My photos sync from my phone to my laptop as soon as the Wi-Fi makes connection. The screen flashes with blurred and wiggly shots of Aaron in various places around the home where I grew up. Always moving, his chin shiny with drool, smooth, light brown skin with dimples in his cheeks, big brown eyes, brown, tight curls framing his face. Such a cute kid.
I click to a frame of Eve sitting on the edge of the grape-smashing barrel. I took this just after I tongue fucked her. The look on her face is heavenly. So relaxed and beautiful, her lips slightly parted and her eyes devouring mine, ready for more. So greedy. My girl is always ready for more.
My phone, sitting beside my laptop, lights up with a text from Will Santon.
— He was at Hotel K. No sight of Eve, though. —
—She’s at home. I’ll increase security on her. Thanks.—
Fucking hell. That dickhead Matthew is getting closer. The timing of this business trip couldn’t be worse. I trust that Ricardo and his crew have done their jobs and will keep her safe, but I have to tell her what’s going on.
******
The main door of the building buzzes and unlocks. I can’t get to her fast enough. Two steps at a time up the stairs and a slight jog to her door still seems to take forever. Her surprised look when she opens the door doesn’t stop me from rushing her body. I bend down slightly to her level, place my hands at her waist, and kiss her. Her breath hitches when I take her ass and squeeze. She smells so sweet and tastes even better.
“God, I missed you.”
“Mmm. I missed you.”
“Aaron?” I ask before I take her lips again. So beautiful, so round, so lush.
“Napping,” she says between kisses.
Her lips, her face, her body. I need all of it. “My face, your pussy. Now.”
Our tongues and limbs twist and explore as we stumble to the kitchen. I lift her by the hips until she’s seated on the counter.
“Open.” I push her knees apart so I can run my palms along the insides of her thighs.
Her eyes flutter closed when I trace the edge of her panties with my thumbs. With my fingers splayed across her hips, I focus both thumbs on the soft cotton, rubbing along her seam until she opens her eyes to watch. Moving the material aside, I find the slick skin beneath.
Fuck. It’s only been a few days, but I need her now. I need to taste her right now.
My arms and legs shake with anticipation and adrenaline while I lift her dress off and pull her panties down over her feet. I stick the finger that was just in her pussy into her mouth and push down gently on her tongue. She looks at me, wide eyed and questioning, but when I take one of her toes in my mouth and suck hard, she gasps and sucks just as hard on my finger. I let go of her toe with a popping sound, and she does the same with my finger.
“Bring your hips forward,” I command.
She moves so fucking fast we almost bump heads. She looks at me through her lashes, eyes glued to mine. I lick her clit then her cunt. One finger in brings a gasp from her mouth. Another lick and two fingers. I press my face hard against her and hold her hips against me so I can push my mouth into her harder. Her face is stuck in an expression of erotic worry, eyebrows furrowed, mouth forming an O, but not one sound escapes her. I’m pretty sure she can’t breathe. She looks stunned by the stimulation, so I let up a little and pinch a nipple. She squeaks and tries to take a breath, her audible panting getting louder. I continue this assault on her senses until she says something that I wouldn’t fucking believe if I hadn’t heard it with my own two ears.
“Please, Sam. Can I come?”
I take my mouth away from her and stare at the beautiful creature before me for a moment. She’s asking permission. She’s submitting to me.
I’m stunned for a moment before I ask, “Are you mine?”
“Yes.”
“Yes, what?” I plunge another finger inside her. And another. That makes four.
“Yes,” she pants. “Oh, fuck yes, I’m yours. Now can I come?”
“Yeah, baby. Come all over my face.”
When I shift my angle, curl my fingers upward, and take her clit between my teeth, I feel a twitch of her hips before the rest of her body jerks and trembles in a wave of pleasure. Her hot juices flood my mouth, and I lap them up greedily until her orgasm slowly fades.
