Desolate (Riverband #2) (13 page)

I wanted to yell. I wanted to prove my case, but I couldn't. She was so damn sexy when she got mad. And not to mention her clothes were so wet they were sticking to her, showing the voluptuous curves that I adored. Her hair was dripping wet and she was so annoyingly irresistible while I was trying to be mad.  I couldn’t take it anymore.  My hands needed to be all over my Princess STAT.

I looked at her finger on my bare chest. Was I the only one aware that I was just in my boxers? I smiled when I saw her eyes do a quick glance at my body. She was doing her best to resist me.

"Want to know what I think?!" I yelled.

“What?!” she snapped. Or at least tried to. It came out more strangled and forced than before.

I cupped the back of her head and tangled my fingers in her hair. I leaned down until my lips crushed against hers. Lightening lit the sky and thunder echoed. Rain poured harder, but it didn’t stop us. I stopped kissing her so I get her shirt off. It took longer than usual to get her clothes off because the damn things were soaked. I picked her up, her legs wrapped around my waist, and leaned her back against the hood of the truck. One of her hands gripped my hair and the other gripped front of my shirt as I kissed her neck. 

~~~

We sat outside my house trying to figure out how to explain why we were soaked and way late. Plus, the whole being grounded thing.  There was no doubt mom and dad were raging mad.

"We could just not go in," I suggested. "We could just go back to the river and repeat our fight.  That was fun." I grinned.

"I need to be going. I'm sure my dad is panicking." She looked at me and smiled. "And it was a nice fight."

I kissed her. "I'm sorry I upset you."

"I love you, Havock. And I'm sure we’ll upset each other from time to time but it is fun to make up.”

I kissed her again. "Don't leave tonight."

"I have to. Dad panics if I'm gone too long." She kissed me and ran her hand through my wet hair. "I don't like being away from you," she whispered.

“I'll come with you then.”

"That may not be a good idea right now. Dad is trying to ban me from you. I told him he can't, but until he's stronger, I'm trying not to fight." She put her head against my chest then moved it up and kissed my neck. She kissed one of the spots that drove me crazy. She then moved away from me. "I really do need to go." She tried to run her hand through her hair but it snagged.

I laughed. "At least come in and get in dry clothes and brush your hair."

"All right. I’ll give you your birthday gift too. I finished it earlier." She smiled mischievously at me then got out. She went to a red car and pulled out a bag.

She grabbed something and hurried back over to me. One was a small square package while the other was large and square. She handed them to me. She smiled. "Happy late birthday! Oh, and I need my drawing book back." She blushed. "I'm hoping you have it." She was bouncing on her feet she was so excited.

I laughed. We were both still soaking wet. "You could've waited until we were dry. And
my
book is in a safe place."

I opened the small one first.

It was a deck of cards. Each card had something on it. It was something she loved about me. And on the back were pictures painted on the backs of her and I together. This had to have taken her forever to paint the backs of these.

"No one is to see those," she said blushing. "And now that you have those, I get my book back."

I smiled. "Maybe." I opened the next one.

She chuckled. I opened the present and saw ten records. All ones I didn’t have. I loved how she paid attention to everything about me and knew what I had or didn’t.

"Awesome."

She kissed me then her phone rang. She pulled it out of her pocket. "I can’t believe this still works.

She answered it. "Hello?" She moved it from her ear and I heard her dad. She put it back. "I'm on my way. I got caught in a down pour. I'm going to change then-" she stopped and put her free hand to her temples. "Yes sir." She sighed deeply. "Be right there." She hung up. She kissed me. "I have to go. I love you." She kissed me one more time then went to walk towards the car.

"You're dripping wet. Don't you think you should go change first?  And whose car?"

"He told me I could change there. He's not too happy right now.  And it’s Dad’s." She opened the car door and looked at me. "You be good," she said with a smile. She winked at me then chuckled. "Or not."

I laughed.

Her smile faded. "Since you're grounded, I guess I’ll see you at school on Monday."

"I'm not grounded."

She raised an eyebrow at me and smirked. "Oh really?" She tapped her chin like she was thinking. "I'm pretty positive Mrs. Johanna said you were." She chewed on her lip to keep from grinning.

"She just
thinks
I am." I kissed her. "I'll see you tomorrow, and I still have to give you your gift."

"I love you." She smiled then got into the car.

