I Love You More Than (15 page)

“Ten minutes Dana, Dane. Then its lights out.”

“Okay. Goodnight Mom.”

“Goodnight sweetie.”

“Mom?” Dana called as Felicia was shutting her door.

“Yes.”

“I’m glad you’re happy and that Harrison makes you happy. He’s really nice to us.”

“Thank you Dana. You know no one can ever take your daddy’s place. David will always be your dad.”

“I know mom…goodnight.”

****

Felicia woke up with a start. She didn’t know what it was that made her wake from the dead of sleep. She was trying to steady her heart rate and go back when she heard a shuffling sound in her room. She was reaching for the light when David fell into her bed announcing, “It’s just me.”

“David I’m tired, get out of my room please.” David acted as if Felicia hadn’t uttered a word and began rubbing her on her ass. Taking his hand, she flung it off of her behind.

“Come on Felicia, you know you want me to give you a nice all over body massage.” He persisted as he reached for her breast. Rolling quickly to get out of his reach, Felicia fell onto the floor. Getting up, she turned on her bedside lamp. The sight that greeted her made her want throw up. David in his birthday suit. Belly distended to the point that it looked painful and a semi hard dick. Barely visible due to the flap the fat from his stomach caused.

“David please don’t make me tell you again, get out.” The fact that she was declining his sexual advances yet again clicked and his horniness quickly turned to anger.

“What the fuck do you mean don’t make me tell you to get out again. Who do you think you are talking to bitch? Hunh?” He asked as he got up from her bed and started toward where she stood off to the side. There was nowhere Felicia could go to escape him.

“Ever since you got that little temporary position you’ve been smelling yourself and thinking you’re the shit and too good for me. But I got news for you, you’re beneath me bitch. I can’t believe I actually cancelled my plans this weekend to service your ass. You had the nerve to not come home yesterday. Where were you Felicia? You should be on your knees begging and thanking me for even giving you my presence. The best thing you have going for you are my seeds and I gave them to you. Everything you have of value in your life I’ve given you. You’re a worthless piece of shit with no purpose without me.”

Something inside of Felicia broke. Snapped, exploded, she didn’t know which one. She just knew that she lost it. “What don’t you get about the fact that I don’t want your fat, greasy nasty ass! I haven’t slept with you in over three years. Does it not say something to you when a woman would rather go without than to fuck you? And as for where I was last night, I was with my man. Never could you be of more value than me. I understand why you’d think you were. That’s easy to do when you’re living off of me and not paying shit to exist. Who couldn’t make it living the way you do? If anyone is worthless around here, it’s you. I do everything. I’m Dana and Elena’s mother and father. You? You’re their donor.”

Next thing she knew, Felicia was looking up at David from the floor. She didn’t know how she got there, she was standing one minute and down the next. Then the throbbing sting on the right side of her face began to pulsate under her hand that was covering it. He had hit her? David had actually hit her? His face was contorted by his anger, he was yelling and motioning towards her.

“Get out. Get out of my house!” Felicia yelled, interrupting his tangent. David just laughed at her.

“I’m not going anywhere bitch. This is my residence. You can’t make me go anywhere. Learn the laws bitch.” David turned and walked his naked, flabby ass out of her room. Felicia had to fight the nausea that welled up inside of her.

She really wanted to call Harrison or her father, but she couldn’t bring herself to involve them. This was all her fault. If she wasn’t such a spineless individual, David would’ve been out of her life long ago. To bring in outsiders who had nothing to do with the choices she had made was unacceptable. Potentially putting them in danger, Felicia just couldn’t bring herself to do that.

She waited twenty minutes or so before she crept out of her room and checked on Dana and Elena.

Both girls’ heads popped up when she opened the door. Quickly stepping inside so David wouldn’t overhear them, she went to Elena who was the most visibly shaken and pulled her into her arms motioning for Dana to join them on the bed.

“Are you okay mommy?” Elena asked looking up at Felicia.

“Mommy’s fine.” Felicia didn’t know how much they’d believe that as she was crying as she said it. Dana was scrutinizing her closely.

“Why is your eye swollen?”

Feigning surprise, “Is it?” Felicia asked. “I don’t know, must be from my allergies. I just wanted to make sure you both were ok and that you weren’t shaken from daddy and me arguing. Now go back to bed. Gotta get up early in the morning for school.”

