Page 37 of Yours To Keep
“Thank you,” she says, always so demure and ladylike. I think that’s what I appreciate the most about her. This incredible woman could host a charity ball and still let me fuck her in thecoat check. She is the most exquisite combination of dirty and demure.
“Those red lips are really working for you. I can’t wait to see that shade of red staining my cock,” I say, looking straight ahead with a devilish smirk.
Her breathing picks up, a crimson blush creeping up from between her breasts and wrapping around her neck.
“Better find the bathroom when we get there then, huh?” She said, and I choke on a laugh. Fucking vixen, I swear.
“You gonna get on your knees for me in mommy and daddy’s beach house, angel?” I ask playfully.
“I’d get on my knees for you anywhere. As long as you say please.” She replies, a sly smile splitting her lips.
I never thought I would meet my match in Magnolia Monroe, but damn if I don’t love it. She’s grown so much in the weeks we’ve spent together, and I can’t wait to see where her new found confidence takes her.
We pull into the circular driveway, a convoy of Rory’s Bronco, Ember’s Jeep, Everett’s bike, and Magnolia’s car. I can see a valet waiting in front of the porch to park people’s cars, but I glide Magnolia’s sleek sports car right past him, parking it myself. If anyone is gonna open a door for my woman tonight, it’s gonna be me.
I step out, adjusting the sleeves on my black Armani suit jacket. A black-tie event for the Fourth of July seems a little silly in my opinion, but I do clean up nice and Magnolia hasn’t taken her eyes off me, so I can’t complain. I open Magnolia’s door, extending my hand to help her out. As soon as she finds her footing on the cobblestone driveway, I give her wrist a quick yank, causing her to stumble into my chest. The feeling of her nails through my shirt makes my skin burn for her touch.
“I need you to hear what I’m saying right now, okay?” I ask her, knowing her mind is going through every worst case scenario right now.
She nods, the worry in her eyes permeating the space around us.
“You are safe. You are not alone tonight, or ever again. I know it’s hard to love yourself after you’ve been beaten down for years. I’m not gonna lie to you and tell you I never doubt myself, angel. Because I do, we all do. It’s hard to see your worth when you’re standing so close to the problem. You let people take advantage of you and walk all over you,” I say, knowing my words are cutting her deep, but they’re necessary tonight. “You don’t think you deserve better. You let people treat you like crap because you’ve been taught that’s how love is supposed to go. But I’m here to teach you that’s all bullshit. I believe in you. I’ve seen your strength and your incredible heart, and I’ll never let you cover them up again.”
Tears gather in the sides of her eyes and she tips her head back to keep them from falling. I place a soft kiss on the sensitive spot where her neck and shoulder meet and she wraps her arms around my neck. I frame her beautiful face in my hands, kissing her forehead and looking deep into her green eyes.
“There isn’t a single person on this planet who is entitled to treat you like shit, angel. Remember that.” I whisper. I feel her spine straighten, her shoulders rolling back as she stands a little taller in front of me.
“Let’s do this,” she says, determination and intensity blazing like wildfire in her eyes.
We walk to the front door hand in hand, our friends trailing behind us. Magnolia pauses for a moment, nodding at the doorman and walking straight into the house.
The foyer opens wide into the living area, a wall of windows lining the back where the patio is set up for the event. Thebeach is clearly only a few dozen yards beyond the edge of the grass. My parents live in a beautiful home, and I’ve never truly struggled financially in my life. But this is true wealth. There’s comfortable, there’s well-off, and then there’s this. Dozens of couples, both our age and older, dressed in gala worthy outfits, meander around the inside of the massive living room with plenty of space to keep from bumping elbows with one another.
“Jesus fucking christ, Magnolia. I knew you were rich, but I didn’t know you wereOld Southern Moneyrich!” Rory says, using an emphasized southern accent when she says the last part.
“Oh, shut up. I’m not rich, my parents are. Besides, most rich people are assholes.” Magnolia is rarely so colorful with her language, but her newfound confidence and comfortability around our friend group makes me smile.
“Princess, you’re a rich person, too,” Breaker rumbles. Rory shrugs, nodding as if only just now realizing her husband has nearly cornered the market on defense software and made a fortune doing it.
I see a familiar face walking from the direction I assume is the kitchen with some of the wait staff, and I point her out to Magnolia.
“Greta! I’m so glad you’re here,” Magnolia says with a wide smile, hugging her tightly.
“Oh, my girl. I was afraid your mama had scared you off for good after that last dinner,” Greta replies, eying me over Magnolia’s shoulder.
“Not my girl. She’s made of tougher stuff than that, Miss Greta.” I reply, offering her my hand. She pats it lightly, her features softer when she looks at me now than they were the first time we met. Something tells me she’s been the only one looking out for Magnolia throughout her entire life, so I understand her being a little wary of me.
“I’m so glad you brought your friends, dear.” Greta says, taking in the band of miscreants standing behind us. Even draped in Armani and Gucci, we’re all tatted from our necks to our ankles, and almost everywhere in between.
“Me too, Greta. I don’t know if I could face my mother without them,” Magnolia says, a weak smile teasing her lips.
“Let her say something,” Kelsea says, grabbing Magnolia’s hand and pulling her further towards the back door. “I’ll cut a bitch. I ain’t scared.”
Greta’s eyes go wide and Everett laughs loudly, following his wife out onto the patio.
“Let’s get this night over with before Kelsea ends up in jail,” Ember says, leading the rest of the group out behind them.
twenty
