by M. S. Parker
I pinched her nipple, then tugged it as I felt her shift. She shivered as her fingers began to move over her clit. I pulled her nipple again, twisted it, and she called out my name, the sound one of pure pleasure.
Fuck. I wanted to hear that again.
“Say my name, sweetheart.” I could feel her body trembling around me. “Say it and come.”
I grabbed her hair and yanked her back against me. She came apart as she yelled my name and I didn’t fight my release any longer.
I started to climax, curses pouring from my mouth alongside her name. But the only thing that really mattered was her name.
“You were cussing me out.”
Her words broke the silence that had fallen as we'd recovered, and I felt my face going red as I looked over at her.
Piety was propped on her elbow, staring down at me, a curious look on her face. “Well?”
“Well, what?” I asked.
“I’m just…well, it’s not like I’ve slept with a lot of people or anything, but there’ve been a couple of guys.” She flushed. “And I’ve never had a guy swear at me when he came before.”
Shit. Throwing my forearm over my eyes, I tried to explain. “It wasn’t you. It was…”
Unable to find the words, I lowered my arm and stared at her. After a moment, I caught her and rolled until I had her under me. She wasn’t upset. I could see it in her eyes now. She was actually smiling. She always seemed to be smiling, even when it wasn't quite genuine.
“You know the cartoons you see in the paper? Or online where one of the characters stubs his toe or something, and all he says are exclamation marks and such? It’s because cartoons don’t cuss…but sometimes it’s more effective, even though silence can say more than words at times. But then, there are times when swearing says more than words.”
Her face softened as she reached up, cupping my cheek.
I covered her hand with mine. “I’ve been caught in a shit storm for a while, and now there’s you. You're like an oasis.” Balancing on one elbow, I slid a hand down her belly and cupped her between her thighs. “Just being with you would be sweet. But having you moan out my name, fucking you and knowing you want everything I can do to you – that you want to do the same things to me...”
“So, fucking me is like stubbing your toe. You can’t express yourself in any way other than cursing?” She cocked an eyebrow even as she closed her thighs, rocking up against my hand.
“Yes.” I offered her a weak grin. “It’s just…well, in a good way. Almost like hitting your funny bone or…well, you get the point.”
She pushed against my shoulders until I went to my back. She grabbed the last condom from the bedside table, then threw a leg over my waist.
“Let’s see if we can hit that funny bone again.”
10
Piety
Walking around the airport in Las Vegas wasn’t too different than walking around outside in the city itself or in one of the casinos. Okay, it was definitely cooler in the airport than in the city, but you got the same sense of excitement and desperation from many of the tourists.
There was such a wide variety of people, and I loved people watching. It always baffled my parents when we'd traveled, although I got better about getting caught watching as I'd gotten older. Mom had never approved.
Piety, sit still…stop gawking. It’s so unseemly.
A stern look from Dad had been enough to communicate the same message, but it hadn’t stopped my…gawking either. I’d just learned to be more subtle about it.
Now I didn’t need to be subtle, but I’d learned it was more…well, polite not to so openly stare.
I wasn’t trying to be nosy exactly.
People just fascinated me. All of them.
Of course, some of them pissed me off, like the mom who was yelling at a baby who couldn’t be more than six months old, telling the poor thing to quit crying.
Just as the thought went through my mind, Astra noticed as well.
“Like yelling at her is really going to make the baby stop crying,” Astra said, sarcasm thick in her voice – and she wasn’t quiet about it either.
The slim blonde heard and whipped her head around, glaring at us.
But Astra was already talking to Kaleb. “I mean, don’t you find it soothing when somebody yells at you? Especially when you’re in a loud, noisy unfamiliar place and you’re probably tired? That’s exactly what makes you feel better, isn’t it, Kaleb?”
The look on his face made it plain as day that he didn’t know if he wanted to laugh or hide behind the menu. Taking pity on him, I laid a hand on his arm. “Half the time, being in an airport is enough to make most people want to cry – or yell.”
