Guilty as Charged

by Harlow James

  I can’t remember the last time all five of us were together, I think, as my brothers take the other two seats across from us at the round table we’ve occupied. Wine and beer menus are passed around as we all decide on a beverage to celebrate the occasion with.

  Once our drinks are delivered and our entrees have been order, my father proposes a toast.

  “To Beckett and Bentley, two more Matthews men who are ready to offer something to society, as well as uphold the Matthews name. I am proud of you boys, and so is your mother and sister. I can’t wait to see what you both accomplish.”

  “Thanks, Dad,” Beckett replies as we all clink our glasses together and take a sip of our respective drinks. The red wine hits my tongue and sends a rush to my head almost instantly. Good thing I’m not driving home because I already have a head change.

  “So boys, any job offers yet?” My father reaches for a roll from the bread basket and then proceeds to pass it around the table.

  “There’s a technology company starting up here with a few guys from our fraternity. The main focus is to develop software for apps in the healthcare industry. With my degree in web design and Bentley’s knowledge with marketing, we think it might be rewarding to be involved with a company from the ground up,” Beckett answers, but the look on my father’s face in anything but enthusiastic.

  “Sounds risky.”

  “Anything worthwhile is, Dad,” Bentley adds.

  “Surely there are other options for you. I could always call up one of my contacts, get your feet in the door with an established corporation …” He continues to ramble on while I silently enjoy the fact that I’m not the only one whose decisions get dissected. Seems my brothers are on the receiving end of my father’s need for control as well.

  “We haven’t agreed to anything solidly yet, Dad. But we appreciate the offer.” Beckett declares as our salads arrive and everyone digs in.

  “So you’re planning on staying here in College Station then?” I ask after chewing my bite of lettuce completely.

  “Yeah. Our friends are here and now we know the area so well that it would be hard to go back to Newberry. Besides, any company that we’d be able to work for would be in Dallas, which means we’d be commuting. Might as well stay in a bustling city instead of heading back to small town life. No offense, Sis,” Bentley teases.

  “None taken. I think that decision makes sense. I knew I could practice law back home, so that’s why I went back.” I also attended Texas A & M for my undergraduate degree and law school, but chose to return to Newberry to work for Byron upon finishing law school.

  “Still, it would be nice to have you boys closer to home,” my mother chimes in. “I miss my boys. Sydney gets all of the attention now,” she says with a wink, as if her statement is humorous. And although I know it’s not malicious, I resent my parents in that moment just a tad because I know their attention isn’t always welcome. On second thought, it would be nice to have my brothers closer to home to take some of the heat off of me.

  “I’m sure she’s used to it by now, being the only girl and the oldest. Isn’t that right, Sis?” Beckett says.

  “Oh yeah. It’s wonderful.” My words come out in a satirical tone, which neither of my brothers miss, evident by their chuckling.

  “Yes. Your sister has been up to all kinds of extracurricular activities lately,” my father interjects, forcing my head to turn in his direction. His eyes shoot me a look that dictates he knows more than he’s revealing with his declaration.

  Shit. How could I have been so stupid? Of course my father probably knows what I’ve been doing, or who, for that matter. His security team is always lurking nearby, a detail that has completely slipped my mind as I’ve become distracted by my Latin lover.

  Which makes me wonder … where does Javier’s family descend from? Is he Puerto Rican? Cuban? I think I need to ask him the next time I see him.

  Bentley grins at me over the rim of his glass. “Is that so? What have you been up to, Syd?”

  I clear my throat and then dab at the corners of my mouth with my napkin before answering. “Well, I recently took a self-defense class at a gym in town. After the incident in the spring, I wanted to feel better about being able to protect myself. I actually made some new friends while I was there, so that was a pleasant bonus.”

  “You have other friends besides Ally?” Beckett teases.

  I glare at him before fighting back my smile. “Yes, little brother.”

  “How is crazy Ally these days?”

