January 12 2015

"So," Mia sighs settling onto the leather couch across the room from my desk.

"He was more subtle this time around."

"We don't know it's him."

"The money only goes missing on the days that he is left in charge. I'm sorry Mia. No matter how hard I try I can't make the receipts match the deposits."

"Ava is not going to like this."

"If it was your child would you be happy?"

"It is my nephew," she snaps.

"I know," I sigh. "I'm sorry I have to be the one to give you the news."

"You can't change the facts baby."

"Do you want me there when you tell her?"

"I was hoping to call her here and we can tell her together."

"Great. Let her break my shit," I smirk turning back to my desk. "Call her."

"I know you're busy but you've barely ate anything these past few days," Eric states.

I look up to find the man standing frozen in the doorway, plate and glass in hand. His eyes dart from me to Mia and back.

"Hello," Mia smiles as he enters the room. "You must be Dru's "friend". The one who is not her boyfriend," her eyes slides down his exposed torso, gym shorts, and bare feet. "You seem awful comfortable in her house though."

"I'm not her boyfriend," Eric smiles passing the plate to me. "I'm her husband."

"What?"

"Long story. I'll tell you after you make your phone call."

"What are you going to tell her," he whispers leaning down to talk in my ear as he sets the glass on the desk.

"Same thing we tell everyone," I murmur keeping my eyes on the woman across the room. "We were keeping our relationship quiet. We were in Vegas and just decided to take the plunge. It's worked for us so far."

"Eat," he states. "I've seen you eat like three times since you've been home. All you do is pore over those papers."

"Well after today, I'm going to be done with these papers so you better make room for me in the gym because I have some serious pent up energy," I state making a face at the big man.

"You two are too cute," Mia grins.

"She is," Eric smirks bringing my hand up to kiss my knuckles. "I'll leave you ladies to whatever you have to do here. I'll be in the living room trying to find something on TV."

"You never introduced us Dru."

"Mia, my husband Eric Thompson. Eric, my boss at the homeless shelter Mia Sterling."

"Pleasure," Eric grins.

"Likewise."

"Eric," I call.

"Yeah?"

"If past experience is any indication, you might want to watch TV in the bedroom because it is going to get loud in here."

"That's why God invented volume controls and doors," he winks.

"Husband, Dru?"

"Yep."

"When?"

"My birthday."

"He treat you well?"

"Better than I deserve," I answer truthfully.

"Then that's all I need to know," she smiles before letting it slide from her. "Ava and Jade will be here in five minutes.

"It's not true," Jade mutters. "He's my twin I would know if he relapsed."

"I've been over everything repeatedly. The money is missing. The only discrepancies are when Jackson is in charge," I state pushing the paperwork towards her and her mother. "I can't say anything about his relapse but I can say everything points to him taking large amounts of money."

"I don't care what your damn paperwork says. You can manipulate that shit to say whatever you want."

"Jade," Ava states calmly. "Drucilla was hired to find things like this."

"She was hired to do the books not accuse my brother of bullshit."

"Ten thousand dollars' worth of bullshit, Jade. That's a lot to overlook," her aunt reminds her.

"We are aware, Mia."

"Jade, this has nothing to do with me. This is about your brother taking money from those who need it to do whatever he is doing with it."

"But you think he's back on drugs."

"I don't think anything beyond the fact that I have found him stealing money for a second time."

"So obviously he's on drugs."

"No one but you is saying anything about drugs. Is there something you know that we don't Jade?"

"No. You just imply things because you don't have the balls to say things outright."

"Your brother is stealing money, Jade Rose. Stealing from needing people at your aunt's shelter. People who have no one and nowhere else to go. Not to mention the money he's stealing from your mother's shelter and the animals there."

"You're lying. You manipulated everything so you can manipulate my family."

"Why would I do that? What do I have to gain from that?"

She stares back at me silently.

"I'm waiting on an answer."

"Fuck this," she growls standing. "No one here is going to listen to me."

