When You're Mine (MINE #3)(22)
“I’ve more than proven myself.” He took a step closer as blood rushed my ears. “Maybe you should take a look in the mirror more often. Wonder if Mia would feel the same about her perfect big brother if she knew about those two bitches we tag teamed in Cancun five years ago. How we got them both so messed up they could hardly walk, and then took them back to our hotel room and f*cked them like animals.”
Yet another reason I could never trust this * again. I hadn’t thought about that night in a long time. I didn’t want to. I don’t remember having sex with either of those women, and I swear to Christ I think he not only slipped something in their drinks, but mine too. I woke up the next morning tangled in a pile of limbs-Brent’s included, with a dozen used condoms scattered on the floor and one hell of a headache. The man I knew and the man Mia loved were two completely different people.
“You haven’t changed at all. You’re still the same * you’ve always been. You better hope like hell your intentions with my sister are no less than honorable.” I took a step forward, placing a finger to the center of his chest with a sharp jab. “If you hurt her, I will spend the rest of my life making yours a living hell.”
“Barrett?” Tabitha’s voice broke through my angry fog. She gently placed her hand on my forearm, pulling it away from Brent’s chest. “It’s time to go.”
“Yeah, Barrett. Your bitch is ready to go.”
Red tinted the world around me. “What the f*ck did you just say?”
“Barrett, stop!” Tabitha clawed at my arm when I wrapped my fingers around his throat.
My chest heaved for air. “I’m only going to tell you this one time so listen up, brother-in-law. Stay the f*ck away from her.”
“Barrett please, you’re causing a scene.” I looked around to see a few of our colleagues and their wives whispering with their wide eyes glued to us.
I found a calming breath, releasing him. “Crazy motherf*cker,” he said, massaging his neck.
“Call her anything besides Tabitha again, and next time, you won’t be able to breathe when I release you.”
Clasping my hand with hers, I led her up the stairs. “You ok?” She looked over her shoulder, worrying her bottom lip.
“Yeah, I’m good. Just don’t want that piece of shit marrying my sister, that’s all,” Her feet stopped moving when we made it to the first landing. “What’s wrong?”
Squeezing her eyes shut, she released a heavy sigh and looked down at her feet. “Barrett, I need to tell you I…”
“Baby,” I wrapped her in my arms, kissing the soft skin of her neck before moving my mouth to her wine flavored lips, drowning my frustration in her taste. “Only thing I need right now is you.”
There were so many more words I wanted to give her, so many things I wanted to say, but I wanted her beneath me before I whispered them upon her lips.
Sometimes the truth hurts.
And sometimes it feels real good.
~ Henry Rollins
So much had happened in the span of a few hours, I was still trying to catch up as we stepped inside the suite of the hotel. Not only had I unknowingly been invited to meet Barrett’s entire family, who were all completely amazing, but I’d been slapped in the face with my past. Of all the people for Mia to be engaged to, it had to be him. Now I carried the knowledge that he’d cheated on her, and with me of all people. Could my life get any more f*cked up? What the hell was I supposed to do now? I couldn’t let her make what could be the biggest mistake of her life-right?
Right.
I set all of this knowledge aside the moment his hands were on my skin. Standing in the middle of the room, I closed my eyes to the heat of his fingers dragging fire down my spine. God, I was going to miss this. My heart ached at the thought of what I would leave behind. He unzipped my dress, pushing it from my shoulders with a kiss to each shoulder blade.
“Tabitha.”
My name on his lips was a plea and a devastating blow to the chest. I knew this would hurt. I knew it wouldn’t be easy, but as he moved to stand in front of me, I felt like it was impossible. How could I ever breathe without him inside of me? How could I walk away from the only man who ever made me truly happy? Those eyes on me held far more than the promise of pleasure. Those blessed windows to his soul begged for me to give him my heart. But what Barrett didn’t know was that in exchange, I would ultimately break his.
The sun is gone, but I have light.
~ Curt Cobain
Rubbing the sleep from my eyes, I made my way to the door.
Boom! Boom! Boom!
“Hold the f*ck on, I’m coming!” Squinting through the peephole I saw Mia crying, shuffling back and forth with a fire extinguisher in her hands. I threw open the door, blinded by fear and the bright lights of the hallway. “Shit Mia, what the f*ck?”
“Brent,” She dropped the fire extinguisher and fell into my arms, her trembling body overwhelmed with grief.
“What the hell happened? He put his hands on you?” I did a quick scan of her body, slowly walking her to into the living room. Once I had her settled, I retrieved the fire extinguisher and shut the door. I ran a hand through my hair, pulling it down my face. “Why are you banging on my door, with a fire extinguisher, in your pajamas at 6am?”