Fighting for Phoebe

by Jennifer Ann

  My childhood wasn’t the best, but at least I had a mom who loved me and was quick to step in front of many angry fists in order to keep me safe. If I see that bitch Ellen again, I don’t know how I’ll control myself from ripping her a new one. And with the way my anger has been spiraling out of control since I started caring about Phoebe, that could be dangerous.

  My blood pressure skyrockets when I meet Phoebe’s gaze. “When’s the last time you helped her?”

  Her eyes flicker away. “It’s an ongoing thing. After high school she sent me to community college to learn computer lingo so I could set up burner email accounts with fake credentials and bogus IP addresses.” Then her gaze rolls back to mine, filled with guilt. “My apartment’s a mess because whenever I’m not working at the grocery story, I’m doing shit for Ellen like setting up dummy accounts on dating sites and filtering requests based on their level of wealth. You met me on the incredibly rare occasion that I had a free night. That’s why I felt like fate had a hand in how things played out. For whatever reason it upset you when I said that, I’m sorry, but it’s true. The fact that you came into my life when you did seems like the kind of thing that doesn’t happen by accident.”

  I shake off my irritation with the mention of “fate” once again. Now’s not the time to let my screwed up history with Bugsy dictate how I treat her. She’s been through enough.

  Then she adds, “And let’s be real. It doesn’t hurt that you’re insanely hot and actually care about getting me off. Finding you was like discovering a unicorn that shoots free orgasms from its ass.”

  A sudden thought rips through my head with the force of a tornado. “Does she ever make you meet up with these men?”

  Face screwed up like she tasted something sour, her hands clap together. “I think that’s enough Q and A for one day. It’s your turn to share with the class.”

  “Phoebe,” I warn, my voice on the urge of a growl.

  Tucking her chin into her chest, she mutters, “A few times, but I never let them touch me. That shit crosses a line that I don’t want to even trip over. Ellen says it’s best to bait them with someone younger, but I think it’s only because she doesn’t want anyone picking her out in a line-up if it ever came down to that.”

  Bolts of rage flicker through my insides. When I picture Phoebe meeting up with old, wrinkly perverts who have a hard-on for gorgeous women a fourth their age, I want to punch a brick wall until my fingers are bloodied and broken. What other kind of bullshit has Ellen forced her to do? Do I really want to know?

  Grinding my teeth together, I ask, “Is that why your ex thinks you sleep around and made the comment about me being too young for you?”

  “Only because he found a burner phone with messages from one of our targets. I eventually had to come partially clean with him because he threatened to call the cops. The old guy had sent pics…” Looking down, her body shivers violently. “That’s something I’ll never be able to bleach from my memory no matter how much booze I consume.”

  An old man sent her dick pics? No matter how hard she tries to sugar coat it, this shit is not okay. I grab her chin in my fingers, forcing her to look right at me.

  “Exactly how much does Decker know?”

  “Enough to know I’m shady. He was cornering me last night because he thinks I stole something from him.”

  “Where does he get his money?”

  “He does custom work driving semi for local farmers, but that barely pays his rent. On the side, he steals cars and has them stripped down before they’re shipped out to sell in different states. He makes decent money doing it, but blows most of it gambling. Pull tabs and blackjack are his weakness. He thinks nothing of blowing a few thousand in one night.”

  I still can’t possibly understand what she ever saw in the guy, unless she was drawn to his way of life and it made her somehow feel normal. Looking into her eyes, illuminated by her desire to feel accepted, I stroke her jaw with the pad of my thumb. “Is Ellen’s threat to turn you in the reason you won’t run off with me and leave this shit behind?”

  “A majority of it…yeah,” she admits in a sheepish voice as her eyes volley back and forth between each of mine. “Running away with you would infuriate her to the point of insanity. She knows she can’t continue to run these cons without me. You don’t want to know what she’s capable of when it involves money. She’d ruin both our lives just to get me back.”

