Rock's Bully: Chapters 11-13

Chapter 11

Dad sits in his office and doesn’t even spare me a glance as I step inside and close the door. The room is cold, and I release a slight shiver as I lower myself into the chair opposite his desk.

He always turns down the heat when angry, the cold air helping to settle his wrath.

With a low sigh, I watch him type at his computer, the man pretending he doesn’t even notice me. It’d be a good try if he weren’t the most observant person I know. Walk in on Daddy G while he’s working and he’d have no idea. Walk in on Pop when he’s reading and he’d have no idea.

Walk in on Dad? He always knows.

Sneaking anything past him was always damn near impossible when we were children.

He continues to ignore me, and I wring my hands together as I work up the courage to speak. I understand he’s pissed, but he can’t avoid me forever.

“Dad?”

His chest expands as he sucks in a deep breath, and I do my best not to flinch when he finally shuts his computer and gives me his attention. I expected him to look angry, but he seems sad.

I hate it.

“Yes, Ciara?” he asks.

I clasp my hands in my lap and stare at his eyebrows. They look just like mine, dark and full. Most of my attributes have come from Dad. I hardly look like Mom but am the spitting image of the Wrath.

“I’m sorry,” I blurt, wanting to get it out there.

I mean it, too. I never wanted our lie to go as far as it did, and seeing Dad so hurt is eating me up inside.

He purses his lips and taps his fingers on his desk. His eyes travel to my neck, and I resist the urge to scrunch it up as he looks over the mark Rock placed on me. It’s been three days since I found him in his home and we marked one another, and I haven’t seen him since.

Every morning, without fail, I feel our bond pull as he uses it to check in on me, but I’ve been careful to respect his wishes and haven’t done the same in return. Even if I really want to. I want to know what he’s doing every minute of every day, and this distance he’s put between us is killing me.

I miss him.

I miss Dad, too.

“When did you two bond?” he asks, ignoring my apology.

He’d know if he bothered to show up for dinner these past few days, but I keep that thought to myself. Dad’s never been very good with his feelings, especially when they’ve been hurt. He no longer goes to the pits, but he does storm around the house like a toddler in the middle of a tantrum.

“Three days,” I answer.

Dad nods.

The silence between us is long and awkward, but I’m unsure what I can say to improve things. I’ve tried apologizing, but he clearly doesn’t want to hear it. I wish I could go back in time and kick past my’s ass.

I knew Dad would be hurt that I kept a secret from him, especially one this big, but I never anticipated he’d be this upset. It probably doesn’t help that Daddy G knew about it the whole time and never said anything.

Last night I overheard them arguing about it.

Dad thinks Daddy G should have confided in him, while Daddy G insists it wasn’t his secret to share. They went back and forth for hours before Pop went downstairs and made them leave, and Daddy G hasn’t been home since.

It’s not unusual for him to make Dad mad and then hide until he’s calmed down, but I hate that he’s doing it because of me. I hate making them argue and have been good at avoiding causing strife between them for years now.

I should’ve known it wouldn’t last forever.

“Why didn’t you tell me?” Dad eventually breaks the silence. “I thought you told me everything?”

I suck in a shaky breath and will myself not to cry.

“I was scared you’d be angry, and I didn’t want to get Rock in trouble,” I admit.

Dad scoffs, and I look at my knees while he leans back in his chair and crosses his arms over his chest. It seemed like a good excuse, but now it feels silly.

“Do you think that little of me?”

I hold my breath and shake my head, but my answer doesn’t mean much when my actions say otherwise. My throat is dry, and I swallow in a sad attempt to fix it.

“Do I ever judge you or get angry when you lose control of your Wrath?” he snaps. “When you kill innocent fucking people because you can’t manage it.”

I don’t respond, but he’s nowhere near finished.

“I thought you trusted me. I thought we told one another everything.” Dad runs a hand through his hair and shakes his head. “I’ve done my absolute best to be a parent you can go to without fear of judgment. I know I’m not perfect, but I fucking try and I thought you knew that.”

His voice grows thick as he speaks, and I feel my horror grow as his eyes grow misty.