  “Reaping karma’s retribution with how insane her children are.”

  That comment causes the entire table to laugh. My family knows Ally’s free-spirited ways from our years of friendship, so it is rather comical that her children inherited that from her.

  Conversation flows easily between the five of us as the rest of our meal progresses, but my father’s comments stays in the back of my mind. My parents catch my brothers up on town gossip among our social circle, even providing details about their ex-girlfriends. My brothers dated quite a bit in high school, but each had one serious girlfriend they left behind to go to college.

  By the time the meal is finished, we’re all groaning from stuffing our faces with the best steak I’ve ever eaten, hands down. Everyone decides to use the restroom before my parents drive us back to campus to drop off my brothers and then the three of us will head back to Newberry.

  Somehow my father and I finish our business before everyone else, so I’m left alone with him outside as we wait for my mother and brothers.

  “Sydney. I hope you realize what you’re doing …”

  The hairs on the back of my neck stand up as I take in his warning, accompanying the nerves running through my veins. “What do you mean, Dad?”

  “I mean who you choose to spend your time with, sweetheart. I wouldn’t want people to get the wrong idea about the company you keep.”

  Anger flashes through my chest at his insinuation. “Excuse me?”

  “Remember that I know everything, sweetheart. I just want what’s best for you. Andrew has been asking about you again. Why won’t you just give him a chance?”

  I sigh in frustration, rolling my eyes as my hands find my hips. “Dad. Why don’t you trust me to know that there is nothing between Andrew and me? He’s not the man I want. I’m not attracted to him and quite frankly, I think a relationship between him and me would be boring. I would feel stifled by him. I don’t want that in a partner.”

  “I think he compliments you. You understand each other. You’re from the same world, Sydney. Not everyone understands the reputation you need to uphold.”

  “Well, not to sound rude, Dad, but maybe I don’t give a rat’s ass about my reputation anymore. Maybe what people think of me doesn’t matter.”

  “It should matter, Sydney. Your reputation is everything, especially in your line of work. I don’t want to see you make a mistake, get hurt, or jeopardize your career because you choose to spend time with the wrong people.”

  I huff out a laugh. “Maybe you need to remember that it’s my choice who I decide to spend my time with, and our little social circle has become a toxic group that quite frankly, I’m over.”

  Just as he moves closer to speak, the door behind us opens and my mother and brothers exit, sharing a laugh about something they must have been discussing inside.

  “Everything okay, you two?” my mother asks, moving her hair behind her shoulders and hiking her purse up further on her arm as she senses the tension between us.

  “Yup. Just fine, Mom.” I force out a smile as I look at my Dad, shaking my head, hoping he senses my disappointment and frustration with him as we shuffle into the car and drive home.

  After I leave the car with a chaste goodbye to my parents, I walk into my condo, ruminating still on the conversation with my dad. He has to know about Javi, or at least Andre and Selena if his security team has been following me around. The house where Javi lives is under their names, so they may n
ot realize there’s someone living in the guesthouse on the back of the property, although with their level of expertise, I’m sure they know the entire story. Then add on the fact that we had lunch together last week at Russo’s, and there’s no telling what pair of eyes saw us together and ran to my father almost instantly.

  I’m no stranger to the fact that my father believes that our family’s status in the community is some prized possession we must refrain from being tarnished. But I’m tired of his opinions on the company I keep.

  With my frustration high and an itch to see him, I shoot off a text to Javi, even though he knew I wouldn’t be able to meet up this weekend because of my brother’s graduation.

  Me: What are you up to?

  Javi: Just relaxing at home. What’s up? How’d the graduation go?

  Me: Are you down to fuck?

  The brazenness of my words catch me off guard, but with the anger I’m feeling right now, all I want is to ride Javi for hours in revenge. However, I find myself actually wanting his company too. Whenever I’m with him, I feel calm and in control, even if I’m relinquishing it to him.

  Javi: Come on over.