With one arm under her knees and the other around her back, I carry her to the bedroom. I drop her onto her bed and pepper her body with kisses and nips until she’s breathless again.
“Sam, I just had an orgasm a minute ago. And here I come again, she pants. “How do you do that to me?”
“I fucking love you, that’s how.”
“Oh my God. I love you too.” She pulls my shirt over my head and unzips my pants. “Are we saying this now?”
“Yeah, we’re saying this now.” Hovering over her, I kiss her cheek. “We just did.”
“Okay, but I need this.” She reaches into my underwear and grabs my dick so hard I can barely breathe.
“Eve…”
“Sam.”
“It’s all yours.” I gasp.
“What should I do? Tell me what to do.” She strokes me. “And I want a safe word.”
I freeze. What the fuck? “Well, aren't you just full of surprises today?”
“I missed you. I want it your way.” She pulls on my ass, trying to spear my cock into her. “I’ve been thinking about it.”
I pull back to sit on my heels and search her eyes. They’re clear as a bell. She stares into mine. She wants this.
I’m shocked, but all it takes is one rise and fall of her chest, moving her tits just the right way, and I’m back. “Turn over. Hands on the headboard. We fuck when I say. You come when I say. You won’t need a safe word today, just say no if it gets to be too much. You understand?”
“I understand.”
When she does what I ask, I pull on her hips so her ass is lined up perfectly with my cock, her face on the bed in front of her. In one movement, I slide into her. She reaches between us to touch where we connect.
“Hands on the headboard,” I say and smack her ass. I push so hard and fast into her, it propels her head into the headboard, so she pushes back. I massage her puckered little asshole with my thumb. “I’ll take this next.” I press my thumb in until I feel resistance.
“Oh, God,” she pants.
I pull out of her body and she groans. She’s completely at my mercy right now, so I move her until she’s flat on her back and I’m kneeling over her shoulders. She’s so pliable right now. I think she’s shocked into submission, as they say, and I want to show her what “my way” means.
The next thing that happens blows my fucking mind. She opens her mouth, puts her hands on the headboard, and closes her eyes.
She’s a natural.
“Good girl. Now suck.”
She takes all of me. Every damn inch. I brace myself on the wall and go to town. I fuck her mouth, thrusting my hips because I can. I reach back and slap her cunt because I can.
She’s quiet.
“Hey,” I say and pull out of her mouth. “Look at me. Thank you, I love this. Are you okay?”
She nods and opens her mouth again. Her eyes are glossy and needy. She loves this.
Fuck.
I didn’t expect this at all. She gags as she deepthroats my dick, and it doesn’t take long for me to shoot my load down her throat. And yes, she swallows every drop.
Aaron lets us play for twenty more minutes. Twenty whole minutes of good hard fucking before he wakes up just at the end of our shower.
We both have places to be today. I’ve been so preoccupied with her body, I forgot the real reason I came here straight from the airport.
“I need to tell you something.”
“I have to get ready for class. Can it wait?” she asks.
“No.”
She looks up from her laptop, her face contorted with concern. “What’s the matter?”
My phone lights up. It’s sitting next t
o her. Facing her. The preview pane says, “Eve’s place is all clear.”
She picks up my phone and hands it to me, raising her eyebrows. “Is it about this?”
My heart sinks. I should have told her sooner. “Yes. I’m sorry.” I sigh. “Long story short, Matthew’s in town. He threatened me when you were in Minnesota, so I hired a PI. Somehow he found out where I work and called me there the night before you came home.”
“Probably from his mom’s caller ID.”
“Probably. So, he’s been spotted lurking around Hotel K. Luckily while you weren’t there.”
“He’s supposed to be in treatment.” She fidgets with her pen and looks over at Aaron in his high chair.
“It’s gonna be okay. I should have told you sooner, but…” I look at her. She looks nervous. “I take care of what’s mine.” I reach for her hand, but she pulls away. “That includes keeping you safe, so I hired a private investigator and a guard has been following you.”
