The way Onyx speaks to me reflects so much possession. He exudes a deep need for me to be irrevocably his. His demand to impregnate me turned me on far greater than I thought it would. I wanted it because he wanted it, and then because I realized it’s what I want, too.
I love him.
I love Onyx Inwood.
He’s the first person since my parents that I’ve ever loved, and as much as I want to say the words to him, I have no idea how to.
When he left, I made quick work of the breakfast he had delivered and then went to soak in a warm bath. As soon as my body submerged into the water, I felt every ache and twinge from his loving. And I’ll do it all over again tonight. I crave Onyx like nothing I’ve ever known before.
After drying off, I head to my room in search of some comfortable clothes to go shopping in. I want tonight to be special. I want to show him how I feel, even if I struggle to say the words.
Choosing a pair of ripped shorts and a baggy t-shirt, I tie my chucks and toss my hair up into a messy bun. I’ll shower and get nice for him once I’ve decided on dinner tonight.
I always thought I would want more from my life. That I’d want to go to school and become something within my own little world. Until last night, that was my plan.
Telling Onyx a little bit about my mother made me reflect back on all the wonderful things we had together as a family. How much I loved having her at home before I started school. Sharing my day with her afterwards.
I want that with my own children, and I know if this incredibly crazy man has his way, that will be sooner than either of us anticipate.
Skipping out my door, I’m too impatient to wait for the elevator and decide to sprint down the stairs of my building. I’m only a few floors up and going down isn’t a problem.
Usually.
Today, I’m too distracted.
Today, I shouldn’t have tried my luck.
Tripping over my feet on the final flight, I tumble down the last four steps and crash into the door causing a loud thud. I cry out when my head cracks off the wall and stars dance behind my eyelids. With the breath knocked from me, I try to secure my footing by pushing up the wall to stand. Dizziness immediately swamps me, and I feel like I’m tilting and slip back down to my butt.
“Ouch,” I hiss when I land, suddenly feeling like a giant bruise. Seeing the scrapes on my knees and a large black and blue mark on my thigh, I debate the wisdom of my idea to leave the apartment today. With my head throbbing in tune with my pulse, I reach up my hand and discover blood on my fingertips as I pull them away.
“Shoot.” I know I need to get up. I should probably just go back to bed and never think about taking the stairs again, but the idea of moving makes me nauseous. “I’ll just rest for a minute.” My words sound hollow, like they’re far away. I feel sluggish as I pull my phone out intending to call Onyx.
After fumbling with the device a few times and dropping it once, I finally get his number pulled up and hit send. I know he’s on a case and is busy, but I don’t have anyone else to call. Given how harried the elevator always is, I don’t foresee anyone coming down the stairwell outside of a building fire occurring.
“Detective Inwood,” a masculine voice projects through the line, and even hurt, I can’t help the way he makes me shiver.
“Hi,” I think I say.
“Gracie?” He sounds frenzied.
“It’s me.”
“Grace, what’s wrong? Why are your words slurred?” It quiets suddenly, and I know he must have left a room.
“You sound busy.” My eyelids grow heavy, and pain begins to make itself known from other parts of my body.
“Grace!” he snaps, and I have the urge to stand at attention and giggle. “What the fuck happened?”
“I fell down the stairs,” I finally confess. Blinding agony rips through my head, and I moan, dropping the phone to the ground to grab my skull as I tilt sideways and curl into a ball.
“Grace!” I can hear him, but I can’t do anything more than moan. “Fuck. I’m coming, princess.” His words wrap me in warmth as tears leak down my face while I wait for my knight.