  I change into a dark gray, cotton sundress, but put on a burgundy bra and thong set underneath. Releasing my hair from the clip I had it in, I weave my fingers through the strands to loosen it and spritz myself with my perfume.

  In record time, I’m in my car and racing across town, the ache between my legs building knowing that soon Javi will be filling me up and making me forget about my day, smothering the reminders from my father that he just won’t listen to me and insists he knows what’s best.

  I slam the car door shut and lock it as I make my way to the door of his house, knocking harshly two times before the door opens and Javier stands before me, shirtless with gray sweat shorts on. The outline of his half-hardened dick is evident through the fabric, and as my eyes settle on his crotch, I visibly see his dick grow harder in his shorts.

  “Are you just going to stand there, Princess?”

  I shake my head, find his eyes, and then step inside as I hear the door shut behind me. I set my purse on the portion of the kitchen counter right by the door and then turn around to see heat-filled eyes staring back at me.

  “I need you to fuck me, Javi. Break me. Make me scream so I don’t have a voice tomorrow.”

  He squints at me just as his hand comes up to cup my cheek, stroking my skin in a way that is the total opposite of what I need right now. “Did something happen today, Sydney?”

  I nod, but don’t elaborate, not wanting to stifle the fire crackling between our bodies right now. We’re so close to each other that I can feel the warmth coming off of his skin as his scent infiltrates my senses. Suddenly everything fades away and the only thing remaining in focus is him—his tanned and rippled abs, the lines of muscle in his arms, the dark scruff on his chin, and the golden hue of his eyes that are melting away the stress from earlier. But I know a few orgasms from his hands and cock will help it completely go away—at least for the time being.

  “Just fuck me. Please.” I reach for the bottom of my dress, pull it up and over my head and toss it across the room, revealing my lingerie to him. “You know you want me.”

  He pauses, taking a moment to peruse my body before his eyes land back on mine and he says, “Guilty as charged, Princess.”

  His hands reach out and stroke up and down my arms as goosebumps rise from the contrast of the cold air in his house and fire beneath his touch.

  “Turn around,” he demands as I face the kitchen counter behind me and place my hands against the cool marble.

  Javi doesn’t speak as his hands move up and down my curves, unclasping my bra and letting it fall forward until I lift my arms from the counter and let it drop off my body completely, planting my palms on the marble once more. I feel his lips and tongue graze the cheeks of my ass as his fingers play with the strings of my thong—small nibbles, long drags of his tongue, purses of his lips on my sensitive flesh. With a smooth movement, he drags the thong down my legs and helps me step out of it so I’m completely naked in front of him, giving him the perfect view of my backside.

  I look behind to catch his eyes as I see Javi’s hand move from his pocket, retrieving a condom and then placing it on the counter beside me. He keeps his eyes focused on mine as his fingers push the waistband of his shorts down and reveal his hardened cock in all of its glory saluting me, ready to take on the mission I’ve bestowed upon him. I feel my mouth water at the sight as my eyes dip down to appreciate the appendage I’ve grown remarkably fond of over the past month.

  But then Javi drops to the floor, pushes my legs open wide and buries his face between my thighs, lapping up my wetness that has been building since I texted him at my place.

  I moan in ecstasy as I attempt to track the movements of his tongue. But as usual, there is no pattern to the pleasure he gives my body. Javi does what feels right, and somehow, that’s exactly what I need—the unexpected, a moment to just savor the ride and pleasure he’s giving me instead of trying to anticipate what’s coming next.

  “Block out whatever has you pissed off, Princess. Focus on my tongue,” he says and then swipes it across my slit. “Focus on my lips,” he whispers and then kisses my pussy and my clit. “Focus on my fingers and hands,” he commands as he pushes two fingers inside of me and then slaps my ass with his other free hand.

  “Fuck!” I shout, loving how he can be commanding, rough, and caring all at the same time. He knows what I need without me having to speak—and that connection that we share is slowly transferring outside of sex.