I gave the mom a smile and hoped she’d take the out, and give her baby one too. We all got stressed after all, but the baby shouldn’t suffer for it.
After a moment, her eyes fell away, and she started to bounce the little girl, patting her on the butt as she rocked her back and forth. A moment later, the pitiful wails subsided and the baby shoved her fist into her mouth.
“I’m starving,” Astra announced, studying the menu. “Why did we get on such a late flight? I could have sworn we were flying out earlier.”
“We were.” I glanced at her over the top of mine. “We changed it to a later one so we could all three fly first class.”
“You didn’t have to…” Kaleb went quiet at my look, miming that he was sealing his lips shut and tossing away a key. He'd already lost that argument.
Laughing, I patted his arm. “Figure out what you want to eat, okay?” A small market across the way caught my eye, reminding me. “Hey, I forgot my ear plugs back at the hotel, so I’m going to go grab some.”
It wasn’t the only thing I needed, but I definitely needed those, and gum. Hopping off the stool, I looked at Astra. “Order me an omelet and some bacon. I want something messy and fattening before I head to the reunion. I’ll be eating canapes and the rest of that crap that looks pretty and tastes like cardboard.”
“You got it. Don’t worry, PS. I’ll stay here and keep Kaleb company.” She gave me a serene smile.
Inside the small shop, I found a box of condoms and the ear plugs I needed for the trip. My ears always killed me when I flew. I also saw a book from one of my favorite authors and grabbed it. On impulse, I picked up an action thriller for Kaleb. I had no idea if he liked to read. If he didn’t…well, I wouldn’t hold it against him too much. After all, Astra and I were best friends, and I only nagged her about her lack of love for reading every now and then. Like once or twice a week.
As I made my way to the cashier, a voice caught my attention. Plaintive, young…almost desperate. “Please, can you try again? It’s the last credit card I have, and I'm out of diapers.”
“Ma’am, I’ve already tried twice, and I’ve got other customers.”
The young mom.
My gaze locked on her as she stood there, rocking her baby, and holding her credit card out to the cashier while a couple of other customers shifted restlessly behind her.
One of them, an older businessman behind her, said, “Can you move? I have a plane to catch.”
My temper snapped. Striding forward, I pulled out my wallet. “Here you go, sis.”
Heads whipped my way as I nudged the businessman aside, just as he had been trying to do to the young mom. I swiped my card, smiling serenely at the cashier and ignoring the surprise on the girl’s face. She really was just a girl. Nineteen, maybe twenty. “I need cash too. What’s the max?”
“Excuse me,” the dude in the suit snapped. “You weren’t next.”
I glanced at him. “Oh, I know. My sister was. The girl you were being so rude to? We'll be done in a second.”
I withdrew the maximum amount I could, then stepped out of line, holding out the diapers to the girl who was standing there, staring at me, still rocking the baby.
She didn’t take them. “What’s this?”
“Diapers, sweetie.�
�� Nudging her out of the line, I continued to hold the package out to her.
“I…” She firmed her jaw. “I don’t need charity from some rich bitch.”
“It’s not charity.” I didn’t let the barb get to me. I was rich. I could be a bitch. And so could pride. I understood pride really well. “It’s called kindness…and help. Sometimes everybody needs a little.”
Her cheeks flushed hot and red. “I don’t–”
“Doesn’t your baby?” I kept my voice soft.
She deflated and reached out, slowly taking the diapers. “We’re going to meet her dad. He’s in the army, stationed out in Virginia, and I…” Her eyes filled with tears. “We’re getting married. I’m moving out there. All my stuff is already on the way, but it took all my money, and I’m about broke. My parents won’t help me.”
She looked like she wanted to just break down and cry.
“Then your parents kind of suck,” I said with a sympathetic smile. Gently, I turned her around and pushed the diapers into the bag hanging from one narrow shoulder.
