30 Days (Morgan Family Series Book 1)

by J. L. Leslie

  “Bae? What the hell is a bae?”

  She laughs at this. “You know, you’re only twenty-seven. You’re not too old to know what a bae is. It means I’m his baby. His boo. Sweetheart. Girlfriend. Get with it, Cameron.”

  “Okay, I got it.”

  “So, who’s your bae?” she asks. “Don’t have one.”

  “What happened with Collette?”

  “Dumped her. She wasn’t being a good bae.” I answer and she laughs. “Dad liked her.”

  “Exactly.”

  She frowns at this. “You can’t dump every girlfriend dad likes. You’ll be alone for a very long time if you do that.”

  “I won’t, but I can dump every girlfriend that’s only using me for my father’s money.” I give her a look and she doesn’t say anything else.

  Sometimes money makes people do really stupid things. Collette did something really stupid. She tried to extort my father for money. Her idea to sleep with him and then try to get paid to be quiet didn’t work. He didn’t give a shit if I knew. He wanted me to know.

  “Here we are.” I announce. “Male or female?” she asks.

  I pull out the file and check the address. “Female.” She snorts. “What?” “You always get them flustered.”

  “I do not.” I argue.

  “Does she know I’m going to be with you?” “I don’t think so.”

  “Let’s see how she acts then.” she challenges.

  We approach the door and I ring the doorbell. After a few minutes, I ring it again. I know I told the woman we’d be here at ten a.m. Finally the door opens and I hear Blake clear her throat. The woman is standing before us in a silk nightgown that falls just above her knees. She seems shocked to see us both standing at the door.

  “Let me…um…just get my robe. Please come in.” she stutters.

  When she turns her back, Blake gives me a hard elbow to the side.

  Chapter 7

  Memphis

  “What do you think about the new girl?” Stacy asks. “She seems pretty eager.”

  I take a bite of my burger and don’t comment. I prefer to watch the exchange between Stacy and Leah instead. I’m sure they had the same conversation about me when I first started working at Ecstasy.

  I’d walked in and felt like all the women were against me. I was the new girl and I was there to take business away from them. At least, that’s how they were looking at me.

  Then Leah and Stacy took pity on me and taught me the rules. They told me about the regulars and what they liked. They told me how touching myself in the private dances would get me a lot more money than just dancing. It’s worked too. I rub my nipples a little and the men shell out more money. Simple.

  “I don’t like her. She’s too eager. She’s not respecting my area.”

  All of the women who work at Ecstasy are assigned areas to cover on the floor. The areas rotate every hour. We’re told this our very first night on the job. I had noticed Isla covering a little more area than she was supposed to last night.

  She’d taken a couple men from Leah’s area back for private dances. I knew Leah saw that money as missed opportunity for her.

  “What do you think, Memphis?” “Maybe she didn’t realize it.” I offer.

  “Hmmph. She’s been at Ecstasy a week. You didn’t fuck up like that. She’s done it every night she’s worked. She realizes it.”

  I shrug and take another bite. “Maybe you should talk to her. Politely.”

  “I’ll talk to her alright. I’ll break my six-inch heel off in her ass.” she teases.

  At least, I think she’s teasing. With Leah, you can never really tell. She’s one of those women you want on your side if there’s ever a zombie apocalypse. That’s for sure.

  “I almost forgot to tell you who came in Monday night.” she changes the subject. “Trevor. I thought he only came in when you were working.”

  I munch on a French fry. “So?”

  “I thought you were seeing him.”

  “Nah. We broke up several weeks ago. How’d you miss that?” “I don’t know. Did you tell me?”

  “She told me.” Stacy chimes in. “He was a dick. Weren’t you there when he punched that guy?”

  “No shit? I must’ve been off that night.”

  “Yes, he punched one of the regulars. Couldn’t handle me being his girlfriend and a dancer.”