Felicia tucked them both back in and locked their bedroom that night along with hers.

The next morning David was in his usual spot, laid out, loudly snoring on her couch. Felicia and the girls tip toed and whispered around him that morning. When she stepped outside to walk to her car she spotted Harrison’s truck parked across the street from her house with him leaning against it. To say he was the last person she expected to see first thing this morning, would be putting it mildly.

Felicia stopped, bending down she gave them each a hug and a kiss, instructing them to go on and walk to the bus stop without her. She watched them as they waved to Harrison. Crossing the street, she made her way to where Harrison was posted up. Felicia had her arms crossed, that was the first thing he noticed. She was in a defensive stance. Not carefree and open as she’d just been less than ten hours ago.

“Hey, what are you doing here?” she asked when she reached him. Harrison didn’t immediately reply, instead he looked at her face as if he could read what happened last night.

“So this is how we’re going to play it?” He asked after he could see she wasn’t going to divulge any information voluntarily. “And good morning to you too by the way.”

Felicia kicked herself. She could’ve at least sounded happier and surprised to see him instead of being accusatory.

“I’m sorry good morning.” She stopped talking as the bus came to a stop at the corner, collecting the kids. Harrison knew she’d be distracted until she saw Dana and Elena safely inside the bus. So he waited patiently until the bus pulled away from the corner.

Felicia turned back to him but was staring down at his shoes. Tilting her chin up Harrison raised her head and silently gazed at her before quietly asking, “What happened last night?”

Felicia found herself wanting to play dumb and ask him what he was talking about. That’s how she’d handled friends and family in the past. But could now see where protecting David had gotten her.

“I woke up around one this morning to find David in my room. I told him to get out and he got angry and we started arguing.”

Harrison tilted his head to the side, signaling he was waiting for her to continue. He knew being with Felicia wouldn’t be easy, but sometimes the woman could frustrate the hell out of him with her evasiveness.

“And he slapped me.” Having confirmed what he already knew, Harrison pulled her into his tight embrace. Dropping a kiss to her temple.

“I’m so sorry I wasn’t here baby. But you don’t have to worry about it happening again.” Harrison took the keys from Felicia’s hand, took off her car keys and handed them back to her. “Go on to work. I’ll see you later at the gym.”

Felicia immediately caught what he didn’t say. He expected to still be unavailable in four to five hours. When they usually met for lunch.

“Harrison…” she stopped talking at the look he gave her. CK’s words came back to her ‘
He protects what’s his
.’ They’d already had this conversation.

“Okay, I’ll see you later at the gym.” Felicia acquiesced stretching up on her tip toes to plant a soft firm kiss on his lips.

Harrison tapped her ass, signaling for her to get going.

“I love you.” He told her as he shut her car door.

“I love you too.” Felicia backed out of her drive praying that she hadn’t only just become happy to lose it all far too soon. And all because of a piece of shit like David.

****

This had to be the longest day of work ever in history. Felicia had been trying to remain focused on the tons of projects she was leading, but was finding it hard to keep her mind from wandering. So many times she started to reach out and text or call Harrison, but she didn’t want him to think she didn’t trust him. Or worse, that she didn’t think he could handle himself.

Jenna had given up shortly after arriving, of trying to figure out what the problem with Felicia was. Felicia could not fathom forming the words or describing what situation she’d left behind at home this morning. A pissed of Harrison and an unsuspecting David. Anytime she allowed herself to think about what could come of it, she became nauseas.

When lunch time rolled around and Felicia was not making her way over to Kincaid’s to have lunch with
Jax
, Jenna immediately began to ask if everything was ok between her and Harrison? They had not missed an opportunity to have lunch together…since…since they started having lunch together.

“Hun are you sure everything is okay? You’ve been really quiet today. Not like your usual ray of sunshine self at all.” Felicia managed to give Jenna a half ass smile.

“I’m sure Jen. Just have some things on my mind that’s all.”

 “And everything is good with you and Harrison?”

 “Everything is gravy, we even made our relationship official this past weekend. We told the girls and both our families.”

 “Hallelu for big favors!” Felicia managed to chuckle at that, but quickly fell back into her somber mood.

 
Finally as the small hand approached the five and the big hand the nine Felicia called it a day. She and Jenna left the office headed for the gym.