Storming from the room she slams the front door with so much force the rest of the house shakes. Eric sits up from his position on the couch to lock eyes with me. I shake my head slightly.

"I'm sorry about that," Ava states quietly. "I will take these and look them over before I talk to Jack."

"I would like to be there for that's discussion."

"That's not necessary, Mia."

Mia opens her mouth to reply and I cut her off.

"This is a family discussion. Maybe you should wait to have it in private."

"Thank you for finding this, Drucilla," Ava states gathering the folder containing all the paperwork from my desk. "I will be in touch, Mia."

"Well that was better than the first time this came up."

"Something isn't right," she mutters looking after her sister.

"I think we established that."

"I'm going to figure this out. Don't worry about it."

"I'm not," I smile. "Go. Your family is more important than digging into my dirt that I can see you want to do so badly."

"I'm going to get the full story about you and that," she motions through doorway at Eric stretched on the couch in the living room, "beautiful hunk of man very, very soon."

"You can try."

"We will get together before you leave town again," she sighs wrapping me in a hug.

"I will try," I grin as she releases me. "Mia?"

"Yes dear?"

"If there is anything I can do for Jackson, please let me know."

"Like you said, this is a family matter."

"I want to do all I can for him."

"I know," she smiles softly. "I'll call you later to keep you up to date."

"Thank you."

The house settles into silence in her wake and I move to settle on the couch in the room.

"You okay?"

"Fine," I sigh at the ceiling. "Just feeling a little defeated."

"Defeated?"

"It's all in my head," I wave off his concern. "I just haven't been able to shake it off the past few days."

"Anything I can do to help?"

"I don't know. Probably not," I sigh. "If I can't make myself feel any better how would I expect someone else to?"

"Do you mind if I sit with you?"

I shake my head in the negative and he settles a careful distance away.

"Tell me what you need Rue," he sighs, his left hand coming to rest on my forearm. My eyes slide over the ring there.

"Why do you wear that when you don't have to?"

"I could ask you the same thing," he nods towards my hand.

"My hands are swollen. I can't take them off right now," I shrug. "This is the only time I felt comfortable to take them off without someone questioning me."

"I'm afraid I'll take it off and forget it somewhere."

"That's why you leave it with my stuff at the arenas, huh," I grin over at him.

"Exactly."

"Glad I'm useful. Now make yourself useful," I smirk holding out my hand.

"What am I doing with your hand?"

"The opposite of what you did on my birthday and take the rings off."

"Thought your hands were swollen."

"Just pull. I don't want to fuck them up so you can give them to someone you actually want to marry after this is all over."

"Because my dating life was on fire before this," he smirks pulling on the rings.

"Better than mine."

"I haven't had a date in over year."

"I haven't had a willing date in four years," I smirk. "I win."

"I didn't know it was a competition," he grunts. "Nice to know my pathetic love life could be worse."

"You knew that already that. Ow," I hiss as the rings come free.

"Sorry."

"Don't be. I asked for it."

"So what are you going to do now?"

"Weight training. Hold those for me, Honey," I smirk. "I'll be in the gym."

XXX

"I'm starting dinner if you're planning on ever coming out of there," the message pops up as soon as I turn on my phone for the first time since talking to Steph.

"He knew my phone was off," I grumble to the cat prancing along beside me. "Why did he text me?"

I get no response from the animal as my voicemail icon pops up.

"This should be fun," I sigh bracing myself for the barrage.

"Dru. We need to talk please call me back," Steph states before I move on to the next message. "Dru, this is ridiculous. Call me back."

"You're not even taking calls from me," Victoria questions. "Call me when you get a chance."

"If you're not going to call me back then I expect to see you first thing when you return," Steph demands. "I don't care how but let me know you received this message."

"Dru, it's Ryan. Stephanie is sending me in search of you two since you have been avoiding everyone. I should be there Monday."

