Page 130 of Falcon

“I don’t care. We have all night. Come for me, inside of me, please. I want to see you come apart.”

And, like a beast uncaged, I bring both of her legs over my shoulders and slam back into her with every ounce of strength I have.

She screams loudly, not in fear, but because she is coming again. I fuck her brutally through each wave before the telltale tingling spreads up from my thighs and bursts free, sending me sky-high.

I come violently inside of her, growling into the crook of her neck.

“Fuck. Fuuuuuuuuck.”

She strokes up my back then scratches the nape of my neck before sliding her hand down my spine, then starting the process all over again.

I’m settling into a state of euphoria when she finally speaks.

“Don’t fight him, Marco. Please. Walk away.”

I close my eyes and push back so I can see her face. “Don’t start this, Faith. You know I am going to go through with this.”

She shakes her head and pushes me back from her. I slip from her body and take a step back and she slides down from the counter.

“At the risk of your life? Is it really worth it to you?” She wraps a towel around her body and yanks the bathroom door open.

“Is defending myself, my sister, and now YOU worth risking my life? The answer is yes and will always be yes. That’s the man I am. I don’t back down. Ever.” I walk after her, tucking myself back into my pants.

“Nothing is worth your life, Marco, nothing.”

“My life isn’t at risk, not really.”

“Are you joking right now? You heard what the doctor said. I told you what that fucking asshole Braxton said to me about you. Do you think he will take it easy on you because of everything going on? NO! He wants to HURT you, Marco. Don’t let him.”

“He wants me to walk away like a coward, and that’s not going to happen.”

“Well, I’m not going to stick around and watch.” She pulls her clothes from the drawers and slips on a maxi dress, no bra or panties.

“What? What are you doing?”

She pulls out her suitcase from the closet and tosses it onto the bed.

“I love you too much to sit by and watch you kill yourself, Marco. I can’t do it. I won’t do it.”

“After what just happened, after everything we said to one another, not even ten minutes ago, you’re just going to leave me?” I step toward her and grab her arm, but she yanks it away.

“Don’t touch me. Not right now. I was already thinking about this before you came into the bathroom, and then you told me you loved me. I thought maybe, just maybe, you wouldn’t go through with it, but you’ll never choose anything over a fight.”

Those words sting more than I ever thought they could.

“Faith, don’t go.”

“Are you still going to fight day after tomorrow?” she asks me plainly.

I stare at her, beautiful with fresh tears on her cheeks. I think of my sister, of the things Braxton said to her. I think of the way he degraded her and the things he’s said about me. I think of the fact that just a short time ago, he put his hands on the woman I love more than I ever thought possible.

With all of that swirling in my brain, there is only one answer.

“I have to.”

She takes a deep breath and zips up her suitcase.

“Then I have to go.”

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