 
When she pulled into the parking lot Felicia began searching for Harrison’s pickup or SUV. Not seeing either vehicle she gave up and walked inside with Jenna who was waiting impatiently for her at the door. Once changed they hit the weight floor and began doing their reps. Fifteen minutes in Felicia forgot all about the troubles that had been plaguing her as she became so absorbed in her workout. Felicia was oblivious to what was going on around her. She didn’t realize Harrison was upon her until she felt someone brush up against her backside.

Turning quickly to cuss whoever it was behind her out, Felicia came face to face with Harrison. Everything in her wanted to throw her arms around his neck, but she also wanted to slap the shit out of him just as much. Harrison could see the array of emotions that crossed Felicia’s face. She couldn’t decide if she was happy to see him or if she wanted to cause him bodily harm. She settled on the median and giving him a pissed off look.
Yup, she was definitely pissed
he thought to himself.

Harrison reached out and grabbed her arm, pulling her hard against him. “I know you’re pissed at me. And believe me I understand. In fact I think it makes us almost even.”

“That,” Felicia started to respond but was cut short when Harrison raised his hand to end whatever it was she was about to say to try and defend her actions.

“I need to work off some aggression before I work you over next.
After
we talk of course. Looks like you could use the same. Go on and finish up with Jenna. I’ll be ready to go by the time you’re done with class.”

Felicia knew she was pouting, but she couldn’t seem to pull her bottom lip in. “I wasn’t going to do the class tonight.” She said in a small voice that was close to, but not quite whiney.

Harrison couldn’t help himself and lifted the right corner of his mouth, showing off his dimple. He leaned down until his forehead was resting against hers. He looked into the soulful depths of her eyes.

“Trust me, you want me to spar with Antonio the way I’m feeling right now. I’m still highly pissed at you and still can’t figure out why the hell I didn’t get a call last night as soon as the fucker put his hands on you.”

Felicia could feel every single word Harrison spoke. His body tensed with each one. And even though he stood six foot two and weighed two twenty easily with the amount of muscle that sheathed his body, Felicia knew without a doubt she wasn’t in any danger. Just as she knew without a doubt he was
really upset
with her. Really, really upset.

Felicia’s lip stuck out even further without her knowledge. “I…,” she stopped unsure what to say. “Okay, fine.” Lip still fully poked out she walked over to the bench she’d been using to do arm curls and got back into her reps, trying to catch up with Jenna.

Felicia seemed to be having a day for records today. The longest day of her life and now what had to have been the longest workout ever. She used to think it seemed like forever until she met up with Harrison after their daily workouts, but no longer would she make that mistake.

She was chatting with Jenna up front at the office when Harrison finally made his way up front from the mens locker room. “Catch you later man!” he called to Antonio as they slapped hands and shoulder hugged. Looking at her sitting on the edge of the desk, he raised his brow, “You ready?”

Felicia was so focused on what she was about to go up against, she neglected to tell everyone goodbye.

“Let’s take my truck and leave your car here.” He suggested as he led her to where he was parked.

“Okay, but I need to get the girls from aftercare.”

“No you don’t. Your parents got them after school. They’re staying the night with them tonight.”

Felicia immediately reached for her phone checking to see if she had any missed calls or messages. She had none. Looking down at her hands, she dropped her phone back into her lap and started picking at her lip. They rode in semi-comfortable silence for what seemed like hours. In all actuality, it was only seven minutes.

“How did you know what happened last night?” Felicia asked not being able to take the silence any longer.

“How did I know
what
happened last night?”

“How did you find out that David slapped me last night?”

“I tell you what, it’s not like anyone wants to hear that the woman they love was assaulted. But I sure would’ve rather I had been told by you.” Harrison told her as he stopped for a traffic light and turned to face her.

“Jacob called me first thing this morning. He knows I go to the shop before the sun is up and as I walked in this morning the phone was ringing. I missed it but it rang right back. I knew it had to be important.” Harrison paused turning onto his street.

“We’ll order some Thai later.” He told her as he pulled into the driveway. Once inside, they went to the kitchen. Felicia sat at the marble island and Harrison elected to stand against the fridge and counter.

“So my dad called and told you what happened?” Felicia asked still puzzled as to how her father could’ve found out. She had still been processing the fact she’d been hit by David, let alone tell anyone about it.