“I’m sorry, Dad,” I cry, wiping my wet cheeks. “I wasn’t thinking, and the longer I waited to tell you, the harder it became to say anything.”

Dad clenches his hands into fists and looks away. He’s right. Dad and I fight all the time, usually about small, stupid things that don’t matter, but he’s never gotten angry with me when it counts. Of all my parents, he’s always been the one I called when I got myself into a mess or needed advice.

Even for the embarrassing things we never spoke about again.

When I was seventeen and wanted to start having sex, he was the one I went to.

He got so red and could barely look me in the eye, but he didn’t question my decision or try to tell me I shouldn’t. Instead, he threw a handful of condoms at my face and made an appointment for me to see a doctor and get on birth control.

Daddy G was the one who freaked out and banished me from entering Lust for a good year. If he so much as heard a whisper that I was sniffing around his kingdom, I’d come home to him demanding I hand over my portal key.

Dad was the one who’d always get it back for me.

“I’m so sorry, Dad,” I choke.

He frowns, and I rise from my chair and round his desk before he can say anything else. He doesn’t move, but his eyes follow my every step as I walk to his chair and pull him into a hug. His cheek smooshes against my shoulder, and after a long second, he sighs and wraps his arms around my waist.

“Things were different with Rock, and I was so scared of losing him. I should have trusted you, though, and I’m so sorry I didn’t.” I breathe. “I don’t want to fight with you anymore.”

Dad sighs and tightens his grip on me. It’s a nice hug, but by the time I realize what he’s doing, it’s too late to escape.

The pressure from his hug forces the oxygen from my lungs, and I smack at the top of his head as he continues. It hurts, and in a panic I groan and yank on his ear to try and pull him away.

Bastard.

With a laugh he finally releases me, and I shoot him a glare as I place a hand on his desk and struggle to catch my breath. That’s not funny, and he will be in for a rude awakening when he grows old and weaker.

We’ll see how much he likes being squeezed then.

“The next time you keep a secret from me, I’ll kill you,” Dad says, opening his computer.

His background is a family photo from a few years ago, and I can’t help but cackle as I look it over. Organizing this shoot was Pop’s pet project for a good month, and he was a nervous wreck the entire day.

My lips curl into a wide grin as I scan over all our faces.

Dave thought it would be so funny to jump on Dad’s back last minute, which only spurred Shay and me to do something similar to Pop and Daddy G.

I jumped so high I’m halfway over Pop’s shoulder in the photo. Poor Daddy G had only just realized what was happening and stares at the camera in fear while Shay’s arm is about a millisecond away from closing in on his neck.

Mom, sweet oblivious Mom, stands in the center of the frame holding a laughing Tommy. He’s got quick reflexes and sensed the happy chaos bursting out around him while she had no idea until after the photo was taken.

Almost immediately after, Dave, Shay, and I decided we would try to see if we were strong enough to take down our fathers, but we quickly learned we weren’t there yet.

Pop had me pinned within seconds, and Dad accidentally dislocated Dave’s shoulder while Daddy G pushed Shay into a puddle with a slew of insults. It took all three of us teaming up to get Daddy G down, but he’s the weakest of our dads so it wasn’t that impressive.

“I invited Rock over for dinner,” Dad says, also staring at the image.

Oh.

“He’s not talking to me right now,” I admit. “So he probably won’t come.”

Dad cocks his head to the side and blinks before turning to look at me, his response confusing.

“He already said yes.”

What? Did he? Dad laughs as I peer at the time on his computer and curse. I’ve been walking around the house looking like complete trash for days, not bothering to shower and dress when the one person I care to look good for is refusing to see me.

Was Dad not going to tell me Rock is coming over?

“Fuck,” I hiss, planting a panicked kiss on the top of Dad’s head before rushing from his office.

We eat dinner early, thanks to Tommy and his early-as-shit bedtime, and I sprint into the kitchen to see where the Shadows are with dinner. They pause when I enter, and I scan over all the cooked food before cursing again and running upstairs to my room.

I need to shower, dry my hair, style my hair, do my makeup, paint my nails, and find something cute to wear in the next thirty minutes.

