“Yeah, come to find out last year, the woman was living a whole double life. While my family and I were holding down the fort here, she was out living a jet-setting life with her boss. I was stupid to confront her, but there was only so much more I could take once I found out that Cammy had a bruise on both of her upper arms, fingerprints that appeared while I was out of town and thought Krissy would be okay for one night. That’s when she attacked me. Cammy heard and saw way too much. The protector that she is already had Piper in her room and called her uncle, who then called the police. I’ve never been so terrified in my life. There was nothing I could do. If I’d tried to stop her, she could have turned on the girls, or worse, make it look like I attacked her, and it could have been me behind bars instead of the other way around.” I can remember that day like yesterday, that gut-wrenching worry about what would happen, Madden’s words to be smart a few days before to get an attorney and, Christ, my poor girls.
“Wow, I can’t even imagine going through that, no less the kids. No wonder Piper isn’t talking as much as most kids her age. It’s not speech related at all; it has trauma written all over it. And Cammy, she’s something else. I’m, yeah, I have no words. No wonder you weren’t the nicest person when you walked into the house and saw me sitting with the two most precious people in your world.” It’s me comforting Bailey now. There was no judgment in her tone, only understanding. I take her glass of wine out of her hand, needing to feel her closer to me.
“It worked out for the better. As the saying goes, sometimes you have to walk through fire. I am sorry, though, for being a callous dick, for trying to lock you out, and for not talking to you about this sooner.” She hasn’t moved her hand from my neck. I lift her other hand that’s now empty, lacing our fingers together before bringing it to my lips to kiss it.
“No apology necessary. I’ve never been in your shoes before, obviously, so I can’t imagine what the three of you have gone through. Thank you, Forest, for trusting me to tell your story.” Fuck, I'm the one who should be thanking her. Instead, my mouth meets hers, showing Bailey rather than telling her how deep my feelings run for her.
TWENTY-FIVE
Bailey
He carried me up the stairs, literally. One minute, I was telling him how incredible he is as a man and father, then it was me, all me, attacking his mouth with a kiss. Forest took over, hand on the back of my head, holding me while he dominated the kiss like he dominated me in the hotel room. The next thing I knew, he was standing up, pulling me with him, and carrying me up the stairs, my stomach to his shoulder, the palm of his hand encompassing the cheek of my ass, holding me firmly, and Forest was taking me to bed. This time, I knew his name, and he knew mine. Apparently, he takes notes, too, because he remembers how much I like it when he takes charge.
“Strip, Bailey.” He slides me down the length of his body. I can feel his muscular chest against my breasts, the heaviness between his legs is pressed against my abdomen, and I’m having a hard time functioning as I take him in.
“You hear me, baby? Either you strip, or I tear your clothes off you.” Forest backs away, pulling his shirt over his head with one hand. I watch as his chest appears before my eyes. My mouth goes dry. Then I finally get with the program as I take my own clothes off, stopping at my bra and panties. There’s nothing fancy about them. Where most women would wear fancy silk or satin, I’m in cotton and lace, looking for comfort more than pretty things.
“Christ, baby, finish for me.” I unclasp my bra behind my back, holding it up with my forearms, waiting on Forest to at least drop his bottoms, even-steven and all that.
“You first.” It’s a challenge, one that he doesn’t back down from. I watch as he finishes undressing. His cock bobs against his lower abdomen, thick with a slight curve. I remember how it felt inside me, and now I’m about to feel it again.
“I’m ready, sweetheart. Drop the bra and lose the panties.” He prowls towards me, watching as I give in to his demand, licking his lips as the remainder of my clothes drops to the floor. I step out of my panties so I don’t trip with them wrapped around my ankles.