Cautious (Sequel to Disastrous)

by Montes, E. L.

  Fuck. That was the reason why Mia wanted to drink. It wasn’t like her to lose control unless something was bothering her. Why didn’t I realize that earlier?

  Shrugging, I patted his shoulder, “She’s been like that for a few days. Personal issues she’s dealing with. Don’t take it personally. Thank you for coming.” I played it off. He nodded, and I gave his shoulder a tight squeeze when I caught sight of my mother. Curious, I excused myself from Lou and made my way toward her.

  “Mom, are you okay?” I asked as I reached her.

  She blinked a few times, let out a deep breath, and then glanced up at me. “Oh yes, baby, I’m fine. You seem drunk.” She smiled lightly as she reached out her hand and cupped my face. “I’m guessing you’re having a good time?”

  “Yes, thank you. It was great, but I’m going to call it a night.”

  Her brows bunched together, “Oh? It’s still so early, Marcus.”

  “I know. I’m sorry. Mia is upstairs. She drank a little more than usual and so have I.”

  She smiled with understanding and then nodded. I leaned down, squeezed my fragile mother in a tight hug, and thanked her one last time before heading up the stairs.

  While I was walking down the second floor hallway, Megan had exited my bedroom with her head lowered as she laughed to herself. When she looked up, she burst out laughing again at my questioning stare. “Oh my God, Marcus, she’s so drunk.” She patted my arm when we met in the middle.

  “How drunk?” I asked, concerned she may have been sick.

  “Let’s just say that she had something planned for you and she insisted she wanted to still go through with it. I had to help her get ready.”

  With a raised brow, I quickly glanced at the closed bedroom door and back at her. “Thanks, Megan.”

  She laughed again, shook her head, and headed back down the hall toward the stairs.

  I closed the door behind me as I entered my room. The lights were dim, candles burned all around, and soft music played in the background. My lips curled into a smile as my eyes scanned the room, but I couldn’t find her. I was slowly making my way further into the dark room when she stumbled out of the bathroom. My heart raced at the sight of how beautiful she was: her hair down in waves tossed over her shoulders and a short thigh-revealing red silk robe wrapped around the curves of her body. She stood in black heels that caused her to seem taller.

  Mia let out a barely noticeable smile as she slowly and seductively made her way toward me. In the few steps it took for her to reach me, my heart pounded with each one. I couldn’t get enough of her. Every single aspect of her drove me insane with want, desire, love, and so much more.

  She slightly tripped into me and let out a light snicker as she tried to straighten herself. She didn’t say a word as she ran her hands under my shirt, taking it with her as she went up. I lifted my arms as she pulled it over my head. She held the fabric of my shirt on a finger, allowing it to dangle there for a few seconds before she tossed it over her shoulder. Mia kept her eyes locked with mine as she ran her finger across my bare skin, and then she leaned in and pressed her lips along my chest.

  The warm touch of her lips shot an electrifying current through me. Mia pulled back and continued to stare at me as her finger slowly made its way down, past my abs, down my torso, plunging toward the rim of my jeans. She teased and twirled her finger along my lower abdomen, causing a tingling sensation in my groin. She smiled as she took notice of the goose bumps that formed along my skin.

  Impatient, I leaned down to kiss her, but she shook her head as she waved a well-manicured finger in my face. I couldn’t help the smile that crept along my lips from amusement. Mia glanced up through her long lashes. Her eyes were the most beautiful I’d ever seen: big emerald green eyes, with long curled brown lashes. “Not yet.” She whispered through luscious red lips.

  She began to unbuckle my belt and jeans. “I want to make love to you, Marcus.” She lowered herself, bending and bringing my pants down with her. I slid out of my boots and removed my jeans completely. As she stood straight again before me, she wrapped her hands around my neck. “Will you make love to me?” She asked her eyes back on mine, though they seemed to sadden for a mere second. Confused, I framed her face with my hands.

  “What’s wrong?” I asked, and then it dawned on me. “I saw Lou downstairs. I know you ran into him. Do you want to talk?”

