Impact (Iron Orchids Book 3)

by Danielle Norman

  Knocking the garbage can over, I climbed on top so I could unlock the window and prop it open. I jumped, sliding over the scratchy windowsill headfirst and into a ruckus of noise. I hit the ground and was encased in two arms.

  “Where you going?”

  I looked up ready to fight and met the deep chocolate eyes of Damon.

  “What the fuck? Get me out of here. The cops are here. I’ve got to go. I can’t get arrested; they’ll take Bee.” I was hysterical when he gently tugged my hand and pulled me away from the window and into his arms.

  “Shhh psichi mou, shhh. I’m so sorry. I didn’t think. Kayson and Carter were just playing a trick on the girls. Shhh. It’s a joke. No one’s getting arrested.” He combed his fingers through my hair as he crooned the words.

  Slowly lifting my head, fingertips pressed into his chest, I pushed away. “Joke? That was a motherfucking joke?”

  “Yes?” Damon was suddenly rethinking his words.

  “Oh, hell no.” My fear turned from a rage into a hysterical laughter. Holy hell, I wanted to be out there to watch this, so I grabbed his hand and ran toward the front of the building. When we rounded the corner, Kayson, Carter, and Ian were standing there, arms crossed. They looked a little too smug for my liking, but I had already learned to put my confidence in Stella and her ability to lead the gang.

  “You all do know that you’re dead, right?” I asked for clarification.

  They nodded.

  “It’ll be worth it.” Carter gave me a flippant salute.

  I watched as the front door swung open and Stella walked out, black lycra shorts, sports bra, and sandals. She flipped off Kayson and Carter then gave an evil smile and leaned against the limo. Next, Everly came out, similarly dressed but she’d slipped her T-shirt back on and she was carrying one Orange County Sheriff’s uniform shirt.

  “Oh,” Kayson said quietly.

  Leo and Vivian exited, and they each carried a shiny black shoe. Taking their places next to Stella and Everly, they turned and leaned back against the limo and waited.

  “Shit,” Carter mumbled.

  Piper strolled out next, and she was carrying one utility belt minus his firearm.

  “You think he’s still alive?” Kayson whispered.

  Sophie was next, and she carried one pair of uniform pants.

  I looked over at Carter, who was holding his lips closed with such force that his lips were nearly white. Sophie smiled and raised one eyebrow in a challenge.

  “Hmm, I wonder how your wife got that poor man’s pants.” I left that thought to rest in the air but heard Carter’s growl and laughed.

  My mind whirled as we waited for Ariel, Ringo, Chanda, and the poor deputy. We waited and waited and waited.

  Kayson, Damon, and Carter started for the door.

  “Don’t you want to go with them?” I looked over to Ian.

  Ian waved me off. “No thanks.”

  Well, I’d missed what the girls had done, so I wanted to see. Chasing behind them, I wasn’t going to miss anything else. I felt an arm on my shoulder, holding me back a few steps. Coming through the lobby doorway that opened up to the studio area Kayson, Carter, and Damon pushed through side by side.

  The lights went out. The area fell pitch black except for a trace beam of moonlight trickling in. That was when I saw it, two lines stretched across the doorway.

  The sound of ripping material echoed, followed by one of the guys—Kayson I believed—hollering, “What the fuck?”

  Then someone raced behind them holding two circles, and more ripping sounds echoed, followed by someone else running behind the guys. They were wiggling but were caught in something and couldn’t get out.

  The lights came on, and I cracked up.

  The three men were wrapped several times in duct tape.

  “Silence is golden, but duct tape is silver.” Ariel held a roll of duct tape in each hand.

  Chanda stood holding two more, then ran over and hit the stereo and played “Dear Future Husband” by Meghan Trainor.

  Unfortunately, the guys were blocking the entryway so I couldn’t see what was going on, but whatever it was, it was good because a collective groan escaped all three men.

  Stella reached over me with her cell phone raised high up and on record. I scooted back so I could try to see via her screen.

  The ladies bathroom was open, and standing in the doorway was one blonde-headed, mocha-skin diva wearing a bustier and heels.

  “Silly boys.” Ringo strutted back and forth in front of them. “Didn’t you know that tricks were for kids?”