  Dropping her chin, I turn my back to her and lace my fingers over the top of my head. Though I knew something was off keel with her life, it’s ten times more convoluted than I could’ve imagined. It’s a miracle having to deal with all this insanity doesn’t make her bitter and angry, or turn her into a dishonest bitch like her mom. Somehow she managed to come out of it all with an awesome personality.

  “I totally get it if you don’t want anything more to do with me after hearing the truth,” she mutters behind me. “Most days I hate myself for stealing from strangers. It’s pathetic…I’m pathetic. I’m a coward for not standing up to Ellen years ago.”

  “Bullshit!” I disagree, turning back to her. “The fact that you’re still the way you are after everything you’ve been through—the abuse from your ex, growing up with a manipulative mom—it makes you strong, Phoebe. You didn’t let them break you. And it’s understandable that you don’t want to go to prison. I don’t want to either. That’s why I’m running. That’s why you and I are good for each other.” I take her in my arms, resisting the urge to kiss her for looking so damn broken. “I’m sticking around to see this thing all the way through…this shit with your mom, Decker, all of it.”

  Her eyes blink rapidly as they fill with tears. “You can’t do that! I mean…you can, but are you absolutely sure you want to get involved with my shit?”

  I dip my chin enough times to make my decision clear. “You shouldn’t have to battle all this on your own. You deserve to have someone that will help you fight.”

  Her breath hitches before her lips turn upward with a sincere smile that makes her look like a little kid. She bounces on the pads of her feet with excitement. “I mean, my shit tends to get messy…and don’t even get me started on the way it stinks. Doesn’t seem fair you have to deal with my shit in addition to your own shit. That’s a lot of sh—”

  I silence her with a deep kiss that should ease any doubts.

  Leaving her behind is no longer an option.

  End of discussion.

  Just as soon as I locate Bugsy’s family and then help her clean up her messes, we’re blowing out of this wasteland. Together.

  9

  Phoebe

  After telling Jace some of my darkest secrets, most of which I haven’t told another living soul but dreamed of doing a thousand times, I don’t only feel lighter, but I swear there’s a stronger connection between the two of us. He hasn’t let go of my hand since we made it out of the woods. And the way he kissed me…oh my lawrd…it’s like he wanted to crawl inside me and inhabit my body. If there was a way to literally make it happen, I so would’ve let him.

  It almost seems too easy, like the other shoe will drop at any moment. He was surprisingly understanding and sympathetic to what Ellen has put me through, even though I left out the part about being so broken from my brother’s sudden decision to cut me out of his life that I was desperate enough to do anything.

  For a minute I was worried that Jace was going to take off to hunt Ellen down and kick her ass. Then he declared he was going to fight for me and I was convinced I was hallucinating. I mean, it’s possible he could’ve slipped something into my mouth while kissing me that would have me tripping out. Guys don’t really say shit like that to girls like me, do they? I’ve only ever known a rough hand and hurtful words.

  I don’t have much to say when we make our way through downtown Katowood and check into the motel. A cowardly voice in my head is worried this is all a dream and if I dwell too much on what it means, I’ll be jarred awake. Another voice says to shut the h
ell up and enjoy the ride while it lasts. A third voice—because apparently I’m developing multiple—can’t help but wonder if the con-artist is being conned. Maybe it’s karma’s way of putting me in my place.

  As I’m unlocking the door to our room and we’re greeted with a strong musty odor, Jace squeezes my hand. “Hey. You all right?”

  I look up at him from behind a curtain of my hair, feeling oddly turned on by the look of worry he’s throwing at me. “Just trying to figure you out.”

  Before the door has shut behind us, I’m crushing my mouth to his. He answers my tongue stroke for stroke and his fingers go right for the clasp on my bra. There’s a dull thud when his bag drops from his shoulder to the carpeted floor. I yank his shirt off his arms and over his head, shivering with the sight of his glorious chest before starting for his jeans. It’s imperative that I have as much fun as possible with this beautiful man before reality catches up and he realizes I’m not worth all this.