I’m going to put something on that shows off my neck. I want Rock to see it and know I’m proud of his mark. Then maybe he’ll realize his forced distance is stupid and pointless. I bet I can get Dave to help back me up, the man more than comfortable with asking inappropriate questions.

I’ll get him to ask about Rock’s plans for our future. Rock won’t avoid them when he’s being asked in front of my parents. He wouldn’t dare.

Now that we’re bonded, I think it only makes sense that I move in with him. Dave will be good at hinting at that for me. I want to spend every night in bed with Rock and every morning watching him get ready for work.

Forever.

He’s grumpy in the mornings, and his sleepy voice is so fucking sexy.

Dave jumps out of the way she he rounds the corner and sees me barrelling down the hallway, and I barely have time to skid to a halt and order him to back me up tonight. He grins like a manic as I give him the instructions, his devious smile concerning.

I don’t have time to dig into it, though, and smack him on the shoulder in thanks before hurrying into my bedroom and slamming the door. Dave has the audacity to shout something at me through the wood, but I don’t bother listening. I’ve got more important things to do than listen to his angry ramblings.

I don’t think I’ve ever moved so quickly before, and I struggle not to get distracted as I rip off my clothes and throw myself into the shower.

I’m sure I smell like ass, and I scrub every bit of grime and dead skin off my body before doing the same to my hair. I’ve finished showering before the water has the opportunity to heat up, and I let out a low cry when I fling open my bedroom door and find Rock sitting on my bed.

My feet skid to a halt, and I stare blankly as my mind takes a moment to register that he’s actually here.

“Rock?” I whisper.

He nods, and it’s the only confirmation I need to throw myself at him. The towel wrapped around my torso is damp and my hair is soaking wet, but I don’t pay them any care as I plaster my body on his. I missed him so much.

I relax when I feel the pressure of his hands on my lower back. He’s holding me.

Unable to stop myself, I nudge his head to the side and find the mark I placed on him the other day. The scar is large and deep on his neck, and I lick it before sinking my teeth back into him.

Mine.

Rock cups the back of my head but doesn’t try to pull away as I claim him as my own once more. I’ve been working hard to control my Wrath, but the urge to bite him is too intense for me to stop.

“Ciara, baby, can you let me go?”

I bite down harder.

Mine.

“Dave texted me a long paragraph of questions with the demand that I come here early and give you answers,” he says.

I frown and release him. Bastard. I should have known better than ever to trust Dave.

“Is there something you’d care to ask me, Ciara?”

Chapter 12

Rock’s thumbs dig into my lower spine, gently massaging the muscle.

It feels good after days of being so tense, and I open my mouth with a low moan before wiggling even further into his arms. I missed this so much.

“Ciara,” Rock urges when I don’t respond to his question. “Is there something you want to ask me?”

There are a million things I want to ask him, but none of them feel important when I’m on his lap breathing in his scent. He smells like me now, his soul permanently tied to mine. I’m sure I smell like him, too.

Good.

I like the idea of everybody knowing I’m his. The bite mark gives it away, but on the off chance somebody doesn’t see it, my scent will alert them. That’s just the way it should be.

There’s a bit of blood on Rock’s neck from my earlier claim, and I lean in to lick it off. My hips involuntarily roll as his taste hits my tongue, but now isn’t the time for that.

“What did Dave say to you?” I ask.

I have a feeling the bastard told him everything I said in the hallway, but I want to confirm that before saying anything. Rock’s still mad at me, and I don’t want to push him too far.

I’m not stupid. I know I’m a handful to be with.

Most of my prior relationships have failed because I’ve gotten angry and lost control, and I don’t want that to be the same with Rock. We’re bonded so his leaving is more complex, but it’s not impossible. He could do it if I pushed too much, and I know he would.

That’s part of the reason why I love him so much.

He doesn’t put up with my shit, and he’ll leave if I’m making him unhappy. I never thought I’d find a man my wrath sees as an equal, but it respects Rock. That’s even more true now that he’s sunk his teeth into my neck and claimed us as his own.

Rock’s lips twitch as he fights back a smile, and after a second, he shakes his head. He’s not going to tell me what Dave said.

Bastard.

“I have a lot of questions,” I warn, hoping to better gauge his mood before launching into them.