“Someone has been following me? What the… heck, Sam?”
I know she wants to swear. So do I, but Aaron is sitting right there.
“My friend has been following you. I’ve known Ricardo my whole life.” I shake my head. “Please trust me. I know you can handle these things yourself, but I love you and I don’t take threats lightly.”
She watches me for a long time. Eventually, she moves her gaze to Aaron, then me again. “I trust you. I’m not happy you kept this from me, but I trust you. What did Matthew say to you?”
“To stay away from you.”
She rolls her eyes and stands. “Okay, this is freaking me out. I don’t know what to do. I have to go.”
“You don’t have to do anything. Let me handle it. What if Ricardo stays with you? He’ll remain inconspicuous.”
She paces. “I don’t know. I guess. What did the text mean?” She points at my phone.
“Remember how you thought there was a camera or something outside your window? Well, there was one, and now it’s gone. Although I’d like to have him check inside as well.”
She takes a shaky breath, her eyes haunted with fear. “Oh no. I was right? Okay, yeah, he can check inside.” She nods. “Sam, I’m so scared. I was hoping this was over.”
“Me too, but it’ll be all right. I’ll take care of it. I love you,” I say as I stand, reaching for her.
“I love you too. Hug me please.”
I pull her into an embrace.
Aaron coos, “Mama” from his high chair and raises his hands.
She picks him up and holds him between us. Eve and I surround her baby, and it feels so right. Like I told my sister, this is now my family. I won’t let them go, and I’ll do anything to keep them safe.
Chapter 12
Eve
My hand is shaking so badly, I’m barely able to knock on Mia’s door. She swings the door open and stills when she sees my face. Aaron toddles in and makes himself at home, pulling on her Tupperware drawer. I trip on her rug on my way in, so Mia takes my elbow and guides me to a chair at the kitchen table.
“Matthew,” I say as I sit down.
“Where?”
“Here.” I take a deep breath. “Sam hired someone to follow me, and he saw him.”
She covers her mouth with her hands. “Oh my God, Sam is such an alpha male. Are you okay?”
“I know. I can’t believe he did that, but Matthew threatened him, the mother… trucker.”
Mia holds back a smile. “What a dumb… ankle.” She snickers with me. “This no swearing thing is so hard!”
“I know! Geez, how do you do that? I was a wreck walking the ten steps over here, and exactly five seconds later, I’m laughing.” I shake my head and sigh. “Anyway, the thing is, Sam has known for a while and he didn’t tell me.” I peel my cuticle away from my fingernail. I haven’t done that for weeks.
“That’s not cool.” She taps her fingers on the table. “You totally forgave him though, didn’t you?”
“Yeah, it took me all of five minutes. I can’t resist him, no matter how hard I try.”
“Right? He’s dreamy and sorta broodish, that’s why.”
“Except that he’s not the typical broodish. He won’t steamroll anyone into anything, but he’s fiercely loyal and protective.” I chuckle when I spot Aaron running with a small plastic bowl on his head. Boys.
“That’s the best kind. So, what are you going to do?” She grabs a bowl of grapes and pops one into her mouth before passing the bowl to me.
“I’m really worried. I think I kind of like the idea of letting him be fiercely loyal and protective. He’s got some kind of guard following me around and probably you too, when you have Aaron.” I bite a grape in half and slide the other half into Aaron’s mouth as he passes me on one of his loops around the apartment. “We said the love word, and now I want to let him in.”
“Oh, man. I really thought Matthew would finish treatment.” Mia slams her palms on the table. “Wait. Shut up. You did? You guys said it?”
“Yep. We love each other. And I know he loves Aaron too.” I’m pretty sure I’m blushing.
“I knew it! He said it right in the middle of the vineyard, didn’t he? God, it’s so perfect. I had that one pegged.” She actually reaches around and pats herself on the back.
“Eh, nope. Wrong again!” I shake my finger at her. “We said it last night at my place. Right in the middle of… you know.”
