“Girl, some shit you can’t fix.” Mookie glanced over, then burst into laughter. Alyssa followed her gaze to see Parker, Paul, Walt, and Bryant all staring into the office with identical looks of horror.
Walt had been working with Paul on the mat when he saw Parker moving towards him at a fast clip. She kicked him in the ankle as she passed by, causing him to yelp. She nodded towards the office and all three of them turned simultaneously in that direction.
Paul was the first to break the silence. “Shit, dude, that’s never good.”
Bryant came up behind them. “What’s not good?” he asked. Then, looking over their shoulders, he hissed in sympathy, “I saw almost the exact same thing happen to
Paul once. They paired up later on and one of them keyed his car while the other one slit his tires.”
Paul said, “Yep. Last I heard they’d moved to California since they’ve legalized gay marriage there.”
Walt looked at Paul, momentarily distracted from the drama unfolding. “You actually converted two women to lesbianism?”
“Can you be converted?” Paul asked, sounding genuinely curious.
“Hell if I know,” Walt answered.
They all stood thinking that over, when Mookie exited the office and threw a laughing glance in their direction. The men all scrambled to look busy while Parker said, “Fuck that. I’m going to find out what was said.”
“Tell me what you find out,” Walt yelled at her back.
“Fat chance of that,” Paul told him. “Women stick together when men are involved. Your best bet is Alyssa. She’ll tell you what happened if you ask her in just the right way.”
Her skin crawled with boredom and something else she couldn’t name. Alyssa raided the cabinets. She needed something, anything. Finding nothing, she returned to the couch she had been lounging on only to spring back onto her feet almost immediately. Chocolate, that’s what she needed. That always made her feel better. Back in the kitchen, she dug through her cabinets once more. “Okay, no chocolate. That’s alright, I can make something.” Pulling out her recipes, she found one for cookies. “Oh this looks easy.” Pulling out the ingredients, she realized something important; she was out of sugar. She stood staring at the measuring cup, then burst in laughter. Throwing the cup down into the sink, she said out loud, “Fuck the sugar.” She was going to go get what she really wanted. She glanced down at the t-shirt and shorts she was wearing, trying to decide if she should change clothes or at least put a bra on. In the end, she figured it didn’t really matter what she wore, he would reject her, or he wouldn’t. Stomping into a ragged pair of tennis shoes, she sprinted next door. She went in through the club, scanning her thumbprint, then taking the stairs two at a time. At the door, she knocked quickly before she could lose her nerve. When no one answered, she banged harder and finally Walt threw open the door saying, “What in the hell, oh sorry, I thought it was one of the guys.”
Placing one hand on the center of his chest, she shoved. He moved but she wasn’t fool enough to believe her strength had moved him. She still hadn’t said a word, and he was staring down at her with his brows drawn together in concern. Alyssa kicked the door closed behind her then launched herself at him, catching him completely off guard. They went down hard and Walt laughed, but Alyssa sealed her mouth over his, swallowing his laughter. Reaching up, he buried his hands in her hair, tilting her head to get a better angle. Then, he ravished her mouth until she was gasping for air. Pulling away, he asked, “What’s this all about?”
“I love you, and I can’t live without you either, and I don’t want to spend another night without you.”
“Do we have to spend our nights on the floor? I’m not as young as I used to be.”
Alyssa chuckled, then admitted, “I was scared I’d lose my nerve.” She stood nervously wiping her hands on her shorts. She had been right to fear her nerves because they were setting in now that he wasn’t touching her. Once Walt was back on his feet, he stooped slightly then before she had a chance to protest he slung her over his shoulder, carrying her to his bedroom. He allowed her to slide slowly from his body and onto the bed. She looked around his room and bounced once lightly on the bed. He stood watching her.
“You have no idea how many times I’ve pictured you there. I don’t sleep very well at night, and sometimes I lie there remembering.”
“What do you remember?” she asked breathlessly.
“The way your eyes looked when I entered you. The way your hair felt wrapped around my hand.” Climbing on the bed, he added, “The sound you make when you find release, and how you held onto me afterwards. The way you smelled right here,” he said as he buried his nose in her neck. She closed her eyes, absorbing his words. She remembered too. His hand moved over her breast and down to the hem of her shirt, making her eyes fly open. What if he didn’t find her attractive anymore?
“Can we turn the light off?” she asked, causing him to freeze.
“You didn’t used to be shy around me,” he said, concerned.
“That was four years ago, before I got four years older,” she said with a bit of the hysteria she was feeling seeping into her voice.
“I’ll go first,” he announced, showing not a hint of modesty. With each article of clothing he removed, her panic ebbed away, leaving only an all-consuming lust. His chest was exactly the same as it had been before and in her mind's eye she could still see the candlelight flickering off it just as it had the final night they had been together. She couldn’t pretend he hadn’t been changed by the battle he had been in. He carried new scars that he hadn’t had before, along with the two prosthetic limbs, but he was still perfect to her, perfect for her.
