Page 17

Chapter

Seventeen

ADON

Pink hair cloaks the pillow next to me in a twisted pile of rubble, and my fingers delicately straighten each lock back into place. Not because I don’t enjoy her mess. In fact, I’m wondering if some part of me likes that the most about her, the fact she needs someone to care for her. Not that I’d ever admit it.

I do it so she doesn’t have to be in pain later when she brushes it out.

Piper doesn’t consider the consequences, and that’s all I think about, usually. With her, though, it seems I can be somewhat of a mess, too. Give in to my baser instincts. It’s acceptable to bend the rules while still using some to discipline her with.

She’s so young, though. Sleeping soundly next to me with a slight snore from her alcohol induced haze. Probably won’t even have a hangover.

Unlike my brother.

I pull the warm blanket up higher over her shoulders, then slip out of the bed as carefully as I can to not disturb her. Despite wanting to be inside her last night, I refrained and slept with her nuzzled against my bare chest instead. It’s something I hadn’t realized I missed, having someone there and present with me.

Grabbing some shorts, I slip them on, then pick up my phone.

Rhodes

Eli’s in trouble

there’s empty bottles under his bed

My jaw clenches, thinking about this pattern he’s developed. I just knew something would go wrong. And now I gotta fix it. Except, once again, I feel powerless.

Me

Make sure he gets to work on Monday. If he’s drunk or high, I’ll deal with it.

Rhodes

k

Why is it as soon as I’m feeling some peace, life has to rip it away? Can’t I be happy, too? Just enjoy this time?

I’m less quiet as I use the bathroom, then head downstairs in my empty house. As I stand barefoot in the cold kitchen, I rub the back of my head. What does Piper even like to eat? Thai noodles when she’s sick, yeah. That salad place down on Main on Wednesdays. She seemed to like the diner’s chili. But for breakfast? Muffins from Rainy Day are all I know.

So, that’s where I head after getting dressed in clean clothes that have been sitting in the dryer. I toss my winter coat over my jeans, slip on some boots, and hope the garage door humming open doesn’t wake her before I get back.

The barista she’s always flirting with is behind the counter, and I probably sound like an ass when I say it, but I don’t care. “You know Piper?”

“Uh…yeah. I know Piper.”

“Can you make her favorite? With a muffin, too? I’ll take them to her where she’s lying in my bed right now. Oh, and a large black coffee to go for me.”

Her eyes widen at the order, but she gives me a slight nod and sets to work. If I have to scare off every lover she’s had, I’ll do it. My haunches are raised as I pay for the order, maintaining a fierce gaze at the barista. I know the poor girl has nothing to do with this, but I can’t help it.

Piper seems to need protection all the time. Sure, mainly from herself, but I want to provide it for her.

By the time I get home, I’m worried the coffees are going to be too chill, but when I walk in, the air is filled with a scent of cinnamon and fresh baked bread.

Clouds of white flour dust the butcher block island, along with various baking materials, and Piper stands in the middle, slapping some off her hands as she bounces on her toes. She only wears one of my black T-shirts that’s so large on her, it could be a gown. The sight of it sends my cock into a raging fury of need.

This tiny girl is wearing my clothes in my kitchen and baking something in my oven…like she’s truly mine. Fuck, yes.

A broad smile lights up her beautiful face as she spots me. “Hi! Oh my god, I wondered where you went! Did you check your phone?” She hustles to my side and grabs the coffee tray and bag from me while I stand, stunned, trying to keep myself from impaling her on the counter.

“I thought you’d want your favorite after last night.” I shuffle to a stool and wave a hand around at the pans she has laid out. “Not feeling bad, then?”

A deep moan escapes her lips as she sips her latte, and it makes my dick jump against the zipper. Slyly, I reach down to adjust myself. “Nope. Thought I’d make you all cinnamon rolls, but the kids aren’t here, are they?”

With a shake of my head, I’m almost silenced by her admission. She wanted to make breakfast for my kids . “No, they’re with Em this week.”

She dips her hand into the paper bag and won’t look at me. Her voice gives some false confidence as she says, “Oh, yeah. That makes sense. It’s better they weren’t here to see me last night, right?” A laugh escapes her chest with a forced halt.

I stand and sidle up behind her, then grip her shoulders while she pries apart her bakery muffin. My lips nestle against the column of her neck, and she shivers in my hold. “Let’s do this slow, but it will happen. They’ll love you with or without cinnamon rolls.”

My arms drop to her waist as I sway with her held against my chest. She meets my gaze with a shy smile and relaxes back into me as if I just told her exactly what she needed to hear. “Okay.”

I work to help her clean up the disaster she left around us while her creation bakes in the oven, the smell making my tongue water with anticipation. Her phone constantly buzzes with text messages and with every vibration of it, my irritation rises. After the sixth or seventh, I finally snap.

“Who the fuck is texting you so much?”

She scrolls through her screen and hands it to me. “Some spam messages. I’ve been getting them so much lately and don’t know what to do about them. I report them as junk, but they just keep coming.”

My eyes scan over them and she’s right. All of them have links they want her to click and various urgent messages, making it seem like she needs to deal with them or else. She continues to wash the dishes while I sneakily glance over her other text threads.