  “Figures. Don’t try to have a relationship until you’re done working there.” Leah advises. “Until then, get as many good fucks in as you can.”

  I choke on my coke and Stacy bursts out laughing. “It stings!” I complain. “It came up my nose!”

  This makes them both laugh uncontrollably. Bitches.

  “It’s really good advice!” Stacy assures me and we all start laughing.

  I look at my friends and think about their advice. I knew even when I started seeing Trevor it was never going to work. Men act like they understand I’m a stripper, but then they get jealous. I know as long as I have this job, I’ll never really have a relationship.

  Cameron

  After leaving the second house, Blake is still nudging me and giggling like a schoolgirl. It was difficult to get the women to focus. Maybe if they would’ve been dressed it would’ve been easier. Neither of them were taking the interviews seriously though. The first one was in a nightgown. Hell, her robe she went to put on was a silk robe barely longer than the nightgown she was wearing.

  The second one was wearing workout clothes. A sports bra and teeny tiny shorts. I had to keep redirecting the questions back to the night of the murder. And off of me.

  “That was entertaining.” Blake laughs.

  “You didn’t help at all.” I remind her.

  “I was taking notes.” she scoffs.

  “Drawing dirty pictures on the notebook doesn’t qualify as taking notes.” I say, coldly.

  “It’s funny though.” she grins. “Let’s go get lunch. I’m starving.”

  “Where to?”

  “Mmm. There’s a great burger place not too far from here. I’ll show you.”

  “Sounds good.”

  Blake points it out to me about twenty minutes later. We’re shown to our

  seats and given a couple of menus. The place is crowded and loud.

  “You like this place?”

  “Oh yeah! Langston and I come here all the time.”

  Loud laughter makes me wonder what she finds so attractive about it. I open my menu and start deciding what I want. The laughter grows even louder. I can tell it’s coming from a few tables over. I glance around. No one else seems bothered.

  The laughter reaches a new level and I lean back in my seat. She catches my attention then. She’s with two other women. They’re the ones being so loud. She’s laughing too, but not loudly. Her green eyes twinkle. She holds her hand over her smiling mouth and shakes her head.

  The waitress comes back and I realize I haven’t decided what I want yet. I quickly scan the menu and decide on the sunrise burger. It comes with bacon, cheese, and a fried egg on it. I’ll give it a try.

  “Give me some money. I’m going to the jukebox.” Blake holds her hand out, but I shake my head.

  “I’m going to the jukebox.” I stand up and walk across the room to where the old-fashioned jukebox is displayed in the corner.

  Blake bumps my side when we reach it. “You’ll never pick anything good.”

  I’m already looking through the tracks as Blake inserts the money. I find what I’m looking for and tell her she can pick the rest of the songs. I walk away from the

  jukebox and head over to the table where Memphis is sitting with her friends. Her eyes grow wide as she sees me approaching.

  “Will you dance with me?” I hold my hand out to her and smile as the two women with her start laughing.

  “You’re joking right?”

  “No. I played this song for you.” I tell her.

  “Of course, she’ll dance with you!” one of the women says. She even sh
oves Memphis out of her seat.

  I take her hand and pull her to me. I walk a few feet away from the table and start swaying with her in my arms. “Maybe It Was Memphis” plays over the speakers and she starts laughing.

  “Told you I played a song for you.” I grin.

  “You think you’re the first guy to play this song for me?” she cocks her eyebrow at me, but the corner of her mouth tilts into a smile.

  “You and your friends distracted me from ordering my lunch.” I explain. “Sorry about that.”

  I shrug. “It winded up being a good distraction.”

  “They’re both gonna wonder who you are now. They’ll be giving me all kinds of advice on what I should do to you.” she jokes.

  “Be sure to show me later.”

  Chapter 8

  Memphis

  “It’s obvious he knew you, Memphis. He played a damn song with your name in it.” Leah comments.

  It’s the end of our shift and she hasn’t given up on questioning me about Cameron. Stacy either.