Then I turned her back around to face me. “Here.” I started to give her the money I’d withdrawn, but then I stopped and pulled out my wallet, taking the rest of my cash. It added up to nearly three hundred dollars. Nothing I'd miss, and it'd make a difference to her. “Make sure you both have food and formula before you get on the plane. And put the rest of the money somewhere safe. The diaper bag is too easy for people to steal from.”
She gaped at me, dark eyes wide. “Why…why are you doing this?”
“Because I can. Because you need it.” I brushed a wispy lock of hair back from the baby’s forehead and then smiled at her. “Go on…I think she needs her diaper changed.”
I headed back into the store and almost walked into the businessman as he headed out. He glared from the girl to me. “Square things up with your sister?”
“Yep.” Breezily, I edged around him and took my place in line.
“That was nice of you.”
I jolted at the sound of Kaleb’s voice coming from just over my shoulder.
Whipping around, I met his eyes. “What…where did you come from?”
“Same place you did. I put my order in then came over here. I needed…something.” His gaze slid down and lingered on the box in my hands, his lips twitching in amusement. “Looks like great minds think alike.”
I flushed. “Well, I’m taking care of it. You can go back to the restaurant.”
“I don’t think one box will be enough,” he said easily, gaze heated. “Again, that was nice of you.”
We shuffled forward as the customers in front of us each paid and went on their way. It was down to the last one before he spoke again.
“Nothing to say?”
Huffing out a sigh, I said, “What’s to say? She needed a break. I gave her one.”
“Just like I needed one.” He didn't sound angry, but he wasn't happy either.
“No, you’re doing me a favor,” I said quickly, shaking my head.
“I’m the one getting paid to–”
Spinning around, I clapped my hand over his mouth. “Shh…” I didn’t give a quick look around, although I was tempted. “Be quiet, you…” Huffing, I dropped my hand and turned back to the counter just as the last person in front of me moved off. “Just hush,” I said grouchily.
I dumped my stuff down in front of the cashier, hoping she hadn’t noticed the interaction between Kaleb and me.
I suspected she had though.
If for no other reason than the fact that she was gaping at him.
He seemed to inspire that reaction quite a bit, not that I blamed any of them. He was gorgeous.
And for a while, he was mine.
Instead of making me smile, though, the thought made me a little sad.
He was mine…but only for a while.
“You can’t do that,” I said, focusing on my irritation instead of the thought that had been circling through my head since we'd left the store.
Astra had wandered off to check out some purses in the store we’d just passed, giving me the chance to finally talk to Kaleb about what'd happened.
We still had an hour to wait until boarding, and Astra couldn't sit still for that long, especially not with a plane ride ahead of us. I didn't want to talk to him in front of her, not when I knew she'd see more than I wanted her to.
“I can't do what?”
Kaleb was wearing a pair of sunglasses now, and I wanted to tug them off, look into his eyes.
“Say things about me paying you.” Self-consciously, I glanced around and then met his eyes. At least I assumed I was meeting his eyes. The lenses of his glasses were opaque. “I get recognized sometimes. Not as often out here, but if a person is a journalist, especially on the political beat, it’s not a stretch. I can’t have anybody hearing that I’m paying you. It will get back to my dad, and this is all for nothing.”
“And they might assume you’re paying me for something else.” He wagged his eyebrows.
I laughed even as blood rushed up to heat my cheeks. “My father would have a heart attack.” I was only half-joking about that. Offering him a smile, I said, “Just…don’t do it, okay?”
“No problem.” He slung his arm around my neck. “Shall we find our gate, my darling wife?”
“We shall.” I pasted a smile on my face, hoping it would hide the hollow ache settling inside.
It was the shortest flight ever.
Or it felt that way.
As we collected our luggage, Astra watched me with gleaming eyes, and I had to poke her in the side and give her a death glare to keep her from saying something.
I didn't know what she wanted to say, but I had no doubt it would be something embarrassing. When Kaleb made a quick stop by the restroom, I found out.
“You two almost look like this is…real,” she said, her voice low.
