Smoke and Mirrors: (Fire and Fury Book Two)

by Avery Kingston

  “You look hot as fuck with that hat on. Damn,” Scott whispered as he tugged at his belt underneath her. He lifted his bottom, shimmying down his pants, exposing himself underneath her. Pulling her panties to the side, she lifted her ass, lowered herself onto his cock, and rode him. Slow, methodical, drawing out each motion.

  “Is that how you’d ride a bull?” Scott teased.

  “Oh, baby, I’m just warming up,” she breathed, her hips rocking against him. She pushed his shirt upward, urging him to remove it so she could feel his skin. His strong hands gripped her waist, pulling her into him.

  She pawed at his body. Her fingers relayed ever ripple of muscle, each chiseled angle of him to her brain. She could see every inch of him perfectly in her mind.

  “You ready for a ride, cowboy?” Tori asked as she lifted off his cock. She repositioned her feet at either side of his torso, then lowered herself slowly into a squat back onto his dick.

  “Holy hell, that’s deep,” he gasped and jerked underneath her. “Can you handle that?”

  No kidding. He was a lot to take.

  “You just shut up and enjoy the ride.” Tori ran her hand up his naked chest and dug her palms into his torso for leverage as she rode his cock.

  Finally, she rolled her finger over her clit, pleasuring herself. It didn’t take long to push her over the edge. Having him that deep inside her felt so fucking good she could hardly take it. Waves rolled over her as she screamed his name so loud she was certain they could hear it all the way back at the house. Sweat formed on her body as she continued to give him everything that she had.

  “Oh god, baby,” Scott yelled, and she knew he was close. Not yet though, she wasn’t done with him. She pulled off him for a moment, just to catch her breath.

  “Take it all off.” She motioned up and down. “Then get me that bottle.”

  “You got it.”

  She pulled off her dress—exposing herself to him under the night sky. Scott placed the bottle in her hand and she took another swig. A click came from his phone.

  “Scott Harris, are you taking my picture?”

  “Hell yeah, I’m taking your picture. You naked under the moonlight with nothing but a pair of boots on and that hat. You’re hot as hell.”

  She threw her head back and let out a throaty chuckle, then hopped back on top of him in reverse, grabbing onto his legs for leverage. In one hand, she held his calf and in the other she gripped onto the cold carbon metal of his prosthetic as she strapped in for the ride.

  “Reverse cowgirl; oh hell yes.” His large hands gripped her ass as she rocked back and forth. She tugged on him for more leverage, pressing into him with all her might. Right as he spilled everything in her, as his body shook and quivered underneath her, she heard a popping noise and his leg came off into her hand.

  “Oh shit.” Tori caught her breath and rolled over onto the blanket clutching his leg to her chest, in a fit of laughter. “I guess I yanked a little too hard.”

  “Oops...” He laughed right along with her. They sat there giggling for several moments. “God, Tori, look at you,” he breathed after he caught his air.

  “Eh?” She cocked her head to the side.

  “Just, damn,” he sighed. “If you could see what I see right now. You naked, grinning, and clutching my leg like it’s a fucking teddy bear you just won at the carnival.”

  “Oh, sorry.” Tori bit her lip and held it out.

  “You’re perfect. You know that?” He rustled next to her, fiddling with his prosthetic.

  Tori made a sour face, curling her naked legs up against her chest. “I’m so not perfect.” She frowned and tucked her chin to her knees. “I’m not the girl next door. I’m not sweet, not innocent or meek. I’m too bold, loud and crass. I’m not…” She turned her head away from him.

  He tilted her chin toward him. “Tori, I know exactly who you are.”

  “You really don’t.” She grimaced and let out an awkward chuckle.

  “Come here.” Scott pulled her close to him, body to body. He felt so warm, so strong, so safe. “I know that you hate mushrooms, but like things cooked in mushroom sauce, and will pick out all the mushrooms.”