  Her eyes snapped up. “No, I don’t want to talk about him.” Her face softened. “I want to forget about it.” She brought her hands down and pressed them along my chest and began moving me forward. I took a few steps back with every step she took. She stumbled a few times, so I placed my hands on her elbows to keep her balanced, until the back of my legs touched the bench in front of my bed. I took a seat on top of it. Mia ran her fingers through my hair. With her eyes closed, she stumbled out of her heels. I gripped her waist as she slightly swayed.

  “I’m supposed to give you a striptease.” She slightly pouted.

  I bit back a laugh. “Says who?”

  She shrugged. “That was the plan for tonight.” She stated as she leaned into my lap and straddled me. Wrapping her arms around my neck, she pressed her forehead down to mine. “But all I want is for you to pull me in close to you, kiss me, love me, and hold me.” She brought a hand around and grabbed my face, lifting my chin, our lips mere inches away. “It’s just you and I, always. When you touch me, there’s no one else in this world. No one. It’s just us.” I knew that she was drunk, but Mia’s declaration tugged at my chest. I loved that woman more than anything, and to hear that she felt the same way about me triggered an emotion stronger than I’d ever felt for her, if that was even possible.

  Her eyes flashed toward my mouth. She puckered her lips and lightly kissed me. “Make love to me, Marcus. Make me forget where we are.” She whispered against my lips. I groaned at her request and opened my mouth, allowing her access as she drove her tongue right in. I savored every bit of her taste as she thrust her tongue deeper with a slight moan. I couldn’t help the growl that escaped at the scent of her perfume, the feel of the tug as she gripped into my hair, and the way her body molded into mine—as if we were meant for one another in every way possible.

  Breathless, she pulled away from the kiss. I tried to catch my breath as she stood in front of me and slowly pulled on the strings of her robe, allowing the thin fabric to fall on the floor, revealing the most perfect naked body. I stood to face her and looked down at what was mine. She was mine. Mia wasn’t afraid to let go. She wanted to be taken, to be possessed, to lose all control, and I did that for her.

  Mia shut her eyes as I ran my fingers up her arm, twirled them around her shoulder, and made my way toward her collarbone. Wrapping my hand around the back of her neck, I pulled her in and crushed my lips against hers. She weakened in my arms. Still kissing, we slowly made our way toward the edge of the bed; I guided her as she stepped back. Once we reached the bed, she tossed herself on top of the mattress.

  Admiring her once again, I slightly hovered over her as she leaned up, bringing her lips back to mine. Our tongues twirled and twisted into another passionate and scorching kiss. Then something came over her: Mia pushed me aside, forcing me to lie on my back. There was a burning desire in her eyes as she traced her tongue down my torso and toward my groin. She pulled my briefs off, and my lips slightly parted as she grabbed me and slowly jerked her hand up and down my length.

  Wetting her lips, she dragged her teeth along her bottom lip, and then she glanced up at me one last time. She then traced her tongue around the tip of my cock. Fuck. I tossed my head back as soon as she sucked and took me in her mouth. In consistent strokes, she continued to work her way up and down, topping it off with a flick of her tongue, and then sucked me in again. The pleasure was uncontrollable. “Fuck, Mia.” I gripped the back of her head and forced myself deeper in her mouth. She moaned and began jerking her head at a faster pace.

  “Mia, I’m ’bout to fuckin’ explode.
” She ignored me and continued with her strokes. I felt it coming, so I gripped her head with both hands and forced her down on me again and again. I throbbed inside her mouth, and she let out loud moans that forced the pressure to build in me. With each glide up and down my cock, she tightened her grip around me again and again until I couldn’t take it anymore.

  Slamming my head back into the mattress, I groaned as I released the building pressure. After a few seconds, Mia lifted her head and climbed her way on of top me. I tried to turn over so that I could exchange the favor, but she stopped me. “No, I want this to be for you.” Puzzled, I rose on my elbows but sank back down the moment she slid me into her. She caught my wrist and brought my hands to her breasts. I traced my fingers along her hardened nipples. Mia tossed her head back and began rotating her hips in slow motions.