“That’s the idea.” I managed a non-committal shrug.
“Except there’s no reason to play it so well right now. And I don’t think you’re playing.” She tapped a bright pink fingertip against equally pink lips. “You like him. I mean, really like him.”
“Well, yeah.” I kept my eyes on the restroom. “What’s not to like? We get along. He’s funny and sweet. He’s not into me because of my parents or my money.”
“All good things,” she agreed. “But this is just a temporary thing, remember? You don’t really know him. So why does it seem so not temporary?”
“You’re imagining things.” I waved it off and started to add something, but a tall, blond figure caught my eyes, and I gave her a quelling look to keep her from pursuing it.
She arched an eyebrow, but lapsed into silence.
A moment later, Kaleb joined us and took his luggage, a single duffel bag which he hefted over his shoulder with ease. He also took my suitcase and Astra’s, leaving us with our carry-ons and purses.
“It’s so nice having a big, strong man around the house,” Astra said, sighing lavishly.
“Stop it.” I smacked her on the arm and moved to his side, gesturing toward the exit. “Our car is on the way. Won’t take long.”
“Your car?” he asked.
“We always have a town car pick us up,” Astra said, checking her phone. “It’s so much easier than trying to deal with parking and lugging our own luggage around. Of course, if you asked Piety’s daddy, he’d insist that we take a limo.”
I rolled my eyes. “Astra, stop. Your dad isn’t much better.”
“Oh, I know. Sometimes, he’s worse.” She flashed a sunny grin our way. “That’s why we never tell anybody when we’re going out of town. Then we don’t have to worry about unexpected chauffeurs showing up at our loft.”
We moved past the crush at luggage pick up and got outside just as the driver texted that he was there. “Perfect timing,” I said, gesturing to the car. “It’s Roy.”
We had a favorite, a guy we usually requested and most of the time, we got him. His worn,
friendly face creased in a smile as we waved him down, and he studied Kaleb with curiosity as he held the door for us. Kaleb hesitated, eying the bags.
“I’ll get them, sir,” Roy assured him.
“Come on,” I said, tugging on Kaleb's hand.
After another moment, Kaleb climbed in after me, sinking back onto soft leather, but looking uncomfortable. “He’s…”
“If you let Roy hear you calling him old, he’ll have your heart on a platter,” I said, keeping my voice low. “He thinks he’s still thirty-two. Besides, he likes his job. He does this so he can help with his granddaughter’s college. Doesn’t have to. He retired from the military, but he wants to help.”
“Sounds like you know him.”
I nodded, but I didn’t go into any detail as Roy slammed the trunk shut and came around to the driver’s seat.
Kaleb still looked like he wanted to say something, but when I took his hand, he twined our fingers and slowly relaxed.
“So…are you ready for this?”
He stared out of the window as we pulled away from the airport, the Philadelphia city skyline slowly revealing itself. “Ready as I’ll ever be, I guess.”
“Welcome home!” Astra threw back the door and stepped into the loft we shared.
I still stood next to Kaleb, holding his hand.
The doorman was taking care of the luggage, yet another thing Kaleb was clearly not used to.
My life must seem so strange to him.
I didn’t mind carrying my own luggage. I was usually the one carrying it down when I left – Astra too. But when we got back, the staff in our building, like Roy, made us feel like we were doing them injury if we didn’t let them handle it. Granted, I think they appreciated the tips, and I had a feeling we tipped better than most of the people here, so maybe that was part of it.
But Kaleb was clearly not used to having his luggage handled for him or doors opened, and the expression on his face made me re-evaluate every little thing, even though I always told myself not to take anything I had for granted.
I didn’t think I did. Many of the people Astra and I knew growing up didn’t know what to make of us. While they’d been partying and shopping and heading off to Cancun for vacations in high school and college, we’d wanted to get involved with Habitat for Humanity. We hadn’t been able to in high school, no matter how much we begged, so we’d done it in college, never even telling our parents.
