by Mina Carter
* * * * *
It was a busy night with politicians and huge tips. The best part had been the relaxed conversations he had with Lawrence as they served the drinks.
They had made plans to meet for lunch later in the week.
* * * * *
"Terry tells me you are on a new mission involving a father," Piper began. "How is that going?"
Forrest looked down at his hands a moment. As soon as she mentioned the Lawrence mission, his hands began to shake; not because of Lawrence, but because of the memories of Finn.
"Hey, where did you go?"
Piper's voice brought him out of his memories. "It's hard," he admitted. "He owns a bar and is the bartender, just like Finn. When I see Lawrence, that's the target's name, with a towel tossed over his shoulder behind the bar, I keep seeing Finn. It's like a horrible case of déjà vu."
"I can imagine," she said. "What's he like? Lawrence, I mean."
"He's the exact opposite of Finn. Warm, caring. He always hugs me, and I can tell he is genuinely thrilled to see me. It…" Forrest trailed off, unsure if he should admit it aloud. "He's the father I have always wanted."
Piper rounded the desk to sit in his lap.
He was surprised, because she had never touched him while they were in the office. He closed his eyes as she slid her fingers through his hair. Her soft breath caressed his left cheek.
"Enjoy it, Forrest. You deserve to live out a little fantasy to make up for your past."
Her soft voice so close to his ear, and her delicate touch, caused a sudden hunger to course through his body. Even his mountain lion purred inside his head. He gripped Piper's head, freeing the tight bun of brunette hair, and took possession of her mouth.
She moaned as their tongues dueled.
They kissed as they had never kissed before, with unbridled passion that finally left them both gasping for air.
Piper left his lap, and he was disappointed until she hiked up her skirt and shimmied off her panties. He reached for his pants button and zipper. He tugged his wallet out of his back pocket, removed the condom he always kept on hand, and she ripped it out of his hands and quickly rolled it on him.
A moment later, she straddled the chair and sank down on him.
"Fuck," he muttered between quick breaths. He unfastened her suit jacket to massage her breasts through her blue camisole. She was not wearing a bra, and her nipples tightened against his palms as she moaned and tossed her head back.
Piper continued to roll her hips, taking him deeper before sliding back up, over and over again.
Her moans got louder, and her internal muscles clenched tighter. He forced his mouth over hers, muting her cry of release, as she slowed her movements before finally going still.
Forrest pushed her off of him, twirled her to face the desk, and slammed her down on top of it. He yanked her skirt up and gripped her hips before thrusting into her from behind.
She let out a mewl of desire and gripped the edge of the desk, turning her cheek against the cool surface of the wood, and held on for his powerful thrusts.
She began to get louder as he curled forward over her back, lifting her legs off the floor with each hard surge of his cock. He pumped into her wildly, feeling the rush from pent up frustrations. He covered her mouth with his left hand and groaned when she bit into him as her internal muscles spasmed. The sting of the bite triggered his own orgasm, and a few quick thrusts later, he'd completed within the condom.
He relaxed against her, and she silently kissed his palm in an unspoken apology for her bite. He brushed a kiss on the back of her hair before standing up and stepping back. He grabbed a few tissues to wrap the used condom in and pocketed it, knowing how stupid it would be to leave it in the trash at the training facility.
He refastened his pants as she stood and turned toward him with a silly grin on her face.
"Well that was totally unprofessional of me," she admitted with a slight giggle.
"Don't, Piper," he muttered, helping her button her suit jacket. He kissed her cute little nose, then her forehead. "I don't know what I'd do without you."
Piper blushed and looked away, grabbing her panties off the floor to pull them back on. "Please don't tell Terry."
"You know me better than that." He took her shoulders in a firm grip. "Let me take you to dinner tonight. I have tip money from working at the bar last night with Lawrence."
A slow smile crept over her face. "I'll be sure to load up my purse with all the change I can find."
