Sheltering the storm

She was still shivering, even though my car had excellent heating. Judging by the horror in those baby blues, if I hadn’t interrupted the McCanns, there would have been another “missing girl” on the noticeboards around town in the morning. The thought of them touching her sent me feral in a heartbeat, and I couldn’t stop myself from resting my hand over hers in some fucked up attempt to reassure Ariana that she was safe. When she didn’t pull her hand away, I felt like I had won the Olympics. The McCanns could be dealt with later.

“Thank you.” She whispered, her chattering teeth a dead giveaway to me. She needed to get out of those clothes and into a warm bed with soup and toast to chase away the chills. Luckily for Ariana, I knew just the place to take her.

“The creek has fully burst, meaning you and I can’t get home. Carter's Pass is already underwater.” I paused, and just like I knew she would, Ariana interrupted me.

“My Dad will be worried if I don’t contact him.”

I pulled into the parking lot of the local diner, reaching over to unclip Ariana’s seat belt as I turned off the engine.

I quickly got out of the car, jogging around to Ariana’s side. “I can call Jack once you’re all settled in.”

Truthfully, her ankle looked a little fucked up, already turning black and rapidly swelling.

Without asking, I reached out, quickly swinging her into my arms in the bridal carry, slamming the door shut with my foot, and walking briskly to the door.

There was no point running; we were already wet, and I didn’t want to risk falling and hurting Ariana more. But damn, I wasn’t prepared for how natural it felt having her in my arms. She snuggled in as if she knew that was where she belonged. This girl would be the death of me, and I couldn’t care less.

As expected, Miss Karen took one look at the girl I carried through the door and immediately took off her apron, making clucking noises. I looked down and was surprised to see Ariana already sleeping.

“I swear, Hael Wilder, you can’t be having this sweet young thing sleeping in wet clothes!”

There is not a man alive who could look me in the eye and inspire the same fear as Miss Karen did when she was championing a crusade. This fluffy caramel-skinned senior brandished a wooden spoon in the same manner as I did my colt. And so when she scurried off, you better believe I toddled behind her as meek as a lamb.

Upstairs, the diner had a few rooms to rent for truckers needing a layover. We were lucky that the wild weather left them all empty. Karen led me to the rooms at the far end, using her keys to open up the door.

‘Just lay her down on the bed. I’ve put you in the next room. Y’all have to share the bathroom, so the doors are joined, but I expect you to be gentlemanly. I’ll dry her off and put her to bed. She’s Jack Scott’s daughter, isn’t she?

I nodded, trusting that my diamond would be well looked after while I tended to myself. Reluctantly, I strode through the bathroom into the adjoining room, stripping my clothes off as I went. I grabbed a towel and a complimentary robe from the bed, grimacing as my body protested against the stretch.

I happened to glance in the mirror on my way to the shower, which stopped me in my tracks. “What the fuck?” My torso looked as if I had vitiligo; patches of my normally golden skin held all the colors of the rainbow, red, pink, blue, purple, and, of course, black, staining my skin in bruises.

2. PRESENT DAY.

Hael.

Straightforward deals were going tits up today, tightening the ever-present time constraints acting as a noose around my neck, today of all fucking days!

Nothing happened in this sleepy little town without my knowledge, but even if it had, the funeral taking place tomorrow morning would still have held my attention over everything else.

Jack Scott had died.

You could say what you liked about Ariana’s father, he was a hard man, an honest man, but love him or hate him, you damned sure better respect him, even in death.

Max was handling the preparations on my behalf because, after five years of waiting, I knew the only reason my girl would return to Mercy willingly would be to bury her Dad.

Nerves were already playing hacky sack in my gut, my hands clammy at the thought of setting eyes on her again. I’d followed her career like a crack fiend sourcing their next high, hiding in the shadows, watching every performance as she danced her way into the hearts of thousands. Ariana never saw me, though. I was careful about that.

I lost count of how many phones I crushed, forcing my demons back into their cage every time a male touched her dancing duets, and I’m not proud of the fact that I may have written every name, address, and Social Security number of her dance partners down in my book-just in case. 

My driver slowed to a crawl as we drove through Main Street, every morning at the same time, to remind the town who owned them. I was a household name, no longer a boy; love me or hate me, my reputation was hard-earned, and my name was always on someone's lips.

“Boss, you might want to look at old Henry’s candy shop.”

Reacting on autopilot, I gaze to my right, and my breath stalls at the sight.

Even if I hadn’t recognized her, I could hardly miss her companion. There weren’t many tall black men confident enough to sport an ice-white head of hair, wearing a shocking pink bodysuit, sucking on a lollipop, their free arm twirling a dick? What the fuck?? Talking a mile a minute as they exited the shop, proudly sporting rainbow makeup on his eyelids, especially not in this town. Raymond Forza- Ariana’s best friend — was here as well, which could pose a problem.

“Pull over.”

I felt like someone had stuck a hot knife through my heart as I gazed at my woman.

“Jesus, Mary, and Joseph,” I mutter, unashamedly gawking from the privacy of my blacked-out windows. How could one woman make a pair of jeans and a T-shirt look like fucking lingerie?

Because those legs have been poured into those jeans…

I was instantly reminded of how it felt having those same legs wrapped around me naked as I held her up in the shower, watching the ice queen come undone as I pounded into her sweet pussy, and later, begging for my cock, as she rode me, ruining me for other women as she snatched my soul from my body with each clench, my heart with every shudder, and my goddamn mind just by locking her gaze onto mine, letting me see her owning her pleasure.

“Fucks sake!”

I’m going to give myself a coronary at this rate, and she doesn’t even know I’m across the road, watching like some psychotic pervert. I’m so hard right now; my suit pants look like they’re painted on.

“Should I park up, Boss?”

“No, today’s itinerary is tight enough as it is,” I decide, finally coming to my senses. All in good time, I remind myself as the car moves off again, taking me away from my obsession. I’ve waited five years; what’s a few more hours?

3.

“The only thing that changes in Mercy is age, good God, Ari, Mr. Henry looks taxidermied to his chair!” Even whispering, Raymond’s voice carries in the small sweet shop. Ariana felt like she’d stepped back in time, well, except for the glaring eyes of Mr. Henry; that was new. Although if she were being honest, anywhere Raymond was, narrow-minded disapproval wasn’t far behind. It never stopped her friend from being his authentic self; if anything, criticism made Ray shine brighter. He was loud, he was proud, and Ray wore something rainbow-themed every day, daring people to challenge his choices.

Today he was wearing a very bright neon pink bodysuit with stilettos, rainbow eyeshadow, ice-white spiky hair, and nails so long they were dangerous.

Raymond was a hand talker, if you know you know, and it was fair to worry about your eyeballs if the discussion became too animated. He also didn’t respect personal space since he had none of his own.

Throwing an apologetic smile Mr. Henry’s way, Ariana grabbed Ray’s arm, ushering him towards the far wall, where the gift baskets were carefully arranged.

“Sometimes you take things too far.”

Ray snickered, poking out his tongue. “Honey, when the day comes that I get thrown out of a white man’s candy shop, I’ll know the world’s turning to shit.”