The Dead Gigolo Caper (Suds and Sam Book 4)

by Stella Marie Alden

  Suds: Sink be done end of day

  Me: <3 <3 <3 Eat outside?

  I hold up the sushi bag, Suds nods and grabs a sweatshirt. Then, we make our way to a park bench, far enough from the noise so we can talk.

  Chapter 5

  Suds

  “I love our new bathroom. Oh my God. It’s perfect.”

  As I sit on the bench, staring into her beautiful face, I can’t stop smiling. The sun’s shining, I got me a job, a pretty woman, and a roof over my head. Life is good.

  Eventually the construction next door will finish and the bathroom will get done. We’ll have a couple of kids and live happily ever after.

  Maybe it’s because we haven’t lived together long, but when she praises me, I go wild. I want to fuck her on every flat surface of our apartment until neither one of us can walk.

  She glances down at my crotch, one nostril flares and the black centers of her eyes go wide. “It’s only noon. We have work to do.”

  “Explain it to him.” I point my chopsticks at my non-apologetic appendage who refuses to back down.

  “Let’s eat. You’re going to need your strength, tough guy.” Giggling, she covers my lap with the sushi bag so we won’t shock the woman walking by with a baby stroller.

  “That so?” Needing to change the subject, I open the plastic sack and hand her the smaller of the two containers. “How was the salon this morning? You make it to work in time?”

  “Barely.” She chews for a moment and puts her face toward the sun now covered by dark clouds. “Aunt Marion is insisting we reopen the Rossini case.”

  “Why? There’s nothing more to do.” I pluck a few spicy morsels of tuna and ginger into my mouth.

  “I know, I know. I feel like I’m stealing but Martha asked my aunt for a personal favor. Now, I have to.”

  Chewing, she frowns and shakes her head. “In addition, she has an evil daughter who watches her every penny. If she finds out about us, she’s not going to be happy.”

  I tuck a blond lock behind her ear and let my hand linger. “We could sit on that case for a while. In the meantime, how about you and me take some pictures of Mr. Nardo in a compromising position with his latest lover?”

  “Get out of town. Did you find out where they meet?”

  “Yup. I copied his phone.”

  “When did you have time for that?”

  “Earlier, I went to his barbershop. It was easy enough.”

  “Wow. I am impressed.”

  “I am a man of many talents.”

  “Do tell.” She snickers with her mouth full, then tells me more about her morning.

  We finish our bench picnic and as much as I want to make love, I figure she’s going to want faucets. So, with our new headphones on, she sits at the computer while I play plumber. Occasionally, we ping each other.

  Sam: I can see your butt crack

  Me: Like it?

  Sam: Yeah

  Me: sex or sink?

  Sam: yes

  Pretty damn dirty, I turn off my blow torch and exit the bathroom. Except for turning the water back on, I’m done and ready to take a breather.

  Catrina’s found a quiet spot in our upstairs closet so I close the door. She’s too young to see what I got in mind.

  Leaning over the railing, I time the hammering such that I can get a word in edgewise. “You best get naked and place your computer someplace safe.”

  “What?” Smiling, my little minx snickers and points to her ears but she does as I ask while I drop my clothes and jog down the stairs.

  To the west, the sun hits our window, the glare making it impossible for anyone to see into our apartment. However, that don’t stop it from feeling all kinds of wicked to walk around with my thick cock front and center.

  About to get a headache from the noise, I insert earplugs while she flicks a tongue over her lower lip. Nude, she stands by the table, hands behind her back. Loving the sight, I take my sweet time crossing the room before brushing my lips across hers. The centers of her eyes widen until they almost cover the brown. A black hole, they draw me in until I’m lost in a sea of her desire.

  “Damn, sugar, what you do to me.” Remembering she can’t hear, I tell her the only way I know how.

  I pull her closer, my cock swells between us, and kiss her with all my might. Her musky scent drives me wild as I hold her chest to mine. I want to be inside her so bad, it hurts.

  Heartbeat drumming, I angle my head so our noses don’t get in the way as I thrust my tongue in and out. Her clever hands slip to the back of my neck and when her nails dig in, shivers run down my back.

