by Meghyn King
“Did he tell you what happened after Dad left?”
“He did, but Ethan cares for you, Sofia. A lot. I can tell by the way he talks about you, and how he gets whenever Jeremy comes anywhere near him. It takes every bit of strength for him not to kill Jeremy.”
“I’m….” Sofia huffed, frustration passing over her face. “I’m afraid they’ll release him, and he’ll hurt me again.” She shook her head. “I can’t do that again, Scarlett.”
“Trust the police. Trust your brother.” Scarlett pulled out her phone and showed Sofia. “And I have him on my phone admitting it. Can we get any other proof? Did you have something that proved what he did to you?”
She nibbled on her lip again. “Ethan made sure they took photos at the hospital, and they’d have my records.”
“That’s a darn good start. What do you say, Sofia? Let’s take this bastard down.”
Sofia shook her head. “I can’t. I’m not strong enough.” And yet, even as she claimed this, Sofia’s eyes watered, but she didn’t spill any tears. Her jaw trembled, but Scarlett wasn’t sure if that was to stop a sob from escaping or if it was in fear.
Scarlett cupped Sofia’s face, surprising the other woman, whose eyes widened at the gesture. “You’re strong enough to do anything. Trust me. I’ve learned to do this, and so can you. Small steps at a time. You’re strong. So fucking strong, you hear me?”
Sofia nodded, her lips curling.
“Say it. Say ‘I’m strong and I can do this’.”
One stray tear slipped from her watering eyes, sliding down her cheek and over her chin. “I’m strong.”
“You’re a fucking beast, Sofia. You’re the fucking strongest.”
“Fucking strong,” Sofia agreed quietly, with a little laugh.
“Louder. Say it louder.”
“I’m fucking strong.” Her voice had raised slightly.
“Louder.” Scarlett’s words bounced around the room from how loud she spoke. “Say it louder.”
A fire that wasn’t there before lit up in Sofia’s eyes. “I’m fucking strong!” she yelled, her voice just as loud as Scarlett’s had been.
“A fucking beast.”
“A fucking beast!” Sofia screamed so loudly that Scarlett wouldn’t be surprised if her neighbors heard.
“A fucking strong beast!”
Sofia stood, dislodging Scarlett’s hands. “A fucking strong beast.”
Scarlett followed her in standing, then held up her hands for Sofia to slap. “Jeremy is going to regret it, Sofia. Why?”
“Because I’m fucking strong,” Sofia said laughing, slapping Scarlett’s hands and leaving them clasped there together.
“Yes, you are. We’re fucking strong. What we’ve been through, you and I, only makes us stronger. We are fighters.” Scarlett squeezed Sofia’s hands. “No man, no woman—no one will ever have that power over us again, okay?”
Tears flowed freely down Sofia’s face now, but she smiled through them. “Never again.”
“That’s right, never again. This will be a hard journey for you, but it’ll be worth it. You will save a lot of women from going through the same pain, Sofia. He could kill someone if something isn’t done about him.”
She nodded. “I know. Scarlett, I know you’re going home soon, but maybe….” She ran a hand through her hair. “Maybe we could stay in contact? I’d really like your support, which I know I have no right to ask for, but—”
“Shhh!” Scarlett pressed a finger to her mouth in a shushing gesture. “I’ll be there for you. You call me at any time if you want to talk.”
Sofia exhaled a long breath. “Thank you. I feel like such an idiot for letting this happen.”
“Don’t,” Scarlett said swiftly. “No one is an idiot, or weak, for being an abuse victim.”
“But it was karma, wasn’t it? For what I did to you.”
Scarlett sighed. “Sofia, I’m not going to pretend that what you did to me is something that can be forgiven. That’s like you forgiving Jeremy one day. We were young, but you were still old enough to know what you were doing. But I do want to help you, and I will. Our past defines our future. You’re growing as a person.”
“You’re a much better person than I was. You and Ethan are perfect for each other.”
Scarlett could have disagreed, and reminded her that she and Ethan weren’t anything important to each other, but she knew how farfetched her words would be, especially when she didn’t believe them herself.