“Yeah apparently while you two were arguing, Dana and Elena were awakened by the noise. Dana called your dad.” At the puzzled look Felicia gave him, Harrison explained further.

“Jacob and Cassandra bought the girls a pre-paid phone for emergencies and I guess last nights’ argument really scared them. Your dad asked if they could go by your door so he could make sure everything was okay but they were too scared of getting caught out of bed by David. But when he hit you…” Harrison paused as the muscle in his jaw twitched, “the sound made Dana catch her breath. She refused to tell your dad what she thought had happened.”

By this time tears were pouring down Felicia’s face. She never wanted her girls to witness the blatant disrespect and verbal abuse David shelled out to her on the regular. She spent her days and nights praying that her father’s influence on the girls and them seeing how Uncle Vincent and Calvin treated their aunts that they would know that’s how you were supposed to be treated by a man. Loved and respected.

But now she knew without a doubt that her babies weren’t as naïve and oblivious as she’d hoped. They understood a lot more than she had ever given them credit for. Harrison couldn’t stand to see Felicia in so much pain and quickly made his way around the island to pull her into his embrace.

“It’s okay babe. It’s all going to be okay.” Harrison held and rubbed Felicia’s back until she was able to calm down and pull herself together.

“Hunh, I’m such a terrible mother and a horrible mess on top of that! What the hell could you possibly want with me?”

“Don’t, ever, let me hear you say some bullshit like that again. Is the situation fucked up? Yes, but you are a far cry from a terrible mother! I see you with those girls. I know the dedication, work, love and care you give and show them on the daily. Did you make a horrible decision getting involved with David to begin with? If it wasn’t for Dana and Elena I’d be tempted to say yes. But that doesn’t make you a horrible person. That’s him, not you. Do not take on that assholes guilt or responsibility for the situation.”

Felicia dropped her head into her hands and shook her head back and forth.

“Daddy is going to be so upset with me.”

“Ummm, you might be straight with your dad before you are with your mom.” Harrison had dropped by her parents’ house after he’d handled things with David to have a talk with her dad.

“Shit! Shit! Shit!”

“None of that matters because you’re still on my bad side right now too. You don’t know how much I wanted to knock the door down and beat his ass as soon as I got off the phone with your dad this morning. The only thing that kept from doing just that was that I knew the girls were inside and they’d already had a tough night. Then when I ask you what happened, there was a moment there where you were going to cover for him. I saw it the moment you realized what it was you were doing.”

Felicia was speechless. There was absolutely nothing she could say. There had been a kneejerk reaction to cover for David and make an excuse for his behavior. She was utterly ashamed of herself. Why did she feel like she owed him loyalty? He didn’t give two shits about anyone but himself. Even though Felicia had known these things for quite some time, it was high time she accepted them as well. There was nothing she could do to change him. She’d tried for ten years and tried to co-exist with the beast for the last three years unsuccessfully.

Harrison suggested Felicia go take a shower, while he got their dinner started by placing the Thai takeout order. Felicia started stripping off her clothes as she walked back to Harrison’s room. Folding her clothes she laid them on the bench at the end of his bed. Harrison’s bathroom was hands down Felicia’s favorite room in his beautiful industrial home.

Harrison’s bathroom was probably the size of her living room, dining room and kitchen combined. His shower took up half of a wall. It was tiled, with built in marble benches and shelving. And did she forget to mention heated flooring? Felicia turned the floors on as she padded barefoot to the shower. It was equipped with four shower heads and the design was setup so you could have a good time and if needed have your own shower head in case your partner kept pushing you out of the warm spray into the cold.

Felicia grabbed a hair tie and twisted her hair up into a bun. Starting the shower heads, she stood to the side and waited a few seconds for the water to warm up. As she waited she replayed the previous night and todays’ events. How had she gotten to this point? She was raised to be a strong woman and take care of her family. Somewhere along the way the lines had gotten crossed. She began to think keeping David around so her girls’ would have their father no matter what it cost her, was being a strong mother. When in actuality kicking their father out long ago would’ve been more beneficial and helpful to all of them.

