by Coco Holland
“Leah bear?” Mama’s eyes opened slowly.
“Leah, it’s Le-ah. You were supposed to pick up Ollie today, did you forget that Mama?” I shook her harder.
“What are you ---“ she began. Her eyes closed and she hunched forward spilling the contents of her stomach all over my shoes and all over the floor.
Fuck.
“Oh, Mama,” I sighed.
“Leah bear…“ she said before she began mumbled incoherently as I helped her to her room. “I saw the way you looked at me, you …”
“No Mama, don’t make this about me,” I said tiredly.
She slumped in my arms. The weight of her sending me to one side of the hallway. I pushed forward toward her bedroom door, both of us wobbling toward her room. It was a familiar dance, but even though I was taller and stronger, she felt heavier, much heavier than she ever had been. I nudged her toward the bed where she fell with a thump, face first into her bedsheets and I pulled her legs onto the bed and turned her over.
How many times had I done this before? How many times could I keep doing it?
I was glad that Ollie had his scholarship. Maybe after he was settled, I could leave this behind too. I pulled up a chair and sat beside her bed. Her breathing had slowed, and soon she was still and quiet. The room was quiet too. The light outside had dimmed, and it seemed as though all the warmth had seeped out with it, leaving nothing but dark blue misery. Tears began to fall my cheeks. I wasn’t a crier, and when I did cry, it was about this. Always about this.
Mama, you were supposed to take care of us.
I stroked her hair and looked down at her face, so like mine, but lined by a life that I only saw from the outside. Mama was a beautiful woman when she was sober and took care of herself. Her addiction drained the beauty from her and the beauty from everything around her. I could never understand why she chose the drink over us, time and time again. I loved her, but I hated her all the same.
Everyone has their burden to bear. I can’t judge you for yours. I don’t know what it’s like to be you.
My words to Callum came back to me, and the tears began to flow freely. Mama had a hard life. I knew that. I just wish she’d get her shit together for us. For herself. I wish I could do it for her but I couldn’t
You could be kinder…
I choked back a sob. Fuck, this was too overwhelming. I could feel the weight of it all pressing down on me, and I couldn’t breathe. I needed to get out of here. I took off my vomit covered shoes and left the room in search for another pair.
The better to run with…
I walked past Ollie’s room. I pressed my ear to his door. He was playing his computer games. He deserved much more than this, more than Mama, more than me. I remembered Tom’s offer and the money. It could buy Ollie a guaranteed escape route from this mess.
I thought of Callum and his kind eyes. The warmth and beauty of him. Whatever Tom’s plans for those pictures, they weren’t going to be good and Callum didn’t deserve that.
No, I needed to find another way.
I found a pair of old Chucks and quickly put them on, heading out the front door. I paused in the doorway. I had nowhere to go, but I knew where I wanted to be.
If I had no malicious intentions, if I just wanted to be around him, it wouldn’t be bad if I sought out a little warmth tonight, would it?
Chapter 8
Callum
“Hi,” Leah said shyly as she opened the passenger seat. “I’m sorry for bothering you so late.”
“I wasn’t doing anything important,” I said, like I hadn’t been ready to drop everything when she called. “You ok?”
Underneath her perfectly applied makeup, she looked like she had been crying.
“I don’t really want to talk about it,” she said. “I just want to get away.”
“I know just the place,” I said reassuringly.
I drove toward the ocean again, like I always did in situations like these. This time to a place a few miles north of Olivia’s. The northern coastline technically part of the nature reserve and when we arrived the parking lot was empty.
Leah sighed as we came to a stop. I turned on the light inside the car.
“Are you unhappy, Leah?” I asked carefully, touching her hand. “Sometimes you look so sad.”
“I’m not sad,” she said flinching.
“Then what are you?”
“I’m…” her voice trailed off as she looked out the car windows toward the ocean. I squeezed her hand hoping she would continue. “I can’t be anything.”
“I’ve got to be strong. I have a kid brother, you know?” she continued. “And if I break, then who’s going to be there for him. Do you know what happens to young guys like him where I’m from? They get lost to the world.”
“He’s not here right now,” I said, rubbing her hand. “You can be whatever you want here with me. I’ve got you, baby.”
She didn’t reply.
“You’re allowed to feel, Leah.”
“Am I?”
“Yes,” I insisted. I tilted her head toward mine. I gazed into those sad blue eyes. “You are.”
She shook her head and dropped her gaze.
“I guess I’m…” Her face flushed pink.
“I’m… I’m angry.” She twisted her skirt in her hands.
Anger, I knew that feeling well, I thought to myself. I had spent most of my teenaged years being angry.
“Angry about what?” I asked.
She looked up at me, her eyes fierce.
“Everything.”
“Everything? That’s a lot of anger to hold inside.” I stroked her face.
“I know.” Leah’s eyes filled with tears.
“Come,” I said. I patted her knee. I reached into the side of my seat and pulled out a flashlight. I opened the car door. “I think I know of something that might help.”
I shone the light toward the direction of the bluffs. Leah followed me down the path from the car park.
“I came here a lot as a kid,” I explained as we walked. “I was a pretty angry teenager.”