  I’d never seen her like that. It was as if she wanted to get lost in herself, in us. It was also a fucking turn on. Leaning up, I took her breast in my mouth and sucked on her nipple. Mia gasped as she picked up pace, wrapped her arms around my shoulders, and lifted herself, tightening her walls around my cock and slamming back down. Fuck. She continued doing it over and over again, until her eyes rolled with pleasure. She slammed her mouth into mine and sucked on my tongue.

  Not able to take it anymore, I needed to be in control. I rolled us over so that I was on top and pounded my hips into hers. “Oh, God.” She cried out and continued to whimper as I kept pounding into her. Her mouth opened in anticipation as she began to pant heavily. “Marcus.” She called out my name as she dug her nails into my shoulders. Her nipples peaked with desire, and I sucked one into my mouth again, twirling my tongue around, tugging with my teeth. Her body arched into mine. She cried my name out again and it made me insane. I drove my hips into hers profusely, until neither of us could take it. Before I knew it, her body convulsed beneath me. I tightened my grip on her hips and jerked my hips into hers a few more times until I released hard and long for the second time.

  Breathless, I sank on top of her as I left kisses along her lips. With worn-out eyes, Mia smiled and rolled her head side to side in pleasure. I adjusted us so that she was lying beside me under my arm. We lay in silence as our breathing and heartbeats steadied. I traced my fingers up and down Mia’s arm, and before I knew it, she was sound asleep.

  ***

  I abruptly awoke from a dream. Sitting up, I tried to collect my thoughts. I couldn’t remember the damn dream, yet I woke with my heart racing and my skin beaded in sweat. Frustrated, I stood from my bed and headed toward the bathroom. I rinsed my face with cold water and took a quick glance in the mirror. I couldn’t help the uneasiness I felt from the mysterious forgotten dream. I shook it from my head and decided to grab a water bottle from the fridge.

  As I entered the kitchen, I froze when I saw my mother at the table, her head slouched as she sniffed and whispered into the phone. “I told you no. You can’t do this to me. You need to leave it alone. If either of my boys find out . . .” She shook her head as she sniffed a few more times. I stepped in closer and she looked up. Her eyes widened. She didn’t say another word. Instead, she ended the call, hanging up on whoever was on the other line.

  “What was that about?” I asked sternly.

  Swallowing a lump from her throat, she rose from the chair. “Marcus, what are you doing up?”

  Ignoring her, I continued to question her. “Who was that on the phone?”

  “No one. Are you hungry? I can make you something to eat.”

  “Are you going to pretend I didn’t just walk in on your conversation?” She pressed her lips together and then headed toward the fridge.

  “I can warm you up some leftovers or make you a sandwich. Which do you prefer?” She pulled out containers from the fridge. “I hope you don’t mind if I sleep over. The guests left a couple of hours ago, and I was straightening things up so you wouldn’t wake up to a mess.”

  “God damn it, Mom.” I spat out frustrated.

  She twirled around and gave me a cold stare. “You watch your mouth, Marcus. I’m still your mother.” She continued to stare at me until her expression softened. Letting out a heavy sigh, she leaned against the door of the fridge. “That conversation has nothing to do with you. I would appreciate it if you can respect my privacy.”

  “Interesting you say it has nothing to do with me, but whatever that conversation was about, it was about something you didn’t want either Jimmie or me to find out. Why is that?”

  Angry, her breathing became heavier. “Drop it, Marcus. End of discussion.”

  I gave a curt nod and turned to leave, not remembering the reason I entered the kitchen in the first place. Before exiting the door, I turned around and said, “I’ll drop it for now, but I will find out what that conversation was about.”

  Her nostrils flared as she breathed out. I turned to head back upstairs.

  CHAPTER TWELVE

  MIA

  As I sat in class, my mind drifted. It’d been a few days since Marcus’s surprise party, and since then, he’d been distant. I couldn’t put my finger on it. I thought we had shared a special moment. The next morning after the party, I woke to a note that said he had to run off. That was three days ago, and since then, we hadn’t seen each other. He’d sent me a quick reply to my text or was short over the phone. I couldn’t help but think I was responsible for whatever was troubling him. Although it kept pricking my mind, I pushed it aside and focused on the professor’s lecture in my Ethics class.

  As the class ended, I packed my laptop and textbook. I took a quick glance at my phone, but there was still nothing from Marcus. Sighing, I dialed my mother’s number and put the phone to my ear as I exited the room. “Hello.” She answered on the second ring.