  After kicking off his jeans, he’s palming my breasts as I nudge him toward the bed and push him down to the worn mattress. His pupils widen, watching with wanton as I whip my torn shirt off over my head and deposit it on the floor, shrugging off my bra and shorts next. Wearing only my lace panties, I climb onto the bed and straddle him, pulling his boxer briefs off from around his feet. The sight of his thick, hard cock springing free has me completely soaking myself.

  Deciding the least I can do is properly thank him for everything he’s promising, I get on my knees and bend in to run my tongue around the silky head. Groaning in a strangled sound, Jace leans forward to run his fingers through my wild hair, making his 8-pack abs become even more defined. Holy shit. He’s got the kind of body that puts the entire cast of Magic Mike to shame.

  Desire scorches through my veins as I take the salty crown in my mouth and wrap my lips around him as far as I can go, tasting his bitter arousal on the back of my tongue. He’s so large that I worry I won’t be able to take enough to provide him with a proper orgasm, but somehow my lips adjust without it providing anything more than a pleasant burn.

  Looking up at him through my lashes, I release him with a loud pop like I did to my finger when tasting him earlier.

  “Fuck, that’s the hottest thing I’ve ever seen,” he tells me through gritted teeth. “Suck me hard, gorgeous. I want to come between those sweet little lips. Then I’m going to come again in your tight pussy.”

  Fueled by his delightfully dirty words, I take his cock back in my mouth, sucking and swirling my tongue based on the severity of the satisfied grunts and moans he utters in response. He thrusts his hips in sync with the rhythm of my mouth. I cup his balls with one hand, teasing my index finger along his perineum. A spastic vibration strikes between my legs when he seems especially responsive to a slip of my finger. Oh, the dirty places we could go together.

  By the rocking of his hips and his string of intelligible words, I know he’s close. I’m so turned on by the way he’s thrusting into my mouth that I slip a finger between my slippery folds, toying with my clit to ride out the pleasurable wave.

  Catching on to what I’m doing, Jace roars, “Fuckin’ hell! I’ll punish you for touching what’s mine!”

  I nearly choke when he stabs me a little harder, touching his tip to the base of my throat. Did he say what’s his? I’m unable to decide if the declaration has me more turned on or afraid to hope this isn’t the end of what we could be together. Either way, it’s still sexy as shit to hear him becoming angry in a playful way.

  Wanting to push him a little more, I push my finger against his puckered ass and rub myself harder. When he makes a howling noise and yanks my hair at the roots, I suck him until I’m cross-eyed and feel as if my lips will fall off. His hips quiver as he thrusts into my mouth one last time and his sticky, hot cum shoots down my throat. His cock jerks violently as I drink every last drop before pulling back.

  “Jesus, woman. That was…fuck. I’m convinced you really are trying to kill me.”

  Smirking with pride, I make my way up to his mouth, crawling up the mattress like a cat until I’m able to whisper in his ear. “Maybe. Is it possible to fuck a person to death?”

  In a flash he’s out from underneath me and pushing the side of my face into the mattress with one hand to my neck. Lifting my ass, he slips a finger from his other hand between my legs and rips my thong from my legs before stroking along my warmth. His touch sends an electric vibration through my core and I groan. When he ads his thumb, gently brushing it along my clit, I hiss through my teeth and buck against him.

  No man has ever made me float this way. No man has given a shit if I got off until Jace.

  He hums in approval. “Shit, gorgeous, you’re so goddamned wet for me.” A moment later I hear the smack of his lips and from the corner of my eye see him withdraw his fingers from his mouth. “And you taste even better than you feel. Did you make yourself come?”

  Unable to respond because I’m so jacked up from his touch, I can only moan in reply. His featherlight fingers brush over my sex before he slaps my ass hard enough to leave a lasting sting. It feels magnificent.

  “I asked you a question.”

  “Don’t stop!” I plead.

  “Answer my question first.”

