Pretty Bitches (35 page)

“I see you struggling and you should just know that I have no intention of leaving here without you.” I said evenly.

His eyes softened and I saw the last bit of that demon break away. A tear spilled over his eye and he pulled me against his chest laying kisses all over my head.

When he pulled back there was nothing but love staring back at me. “I can’t believe you stayed and you fought for us when I fucking ran like a coward, again. I love you so much, Emberly. More than I’ll ever be able to show you. But tonight, right now I’ve never felt more loved and I’ve never loved like I love you right now. It’s pretty fucking scary but I never want it to leave.” He leaned down and kissed me tenderly on the lips and pulled back to stare into my eyes.

“We’re more fucked up than a hooker with calculator.” I strangled.

He laughed once and sobered. “How do you feel?”

“Like ground up hamburger meat at the moment.”

His smile was small and I knew what he meant. “I’ll be fine as long as you are with me, Cailen. But don’t you ever leave me again. I won’t survive the next one and I know for sure you won’t because I’ll kill you myself. That’s a promise.” I was serious and he knew it.

“I would deserve it and take it willingly, love. I’ll never ever deserve you but I swear I’ll spend every fucking second trying. I’ll never leave you again, Emberly.”

I nodded. “OK. I accept that.” I looked down and my hip that was throbbing incessantly. “Now, could we please go back home because my hip is killing me and I just want another shot of whisky so I can feel numb.”

His face fell. “God. I’m so sorry. I can’t begin to tel-“ I stuck my finger to his mouth. “I know, Cailen. I know. Let’s just move on and spend the rest of our days making each other happy.”

He nodded and worried over my hip as I turned to walk out the door. Alick was smiling broadly as we made our way to the parking lot.

I looked over. “Is that your other boat?”

He nodded.

“Where the hell were you going might I ask? A cruise around the world?”

He grinned. “Not without you, love. I may have been strong enough to leave that house but I would never be strong enough to be any distance away from you. I truly would have been your stalker for the rest of your life.”

I just shook my head. “You’re fucking crazy, Carmichael.”

“I’ve been called that before.”

“Well it’s pretty damn accurate.” I grumbled.

He held the door for me and slid into the drivers seat. The ride home was quiet. I let the seriousness of the events sink in. I would need to address the Graham problem because it would inevitably turn worse now but for the moment I just wanted to heal with Cailen and put us back together.

He gently pulled me from the car when he parked in front of the house. Lila met us at the door with a shocked face that quickly melted into anger.

I held my hand up. “Not now, Lil. I can’t take anymore drama tonight. I’m going to get some whisky and relieve this pain and then I am going to take my husband and snuggle up in my bed.”

Her lips pressed into a thin line but she kept her mouth shut. Cailen followed me and I grabbed two glasses emptying the last of the contents. I looked at him in horror and he smiled. “Got another bottle in the cabinet, love, no worries.”

I let the amber liquid burn a line down my throat then my belly. After a few gulps my mind became calmer and the throbbing on my side ceased. Cailen watched every move I made and when I drained the last of my glass I placed it on the counter and reached for his hand pulling him to our room.

When the door shut I walked to my side and pulled back the covers carefully folding into the mattress. Cailen tried to stay back afraid of hurting me but I pulled his arm around me and pressed tight against him. After everything I just needed him, his strong arms around me letting me know that I wasn’t alone.

Sleep came quickly, thanks to the whisky and I finally let my body rest.

When I woke the next morning every muscle in my body hurt from being so tensed with worry. My hip was burning and sore. I looked over and Cailen was propped on his pillow staring at me.

He pulled my hair from my face and spread it on the pillow stroking lightly. “I just have no words, Emberly. I was such a coward. I don’t deserve you. You love me enough to fight for me and that is something that I will cherish and hold close to my heart the rest of my life. I’m in awe of you and I’m also eternally grateful to you. You saved the only good thing I’ve ever had in my life. Us. I’ll be the man you need, that is a solemn oath that I make to you right now. I will fight as hard as you have and I will keep this family we’ve created together. The next time I leave you I’ll do it in a pine box six feet under. I swear to walk every step by your side. You will never walk alone again.” He lifted my hand and placed a kiss to each of my fingers.

The knot in my throat prevented me from talking so I eased myself up and placed a kiss to his lips whispering, “Thank you.”

He kissed me back and tucked my head into his chest. We laid there for hours just holding on tight.

There was a faint knock at the door and then it opened slowly. Lila was peeking from the other side. I smiled. “Come in bitch.”