A lead balloon fills my stomach as I see the blond kid’s face. Sean’s picture fills me with a bout of jealousy. Piper continues bopping to some unheard music, and I quickly look over their messages to one another.

Except there are only a couple of benign ones. The last is from a few days ago.

Sean

So this is the band I thought you’d be into. Here’s their info.

Piper

Thanks I’ll check them out

Sean sent a link to a website, but the URL looks long and complicated. My eyebrow raises as I hold the phone up to her. “Did you look at this website?”

Her green eyes flick to my face for a moment, then focus on the screen. “No. Not yet.” She lifts a finger to press on it, but I take a step back.

“Don’t. I’m worried this is a virus or scam.”

Confusion paints her expression. “Why would my sister’s boyfriend send me a virus?”

The timer goes off on the oven, and she hurries over to pull the tray out, setting it on the cold stove burners.

When she catches my gaze this time, we match each other’s confused expressions. Tapping on the phone, I point to his picture. “I seen this kid at the club…” I suck in my cheeks, not knowing how much of my night to expose. “He didn’t seem very trustworthy. Made some remarks about your family not being, uh, good enough for him and that he was working to fix it.”

Piper’s blush lips pinch tight, and she takes the phone back from me, then plops onto a bar stool. “He’s an asshole. But he’s never bothered me. Not really . Not enough to do something like send me a phone virus. Or…”

“Shoot at you? Steal your purse?”

She shrugs. “No. No way. I can’t see that. Though…”

Sipping my coffee, I wait for her to work through whatever has come to her mind.

“Though he could probably get away with a lot, knowing who his father is in the community. But I wouldn’t think he even owns a gun or would know how to use it. Not like my dad, who goes shooting all the time.” The whites of her eyes flash as she rolls them, then she freezes. My heart pounds harder, too.

“Your dad owns a gun?”

Her throat bobs as she swallows. “Yeah. And he was having an affair with that woman. But I really don’t understand what I have to do with anything, let alone why my own father would…” she trails off, and it makes me think she’s come up with a reason her own family would want her dead. Instead of dread, there’s fear behind her expression as her shoulders stiffen.

I slide behind her and wrap my arms around her, but she jumps suddenly. “Sorry. What is it that he has against you?”

“It’s not him. It’s mainly my mother and sister. They just—” Her chest rises as she straightens up. With a deep inhale, she lowers her voice. “Something bad happened to me and they don’t believe me. They blame me, or whatever.”

“What happened, Piper?”

She squirms out of my hold and darts away. “I want to eat my cinnamon roll. Want one?”

I let a small smile greet my lips and nod. “Yeah, definitely. But, hey. I’m not bothered by you keeping this to yourself. For now. I hope to make you feel safe enough to tell me one day.”

She bites into one of the rolls and hands me one.

“ Damn , Rosy. This is the best cinnamon roll I’ve ever had.”

Pausing her bite, she licks her bottom lip of some icing and blinks at me. “Really?”

“Fuck yes. I wouldn’t lie.”

A cute flush covers her cheeks, and she bounces again like she’s happy at the compliment. I just hope she stays here and makes more stuff like this.

“I put some chai spices in the dough. I like the exotic flavor.”

I polish off another one, involuntarily moaning and grunting with every bite. “It’s amazing! You love to bake, huh?”

The force of nature turns a bit shy as she cleans up some flour. “Yeah. Sometimes, while I’m creating things in the kitchen, I pretend I own my own bakery.”

The confession makes me want to thank her for sharing a piece of herself with me. I can’t get enough of these revelations. But these pieces of information aren’t enough. I need more. I think I’ll always need more.

“Tonight, I want to take you to a fancy place. Some place nice like you deserve.”

“Deserve? Was my blow job that good? ’Cause I was sort of out of practice.”

My thumb brushes some flour off her pink cheek, and I chuckle. “Nah, just for being you. But yeah. The blow job was an excellent bonus.”

“I need to go home to take care of Freckles. And shower and stuff…”

I slap my palms together to clean them and eye a roll longingly. “That’s fine. Ugh… One more and I’ll take you.”

She heads upstairs to get dressed while I tidy up and store the rest of my newest addiction in some plastic wrap while patting my full belly. When she returns, I plant a kiss on her cheek and lead her to the truck.

It’s a sunny winter’s day as we head toward her place, warm rays streaming into the cabin. I grab her hand, placing it on the console between us. When she glances at me with a grin, the ice surrounding my resolve melts as much as the weather. I needed this. I can’t lose it. Not now.

We stay silent on the drive, relaxed as we listen to some jazz. It feels like she’s always been here, or maybe I was just waiting for the right moment when my heart could grow enough to love her.

Love?

Where did that word come from?

As I pull into her building’s parking lot, I give her a sidelong glance. Yeah. I think I could love this girl. Maybe I already do.

She grows especially quiet with her hand on the door handle. When I think she’ll give me a kiss and a goodbye, she pauses. Slowly, she turns to me and tears coat the bottom rim of her lashes. “Adon?”

“Yeah, Rosy?”

“Do you think my family wants to kill me?”

That does it. The vulnerability in her fragile brow, the shaking lips, the rapid rise and fall of her chest... I’m going to love the shit out of her until she knows her worth.

No matter what it takes. I’m in this.

I let my hands grip her tiny face and pull her close. “If they try, I’ll fucking end them.”