  “It’s a—”

  “It’s a texture thing. Whatever. You think they’re slimy. You will only eat shrimp if it’s the small ones, the big ones weird you out. You hate mornings, and black coffee; you’d rather slit your wrist than drink it without creamer. You like to sleep with the covers tucked under your feet and you get mad every time I untuck them. I know when you watch a horror movie that you cover your ears when you get to the scary part—which makes no sense.”

  “I don’t do that anymore. I’d miss the movie.” Tori giggled.

  “Speaking of scary movies, you’ll watch grotesque horror flicks unless it has ghosts or demons. You have a cross on your back, but claim to not be religious. You’re scared of snakes, frogs, and for some strange reason turtles.”

  “And birds. Birds are creepy.”

  “Ah yes, I forgot about birds.” Scott laughed. “Remember that day trip we took to Sandy Point several years ago?”

  “Yes! I was relaxing in the sun, minding my own business and you threw a bunch of bread right next to me which made the birds flock right toward me!”

  Scott’s laugh bellowed through the air. “You went running like you were getting chased by a pack of lions, tripped over the couple lying next to you, and face planted into the sand. It was so damn funny.”

  “That was mean,” Tori growled.

  Scott caught his breath. “You love dogs and apparently hate cats.”

  “I don’t hate cats!” Tori protested. “I’m allergic!”

  “Ok, you’re allergic to cats.” He squeezed her tight. “You know every song that has ever been played and listen to every genre. You can dress up in a classy cocktail dress and rub elbows with DC’s elite, or you can put on a pair of boots and kick it in the country. You may be blind, but you have more vision than anyone I know. You’re a constant contradiction and I love it. You don’t fit into any mold, yet you fit me perfectly. Nobody, not a damn soul on this planet, could ever compare to you.”

  Tori said nothing, she just snuggled closer to him, kissing his hand draped over her.

  “Is it a clear night?” Tori asked. Out here in the dark country you could probably see every star in the sky.

  “It’s a full moon, not quite risen to its peak,” Scott whispered into her ear. “The stars fill the navy sky like someone took a fist full of glitter and tossed it up there.” He took her hand and pointed it toward the sky along with his. “There’s a shooting star right…” he trailed her finger down the path the falling star was taking, “there.”

  “You paint a lovely picture.” For someone who claimed to not be artistic, Scott had a beautiful way of describing things with words.

  Something inside her stirred, all the emotions that she buried deep swirled inside her stomach.

  “Ya know, for the first few months after I lost my sight, I had these wild visual hallucinations. The first time it happened, I thought maybe I was getting some vision back. But I quickly learned that when I reached out for a chair that wasn’t there, my mind was projecting an illusion. The wiring was all crossed and my brain was overcompensating for the lack of visual stimulation.”

  “Like phantom limb, but for the eyes?” Scott could understand this concept like nobody else ever had. Of course, he’d get it.

  “Yes, exactly! I thought I was going to lose my mind.”

  “Do you still get them?” His tone drooped in concern.

  “Not often,” Tori replied trying to ease his worry.

  The gaping hole in her heart seemed to shrink as she lay there in his strong embrace. Her pulse was calm and steady for the first time in days, and her fear about the questionable future they’d have seemingly vanished.

  “When I was little, my dad used to take me and Jane out to the country to watch the meteor showers. He drove deep into the woods o
n the darkest back roads that he could find. He’d walk us out into a clearing on a hill. Jane doesn’t remember the trips—she was too little. She cried the entire time because she was so scared of the dark, but not me. I just clung tight to my dad’s big, strong hand. I trusted him because I knew I was safe with him. I knew something amazing was coming.”

  Scott’s breath quickened next to her, letting Tori know she had a very captive audience of one.

  You can do this.

  She swallowed the lump building in her throat and handed Scott this part of her soul that she’d kept to herself. Maybe if she gave him this happy memory she could trust him with the bad ones.

  Baby steps.

  She inched forward.

  “I’d usually fall asleep as we waited, but Dad would nudge me when it began. It was so spectacular. I remember asking my dad what it was. He told me about Greek mythology and how the meteor shower is called The Perseids because these meteors appear to emanate from the constellation of Perseus.”

  “Perseus was the Greek hero who beheaded Medusa.”

