Fighting for Rain - BB Easton Page 0,63

you might be a Paramore girl.”

I tell God he’d better fucking back me up on this one as my strumming gets louder. The simple, soulful melody is synchronized with every beat of my own bleeding heart as I open my mouth and sing the first line.

About a girl watching her daddy cry.

Rain clutches the blanket to her chest and listens as I tell her the story of a woman who’s afraid to get hurt after watching her parents break each other’s hearts. She tries to protect herself. She tries to avoid the pain of being left. But when she finally falls in love, she realizes that it’s worth the risk.

I hope she’s fucking right.

I can’t really see Rain’s expression in the dark, but as I let the final note fade out, I know I’m going to find tears before I even reach for her face.

“How did you do that?” She sniffles, and when she leans into my touch, I know I got her.

I shrug. “When you’re in the system, you get good at figuring people out. Fast.”

And when you’re stuck with the same bunch of assholes your whole life, like Rain, I guess you get good at hiding.

She inhales deeply and sighs. “So, what’s the name of my new favorite song?”

I place the guitar in the corner and crawl over to her. Laying her down, I take the wadded-up blanket out of her arms and set it behind her head like a pillow. “‘The Only Exception.’”

Gazing down at her, I know now that that’s exactly what she is for me. The only exception to all of my rules.

No getting attached.

Leave before you get left.

Supplies. Shelter. Self-defense.

Survival above all else.

Now, they’ve all been crossed out with a giant X, and next to them, in murderous block letters, are the words Protect Rainbow Williams. That’s all I fucking care about now. Keeping her safe. Keeping her—period.

I was afraid she would hurt me, but while I was gone, I realized that she’s the only fucking thing in my life that doesn’t hurt.

“Wes?” she asks, her voice small and shaky as she slides her fingers into my hair and pushes it away from my face. “Will you still be here when I wake up?”

Guilt seizes my heart and squeezes it in its fucking fist. Bracing myself on my forearms, I lower myself onto her soft, warm body and press my lips to hers. Blood explodes through my veins on contact, but I don’t move. I hold that kiss until I feel her relax beneath me. Until I know she’ll believe me when I finally promise, “Forever.”

Satisfied, Rain pulls my face back down to hers and kisses me like forever might actually exist. Slowly. Sweetly. Without the ticking clock of April 23 looming over our heads or the hooded horsemen from hell breathing down our necks. Without blood on our hands or ash in our hair. Without wonder or worry about how it will end. Because we started at the fucking end.

Now, we get to begin.

Tilting my head, I deepen our kiss and try not to smile when I feel Rain’s hips rock against me in response. We might have forever, but I have a week’s worth of pleasure to make up to this woman, and I think she’s waited long enough.

Gripping her hip with my right hand, I press myself against her and feel a moan vibrate through her chest.

“I missed you,” she whispers, weaving her fingers deeper into my hair.

“I …” I squeeze my eyes shut, forcing myself to speak around the knot of remorse in my throat, “I didn’t think you would. No one ever has, so … I’m sorry. I’m so fucking sorry, Rain. If you want me, I’m yours.”

“Forever,” she repeats.

My promise sounds more like a prayer coming from her lips, so I dip my head lower and seal it with a kiss. Our bodies move instinctively as I pour my heart out through my mouth—kissing her deep and slow, like a love song.

And somehow, Rain knows all the words.

Her body rolls and writhes beneath me as our tongues swirl and our breathing becomes heavy. I grind against her faster, wanting to make her come just like this—with nothing more than a kiss and promise.

“Wes,” she rasps, tilting her head back.

“Mmhmm …” I hum, sucking on her fat bottom lip.

“Wes …” Rain’s voice sounds more frantic, but her hips keep working in tempo with mine. “These are my only panties!”

I chuckle against her panting mouth. “Not anymore. I grabbed you