  I heard gasps escape Damon, Carter, and Kayson and my comfort at the feel of revenge was slowly getting all warm and fuzzy. These women were an absolute force.

  “You may think what I’m wearing is called a boost-e-ay, but I prefer to call it a busted-ay. That’s right—you boys are so busted.” Ringo had his chance and he was sashaying in front of the guys. “What’s that saying, you’re only as gay as the dick you suck.”

  I wasn’t sure if I had laughed, coughed, spit, or peed, but whatever it was, I did it. Sophie was crumpled over, holding her stomach, and Stella was cackling.

  I couldn’t understand what the guys were saying because all three were shouting profanities at the same time.

  “Oh, chill, I’m just teasing.” Ringo gave them a wink. “But maybe next time you three will think again before you try to pull something over on these crazy ass bitches.”

  “Can I ask something?” Kayson’s voice boomed above our laughs. “Where is Deputy Holland?”

  “Oh, he’s in the bathroom. I still need to go in there and scare the shit out of him.” Ringo wiped his thumb at the corner of his mouth.

  “You mean having these girls strip him of his clothes wasn’t scary enough?” Damon tried to twist to look back at us, but the tape prevented him.

  “Well, we’re gonna leave you boys be. Have fun. Chanda, make sure you get them to pay our bill and add a really great tip.” Stella patted Carter’s shoulder. “Bye, Ringo, we’ll leave these guys in your capable hands.”

  “I’ll meet y’all out front. I’m coming out the back entrance,” Ariel shouted. She ran up and gave Kayson a quick peck. “Bye. Be good.”

  I smacked Damon’s ass and leaned forward. “Whatever you do, don’t drop anything, and if you do, for God’s sake don’t pick it up.” I watched as he clenched his butt cheeks and couldn’t help but laugh.

  The girls piled the deputy’s clothes on the floors, and we raced out and back into the limousine.

  Chapter 25

  Katy

  It was just after two when I quietly opened Damon’s front door and slipped inside. I’d gotten the text message earlier, saying he’d picked up Bee and she was at his house.

  He must have heard me enter because he was standing at the edge of the hallway in just a pair of pajama bottoms. “Hey. Did you all have fun?”

  “Yeah. Glad to see you made it out of the tangled web.”

  “I did, but some of my arm hair got left behind.”

  “Well, you kind of deserved it.”

  “Fair enough. Come in here.” He motioned for me to come closer, but I stayed planted.

  “Where’s Bee?”

  “Upstairs asleep.”

  “I want to take you out tomorrow.” He looked over at the clock. “Well, actually, it’s today.”

  “What? Why?” I shook my head at his abrupt change in conversation.

  “It’s your birthday.”

  “How’d you know?”

  “Your interview.”

  “I didn’t think you would remember.”

  “I remember things that are important to me.”

  “But Bee.”

  “I’ve got it all taken care of.” That was all he said before he closed the distance between us.

  He wrapped both arms around me and swept me up into his arms, carrying me to his bedroom. His mouth crashed onto my lips as he walked. His tongue darted out, tangling with mine
as he set me onto the bed. Slowly, he broke the kiss and knelt in front of me so he could slip my shoes off. His hands traveled up my legs and over my hips, until he had hold of the hem of my shirt and lifted it off.

  Standing, he quickly slid off his pajama bottoms and was left in just his boxer briefs. Oh, I wanted to see what was under them. I reached for him, to help him, but instead, he pulled me up and returned his attention to me as he unbuttoned my skirt and let it fall to the ground. He slid my lycra shorts down my legs so that I could step out of them. I was standing in just my bra and panties. Plain old boring bra and panties from Walmart. We both moved to the center of the bed.

  “Damon. I’m not on anything. I mean, I’m not on the pill.” He reached over to his nightstand and slid the drawer open, showing me a box of condoms. “Umm, it’s been. I mean, I haven’t had sex in a while.” I was being ridiculous. I was nervous and jabbering. I needed to shut up and relax. Seize the day. Carpe diem came back to me, but it was in the genie’s voice, Carpeeee Diem. I fought the urge to giggle because he’d probably get a complex if I laughed. Shit, I hadn’t even seen it, but from the imprint, it wasn’t anything to laugh about.