A small smile hovered over her lips as she hesitantly walked to my side of the bed and sat down. I watched as she took several deep breaths before she said, “Cailen, there are some things that I need to say to you. First of all I don’t talk about feelings, don’t profess love, I just don’t open up. Ever. But I have things that I need you to know.” She turned more fully to him and trained her gaze to his eyes. “Emberly is the most important thing in the world to me. She has a wall that deflects people from hurting her but underneath it is all love and honor. I’ve kept people that could cause her pain at bay for years but somehow you broke through and she fell harder than she ever has before. I’ll do anything to protect her and that means from you, too if you are intent on hurting her. Because I have no qualms about hurting you or even killing you if you insist on trying. I want her to be happy and if it’s you that she wants I will be beside her every step of the way, but if you love her you will never put her through anything like that again. Now, I’ve said everything I came for. Just hee
d what I say, Cailen because when it comes to Emberly I fight harder.” She leaned in and kissed me on the forehead and walked from the room closing the door as she left.

I stared after her. That was the most sincere thing that had ever come from her mouth. I felt the tears welling and I realized I had people around me that loved me and cared for me. I wasn’t alone.

He rubbed his thumb over the streaks on my cheeks. “She loves you like I do, Gemma. I respect her immensely.”

I shook my head. “I’m the luckiest girl in the world.”

“I believe the luck is ours, love.” He said kissing my lips.

“When do we leave for Prague?” I asked.

“If you would still like to go we leave day after tomorrow.” He said searching my face.

“Ok. Would it be alright if I asked Lila to join us? Perhaps Alick would like to come as well?”

He smiled. “I think that is a beautiful idea, Gemma.”

I laid my head back against the pillow and just let myself be happy for a moment. My life was a complicated ball of shit but it just kept getting better with the people in it.

A little while later I tried to ease from the bed and Cailen jumped up to help lift me up. I hooked my arm in his and headed for the kitchen.

Lila and Alick were sitting on the stools drinking coffee. I walked directly over to her, cupped her face and kissed her right on the lips. “I love you, too and it’s forever.”

She rolled her eyes. “I don’t know what you’re talking about.”

I grinned and punched her in the arm as I turned for the coffee pot. I pulled out two mugs and poured them full. I handed one to Cailen and looked at Lila. “So, we’re leaving for Prague day after tomorrow any chance you might be game?”

Her eyes brightened. “Depends on why you’re going. If it’s for a torn missionary trip I’ll pass.” She said grinning.

I laughed out loud. “This we know, bitch.”

I looked at Alick. “That means you, too, if you can make it.” I said blowing my coffee.

His smile was blinding. “I was going to stuff myself in her luggage anyway.”

She snorted and continued picking those ridiculous freaking nails.

I whipped up some eggs and peppers and fried a few strips of bacon. That’s the extent of my culinary magic. Basic prep. We ate and drank the remaining coffee before I retired back to the bedroom. I was emotionally, mentally and physically exhausted.

Cailen tucked me in the bed and placed a kiss to my forehead. “I’m going to go workout, love. If you need anything yell for me, OK? I’ll come lay with you when I’m done.”

I smiled and pushed him toward the door. It was damn scary how much I loved that man and how I almost lost him. I tried not to think about it but it was beating me in the head.

Finally my lids became so heavy I just let them fall and I prayed to God that my dreams stayed good.

I felt a gentle finger stroking the skin between my shoulder blades and I smiled. I rolled over and found him smiling at me. “How did you sleep, Gemma?”

“Like a corpse.”

He smiled then his face turned serious. “I need to check your wound, ok?”

I nodded and slowly rolled to the side. He gripped the waistband of my pants and gently slid them off my hips. He slowly pulled the tape around the gauze and peeled it away from my skin. The cold air hit it and sent a shrill down my leg.

He gasped loud. “Oh my God, Gemma. This is so bad. I’m so fucking sorry.” His voice broke on the last word.

I shoved the memory of his lifeless eyes and his deadly hands ramming into his flesh over and over. We had a lot to work through and I was going to have so much to accept with Cailen but I knew in my heart it was all absolutely worth it because he was worth every price I’d pay and would pay forward. Absolutely.

“It’s only a flesh wound, Cailen, it will heal. I’m just glad it wasn’t my heart because that would have remained broken forever.”

              “I swear that nothing will hurt you ever again. That includes me, Gemma. Never again.”

              “I know and I’m grateful.” I smiled. “Now I need you to stitch me back up so you can figure out a way to service me. I’m a little pent up.”

He laughed into the pillow. Then we spent the rest of the day making love and promises. Our life was crazy and a little irrational but we were on a track to happiness that I never knew existed. At least not for a bitch like me.

             
                                          THE END.

 
                     Next we hear from Cailen