"Fine," I grumble exiting my voicemail. "Come find us big man. Monday. Monday." "Today is Monday," a small voice in the back of my mind reminds me. "Fuck," I sigh breaking out into a sprint back towards the house. "Eric," I shout as I near the house. "Eric. Er-Ooph," I grunt as I trip over Fenrir laying across the entryway.

"Well that was graceful," a deep voice rumbles from the kitchen.

I peer up to find Ryan leaning against the doorway leading to the room.

"Not used to big boy being here," I grumble from the floor. "He's usually in the kitchen or living room."

"Are you okay," Eric calls.

"Fine."

Ryan leans down, hand outstretched, before stopping himself. "Can I?"

"You're learning. Thank you."

"No problem," he chuckles as he pulls me to my feet. "And big boy there doesn't trust me. He hovers watching me."

"Huh," I smirk. "Now I'm going to have to re-evaluate my feelings about you. I always trust his judgement."

"He didn't trust me the first time we met either," Eric smiles tightly. "I bribed him with food to change his mind."

"And how long did that take," the big man asks eyeing the dog.

"Not long," Eric smiles again tightly.

I quirk an eyebrow at him. He waves my concern off.

"So why exactly were you barreling through the house screaming for your husband?"

"I saw the smoke from the grill," I lie nodding out the window. "Thought he set my house on fire."

"I can cook you know."

"I've yet to see it."

"Why are you being a grump?"

"I just face planted in front of two guys. My ego is bruised."

"Well why don't you go soak that bruised ego, I'll finish dinner and prove to you I can cook," he smirks wrapping an arm around my waist.

I fight against the urge to stiffen at the gesture. I wrap my fist in the back of his t-shirt as I lean into him. "Sorry," I mouth up at him as I feel him start to pull away. "You're so good to me," I smile stepping away. "Ryan, the fire extinguisher is under the sink."

XXX

I stand under the hot spray of the shower head.

"You okay?"

I turn to find Eric standing just inside the shower stall. "What are you doing in here?"

"I am your husband," he smiles moving closer, his eyes roaming my body.

"Yes, you are."

"You didn't answer my question," he states sliding a finger up and down my arm.

"I'm fine," I sigh as his finger is replaced by his palm. "Thanks for worrying about me."

"It's kinda my job now."

"That seems kinda one sided. What can I do for you dear husband?"

His hand slides up to cup my cheek. "I have everything I want right now."

"You sure about that?"

"Absolutely," he smiles pressing his lips to mine as he guides me back to the wall.

"Eric," I mumble, my hands trailing down his torso to rest on his hips.

"Hmmmm," he sighs as his lips move down my neck. One hand slides down to grip my hip, the other coming around to cup my ass.

"We can't do this."

"Why not?"

"Well there is the six inch height difference," I grin.

"I can fix that," he chuckles lifting me so our faces are even. "There, fixed."

"Partly. There is another issue."

"What is that?"

"I'm a little sore from earlier."

"I'm sorry Angel."

"You didn't hear me complaining at the time did you?"

"Nope," he sighs tracing my jawline with his lips before dropping to my breasts.

"You're making it very difficult resist the urge to just ignore the soreness."

"You know the best way to work out a sore muscle is to use it continuously," he murmurs against me.

"I like the way you think sir," I smile wrapping my legs around him.

"Doesn't take much to change your mind does it?"

"Is that a complaint?"

"What man would complain that he can convince his wife to have sex easily?"

"Just go slow."

"Whatever you want Angel," he mumbles against my skin as he adjusts his grip on me.

"I want you Viking," I groan as he pushes himself upwards slowly filling me. He pauses once fully inside and I adjust around him. "God why did I wait so long for this?"

"Because you're special," he states as he thrusts slowly.

"Special, yeah," I chuckle latching onto the side of his throat.

"Thought we said no hickeys."

"I think I already broke that one," I chuckle leaning back against the wall.

"It's hidden."

"Not right now it's not."

"It will be," he chuckles as one of his hands slips between us to rub my clit causing all thought leave my head.

One hand tangles in his hair hold him to me as the other rests on his shoulder as I ride the waves of pleasure.