  He reached up behind me and unclasped my bra, gently sliding the straps down before moving to work on my panties. The cool air washed over me, and his hungry gaze skated over my skin, leaving goosebumps in its wake.

  I wanted to do this. I wanted to undress him, show him as well as myself that I was ready to take this step. I trusted him. I reached out and grasped the front of his boxers, gripping his cock, I rubbed up and down, cupping the imprint of his dick. When he let out a groan, I moved to slide his boxer briefs off, but he shook his head. “Not in a hurry. We have all night.”

  He might not be in a hurry, but I was. It was that whole nine years and having a crick thing that I wanted to negate. Plus, I wanted to see what was hiding behind that black fabric. Wrapping my hands around the waistband of his briefs, I pulled them down.

  Well, hello there, Soldier. Nine years had a way of playing tricks on people, and that trick was telling me that dicks weren’t supposed to be that big.

  He pressed his hands on my shoulders and pushed me back down onto the bed. He lowered his mouth to my legs and kissed his way from my toes along my calf to my knee. When he reached my thigh, I thought that I would lose it. I wanted to strip and ride this man, but he continued with his slow kisses along my hip and then around my belly. Sliding his hands underneath me, he gripped my ass and pulled me closer.

  “Oh God, I need to taste you.” His warm breath tickled my skin as he lowered his mouth and kissed my hip, then slid my panties down, exposing me.

  I let out a soft cry as his tongue licked up the inside of my thigh; it tickled and exhilarated all at the same time, before he slowly dragged his tongue through my folds.

  Oh. My. Holy. Hell.

  Before getting pregnant, I was young and boys didn’t do that shit. They didn’t have enough restraint. Damon, he wasn’t a boy, he was all man, and I was afraid that he was going to break me for all other men, but I was more afraid that he would stop.

  He did something with his tongue, and I was pretty sure I started begging him for more because he let out a half-chuckle, half-grumble. “Oh, I will. I will absolutely please you.”

  He slid one finger into me as his thumb rubbed against my clit, and my whole world narrowed to the sensation. In seconds, I was lifting to meet each thrust of his finger.

  “Damon.”

  He lifted his head for the briefest moment. “That’s the best fucking sound in the world.”

  “What, what is?” I wanted him to go back to what he was doing.

  “My name on your lips.” He slid his tongue back inside me.

  I was wiggling, writhing, anything to keep his thumb pressing against my clit as his tongue thrust inside me, hitting the right spot until every nerve in my body was on fire and even the air touching my skin was sizzling as my core twisted and tightened. He slipped another finger into me, and I exploded, arching against the bed and fisting the sheets beneath me. Holy Christ on a cracker, so that was what an orgasm was supposed to feel like.

  I was still floating on pleasure as he sheathed himself and settled himself in the cradle of my thighs. I wanted him inside me so desperately that I opened myself wider to him, inviting him to take me. His hands sank into my hair, and his lips found mine as he blanketed me with his body.

  The man had the control of a god because I was on the verge of begging and he was taking his sweet time. Despite every attempt I made to encourage him to increase his speed, he didn’t rush as he slowly stretched me; with each stroke, he pulled back and pushed in a little bit deeper.

  “No. I need you. Now.” My words were more of a cry.

  “Shhh.” He kissed the corner of my lips. “I’ve got you.”

  “Don’t shush me. I’m horny, damn it.”

  He chuckled. The motherfucker chuckled. “So am I. I’m just trying to make this last. I’ve wanted you so bad.”

  “Good. I want you too.”

  He plucked at his sheets that surrounded us, rubbing the edge of one between his fingers.

  “What are you doing? Stop with the distractions.” I was ready to shout at him. If it weren’t for Bee sleeping upstairs, I probably would have.

  He chuckled some more. “You know what these are made of?”

  “No.” I wiggled even more, wrapping my legs around his waist.

  “Girlfriend material.” He gave me a smirk, then pulled out to the tip.

  “Please,” I begged. “Stop teasing."

  “Oh, now she says the magic word.” He groaned as he plunged in, balls deep and began the most erotic rhythm. Damon danced with my body, moving in and out like a choreographed routine.