“Would you like another coffee? I can make it this time.”
Scarlett smiled. “Sure.”
Scarlett spent the rest of the day with her mom and Shy, going through final wedding plans. She talked with Ebony on the phone, and Ebony promised her everything was sorted, and also that the flowers were being flown down to Louisiana at no extra expense. Scarlett had helped Ebony’s family more than once, so while she wasn’t surprised, she promised her roommate she’d be giving her some money when she got home.
The next morning, she drove to the Coffee Corner and bought a coffee to go. She hadn’t heard from Ethan that morning, but she hoped Sofia had contacted her brother like she promised she would, before Scarlett had left.
After she grabbed her latte, she headed west after making the decision to take a drive around town. She hadn’t been there for so long and wanted to see the differences in the surrounding areas. With one hand on the steering wheel, she took a sip of her coffee, moaning at the warm liquid gold she’d been craving all morning. She may have been addicted.
When she drove onto a longer, abandoned stretch of highway that nobody used much anymore due to a new motorway nearby, she let the Mustang loose. The engine roared as she put her foot down, and she almost wished it were a convertible, so she could feel the wind racing through her hair. She’d just reached out to lower her window, so she could capture at least some of that feeling, when she saw lights suddenly flashing at her from a car behind. She returned both hands to the wheel and glanced in her rearview mirror, cursing when she saw what was on her tail.
“Are you fucking kidding me?” she yelled, slamming her hand on the steering wheel. How could she be so unlucky? Jee-sus! She wasn’t going to get away from a second ticket.
Pulling the car off the road, she threw her head back against the headrest and stared up at the roof of the car, gathering what patience she had. The last thing she wanted was to lose it at a cop.
A rap on her window caught her attention. A familiar face peered through the tinted glass, and she raised her brows as she pressed the button to lower it. “Yes, Officer?”
“Did you realize you were speeding, ma’am?” Ethan pursed his lips at her.
“Really?”
“I thought I gave you a warning about this.” His thumbs were hooked into his belt as he straightened and took a step back. “Get out of the car, ma’am.”
“But, Officer!”
“Get out of the car, ma’am. I won’t repeat myself.”
Scarlett eyed him carefully. He could have been messing with her, but she wasn’t quite sure at that moment. He had warned her before about speeding. Slipping out of the low car, she straightened the frills of her dress and closed the door behind her.
“Lean against the car and put your hands on the roof.”
Scarlett opened her mouth, but his look made her close it again. She leaned against the car as instructed, splaying her palms on the roof. Hands touched her hips—much like that first night—and then traveled south as they slid over her in a body search. They stroked over her ass and down her bare legs in a most unofficial way, and Scarlett’s breath caught in her throat and her core started to throb. His hands were warm, and her body reacted to the familiar touch, more so when he ran them up the inside of her thighs, pausing before they reached where she so desperately wanted them to go.
“Did you find anything, Officer?” Scarlett asked, her voice low and husky.
“Stay still, ma’am.” Ethan pressed his chest agains
t her back, his hands now working up her front, from her shoulders, over her arms, chest, and finally to her breasts, which he cupped firmly.
Scarlett groaned, leaning into his touch. “What about your car cam?” she asked, flicking her eyes to the cop car, which still had its lights flashing.
“I turned it away. Rodriguez isn’t with me either,” he whispered. His hot breath curled around the shell of her ear, making her shiver. His hard bulge pressed against the bottom of her spine.
“Want to fuck?” Scarlett threw over her shoulder. She wasn’t in the mood for foreplay. She’d take him any way she could get him in that moment.
“Yes,” he moaned, sucking on her earlobe.
“Bodycam?”
“Off.”
“Good. I don’t want to become the viral entertainment at your station.”
“That’d never happen,” he said hotly.
“Good.” She turned in his arms, dragging him closer. Cupping his cheeks, she slammed her mouth against his, savoring his familiar peppermint taste in her mouth. He rutted against her, his hands encircling her hips and grabbing her ass. He fucked into her body, his rock-hard erection sliding up and down her curves deliciously. “Miss me?”