"You okay?"

"I'm great," I pant.

"Still sore?"

"I don't feel anything but pleasure."

"Great," he smiles speeding up.

"Oh God," I groan. "Eric. I'm-"

"I know," he grunts his fingers speeding up to match his thrust. "Just let go."

"Eric," I groan.

"Rue. Rue. Rue. Drucilla!"

My eyes snap open blinking to adjust to the low dusky light streaming through the windows.

"Drucilla," Eric growls on the other side of the bathroom door. "Answer me. Please."

"Yeah? Sorry. I must have fallen asleep in the tub here," I call back, reluctantly pulling my hand from myself.

"Dinners finished."

"Thanks, I'll be right down."

XXX

"Nice of you to dress for dinner, Princess."

"What did I tell you about calling me that," I mock glare at the big man. "Plus I didn't know I had to dress up for you two."

"It's been two weeks and she's already letting herself go," Ryan smirks motioning to my tank and yoga pants.

"I'm sorry I enjoy being comfortable in my own home."
"It's a slippery slope, that's all I'm saying. The lack of effort starts early and never returns."

"I see why you're the single one now."

"Guys want effort."

"It works the other way around too. We're just not allowed to call you on it when you decide to stop putting forth the effort."

"Eric," he turns to his friend.

"I think that's three for Rue," I hear him smirks though I keep my eyes forward. "I also think she looks good no matter what she wears."

"Thank you Honey," I smile.

"Slippery slope. Ow," he grimaces as I slap the back of his head. "Bitch."

"Caveman," I shoot back. "Go sit down and eat your dinner before I do it again."

"I would love to see that actually," I hear Eric smile.

"You just did," I state my eyes roaming everywhere but the dark haired man beside me. I can't shake the lingering feelings from my dream. My body wanting to compare real life to the dream.

"I would love to see it a second time."

"Give me some time. I'm sure he'll say something that I smack him for if I give him enough time."

"Hey," he sighs, a hand coming to rest on my forearm causing me to tense. "Sorry. Are you okay?"

"I'm fine. Why?"

"You seem tenser than you were when you went upstairs. You act like you don't even want to look at me."

"I'm just in a weird mood. I'll get over it soon. I'm sorry."

"Don't apologize. You can talk to me. You know that right?"

"Yeah. I just have to figure out what exactly it is I need to talk about. Like I said, I'm in a weird mood."

"Whenever you're ready."

"Thanks. Like I said earlier, you're so good to me," I smile meeting his eyes. A shiver runs down the spine and I fight the urge to bury myself against him.

"Hey Princess, beer me," Ryan calls from his spot at the table.

"I'm so going to shake it up first."

XXX

I sigh as I study the back of the man sharing my bed.

"It was just a fucking dream, Dru. Get over yourself. It's not even the first sex dream you had about him," I mentally berate myself. "That wasn't like any other dream you've had before. You've never felt them before. Felt them inside you before. Tasted them," I argue with myself. "So your imagination is getting more vivid. Even I can't be that vivid. I don't even have a point of reference. Well seeing as we woke up naked together I do have a reference, just not one you remember obtaining. There's only one way to find out." Slowly sliding closer to the man, "Eric?"

Hesitantly I reach out and run my fingertips across his back concentrating on the feel of the man. My hand slides up and over his shoulder. I don't know what I expected but nothing happens. Disappointment settles on my chest as my hand slides from his shoulder down his arm and back.

"Rue," he mutters rolling onto his back and I dodge an arm. "Everything okay?"

"Yeah. Sorry."

"Still in your weird mood?"

"You could say that," I smirk.

"You ready to talk about it?"

I glance at the couch across the room and the man sprawled out on it.

"He's out of it. We'll be lucky if he makes to the airport without help," Eric chuckles below me.

"I was just trying to figure something out," I sigh leaning across him to rest on my elbow.

"Like what?"

"Like…Whether if my dream this evening was an actually a dream or a memory from our lost wedding night."

"What did you decide?"