He laughed, knowing she remembered the first time he took her out and she had to help come up with the waiter's tip. "Good idea."
CHAPTER TWELVE
FORREST HAD BEEN "working" with Falcone for a week. Working involved Forrest keeping watch outside Dennis Falcone's closed office door while Falcone took a lot of "meetings"---which typically involved a blond with the biggest fake breasts he'd ever seen. Honestly, the breasts were so huge he wondered how the lady managed to stay upright.
The office was in the heart of D.C., close to the mall. Forrest took his lunch hours to explore the tourist sights, his favorite being the Lincoln Memorial. He found it was his favorite place to just sit and unwind. He'd given up jogging around the pond, the memories of his fight with the jackass ruined that place for him.
Much to Forrest's surprise, when the lady left this day, Dennis came out of the office.
"Let's take a walk kid."
Forrest snatched up his suit jacket and pulled it on before following Falcone to the elevator.
At ground level, Dennis led Forrest to the Metro and they boarded a train that dropped off in Anacostia.
He knew the area was not the best of neighborhoods, but he was also a shifter. He'd wouldn't go down for a regular bullet, unless a direct hit to the brain or the heart. Falcone, on the other hand, would be in trouble if bullets started flying. He assumed he was to be the "muscle" on this little fieldtrip.
They left the station and Forrest was surprised at the nice buildings and museums and shops they passed. He had always heard it was a neighborhood to avoid at all costs. Then Dennis and he continued walking, and the views spiraled down until they were on a deteriorated block with small houses covered in graffiti. This was more like what he'd expected.
"Keep your mouth shut, but look as intimidating as possible. And don't let me get shot, okay?" Dennis chuckled, smacking Forrest on the shoulder before a group of African American males wearing blue bandanas surrounded them.
"You two lost? Capitol Hill's across the river."
Forrest remained neutral faced, but stood a little taller. His face remained on the speaker, but his eyes moved left and right, scoping out the rest of the group of four. Two were skinny but did not try to hide the Glocks sticking in the front of their pants. The speaker and one other man were muscle-bound, with tons of tattoos. All had teardrop tattoos on their faces. He knew he appeared calm on the outside, but his heartrate was speeding up.
"I have a meeting with Lester," Falcone said.
The two larger guys exchanged glances before giving a swift head jerk in the direction of a yellow house with peeling paint.
Forrest kept his hands loose at his sides as he followed Falcone to the door. Dennis rapped twice on the door with his fist before they heard a loud "come in" from inside. Falcone pushed the door open and they walked inside.
Forrest looked over the man on the couch. He was large, but not in a muscular way, more like a three cheeseburgers per meal type of way. His wide frame was sunk deep into supple-looking white leather furniture that did not match the outside state of the house or the neighborhood. Neither did the huge projection TV that took up the length of one short wall.
"You Falcone?"
"I am if you are Lester," Dennis said with a smile.
"Sit." Lester nodded to the loveseat opposite him. "You a cop?"
Forrest startled as he realized Lester was asking this to him, not Falcone. "N-no," he stuttered out.
"First job?"
Lester turned his eyes to Falcone.
Dennis chuckled and nodded. "He's a little uptight."
"He needs a little blow," Lester remarked with a smirk.
"I don't do drugs," Forrest muttered with a frown.
"I ain't talking about drugs. Saronda, get your fat ass out here!"
Forrest could not help that his eyes went wide as a chunky lady with tight cornrows came in the room, dressed in a barely there blue leather skirt and cropped white tank top. The tank top was so small and tight that the darkened tops of her areolas were peeking out.
"What?" she huffed at Lester, cocking a hip to the side.
"Blow the ginger."
Saronda turned critical eyes his way and Forrest could feel his entire body flush.
What the fuck?
She eyed him from the top of his head to the soles of his feet before doing it all over again. She finally quirked the corners of her lips up in a smile. "Come on, strawberry."
