Safe With Me, Special Edition

by Shaina Richmond

  In my mind, I kept going over possible reasons for Aaron’s rage. But my real question was, why hadn’t anyone warned me? I spoke to Daisy at least once every two weeks and she made it sound like everything was okay. There were other relatives and friends who called or emailed me on a semi-regular basis. Maybe they didn’t know about it.

  And there was always the possibility that Aaron was just drunk and having a bad day. Or maybe a bad month. Maybe he resented the fact that Mom needed him to house sit, but the way I saw it, he had a free place to live. It was a million times better than the shitty little run down house he used to rent with some of the other bartenders.

  I hurried through my shower, anxious to share my new bed with my new girlfriend, even if it was only to get some much-needed sleep. I dried off and blotted my dripping hair with a huge fluffy towel--also new--that I found in the bathroom, tied my hair back in a loose ponytail, and walked naked out through the bedroom.

  On my way to the bed I checked the door to make sure the fucking thing was really locked this time.

  There was just enough soft light coming in through the windows to show me how pretty she looked laying there under the covers. Her face was turned away from me with her blond hair spread all over the pillow.

  Holy shit. What would I do without her right now?

  I curled up on my side next to her, pressing my front against her back with my arm across her stomach. Aaron was absolutely right, even if he was just saying it to be a jerk. She really was a soft, curvy thing. And she was gonna get fucked so hard in that bed in the morning...

  Susie put her hand on my arm. “You okay?”

  “Yeah. Sorry if I woke you.”

  “Wasn’t asleep yet.” She moaned softly. “You smell nice.”

  “Thanks, baby.”

  “Is your brother okay?”

  “He’s asleep on the couch.”

  “No, I mean, is he upset or something? Is he always like that? I heard him try to fight you out there.”

  “He’s kinda hot-headed sometimes but that was weird tonight.”

  “Weird how?” She rolled onto her stomach.

  “I’ve never seen him get that mad when he was drunk before. He’s usually a happy drunk.”

  Susie was now on her other side, facing me. “He seemed pretty happy in here.”

  “I’m so sorry about that, sweetie.” I wedged my arm between her head and the pillow to bring her closer. “He shouldn’t have spoken to you that way.”

  “Please stop apologizing. He was just drunk. I’ve seen worse.”

  “Yeah. But I think it was more than that. He’s probably still pissed about... something...”

  “What, exactly?”

  “Oh, it was, like, a year ago. He started messing around with this girl I was dating.”

  My vision had adjusted to the darkness enough to show me that her eyes had practically doubled in size. “Huh?” she asked. “Say that again?”

  “You heard me.” I sighed. “He was fucking this girl. Crystal.”

  “Who you were dating?”

  “Yeah.”

  “And you just said he’s the one who’s pissed? Shouldn’t you be the one who’s pissed?”

  I chuckled. “Yeah. But I wasn’t. That’s why he’s pissed.”

  She shook her head, laughing. “Wow. And that’s why he hit on me in front of you?”

  “Uh-huh. That thing about stealing something valuable. I knew what he meant.”

  “So he’s jealous of you? Trying to steal your girlfriends and stuff?”

  “It only ever happened with her as far as I know. And he stopped calling her when he found out I didn’t care.”

  “You really didn’t care?”

  I shook my head.

  “Why not?” she asked.

  “I don’t know. I think I only got with her because I was lonely and she kept coming around.” I would’ve told her more but I didn’t feel like talking about how depressed I used to be in that same room where we lay together on that new bed. And I hoped nobody else would tell her, either. My plan was to keep her close by at all times to filter anything someone might tell her.

  “She was a friend?”

  “Still is. If the weather clears up we can go out one night and you can meet some of my friends. Maybe even during the day if we can get away from my family for that long.”

  “Wow. So you’re still friends with her. Like nothing ever happened.”

  “Pretty much.”

  She propped herself up on her elbow and stared in my eyes. “Well, I don’t know you at all, Mr. Campbell.”

  I laughed. It always amused me when she called me Mr. Campbell. “Yes you do.”

  “No. I don’t think I do.” Her eyes were huge again. “Your own brother slept with your girlfriend. Probably went after her deliberately.”

  “Yeah.”

  “And you weren’t even jealous?”

  “No.”

  “And you’re not upset with either of them. At all.”

  “No. She was all drama. He did me a favor, really.”

  “But I thought you were the jealous type.”

  “With you, I am.” I cradled her cheek with my palm. “Because you’re special to me.”

  She stared sadly into my eyes. “But she wasn’t special to you?”

  “No.” Nobody was, before you. I only held back from saying it because it sounded too sappy in my head.

  “Well, that makes me feel bad for her. I wonder how she felt when your brother dumped her.”

