by Ashe, Karina
And what words does the poet beneath me whisper before we become one?
“Ready to ride, babe?”
I open my lips, nod, and he slips into me.
I cry out as the head of his cock stretches me in ways I didn’t even know it was possible to be stretched by. His hands grip me, hard, holding me in place as I get used to his length “Too much?”
“You…you…” I whimper, squeezing him.
He groans.
That’s right. Two can play at this game, I think, as I start to move.
I get a little more of him into me with each thrust. My toes curl beneath his calves, my legs spread just a little wider, pull myself just a little tighter around his cock. My nails dig into his back and I bite his shoulder.
This seems to unleash something inside me. He grabs my hips, pushing me all the way down.
Oh God!
I can’t take it. I was born to take it. It’s simultaneously too much and everything I’ve ever needed. His mouth is on my breasts, my neck. His tongue writes dirty secrets on my skin. I push up, riding fast and hard as he keeps pace beneath me.
“Lily,” he hisses, and I know he’s close. I am too. I dig in, moving faster, wilder, harder.
His hands find my face. It’s surprisingly gentle.
“Look at me,” he whispers.
I do.
He opens his mouth to say something else, but whatever he does isn’t loud enough to hear above the explosion of fireworks and ecstasy.
Chapter 7
July 5th
Lily
So we spent all night in the woods doing exactly what you think we did. Unsurprisingly, I was a little sore when I woke up. As in, my pussy felt like it had just run a marathon. And what did it want to do after running a marathon the night before?
Why, run another one of course!
Mr. Sex Machine props himself up on his elbow and looks down at me with the cockiest smile I’ve ever seen in my life. “I think I could get used to this.”
I think I could too if I exercised for sixty minutes at least three times a week! “Uuguuguahghhh.”
I shudder, glancing around. Was some poor animal being eaten alive? “Ian, I think we need to leave.” At least, that’s what I meant to say, but what came out was another awful, “Uuguuguahghhh.”
My eyes go wide. Shit! That horrible sound just came out of me!
Ian laughs, kissing my cheek. “You’re perfect, sweetheart.”
Actually, I was pretty sure this was the opposite of perfect, but if he thinks my zombie groans are sexy who am I to argue? Especially when the creepy sounds prompt him to kiss me.
And kiss me again.
And again.
And again.
Two hours later, we have to stop because my stomach is growling so loud that, in his own words, it’s frightened off every bird in the county.
“Thanks,” I grumble. In fact, that comment put me in such a sour mood that my stomach decides to grumble, too.
“Seriously,” he stands, “if we don’t move out, the bears are gonna come down from the hills.”
I shoot up onto my feet. “What the hell? Bears?”
“Yeah. They have to defend their territory.”
From my stomach? I swat him. “You really are an asshole.”
“I’m an asshole who’s gonna buy you breakfast.”
“Really?”
“Yeah, really. Anywhere in town, except that place we went yesterday. Pretty sure that dreads chick is gonna deck me if she sees us saunter in after a night in the woods.”
You know, he had a point there. Avery wasn’t his biggest fan. “There’s a nice place I know about.”
“Yeah?”
“But…it’s expensive.”
“Oh, don’t worry about it. I’ve got enough on me.”
I shake my head. “We’ll see about that.”
***
Lily
Breakfast costs $120.
I know what you’re thinking, how the hell can breakfast possibly cost that much, and how could I possibly allow a poor soldier to pay for it? I offered to go dutch. In fact, I insisted. But then he stole the bill and sat on it.
Normally, this wouldn’t have phased me. In fact, I liked a challenge. However, this wasn’t the place. I don’t know what ply the red carpet was, but it was the softest things my toes had ever touched. Chandeliers sparkled from the gilded ceiling. There was even a marble cherub fountain smiling at us!
Oh, and then there was the person who wasn’t smiling—a lady who had more diamonds dripping down her neck than syrup on her pancakes. This lady, by the way, freaked me out way more than the supposed roaming “bears from the hills.” She’d apparently taken the involuntary growls my stomach had let out when we first arrived as a challenge and was now glowering at us in an attempt to defend her turf.
So yeah, under the circumstances I thought it was best to not pull the bill out from under Ian’s sexy ass. But that didn’t mean I liked this arrangement.
“I don’t feel good about making you pay,” I pout.
“You’re not making me do anything. I’m insisting.”
“But you’re a soldier.”
“So?”
I wiggle in my seat. Why was he gonna make me say it? “So…soldiers don’t make a lot of money.”
He looks down, eyes distant.
Shit. Everything was going well and then I had to ruin it. Why did I even suggest this restaurant in the first place? Damn males and their stupid pride! “Look, I didn’t mean it like that.”
“Lily—”
“I know you work hard, alright? It’s not about me not accepting you as a man or a provider or some shit like that, it’s just…” How could I phrase this in a way he would accept? Patriotism. “I want to give back to you for protecting me and this country.”
His wicked smile is back when he looks up. “You know, there are other ways you can show your appreciation.”
“Oh come on man! Are you only capable of thinking with your dick?”
I hear a very crisp harrumph behind me and maybe even a, “Well I never!”
