by Holly Hood
I dusted off my hands on the seat of my shorts. “I have to run home. But I will be back.” I lifted my mouth to his and we kissed. His hands found my waist like they always did and he backed me up until we were pressed against the wall.
I wasn’t fighting any of it because I would rather be doing what we were doing than taking my dog for a walk. I turned, pushing him against the wall.
I unbuckled his belt and tore his pants down. “I want you.” I kissed him hard, taking my time to enjoy the feel of his mouth against mine.
His hands moved down to my ass, and I kissed him harder when he pulled me into him. I loved the familiar feel of him against me.
We moved against each other until I couldn’t take it anymore. I pulled my shirt over my head and Slade stopped me before I had it all the way off. “You said you were going home.”
I looked at him breathless. “Are you kidding?”
He shook his head. “We have all the time in the world. Go home, we can finish this later.” He yanked me back to him when I tried backing away. “Fuck. What the hell am I saying? I want inside you right now. Fuck time, fuck the world, I just want to get you out of that swimsuit.”
I squealed when he lifted me up, pulling away long enough to ask him something I wanted to know. “Did you want to go for a swim?” Slade shook his head pulling the strings to my bikini top.
“Not anymore,” he said.
The best part of waking up
Waking up and not finding Slade next to me was a little strange. And waking up in a totally different house I wasn’t used to was another issue. But the smell of food coming from the kitchen might have taken the cake, probably because I did all the cooking for quite some time now.
Well sometimes Nona cooked, but when it came to my life and anyone in it on a daily basis, they made sure to let me do all the cooking whether I liked it or not.
I hadn’t had a really good meal since my mother, and that put a little bit of annoyance in my morning now that I was thinking about her.
I dropped my feet to the floor and shuffled across the room to find my shorts. We had a lot more to get done today. I checked the time on my cell phone before I went to the bathroom to scrub the morning breath away and to run a brush through my hair.
I surveyed the marks on my neck and my chest from Slade. Last night was incredible and I had the proof. I powdered my neck with some loose concealer and snapped off the light.
I went down the hallway thinking about decorations and things I could buy him to liven the place up a little, and I wanted to do it. Giving my boyfriend a housewarming gift was normal, finally we had something to concentrate on besides magic and evil.
“Morning beautiful,” Slade said.
My mouth fell slack, I shook my head. “You’re cooking in the nude.”
He moved from the stove to the counter, sliding what looked to be an omelette onto a plate. “It’s my house I can do whatever I want.” He carried both plates from the counter to the table and looked up at me. “Matter of fact you should be naked too.”
I ran a hand through my hair feeling my cheeks warm. I looked at the kitchen door. I could see people not to far away from us on the beach. I could imagine what everyone saw by now if they just looked this way. “I’m okay with my shirt, this is fine.” I touched my shirt and took a seat.
Slade brought over a bottle of ketchup and hot sauce and pulled up a chair beside me. He rested a hand on my leg. “I made breakfast.”
I nodded staring at the food. “And it looks edible.” He did a really good job. I was impressed with his cooking skills. “Maybe even better than my omelettes.” I worked my fork into the omelette and took a bite.
“What you didn’t think I could cook?” He shot me a look, stroking my leg with his free hand as he ate.
I took a drink of the orange juice he poured. “Most men can’t.”
He shrugged. “I’m not most men. I’m the best thing that ever happened to you.”
We exchanged knowing looks. “Oh ,sure you are.”
Slade set his fork down. “Well, I’d like to think one day you might think so.”
I reached out touching his arm. “I do think so, all the time actually.”
He planted his lips on mine mid chew and stood up. “Good.
“Where are you going?” I couldn’t not look at the things I was looking at, parts of his body that made me scream obscenities last night, Slade managed to get me to say things I never thought I would.
“I’m going to get some clothes on. I highly doubt the neighbors would want me cleaning the yard in the nude.” He smirked, walking away.
“I’m sure a lot of them would appreciate it,” I called after him. I finished my omelette and cleaned the dishes for him.
“Thanks for cleaning up my mess,” he said coming up behind me, I could smell his cologne and taste the minty fresh taste of his breath when he kissed me, it was obvious he brushed his teeth.
“No problem.” I replaced the sponge and looked around the kitchen at the boxes in one corner. “What are those?”
Slade nodded at them. “Kidd stopped by earlier with some of my things. And some stuff Lucy was willing to part with.”
“That was nice of her,” I said. “Did you see, Karsen?”
Slade shook his head grabbing two waters out of his refrigerator. “Nope. Kidd did tell me they would be coming back to help with the yard work though. So I’m sure you will be seeing her in a little while.”
I smiled at the thought. I hadn’t been able to talk to Karsen about everything that happened since we got home and I really needed to fill her in. She worried about anything and everything anymore so I needed to put her out of her misery.
***
About an hour into pulling weeds and mowing lawn Karsen and Kidd showed up. I dropped the rake when I saw my best friend hop off the back of Kidd’s four wheeler.
She had the same big grin she always did when she saw me. We hugged and almost cried and finally broke apart. “I can’t believe I am looking at you.”
