Page 22 of Kneeling to Candy

Goddamnit. I shouldn’t have come on so strong. Me and my big mouth jumped the gun.

I run my free hand over my cropped hair, willing myself to calm down before I say something else stupid.

It’s fine. Not all is lost. She didn’t outright reject me, meaning there’s hope for something down the road. Not every relationship happens as fast as Prez and his old lady, and I’d be wise to remember it.

Slow and steady win the long race. And I’m ready to run the marathon a million times over if Candy’s at the finish line.

Does it suck Candy’s not jumping my bones this second?

Yeah, it hurts. But it’s understandable.

This woman has been abused, man after man. She won’t rush into anything now that she’s free to make her own choices. This time is for her to discover herself, and what she wants. If I want to be the one she ends up with, then there can’t be an expiration date on how long she needs.

Time to ease up on my pursuit.

“You don’t need to say anything, sweetness.” I give her a little smile, something I’ve learned eases her nerves. “I threw you a curveball, shooting my shot. You got a lot on your plate, with big goals to work on. A relationship isn’t on your radar—yet. But it will be one day, and I’ll be waiting for you.”

Her eyebrow lifts. “Pretty confident, aren’t you?”

You have no idea. “We’re good for each other. You’ll see.”

Candy chuckles, shaking her head. My words seem to have settled her anxiety. She sinks back against my chest, her hand placed back over my heart. “Thanks for being candid. Promise me you’ll always be honest with me.”

Like I’d ever deny her anything.

“Always,” I whisper into her soft hair, breathing in her bubble gum scent.

We fall into comfortable silence, her warm palm cupping my chest, and my hand moving in soothing circles on her back.

Within minutes, Candy’s soft snores fill the room. I continue to watch over her as she slumbers peacefully in my arms, unable to look away from the goddess of my heart.

We aren’t the diehard couple I want us to be. Not yet. But we’re on the right track.

The best things happen organically on their own time, with a lot of tender loving care. If Candy is the flower, then I’ll nurture the hell out of her until she’s ready to bloom for me.

And if it requires the blood of her enemies, I’ll provide it.

Content for the first time in my twenty-eight years, I relax, cradling the woman I love. All will work out as long as I don’t screw it up.

CHAPTER SEVEN

BUTCH

Present Day

I’m so screwed. Fucked up the ass without the courtesy of a spit job, kind of screwed.

Try as I might, I can’t look away from the one thing that could mess with my happily ever after. My eyes stay glued to the heavy piece of paper in my shaking hands. I blink, trying to unsee the names scrawled across the Nevada legal document.

Stay calm. No need to panic.

It’s only a marriage certificate between me and the woman I love—a marriage between two, hopefully consenting, drunk adults.

“Fuuuck,” I hiss, rubbing my forehead to ease a building headache.

Just as things were moving in a positive direction for us, I somehow torpedoed it clear out of the water. How the hell did I let this happen?

If I could only remember last night’s events. The details are fuzzy, no doubt affected by the heavy drinking the night before.

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