  “It was just a coincidence. I’m named after a major city in Tennessee. I don’t know him.”

  I see the exchanged look between her and Stacy, but neither of them say anything else about Cameron and our impromptu dance at Big Ben’s Burgers. I’ve already received enough advice on what the both of them would’ve done to him had he asked them to dance anyway.

  “Isla was in your area tonight, Memphis.” Stacy says. “I told Vincent what she’s been doing and he had a talk with her. Yet, the eager bitch did it again.”

  “I noticed.”

  I was annoyed about it, but I don’t like friction. I listen to Leah tell me not to let her run over me. I nod and grab my purse.

  I wave goodbye as I head out. I go home and shower before taking a cab to Cameron’s. The text he’d sent me earlier was short and to the point. Come over. I’d responded with the three words he’d told me he’d wanted to hear.

  I still have the same nervous anxiety when the elevator doors open. My heart still pounds in my chest. I go sit my purse on the counter. I don’t see any sign of Cameron.

  I walk over to the sliding glass doors that lead out to the balcony. I don’t open them, but I look out over the city. Even at two in the morning, it’s still lit up.

  “You should start taking your clothes off in the elevator.” I jump at the sound of his voice. “I want you to start walking in here naked.”

  I swallow and respond. “Whatever you like, Cameron.”

  “Come to me.” he demands.

  I leave the glass doors and walk over to him. When I reach him, he doesn’t reach for me. He seems frustrated. Annoyed. Almost angry.

  “I shouldn’t have danced with you today. You may start thinking I’m a nice guy.” he says this like it would be a bad thing. I know it would be. “Take off your clothes.”

  I shut my emotions off as I pull my shirt over my head. It’s a job. I can’t see him as the beautifully sexy man in front of me. I can’t get lost in his bedroom eyes. It’s a job. I can’t start thinking he’s nice. I can’t start wanting to dance with him. It’s a job.

  “Bedroom.”

  He follows behind me. I feel a little strange walking naked in front of him.

  Self-conscious even. Out of all the men who have seen me in only a thong before, this man makes me think about all my imperfections. The tiny scar on my right knee. The birthmark on my left arm.

  When I turn around, he’s pushing his pants to the floor. His erection is tenting his boxers. I involuntarily lick my lips.

  “Do you trust me?” he asks.

  “No.” I answer, immediately.

  A slight smile tugs at his lips. My answer doesn’t deter him. He walks to his dresser and opens the top drawer. He pulls out two long pieces of black fabric. When he comes back, I take a step away from him.

  “You can trust me, Memphis. If it gets to be too much, just say the word ‘red’ and I’ll stop.”

  He takes my hands and pulls them behind me. He secures my wrists together.

  He places the other piece over my eyes and ties it behind my head. I blink against the soft fabric, but can’t see anything. Breathe, Memphis. Just breathe.

  I feel his hands on my shoulders and he’s nudging me down onto my knees.

  He moves his fingertips over my cheeks and then over my lips. I part my lips.

  “Suck my cock, Memphis.”

  I lick my lips and nod. The head of his cock brushes against my lips. His skin is velvety smooth, but his cock is rock solid. I open my mouth and capture him. I move my tongue over his tip and taste his arousal. I move my hands to stroke him, but the bind on my wrists keeps them secured behind my back. This is difficult.

  I close my mouth over him, sucking and releasing, trying to pleasure him. I don’t know how well I’m doing without being able to touch him or see him though. Suddenly, he pulls himself out of my mouth with a resounding ‘pop’ and lifts me off the floor. What’s happening?

  He’s bending me over the bed, my face smashes into the comforter. The blindfold stays in place. I gasp at the smack he delivers to my ass. My breath catches in my throat. Tears sting my eyes. His hand smooths over my ass as if soothing the area he just spanked. My sex tingles.

  Cameron pushes a finger inside me and my nipples harden against the bed. When he pushes a second finger in, he smacks my ass again. My skin prickles, but my pussy soaks his fingers.

