“You’re mine,” I growled into her ear as I slammed into her again. “Only mine…”
“Yes,” she whispered back to me as she moved her arms around to hold my head to her shoulder as I screamed against her skin and thrust deeply into her, holding my body flush to hers as I emptied into her.
I sank to the floor on my knees, taking her with me. My breath warmed her skin as I panted. I realized my body was shaking a little, and I couldn’t understand why. Images of Tria being held by my father kept flashing through my mind, trying to drive me insane.
“What did he say to you?” I asked quietly.
“Who?”
“My father.”
“Oh,” Tria replied. Her grip tightened in my hair.
“Tell me,” I demanded…or asked…or pleaded.
“He didn’t say much,” she said. “He didn’t have much of a chance. He said you looked happy, and he was glad for that. He asked me if you were doing well—if you were really happy or just putting on a show for the sake of the event.”
“What did you tell him?”
“I said we were happy together,” she responded.
I swallowed hard. I was glad I was already on the floor because I thought my legs might have given out on me otherwise. Tria’s hand ran up the back of my head, fanning my hair out.
“Was that okay?” she asked. “I mean…I didn’t really say anything to him.”
“It’s okay,” I murmured.
A long pause followed, but I still couldn’t manage to get my breath back. With forced determination, I counted my breaths instead, anything to keep myself from thinking, considering, or remembering.
“Come on,” Tria said quietly. Her fingers ran up the sides of my head. “Let’s get into bed.”
My head swam as I backed away to allow her to stand up. She grabbed my hand and steadied me as I stood beside her, yanked up my pants just enough to allow me to walk, and followed her into the bedroom.
“Sit,” she said, still using the same quiet voice. I sat on the edge of the bed as she removed my shoes, pulled my pants off, and started unbuttoning my shirt.
“I can do that.” I looked into her eyes but didn’t move to stop her or anything. Tria just smiled as she continued slipping buttons through their holes. She deposited the cufflinks on the nightstand and pushed the shirt off my shoulders.
I took a long look at the plywood and cinderblock nightstand and the small, round, platinum cufflinks sitting on top of it. I laughed once.
“What?” Tria asked. She rubbed her hands up my arms and rested them on my shoulders, close to my neck. She reached up with her thumbs and rubbed the edge of my jaw.
“Nothing,” I responded. “Just the ridiculousness of all of it.”
“Hmm.” She stared at me for a moment, her brow furrowed, before coaxing me to lie down. I complied as she quickly hung up my tux, then removed her dress and hung it up as well. I watched her move around the room, tidying things up before she climbed into bed with me. I moved close to her immediately, wrapping my arms around her and pulling her against my chest.
“I’m sorry I was such an ass to you tonight,” I said against her shoulder. I kissed her skin lightly. “I never should have let you go.”
“It wasn’t your decision,” she reminded me, “though if I hadn’t gone, it wouldn’t have happened.”
I laughed once.
“It would have just found another way of happening,” I said, contradicting her.
“It would be a lot easier to understand if you would tell me,” she said. I felt her arm finally wrap around the back of my neck and pull me closer.
I could only shake my head and sigh.
*****