Fighting Dirty

by Sidney Halston

  Everything neat and controlled. She should’ve been bored. She should’ve been anxious at his lack of speed. Instead, the way he looked at her, the way his hands skimmed her body, his breath close to her skin, the slowness of it—it was making her desperate for more. He lifted one of her legs, rubbed the sole of her foot, and then lightly trailed kisses along her leg and inner thigh. He repeated the move with the other leg, never touching the place she needed him to touch most. The process took forever! By the time he finished giving attention to her legs and carefully admiring all her tattoos, he straddled her thighs. His very hard cock twitched with need on her stomach. She couldn’t take her eyes off it, though he didn’t seem to care he was naked. On her. Hard. Pre-cum leaking onto her belly was a sure sign he needed to be touched as much as she did. Instead he placed his palms flat on her stomach and caressed upward to her breasts and her neck, down her shoulders, and along her arms. His warm, tanned skin over her overly sensitized body had her writhing underneath him.

  He took one hand in his and kissed each finger, then repeated the action with the other hand. He leaned forward, careful not to put too much weight on her, and placed her hands above her head. “Keep them there, okay?” His voice was a deep whisper. All she could do was nod, her heart pounding in her chest, and she had to squeeze her thighs together in need. Still straddling her thighs, he ran his palm up her torso through the valley between her breasts and to her neck, his thumb placing a little pressure on her pulse, which was beating wildly. It was possessive and dangerous, and for a split second she thought she’d panic.

  He must have sensed this, for he commanded gently, “Look at me.”

  She focused her eyes on his.

  “Would I ever hurt you, baby?” He shifted his thumb from her pulse by her throat to her cheek, the place she loved to be touched—his touch there a soothing affection she’d never known she wanted, but now she craved. She closed her eyes and pressed closer to his touch. His thumb moved across her lower lip and then he slipped it inside her mouth. She sucked it until he took it out and ran his wet thumb down her torso and right into her plain white cotton panties.

  “Oh!” she moaned when he barely touched her clit, just a feather-light graze by his finger. He pulled his thumb out and then put it in his mouth. Everything for the next half hour went more or less the same. He barely moved; his cock looked angry and needy against her stomach. But he was controlled and serious as he touched her lightly and sensually until she didn’t know whether she could handle it any longer. Every time she moved her arms, he stopped, and she would put them back up without any words needing to be spoken. The only sounds were their heartbeats and her whimpers. At some point, when every single nerve ending in her body was alight, he stood and slowly took off her panties, setting them aside with the rest of their neatly piled clothes. He returned to the bed and pushed her legs apart. “You ready for me?”

  She wanted to yell: Yes! But the words stuck deep in her throat and all she could do was nod. He guided his cock into her while spreading her thighs further apart. He was in so deep—so damn deep—she had to close her eyes and exhale. “Okay?” he asked, and she nodded because she was feeling way too many things, most of which were not physical. He moved in and out at a languorous speed that was making her crazy. Slowly he released her thighs and moved his body down, hands by her head, and hastened the speed. She hadn’t had sex this way—ever. Having a man on her this way made her anxious, and even though she knew he wouldn’t hurt her, she was beginning to feel nervous. He must’ve noticed it, though, and before she knew what was happening he had flipped her over so that she was on top. “Better?” The fact that he could read her so well after such a short time made her heart soar.

  “No.” She shook her head. “No, I want you to make love to me. I want to try your way.”

  His expression softened even further. He flipped them once again and put even more of his body on hers, while caressing her cheek just the way she liked it. He pumped into her while softly speaking sweet words. “You’re beautiful, Jamie Lynn. I’d never hurt you.” He gazed into her eyes. “You have all the control. Don’t be scared. Get everything out of your mind, sweetheart. I’m here with you.”

  He continued to move in her and touch her cheek and kiss her neck. “Never felt this way,” he said. “Never knew it could be this way.”

