Fractured (Deep In Your Veins, #5)(34)

Imani’s hands balled up into little fists. Fury glimmered in her eyes. “She shouldn’t have just turned up like that. You were only thirteen. For all she knew, you didn’t even know you were adopted. It was insensitive and selfish.”

I soothingly massaged Imani’s head. “She seemed surprised that I didn’t want to talk to her. People seem to automatically assume you want to meet your biological parents. I didn’t. I wondered about them— wondered what they looked like, what they did, if they were poor or rich, if my father even knew I existed at all, if my mother ever thought about me and if she was ashamed of me—but I was content with the family I had. Maybe I wouldn’t have felt so rejected if she had given me up in a different way. Still, maybe I should have heard her out.”

Imani’s expression was gentle. “You were a teenager and in shock.”

“She probably just wanted money anyway.” But I’d never know.

“It’s okay that you were angry with her. Hell, I’m angry with her.”

Her protectiveness made me smile. “I had a good family, Imani. They were good people. They always supported me. They loved me in their way. They were encouraging and gave me the best of everything. Being adopted doesn’t define me.”

Her eyes narrowed. “What do you mean they loved you ‘in their way’?”

“They weren’t family orientated. Their relationship was more like a business partnership. They liked to socialise, entertain, and hold dinner parties. Even Christmas was like a gathering that’s only purpose was to do some social networking. They were good people,” I reiterated, “just not family people. Tell me about your family.”

Her smile was wan. “Oh, I was a big disappointment to them.”

I frowned, growling, “Disappointment?”

“My family are very ambitious, academic people—which is great, good for them. And I’m proud of all their achievements. They work hard and they deserve what they have. But I’ve just never been like them. I liked learning new things, but I wasn’t academic.”

“There’s nothing wrong with that.”

“I used to get so bored in school because I liked to learn through doing things, not by copying things from chalkboards and textbooks. My parents and teachers thought I had a poor concentration span. It wasn’t that. I was just utterly bored.”

“I can imagine.” And I knew her well enough to know… “You used to fall asleep in class, didn’t you?” Imani could sleep anywhere.

Her smile widened just a little. “Once or twice.”

I had a feeling that was a massive understatement. “So your parents were disappointed because you weren’t like them?”

“Yes. My parents wanted me to be a lawyer or a doctor. I had no interest in being either one of those things. I don’t think it’s wrong if someone isn’t ambitious or doesn’t have a ‘calling’ or whatever. But they didn’t agree.”

“They didn’t understand you.”

“No, they didn’t. They didn’t get that I was happy just going with the flow and enjoying the present moment. I didn’t think too much on the future. Didn’t want to make grand plans. I just wanted to be…me, I guess. But I wasn’t enough for them.”

I kissed her. “Then they’re *s and you never needed them.”

She yawned, pretty much melting on top of me. I wasn’t surprised. It had been an eventful, long-ass night and she’d not long recovered from a bout of induced exhaustion.

I lightly tapped her ass. “Come on, let’s get you in bed.”

“I’m not tired,” she insisted as I carried her inside.

“Bullshit, baby.” In the bedroom, I stripped us both and spooned her. “Sleep.”

“You’re no fun.”

“Tomorrow, we’ll have all kinds of fun.”

She snickered. After another yawn, she whispered, “Thanks for sharing tonight.”

I kissed her hair. “Right back at you.”

Seconds later, she was asleep, which was pretty typical for Imani. For a while, I just lay there, listening to her breathe and inhaling her scent—so f*cking thankful that she was finally all mine, and determined that nothing would change that.





CHAPTER NINE


(Imani)



Sitting at the breakfast bar, I watched Butch putter about the kitchen as he prepared breakfast. We hadn’t spent a day or night apart since we made our relationship public three nights ago. Yet, I didn’t feel smothered. I liked having him around so much. Liked it when we’d settle on the sofa while he watched the game and I read my Kindle. Liked it when he made us dinner—yep, the guy could cook seriously well—or we watched re-runs of American Horror Story and The Walking Dead.

I also liked it when he made me come so hard I almost passed out.

He didn’t invade my space, he fit into it. I did worry that he might miss having his own space. But he seemed content enough with the way things were.

If it wasn’t for the dragon situation and the fact that the girls still weren’t talking to me, all would be perfect in my world. Ava had paid me a visit, wanting us to speak in private. Butch, however, had refused to leave the room since he didn’t trust her not to upset me. I hadn’t insisted on him leaving because I figured if Ava was going to insult him, he had every right to be there.