Page 96 of Dare You to Run
His fingers trace the lines of my tattoo, running over the words and circling the petals with grace. “My words are on your flesh and my seed is in your body. You’re mine forever, Dagen.”
Goosebumps erupt and I move faster, feeling my orgasm build, and run to the finish line. This one is different, though. While Hendrix is usually pulling the ecstasy from me, this one pours out, the bliss overflowing. It bleeds from me and into Hendrix, and this time I draw the lust that exists.
We both pant and heave as our bodies wake up, and I run my hand across his stubbled jaw before kissing him.
“I think I’m falling in love with you,” I admit.
“IknowI’m falling in love with you, little mouse. I don’t ever want to step back into the dark now that I have you.”
I don’t think anything will bring me down from this high.
THIRTY-NINE
I openmy eyes to bright light pouring in from outside and the smell of lavender fills my lungs. Dagen, my whole world, lays wrapped in my arms as early morning is upon us. We stayed the night in the small cottage that is attached to the barn on the McCallan property. It was a debate I didn’t think Dagen would win. But Vaughan finally caved after realizing that I had driven all the way from Cattywump Bay to meet Dagen for her first OB/GYN appointment today. She was already nervous and an argument with him was just adding to it.
“Hendrix, you can take the room you had last time. Dagen you know where your room is.”The night sky was dark as Vaughan rattled off instructions for our sleeping arrangements.
“Dad. Come on. That’s ridiculous. Hendrix will sleep with me in my room.”
“Like hell he will, Dagen Rayne.”Vaughan’s anger was slowly rising.
It seems like all Vaughan is around me is angry. Dagen has told me many times how affectionate and loving he is, but apparently I bring out a different side of him. Yay for me.
“It’s not like you have to worry about anything. I’m already pregnant so he can’t do that anymore.”
“Jesus Christ,”I mumbled.
That was definitely not the right way to go about the situation.
“This is my house, and what I say goes. Period. End of discussion.”
“Fine. Then maybe I’ll find my own house. Then I won’t have to deal withyou.” Dagen crossed her arms over her chest and dug her foot in.
I had to say something. I was tired of being the strain between them. It was too much and I couldn’t allow it to go on anymore.
“I think I’ll just go to a hotel room and stay there. I can see that my presence is the root of all of these problems, and I don’t want to cause any more stress on either of you. Most especially Dagen. I apologize.”I grabbed my phone from my back pocket to search for a nearby hotel when Camille spoke up in a way that shocked everyone.
“No one is going anywhere! This ends now, Vaughan. I’m at my fucking breaking point with you. Dagen is an adult and you cannot continue to hold your thumb on her. She’s having a baby, and you have to face the fact that she’s not a little girl. Hendrix is a good man. He didn’t have to stick around after finding out the woman he’s known for a handful of weeks is pregnant. But he’s here and he’s done nothing but show support for the child you say you love. You either get your head and your heart right, or you’re going to lose her. I will not lose my daughter because of your stubbornness, Vaughan.”She turned to us with a sudden compassionate look in her eyes.“Hendrix. Dagen. You two can take the barn cottage. I hope you’ll be comfortable there.”
Vaughan’s eyes were wide and somewhat frightened to be honest. Camille walked past him, bumping him hard as she did, and hugged Dagen with a strength only a mother possesses. She hugged me with the same affection and this time, I welcomed it.
She bore fire into Vaughan as she stomped out of the room and up the stairs.
Dagen cried herself to sleep and my worry about her mental and physical state grows a little more each day.
She’s exhausted and I don’t want to interrupt her sleep, so I carefully slide out from under her and pad quietly into the kitchen. I need some caffeine to ward off the headache that is lingering behind my eyes, so I search the cabinets for coffee. Finding some, I pop in a pod to brew and take a second one for Dagen. Then I realize that she can’t have coffee. I look for juice or tea or anything she may want when she wakes up, but the fridge is barren of anything of the sort.
I spot the time on the microwave and see that the McCallan household is most likely awake and in full chaos with the kids. Slipping on my clothes and shoes, I abandon my coffee in search of something for Dagen.
The day is already warm and a slight fog hangs over the ranch. The property is expansive and in the morning sun, it looks picturesque. I understand why Dagen loves it so much. Her happy place is here, and I hate that soon I will be tearing her away.
Through the backdoor I see Sloane walking around in his underwear holding a small guitar and strumming it. From the look on Vaughan’s face, it seems he’s not doing so well. AJ sits at the table, swinging her feet and bopping her head like her brother is giving her a private concert. Her hair is a mess with tangles and she shovels sliced bananas in her mouth.
I watch the two kids, wondering if ours will be like them. Wild and carefree, loving and intelligent. My eyes focus on AJ,my heart feeling a special connection with her, and it tells me that’s what I’m in store for.
I rap my hand softly on the glass and three sets of eyes look at me. AJ begins clapping her hands and Sloane comes running.
He pushes the door open and smiles up at me. “Were you in the barn?”
