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“The moment you stop believing is the instant everything loses meaning.” —Braelyn Miller
My body is in an utter state of misery, seeping from every pore and molecule. I’m being cracked in half by a jagged edge. Anything good is currently draining out of me. Soon there will be nothing left.
The grief is all consuming, unforgiving and unrelenting.
I’ll never be whole again, just a jumble of unrecognizable pieces.
There’s no me without him. But here I stand. Alone.
I’m so cold. This chill is bone-deep, soaking into my marrow. The hole in my chest expands and I’ll never be warm again.
They said I was lucky to survive—this type of accident is almost always fatal. The fact I’m still standing is some sort of miracle. Why does it feel like I died with him?
For him, I’ll push forward. I’ll live for both of us. This battle is just beginning, and tomorrow is a new day.
Without realizing it, this taffy-loving kiddo gave me a reason to smile.
Oh, this kid is going to break so many hearts when he’s older.
A tall man stomps in with the power of a hurricane. Is the ground shaking? If it is, I barely notice. Holy. Hotness. Who ordered the sex in a suit?
The numbness that’s been cloaking me for years falls to the floor. A fire burns in my belly and I glare at him. I take pride in being even tempered, but everyone has their limits. This guy is making me lose my cool. Quite literally.
He’s ridiculing my dream. My job. My livelihood. My blood, sweat, and tears. All with a nasty smirk on his handsome face. Warning bells clang loudly in my brain, but I don’t need them. Brance is the type of man I know damn well to stay far away from.
What I wouldn’t give to be a child again, my biggest worry being picked first for kickball. But I’m not so lucky. Adulting can kiss my ass.
Let’s watch a chick flick and finish the wine and regret our choices in the morning.”
Her giggle grates across my frying nerves. “I hope your big head fits through the door.” I give her the finger without a backwards glance.
I’m strong enough. Today is better than yesterday. Nothing will break me again.
The bar is relatively quiet for a Saturday, which is fine by me. This establishment isn’t appealing for the rowdy crowd looking to party. That’s why I like it.
Lair is a place to unwind without the pressure of more. I don’t need women constantly breathing down my neck, begging for drinks or a quick dicking in the bathroom.
Don’t get me wrong, I love to fuck. I’m the furthest from an abstinent saint. Having a woman purr in my ear to take her harder gets me off. But more often than not, that hassle is greater than the reward. Especially ...
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I’ve come to appreciate a quiet, laidback evening. That’s...
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“Yeah, I’m lucky. My dad tells me we don’t need her. His heart beats twice as hard for me to cover for her part.”
The mapped route was expected to take twenty-five minutes. I made it in under fifteen. The lead in my foot gets a gold star.
“Don’t lie. You want me. Just once would do. I’d turn that frown so far upside down, you’d never stop smiling.”
Who’s the hussy exchanging seductive lines with this man? Urging him on, feeding the flames? Oh, that’d be me. I’m having an out-of-body experience. Or this is a dream. Maybe both.
“You’re wicked. This shouldn’t be happening.” “But it is,” I whisper. “We should stop.” I reinforce my hold on him. “No, that’s the last thing we should do.” “You make me weak,” he admits. I arch my back. “Good.”
“Regret can come later.” It’s my turn first for once. That selfish bitch of an emotion has stolen enough from me.
I take a very unladylike gulp of my beer. The dark color is appealing, but the taste is better. “This is delicious. It’s so rich and thick.” He wags his brows. I snort into my glass, bracing for the worst. “Sounds like what you were grinding on earlier.”
“The triggers are a rolodex, spin the dial and see what pops up. Trauma is fucking hilarious like that. I’m a mess.”
“Because he’s crazy about you. Pretty sure running into you today has made his entire month. If he asks me to marry you one more time, I’m likely to go insane. He’d have you living with us in a second.”
I’m going to come embarrassingly fast. That’ll stroke Brance’s ego. He’ll take that as a compliment, and I have no problem giving it. This man deserves a standing ovation for these skills.
Brance brings me down gently, alternating between soft laps and delicate kisses. Meanwhile, I’m a trembling puddle in his capable grip. This guy is the master of oral sex.
“Take me to your house. We’re gonna test your mattress springs.” I wink at him, but say nothing. It’ll be a fun surprise for him to discover the memory foam.
“I read dirty romance novels.” He scoffs. “You already gave that up.” I tsk. “I never officially admitted it. You know what they say about assuming.” Brance buries his nose in my neck. “I wouldn’t mind making an ass out of you and me together.” I stretch, giving him more room to explore. “You’re bad.” “Oh, you have no idea.” “I might have a hint.” He bumps his hips into mine, giving me a feel of exactly what he’s suggesting. “You’re asking for trouble.” “Read chapter seventeen in that book,” I purr. “It’s a really good scene.” Brance leans back, his jaw slack. “Yeah?” “Hell yeah. There’s some
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“Ollie, it’s been five minutes.” His lower lip sticks out. “That’s a long time, Daddy.”
“Daddy?” “Yeah, buddy?” “Do you love Miss Braelyn yet?” I grunt. “No, Ollie. We’re just friends.” He peeks up at me, shuffling his feet. “Are you sure? She smiles at you a lot. Just like you smile at her.” “Positive. We’re just happy to be around you.” I ruffle his hair, but it doesn’t have the usual effect. Ollie’s features remain flat. In the next beat, his eyes take on their familiar sparkle. “You should hold her hand. I’ll take the seat on the end so you can be together.”
Asshole I might be, but leaving her hanging isn’t my style.
I glance down, collecting the scatters of truth. “You two looked like a dream I never wanted to have.”
She sends me a knowing look. “Don’t judge this old bird by her fading feathers. I can keep up with the times.”
You’re my sunlight and rainbows after a lifetime of storms. Don’t leave me in the dark.”
“Sweet Ollie, you can drop the Miss. Just call me Braelyn.” He picks something up from the ground, cradling it in his little palm. “What about Mom?” Fresh tears pool in my stinging eyes. “W-what?” He opens his hand, revealing a silver bracelet. He lifts the piece up within reach. “Can I call you that?” A large heart charm stands out against the chain. Engraved in the center is one word. Beyond meaningful. Extremely special. Irreplaceable. And granted to me as the greatest gift. Mommy.