Forrest looked pleadingly at Falcone as the lady took his hand.
Dennis chuckled. "Go blow off a little steam. I promise not to leave without you."
Forrest swallowed the lump in his throat as she yanked him into a small bedroom, shut the door, and pushed him back against it. He did not get a chance to say a word before she dropped to her knees and his suit pants and boxers dropped to pool around his ankles.
"You don't ha---" His words, along with his thoughts about not yet breaking things off with Piper got cut off as a moan escaped his lips when she sucked the head of him into her mouth.
One warm hand gripped his bare thigh while her other hand softly cupped his balls.
He really did not want this, but apparently his dick thought another thing completely as it stiffened to her expert movements.
She moved his cock in and out of her mouth, going deeper each time. She sucked at his head on each outward stroke. Her hands both moved to his upper thighs as she took him even further inside. Her throat worked against his head until he grasped her cornrows in each fist and thrust himself deeper and deeper.
The wet friction was the only sound in the room, until he started breathing heavier with his impending orgasm. Her hands went behind him, her nails gripping his ass, as she held on for his furious pumps.
All at once he was coming into her mouth, filling her throat with his release. He continued to hold her head in place as the last waves of pleasure died down, leaving his legs shaky in exhaustion.
She let go of his ass and put her hands on his wrists, finally causing him to let go of her hair.
Though he felt like it was the least he could do, he helped her up off the floor and could not help the little shiver that ran up his spine when she grinned and ran her tongue over her lips, lapping up a bit of his seed that had escaped her mouth.
"Mmm, I like you, strawberry. You taste good," she purred.
He leaned in and planted a kiss on her forehead, feeling like a jackass because he couldn't form a coherent sentence at the moment. He stood there, back against the door, panting in tired breaths, his pants around his ankles.
Saronda winked at him and crawled on the bed, picking up a book. "See you next time, strawberry."
He grunted in response, finally pulling his underwear and pants up. He gave her one last look, though she was already engrossed in her book, and left the room.
That was the best fucking blowjob ever! And with that thought, came the sudden guilt of cheating on Piper. Now he just felt like a jackass!
When he walked back into the living room, Dennis was waiting for him beside the door.
"Have fun kid?"
Forrest felt his face flush. As small and old as the house was, there was no doubt both guys heard every sound coming from the bedroom.
Dennis and Lester both laughed, and Forrest gritted his teeth, annoyed at being laughed at.
He followed Dennis out the door, knowing he'd missed out on important mission facts by not hearing the conversation between Falcone and Lester in favor of a blowjob.
As they walked back to the Metro station, Forrest wondered how he'd face Piper. She wasn't his mate, but she still deserved something better than him cheating on her, regardless that it was during a mission.
CHAPTER THIRTEEN
"I HAVE CHINESE," Piper's sing-song voice came from the other side of the door.
He scrubbed his hands over his face before sighing. He had a feeling he'd soon be wearing any Chinese food that wound up inside his apartment.
He stood up and opened the door. Piper smiled and leaned in for a kiss, but he turned his face away at the last minute, causing her to kiss his cheek instead.
"What's wrong?" She frowned, looking disappointed and hurt at the same time.
He let her inside and she put the plastic bag on the counter by the small sink.
"I don't know how to say this delicately, Piper, so I'm just going to say it and let you scream at me."
Her face visibly paled and her mouth dropped open, but no words came out.
"I wound up in a situation on my mission today. While I'd like to blame it on…well, anything but me. I ultimately did it, so I am to blame."
"So spit it out." Piper's hands came up to rest on her hips and she looked as though she was preparing for war.
"A woman I don't know sucked my dick." He watched a furious red blush trail from her chest up to her face.
"At least you didn't let me kiss you," she hissed before slapping him across the face.
Forrest flinched before a second slap echoed in the room. His left cheek was stinging something fierce, but he would not allow himself to rub at it. "I'm sorry, Piper. I did not mean to hurt you. You're my best friend."