“Fuck yes. You’re so hot. When I saw that car, I knew I had to see you.”
Scarlett’s heart flipped, but she ignored it to nibble on his throat, slowly bruising the skin there. When she was happy with the mark she left, she shoved him away and opened the back door of her Mustang. She crooked her finger at him, then slid into back seat on her hands and knees.
“Show me how much you missed me,” she whispered, voice low and seductive as she reached behind to tug her knickers down to her knees, then shifted her dress out of the way so he could see her bare ass.
“Fuck.” He drew the word out gruffly.
One glance over her shoulder with a come-hither look, and he was in the car behind her, his hands squeezing her asscheeks.
“Leave the pants on,” she purred.
“Yes, ma’am.” The pad of his finger traced the folds of her pussy, and the tip dipped into her entrance.
“Stop playing with me, Officer, and get your cock inside.”
Ethan groaned, and she heard his belt unclipping then his pants unzipping. His belt landed on the floor of the car, beside her. She glanced around to see him shove his pants down to his knees, then stand up and align his thick cock with her hole. He pushed in, her pussy swallowing his hot, hard flesh.
She moaned, his thickness spearing her open just the way she liked. He was hard and hot, filling her like no one had ever done before, and she wanted more. She wanted to own his cock, to never let another woman feel what it was like to have it inside them.
His hands shook as he gripped her hips. “Fuck, so tight.”
“Make me yours. Mark me inside with your cum.” She reached down her body, running her fingernail against the small section of his cock that wasn’t being sucked in by her pussy. “Fill me so much that it leaks out of me.”
Ethan growled as he shoved her dress up higher. “So hot. You’re so fucking gorgeous.”
He began fucking into her, his cock sliding in and out in quick, hard jabs that left her craving more. He was so big, so thick, but she wanted more. She mewled, her fingers working her clit. Hunger ate at her, lust simmering in her stomach as he rode her, his cock truly marking her, stretching her wide.
For being a low-roofed car, Ethan managed to pump into her good and hard despite the limited room, his balls slapping against her with each thrust.
“Yes. Fuck yes. So big. You’re so big, Ethan. Fill me. Please fill me with your cum.”
Ethan plastered himself to her back, his hands kneading her covered breasts in his palms. He kissed her neck and bare shoulder, biting down on the vulnerable skin at the joint.
She moaned loudly. Between his cock in her pussy and his teeth on her neck, she was so damn close. Twisting her head to the side, his thrusting faltered as he devoured her lips. Someone groaned, but she wasn’t sure who; it could even have been both of them. The police badge on his shirt dug into her back, but she didn’t mind it. She liked bites of pain when having sex, a sting to heighten her senses even further.
“God, Scarlett.” He chanted her name as he rammed into her harder, his fingers tracing her lips, and his palm covering her mouth to stifle her moans.
She bit the skin of his hand, moaning into it. Sweat slicked both their bodies, and her soaked pussy coated his cock with her juices. She was so damn close, and her whimpers grew louder the closer she got, until she finally felt the intense rush of pleasure shooting through her that always had her seeing stars, her toes curling as she screamed his name into his palm.
He wasn’t far behind her. His hip movements grew erratic, and he growled, his limbs quivering against her as his scalding release filled her hole and he cursed his way through his orgasm. When he was done, he laid against her back again, kissing her shoulder gently.
“Fuck. You’re always so tight. So gorgeous.”
“Did you fill me right up?” she teased.
“All the way up, gorgeous.” He removed his cock from her pussy, and she felt cum slide down the inside of her thigh without her even needing to push it out, confirming he’d pumped a huge load into her.
Scarlett reached between her legs, fingering her hole, which still oozed out his warm seed. “Mmm. That’s so fucking hot,” she said, grinning at him. “We just fucked in my car, Officer.”
“Is that a new thing for you?” Ethan asked, a shiver running down his body. She loved that she made him feel like that.
“Yep. Totally new.”
That made his grin wide and toothy. “I’m glad to hear.”
