Chapter 118: Breakfast
*And so rock bottom became the solid foundation on which I rebuilt my life. - J.K. Rowling*
Neo knew that the night before divorce hearing was going to be hard on Jolene. After the third time that she cried out for him, Neo crawled under the black comforter and pulled her close. Wrapping a strong arm around her, he pressed a light kiss to the back of her head.
“I’m here, baby. I’m here.”
In the warm cocoon of the comfort that Neo offered, Jolene slept peacefully for the rest of the night. When she woke up in the early morning light, she expected him to be gone like he always was. But this time, he was still there and still asleep.
She moved slowly and turned to look at him. He was a very handsome man with lush thick black eyelashes. Reaching out, she touched his cheek lightly. His head turned into her hand, and he kissed her palm. His eyes opened and focused on her.
“Go get a shower and get ready.” He whispered. “We’ll go have breakfast before we go to the courthouse.”
When she stepped out of her bathroom, Jolene looked at the beautiful outfit that was hanging on her closet door. The dark gray shirt was a fitted long sleeve knit with a wide V-neck collar and a purple satin belt tied at the waist. The purple pencil skirt was knee length with a black velveteen floral pattern. Sitting on the bed were a pair of black and gray retro Oxford heels with fine laces.
There was also a small bag from a high-end lingerie store. Inside it was a beautiful bra and panty set with a matching garter belt. And a pair of black thigh high nylons with the seam up the back.
The whole outfit was like someone had reached inside her imagination and plucked out her dream outfit. Neo had listened to *everything* that she had said over the last few months. He knew her so much better than Hank ever did. He didn’t try to change her. He embraced her and encouraged her to embrace herself.
Jolene dressed in the outfit and felt like it had been tailored perfectly for her. She looked at herself in the mirror with her short bob parted on the side and her dark eyeliner. There was nothing in the mirror that Hank would approve of. There was nothing in the mirror that Jolene disliked.
With a confident smile, she stepped out of her room and was surprised to see Neo on her couch. His arms were stretched out along the back of the couch and his long legs were out in front of him. Dark eyes swept over her slowly as he took in the view before him.
“Thank you for the outfit.” Jolene said softly, feeling a blush creeping up her cheeks.
“You look beautiful.” He said as he stood up. He walked over to stand in front of her and very carefully and gently tipped her chin up with a knuckle under her chin. “I’m going to kiss you.”
Jolene’s lips parted in anticipation. It was something that she had been thinking about for way too long. His lips barely touched hers before he was pulling back and looking at her eyes. She felt like he was asking for permission even though he had just told her what he was going to do. Biting her lower lip, she met his eyes and gave a small nod.
Neo gave a soft smile before his lips were back on hers. The kiss was light and undemanding. He took only what she offered and did not press for more. Jolene sighed and stepped in closer to his body.
The hand on her chin moved to her neck as his other hand anchored around her waist holding her to him. Jolene slid her arms around his neck and opened her mouth to take the kiss deeper. There was a light rumble deep in his throat as he broke the kiss and held her head to his chest.
“Did I do something wrong?” Jolene asked quietly.
The tears in her voice had him kicking himself. Taking a deep breath to get himself under control, he was assaulted by the scent that he now associated with her. Soft spice and vanilla with a hint of baby powder.
“No, pet.” Neo said honestly. “I did. You need to be in control right now, and that’s something that I have a hard time relinquishing.”
“Neo?” she said stepping away from him. “Am I pretty?”
“Pet, you are so beautiful. Inside and out.” He smiled down at her as he captured a tear on his thumb. “But what I think should not matter. It’s what you believe that’s important.”
She looked away, trying to hide her tears.
“If I was so beautiful, why doesn’t anyone love me?”
“Oh, pet.” He murmured and pulled her back to him. “You are loved. And not just by your family.”
“Then why…”
“What does Olivia tell you?”
“That it’s him. It’s not me.” She sighed. “But he always told me that no one else would want me. I wasn’t pretty enough. I wasn’t well behaved. I was too big.”
“Who the hell wants well behaved?” he growled. Neo kissed the top of her head before letting her go and grabbing her hand. “Come with me.”
Jolene followed him. Partially out of curiosity and partially because every time that she tried to pull her hand away, his grip tightened slightly. He guided her into his apartment and into his bedroom. Opening the top drawer of his dresser, he pulled out a black box.
Opening the box, he pulled out a necklace that was multiple chains twisted together. The front of the necklace had the chains intertwined making an elegant spider web. There was also a black spider with a red gemstone heart on its back.
Turning her around, he placed it around her neck and then used the key to lock it in place. He took her into the bathroom and turned on the light so that she could see herself.
“It’s beautiful.”
“I had it made for you.” He admitted. “I’ll take it off anytime you want me to.”
“Is this like what mom has?”
“Yes and no. it is a collar. And yes, I would love to put it on you permanently.” He reached up and twisted the spider’s head slightly.
Almost immediately his phone started buzzing in his pocket. Taking it out, he showed it to her. On the screen was JOLENE 911 flashing across the screen. He placed his thumb on the phone and unlocked it. A map popped up on his screen with a flashing dot showing her location.
“It only activates if you want it to activate.” He twisted the head back in place and the map closed out. He pulled up the IGYS app. “Locate Jolene.”
NOT ACTIVE flashed on the screen.
“You are free to go wherever you want. See whoever you want. Do whatever you want. But if you ever need me, it’s a simple quarter turn to the right.”
“Thank you.” She whispered.
“You’re welcome.” Smiling at her in the mirror, he tucked some of hair behind her ear. “Let’s go get breakfast.”
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