  “Exactly.” Tori nodded—not surprised in the least that Scott knew that. “In ancient times, it was believed that shooting stars were considered a gift from the gods.” Tori let out a sigh. “A symbol that no matter how confusing your life has been, chaos or turmoil, the light from The Perseids will illuminate your path. It will lead you to a new direction when you need it most.”

  “Is that what he believed?” There was a slight crack in his voice. “Is that what you believe?”

  “I’m not even going there right now.” Tori laughed. She wasn’t saying this to start a philosophical debate on God and religion with him. “As I was saying, after he died, we obviously never made those trips anymore—until I was fourteen. I overheard something on the news about the meteor shower coming. So, I snuck out of the house and went down to the harbor. It was the farthest I could think to go at that age that I knew would be dark. I sat there all night, thinking, sometimes talking to my dad. I know it sounds nuts, but it made me feel better. Finally, about one in the morning it happened. It was breathtaking. I felt peace for the first time in a long time, and I felt like it was my dad lighting my way. I kept going every year. When the realization hit me that I wouldn’t be able to go ever again, it was that moment that reality hit me. I mean, I knew it logically, but it hadn’t truly sunk in yet. I had a little meltdown.”

  That was an understatement. She remembered how they had to call Jane to come up to Baltimore because she wouldn’t come out of her room. They had feared she’d do something drastic. She wanted to spare Scott those details for now. “I felt like I was losing the last piece of him that I had.”

  Scott squeezed her tightly and kissed her naked shoulder. “God, baby, I’m so sorry.” His voice cracked.

  Tori fought tears, trying her best to quickly wipe them away. There was a reason she didn’t talk about all this: it forced her to confront the emotions, and if she let herself feel it, the dam would bust open. She’d worked very hard over the years, learning how to bury things deep. But now she had to learn how to let Scott in.

  “Anyhow, it was in that moment that I saw it, the meteor shower. This wasn’t like I was imagining it, and it was different than all the other hallucinations I had. There was no confusion, no panic, no fear of the dark, just complete and total peace.”

  Tori rolled over so she was facing him, her breasts touching his chest. She reached up and touched his face, letting her fingertips run across every contour and angle. His cheeks were moist—she’d even brought him to tears.

  “That’s how I feel right now.” She still longed to see him, that ache would never fully disappear. The grief would forever come and go in waves, but she wasn’t scared of it anymore. There was no more fear of what lie ahead. Tomorrow may be another story. Tomorrow all her fears would likely resurface, but in this perfect moment nothing mattered but their love—their future. “I don’t know what exactly lies ahead for us, but I’m just going to cling to your big, strong hand, because I have a feeling that something amazing is coming.”

  “Wakey wakey.”

  The bed sank next to Tori as Scott sat. “Ughhhh,” she groaned. “Just give me five more minutes,” she mumbled into the pillow.

  “I brought you some coffee.” He rubbed her shoulder. “Come on. This is your big day.”

  A knot formed in her stomach, a mix of dread and excitement. Today she was heading to San Antonio to paint.

  To paint.

  Something she thought she’d never try again. She’d gone to the sculpting class with Judith the day before and that was enough of a struggle for her. Painting would be even harder.

  He stroked her back. “I also have a present for you.”

  “A present?” She lifted her head off the pillow. “I’m listening.” She sat up and made a give-me motion for the coffee.

  He placed the mug in her hands.

  The aroma of the coffee instantly roused her. She breathed it in. “What kind of present?”

  “Just something I had shipped from DC to brighten your day.”

  “Well, now I’m intrigued.” She smirked and took a sip of the warm, sweet coffee. He always made it just as she liked it.

  Voices already echoed from the kitchen down the hall. She’d figured it was just some dumb stereotype that people who lived on a farm got up early. Nope. Like clockwork, the Harris family was up at six am every damn day.

  “I’m not sure if this house can handle two fiery redheads,” Wayne’s voice boomed.

  Two?

  There was a round of laughter and then a familiar high-pitched cackle reached her ears.

  “Is that…” She cocked her head to the side and placed her coffee on the night stand.

  Keith?