Rock nods, the action encouraging.

Sucking in a slow breath, I will my thundering heart to slow. Rock’s stuck by me through so much, from me killing all the females who were flirting with him to taking the blame when my fathers grew concerned with the murders and pulled him into a meeting to discuss.

He wasn’t even angry. Annoyed, yes, but there was no anger.

I was waiting for him in his apartment, already panicked, and he pulled me into his arms with a stern order to stop my killing. He planted no less than a thousand kisses on my lips as he admitted it was getting slightly excessive.

If that didn’t scare him away, I doubt asking about our future will, either.

“I want to live with you,” I blurt.

Rock hardly reacts to my admission, his fingers continuing their gentle massage on my lower back. I don’t know what to make of it and wiggle uncomfortably on his lap. Is that a yes or no? I’m tidy, and I spend so much time there already.

I shift there almost every night.

“That’s not a question.”

I huff, resisting the urge to roll my eyes. Rock has old-man humor.

“Can I live with you?” I restate.

The silence as I wait for him to answer is deafening.

We discussed moving in together after we tell my parents about us, but that was before our big fight. I’m unsure where we stand now and if he wants more space. In the olden days, I would’ve just told him I was moving in and left him to figure out his feelings on it while I got packing, but he’s made it more than clear he doesn’t appreciate my bullying.

He only likes it when we’re having sex; even then, it’s rare.

“My stance on our future hasn’t changed, baby. I still want to live with you as a bonded mate.” Rock ducks and presses his lips to mine.

Those words are music to my ears, and I can barely contain my smile as I return his kiss.

“What other questions do you have?” He asks.

I shrug.

“They aren’t important.”

Rock still wants to be with me as he did before, and all the other questions I told Dave to ask were different variations of the same thing. I pull back and stare into Rock’s eyes, so entirely in love, and run my thumbs over his eyebrows before sighing and climbing off his lap.

We have to go down soon for dinner.

I want to yell at him for not warning me that he was coming over tonight, but it’s too soon for that.

He’s just finally forgiving me, and getting mad at him isn’t going to help move that along any.

I lock eyes with my male as I drop my towel and walk to my closet, hoping he enjoys the view. I secretly smelt him to ensure there was no other female, so I know he hasn’t been intimate with anybody since me.

I love that and love even more how horny he’s got to be right now.

Daddy G let it slip that he returned to work after I marked him, and I’m sure being surrounded by lust all day and not having an outlet has him worked up. There’s a reason everybody says Lust is the least effective realm.

Rock used to make many trips to me during his stressful days, the man often using me for release. I loved it, and I hope he returns to that habit soon.

People get too horny and almost no work ever gets done.

It’s no wonder Dave’s so excited to take over. He’s been showing a lot of interest recently, and I have a feeling he’s going to officially replace Daddy G within the next ten or so years. Daddy G is great and all, but it’s not exactly a secret that his people don’t appreciate his loyalty to my parents.

They want a leader they can fuck, and Dave is that person.

I can feel the weight of Rock’s gaze as I saunter to my closet, and it takes everything in me not to smile as I look through it for an outfit. Eventually, I feel his body heat as he comes up behind me, and I lean against his chest as he reaches around and grabs a dress from my closet.

“Wear this,” he whispers, his lips grazing my ear.

I gulp, nodding, before taking it from him and slipping it on.

It’s one of my favorites, and I slide my hands down the fabric before heading into the bathroom to do my hair. There’s no time for makeup, and I struggle to blow dry my hair before putting it in a loose braid.

I’m not proud of the style, but it’ll have to do.

Rock’s sitting at my vanity when I eventually emerge, and the smile he shoots in my direction has my heart fluttering.

“You look beautiful,” he compliments.

I flush, always loving when he says things like that.

Rock can be quite a flirt when he wants to be.

I take his hand and lead him downstairs, but freeze when I step into the dining room and spot the giant Shifter standing next to Dad.

Fuck.

Uncle Chev wears a baby on his chest and turns to me with a glare when I approach. I know he’s pissed, but he’s not in a place to complain about my babysitting when he’s not even paying me. It was easy when there were only three or four kids, but then Aunt Nessa had the triplets and it became scary.