  “God, yes. More,” I moan, dropping my face to the counter, resting my cheek on the cold surface as I close my eyes and try to keep my knees from giving out beneath me. Javi continues to work me over with his fingers in my core, his tongue on my clit, his hand spanking me every few moments, building the inferno between my legs.

  And then I burst, the flame of my pleasure growing exponentially from the gasoline he just poured on the fire, the waves of my orgasm rippling through my body out to the very tips of my toes and fingers.

  “Fuck, I love hearing you come.” Javi stands up from the floor and reaches for the condom as my torso rests on the counter, gathering my breath from my orgasm. Then he bends over my back, resting his chest between my shoulder blades, and lines his mouth up to my ear, whispering in that deep rasp that sparks more need for him between my legs. “You ready for more, Princess?”

  “Yes, please …” I respond breathlessly, but he gives me no time to prepare as he jackets himself and plunges his cock deep inside of me, causing me to shriek from the invasion.

  “God, I could fuck you all night,” he growls as he smacks my ass again and thrusts deep inside of me, hitting the very end of my pussy, forcing me to slide across the marble from each smack of his hips against my ass, eliciting a moan from me with each thrust.

  “Is this what you needed, Sydney?” He asks, pulling my hair in his hand and forcing my head back so I’m standing up straighter as his tongue drags along the flesh of my neck.

  “God, yes …”

  Javi keeps me like that—bowed back against him, smacking my ass between thrusts, letting my hair go to grab both of my breasts and squeezing them to use them for leverage as he continues to fuck me with such force, my orgasm builds again.

  One of his hands stays on my breast and the other travels down my stomach, past my navel, and slowly between my folds where he finds my clit and begins to circle the nub with precision over and over again, building my release in record time.

  “I’m gonna come, Javi,” I warn just as the tremors of my orgasm begin and then detonate. I hear him grunt behind me as he chases his own release and we both shout into the open space, stilling once our respective orgasms subside.

  “Oh my God,” I exhale, reaching behind me to wrap my arm around his neck, needing to feel him close to me for just a second longer, dragging my fingernails across his skin as I crave t
he feel of his lips on mine. All I want to do in this moment is kiss him, but the fact that he hasn’t done that yet makes me weary to initiate it.

  “I need to clean up.” He releases my hold on him and his own on me before traipsing down the hall to the bathroom to dispose of the condom. I begin putting my clothes back on as he returns and finds his shorts as well.

  “So had a bad day, huh?” He seems so normal right now, like he usually does after we have sex, but something about him feels cold too, like maybe he didn’t really want me here. Although it didn’t seem like it when he was just fucking me within an inch of my life. I watch him fill two glasses with water as he hands one to me and takes a drink of his own.

  I shake my head and sigh, glaring down at the floor before I speak. “Just my dad. Today was my brothers’ graduation, as you know, and let’s just say it wasn’t without a good dose of ‘I know what’s best for you’ to round out the perfect family affair.”

  Javi huffs and then sets his glass down on the counter. “And what did you do this time that makes him think you don’t know how to live your life?”

  “He alluded to the fact that I haven’t been spending my time with people I should.” I flick my eyes up to his, waiting to see if he catches my drift. And the moment it hits, his eyebrows raise and then his gaze softens.

  “Is that so?”

  I nod. “Seems he thinks I’m not considering my reputation or career …”

  “Does that worry you?”

  The inkling about Javier going to prison travels right to the front of my brain the instant he says it. Could our relationship cause issues with my job? I mean, I am a lawyer, even though I don’t dabble in criminal law. If I dated someone with a record, that could look bad—although I also think it depends on what he did time for, and if that rumor is even true.

  I stare across the counter at him, wondering if now would be the time to ask. I can’t help the fact that it’s been bugging me since that night in the salon, and now with discussing my issue with my dad today, maybe this is the perfect opportunity to clear that confusion up for me.