I cringe. “Shit.”
“Keep it down, Lily, or she might hear that too.”
I crack open an eye. “You think she heard?”
“Oh yeah.” He tries not to smile. Tries not to, and fails.
I look over my shoulder. “Oh my god.” I’ve never seen anyone look at me with such raw, unadulterated, pure hatred in my life. This was even worse than the time Avery learned I was the one who ate her cupcake at Kate’s second grade birthday party.
“So,” Ian begins, “I’m going to hail down the waiter so we can pay and make our escape.”
This time, I don’t complain. “Good idea.”
Chapter 8
Lily
Ian reluctantly drops me off at my apartment. When I told him I wanted to take a shower before our walk this afternoon, he’d gotten pretty damn excited…at least until I reminded him that Avery was my roommate.
“How do I get her on my side?” he asks as step outside the car.
“I honestly don’t know. I don’t even know how I got her on my side.” Especially after the infamous cupcake incident.
“I’m guessing flowers won’t do the trick.”
I shrug. “It wouldn’t hurt. Actually, get her one of those small cacti from the garden store downtown. She keeps a bunch of them on the windowsill.”
“The lady has a cactus collection. Somehow, this doesn’t surprise me.”
I laugh. “Seriously, I need to get showered and—”
He sighs. “Please don’t talk about showers I’m not allowed to participate in.”
“Hey, if you want to battle Avery you’re welcome to try.”
“Somehow I think I’d fare better against the ‘bears from the hills’ or the lady at breakfast.”
I grin. “Me too.”
He shakes his head. “Be fast. I’m coming right over when I’m done.”
“Ok
ay. See you soon.” Then, I shut the door before I could give into the impulse to kiss him. Immediately he drives off quickly, probably also trying to keep himself giving in. We both knew where that road took us, and that going down on a crowded street outside of an apartment I shared with my protective friend was not a wise choice.
Reluctantly, I make my way to my front door and type in the super duper secure security code (my apartment number). Then, I walk up the four flights of stairs to my room.
The door is ajar.
That isn’t right. Avery always locks it. Always.
My heartbeat speeds up. “Hello?”
No answer.
My heart starts pounding. I crouch, getting into a fighting stance. Then, I slide my keys in between my fingers and make a first, ready to slice whatever pops out of there like Wolverine.
Less than a second after thinking this, I realize my instincts are dumb as shit and stuff my free hand into my pocket for my cell phone.
“Lily?”
I yelp, stumbling back into the wall and dropping my phone.
It’s Avery.
“Um, Hey Avery,” I wheeze.
She frowns. “Hey. Um, are you alone?”
Now it’s my turn to frown. “What do you mean?”
“I mean, is Ian with you?”
“No.”
She sighs, relieved. “Good. There’s someone here who needs to talk to you.”
“What?” I push past her to find a man in a suit sitting on my couch.
The man couldn’t have looked more out of place on my faded orange garage sale couch decorated with a psychedelic 70’s granny square blanket. An impenetrable aura of authority hangs around him. It’s in his impeccable posture, the sprinkle of salt and pepper hair near his temples, the arrogant slant of his square jaw. There was something shiny on his wrist. A watch. It wouldn’t surprise me if it was real gold.
His dark blue eyes narrow. “You’re Lily?”
I don’t know him or what he wants, but I don’t like his dismissive tone. I open my mouth to respond, but Avery steps out in front of me. “What the hell’s up with your tone, huh? Who the hell do you think you are?”
There’s a tick in his jaw. “I’m sorry, I didn’t mean to offend—”
“Yeah, not buying it,” Avery interrupts.
The man sighs. “Look, what I think doesn’t matter. That’s not why I’m here. As you know, I need to speak to Lily about Ian.”
Avery’s shoulders tense as I push past her. “W-what about Ian? Is he in some sort of trouble?”
The man looks down. “I think so, though he doesn’t realize it yet.”
My stomach drops. Oh God. That thing he wanted to tell me with the sparklers. I didn’t listen to his cry for help. I should have pushed it. Why hadn’t I pushed it? Now, what if—
“Please, sit,” the man continues.
Avery rubs my shoulder and I realize I’m shaking. My hands…my hands…they won’t stop. I can’t stop.
There’s a loud screeching sound as Avery pulls a wooden chair across the floor. She then helps me into it, trying to reassure me with forced soothing words.
It will be alright.
It’s okay.
It’s probably nothing.
But it wasn’t alright. It wasn’t okay. And it wasn’t nothing. This man wouldn’t be here if that were the case. I sit on my hands to make them stop and look up at the man. “What is it about Ian that you want to talk about?”
He takes a deep breath.
“Do you have a warrant?” I ask. “I want you to know that I’m not going to say anything without a lawyer—”
“This isn’t that kind of conversation. I’m not with the police. As far as I know, Ian is in no legal trouble.” He grits his jaw. “It’s…a different kind of trouble.”
“A different kind? I don’t understand.”
“Ian made a lot of mistakes in his past, and I accept that most of those mistakes were my fault. Whether he blames me or not doesn’t matter. I wasn’t there for him the way I should have been, and when he acted out I did nothing.” The man shuts his eyes. “I told myself it was a phase, but that was only because I didn’t want to accept the truth. I’d failed him.”
