Fighting To Stay (9 page)

He looks down at me and his face immediately softens. “What’s wrong baby? How are you feeling?”

“I’m freezing. My head is killing me. Get me warm please,” I beg.

Garrett helps me shift over and he climbs into the bed with me. Gently, his arms wrap around me and I’m immediately calm. His touch soothes me, even when I’m on the verge of a panic attack.

“Shhh, I have you baby. I’m never letting you go,” he whispers into my hair.

“I don’t feel good,” I whimper.

“I know baby. You should feel better soon. Just close your eyes and get some sleep. I’m right here.”

Tenderly, he strokes my back and soon I pray that this is better soon. I don't like this feeling. His touch is like a sedative I’m soothed back to sleep.

Two days later and we are finally heading home. I miss my bed. The port is all-good now and I have not had a fever in over twenty-four hours. So I can keep the regular schedule for chemo. I’m not sure I’m thankful for that or if I’m upset.

Over the past couple of days, Garrett has stressed himself stupid over me. I need to really think about his future, but I’ll wait and see how things go before
I talk to him—I just want him happy.
I love him like I never knew love before. For all I know, I’ll pull through all this nightmare and never have a damn thing to worry about. Sure I may not be able to have kids, but if I have Garrett, I’m the happiest I’ll ever be.

“Hey,” Garrett brushes his hand down my cheek. “What are you thinking about?”

“Tomorrow,” I say quietly not meeting his eyes.

He pulls into the parking spot right in front of the building. Without saying another word, he climbs from the truck, walks around to my side, opens the door, and turns me sideways. Brushing the hair from my face, he lifts my chin up until I’m looking in his eyes.

“I’m going to be with you every step of the way. Any question, any problems, I’m going to be there. Okay?”

A tear slips down my cheek. “I’m going to lose my hair,” I say softly.

He wipes the tear away. “I know, but you will still be the sexiest woman alive.”

“Are you sure you’re ready for this? I won’t be upset if this is all too much for you and you want to bail. It is overwhelming for me.”

He laughs and leans in kissing me. “Healthy or sick, I’m not leaving you. You’re stuck with me.”

Jumping on his back, we laugh as he acts as if he’s a horse galloping up the stairs. Taking my keys from me when he reaches my door, he unlocks it and enters.

“What the fuck,” he gasps, shocked.

Sliding down his back, I look around my trashed apartment. Anger fills me so completely that I don’t think before walking into the apartment and up the stairs. There in the middle of the disaster that used to be my room, are shredded remains of everything of mine.

What is scarier than that are pictures of me sleeping, pictures of Garrett, and me with my siblings.

“That bastard’s going to pay for this,” I hiss as I turn to storm out.

Garrett wraps his arms around my waist, pulling me back against him. “You need to stop. Let’s go to my house. You are not going after him. Where’s your phone? I left mine in the truck.”

Pulling out my phone, I hand it to him. Walking back over to the pictures, I glance at all of them. Picking up the ones of Garrett holding me while I slept and kissing me, I smile.

“At least we have these memories captured thanks to my evil bastard ex,” I say as another photo catches my eyes.

A sob escapes before I can stop it and I fall to my knees as I gather the photo. Lying on the ground cut and bleeding is my brother.  A message is scrawled on the back says,
“I’ll take out everyone until you come back to me where you fucking belong.”

Garrett’s warm comforting arms wrap around me, lifting me from the ground. Turning in his arms, I bury my face in his chest.

“He was hurt because of me. My brother was hurt because I kicked him out.”

“Baby, this isn’t your fault. This guy is a nut job. I’m glad you’re away from him, not just because I have you now, but because you weren’t safe with him.”

There are voices from downstairs and Garrett informs me that he has called the police. We head downstairs, answer all the questions they have for me. They go around the apartment looking at all the damage. My heart sinks the more and more I take in the destruction.
My home, it is gone.

“Ma’am, do you have somewhere else you can go for a while?” One of the officers asks as he comes back over to us.

“I…” I start, but Garrett interrupts me.

“Yes, she does.”

“I suggest you gather what’s important and head there. We will need to be in contact about all findings we may have. How’s tomorrow work for you?”

Dropping my head, I take a deep breath. “I’m starting chemo treatments tomorrow.”

“Oh, Ma’am,” he removes his hat. “I’m sorry. We
will
get this guy. I promise you. Just go to your safe place.”

“Thank you, Sir. We’ll be in touch,” Garrett says to the officer before turning to me. “Do you want to grab anything?”

“There’s nothing left here. He destroyed everything,” I say numbly, clutching the pictures I took in my hands.

“Come on, baby,” he wraps me in his arms as we walk out of my apartment.

Stopping us outside by the rail just a few steps away from the door, Garrett lifts me onto it and cups my face in his hands. For a moment, he only looks at me.

“I want you to stay at my place. Is that okay? We can go to a hotel if you’d prefer that, but I really don’t want to leave you alone.”

Looking at the genuine concern in his eyes, my heart warms. This man shows me in every interaction how much he loves and cares about me. Whatever I did to finally be in this position, I’m so unbelievably grateful.

“If you don’t mind me crashing with you, I would love to be able to sleep with you. I feel kind of spoiled over the past few days.”

“The only way you deserve to be is spoiled,” he smiles before kissing me lightly.

Before he could pull away, I wrap my legs around his waist, pull him in tighter, and deepen the kiss. After all that has gone on over the past few days and especially just now, I need this reprieve. That is exactly what Garrett’s kisses are to me. Relaxation and a calmer in lip form.