I love his children, but they are pure chaos.

They wanted to go shopping, and I was too tired to tell them no and deal with their crying when they decided they all wanted wardrobes full of regular clothing. They said their leathers weren’t comfortable and they wanted to dress like their mom.

It’s not my fault.

All they do is scream and cry, and when one gets angry, it becomes a chain reaction that ends with all of them inconsolable. They’re dramatic like their father, and I was trying to avoid that.

“Ciara,” Chev says, shoving his finger in his baby’s mouth when she starts to whine.

I grimace as she chews on his thumb with her slobbery gums.

Birdie kicks her chubby legs into his torso before grabbing his forearm so she can better gnaw at her dad’s finger. She’s about five months old and has begun shoving everything possible into her mouth.

A hand lands on my waist, and I feel my cheeks flaming as Rock presses himself against my side.

“Chev,” he greets.

I can practically see the cogs turning in the Shifter’s brain as he glances between Rock and me. I assumed Dad would’ve told him about us by now, but given how his head cocks to the side and he turns to Dad, I can tell he hasn’t yet been informed.

Great.

I bet Dad did this on purpose.

“Rock is fucking your daughter,” he blurts.

I press my lips together, but I release them when I realize Dad’s done the same exact thing. He doesn’t look in Rock’s direction as he sucks in a deep breath and plants a hand on Uncle Chev’s shoulder.

“Thanks, bud. I had no idea,” he says.

A second later Dad’s turned and walking away, and I stand awkwardly in front of Uncle Chev before clearing my throat and scratching the back of my neck.

Rock squeezes my waist, and I press against him as Uncle Chev reaches for my hair and pushes it off my shoulder. His eyes land on my mark, and I watch him suck in a slow breath before tsking and bringing his finger back to Birdie’s mouth.

“She’s cute,” I mutter, wincing at how lame the words are.

Anything to get the focus off Rock and me. It seems to work, though, as Uncle Chev straightens up and uses his free hand to cup his baby’s head.

“Of course she is.” He tightens the straps on his shoulders so she’s sitting higher on his chest. He hates our clothing but sure does love our baby carriers. “Aziel didn’t tell me you were with Rock.”

I shrug. I have a feeling Dad’s not exactly jumping at the guns to tell people his daughter’s dating a man whose reputation, if possible, is even worse than mine. People look at Rock and see a whore, but that’s not who he is.

He’s a good man, and it’s about time my family begins to see him as I do. I know they respect him, but I want more than that. I want them to see us and be happy for me.

“He just found out,” I explain.

Uncle Chev glances between Rock and me, his lips pursed like he’s just eaten something sour.

“I’m happy for you.”

I bite back a smile and dip my head. That’s all I’ve wanted to hear.

“Thank you,” Rock answers for me.

Uncle Chev nods, his eyes darting to the matching bite on Rock’s neck before getting called away by Aunt Nessa.

She’s struggling with the two other babies, and I watch as he takes another so she only has one to deal with. I hope I never have triplets, and I also hope I don’t get stuck in a house with seven girls.

The poor man takes it in stride, claiming not to care if his babies are boys, girls, or anything in between, but I’m sure it kills him not to have a little boy. Maybe that’s why they have so many kids.

Keep trying until one comes out with a penis.

“I love you,” I whisper, turning in Rock’s arms.

I’m faintly aware Dad’s watching us as he pulls me close and kisses my forehead. I close my eyes and relax into it. It’s a bit weird being intimate in front of our family after hiding our relationship from them for so long, but I still like it.

I like not having to hide my love for Rock.

“Are you not going to tell my daughter you love her too?”

I bury my face into Rock’s chest, more than a little humiliated by Dad’s shout. If people weren’t looking at us then, they sure are now. Why the fuck does Dad have to be so damn embarrassing?

Rock’s body vibrates against mine, and I can feel his enjoyment through our bond as he laughs. He thinks this is funny.

“I love you, too,” he shouts, only furthering my humiliation.

Old man humor.

I refuse to move until I feel the attention is off us, and after sucking in many deep breaths, I pull my face out of his chest and turn back to the room. Thankfully it looks like Uncle Chev and his family are the only guests, and I watch all his daughters crowd around a smirking Dave.