The man opens his eyes. Eyes I should have recognized the moment I saw them because they were such a unique, brilliant blue.
“I’m not going to make that mistake again.”
Chapter 9
Ian
I get lost.
In a one stoplight town.
Yeah…
I don’t know what the hell happened either. Or maybe I should say I know exactly what the hell happened.
Lily.
I can’t get her out of my head. She’s more like a Venus flytrap than her namesake. Despite what she wore yesterday, she wasn’t showy like those other flowers. A little loud and a whole lot opinionated. Blunt—yes, there’s the word I was looking for. She wasn’t afraid to call a spade a spade. And yet, there was something sweet about her. And I was so P-whipped by that delicate, alluring perfume that I wouldn’t even protest if she wanted to suck me dry.
Alright, maybe that isn’t the best example. I’m pretty sure most guys wouldn’t complain about that. Still, you know what I mean.
I see a flower shop on my left and wonder if they sell Venus Flytraps and Cacti. What would Lily and her prickly roommate do if I picked a “flower” out for each of them? Avery would probably skewer me with a glare while Lily smiled sweetly and plotted revenge.
Yeah, I knew how it was. Just ‘cause she could call a spade a spade didn’t mean I could, too. But apparently I’m a glutton for punishment because once the thought got in my head I couldn’t get it out, so I pull over and took a little detour.
The florist’s name is Flora and she’s got red hair brighter than an Anthurium. When she learns I’m buying for that special someone, she suggests roses.
“Actually, I was thinking about something that really fit her personality.”
She suggests daisies.
“Something a little more specific.”
Orchids.
Shit. “I’d like the Venus Flytrap.”
Flora scrunches up her nose. “What?”
I wet my lips. A thousand thoughts flooded my mind, but sometimes it’s best not to explain. “And throw in a cactus for her roommate.”
“Oh my gosh, this is for Lily!” Flora squealed.
“Yeah, it is.”
Suddenly, her smile falls. “Then…you’re that creepy guy who’s been trying to get her to send naked pictures of herself over the Internet.”
Damnit, did everyone in town know? “How much is it gonna be?”
She shakes her head slowly back and forth.
“Alright, alright. I get it.” I pull out a hundred. “Keep the change.”
I get in my car, secure the plants, and start my engine. I have a cold shower waiting for me back at the hotel room. But as I get ready to pull out, I see something I really should’ve noticed a long time ago.
There’s a black car in the parking lot across the street with Tennessee plates. It’s the first time I’d seen out of state plates since I rolled into this town.
Shit.
I grab the wheel. I have to get back to Lily.
I glance out my side view mirror as I do a very illegal U-turn just in time to see Mr. Tennessee plates pull out into the road behind me. Gritting my teeth, I focus on the road.
I don’t know what the hell he had planned or what the hell he was thinking, but I wasn’t giving up Lily without a fight. If she left me, it was gonna be on her terms and because I was a dumbass. Not because she’d been paid off.
No, it wasn’t the first time this had happened. Suzette had randomly stopped answering my calls. Chloe left the country. Mia—well, Mia told me my dick was too big, which I’d found strange since she kept a 12-inch dildo under her pillow (believe me, it had been a weird night when I’d woken up with a start and seen that staring back at me.)
Still
, I hadn’t cared too much. They were just girls I’d happened to fuck for more than a week which, in my father’s view, apparently meant I was ready to pop the question. When I’d found out they were bought off, I’d just laughed.
But this was different. Lily was…I struggle to swallow as my grip on the wheel tightens.
She was my future.
I mean, it’s not like she would really accept the money and sign an NDA. I meant too much to her.
Right?
Chapter 10
Lily
“Three million dollars, Miss Warren.”
Oh God. “This isn’t about the money, Mr. Keller.”
He shakes his head. I can’t tell if it’s admiration or pure loathing I see in the smile he’s giving me.
“Lily, Lily, Lily.” He whispers my name like a time bomb ticking down as his lips curl up even further, exposing more freakishly white teeth.
Alright, that’s a look of pure loathing. I suddenly wish I was facing off the dragon lady from breakfast in a bear pit.
“You’re not like the others,” he tells me.
Others?
“Five thousand. Fifteen thousand. One broke a hundred grand. But you…you drive a hard bargain.” His nostrils flare. “You know your worth.”
I don’t know what to call this. Ten thousand dollars to never see his son again? Was the man insane? I smiled and nodded, wondering if he was going to pull a wad of pink make-believe money out of his pocket, throw it up in the air, and laugh maniacally as it rained down around us.
But then, I started to remember things. The sparkler. How lonely Ian’s eyes had been when he paid for our $120 breakfast. It was almost like he hated money.
The man in front of me was the most polished thing I’d ever seen outside of a magazine. He had that kind of cool elegance that I believed could only be captured on camera.
I shut my eyes, shaking. It’s like I can feel every cell in my heart cracking. How would it feel knowing you’ve been abandoned by the one you love for cold, hard cash? He must hate it. He must feel so alone. So…unloved.