  When she didn’t think she could take it anymore, he moved one hand down, lifting her thigh higher and gripping her hip tightly, but the thumb on her cheek and his soft melodic words remained while her orgasm began to build and build, until she felt as if she was floating above her body. The pleasure was like nothing she’d ever experienced. She was too far away in a world where only ecstasy lived to take notice of the words he grunted and the warmth that she felt deep within her when he thrust into her one last time as he came.

  His body had a sheen of sweat and his breathing was erratic. Still inside her, he turned them around so that she lay flat on top of him. “Didn’t want to smother you, but I wasn’t ready to let go,” he admitted.

  Everything felt perfect. Sunshine and butterflies floated above her in this world where maybe the poor girl from the wrong side of the tracks would get a happily-ever-after. She felt as though she was in a bubble of euphoria that she never wanted to leave. He ran a finger caressingly up and down her spine and kissed her neck and shoulder.

  “You, Pretty Boy, give good missionary.”

  He chuckled into her skin. “It’s not the position, sweetheart, it’s us. We’re good together. Can’t you see it? Feel it?”

  She rested her chin on his chest and looked up at him, “I can. It’s pretty intense.”

  He smiled back and kissed her nose as he shifted to leave the bed. As soon as he pulled out, she felt the wetness run down her leg.

  “Enzo!” She sat up. “You didn’t use a condom.”

  He didn’t seem to process it immediately and just looked at her. Then he began to murmur something in Portuguese that didn’t help calm her nerves at all. She jumped off the bed, pushed him aside, and went to the bathroom to wash up. It had been great. Perfect, really. But not let’s-make-little-babies-together perfect.

  The bubble burst.

  Exploded was more like it.

  Chapter 14

  His mind was reeling.

  Shit! Shit! Shit!

  That had never happened before; even with his ex-wife, he’d worn condoms even after she assured him she was on the pill. Somewhere in the back of his mind, he always wondered if she would try to trap him even further into her web by getting herself pregnant. But with Jamie Lynn, he hadn’t even thought of it. He had wanted to press his body on top of hers so badly. Show her he was safe. That she was safe with him, that it had slipped his mind. Now he was freaking the hell out. Not the thought of having a baby with Jamie Lynn…well, that made him a bit anxious, naturally, but more because she was so wary as it was, that she’d surely use this to push him completely away.

  He knocked on the bathroom door before opening it to find her sitting on the edge of the tub, her head on her palms slightly rocking back and forth. When he got closer she looked at him, her eyes rimmed with tears.

  “Come here,” he said as he lifted her into his arms and carried her back to the room. “Let’s talk about this. I’m so sorry I didn’t—”

  “I’m a big girl. It was my responsibility too. It takes two and all that shit, right. Shoulda realized—”

  “Shh, baby. Calm down,” he said as he kissed her forehead. “Let’s get one thing out of the way. I’m clean. I get tested at the Academy.”

  “I’m clean too. I haven’t been with anyone in over a year and I got tested after that.”

  “Okay, that’s good,” he said as he caressed her hair. “Listen, if you’re pregnant you’re pregnant, okay? I’m here. We’ll deal. We’re not teenagers. We’re employed adults in a relationship. You told me you wanted kids and I did too. This may not be ideal, but it’s not going to break us.” He wasn’t sur
e what else to say. “Okay?”

  If there were ever words to soothe a fucked-up situation, those were it, she thought. “Yeah, okay.” She sucked in a breath to calm her nerves.

  After a few moments of silence, she murmured, “Enzo, that was amazing. If it weren’t for the scare we’re about to go through for the next few weeks, I’d say that it couldn’t have been better.”

  He pulled back so that she could see his face. He wanted to say that it was perfect even with the lack of condom, but instead he kissed her cheeks and nose and then brushed her hair until they both fell asleep.