  “I was wrong, I was so fucking wrong. You, saying my name filled with desire isn’t my favorite sound, this is. Your gasp just as I enter you, that’s the fucking best sound in the world.”

  “Please. Damon. Please.”

  I could see the strain on his face, the tendons in his neck as he fought back the urge to give me exactly what I was begging for.

  “Psichi mou,” he crooned.

  “Please. I . . .”

  He slowed his pace and lifted one of my thighs up and onto his shoulder. This new angle made him drive deeper. “Holy fuuuccck.” My back arched up off the bed. I wrapped my hands around his arms and held him still, deep inside me. I didn’t want him to go anywhere.

  “Not in a million years. I’m not going anywhere.”

  He’d read my mind. He slid in and thrust upward and hit the perfect spot. Wrapping my legs around him, the heels of my feet digging into his thighs. He still rocked and plunged. I dug deeper and pulled him tighter until that started slowly burning my body again.

  “That’s it. Let me feel it.” He pushed up on his elbows and brushed my sweat-soaked hair out of my face as I broke, shattering and pulsing around him. With a satisfied tilt on his lips, he pushed into me, rolling his hips and drawing out the pleasure roiling through me before he pulled out again. Again and again, he thrust and rolled, spinning me higher and higher the harder and deeper he went.

  “Please,” I cried.

  I wanted him to know that I needed this. I needed to know that I pleased him. That was when everything changed and our dance shifted from a waltz to a tango as he clutched my hips, lifted his torso, and threw his head back. It was passion, devotion, a look of pure ecstasy that settled on his features, and I was coming right along with him.

  Every pounding beat of his orgasm I felt pulsing inside me. You know how you can feel your heartbeat in other parts of your body? Well, I could feel Damon’s, and it was inside me.

  I splayed a hand across his chest, enjoying the texture of the coarse hair on his chest. Our legs were tangled, my head rested on one shoulder, and I fell asleep in Damon’s arms telling myself that we’d be up before Bee.

  Chapter 26

  Katy

  Lying in bed I stretc
hed, memories of the way his hands slid over my hips and between my thighs had every muscle in me tightening. I rolled over and stared at the clock, seven in the morning. We’d fallen asleep sometime after four. Sliding my hand back and forth over the cool sheets, I wondered where he was. Then it hit me, the smell of coffee. Pulling my aching body from bed, I grabbed one of his shirts off the floor and pulled it on before making my way into the kitchen.

  “Hey, I was just bringing you a cup.” Damon handed me a mug. “You look even sexier in the morning.”

  “Ha ha, very funny.” I took a sip, then tried to pat down my hair.

  “Seriously, you’re in my shirt, and I know that I get it back, which means you have to take it off.” He pulled me tighter against him.

  “Damon, you’re my friend. You’re my boss—”

  “Right now, I’m just yours. Go change. Bee will be awake soon. Don’t stress. Let’s take it day by day.” He swatted my ass to send me on my way.

  That was easy for him to say, take it slow, don’t stress. He didn’t have a kid to worry about. He had a guaranteed job and a home. He had a family that appeared to be an anomaly and actually gave unconditional love. He had nothing to lose. If this went sideways, I’d lose him and I’d drag Bee through the heartache.

  Quickly piling my hair on top of my head into a messy bun, I swabbed on some makeup and slid into some jeans before heading back downstairs, playing through scenarios of how I was going to tell him about living in the model homes. If we were really going to be a thing and I was going to sleep with him then I needed to come clean, clear the air.

  “You cook?” I examined the grilled cheese sandwich that Damon handed me and admired the fact that it wasn’t burnt. “Grilled cheese for breakfast?”

  “I have many talents. And don’t knock it until you try it, it’s good.” Damon gave me a wink, his double entendres not going amiss. “So, what do we have planned for today?”

  “Hold that thought.” I moved to answer my phone, Damon trailing behind me. “Hello?”

  “Hey. I’m picking you up just before ten. Rumor has it you have a hot date tonight. Let’s go see if we can’t find you something gorgeous to wear.” Sophie’s excitement virtually leaped out of the phone.