I knew as soon as I walked in it'd be hell. I took my time going inside. I smoked four cigarettes to prepare myself for the fight. 

REESE

I walked into a house that was for sale. It was my third today. Dad had given me a lot of houses to look at, so that as soon as he got out, we had somewhere to go. He had also given me things he wanted in a place. At the top of the list was a short distance to work and school. Of course, the second on the list was as far away as possible from Havock. I ignored that one.

Janet leaned against the wall as I looked around. She had agreed to come with me and help. "So, what do you think about this one?"

I looked around. It was a two story house with a bedroom and office downstairs and three bedrooms upstairs. It also had tons of windows to let light in.  Or sneak out of. I smiled to myself.

I thought it was too large but dad wanted that many rooms. He said he planned on making the second floor just for me like my own apartment. I didn't get why, unless, he was planning on me never leaving.

"It fits all his criteria." Janet chuckled. "Except the second one. I believe it's only two blocks from Havock," she stated.

I smiled mischievously.  "Is it? I didn't realize that," I said innocently.

She burst out laughing. "I'm sure you didn't, Darlin’."

The Realtor came in and I nodded to her. She smiled then hurried to the paperwork.  Daddy being the mayor had its perks.  It’s not every day that you can decide on a house and they let you move in before you ever close on it.

I looked at my phone as it started ringing. "Hey, daddy."

“Did you find one?”

"Yes, sir. Has the doctor been in?"

“He just left.”

“And?” I asked as I put the phone between my shoulder and ear so I could sign dad’s name on the papers.

"As soon as you get here I can leave."

"Good!" I looked at the bare house. "Ummm...do you want me to get furniture now or after I get you?"

"We can move in already? Don't we have to wait for closing?"

I held the phone away from me. "You did say we could move in today, right?"

The realtor smiled. "Of course, Dear. Anything for Mayor Johnson and his daughter. The owners just needed that form signed to you agreeing to buy it. Everyone in this town wants you and the mayor to get settled in as soon as possible." She smiled then handed me the keys. "I'll keep you updated when closing will be."

"Thank you!" I yelled after her as she left and got in her car.

Janet was laughing.

I put my ear back to the phone. "Apparently, everyone is ready for us to get settled back in.  They’re happy to have you back, Daddy." I chuckled.

"If you are up for it, go ahead and pick out a few things. Mainly couch and beds. See if Garret and Mr. Rick can help move it," he said, leaving Havock out purposefully.

I bit my lip to keep from laughing. "I’ll call Havock and see if they all can. Love you daddy," I said sweetly then hung up.

He called right back.

I shook my head. Janet laughed. "I’ll call the furniture store and tell them we’re on our way.”  She dialed as she walked outside.

I nodded at Janet. "Yeeessss?" I answered dad sweetly.

"You do realize I'm the mayor and if I want to keep you from Havock, I can, right?"

I pinched my nose. "Dad we've discussed that I’m eighteen now,” I said calmly.

"That doesn’t matter, Reese. I have enough on that kid to have him put in jail. Don't try me."

I froze. "Dad, you wouldn't?!"

"Love you." He hung up.

I looked down at my phone as my hands shook. A tear slipped down my cheek as I texted Havock.

Me: Is there any way you guys can help me get furniture for the house? Also, we have a problem.

Havock: Sure. And what now?

I called him as I got into Janet’s car.  “Hey.”

Janet patted my knee as she drove. When we pulled up to the store she got out so I had privacy.

Tears started to fall. "Hey." My voice broke. I was sick of being so emotional, but I couldn’t help it.

"What's wrong, Princess?"

"Dad said that he has enough on you to put you in jail. He said he'd use it if I kept seeing you." More tears fell. I tried wiping them but it wasn't working.

He didn't say anything.

I was shaking I was so angry. I didn't want to be angry at dad, but I was. No one was keeping me away from Havock anymore. I tried to calm down.

"I'm sorry, Havock," I got out through the tears. "I don't know what to do. I'm going to talk to him when I go pick him up."

"He's not being fair.  Maybe I should talk to him?  No… bad idea.  What the hell?! The only stuff he has on me is from years back!" he yelled.

I felt something building in me, and I saw Janet turn to me wide eyed. She parked at the furniture store then hurried over to my door. I pushed it down, or tried to. Janet tried to open the door, but it was locked. I shook my head at her.

She hit the window with her fist. "Open it!"

"I'm going to fix this. I…" I closed my eyes. "I love you, Havock. I won’t give you up.” I took deep breaths as I tried to push whatever was building back down. My head started pounding.

"No. Don't. Just leave it alone. I'll talk to him.  You need to calm down.  We’ll figure this out."