She couldn’t resist telling him, “You are the sexiest man I’ve ever seen.” Running a finger over a taut line of muscle, she admitted, “I’ve never been turned on by another man just by simply looking at him, but that’s all it’s ever taken with you.” What was it about this one man that made her incapable of surviving without him? Drawing confidence from desire, she lifted her shirt up and over her head. His eyes darkened in a way she had never forgotten and his reaction carried away all thought. She moved slower with the rest of her clothing, shimmying out of her shorts an inch at a time. She was enjoying his torture, but he didn’t tolerate it for long.
“I’m sorry. I can’t spend another moment without being inside of you,” he told her as he pressed her back against the bed. She pulled his head down to her, licking his bottom lip until he allowed her entrance. She rubbed his tongue lightly with hers and he swallowed her gasp when he entered her. She heard his breath catch and her nipples hardened even more at the sound.
When he moved slowly inside of her she rose up to meet his every thrust. It was obvious that he had not forgotten anything about her body. It was only a matter of moments before she found her release and was crying out his name. Increasing his speed, she fell into his new rhythm and she was quickly drawn back into the pleasure. She didn’t want the pleasure to be all hers. Nipping lightly at his ear, she told him, “I want to be on top.”
Walt moved with superhuman speed to get her where she wanted to be. She had always felt powerful in this position, having a man the size of Walt submissive to her wishes. Sitting back on her heels, she leaned back, placing her palms face down behind her on his thighs, thrusting her chest out with each thrust of her lower body. Walt leaned up on his elbows, sucking one of her nipples into mouth. This had been one of their favorite positions so she already knew what to do next to turn him on. When he fell back to watching her as she rode him, he took her hand and began leading it down the line of her own body until she reached the sweet spot. He held her hand there for a second silently asking for what he wanted.
At the first brush of her fingers, she let out a loud moan. He lay still, watching the show until he was unable to stand anymore and he brushed her fingers out of the way and used his own to finish the job. When he felt the first spasms of her orgasm, he rolled her back onto her b
ack, thrusting hard until he joined her over the edge and into oblivion.
Nude except for the blanket they had wrapped around them, they snuggled up in the chaise staring up at the stars on the deck. “You know we just finished moving your things. At least we won’t have to move you as far this time. Unless you want to buy a house,” he added.
“And lose this view?” she asked. “No way,” she said, causing relief to pour through him. He didn’t want to move, but he would have if that was what she wanted.
“Besides,” she added, “this place is perfect for us. I could do such naughty things to you under these stars.”
“Really? Like what?” he asked, enticed by her wicked smile.
Crawling up his chest, she whispered in his ear, “It’s been so long since I’ve tasted you, and I want to feel you come in my mouth.”
He hardened instantly at her words and she began licking her way down his body until she came to her prize. He allowed her to lick and taste for a few minutes, because he was a man and couldn’t resist it, but he had something else in mind.
“I was thinking we could get married up here.” He didn’t know what reaction he had been expecting, but it wasn’t what he got. She deepened her motions causing his eyes to roll back into his head and she didn’t let up until she’d gotten all of what she wanted. Walt was left panting while she rearranged the blanket to cover them fully. She snuggled back down, saying, “That’s fine with me. How about tomorrow?”
“Seriously?” he asked, pleased with the suggestion. It would have been his if he hadn’t been so worried she’d feel rushed.
“Seriously. I’ve been waiting all this time finally to have my wedding. Why shouldn’t it be tomorrow?”
Shrugging, he said, “That’s fine with me if Parker can be my best man.” He threw this out before she could try to claim her.
“That’s fine with me if Paul can be my maid of honor,” she shot back just as quickly, and oddly enough it was fine with him. He knew Paul was perfect for the job since he was quickly becoming Alyssa’s best friend. He couldn’t wait to see the look on Paul’s face when she asked him.
Sighing heavily, Alyssa said, “I guess we’re going to be forced to wait a couple of weeks. As much as I would like to get married tomorrow I don’t think we can throw anything together that quickly.”
CHAPTER SEVEN
They found Paul working in his garage. He looked up when they came in. “I see you took my advice,” he said nodding towards their clasped hands.
“What advice?” Alyssa asked. When both men only smiled, she waved it away saying, “Never mind. I came to ask you something important.” Paul waited for her to continue and when she only shifted from one foot to the other, Walt thought she would lose her nerve. Instead, she starting babbling, “You see here’s the thing. We’re getting married and Parker is standing up for Walt, because she’s his best friend, of course, you know that. I was thinking that since you’re like my best friend, you might stand up for me.” She cringed at the end as if fearing his rejection.
Walt’s respect for Paul soared when he answered her solemnly, “I’d be honored to stand up with you, darling.” Then he ruined it by adding, “Besides women love a sensitive man. I’ll be getting ass off this story for at least a year. Ow, ow,” he cried, twisting away from Alyssa as she pinched his side. Laughing, he rubbed his side where she had pinched him. “I was only kidding. You know I’d do anything for you.”
As it turned out, they only ended up having to wait for three days. Once word got out that they were tying the knot, his parents rushed to town to witness the union. Since the rooftop deck was too small for too many guests, the only people in attendance were Walt’s family and Paul. Afterwards, they opened the club to their friends and family to help them celebrate. Paul had been a good sport about the whole thing even though he had taken a ribbing from the guys about being a maid of honor. Towards the end of the night, Alyssa noticed a strain begin to show on his face. Tugging on Walt’s sleeve to get his attention, she nodded in his direction. Following her gaze, he told her, “Go on.”