  —

  The next morning, JL sat on the bathroom counter, her legs swinging, while she watched him shave. “I was wondering. Do you use a measuring tape to make sure the sideburns are perfectly even?” Other than those four days when he didn’t shave, she’d never seen him in the last year with a nick, a missed hair, a five o’clock shadow. This morning he was perfection with his parted thick black hair and perfectly smooth face.

  “I remember the first time I asked you out, you looked at my face and hair and called me stuffy and boring.”

  “I was stupid back then.”

  “That was less than a year ago.”

  “I’ve really matured since then,” she said with a wink.

  He lifted her off the vanity and slapped her butt. “Yes, I see how mature you are. Did I find a box of Oreos without the white cream on my nightstand? Must have been that other mature woman I’m dating.”

  “I’ll have you know, crazy neat freak, I had planned on cleaning that up before you woke up. I like the entire Oreo, but I had already eaten so many that I couldn’t fit one more cookie.” She patted her stomach. “And I was too tired to go throw away the cookie part. You weren’t meant to see that.”

  “See it?” He guffawed. “I felt them! I had cookies in the crack of my ass when I woke up.”

  “No eating cookies in bed—noted.” She slapped his ass this time.

  “And pick up your clothes from the floor,” he yelled playfully.

  “You’re too neat.”

  “You’re too messy,” he retorted as he wrapped his arms around her waist. “Doesn’t actually bother me, though. It feels good to know you’re here.”

  “So messy is okay.”

  “Yeah, but not cookies in bed.”

  She laughed. “I’m all about compromise, sugar.”

  “Glad to see you more like yourself,” he said. “Are we okay?”

  “There’s nothing we can do until we know whether I’m pregnant or not. No sense in freaking out just yet, right? So, yeah, we’re cool.”

  “I’m glad. I wasn’t sure where your head would be at this morning.” He kissed her cheek. “By the way, I have a thing to go to on Saturday night. A business thing,” he said as he buttoned his crisp white shirt. “It’s a gala. Black tie. Boring.”

  “Okay.” She sat up on the bed.

  “You want to go with me? I have to make an appearance. Do you have enough time to find a formal dress?” He knew that he probably shouldn’t be inviting her because the topic of the Design District could possibly come up. But he didn’t want to go without her. He didn’t want to lie to her anymore. Today, in the office, he’d resolve this problem once and for all. Once it was resolved, he’d explain things to her, and it wouldn’t really be a thing because it was resolved. Right?

  “Uh, yeah. Sounds fun.” She pulled the sheets higher. “How fancy are we talking here? Fancy-fancy or fancy-shmancy?”

  “Which is most fancy?”

  “The latter.”

  “Then the latter.” He pulled out his wallet and took out a black credit card. “For the dress.”

  Her jaw fell open, and she crossed her arms indignantly.

  “You’re not going to take this, are you?”

  She grunted in response.

  “It’s my fancy party and you are doing me a huge favor by coming with me. Please, take it. Indulge me.”

  She grunted again. Being the smart man that he was, he put the card back in his wallet and then the wallet back in his pocket. He smiled, kissed her cheek, and left.

  —

  After lying around in the bed for the better part of the morning, JL got up, showered, and dressed. She made an attempt to make his bed, but she knew he was just going to make it again later. He wasn’t an asshole about it, which she appreciated, and she was trying to do it the best she could, but the man was obsessive about cleanliness and neatness. She stepped back and looked at the bed. Good enough, she thought.

  Her phone rang in her purse, and after empting the contents on the floor in order to find it, she saw it was her mother, who’d been calling her nonstop for days. She hadn’t wanted to take it with Enzo around. But since she was alone…

  “Hello, Mama.”

  “JL. Glad you answered, honey.”

  Honey? “What’s up, Mama?”

  “I, uh…I wanted to see if you wanted to have lunch with me.” Her voice was soft yet steady. This was not Rita’s familiar tone.

  “Why?”

  “You’re my daughter.”