I nodded in agreement. “I can’t believe it either. But here I am.”
Karsen looked around the yard. “It might not be the best way to hang out, cleaning up your boyfriend’s new house but at least we are together.”
Kidd crashed our reunion throwing an arm around me. It was one of the first times I seen him with so little on. “Did Slade tell you the good news?”
I turned my attention to Slade and shook my head. “No, he hasn’t told me anything.”
Kidd pulled me closer and Karsen grinned. “I’m his new roommate.”
It didn’t shock me to hear Kidd would be moving in with Slade. “So much for naked mornings,” I said to Slade.
Slade shook his head at me. “You don’t think this guy has seen my junk before?”
Kidd agreed. “We’re bandmates. I’ve seen every bit of it. Even in action.”
Karsen and I shook our heads. And we thought we were close.
“Same here buddy. Same here,” Slade said to Kidd. “Before and after the piercings.” He slapped Kidd on the back and went back to the overgrown shrubs in front of the porch.
I looked at Karsen clutching my chest. “You never told me that.”
Karsen shrugged. “Look who you’re dating. I figured both of us were being banged by metal boners.”
We both busted a gut taking off to the porch to catch up on life and all the things that had taken place recently. Like Kenny and Jersey. The main thing I wanted to get out of the way before we could move on with our lives.
“So, Dad is okay,” I said for the fifth time. “I don’t know how to explain what she did but it worked.”
Karsen sighed. “I don’t even know what to think right now.”
“That makes two of us.” I rubbed at my ear. “Just know that we did the right thing.”
“I’m sure you did.” Karsen took my hand. “You did what you needed to do to get your dad back. Anyone would have. Don’t beat yourself up about at
what cost. These people will get over it.”
“I hope so,” I said. I hoped Kenny could take control of the giant mess he created and not let it spill over on us again.
Karsen and I watch Slade and Kidd take down a giant bush with the chainsaw Kidd brought. She elbowed me in the side. “Do you think we’re crazy for falling in love with these guys?”
I shrugged. “Look at them. Who wouldn’t fall for them?”
“Good point,” Karsen said. “And besides being a rock star, he fucks like one too.”
I shook my head, looking away from Karsen and her crude statement. “Oh shit.”
“What?” Karsen followed my gaze. “I can’t believe he has the balls to show up here.”
We both stood up. I hurried down the steps. “Get the hell out of here.”
Hutch grinned. “What’s wrong, Doll. Not happy to see me?”
Karsen crossed her arms. “She would be happy to see you if someone dropped your dead body at her feet.”
Hutch ignored our wishes and kept right on pushing my buttons. “I see your boyfriend is moving on up in the world.”
I wanted to punch him, but I settled on slamming the gate open. “Get the fuck away from me right now.”
“Or what, doll?”
“Don’t call me doll,” I warned. The chainsaw cut off, and seconds later Slade and Kidd were pushing me out of the way to get closer to Hutch.
“You got to be kidding me,” Slade said. “What the hell do you think you’re doing here?”
Hutch remained composed. “I was wondering how you guys managed it.”
Kidd stepped forward chainsaw still in his hand. “Pick your words carefully because I would hate for this chainsaw to slip.”
Hutch lifted his chin. “You don’t have the balls my friend.”
Karsen stopped him before he could prove it. “He’s not worth it. Let’s go inside.”
“How did we manage what?” Slade asked. “How did we manage to bring her father back? I guess that’s something you might want to ask your friend about.” He stepped forward. “Now get the fuck out of here.”
Hutch’s nostril flared. He bared his teeth waiting for Slade to strike. And Slade didn’t disappoint. Slade hit him in the face and went after him like a football player knocking him into the fence.
“No!” Kidd yelled, refusing to let Slade get into a bigger mess with Hutch. He pulled Slade off of him. “I’m not going to let you do this. He’s not worth it and if I have to bail you out of jail one more time I swear to god I’ll kick your ass.”
Slade’s jaw flexed. He stared Hutch down. Hutch dusted himself off, swiping his hands together to free them of sand. “I see you still can’t control you boyfriend’s temper tantrums. When you’re ready for a real man and not a common thug you know where to find me.”
I gritted my teeth, looking away from him.
“Go fuck yourself,” Karsen yelled at him. “That’s the only person who would be willing.”
“Just remember at one time your friend was,” he said. I cringed at the thought of it. I couldn’t believe I ever let him put his hands on me.
“Yeah well we all are delusional once or twice in our lives,” Karsen said.
I touched her shoulder. “It’s okay you can stop defending me. He’s leaving.” I watched him walk away.
“I hate that guy,” she said.
Slade sat down on the porch. “I think we all do.”
“No shit.” Kidd took the spot next to him.
Slade looked at me concern written all over his face. I sighed looking away.
“Don’t let him get under your skin,” he said. “I don’t care about what you did with him.”
I hated he was bringing it up in front of my best friend and Kidd. But that was the kind of person he was. He didn’t care what people thought about him.
“I care,” I said, wiping tears from my eyes. I didn’t want them to know I was crying but it was too late. Karsen wrapped her arms around me.