"I still don't have a clue."

"What was it about?"

"Us… In the shower."

"I'm not usually a fan of shower sex," he states.

"Hmmmm," I murmur dropping my eyes to his chest. "Basically you just informed him that you had a sex dream about him." "It was just a very vivid dream. I felt things I haven't felt before in…those type of dreams."

"So you've had these dreams before?"

"Just because I'm a…I was a virgin," I correct, "doesn't mean I don't have thoughts and urges. I just always took matters into my own hands. Don't ask me the question that is sitting on the tip of your tongue right now. I can literally feel your need to ask it and I really don't want to answer that particular question."

"Why?"

"Because I won't lie to you and I don't want to give you that information."

"Have I ever starred in one of these dreams?"

"You had to ask it didn't you?"

"Well?"

The alarm blaring cuts off any response I may have given.

"Stay here," he orders sliding from the bed to follow Fenrir down the stairs.

"Haven't you learned yet that giving me orders never works?"

"Stay, Rue."

"Yeah, not going to happen," I mutter pulling myself from the bed. I find Eric pinning a smaller body to the wall of the entranceway, the dog at their sides.

"You picked the wrong house, boy," Eric growls. "Want to tell me what you are doing here?"

"Who are-"

"I asked you a question."

"Dru," the second voice screams.

"Don't kill him, Eric," I sigh as I reach the bottom of the stairs and he starts to back away from the smaller man. "Don't let him go but don't kill him."

Moving to the alarm pad I type in the code before turning back to the two men. "What are you doing here, Jack?"

"I just wanted to leave this here," he stammers holding out a plain envelope. "Aunt Mia said you were home so I didn't think the alarm would be on."

"What is this?"

"An explanation."

"We're both here now, explain. Go," I motion to the living room, "we need to talk."

Eric steps away from the man who immediately scurries into the living room, the dog on his heels.

"I told you to stay upstairs."

"I told you that giving me orders never works. Come on," I sigh wrapping a hand around his. "I need to talk to the boy and you're not going to let me do that alone. Plus the alarm company should be calling soon."

XXX

"So," I sigh exiting the office after getting off the phone with the alarm company. I find Eric and Jack facing one another from opposite sides of the coffee table. "Explanation?"

Jack holds out the envelope again.

"Use your words," I smirk.

"It's a long story."

"Well you've woke the house up. Tell us a story. For Christ sake both of you sit down."

Neither move as they continue to eye one another.

"Sit," I order and Fenrir immediately drops beside the couch. "At least someone in this house listens to me."

"When you listen to me I'll listen to you," Eric smirks.

"Everyone please sit down."

Jack slowly lowers himself into the leather chair and I turn to Eric who drops to the couch. I move to join Eric on the couch before he pulls me to sit between his legs, his palms resting on my thighs as he wraps his arms around me.

"So who is this," Jack asks motioning over my shoulder.

"Who was the crackhead that busted my door in?"

"Don't call him that," he snaps.

"Who is he?"

"My boyfriend."

"You know you're not allowed relationships while you are in the program."

"How…"

"I'm the one who got you into it remember. They keep me updated so I know you're still in."

"I am. I promise. Eight months clean."

"I know."

"But Jade said…"

"Jade thought I was implying you had relapsed. I only stated that you were taking money again. I didn't ever say for what. I also didn't say anything to your mother, sister, and aunt about the break in. Nor did I tell the police that you were involved."

"How…"

"Apparently no one noticed the cameras that came with the alarm system."

"Why are you protecting me?"

"You pulled him out. He kicked in my door and two minutes later you ran in and pulled him out. Which is probably why nothing but the loose change in the kitchen was taken. The alarm company didn't tell the police about the cameras and they didn't ask about it so I just didn't offer the recordings. This guy is the reason you're taking money from the shelters isn't he?"

"Yeah. He is an addict too."

"And you're enabling him."

"I love him," he sniffs.

"Does he love you? Or even just care?"

"What?"

"Why did you stay in the program?"