  “I’ve been your daughter for thirty years, Mama, and we’ve never had lunch. What do you want?”

  “I know you think I’m up to something. I don’t even blame you. But I’ve been sober for two days. I know that’s barely anything, but—”

  “But it’s a start. That’s good. Real good.”

  “Yeah, and you know I wanted to—”

  “Make amends. Don’t forget we’ve been through this before, Mama.”

  “Yes, but this time it’s for real. I ain’t getting any younger, JL. I’m all alone. I’ve pushed everyone away. One chance. One final chance is all I’m asking for.”

  JL was pacing the room. There was a fifty-fifty chance she could be pregnant. She didn’t want aggravation or stress in her life generally, but especially now that she could possibly be pregnant. She wanted happiness and a relationship with her mother. A normal relationship. It was all she’d ever craved. She absentmindedly placed her hand on her belly. “Lunch. I can give you lunch, Mama.” They made arrangements, and then JL headed out to meet her mom.

  —

  EE’s Diner was a local spot owned by an older couple who’d been living in Tarpon Springs for ages. If you needed gossip, Esther, the owner, could tell you. If you wanted information spread, she could help you with that as well. And if you wanted great pie, EE’s was the place to go. “JL, how’ve you been?” Esther said.

  “I’m good. How’ve you been?”

  “Couldn’t be better,” Esther replied. “Just you today?”

  “Meeting my mama here.”

  Esther screwed her face up as if she’d just bitten into something sour.

  “I know, I know. But she sounded different on the phone.”

  “It’s your life, honey,” Esther said, leading her to a booth and placing two menus on the table.

  The waitress walked over to the table and without looking up said, “Can I get you some—” Then she saw who her customer was. “JL! What are you doing here?”

  “Penny? Are you working here now?”

  Penny’s shoulders bowed. “I’m working here too.”

  “But you’re working full-time at the Pier. You must be dead on your feet, honey.”

  “Need the money. I’m only here part-time.”

  “What’s going on with you, Penny? You don’t ever want to talk.” The diner was relatively empty. “Sit.” JL pointed to the booth.

  “No, I can’t.”

  JL reached for Penny’s collar and pulled something off. “Is this…” JL squinted. “A Cheerio?”

  Penny brushed it aside and her cheeks reddened. “Can I get you something to drink?”

  “Change of subject. Got it. Well, one thing before you leave,” JL said. “You don’t have friends in town. At least not that I’ve seen. I’m a real good friend. Ask anyone. I can listen and not give my opinion if that’s what you want. I can get shit-faced drunk
with you one night, if that’s what you want. Or I can hug you while you cry. Up to you. Just know that this is a good town. Good people. Just let us in.”

  Penny’s eyes watered. “I wish I could, JL. I wish I could.”

  “JL?” It was the voice she’d been hearing her entire life.

  “Hi, Mama.” Her mother came around and sat on the opposite side of the booth, Penny shifting to let her through. “This is my friend Penny. Penny, this is my mother, Rita Calhoun.”

  “It’s a pleasure to meet you, darlin’,” Rita said.

  “Likewise, Ms. Calhoun. What can I get you to drink?”

  “I’ll have sweet tea,” her mother said.

  JL was dying for coffee, but she’d heard caffeine wasn’t good for the baby—if there was a baby. Until she could do some research she would be careful. “Water for me, and a slice of lemon pie.”

  “Oh, I’ll have one of those too,” her mother added, knowing that JL didn’t share food.

  “What’s going on, Mama? You look better than I’ve seen you in a long time,” JL commented. Rita’s hollow cheeks were a little more filled-out, and she had some color in her face. Her lifeless hair was brushed and neatly pulled up into a ponytail.

  “I’m in NA. After you refused my calls and Billy left me—Billy left me, by the way. Did you know that?”

  “Mama, I don’t even know who Billy is.”

  “Oh…uh…well, doesn’t matter anymore. Anyway, I decided it was time for a change.”