  I can tell he’s moving behind me, but I don’t know what he’s doing. This whole being blindfolded is both a blessing and a curse. I want to know what he’s…

  “Oh God!” I cry out.

  His mouth sucks my core while his fingers are still working me. I come undone. Lick. Suck. Taste. My entire body shakes with the orgasm that tears through me. I know Cameron is tasting it on his lips and he seems to be enjoying it. He keeps sucking and tasting me. Lick. Suck. Taste.

  When his mouth and fingers are gone, I’m still tingling from the aftershocks of the mind-blowing orgasm. I feel his hands untying the bind on my wrists. He doesn’t untie the blindfold though. I don’t move from being face down on the bed.

  He returns a moment later and flips me over. I feel worthless now, but I know he hasn’t finished and I’m sure he wants to. The bed dips and I feel myself being lifted. I wrap my arms around him as he moves us further onto the bed. When he lays me back down, his body lies on top of mine. His firm length is pressing into me. I spread my legs so he can enter. He does so in one swift thrust.

  “I’ve been thinking about fucking you all night.” he murmurs, placing a kiss in the crook of my neck.

  I close my eyes behind the blindfold. He didn’t say he’s been thinking about me all night. He’s been thinking about fucking me all night. Big difference. I won’t forget that.

  Cameron

  “You look tired.” I give Blake an annoyed look. “Have you been getting enough sleep? Is this case too much for you? I can take over if you want.”

  “Nice try.”

  Truth is, I hadn’t been getting much sleep the past three weeks, but she doesn’t need to know that. Or why.

  Memphis and I have a good routine going. She comes over after work. We fuck. She goes home. Every night. The fucking is great. The nervous signs she originally showed are gone. I think I’m opening her up to a side of herself she didn’t know existed.

  “Rhys is coming home this weekend. Said he’d be here in a few hours. What are you guys doing?” she asks.

  “Nothing.”

  “Don’t give me that. I know all about the strip club trip. He says everyone is going back again.” she pries.

  “Not me.”

  “Is it because of that woman at the burger place?” “What woman?”

  “Seriously, Cameron. The one you danced with. Don’t play stupid. Is she your new bae?”

  “I don’t have a bae. Don’t even know her.” I deadpan. “Don’t you have work to

  do?”

  She doesn’t leave. She picks
up her phone and starts scrolling through it. “That’s why I came in here. Almost forgot. The Barr Association dinner is

  Sunday night. I need to know if you’ll be attending and if you’ll be bringing a guest.”

  “Is dad going?”

  “He is who asked me if you were going, so yes. You know everyone at the firm will be attending and bringing a guest. It’s practically mandatory. Don’t try to skip out.”

  “Fine.” I huff. “Put me down for a plus one.” She keeps scrolling in her phone. “You can go now.”

  She rolls her eyes before exiting my office. I pick up my phone and find Memphis in my contacts. I wonder how she’d feel about going shopping for a nice dress? I send her a text telling her to come to my office.

  I’m working on the Beasley murder case when Mrs. Simmons, the receptionist, shows Memphis in. I come around my desk to greet her. She drops her purse to the floor and pulls me to her. Her lips crash against mine. In between kisses and unbuttoning my shirt, she starts talking.

  “You have to be quick. I got called in early to work the bar before my shift.” I laugh against her lips and tell her to slow down. “This is what you called me here for, right?”

  “Actually, no.”

  “Oh.” Her expression is both confused and a little disappointed. I fight back a smile. I don’t want her to be disappointed that I didn’t call her for sex. That would

  mean that she expected me to call her for sex. She shouldn’t expect it. She shouldn’t expect me to call her at all.

  Once this realization occurs to me, I decide not to tell her about the dinner.

  She might get the wrong idea.

  “Nevermind. It’s not important.” I tell her and she frowns.

  “Are you sure?” she asks, picking up her purse.