He’s polite, and I’m sure if I approach him, I’ll discover that his essence is all but shriveled up into his body. Chev would hit him if he accidentally got his females horny.

The oldest is only about fourteen, but already I can tell she’s going to make Uncle Chev go bald. He shoos her away from Dave before taking a seat, and I give Rock’s hand a nervous squeeze before pulling him to the table.

He eats dinner with us all the time, but it feels different now that everybody knows we’re in a relationship.

Rock looks as calm as ever, but I can sense his nerves through the bond. He wants my family to approve of us. To approve of him.

I do, too.

Chev’s children manage to keep the attention off of us, which I’m grateful for. It’s been a few weeks since we last saw them, and my parents spend most of the meal asking them about their lives. Aunt Nessa is proud to talk about the affinities they’re picking up, and Uncle Chev bounces excitedly in his seat until he gets to brag about their strength.

He now wears two babies on his chest and spends most of his time cupping and rubbing their heads as he speaks.

I tap my feet against the ground and shovel food down my throat as quickly as possible. Rock said he still wants to live with me as we planned, and I want this dinner to end so I can get packing.

Rock technically didn’t say he wants me to move in with him tonight, but there’s no better time than the present.

Never again will I spend a night without him by my side.

Chapter 13

I jolt out of bed as my bedroom door is shoved open, my body thrown into a tizzy.

The wood slams against the wall so hard I’m surprised it doesn’t splinter, and Rock’s on top of me a second later.

I huff and push at his shoulder, appreciating his protection but not needing it. There are precisely three dangers inside my home, and my fathers are much more likely to hurt Rock than they are me.

Pop stands in my doorway, his eyes surveilling the room before he steps to the side so Dad and Daddy G can peer in too. They look mildly happy as they see Rock’s protective stance over me, and I still resist the urge to scream when Daddy G ruins it by ordering Rock to show his hands.

For fuck’s sake.

I shove my hair out of my face before angrily ripping the blankets off us.

I’d love to be fucking Rock right now, but I’m not stupid enough to do that here. It was one thing when nobody knew he was in my room, my privacy a guarantee, but I just knew something like this would happen the second they became aware I was sleeping with Rock.

They’d never dream of doing this to Dave.

Rock flops back on my bed, the man not nearly as frustrated as I am.

“I’m a grown adult,” I seethe, my eyes darting between all three of my fathers. “You can’t just bust into my room like this.”

Pop crosses his arms over his chest.

“We told you to leave the door open,” he says.

I grab and throw a pillow at him, only slightly satisfied when it smacks him in the face before falling to the floor. That’s the least of what he deserves.

“And I told you I’m not going to do that!” I shout, my voice rising in pitch.

Any louder and I’m going to be waking up the house, but I don’t care.

Rock grabs my wrist, his touch helping to calm my wrath. It doesn’t like being startled, and I can feel more seeping from my pores with each passing second.

I just knew this would happen, but it’s still got me worked up. It’s all Rock’s fault. He agreed to stay the night under the one condition that I tell my parents he was here.

He’s decided he doesn’t want to hide any part of our relationship anymore, even when it means we have three oversized Demons forcing themselves into my doorway at three in the morning.

What are they even doing up this late?

Dad sways on his feet, and I roll my eyes before throwing another pillow. Uncle Chev got them drunk. Again.

I don’t know how Rock manages to stay calm in these situations, but I assume it is because he’s spent so much time with my dads. Their antics aren’t new to him, even if they drive me up a fucking wall.

“No sex in my house,” Dad states, shifting his attention to Rock.

I clench my jaw.

“We’ve already fucked on every surface of thi-“

Rock clamps a hand around my mouth to cut me off, and I resist the urge to bite his fleshy palm.

“Noted,” he says, answering for me.

Dad sucks on his teeth but lets my earlier words go. I’m sure they’ve already drawn assumptions about what’s happened in here these past few months, but it probably makes them feel good to try and control it now.

Rock and I should’ve just gone to his house tonight. We packed up nearly everything in my room after dinner, but it took hours and by the time we finished, I was exhausted. I faintly remember Rock suggesting we go to his, but I was much too tired to follow through.