  Damn near ready to burst, I lift her butt onto our table and as I step between her legs, her damp curls tease my cock, getting him riled up more. Gently, I lay her flat and lean over. I massage her shoulders, her pretty neck and her lovely breasts.

  A goddess, her thighs open more, her back arches, and she stares at me with her lips parted.

  Oh, babe. I got you. Kneeling before her, I slip a finger through her dark curls along the length of her wet clit. She quivers and squirms as I hold her hips, lapping her juices until she’s swollen, ready to break apart.

  When I stand, her chest rises and falls, eyes wide. My mouth goes back to her core and I kiss up her body until I reach her breasts. There, I suck hard, blow on the tips, then lick the redness away.

  Her hands start to wrap around my cock, but I hold them at bay. She was the one who needed attention and I intend to give it to her.

  Lowering back to my knees, my throat dries as I worship her perfect, glistening flesh. I swallow hard, close my eyes and inhale the scent of her sex. Every damn time my face gets close to her sweet clit, it’s like the first time only better. I tease her nub with the tip of my tongue until it blossoms like a goddamn rose.

  As she quivers on the edge I can’t hear her whimper but I’m sure she is. Hang on, sugar. A few more moments and we’ll be in heaven.

  When Sam pinches the top of my ears, I oblige her by putting a knuckle inside her and twisting. With all her muscles taut, I flatten my tongue and press hard until she bursts apart.

  Craving to be one with her orgasm, I jump up and thrust in until I hit bone. Backing out fully, I go again, and again. In the midst of her high she bucks and tiny muscles quiver all around me.

  Holy shit. This is as close to heaven as it gets. In and out, higher and higher, I bang my sweet baby into mindlessness. The table slides until it hits the kitchen counters and still I don’t slow down. With one thing in mind, I shut my eyes, grit my teeth, and take us deeper into the madness.

  About to come again, her nails dig into my biceps. Her muscles coil, my balls get tight, and my spine tingles.

  Oh shit. Oh shit. Oh my lord, she feels so damn fine

  “Fuck!” My sensitive tip hits the back of her and I explode.

  After I empty fully, I pull her chest to mine and hold her, My heart’s so full, it’s about to burst. There’s no words for how I feel about her and at times like this, it’s frightening.

  How could I possibly go on without her?

  Cupping her cheeks, I mouth, “I love you.”

  She does the same and smiles so damn sweet, my cock stirs inside of her, ready to go at it all over again.

  Her eyes widen, she shakes her head no, and points to the bathroom. She’s right. We could screw ourselves crazy. That’d be fine by me but she’s right, I need to get it done.

  With that in mind, I slowly pull out and kiss her. Finding a cloth, I wet it, and wash my cum from her inner legs. Then, we hold each other and kiss until I reluctantly let go.

  After, I install new pipes until about four-thirty, the same time as the noise outside stops.

  “Ready to come see?” I walk over to the table and pull off her headphones.

  Then, taking her hand, I lead her to the bathroom.

  “Wow. Amazing. It works.” She turns the water on and off.

  “Okay, smart ass. I could-” My words are smothered in kisses.
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  When she stops, her eyes are merry. “Just kidding. I love it. I really do. And… now that you’re done… Do you want to do some detective work?”

  I’d much rather go upstairs, make love, and fall asleep with her in my arms but again, she’s right. We should make a few bucks and pay a few bills.

  I place my large pipe wrench out of the way then wash my hands. “Who’re we spying on?”

  “Mr. Nardo.”

  “I’ll drive.”

  Much later, we sit in my SUV in front of a cheap hotel, while whores and their johns come and go. The place must rent by the hour.

  “There he is.” Sam points out a balding man with a big beer belly.

  I focus my telephoto lens and take a few shots of the cheating husband. Nardo’s got his arm around a woman. She’s about his age but dressed in a miniskirt and high boots.

  Sam leans back into her seat and yawns. “We probably should get a few pictures of them leaving, as well.”

  “Agreed.” After a bit, I glance over and broach the subject bothering me since Christmas. “Do you think you might like to come south with me? Meet my parents?”

