Five
Chelsea
“No. I mean, I don’t think so.”
“Finish it,” Harrison commands, staring at his hands that are squeezing the back of the couch so hard his knuckles are white.
Em encourages me to get the last of it out. “I felt for a pulse. I guess all those times you practiced on me paid off Em. When I found one, I knew I had to get out of there. I grabbed my shoes and ran. I made sure he was breathing before I left. I didn’t know how long he’d be out for, but I knew I couldn’t be there when he woke up.”
No one says anything, and it has me freaking out. “That was the night you were on I-19?” Rash asks.
I nod and stand from the couch and start pacing in front of the fireplace. Saying it all out loud helped lift a weight off me. I guess whoever came up with that, has the right idea.
My feelings are raw from reliving my personal hell. I’m also crushed because I know that what Harrison and I both want can’t ever happen. He should have more than a stitched together woman to build a life with. He needs someone better, someone stronger.
Not wanting to have any more witnesses to my break down, I bolt from the house and start walking the driveway. I’m not running I just need to pull myself back together. I need to get right in my head before I face everyone who heard what I went through.
I hear him behind me before he speaks. He’s my savior, and all I want to do is let him keep saving me. I want him in my corner holding me up and cheering me on. Life isn’t fair though, and I can’t be that selfish.
“Stop,” Harrison demands, and damn it, my body overrides my mind, and I’m stopping, waiting for his next words.
“I didn’t know who did this to you, Chelsea. I knew it was bad, but damn Angel. I know there’s more, isn’t there.”
I hang my head, defeated. “Yeah.” I breathe out.
He walks around to stand in front of me. He pulls me to his chest and holds me tight. His strong arms and warm embrace are too much. I push him away not wanting to drag this man to the depths of hell with me. He’s a good man and doesn’t deserve to be with a woman with my past.
“What the hell Chelsea?”
“You and me, we aren’t doing this,” I shout, pacing back and forth.
“Why the hell not?” Harrison shouts back.
“Because we won’t work out, that’s why. We aren’t a good match. It's better if we don’t even start whatever this is.”
“Are you stupid?”
I glare at him and cross my arms over my chest. I arch my eyebrow at him “Excuse me?” I say low and deadly.
“I asked if you were stupid? You must be. Do you hear the shit that you’re spewing?”
“Don’t call me stupid, asshole!”
“Our story started the night you walked your bruised body down that interstate. Don’t you dare try to downplay what you know, you know, is going on here! You’re fucking mine Chelsea, and its high time that you get that through your hard head and accept it!” He shouts, walking towards me, finally coming to stand in front of me.
“Do you think I fucking care what it is you had to do to stay alive? That’s not failure Chelsea, that’s fucking survival!” He yells, then grabs my face with his hands slamming his mouth on mine. His mouth challenges mine, demanding I open and give him everything.
I drop my walls and surrender myself to him. He broke through my thinly veiled attempt to keep him at bay. We’re tongues and teeth and grasping hands. I’m lost in him and don’t feel him walking us backward until my back hits his truck, and he lifts me to sit on the hood.
I drag my fingers through his hair and pull, hard. He growls and digs his hands into my hips, so roughly I’m sure he’s gone and bruised me. I’ll wear these bruises like a fucking badge of honor showing everyone I’m his, and he’s mine. He kisses down my neck, licking down between my cleavage and placing nips against my chest.
He pulls my shirt down and takes one of my breasts out of my bra. My nipples are painfully hard in anticipation. He sucks my aching nipple into his warm mouth laving it with his tongue and nibbling with his teeth. He grabs my other breast through my shirt and under my bra. His large warm hands feel amazing as he massages my flesh. Then he freezes when someone clears their throat.
“You two about done out here? We’re ready to eat dinner. Emersen said we can’t eat until you two are at the table with us. Get your asses in here so I can eat my fucking thanksgiving meal with my fiancé and brothers.” Pres says then walks back in, slamming the door behind him.
Sucking in a breath, I pull my hands from his hair and place them at my sides. Harrison adjusts my clothing, so I’m put back together and looking presentable. Then his hands, god his great hands, wrap around my neck, urging me to look up. When I do, he kisses me, and his tongue slowly wraps around mine savoring our connection.
He ends the kiss quicker than I would have, but judging by the outline in his jeans, he’s in more pain than I am.
“That is all for you, Angel. It’s been all for you since that night I put you on the back of my bike. There hasn’t been anyone since you. I need you to know I was always safe and wrapped up. I’ve been checked, and I’m all clean. When we’re ready to take that step, I’m ready.”
“Thank you, Harrison. I was tested too. I’m clean.”
“Say that again Angel. I want you to hear yourself say it.” He’s not talking about my sexual health, but my ability to love myself.
“I’m clean.” I struggle to say but push out victoriously. He’s right, I need to believe and know I’m okay.
“That’s my girl. Now let’s go eat. We don’t want to see Pres when he’s hangry.” He lifts me from the hood and pulls me to his side, wrapping his long arm around my body and walks us into the house filled with our unconventional family.