“Why were you angry?”
“Dad left,” I said. “I didn’t understand why.”
Leah nodded.
“I never knew my dad, he left when I was really young, ” she said. “…Do you still come here often?”
“No,” I replied, surveying the area. I held out my arm and guided her to a stop. I scanned the area with the flashlight. “The last time I came here was when Mom died.”
She stood closer, pulling her hands from her pockets and taking my hand in hers. She squeezed my hand.
“We’re here,” I said, recognizing a large rock visitors often used as a seat to watch the ocean. “Let’s get a little closer to the edge.”
We made tentative steps toward the edge of the cliff. We stopped at a safe distance, close enough to see the water raged underneath.
“You’re angry, huh?” I lowered the brightness of my flashlight and turned to her. Leah nodded. “Let it out.”
“Let it out?” She furrowed her brow.
“Scream it. Yell it,” I explained. “Let it out. Let it go.”
“I don’t know how…”
“It’s easy, like this,” I said before yelling into the dark night. My voice echoed in the distance and the waves continued to crash against the rocks.
Leah’s eyes were wide as she watched me.
“See,” I said grinning. “No one can hear you.”
I let another out another yell. Louder this time. My throat burned from the strain. I had forgotten how good it felt.
“Try it,” I insisted. “You’ll feel better, I promise.”
Leah took a tentative step forward and let out what sounded more like a yelp. She clapped her hand over her mouth and the sound of thunder rolled from above.
“Oh shit,” she said.
“Don’t stop,” I laughed up at the sky. “I think it wants you to do it louder.”
Leah giggled nerv
ously.
“Again,” I said. I rubbed her back.
She took a deep breath and screamed. It was a real scream this time. I was proud of her.
“Another one,” I urged.
Leah took a deep breath. She closed her eyes and yelled loud and strong. The roar of the ocean screamed back at the both of us.
A fat raindrop fell on my head.
“You’re right,” she stopped and laughed. “It does feel good.”
“Together?” I asked. Leah nodded.
I squeezed her hand and we screamed together before dissolving into a fit of giggles.
She yelled again, by herself this time, her voice cracking as she held the scream longer.
Then she did it again.
And again.
She yelled until she was hoarse and when she could no longer scream, she began to sob. I held her tightly against me. We stood there, Leah in tears as rain fell gently around us.
“Oh, Leah,” I murmured into her hair. “It’ll all be OK.”
Lightning cracked above us and the rain began to pour in earnest. Leah gave a little squeak as the cold water dripped down her clothes. A bubble of laughter escaped from her lips and it was contagious.
“We better get back to the car,” I said, gripping her hand tight. The path was muddy and the rain was cold but we both shrieked in glee as we slipped and slid out way back to the car.
“I’m sorry, your car is going to be filthy with this mud,” Leah sat down in the passenger seat. I shrugged. We were both wet and muddy. Sure, it wasn’t ideal but the way her singlet top was plastered to her body it was hard to think about the car. My cock hardened in my pants.
The rain pounded on the windows, shielding us from the world outside.
“You’re all wet.” She stroked the front of my shirt. Her palms were warm against my chest.
I stilled her searching hands.
“Stop,” my voice was thick with lust. “Or I won’t be able to control myself.
“I don’t want you to control yourself.” Her eyes were full of heat and desire. She pulled her shoes off. My heart raced in anticipation as I helped her climb over to the driver’s seat. She settled down, one leg on each side of me and her bottom nestled above my painfully hard erection.
I captured her lips with mine. Gently at first, feeling the soft plumpness of her lower lip with my tongue. She ground herself onto my cock and opened her mouth, sliding her tongue against mine. We clung to each other like we were drowning.
Leah pulled down her singlet top.
“I don’t want to go back home yet,” she whispered against my lips. “I just want to stay in this fairy tale for a little while longer.”
“We can stay here.” I kissed her bare shoulders. The rain had begun to ease and her skin glowed in the moonlight. “Forever if you want.”
I cupped her breasts and teased the tips with my thumbs. She cried out arching her back. She thrust her glorious breasts towards me and I captured one nipple with my lips, swirling the hard bud with my tongue. Her eyes closed and her body stiffened. She let out a long moan, holding my head against her breast.
“Take this off,” she pulled at my shirt. I obliged, sitting up and letting her pull my t-shirt over my head.
“Now put the seat back” she said.
Bossy girl.
“Are you sure?”
“I want this,” she replied. She pushed me back against the seat. “I want you. Right now.”
Her smile was slow and sexy as she touched the hard ripples of muscle on my chest and stomach.
“You are so fucking hot,” she said.
I laughed.
“You are, too.” I pulled her by the waist toward me. Our bare wet skin slapped against each other.
We both laughed at the simplicity of it. The lust we felt for each other was undeniable and pure. It flowed through our fingertips, radiated from our skin and surrounded us like the thick air. I kissed her breasts again. I drew her close and pressed my cheek against her chest. I needed a moment to steady myself or this was not going to last very long. I listened to her fluttering heartbeat.
She leaned back and unzipped my pants. She slipped her hand into my briefs.