Instead, I screamed downstairs that Rock was sleeping with me before crawling into bed.

That was a stupid decision on my end.

If looks could kill, I’m sure Rock and I would be long dead by now. Pop wishes me an angry goodnight before leaving, but Daddy G and Dad linger. I don’t have the patience to deal with them, but after a few coaxing words from Rock, they eventually walk away.

They also leave the door wide open, but I’m too lazy to get up and shut it.

Rock lays down and pulls me into his side the second they’re gone, and I curl my fingers into the fabric of his shirt. He usually likes to sleep naked so I know he’s not too comfortable right now, but I have a feeling he’s no longer going to be stripping inside my home.

My parents have already proven they have no sense of personal space.

“I’m sorry,” I mumble, burying my face into his chest.

He only laughs.

“You have nothing to apologize for.”

I do. We both know that, but I appreciate him trying to make me feel better. Rock’s good at that.

I don’t get nearly as much sleep as my body needs, but the second I see the sun shining through my windows, I’m up and out of bed. Rock’s a bit slower to wake, and I leave him in my bed as I head downstairs to eat.

Dad’s already sitting at the table, but he looks dead.

That’s what he gets for trying to keep up with Uncle Chev. He should know by now that the man has a higher tolerance for alcohol than him.

“Are you okay?” I ask.

Dad groans and sticks his thumb in the air.

“Do you need help moving?” He asks, lifting his head just enough to meet my eyes.

I don’t think he’s ecstatic about me leaving, but I’m grateful he’s not making too much fuss. I’ll still be over here all the time, so it’s not like much of our lives will change.

“Rock and I have it handled.”

He nods and lowers his forehead onto the table, and I watch for a moment before grabbing my phone and taking a photo. I’ll frame this image and give it to Uncle Chev for his birthday. He’ll love getting to see the aftermath of his peer pressure.

When I hear the loud stomping of Tommy, I run back to my room. I’m not in the mood to entertain him.

Dad’s been in charge of breakfast for as long as I can remember, but he’s too dead to keep the young boy occupied. It’s only a matter of time before Tommy goes searching for a better source of entertainment.

I refuse to be it. Not today.

A handful of boxes are already missing by the time I make it to my room, and I grin as I realize my bed is empty and Rock is gone. He’s already gotten to work bringing my things to his home.

My heart flutters. He’s excited.

I get busy finishing the last of my packing as Rock shifts back and forth, the man pressing a kiss to my lips each time he returns. I’m impressed by how quickly he moves, and I do my best to curb my arousal until we’ve finished.

It’s been days since we’ve had sex, but we can wait a few more hours.

“You’re bringing boxes over quicker than I can pack them!” I tease the next time he returns.

Rock sinks his teeth into his bottom lip and saunters over. I set down my tape and meet him halfway, loving how he looks at me. For a short while, I never thought I’d get to see that expression on his face again.

Especially not directed at me.

I feel him prodding me through the bond, and I wrap my arms around him while I do the same. He’s so full of love for me, the emotion practically bursting out of him. I’m sure my feelings mirror his, and I take hold of his face before leaning in and kissing him.

He moans as my tongue grazes against his, and I press myself against him before pulling away.

“I’m looking forward to fucking you in our bed tonight,” he whispers.

Our bed.

My heart thumps, and I release him with a cheesy grin. I like the sound of that. Ours.

Rock returns to work, and I finish packing before joining him in shifting the boxes.

It looks like he’s been bringing most of my things into the bedroom, and I set my box with the others before returning to get more. I avoided this for as long as possible, but there’s nothing left to pack.

My knees are shaky when I return, but I do a great job hiding it as I grab another box and bring it to Rock’s.

The next time I return, Daddy G’s standing in my doorway with a pout.

“Are you sure you want to leave?” He asks.

I snap my jaw shut, surprised by his question. He’s the one who decided all of us children need to be out of the house by thirty, so I’m shocked he seems sad I’m leaving.

Daddy G’s known to get emotional and make giant proclamations he ends up regretting, though, so I wouldn’t be surprised if this rule was just another one of those.

“I’m sure,” I state, laughing when he opens his arms.