Felicia caught Harrison’s reflection in the glass mirror and jerked her head up to where he stood in the doorway. Harrison walked over to the shower, opened the door and entered. Walking to where Felicia stood in the corner, he stopped in front of the shower head and let the water run over him from head to toe. Felicia’s eyes were glued to the rivulets of water as they rolled over Harrison’s chest, abdominals, that lovely deep V (Felicia had been fascinated with ever since Dangelo’s Untitled video), down his strong muscled thighs and calves. On down to his pretty pale feet.

Reaching his hand out to her Harrison waited until Felicia put her hand inside his pulling her in front of him so her back was to the shower wall. Harrison lowered himself onto his knees and tapped Felicia’s right ankle signaling for her to spread her legs. She did as instructed. If it wasn’t for the wall behind her, she would’ve collapsed from the sensation she felt when Harrison gave her opening a long swipe with his tongue. That was only just the beginning.

Felicia felt his tongue enter her tunnel and he started to fuck her with his hard stiff tongue. It was a delicious feeling and yet made her yearn for the deeper penetration she knew only he could provide her with. Withdrawing his tongue Harrison ran his now pliant tongue it from top to bottom. And from the bottom back up to the top where he slurped her clit into his mouth the same time he inserted three fingers inside her, striking gold. That was all she wrote for Felicia. She came so hard and fast it surprised even her as it was so unexpected. Grabbing her hips, Harrison turned her around to face the wall and spread her cheeks.

What the..? I know he’s not…
Felicia thought to herself as Harrison answered her thoughts running his tongue along the entire length of her ass crack. Licking her over and over she didn’t know how many times until he finally focused on the rosette of her ass. Where he worked his tongue inside her. Felicia’s thighs weren’t drenched from the water spewing from the showerheads but from her pussy juices that were cascading down them. Harrison pulled her hips further back towards him and inserted his fingers into her pussy while he went back to eating her ass. The angle allowed him to tickle her G-spot. He kept at it causing her pending orgasm to build and build until she erupted again.

Harrison stood up caressing the side of Felicia’s face that was still slightly swollen from David’s slap. Removing his hand, Harrison’s lips picked up where his hand stopped. He kissed Felicia from her temple down to her chin where the single tear she shed caught up with him. Licking the tear from her face with the tip of his tongue, his mouth took hers in a gentle and ravenous kiss. Felicia lost herself in it and let the days stress melt away from her.

Leaving her mouth Harrison kissed along her neck down to her collar bone and between her breasts where he paused to pull her hardened nipples into his mouth. Grazing them with his teeth. To the right of where they stood was a little wooden stool that sat low. Raising her left leg, he set her foot on top of the stool. Harrison bent low and when he raised back up he was working his dick inside Felicia. She was nice and wet. But from this angle he knew he had to be patient. Harrison was about to go the deepest he’d ever been inside of her. They both needed this, the kiss of pain that hurt so good.

Felicia needed to feel him in such a way she would never forget it. And she wouldn’t. This was a first for her, for them…Harrison could feel her legs trembling as he forced all the pleasure she could take inside her. Harrison moved his hand down the front of her body down to her desire slicked lips where he circled her engorged clit. Harrison tore another orgasm from Felicia’s traitorous body. By this time her voice was fast on its way to being hoarse. She couldn’t keep quiet as he mercilessly plundered away at her pussy. Harrison gave her four highly intense orgasms back to back. Felicia felt like what an overcooked noodle must surely feel like. She could barely support her own weight. Harrison sat her down on the marble bench while he soaped up. He then washed her up next. He let her rest and took one of the five shower heads off the wall. Rinsing the soap from her body.

The entire time Harrison wore a cocky smirk. “You don’t have to be so full of yourself you know.” Felicia took him to task in a sourpuss tone.

“Why not? I’m proud of my accomplishments. Aren’t you?” Felicia’s look said it all making him laugh out loud. “Come on,” Harrison bent down in front of her and lifted her over his shoulders, eliciting a scream from her.

“Put me down!” All that got her was a swat to her bottom.

“I’m not going to drop you and you didn’t look like you could walk five steps. Why don’t you lay down while I warm dinner up?”

“Why is it every time the two of us order takeout, we never get to eat it while it’s hot and fresh?” Felicia asked him as he was leaving the room.

“Any complaints?”

“Nope.” She had offered to help, but Harrison wasn’t hearing it and ordered her to stay in the room until he came to get her.