Tears fell down my face. "I'm sorry," I whispered. I put the palm of my hand to my head as the pain intensified. I hissed and the door opened.

Janet took the phone from me. "Havock, why don't you and your brother, possibly your dad, come to the furniture store. Please? I need to calm your girlfriend down." She gave him the name of the store then hung up. She cupped my face. "Focus on me," she said calmly.

"I wasn't finished-" I stopped as the pain intensified.

"You have too much power in you. Let it out," she said soothingly.

"How?" I asked as I closed my eyes. I felt something wet around my nose. I touched it and looked at my fingers. My nose was bleeding.

"Dammit. Tomorrow we start training," she whispered. "This is going to hurt me worse than it does you." She closed her eyes.

I suddenly felt a sharp pain in my head then it was gone. I touched my nose and it had stopped bleeding. I looked at Janet who was kneeling on the ground. Her face was ghost white and she had sweat pouring down her face.

"What...what happened?" I asked my voice shaking a little. I looked around to make sure we didn’t have an audience.  Thankfully, we were the only ones in the parking lot.

"I’ll explain later, but do me a favor and remain calm. I don't think I can do that again." She smiled a little then got to her feet. She leaned heavily against the car. She took deep breaths. "Why don't you go get cleaned up. I’ll meet you inside."

I nodded then went inside straight to the bathroom. I cleaned my nose up and tried wiping off my shirt, but it was no use. By the time I came out, Janet was there. She was sitting on one of the couches with her head against the arm. She looked like she was at death’s door she was so pale.

I talked to the owner and told him what I needed. He showed me the beds. I picked out two bedroom suits. Both dark wood, king. Mine was more decorative. When I came back to the living room stuff Havock, Garret, and Mr. Rick were coming in. Janet hadn’t moved.

Havock had his hands in his pockets. He was in an irritable mood. "Did you pick out what you want?" He looked at my shirt and touched it. “You better say that’s ketchup."

Garrett was talking to Janet.  He looked worried. Rick walked off to go talk to the owner about delivery options.

"Nose bleed. Apparently, I lost control but it went inward instead of outward." I shrugged. I wiped a stray tear. I didn’t want to talk about it. "I picked out the bedroom stuff, but I need to pick out the living room. I looked at Janet. "She helped me and it hurt her," I whispered.

“What do you mean she helped you?”  Havock and I started walking around looking at living room furniture.

“She
helped
me,” I hoped he’d catch on because I couldn’t discuss it in detail in here.

“She’s-”

I nodded before he could finish the sentence.

“Holy hell, that’s right,” he breathed out. “I forget about the mythical bullshit sometimes.”

I looked over my shoulder and watched as Janet gave Garrett a ghost of a smile and tried to stand but swayed on her feet.

I grabbed Havock’s arm and we hurried over to them. "Janet?!" I said in a panic.

She looked at me. "Calm down. I'm fine." She slowly sat back down. "Finish getting your furniture. I’ll just wait here," she said as she closed her eyes and leaned back against the couch.

I ran a shaky hand through my hair. I took deep breaths and calmed myself down. I gripped Havock’s arm. Being near him always calmed me down.

"Havock, can you be a dear and calm her please?" Janet asked without opening her eyes.

He held my hand as we looked at couches.  I picked out a couch then squeezed Havock’s hand as we walked towards Mr. Rick. I gave him the address to my new home.

“They’re going to deliver it and me and the boys will be there to help put it where it needs to go.” 

I thanked Mr. Rick then Havock walked with me outside.

“I’ll see you in a minute.”

Garrett helped Janet to the car. He handed me her keys. "Can you drive her?  She’s refusing to be seen at a hospital so she needs to at least go lie down somewhere."

I nodded.

~~~

I watched as Janet laid on the new couch. "I'm going to break your couch in."

I laughed.  “Alright.”  I looked at Mr. Rick who was leaving.  “Thank you.  I really appreciate you doing this on short notice.”

“No problem.  I’d do anything to help you and the Mayor out.  How is he?”

“Better.”  I smiled and hugged him.  “Thank you for everything.”

He hugged me back and kissed the top of my head.  “Don’t you be a stranger.  I expect to see you and not just because you’re there to see my son.”  He raised a brow at me.

I chuckled.  “Yes, Sir.”  I watched him leave.  He and Mrs. Johanna had been so good to me. 

I closed the door and turned to see Garrett talking to Janet.  I saw Havock sitting on the stairs, staring at me. He used his head to motion up the stairs. I bit my lip when he stood and walked up them.  I smiled then went up, finding him in my new room.