  “Thank you for the offer, but I’m staying in a hotel.” His voice echoed down the hall. “Your home is lovely though. I love the country feel; very Cracker Barrel cozy.”

  Most definitely Keith.

  Scott snorted and walked toward the door. “Oh, don’t let him fool you. I offered for him to stay here, but princess said he needed at least one-thousand thread count on his sheets,” he shouted down the hall.

  “You stay out of this, mister!” Keith hollered back.

  Tori shrieked, tumbling out of bed, taking the comforter with her. She scrambled up off the floor trying to untangle herself from the bedding.

  Scott laughed and pulled her up by her arm, simultaneously freeing her from the sheet. “Slow down there, crazy. You’re gonna break your neck.”

  Tori threw her arms around Scott. “Oh my god; I can’t believe you flew him out here!” She planted her hands to his cheeks and gave him a sloppy kiss.

  “Hey, I just picked him up from the airport. This was all his idea,” Scott said.

  Tori suspected that was a damn dirty lie.

  “You’re picking up a brush again today.” Keith’s footsteps came down the hall along with his voice. “No chance in hell I’m gonna miss this.”

  A moment later, Keith’s hand was on her shoulder before he threw his arms around her and they hugged, shrieking like two teenagers.

  Tori pulled back, her brow tightening. “You came here for the clubs, didn’t you?” Tori sighed. “You know I’m not into the club scene anymore.”

  “After a four-hour flight from DC at an ungodly hour, and a drive to San Antonio, I think you owe me at least one club.” Keith giggled. “I have a very specific one in mind.”

  “I’m telling you, Keith, they don’t have a gay, biker bar here.” Scott said with conviction.

  Tori laughed and fell into Keith’s embrace again. God, it felt so good to have a bit of home here. Now she wouldn’t be quite as nervous.

  “Stop acting like teenage girls,” Blaze’s teasing voice swooped past them.

  “Says the man who has shiny, golden hair that would make any teenage girl jealous,” Keith shot back. “Do one last little twirl for me, Thor.”

  Tori listened as
Blaze shuffled and snapped. Keith yelped and jolted next to her followed by a smack. Tori could only assume that Blaze had just slapped him on the ass.

  “Nice meeting you, Ginger.” Blaze chuckled as the bathroom door shut.

  “If you told me you had gorgeous, half-naked men running around this house I would’ve come sooner.” She could hear the grin in his voice. “Where did you dig that gem up?”

  Scott laughed, shouting loud enough for Blaze to hear. “Afghanistan—two thousand seven. Sometimes I think I should’ve left his ass in the sand.”

  “Oh my god, this thing is huge. I feel like I’m driving a semitruck,” Keith said as he merged Wayne’s F150 back out onto the highway. “That gas station was insane. It was the size of Target.”

  “Yeah; Buc-ee’s is like a whole thing here, I guess.” Tori waved her hand. “Ya know, everything is bigger in Texas.”

  Keith chuckled. “I hope that saying is true in the clubs as well.” Keith steadied his wrists on the wheel as he unwrapped some of the salt water taffy he’d purchased. He popped it in his mouth and smacked his jaw.

  “Hey; you better share.” Tori held her palm out. “Gimmie.”

  He plopped one in her hand.

  “So…” Keith began. “How’s the week been?”

  She frowned, popped the candy in her mouth, and chewed for some time, saying nothing.

  “That good, huh?”

  She swallowed. “Do you think that Scott and I are moving too fast?”

  Keith snorted. What a ridiculous statement. “Yeah. Ten years of dating. Way too fast there, Vic.”

  She slugged him in the shoulder. “Seriously. I mean we went from casual sex to practically married. There’s been no…in between. You know I had no idea he didn’t eat kiwi?”

  “Kiwi? You’re basing this all on fruit?”

  “Did you know he was serious with someone else? We ran into this girl…” she rambled on.

  Keith’s heart rapped heavily against his chest. Scott had told him the same story on the drive from the airport that morning:

  “We ran into an ex of mine,” he’d said. “Do you remember years ago when I ran into you with that blonde on my arm at the Smithsonian?”