“Do not let that idiot make you feel bad. We’ve all slept with people we shouldn’t have. Who the hell cares?” She smoothed my hair.
The next thing I knew Slade took over, he wrapped his arms around me and squeezed me tight. He kissed the top of my head. “There will never be anything in this world you could do to disappoint me except not be in love with me.”
“How fucking sweet,” Kidd said.
“Yes. A page right out of a fucking fairy tale,” Karsen added.
I rolled my eyes burying my face in Slade’s chest. “I will always love you.”
“You better,” Slade said. “Because the only thing that makes sense is you and me.”
The best kind of friend
“Is it me or are we the only ones on the beach with amazing bikinis on?” Karsen looked around the sands at the frumpy older woman and teen girls in modest one pieces. “God, this church is going to be the death to fashion.”
I smirked sliding my glasses down. “I’m so glad we are hanging out today.” I missed Karsen and all her quirkiness.
“So much better than scrubbing floors and washing down windows,” she pointed out.
“Bad fashion isn’t the only thing this church is destroying,” I said thinking about Henry Park. “They have taken the best thing to happen to this place away. And I feel so bad for Slade and Kidd.”
Karsen agreed with me laying back to soak in the sun. She untied her bathing suit top giving me familiar pangs of panic. “They will be fine. They always are.”
“I hope so. I know what it’s like to feel disappointment because of this shitty town.” I sighed. “In more ways than one.”
Karsen rolled to her stomach and let go of her bathing suit top. The teens a few blankets over caught on rather quickly and stared her down. “Take them in boys I got a feeling it’s going to be a long time before you see any of these.”
I dropped down on my towel to get over the embarrassment. “You never fail to shock me.”
“After all these years you shouldn’t be shocked anymore,” Karsen said. “Did I mention how sweet Slade was after Hutch showed himself?”
Butterflies swarmed in my stomach and I smiled. “He was wasn’t he?”
“That boy is head over heels in love with you. It’s adorable,” she said. “Almost as adorable as Kidd and I.”
I grinned thinking about Slade’s handsome face and tattoos and what I wished I could be doing to him. “I love him too.”
“I know you do,” Karsen said. “It’s written all over you.”
“I just hope everything can go smooth from here on out.”
“It will.”
I wasn’t so sure. Hutch already proved he wanted to start problems between Slade and I. I wished he would get a clue and move on. Having to deal with a pissed off man who once had a thing for you was not fun or easy.
I closed my eyes trying to relax and get Hutch out of my mind. I wasn’t going to let him ruin my day. The sun was out, there wasn’t a cloud in the sky and Karsen was right beside me.
But like everything else in Cherry that quickly fell apart. We both screamed when the water hit us. I ripped my glasses off just in time to see a group of kids running from us.
“So much for my tan,” Karsen groaned wiping at the water. She found her top and took her time securing it around her neck letting everyone on the beach get a free peek of her goods. Then she looked up at the woman staring us down with looks of disgust on their faces. “What? Are you jealous?”
They stood up, and collected their things. “We will never be jealous of two girls involved with the devil.”
Karsen laughed. “You only wish you could have so much fun being evil!”
I grabbed her arm. “Stop.”
She pulled away. “We date boys with tattoos and piercings, sue us.”
“We hang with witches,” I said under my breath reminding Karsen who we were to these people. “Arguing is never going to get you anywhere with them. They only see black and white.”
“I’d rather hang with witches than a bunch of bitches.” She turned around staring at the crowd gathered. “Do you really think a little ocean water will run us off the beach? Or out of Cherry?”
Nobody said anything.
“Be very careful, or I might have my boyfriend give you genital herpes.” She pointed at each and every one of them. “Come on, Hope. Let’s jump in the water and show them how to have some fun.”
Word of mouth
I loved the way he looks at me when I don’t have a single stitch of clothes on. Maybe a year ago the thought of being in front of anybody naked would have scared the crap out of me, but not anymore. I liked when he was looking at me.
“Why the smile?” Slade asked, biting down on his lip ring. We were in the bathroom when we should have been out in the garage so he could practice with the band. But we couldn’t get enough of each other.
“I was just thinking about something.” I ran my hand down his chest and stopped at one of his tattoos. “I like when you’re looking at me.” Now I was the one biting my lip.
“Is that right?” He cupped my breast in his hand and used the other hand to stroke the back of my head. I kissed him, letting him tug me close and do what he wanted. His tongue found my nipple sending tremors between my legs. He was good with his mouth. I tried to hide my moan but it was no use. I reminded myself Karsen wasn’t a virgin and it wasn’t her first rodeo. And of course I knew Kidd could care less about our sex life now that I knew what I knew about the two of them.
He ran his fingers down my stomach, I groaned when they slipped inside, which wasn’t a hard feat because I was already turned on just by looking at him, Slade smiled for that exact reason.
I was disappointed when he stopped, but when he dropped to his knees it didn’t matter. He grabbed my hips and guided me against his mouth, this was something I never did before but I liked it. He managed to make our sex even hotter than it already was. His tongue did things to me I couldn’t keep quiet about.
Slade’s fingers dug into my flesh egging on my moans even more. I was about to come and we just started.