Pulling away, he looks at me with heavy lidded eyes. “If we do this any longer… Let’s get back to my place.”

I wiggle my hips against him, rubbing his erection between my legs where I want him badly. His growl fills the sexually charged air and I smile innocently at him.

“I’ll take you right here on this rail. After having a taste of you at the hospital, I need more. I’m addicted. So don’t tempt me. Hop on my back and let’s go,” he instructs with his warning as he turns around.

Giggling, I hop on his back and he practically runs down the stairs. As we are walking across the parking lot, I get a strong feeling of someone watching us. Not making it noticeable, I look around the lot and spot his car. Leaning forward, I whisper in Garrett’s ear.

“We are being watched. Please don’t look around, but I’m done with this bastard.”

Turning his head, he smiles. “What are you up to, beautiful?”

“I’m taking my life back. I’m not giving him a chance to ruin it any longer,” I smirk.

He opens the door of his truck and sets me in there. Running around to the other side, he jumps in and looks at me. I’m not sure who moves first, me or him, but regardless his mouth is on mine, devouring me once more. Shifting over, I straddle his lap. His hands push up the back of my shirt unclipping my bra. The minute his hands move around to play and caress my breasts, I move my hands down to his pants. Unbuckling them, I push my hand inside.

“Ah, shit, baby. Stop. I’m not making love to you in my truck, not yet anyway.”

“How fast can you get us to your place,” I ask as I bite his lower lip.

“Oh, I’ll push it,” he laughs as I slide back over to my seat.

When he goes to close up his pants, I stop him. “Nope, I’m having fun while you drive.”

Reaching my hand in his pants, I pull his incredible length from his jeans. It makes my mouth water.

“Dee…” he starts, but I’m already lowering my head taking him in my mouth. “Ahh, fuck,” he breathes.

Looking up at him, I see his head tossed back. His eyes are closed, but I can see the smile on his face. Pulling off him, I lick a slow circle around the head before pressing a soft kiss to the tip.

“Drive or I stop,” I breathe then twirl my tongue around the head.

“Fuck,” he curses.

Starting the truck, he puts it in drive. I can’t help the small bit of laughter that escapes when his body shudders just from my breath.

The whole ride to his place, I tease him. His body is tense and he keeps cursing. Suddenly, we are skidding to a stop.

“Get undressed,” he urges.

Not caring where we are, I did as he asks. He is stripping as I am. Quickly, I climb over him and he slams me down on him, burying him completely inside of me.

Tossing my head back, I moan. “Oh Garrett,” I breathe as my hands grip his hair tightly.

Garrett growls and pulls me to his mouth. Moving his hands to my hips, he moves me up and down his shaft faster and faster. Lost in each other and the feelings we are creating in each other, my climax begins to build.

Unexpectedly, we are both moaning as we cling to each other, riding out an out of this world orgasm. We break from the kiss. I continue to rise and fall on his length as I bury my face in his neck to keep from screaming.

His fingers dug into my back as they slide down. It is the most intense moment we’ve shared yet. Moreover, the best moment I’ve ever had in my life.

“Shit, baby, I’m sorry. Are you okay?”

Leaning back, I smile. “I’m better than okay. That was incredible.”

“Everything is when you are involved. Let’s get inside, take a shower, and get something to eat.”

“We’re here?” I ask as I look around.

We are currently parked inside a garage, so I can’t tell much about his house yet, but hopefully I will soon.

As I go to shift off him, but he holds me firmly in place. “No, I will carry you in. Just like this. I’ll come back for the rest of this later.”

He opens his door, carefully removing us from the vehicle. Opening the adjoining door, I look around to see a mudroom of sorts. A flash of little shoes, coats and backpacks fills my mind as I look at the cubby like areas that lines one of the walls with a little bench in front of them. Trying my hardest to keep the heartbreak from my face and body, I blink several times and breathe a sigh of relief when he keeps moving. He moves further into the house.

We enter a grand kitchen, complete with an island and granite countertops.  As he runs up the stairs, he’s moving in and out of me and I can’t help the moan that slips from my lips. He claims my lips purposely moving me up and down on him now as he walks toward some place that I could care less about right now.

Vaguely, I hear a door open, right before I’m laid down on the most comfortable bed, I’ve ever lain on. Slowly, he pushes in and out of me. His kisses turn slower, but just as hungry. He cocoons me. Garrett is making love to me. He’s not just screwing me, not just reaching for a release. No, instead, he is cherishing me, loving me slowly and it leaves me breathless. After an amazing orgasmic bliss, he cocoons me. Cuddling me, I have never been happier than this very moment.

“How’s the food?” Garrett asks watching me pick at it.

“It’s fine,” I mumble.

He places his hand on mine. “Hey, what’s wrong?”

“Just not sure what I’m going to do,” I force out as the tears build in my eyes.

Everything was fine while we were busy making love to each other. I didn’t have time to think, nor did I want to. All I wanted was to live in
that
moment and never come out. Now, hours later, as I sit here attempting to eat, my mind goes back to all the things that are so unsettled right now.

“Not sure what to do about what, baby?”

Slamming my fork down harder than I meant to as the frustration takes over. I look at him. “Well, let’s make a list here. My brother is in the hospital because Vince put him there. I’m worried about Hailey now. My apartment is in shambles. I don’t think I can live there anymore even once it’s cleaned up and put back the way it was. Therefore, now I need to find a new place to live. Then to top it all off, I start chemo tomorrow and don’t know when I’ll have time to do any of it,” I practically scream.