Second Chance

Chapter 13

“Go on Calvin and Luis. Get your food.” They wasted no time thanking me as they got some soup, salad, and fresh bread. 

“I will let the others know to come and get food,” Luis said as they left the room, holding the door for Kennedy, Gavin, and Evan. 

I watched as all of Dustin’s large body guards filtered into the room thanking me for the food. Until it was just the three of us. 

“Is there anything you do that isn’t amazing?” 

“I like baking more than I like cooking, so I guess not if you are talking about food.” 

“I can tell. Everything you have made has been amazing.” 

“In my bag are a dozen cupcakes with buttercream icing.” 

I heard him moan and stand up and pull them from the bag. 

“You can only have one. Unless you don’t plan to share,” I told him. 

“I don’t plan to share.”

“Dustin, I can make you more tomorrow.” 

“Fine.” 

Another knock at the door revealed a couple of his men asking for seconds. Thankfully, I made more than enough for all of them to have seconds and maybe a little more. The weird thing was more than one of them called me Queen. Again, I felt they must have me confused with some other person in Dustin's life. Just that thought left a horrible feeling in my belly.

After dinner was cleaned up, I helped Dustin give Adalyn a bath and before we knew it, she was asleep. The moment we closed his bedroom door, he scooped me up and started kissing me. I didn’t know we had entered the second bedroom till he laid me on the bed. 

He pulled his shirt off, only breaking our kiss momentarily. His hands rubbing my belly as he pushed my shirt up over my head. Again, only breaking the kiss to remove my shirt. 

His hands were rough, which only excited me more as they slowly explored my body. His tongue darted into my mouth as he pressed his hard member to my core. He slowly started to kiss my neck as his right hand found its way to my breast. He was lightly sucking on my neck and then he abruptly pulled away. 

“I’m sorry.” He murmured before grabbing his shirt from the floor and leaving the room. 

Tears burned to release. What the hell just happened? Had I done something wrong? Maybe he didn’t find me attractive once he started to take off my clothes. Holding the tears back, I stood up and found my shirt. Putting it back on, I smoothed my hair and walked out of the room. 

“Everly, I”m so sorry.” 

I didn’t know what to say and I didn’t bother to try and find the words. I gave him a half smile, grabbed my bag from the couch and walked out the door. I heard him call my name as I stepped out, but I heard Adalyn cry. I bolted for the elevator and didn’t stop moving till I was in my car. 

I made it about halfway home when my phone started ringing. I knew it was Dustin but I didn’t answer. If I did, I would cry and I needed to process what had just happened. Instead, I called Kora my best friend. 

“Hey girl.” 

“Hey.” 

“What is wrong? You sound like shit.” 

“Thanks, I love you too, Kora.” 

“You know I love you. Now tell me what’s up.” 

“Are you free tonight?”

“That bad?” 

“Yeah and I don’t even understand why.” 

“ OK, I will be there in thirty.” 

This is what I needed. Time with my bestie and to unpack this Dustin situation.

***Dustin*** 

What the hell was wrong with me? I almost marked her. I swear her eyes turned almost white and only for a brief second before I stopped myself. Just in time, I pulled away, jumped out of bed and left the room. Not because I didn’t want her, but because the warrior in me wanted his flame and I would not be able to hold myself back. That wasn't fair to her. She needed to understand everything and decide to be with me on her own.

Kappi are one being but we are the fiercest warriors and it’s something inside of us that we let loose when we fight, but it also pushes us toward our flames. 

I didn’t even know how to explain it to her. When she followed me out of the room, I could tell she was upset. I wanted to pull her to me and explain why but I was at a loss for words. 

She rushed out just as Adalyn woke up and I couldn’t just rush out of the room after her. I tried calling over and over but she wasn’t taking me call.

To make matters worse, my sister opened a portal into my room minutes after Everly left.

“We have a problem.” 

“What? I don’t have time for this.” I tried to explain. 

“This is serious. The Fairy Queen came to our realm. They have been attacked by demons.” 

“What does that have to do with us?” 

“It happened in the neutral territory of Calydon.” 

“Shit.” That was bad. Kappi was responsible for the security in neutral areas. We haven’t had an attack since I took over my realm.” 

“We need you home,” Faith explained. 

“OK. Let’s go.” 

As much as I wanted to fix things with Everly, I was responsible for thousands of others and right now they needed me. I will make it up to her the moment I am back. Evan would stay with Gavin and portal back once he returned from his date.

***Everly’s POV***

The moment I was home, I opened a bottle of wine and dropped down on the couch. I was on my second glass when Kora showed up. 

“How many glasses?” 

“Only my second,” I said, finishing it off. 

“Ok I can catch up.” She giggled. “Talk.” 

I proceeded to tell her about how I met Dustin. How we have spent time together. About meeting his sister and his daughter and then all about tonight. 

“So wait. He started taking off your clothes and then said he was sorry and bolted.” 

“Yeah. F$ck. What is wrong with me?” 

“Nothing. Maybe his d*ck wasn’t getting hard?’ 

“No it was…it definitely was hard.” 

“Then it wasn’t because he wasn’t attracted to you.” 

“How can you say that? He almost ran from the room.” 

“Look, I know David didn’t make you feel as loved and beautiful as he should have and that was on him because you are, but let me ask you this. Did he ever walk away when his d**k was hard?” 

David and my s*x life was not something to be proud of. We may have s*x once every couple of months when he was in the mood. I figured that was normal for people who have been married for 19 years and had kids.

“No.” I repled. 

“That is all men.” She said, finishing her second glass.

“I don’t understand.” 

“Has he asked you out?” 

“No.” I took a long sip of my wine. I was starting to feel a buzz. “If he was really interested he would ask me out. Wouldn’t he.” 

“Yeah, honey, he would.” 

Deep down I knew it. We had been spending time together and not once had we been in public together. Why would he? He was s*x on legs and I was overweight and I can’t remember the last time I dressed up. 

“That’s it. No more mopping over a man you barely know.” 

“Right! Why am I like this after only a short time?” 

“Oh honey, if you ask me and oh you did, I think it’s because of David.”

“What?” 

“David wasn’t a bad husband and everybody knew he loved you, but he didn’t cherish you. Then he was just gone. For the past 6 months, I have been trying to fix you up with great guys and you always say it’s too soon.” 

“It was. It is. s**t I don't even know.” 

“I know, but this Dustin is the first guy to show you attention. Him calling you beautiful and bringing you flowers made you feel young again.”

Sipping my wine, I thought about what she told me and she was right. I felt beautiful and even sexy again under Dustin’s attention. I wasn’t even sure if I was ready to move on from David. Being married for almost 20 years isn’t something you just get over. 

Was my marriage perfect? No. There was even a time I almost left, but we fought for our marriage. How do I move on so quickly? 

“Do you remember Vincent Molinaro?” 

“Yeah from school.” 

“I ran into him last week. He is recently divorced and was asking about you.” 

All through high school I had the biggest crush on Vince. Everybody knew it, including his girlfriend and I guess his now ex-wife.