"And that's all, right?" Tears were streaming down her face and she sniffed.
His hands fisted at his sides. Yeah, I am the biggest asshole on the planet! Why didn't I break things off with her a long time ago? Because I'm a weak, selfish ass! "Pi---"
"Don't you Piper me!" she hissed. "You think I didn't know that I'm not your mate? I thought maybe you were okay with that. But you were just too chickenshit to break it off because I spread my legs, is that it?"
Forrest forced his fisted hands into his pocket and rocked back on his heels. "Yes…no," he sighed. "I enjoy being with you, Piper. Yes, I should have broken off our sexual relationship. For that, I am sorry."
"You should be sorry!" Piper's words left her mouth in a barely contained growl. She tried to bypass him to get to the door, but he stepped in front of her. "Get out of my way!"
"Piper, please. I love you. Just not---"
"That way? Yeah, got it! Let me out."
He took his hands from his pockets and gently placed them on her shoulders. "Please. You're my best friend. I've never had one before. I don't want to lose your friendship."
"Too fucking bad!" Piper shoved him out of the way and left his apartment, slamming the door on the way out.
Forrest rubbed at his temples where a headache began to pound. One day, one single fucking day, turned his entire life upside down.
* * * * *
Forrest sat in his tiny apartment, staring at the wall, but not really seeing it. He felt like the worst person on the planet. The more he thought about what happened at Lester's house, the more dirty he felt. It wasn't exactly a rape, because he was more than willing in the end, but the thought that he would never have submitted to it if not in the situation made his blood boil. It made him feel as though he was pimping out his body for the D.E.A.
One thing was for certain, he'd never compromise his principles like that again. His body was his own temple. He alone held his soul.
A knock at the door made Forrest look up. He walked across the tiny room, knowing it wasn't Piper, and opened it to find Terry.
"So…ehm…I take it Piper was upset about something," Terry muttered, leaning back against the wall after coming inside.
"You heard?" he grumbled.
"I'm fairly certain everyone in the building heard the door slam shut
," Terry admitted.
He gave a quick rundown on the mission happenings. "I had to tell Piper. Now she hates me. I can't say I blame her." Forrest sat down on his bed, dejected.
"No, she's just disappointed. She'll come around. In the end, it really was a part of your job."
"Fuck my job. I'm not going to pimp out my body for the government! That wasn't in the job description. I'm not a whore," Forrest hissed.
Terry clenched his jaw at the tirade. "Nobody asked you to be. You ultimately have to live with what you do on missions. If it's not something you want, don't do it…at least in regards to something physical."
Forrest flexed his fists before curling his fingers around the edge of the bed. "I can't do this. I want out."
Terry crossed his arms over his chest. "That is also your prerogative. You're under contract with the D.E.A., but you don't have to spend your time in the field. I'm going to suggest you take a few days. Go home, visit your family, figure out your priorities."
Forrest nodded. Home could be both a blessing and a curse.
CHAPTER FOURTEEN
FORREST WALKED OFF the plane and headed toward the airport exit. When he stepped outside, he took a moment to breathe in the fresh Colorado air. While there were people walking this way and that, and cars dropping travelers at the door for their flights, it still was quiet compared to the hustle and bustle of Washington D.C.
He finally admitted to himself that he missed home. Maybe not all of its inhabitants…but home.
A head of blond hair exiting a cab caught his attention as he waved to keep the driver from pulling away. "Adeline?"
She stiffened before turning toward him with a small smile. "Hi Forrest."
His name from her lips caused his mountain lion to sit up and purr. "What are you doing here, Addie?"
"Going to visit my cousin in Abilene," she answered. "Nice to see you."
He grabbed her hand before she could hurry off, but she whirled on him and yanked it away with a glower. "I…ehm…when we're both in Pepper Valley, I'd like to take you to dinner."
