Fear grabs me when I hear Torch’s words. Has Michael done something else? I see the color bleed out of Dani’s face and I know she fears the same thing. I grab hold of her hand and try to reassure her. Dani comes off all badass and attitude, but she’s very delicate since Michael. He changed her. If I have enjoyed anything about the heartbreaking journey she’s taken over the last few years, it has been watching her stretch her wings again. I might not agree with the things she does and the choices she makes, but I know she makes them because she needs to prove she doesn’t answer to anyone. In some small way it helps her gain independence. You had to see how broken and empty she was at one point to clearly understand.
“You bitches about ready to head out?” Lips asks, as her and Nikki walk over. We are so deep in thought over Michael, neither of us noticed them. Both of us jump in reaction. Luckily neither woman seems to notice it—or at least they don’t bring it up.
“Go?” I ask and I know my voice is squeaky and strained.
“Yeah bitch, it’s our last fitting? Those damn pink dresses you’re making us squeeze our asses into?” Nikki complains.
Oh shit, I completely forgot about it.
“Yeah, give me a minute to tell Dragon bye and we’ll head out.” I try to smile reassuringly at Dani and walk down the hall to Dragon’s office.
I don’t knock on the door immediately, I stand outside and try to listen. Is that not messed up? Trying to listen to what my man is saying? I hate the feeling it gives me. I hate Michael all over again. I thought we were done with him. What kind of mad man doesn’t give up after years… hell, almost five fucking years? Oh yeah, a lunatic, that’s who!
I can’t hear a damn thing through the heavy door. My hand goes to the doorknob. What would happen if I open it slightly, just to hear? Would Dragon notice? I start to do it, when the door opens and Dragon is standing in front of me. My heart beats in triple time. Does he know what I’m thinking? Does he know what is happening?
“Nicole? What’s going on, Mama?”
Fear, intense and real, and I haven’t even done anything yet! Still, that’s the feeling that swamps me. I try to swallow it down.
“I…I wanted to say goodbye to you. We’re headed out to the fitting.” Does he notice how I’m not looking him in the eye? I can’t do this. I’m going to talk to Dani. I can’t keep things from Dragon. Besides, Michael is dangerous. Dragon needs to know, to be prepared.
His finger reaches under my chin and pulls my face up so that our eyes meet.
“You okay, Mama? Camera showed you were out here for a while. You’re not sick are you? Do you need me?”
“I…I’m good,” I say swallowing down the guilt as I take in the concern on his face. “I love you, Dragon.”
He smiles, and like always, his smile and the way it makes those deep brown eyes of his light up, warms me. God, this man is beautiful.
“What do you say I make you late for your fitting?” He asks, his fingers gently stroking the side of my face.
“How late?” I whisper, not really caring.
He grabs the cheeks of my ass and pulls me up on his body. Because of my pregnancy it takes some work but I semi-wrap my legs around him and lock my arms around his neck. I bury my face into the side of his neck and just breathe him in. Dragon is home. The only home I’ve ever known or wanted.
“We’ll send your girls on and they can do it without you.”
It’s so tempting and I really want to, but I feel guilty. I should stick close to Dani. Dragon’s kissing along the side of my neck. He bites the lobe of my ear and flicks his tongue over it and I lose focus. We walk back through the front room of the club. The club members instantly start their hollering and ribbing. You would think they would get accustomed to Dragon and me by now. I can’t even count how many times he’s run people out of the room so he could bend me over the bar. Apparently, today, he’d rather take me back to our room. I’m totally okay with that.
“Woman! We’re going to be late!” I hear Lips yell in the background.
“I need you riding my cock, Mama. I can’t wait to feel that greedy pussy of yours sinking down on me.” Dragon whispers in my ear to distract me. I love that my man has such a filthy mouth. Sometimes, I think I can come from his words alone.
“Give me ten minutes!” I holler back in the direction of my girls. Wishing my stomach was just a little smaller because I can’t bend down and torture his nipples like I want. I miss the days when I was more flexible, especially when it comes to our lovemaking.
Dragon’s hands bite into the cheeks of my ass.
“Fuck, Mama, I’m going to need more than ten minutes.”
“Make that thirty minutes,” I call back and somehow I can hear Dragon’s soft laugh over the hard beating of my heart and the yelling by the club members.