as the pain consumes her.
Lost in my own pain, not knowing how to comfort her, Braylon steps in, picking her up princess-style, and depositing her onto his lap on a chair. "No one knows why these things happen, sweetheart. But I like to think it's for a bigger purpose when someone is taken from this world too soon." Pulling her head into his chest, "that they are too perfect to live in this shitty world." Her sobs turn to a soft whimper as she clutches onto him.
Braylon looks at me, and I mouth athank you. I know it wasn't for me. Surprisingly, I don't mind. I don't know how or when the dynamic of our relationship changed, but I'm starting to see Mia less as mine. And more asours.
"How about we get Damon round here, and we can spend the day altogether?" Braylon asks her, eyeing me to make sure I won't protest. Mia's smile is small, but it's there. "Kane should be here too," she whispers, looking at me.
"One day, baby. I believe that with everything I am," I tell her truthfully.
Mia
"Soourpoorneighborssaw your naked ass running down our street?" Cade asks in amusement after we tell him about the night Damon streaked down our street. "Well, I never shy away from a good dare. And it was probably a treat for them to see my gorgeous manly body with my sexy man parts flapping in the wind." Braylon snorts while chugging on his beer, causing it to spill out of his mouth and nose all over the living room rug. Cursing, he stands up. "Sorry," he says, wincing at me. "Don't worry about it. I'll get the carpet cleaner on it tomorrow," I slur, feeling the effects of the few beers I have had.
We're all lounging about on the couch. Empty beer bottles litter the coffee table. Cade laughs, "I don't think you will be functioning tomorrow, baby." That's true. I feel a nice buzz, and I don't plan on stopping that anytime soon. This was just what I needed, and I could kiss Braylon for suggesting this idea.
"You said that out loud, Vixen," Damon snickers with a wink. I look at Cade, an apology on my tongue, to find heat in his eyes as he watches me, curiosity on his handsome face. "You should," he tells me, his voice husky, making me squirm where I sit between him and Damon. My eyes widen, sure I heard him wrong. "Huh?"
Cade's laugh is a deep rumble. "I said you should kiss him. I think I want to watch," his voice deepens. Braylon cuts in, "you can't be serious, Cade." Braylon almost sounds disgusted, causing a shameful burn in my cheeks. Is it wrong that I got my hopes up, then? I haven't stopped thinking about Braylon's kiss ever since it happened.
I have enough alcohol in my bloodstream to give me confidence, but sober enough to know my own mind, I ask, "why not? You don't want to kiss me?" Braylon gives me a dirty look, "of course I want to fucking kiss you. It's all I think about, but this isn't a joke to me, Mia. I told myself if I ever got the opportunity to touch you again. I wouldn't be letting you go." My mouth pops open, lost for words.
Butterflies are causing a riot in my belly, and my heartbeat increases. "Braylon," I whisper, holding a hand to my chest. Braylon still stands from when he spilled his drink. He looks down at his feet.
I look at Cade, a silent plea for permission. He gives me a reassuring smile and a head nod toward Braylon. Damon pushes on my back to get me up off the sofa. I stand before Braylon, unsure of what to do next. Braylon looks at me, questions in his eyes that I don't know how to answer.
"Jesus Christ, just kiss the man. We are waiting for the show!" Damon shouts out. Cade scoffs and replies, "how will you get a show when you're going to be busy entertaining me?" I moan, squeezing my legs together, thinking about Cade and Damon together.
My moan is all it takes for Braylon to grab me by the waist, pulling me into him and taking my mouth in a hot, passionate kiss that just about sets my panties on fire. Braylon's tongue seeks entrance into my mouth that I am all too willing to give. His beard is soft against my chin and only seems to enhance my senses. His tongue is warm and wet. He tastes like beer and mint toothpaste, which is a strange combination but not unpleasant. Braylon groans and grips a fist full of hair, tugging my head to the side so he can rain kisses down my neck.
"Do you want Braylon to taste that sweet pussy, baby?" Cade growls.
I moan louder this time. "I think that is a yes," Damon chuckles darkly.