I’m still annoyed about his intrusion into my room last night, but I won’t deny him a hug. He smells like whiskey but is still in much better shape than Dad. It’s not surprising, considering he’s an Incubus.

Drinking and partying is probably second nature to him, even if he doesn’t frequently partake.

“I’m happy for you. Aziel and Silas are too. You know that, right?”

I nod. I do know that. They’re understandably mad I didn’t tell them about Rock and me, but I know they’re still happy for us. They wouldn’t be letting him spend the night or me move into his home if that weren’t the case.

Tommy’s stomping makes its way to my ears, and I pull back just in time to watch the toddler round the corner. His face and fingers are blue, and I roll my eyes knowing that means Dad probably just gave him a bowl full of blueberries for breakfast.

It’s Tommy’s favorite food, and he makes a mess with them every time.

“Where’s Daddy?” Daddy G asks, ducking to pick up the boy.

Tommy grabs his shoulders and looks into my room.

“He fell asleep,” he giggles.

I suck my cheeks into my mouth, trying with all my might not to laugh. Mom’s going to kill him.

Daddy G turns and looks into my bedroom one last time before huffing and carrying Tommy away. A second later, I hear him screaming “Aziel,” and I grimace knowing Dad’s about to have a dreadful morning.

Not that it’s already going well.

I grab another box and shift to Rock, almost dropping this one in the process. Shit.

“Ciara?”

Every muscle in my body aches, and I struggle not to pant as I sit up and flash Rock a smile. Everything is great.

It looks like he’s taken a short break to organize my boxes, and I refuse to show any weakness as he cocks his head to the side and steps forward. I wish to scamper away and shift back to my bedroom to grab more things, but my body’s too weak to see it through.

I’ve been working hard to improve at shifting, but I still can’t do more than a handful in a row. It’s helpful that Rock lives in Wrath so I don’t have to travel too far, but this is still quickly draining me.

It’s humiliating, and I’m annoyed Rock sees it.

“My love, why don’t you relax? I can finish bringing the boxes over,” he offers.

Excuse me? I’m no helpless maiden. Rock lifts his hands in surrender as I straighten my spine and force my body to look strong. I’m sure he can feel my exhaustion through the bond, but he knows better than to comment on it.

At least he better.

“Fine, fine!” Rock laughs, taking a step back. “Let’s take a break and eat before finishing, though. I’m starving.”

I know he’s only suggesting it for my benefit, but I’m hungry so I’m not going to argue it. Besides, it will be good to have a break from seeing Daddy G’s sad face every time I shift back to my bedroom. He may have left with Tommy, but it’s only a matter of time before he comes wandering back.

Rock trails his hand down my arm, watching goosebumps pebble in his wake. My body always reacts to his touch, and the bond between us only amplifies it.

“What do you want to eat?” I ask.

My voice is a tiny bit hoarse, emotion making it thick. Rock smirks when he hears it, the corners of his lips twitching upward before he clears his throat and walks away. He’s always laughing at and teasing me.

He’s lucky I don’t mind it.

I happily follow him to the kitchen, excited that now it’s our kitchen.

I’ve already taken to decorating Rock’s place these past few months, removing all the things I didn’t like and replacing them with ones that are, in my opinion, much cuter. He seems to enjoy it, and I can’t help but smile as I realize he washed and refolded all the hand towels.

He took care of them even though he was mad at me.

So domestic.

I run forward so I can hug him from behind. He slows, and I clasp my hands together in front of his belly.

“Did you wash them in hot water?” I ask, pointing toward the pile.

Rock pinches my elbow. I hiss, pull my arm away, and continue to pout as he spins and shoots me a playful glare. He can glare all he wants, but they were expensive and he ruined the first set I bought by not washing them properly.

“I did!” Rock pushes my hair behind my ears, the action comforting.

“I washed your leggings too, and I even remembered to hang them up to dry,” he continues, a smile toying at the corners of his lips. “Believe it or not, I can pick up and remember simple instructions.”

I turn my head and kiss the inside of his palm.

I’ve trained him well.

____

This is the end of Rock's bully!

Moving forward, updates will rotate between Lord of Dread and Land of Wolves!