“Ahahahahaha.” She holds her belly from laughing so hard. “Oh my God, that’s the worst time to say it.”
“I Know! Under normal circumstances, I’d agree, but it was kinda hot.” I blush again.
“I’m totally telling Austin about this. We were just talking about it.”
“You were? In your first week of dating?” I catch Aaron’s hand on his next pass through the kitchen and plop him onto my lap.
He grabs the bowl of grapes and tips it upside down, which cracks him right up.
“Like I told you, it’s insta-love. Or insta-lust or whatever. We’re talking about all of it. You know, to get it out of the way.” She shrugs.
“You two are a match made in heaven.” I kiss the top of Aaron’s head and squeeze him before I stand, set him down, and walk to the door. “Take good care of my baby, like you always do.”
“Of course I will.” She snaps him up into her lap. “Sounds like you’ve got the same kinda thing with Sam.”
“Maybe not as insta, but the love part for sure. And definitely the lust part.” I wink and let myself out into the hallway, closing the door behind me.
******
Business is slow at the Hotel K tonight, so between tables, I check my phone incessantly. I’m worried about Aaron. I’m worried about Sam. I’m worried about everything all over again. Matthew could come here at any moment. He could be at my apartment. Or Mia’s apartment. Or lurking in the bushes.
And I’m not just worried, I’m pissed. Why isn’t he in treatment? Why isn’t he doing what he’s supposed to do? The little fucker.
My apron vibrates with a new text coming in. It’s from Sam. It’s a picture of a Latino man with dark hair and dark eyes, smiling and lifting the sleeve of his T-shirt to show the tattoo on his arm.
— So you know what Ricardo looks like. —
—Thanks.—
I haven’t seen him yet. Inconspicuous for sure. I wonder how he and Sam became friends. He looks more rugged, like more of a bad boy, whereas Sam is more straight-laced. I’m always interested in how people connect.
The rest of my shift goes smoothly, and I decide to call Matthew’s mom, Renee, in the morning. He can’t get away with this. If he keeps this going at this rate, he won’t see his son anytime soon. Or maybe ever. Sam might have stepped in to help me, but I’ve got plans of my own.
Chapter 13
Sam
Standing next to Debbie at the bar, reviewing an inventory list, I watch Monica stumble around between her tables, trying to act poised as she attempts to service her custom
ers, but it’s obviously not going well.
“What’s with her?” I ask.
“She and Jonny broke up again.”
“I thought they made up.”
“The litigation with Jessica is tomorrow. His past is ugly. He’s trying to protect Monica from it, I guess.” Debbie shrugs.
“Margie will handle it. Then he’ll be good to go with Monica. I gotta believe that.” I tap my pencil on the wood of the bar.
“You and me both.”
I go back to comparing a printed spreadsheet with the one on the screen of my laptop, and I hear the familiar chime of a new email. As promised, it’s from Will Santon, so I click it and there’s a picture labeled “Matthew.” Dark messy hair, cargo shorts, sandals. And then I see it. I see the similarity.
You’ve got to be kidding me.
It’s the same guy from the security video. Matthew’s the one who’s been disrupting my business.
I nudge Debbie’s elbow to get her attention and pull up the security video clip we saved yesterday. “Check it out.”
“Yeah, I’ve seen it.” She looks at me as if I’ve lost my marbles.
“No, look.” I click over to the email where the picture of Matthew is still on the screen.
“Oh, would you look at that.” She looks back at me. “Who is he?”
“Eve’s ex. He’s our guy. He thinks he’s got something to say about me and Eve, so I’m having him followed.”
Debbie laughs. “And he’s coming here to tell you? We’ll see how that goes for him.”
I stare at the figure on the screen. “Exactly.”
Chapter 14
Eve
“Renee?” I say before she even finishes the word hello.
“Oh, hi, Eve! So nice to hear fr—”
“When was the last time you heard from Matthew?”
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