  “Of course! Why wouldn’t I?” She beams as if I asked her to Disneyland which is all kinds of wrong.

  “It might not be all that… ah… shit, sugar. It’s complicated.”

  “How so?” She holds my hand in the dark while I try to find the right words.

  “Hmm… I guess I told you how my mom fooled around. Then, there was the divorce, my father left the service, and he wanted me to have a stable home. For a while, it was only my sister, him and me. Those were the good days. Then, he met my stepmom.” At the thought of her, my mouth purses as if biting into a big ol’ lemon.

  “She can’t be all bad.” Sam squeezes my hand.

  I shake my head. “Don’t say I didn’t warn you and whatever you do, stay clear of any religious discussions.”

  “I could say I was a devil worshipper.”

  “Same as being Catholic in her mind.” She thinks I’m kidding but I’m not. “Whatever you do, don’t agree to go to church with them.”

  “Noted.” Her brows raise, still laughing and damned if I can make her understand I’m being serious.

  “If we’re going to be family, you should be aware of what you’re getting into.”

  She snickers. “It can’t be any worse than my uncle Vinny.” Yawning, she puts her head on my shoulder and I give up trying to explain my fucked up family.

  “I’ll keep watch if you want to take a nap.”

  “Maybe in a minute. I forgot to tell you. Dana Springfield sent us a check. We officially have another client.”

  “He should’ve known better than to marry her. I’ll never watch that show again.”

  “Nice to know. Otherwise I might need to divorce you.”

  “We’re not married.”

  “I could kidnap you, fly you to Las Vegas, marry you, and then divorce you.”

  She snickers. “Duly noted. Anyhow, I logged into his wife’s phone and my electronics almost melted at the heat. Too bad sexting is not proof of infidelity. She’d be toast.”

  “Agreed. He needs evidence that’ll stand up in court. There’s a pre-nup involved.”

  Leaning over, my partner kisses me. “Do you think we should get one, just in case? I got two hundred bucks and a cat.”

  “Nuh-uh. The cat belongs to me. I kept the receipts.”

  “But you gave her to me.” Her lower lip goes out so I tuck it back in and grin.

  “There’s no evidence, sugar.”

  “Oh, is that how it’s going to be?”

  “Damn right it is.”

  “Fine. I will never, ever grant you a divorce.” She smirks and I lean in for a kiss, but we have to stop kidding around when Mr. Nardo and his girlfriend exit the building.

  “Holy shit.” Sam frowns. “That was fast.”

  Chuckling I remember how we did it on the kitchen table in less than twenty minutes.

  “Not funny.” The tops of her cheeks flame.

  “Noted.” Still smiling, I take a few more shots of Mr. Infidelity, drive her home, and hit the sack.

  Chapter 6

  Sam

  “What the hell?” My eyes pop open, the cat yowls, and next door, the jackhammer pounds as our floor trembles.

  Fully conscious, on my hands and knees, I scramble away from the futon where Suds thrashes and moans.

  Recalling how his fingers wrapped around my throat during a similar episode, I wait at a safe distance. Catrina, however, unaware of his PTSD, jumps on the bed and kneads his chest.

  Horrified, I wait for the death blow, but apparently soft fluffy animals, even in his dream, are not dangerous.

  “I’m awake, sugar. C’mere.” Suds opens his arms and grimaces as something crashes downstairs.

  “This day already sucks.” I return to bed, snuggle, and pull the covers over our heads but he taps me on the shoulder.

  “What?” All I hear is the ear-splitting tat-tat-tat as I read his lips.

  “I’ll call the city today.”

  “Who?”

  I point to his phone and text him what I said. Then, wearing my earplugs, I roll out of bed and stand at the banister searching for the origin of the damage.

  Shit. I hate mornings like this. There used to be a nice framed watercolor of Coney Island hanging on the wall. Now it lies shattered with shards of broken glass everywhere.

  Suds stands behind me with his arms around my waist, kissing the back of my neck. I turn into his chest, inhale Sebastian-scent, and all my troubles fade away. If I could bottle his essence, we’d never want for money again.

