The Best Bad Boy (Chapter Seven)

The door loomed. By going through it, what was I agreeing to?

"We don't have to go in if you don't want," Lee said noticing my hesitance.

I took a deep breath for courage. I trusted Lee. It made no sense but the man who scared everyone else, who could have any girl he wanted, made me feel safe. I nodded for him to open the door.

Silence filled the apartment. Stewart wasn't there. We were alone. Lee let go of my hand and went to the kitchen. While I adjusted to the unexpected circumstance he poured water into a glass, then grabbed another cup and poured water into it.

"I'd offer you something else, but I haven't been grocery shopping yet," Lee said bringing me a glass his cheeks a bit pink.

I shrugged. Did he think it mattered? Just being near him, when it wasn't because some teacher randomly assigned us seats together was more than most people would ever give me. He didn't realize it but just by holding my hand he'd given me more than I'd ever expected in life.

I wanted to hug him, I wanted to kiss him. I wanted to take off all my clothes and offer myself as his slave to do with as he pleased. Lee wasn't hanging out with me because he needed answers on a test and he wasn't like all the guys who wanted to date me 'secretly' because they didn't have the guts to go against our peers. He was a million things I didn't understand and more than I would ever deserve.

I sat on the couch pretending to be normal. Pretending this wasn't overwhelming me. I sipped some of the water. Lee tickled my arm.

"Where are you from?" I asked.

Lee didn't seem to understand the question. "Here." He eyed his apartment as though that should be obvious.

"You don't speak like you're from this area." It was something that caught my attention the night before but I'd hesitated to point it out worried I might offend him.

Lee's eyes narrowed. "I grew up in Cali. How could you tell?"

I dropped my eyes and began tracing the veins in his wrist with my finger. "The cotton is missing." I glanced up worried I'd offended him.

Lee raised an eyebrow his expression curious.

"People from here speak as though there is cotton in their mouths. Do you have any siblings?" I wanted to know everything so I didn't wait.

"I might have a half-brother, but I don't really know." His eyes no longer searching mine but instead staring off into space. There was more to the story, 'more' that upset him. I waited.

"My dad, he might have another kid but he and I don't have much of a relationship." Deep pain flickered in his eyes.

I wanted to pry, I wanted to delve inside all his wounds and fill them up with 'love.' I was a complete and utter moron. What was happening to me? "And your mom?" I changed the subject because I wasn't ready to be 'that' girl.

"She's great. She raised me all by herself. I mean it wasn't perfect she dated a ton of losers when I was growing up but now she's with Howard and they're happy." He avoided looking in my eyes. He shifted uncomfortably.

The door opened. I jumped. Stewart clomped in. My instincts screamed "RUN! HIDE!" I held myself still.

"Lee, I got some friends coming over and we're gonna watch a movie." Stewart ignored me. I wasn't sure if it was because I was with his roommate or if it was because he didn't think I was worth acknowledging. "You can stay, I just wanted to give you a heads up."

Lee looked at me to decide.

"I'd rather be alone with you." As soon as the words left my mouth I knew I'd overstepped. I should have said something like 'Oh whatever you want to do,' or some other milk dud reply that indicated I didn't have a mind, a libido or was a person at all.

Lee stood and held out his hand. "We can go back to my bedroom."

My nose burned. My stomach could have qualified for the Olympics, and I placed my hand in his swallowing the sudden terror.

A Parent's Nightmare

It was supposed to be an ordinary day, but a feeling something was going to go horribly wrong kept me awake the night before. I waited six months, because the first time they mentioned the routine procedure and the risks I knew my daughter was going to end up dead, or brain damaged. I thought I'd waited long enough. After six months I believed things would be ok. I told myself to relax and stop being paranoid. I shouldn't have. The anesthesiologist with tears in his eyes told me, "I'm not going to lie, she's not doing good. This is the worst day of my career." He was thinking of his career while my little girl was fighting for her life!? He felt bad so I said simply, "I know you tried your best," wondering if my happy sweet little girl would ever smile at me again. There was no point in making a scene. It wouldn't save her. It might kill her. I had to step back and breathe. I needed to focus on giving her all the love a

A Girl Can Dream, Right?

Preparing for the cruise, a whirlwind of excitement and anticipation courses through my veins. Amidst sapphire waves and ocean skies, I'm eager to meet with my teammates, especially one sexy beast I've been mentoring late at night, a little too often. A single man secure enough in his masculinity to be sponsored by a woman he'd never met, it was more likely I'd win the lottery but it happened! Men that secure, are as rare as a million dollars popping out of thin air! Finding one man who would just listen to my dream let alone believe in it and share it, up until him has been impossible... yeah I'm ready to go past first base and then some! As I finish packing, I can't help but indulge in a few tantalizing semi erotic fantasies. From our first conversation, strategizing his path to success, I was completely intoxicated by him. After months of working together, I'm still feeling an undeniable connection that has nothing to do with business. His confidence

Dreaming of Death

I dreamed I died, my usable organs were donated, and the rest of me was fed to the birds. I requested before I died, those who received my organs would gather once a year to celebrate my daughter's birthday. I dreamed pieces of my flesh were sent out to wildlife sanctuaries around the world. I dreamed each year, I could see my daughter with my eyes and she could feel my love surrounding her. I dreamed I soared with eagles, dove into the sea with the ospreys, and traveled the world in ecstasy. Gradually, I felt myself fading away into the darkness. My daughter's birthday came again. I lived in her smile and warmth. Like a brilliant sun, she brought life back to the surface. My essence swirled around her, through her. She became my home. I lived in her joy, in her peace I rested. Trees grew from the soil marked with remnants of my flesh, I felt the sun on their leaves, and I felt the cool rich soil bathing their roots. I felt myself in rivers flowing free and wild, splashing

Ashley Needles

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