  “No, I didn’t make myself come! I’m saving it for you!” Wagging my ass in the air, I will either get his finger or cock to relieve my throbbing center. “Please, baby, please finish me off! I need you to fill me!”

  All at once I feel his warm tongue lick along my slit. I cry out, clutching the bedsheets in my fists. Then his velvety soft head brushes along the same path before it also disappears.

  “Jace!” I mewl with a desperate cry.

  He chuckles in a sexy, teasing sound. “You want more?”

  “Mmmmh,” I pant, relishing the buzz taking over my entire body.

  “How bad do you want it?”

  “So goddamned bad. If you don’t give it to me, I’m going to touch myself again.”

  Without any kind of warning, he’s slamming himself inside me so hard that my teeth chatter together. The way my insides burn with the intrusion, I doubt I’ll be able to walk again any time soon. Yet the sensation is so magically delicious that my body craves more.

  “You’ll come when I say you can,” he declares in a rather authoritative voice that creates millions of goosebumps against my skin. “I want it to last this time. I want to savor every minute I’m stroking inside this tight pussy.”

  He withdraws ever so slowly and pushes into me again and again, still holding my head down on the mattress. I don’t know how long he continues with torturously languid strokes, muttering my name and cupping my breasts, even stopping to kiss my back. It’s a delicious marathon of pleasure, one that doesn’t end until I’m about to collapse at the finish line.

  “Jace…oh, baby…” I plead, pushing back into his hips. I don’t even know what I’m asking of him, except that I need a sweet release from the blissful ebb drifting through me.

  “Shhh, I know, gorgeous.”

  When his fingers glide across my tingling entrance in teasingly slow, shallow strokes before toying with my clit, I feel myself tumbling over the edge.

  “That’s it, come for me, Phoebs. I want to feel you on my fingers. Let everyone hear you.”

  We climax together, this orgasm being even more intense than the first and second he gave me in the past twenty-four hours…combined. I feel his cock twitch as it pumps warm cum inside me and he releases with a feral growl.

  In hindsight, I suppose I should’ve asked him to wear a condom both times or at least brought up his history, because someone who knows how to use their body like Jace does most certainly has to be a hit with the ladies. At least my doc convinced me to go with an IUD a couple years back, so there won’t be another person added to our complicated web of problems any time soon.

  The bottoms of my feet pound delightfully with the after affects. It’s like I’ve been catapulted into another dime
nsion as Jace places soft kisses along my bare back and up my neck, eventually bringing me back around to stare at the motel ceiling. Still, my body is floating and electrified as Jace continues a more laid-back assault using his fingertips and lips. I’ll never get enough of his phenomenal touches, whether rough or as soft as a whisper. Either I’ve died and gone to heaven, or I just experienced the most blissful euphoria of a lifetime.

  After a while, his hands curl around my middle, dragging me back into the safety of his arms, and we honest to god spoon like something you’d see in one of those chick flicks Kory’s wife is always trying to convince me to watch.

  Jace can deny he’s perfect a thousand times, but I’ll never find another man like him again. He’s going to destroy my expectations for any wannabe suitor who comes along—or comes inside of me—in the future. I briefly fantasize what it would be like to take him up on the offer to run away together. Would he really be able to protect me from Ellen? Could we live happily ever after like some ridiculous fairytale, hiding out from the cops in an enchanted forest? Most of all, would the sex always be this good, or will the magic fade once we actually get to know each other? Don’t all good things eventually have to come to an end?

  “You should know you're fucking amazing,” he whispers, burying his face in the crook of my neck. “The way you smell, and taste, and fuck…holy shit. I don’t know how I’ll ever get enough of it.”

  Though I want to remind him that I’m a shiny new toy and he’ll grow tired of playing with me once he knows all my secrets, I allow myself the luxury of pretending we’re a couple and we’re not on the run. I wrap my arms around him and squeeze him tightly, loving how he makes me feel safe from all the shit the world could possibly fling at me.

  With the feel of Jace’s warm, steady breath on my shoulder, I eventually drift off to sleep.