  My eyes lift to his, haunted by wisps of his fading nightmare. When his gaze softens, I reach my fingers to the back of his neck and bring those wonderful lips to mine. Together, we can do anything.

  A few hours later, I run down the stairs and into the cold. I pass the construction where a crane looms high overhead with a wrecking ball hanging from the top.

  Bang!

  What the fuck? I swivel on my heel, walk backwards, and stare with my mouth dropped open. Debris falls from a third floor window and lands in the dumpster so hard, pieces bounce out onto the sidewalk.

  I shoot a video and attach it to an email I’ve written to the city. Shaken, fully caffeinated, I open my umbrella and rush to work. If this keeps up, we’ll need to move in with my cousins. It’s either that, or buy a crate of Xanax.

  “Hey Rose, hey Mia.” Arriving at my part-time job, I make myself a cup of coffee and sit at my station.

  Glancing up, my oldest cousin pauses from restocking hairspray and mousse.

  “Rough night?”

  “Oh my God. You would not believe the fucking construction next door. It started at five in the friggin’ morning.” Shuddering, I close my eyes, and pray. Dear God in heaven, make it stop.

  “Before seven is illegal. Why don’t you call the police?” When Mia plops down in the swivel chair across from me, I meet her dark-eyed and oh-so naïve gaze.

  She actually expects a civil response.

  Rose, rolls her eyes and is about to help me out when the front door bangs and a furious woman steps inside.

  About sixty, she wears a stylish maxi-coat, high-heeled boots and matching black purse which she clutches to her side.

  She stomps forward, fixates her beady eyes on me, and shoots me a scowl that could kill.

  “Samantha Russo?”

  I nod.

  “You need to leave my mother alone.”

  Oh my God. This must be the infamous daughter. I suppose, if you take away the snarl and the deep frown lines, she bears some resemblance to her mother, Martha.

  “Listen. I tried to give her check back. She wouldn’t take it.” My tone, unlike hers, oozes with serenity, yoga mats, and prayer beads.

  “I don’t believe you. Don’t think I won’t sue you.” She leans in, voice so menacing that Rose and Mia circle the wagons.

  Can thi
s day get any worse? Standing, I drop the soft soap and channel my inner Eastwood. “Go ahead. Make my day. Your mother seemed pretty sane to me and if she tells me to stop, I will. As for the retainer? She signed a contract. You’re completely out of line and need to go.”

  “Not until you write me a check.” She crosses her arms and tilts her head as if daring me to remove her by force.

  I’m not sure what time my Aunt Marion arrived on the scene but when I turn toward the cash register, she’s there, calm as a cucumber. A gang member in the eighties, she guarded the subways, so I’m not surprised when she pulls out a baseball bat, puts it behind her back, and approaches our party of four.

  “Would you like to book an appointment, Ms. Rossini?” My aunt’s smile doesn’t hit her eyes.

  The dragon-lady pushes at my chest, oblivious to the danger. “No. I’m here to get my money back. From her.”

  The tension in the room is about to snap and we all jump when the front door chimes, announcing the first customers of the day.

  Saved by the bells.

  Two new sets of eyes grow wide and I moan. For sure, Aunt Marion is going to fire me unless I get the crazy lady to move on.

  Nose to nose with Martha’s furious daughter, I hand her my business card. “My partner, Sebastian, is at our office. You can speak with him there. You need to go. Now.”

  “Fine. First, I am calling my lawyer.” Huffing, the woman turns on a spiked heel, clicks across the linoleum, and slams the door as she exits.

  Rose and Mia applaud but judging from Aunt Marion’s face, I am in deep shit. Finished with me, she checks her appointment book and smiles professionally as she directs her customers to my station.

  Mrs. Murphy, the bakery owner, sits at my chair and removes her gloves. “Wasn’t that Martha’s daughter, Elena?”

  “None other.” I wonder if I should call and give Suds a heads up.

  “Puttana.”

  “Right? The woman is a serious bitch.” I twist the faucets and adjust the water temperature but stop when her fingers curl around my wrist.

  The baker catches my gaze, old eyes shining brightly. “Before you start, tell me about your case. This time, I want to be the one with the latest scoop.”