~Elli~
I smooth down my dress again and gaze at my reflection in the mirror. This woman staring back at me is someone I haven’t seen in such a long time. I bring my eyes up from scanning my features and really search my face. I don’t see the dark circles anymore that used to accompany my daily appearance. I don’t see the lingering sadness that used to surround me and go with me everywhere.
I see someone ready to live. I see someone who I thought I would never be again.
Before I got married I was a shy but tenacious girl. I lived with my parents in a small town and we were like the three musketeers. My mom got sick when I started high school and I didn’t handle it very well. That’s when Garrett came in and showed me kindness and love. He was the football star of the school and I was the mousy little blonde who didn’t really want to make the effort to be included in any of the cliques. He had to really go out of his way to be around me. I thought he was so handsome but I really didn’t fall for him right away.
It was a slow build that resulted in a beautiful marriage…until the end. He was truly my best friend and my confidant, he did everything for me. I think what I miss most about him was having someone to talk to all the time, someone who knew me so completely that he could practically read my thoughts without me having to give any indication.
I shake my head, my ponytail swinging behind me. Raid’s already given me that back and I’ve known him a fraction of the time I knew my husband.
Is this how it’s supposed to happen?
Is this what I read about in my books?
I smirk, the anticipation of seeing my guy again and actually going out on a date. Gosh, I haven’t been out on a date in what feels like forever. I smile, loving how my face actually lights up again.
I check my phone and it reads six o’clock, only fifteen minutes and Raiden will be here. I take one final look at my reflection and turn to head down the stairs to wait. Dahlia walks in front of me headed straight for the back door so I open it for her and follow her out to sit on the bench and watch her sniff around the yard. I look out at my yard and my dog and just don’t feel the gaping emptiness that used to saturate my life. I’m sitting there absorbing feeling so uninhibited, completely unaware of my surroundings when I hear the back door open, which then causes me to jump three feet in the air, clutching my chest.
I spin around and there is Raiden with the most terrified look on his face, which only causes me to start laughing so hard I start wheezing.
“Oh my…fuck babe, I’m sorry for scaring you!”
I bend over and clutch my chest still laughing. He drops the flowers I just noticed he had and rushes over to me. He bends down and puts his big hands on my face, forcing me to look at him.
“Raid, really I’m okay.” I straighten up and lean my cheek further into one of his hands. “Hi, handsome.”
He smiles down at me and I swear my heart tries to beat out of my chest to get closer to him.
“Hi, sweet girl.”
Oh, there goes my heart again.
He stares down at me with an emotion I can’t quite place but I consider it to be a good one because he leans down and plants a soft kiss on my lips. When his lips brush against mine it’s as if someone poured gasoline on me and lit me up with a match.
I let out a moan and wind my hands up to the back of his neck to pull on the hair there. He lets out a growl and kisses me harder, putting his hands on my waist and gripping me to him. I lean back and pant, really wishing that there were more of the hot kisses and less of the obstructive clothes. As if he can read my very naughty thoughts, he leans his forehead against mine and lets out a deep sigh.
“Baby if you keep that up, we won’t be going on our date.”
I swear his eyes turn into smoldering embers when I put on a sheepish smirk and bite my lower lip.
“I’m okay with that.”
I really feel that Raiden growling is my new favorite sound in the world because every time he does it, I go zero to one hundred in the drenched panty department. I love how my body picks up on every vibe he’s giving off. I’ve never been so totally in tune with someone else. He finishes growling at me and soaking my panties in the process, then grabs one of my hands and spins me around in a circle.
He lets out a low whistle. “Baby you sure are beautiful.” He says it with such a strong inflection of devotion that it almost causes my knees to give out.
I can’t even speak he has such an effect on me. He spins me into him and then we’re dancing. Moving back and forth, to no music at all just the sound of our breathing and our heartbeats. He moves us so effortlessly, me so small in his big muscular arms. We fit together so perfectly. We keep moving like this, dancing in slow circles together when I feel a cold nose in the back of my knee. I giggle, Dahlia’s nose tickling my skin. Raid stops us and bends down to pet her behind her ears which causes her to drop to the ground and demand belly scratches which he then happily provides. I can’t help but laugh seeing this big guy wrapped around one spoiled dog’s little paw.
“Okay Dahlia,” he says straightening back up to tower over me. “Stay here, watch the house, good dog.” She perks up at “good dog” and follows us inside.
Raid takes my keys and makes sure to secure the house before opening his truck’s passenger side door and helping me up, copping a feel of my booty in the process. I feel so light and happy that it just makes me giggle some more. I love feeling so free and peaceful, finally.
He starts up his truck and heads out to the highway.
“Am I allowed to know where we’re going?” He glances over at me and smiles.
It strikes me then how much I love making him smile. I don’t know if I am the sole reason for it or what but when that man smiles…I feel like falling in love with him.
“Well, we are stopping at my house then I have a surprise for you.”
I angle my body so I can face him more fully and reach my hand out, stroking his bicep. He immediately shivers and I love that I can affect him like he does me. I stay facing him, the side of my head leaning against the headrest until we reach his house.
He gets out and I watch him round the front of his truck until he’s standing right there, waiting for me. He offers me a hand and I take it, feeling the sparks fly up my arm making my whole body tingle with excitement.
We barely make it to the front door before it flies open and standing before us is a woman only slightly taller than me with rich brunette hair and at least half of Raiden’s gorgeous features. They have the same eyes and I immediately love her for it. Before either of us can introduce me, she steps off the porch and rushes at me, arms wide open.
“Oh honey, I am so happy to meet you!” She pulls me in and hugs me with enough force to make me believe she wrestles bears in her down time.
I laugh and hug her back as hard as I can. “I am so glad to meet you, Mrs. Michaels.”
She steps back, her hands still gripping my shoulders. “Call me Rita, honey.”
Raid chuckles from somewhere near us. “Mama you could have at least let her get in the door before you mauled her.”
She tuts at him, which looks hilarious because of their size differences and pulls me in the door, Raiden following not far behind.