“Slow down baby,” I groaned. “Slow down and just kiss me.”
She ignored me, pulling my cock out completely and lifting her hips. She pulled her panties to one side and she positioned me at her entrance and slid down my cock, inch by delicious inch.
Leah fell forward with a satisfied sigh. I was deep inside her.
“Oh fuck,” I gasped. My eyes rolled back. I held her by the hips.
“You feel so good, Callum,” she purred.
“Beautiful girl,” I murmured against her cheek, my cock pulsed inside her and I could feel her tightening around my shaft. She started to move. “Rock your hips. God, just like that.”
“Cal-lum,” she moaned.
I bit into her shoulder and she cried out. I guided her hips, moving them back and forth, faster and faster. I let go and she continued the motion. I leaned back, watching her, adoring her. She was close, her plump little lips stretched tight around me. Her body clenched around me like a tight fist.
“Touch yourself,” I commanded. “Play with your nipples.”
I murmured my appreciation when she did as I asked, pinching and pulling on her nipples.
“Touch your pussy,” I grunted. “Rub your little clit and cum for me baby.”
Leah ran her hand down her taut belly and looked at me shyly as slipped her hand between her legs.
“Rub it in circles,” I whispered.
She moaned. She used two fingers to circle her clit. My cock slipped in and out of her slick tightness. Her breathing hitched and with a cry she fell forward
“That’s it baby, cum on my cock,” I urged. Leah keened and moaned. “Shit, you’re so fucking tight.”
She held onto me as I lifted my hips into her. I pounded her, in and out, loving her gasps and moans as she came again on my stiff cock.
She whispered my name over and over again.
“I’m here baby,” I said. “I’m here.”
“Come inside me,” her voice sweet in my ear. “I’m on… I’m safe. I need to feel you come inside me, please Callum.”
“Make me yours,” she begged. “I want to be yours.”
With those words, I came inside her, the sound of my guttural groan filling the car.
“Mine,” I grunted. I fucked her furiously. Her body shook as I pumped into her. “You’re mine.”
I let out a guttural groan and filled her.
She lifted her head from my shoulders and kissed me deep.
She was mine.
Chapter 9
Leah
Callum: What are you wearing? :)
Leah: Clothes.
Callum: No seriously. Take a pic ;)
I rolled my eyes. I angled my phone down and took a pic of what I was wearing.
Callum: You’re wearing that to work? The purple one is for my eyes only. :( :(
Leah: Laundry day
Callum: No excuse. I should spank you when you come over tonight.
Leah: What?!
Callum: Come over tonight :)
Leah: I came over last night, aren’t you sick of me yet?
Callum: Never. Come over.
“Heads up,” Kate said from across the room. “Gerard’s outside, I think he’s coming in.”
Leah: I’ll call you later. Work :(
Callum: SEE you later. If anyone gives you trouble…
Leah: Spank them?
Callum: No! :( :( :(
Leah: Haha
Callum: You’re killing me.
“Why are you so happy?” Kate nudged me with her elbow. “Are you texting that rich hottie?”
“Maybe, what is it to you?” I locked the screen and put the phone behind my back. “Snoop!”
Kate jokingly tried to grab my phone as I swatted her away.
“Girls,” Gerard stood in
the doorway with a disapproving look on his face. “What in the world are you doing?”
“Nothing,” we said at the same time. I tried to look contrite. Kate merely giggled.
Gerard ignored her. “How’s the morning so far?” he asked. “How are the numbers?”
Gerard had been on edge for the last few weeks about numbers. Business at Pretty Little Thing had slowed down.
“The same as always,” Kate said. “It will be good in the morning… “
She trailed off implying that the afternoon was going to be dead as always.
Gerard let out a long suffering sigh. “You,” he said pointing a stubby finger at me. “You’re taking Rachel’s shift next week.”
“What?” I protested. “But I did it last time!“
“So?” he shrugged. “If you were able to arrange to do it last time, then maybe your reasons not to weren’t so valid after all.”
I raised my eyebrows at his mental gymnastics.
“And put that phone away,” he snapped. “You know the policy. Or do you not want to keep this job?”
It always came down to that.
“Yes, Gerard,” I said through gritted teeth. He glowered at me one last time before leaving the stand.
“Sorry Leah,” Kate draped an arm over my shoulder. “He’s such an asshole. We should walk out and see how he takes it. I don’t know why we put up with his shit.”
“Because we need the money,” I said.
“Oh, ha-ha, that’s right.” Kat walked over to the coffee machine.
“I’m getting out of here girl. I don’t care what it takes,” she said over her shoulder. “I’ll do anything.”
“You don’t mean that,” I said. “There are worst things than being here.”
Lying to a really great guy for one.
One that you’re falling in love with.
” I really doubt that,” she chucked to herself. “You should too Leah, you're too good for this place…”
No, I was pretty sure I was a shitty person.
“Oh no, here comes trouble.” Kate groaned.
She nodded toward the door just as Rachel breezily walked in.
“Hey bitches,” Rachel said setting her bags down on the counter.
“Rachel,” I said in a monotone voice.