Alyssa made her way over to Paul. Taking his hand, she said, “Come on.”
“Where are we going?” he asked.
“You’re going with me to get some fresh air.”
Paul’s smile was fake as he asked, “Don’t you have a husband for that now?”
Alyssa tugged harder on his hand. “Don’t pull that shit with me. Come on.”
Paul sighed loudly, but he allowed her to pull him outside. As soon as the door closed behind them, he seemed to sag with relief. He dragged in a deep breath, then let it out slowly. “I’m sorry,” he said after a minute. Then he added, “I hate weddings.”
Nodding in understanding, she admitted, “I do too.”
Paul let out a surprised bark of laughter. “Will you be angry if I cut out early?” he asked.
Alyssa shook her head, asking, “Will you call me if you need anything?”
“Of course,” he answered. Pulling her into a hug, he kissed her lightly on the forehead. Then staring into her eyes, he told her, “You’re going to have a wonderful life now, darling.”
Her chest tightened at his words, and she clasped his hands tightly. A terrible sense of foreboding came over her and she asked, “Will you be okay?”
He smiled sadly, “Always, darling, always,” he answered. With one last hug, she was left staring after him. Crossing her arms over her chest, she looked up at the stars, wishing for a miracle for her friend.
She felt his eyes on her before she turned to find Walt leaning in the doorway. Everything else fell away at the sight of him. This man was hers, forever. He opened his arms to her and she walked into them.
“Are you okay?” he asked.
She nodded against his chest. “I’m just ready to be alone with you,” she answered.
Looking from left to right, Walt grabbed her hand and pulled her into a nearby alcove where they couldn’t be seen. Lowering his head, he captured her mouth in a kiss so hot it scorched her skin. Before she knew what was happening, she had his shirt unbuttoned and was running her hands over his bare skin. Walt pressed her further into the wall. He was trying to find a way into her dress, when voices drifted over to them, causing them both to freeze. Peeking around Walt’s body, Alyssa spied Chantel, Cameron, and Bryant standing nearby.
“I wonder where Walt and Alyssa ran off to?” Bryant asked. There was a flick of a lighter then Chantel answered, “Probably hiding in a corner somewhere trying for a quickie.”
Alyssa groaned, letting her head fall back against wall. She couldn’t believe Walt’s mother had said that. She felt Walt shaking with silent laughter.
“Always knew they’d end up married,” Chantel added.
Bryant scoffed, “You told me once you thought he’d snatch up Parker.”
Chantel threw down her cigarette crushing it under her heel. “Worked too, didn’t it? Nothing lights a fire underneath a man’s ass like a little jealousy.”
Bryant threw his arm over his mom’s shoulders, leading her inside, saying, “Devious woman.” The door closed on her laughter. Cameron hung back for a minute longer before following in their footsteps. As he reached for the door handle he spoke over his shoulder, “There’s nothing like your mother showing up to kill the mood, is there?”
Walt and Alyssa stared at each other, shocked at being caught, before they both broke into peals of laughter. Paul was right: she was going to have a wonderful life.
BOOK 4: Paul
CHAPTER ONE
It’s hard work being a liar, exhausting as hell really, and Paul Re’Vone was so damn tired. He was tired of smiling, of laughing, of living. It wasn’t supposed to be this way. A black mood had fallen on him since his best friend, Alyssa, had gotten married two weeks earlier. He’d found some dark places inside himself since his wife had passed away four years earlier, but something about witnessing someone else’s happiness truly shines a light on your own unhappiness. Tha
t’s how he’d ended up here in this small town right outside New Orleans, Louisiana. This was the town he had grown up in, had met Kim, and married her right out of high school. He hadn’t been back here since Hurricane Katrina had driven them from their home and he’d thought he would never return.
He loved and hated this small town in some sort of convoluted way, although "town" was a stretch by any definition of the word. It was more like a swamp with people who were too stubborn to leave living in it.
Coming here had been a ridiculous fit of nostalgia, he realized too late. Everywhere he looked he saw her face, heard her voice, and he couldn’t drive fast enough away from it.
His 2010 Chevy Camaro was the perfect machine, especially since he had been tweaking with it. Unfortunately, it was dark out, even more so since the moss that hung from the trees on either side of the road closed it in, making him feel like he was driving through a tunnel. The road was narrow and winding but that hadn’t stopped Paul from burying the needle and hugging the corners while downshifting as if he were a professional driver instead of a mechanic. He had lived on this road once and he knew it like the back of his hand, but he hadn’t expected the deer that shot out from the surrounding trees. Slamming on his brakes, he locked it up, sliding sideways into a nearby tree. The impact jarred him, and the airbag slammed into his body with a force that knocked the air from his lungs and caused his head to swim. His chest felt so heavy that he couldn’t draw a breath. The overwhelming pain caught up with him and in his last moment of consciousness, he saw Kim one more time, then he saw no more.
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