"Because I need it," he states. "And because I didn't want to let you and my family down anymore."

"Why did you care about letting me down?"

"Because when I came out, you were the first and only person to immediately support me. When I was on rock bottom, you were the one the one reaching out to help. I was horrible to you and you kept trying. I finally realized all of that was out of love. I couldn't repay you by not trying."

"So your success is because of our mutual love?"

"Yeah," he sighs.

"So I'll ask again, does he love you?"

"He won't go into a program," he states.

"Then you can't help him."

"Yes, I can."

"Buying him drugs is not helping him."

"I'm trying to wean him off slowly. He tried going cold turkey…"

"And he couldn't do it. That's because he needs professional help."

"He won't…"

"If you really love him then make him. Don't take no for an answer."

"He won't," he growls sitting forward. Eric tenses behind me. Fenrir growls softly in response to the tension. One hand squeezes the man's thigh, the other running along the dog's side.

"Then leave him," I state.

"What?"

"Leave him. If he loves you he would be willing to change. Hell, if he loves you he would have stayed the hell off my property. I saw how distraught you were. I don't want to see you hurt, Jack."

"Then why suggest…"

"Because you cannot stay clean and be with an addict. It will not work. He will hurt you. I cannot say anything to you about the money, that's for your mom and aunt. But you have been my kid unofficially since the day I met you ten years ago. I'm not going to let some…addict derail your life."

"Meaning?"

"Meaning you get him out of your life, by getting him help or just letting him go, or I will. I will give the police the recordings and have him taken away."

"Dru," he whines.

"It's done out of love."

"How much do I owe you?"

"Nothing."

"He was my responsibility. I don't know when but I will pay you for the damage to your home and replace what was stolen."

"I'm more concerned about the eight grand you took from needy people. The two grand you took from helpless animals. That pales in comparison to my measly front door and loose change. Concentrate on that then you can worry about me."

"If I get rid of Joey, can I work what I owe you off here? I'm staying at the cabin so I'm just across the lake."

"No," Eric states.

"I appreciate the input but it's not your decision, Babe."

"Babe?"

"Meet my husband Eric, Jack. Eric meet Ava's son Jackson."

"Hus-Husband," Jack stammers.

"Yep," I state as Eric wraps his hand around mine. "As for you working it off, outside work only…for now. You'll feed Loki and Fenrir in his kennel. You know where the food is in the garage. You know what yard work I need done. The gym needs a new coat of paint. When I come home, no I'm not going to tell you when that is, if I find everything satisfactory then we're talk about letting you back in my house. I do mean everything. I expect you to adhere to everything about your program. No relationships until you complete a year."

"I'm so…" he searches for the right word.

"Lonely," I supply. "I know how you feel."

"Sure you do."

"I've been alone for years before this," I motion between me and Eric over my shoulder, "so yes I do. Bad relationships aren't going to make you feel less lonely. You're just going to feel lonely with someone around you.

"I just don't want to be alone."

"I know, baby boy. But alone is sometimes your best option," I state standing holding out my arms. "Come here."

"I'm not eight anymore. I don't exactly fit against you anymore," he smiles standing.

"Well I told you to stop growing years and about a foot ago," I grin wrapping my arms around his waist.

"I'm so sorry. I love you, Dru."

"I know, Jack-Jack."

"Have you ever gotten her to say she loves you?"

"Just once," Eric rumbles. "She's good about showing it though."

"Yeah, she is," Jack sighs pulling away. "Leave a list of what you want done in the garage. I'll let you get back to sleep. I'm sorry to wake you."

"No problem."

"That's what had you feeling defeated," Eric states.

I nod.

"Want to talk about it?"

"I want to go to bed and have one uninterrupted night."

"Good luck with that."

"You coming," I ask glancing over my shoulder as I make my way to the stairs.

"In a minute."

"Don't fall asleep on that couch. There's already an Eric sized dent forming in it."

"Yes Dear."

"Oh, by the way Babe, yes."

"Yes what?"

"Figure it out."