  “Hi, Sara. Are we still meeting up for coffee?” I exited the building and walked down the cobblestone pavement.

  “Yes, I should be at the cafe shop in about ten minutes.”

  “See you soon.”

  As I entered the shop, I spotted an empty table by the far right corner. I made my way there and settled in by placing my laptop bag and textbook aside. Marcus tugged at my thoughts again, and I couldn’t help but reach for my phone. Screw the waiting around; if he didn’t call me, I’d call him. I needed to hear his voice, so I dialed his number.

  “Marcus DeLuca. Leave a message.” The greeting for his voicemail answered after the second ring. He ignored the call. My heart sank a little at that. What could have been so important that he cut my call short? Not wanting to think the worst, I assumed he must’ve been on a job and left it at that.

  A beep after his greeting sounded, and I left a message, “Hi, baby, I was just calling to check up on you. I hope you’re doing okay. I’m having coffee with my mother in a bit.” Sighing, I finished off saying, “I miss and love you. Call me tonight. Bye.” I tucked my phone in my pocket at the same moment my mother approached.

  “Hello, honey.” She reached in for a hug. With my arms wrapped around her, I felt a sense of comfort. I always did when she was near. Sara untangled herself from our embrace and sat in the chair across from me, smiling. “Let’s grab our lattes and then catch up.” I nodded and we both stood and headed toward the counter.

  After we ordered, we sat back in our chairs. “So how was Marcus’s surprise party? I’m sorry I couldn’t make it. I was needed at the office.” She shook her head, annoyed, as she took a bite of a blueberry muffin.

  “It was fine. I’m sorry you weren’t there, but I understand. It was fun. He enjoyed himself and he was surprised. It was a good night.”

  “Oh, I’m happy to hear that.” Brushing a strand of hair behind her ear, she leaned back in her chair as her expression softened. “What’s bothering you?” I looked up from my cup of latte with wide eyes. “Come on, Mia. Spill the beans. I think I know you well enough by now to realize when something is on your mind.”

  Damn it. Was I always that predictable? She was right. I had something on my mind and I couldn’t co
ncentrate. I let out a deep breath and caved in, telling her everything that I was feeling. I told her about how strange Marcus had been acting the past few days and about the message I had just left him. “I don’t know what’s going on with him. It’s frustrating.”

  Her expression filled with compassion, and I was grateful she didn’t think I was an over-possessive girlfriend. “Isn’t this week the anniversary of his father’s death?” I nodded in response. “Well, maybe this is his way of coping with it.”

  “Maybe. I just wish he let me in on things like that. I want to be there for him.”

  “And you will. He’ll come to you when he’s ready, honey. Men don’t like to be pressured into anything, especially when it comes to dealing with their feelings. He’ll come to you when he’s ready.

  She was right. I decided I should leave it alone. “You’re right, thank you.”

  “No problem, honey.” She reached for my hand and rubbed it as a way to comfort me. “It’ll be fine. Hey, I’m going this weekend to visit my parents in Philly. You should come. Megan and Jeremy are tagging along. And your grandparents are dying to see you.”

  Philadelphia? My grandparents? Was I really ready for that?

  “I’m not sure. Can I get back to you on that?”

  “Of course, we’re driving there. It was Megan’s idea. She thought a five-hour road trip would be fun. Oh, that girl . . .” She rolled her eyes. “I’m not sure what to do with her sometimes.” I laughed at that comment. Megan could be a bit over the top.

  We finished our lattes, leaned in for a hug, and said our good-byes. She insisted on driving me home, but I wanted to walk to clear my head a bit.

  During the entire walk, of course, my mind drifted toward Marcus and the upcoming anniversary of his father’s death. Even after fifteen years, I was sure it wasn’t easier. I knew how Marcus must feel. I lost my father when I was only fourteen years old. I missed him every day. He had made such a huge impact in my life. I wondered at times, if my father were alive, what his opinion would’ve been of Marcus. My thoughts were intruded upon by the sound my phone ringing. Thinking it may have been him, I quickly picked it up without looking at the screen. “Hello?”