“Want me to clean you up?” She twisted on the seat, so her ass sat on the leather. She shuffled closer and held his hips. Taking his softening cock into her mouth, she sucked on the head.
He hissed, his hand scrambling for purchase on the roof of the car. “Fuck. Scarlett, stop. I’ll get hard again.”
“So?” she teased.
“I have to get back to work. Rodriguez will be wondering why I haven’t brought back lunch yet.”
Scarlett’s eyebrows rose. “You smell like sex.”
“I’ll have to shower before I get lunch.” He kissed her. “You’re worth it.”
Scarlett patted his hard ass, making it flex beneath her touch. “I’m glad you pulled me over, Officer.”
“Me too.” Ethan nodded at her legs. “Sorry about the mess.”
She laughed. “Nothing I can’t clean up. I needed that fuck.” To make a point, she spread her legs and ran a fingertip up the length of her pussy.
“God, Scarlett, you’re killing me.” Ethan shoved his cock back inside his underwear and tugged his pants up. He zipped them, then grabbed his duty belt.
She winked at him and pushed her dress back down. She didn’t want to get him into trouble. “Will I see you tonight?”
“Yes, if you’ll have me? I was thinking we could cuddle and watch Netflix. I want to watch the new Teenage Mutant Ninja Turtles.”
“Teenage Ninja Turtles?” She snorted in laughter. “Sure, why not?”
He kissed her passionately again, before unfolding himself out of the car. Scarlett watched him through the back mirror as he glanced back at her and waved. She waved back, and he got into the squad car. He played with something on the dashboard, probably his camera, and turned the car around, driving away.
Once he was gone, Scarlett fell back to lie on the seat. Jee-sus. That was intense, and the very best kind of intense. She’d loved every minute of it, but what scared her was how much she hated the thought of him being with another woman after she left. How soon would he find someone? The thought left a bad taste in her mouth.
She pushed it away, though. She could handle this. Scarlett would go back to New York, and everything would go back to normal. She just didn’t know if she wanted it to.
It was the day of the wedding, and S
carlett wasn’t sure who was more nervous: Shy, or their mom. Shy was a raging bridezilla, storming around everyone to make sure every detail was not only correct, but perfect. The flowers had arrived on time and she’d gushed over them. She had enough people to put them together at the ceremony location, and Scarlett made sure to help them in the morning.
By midday, she was dressed in the lavender bridesmaid dress, and the makeup artist had worked on her face. The hairdresser had curled her hair, then tied it in a beautiful ribbon that matched the dress.
Shy looked beautiful in a floor-length white wedding dress, with intricate details that set it apart and made it beautifully unique. Shaped to match her body perfectly, it had a long train that trailed behind her, and she was beyond stunning in it. Her blonde hair was curled into a bun on top her head, with a fringe of it straightened against her temple. Her face was radiant, the makeup artist having outdone herself, accentuating Shy’s cheekbones and giving her plump, luscious lips. She was gorgeous.
Scarlett didn’t feel the nerves hit until she stood at the beginning of the aisle, looking down toward the altar. Shy had called an emergency rehearsal last night, and Ethan had taken it in his stride and they’d both headed there together. While Shy had raised an eyebrow at them, she didn’t say anything. But Scarlett didn’t have Ethan today. He was standing beside Rob, at the altar. He looked stunning in his gray suit and bright lavender tie, and Scarlett couldn’t tear her eyes off him as she began the walk she’d started to dread.
The crowd’s eyes were on her, and she prayed she didn’t slip on the shiny wooden floorboards. She was the last bridesmaid to walk down the aisle, as Shy’s maid of honor, and she couldn’t ruin this for her sister.
Ethan’s lips moved as he watched her move toward him, and she saw him mouth what looked like Stay calm. She smiled at him, and when she reached the altar, she took the two steps up onto the raised platform and breathed out a sigh of relief.
Shy wasn’t far behind her, their dad at her side, her long dress and train trailing behind her as she smiled at the guests seated on both sides of the aisle. She looked even more gorgeous walking down to her husband-to-be, and Scarlett couldn’t help but smile with pride. This was her twin sister. In love and getting married.