  “It wasn’t pretty. I remember that much. I think she liked him a lot more than she ever liked me.” I moved my hand down to her waist. “Would you go for my brother if he hit on you when I wasn’t around?”

  “Huh? What?” Her eyebrows shot up. “No, I wouldn’t go for your brother. You’re joking, right?”

  “No.”

  “What the...” Her mouth hung open as she slowly shook her head. “I can’t believe you asked me that. Is this bizarro world or the Twilight Zone or something? Is that what Montana’s really known for? Is the Big Sky Country thing all a sham? It’s really, like, Big Bizarro Twilight Zone... Country?”

  I groaned. “Don’t bring Montana into this. I love this place.”

  “Yeah, well, this place seems to have turned my boyfriend into someone I don’t know at all. Someone who’s not jealous and thinks there’s even the slightest chance I might hook up with his brother.”

  I licked my lips. It didn’t matter what else she said; I loved it when she called me her boyfriend. In a split second, my hand found the back of her head to pull her close and give her mouth a good, thorough kiss.

  She threw her arm around my back. Her tongue matched mine with every movement. Her tits pressed against my chest like two perfect, round pillows.

  I pulled away, gazing in her eyes. “I’m not that tired anymore.”

  “Mmm.” She grinned and gently dug her fingers into my back. “Me neither.”

  And then we were kissing again, harder than before. After a little while she let out this sexy, purring moan and gave my bottom lip an excruciatingly slow lick. I couldn’t take it anymore--I had to get inside of her. Like a reflex, I reached down to the back of her thigh and swung it over my lap to pull her on top of me.

  She squealed and instantly worked her hips until I was inside, exactly like I wanted.

  I grabbed the bottom of her little satin nightgown and lifted it up to her neck. She bent her arms and wiggled out of it as I pulled it over her head and threw it off to the floor. And now, she was naked... also exactly like I wanted.

  Oh yeah, she felt good riding me. Even though it was dark in the room, there was just enough light coming in through the window to show me her lovely, smiling face. I saw the light flicker in her eyes when they looked into mine. She went slowly, tossing her head back just a little every time she descended. I put my arms around her, holding her as close as possible until I couldn’t resist the urge to feel those soft tits. They were even more
enticing in the darkness, with just a little bit of light hitting her milky white skin.

  She giggled. “Making me do all the work, huh?”

  “Enjoying the spoils of victory.” I grinned.

  ”I knew it. You’re lucky I can’t resist you or I’d make you suffer for rubbing it in.”

  I didn’t hold back my smile. I couldn’t. It felt too good to win that bet. “I’ve tried so hard not to rub it in.” I moved my hands to her waist, holding her a little tighter. “Just let me bask in the glory for one night, okay?”

  She sighed. “Okay. One night. Bask away.” Leaning forward, she put her elbows down on the bed, whispering in my ear, “We can fuck as much as we want now, right?”

  “Yes, baby. Yes, yes, yes.”

  She let herself fall forward, pressing her lips against mine. Her hips continued their slow rhythm, rocking back and forth, her pussy squeezing my dick just right. I held her firmly as we kissed, reveling in the feel of her body on top of mine.

  It felt like we were one. Having her there in my bedroom, calling her my girlfriend while my cock was buried deep inside of her... I loved her so much. And I could tell she loved me too, even if she wouldn’t say it out loud.

  That bedroom was the darkest, dreariest place on Earth before I left in May. But now, in November, I had this wonderful new memory of making love to my beautiful girlfriend in that very same bedroom.

  She would be mine, even after January. She didn’t know it yet, but there was no getting away from me.

  I turned my face to whisper in her ear, “I love you, Susie.”

  She responded only by kissing my cheek, then my ear.

  I grabbed her hips and held her in place as I thrust my hips upward.

  She sat up. “Not going fast enough for you?”

  I shook my head. My gaze went down to her body, watching as her breasts bounced with the rapid force of my body pounding her from below.

  It happened faster than I expected. I probably told her I loved her, repeatedly, as I came; I couldn’t help myself. I needed more than just a physical release. After that crazy day, my emotions needed a release, too.

  A few minutes later as I held her beside me, seconds away from slipping into a deep sleep, I made a request. “Let me bask in the glory at least one more time, okay? I was too tired to enjoy it tonight."

  She gave me the same dramatic sigh she gave me before. “Fine. Once more when you’re not so tired. It might have to wait ‘til we get back, though. I have a feeling your family’s gonna keep us pretty busy.”

  “Shit.” I tried not to let myself think about it as I gave her one last squeeze and shut my eyes for the night.

  Tyler

  Wednesday, November 24, 2010

  10:32 a.m.

  Aaron mumbled and groaned incoherently into his pillow until I heard him say, “What time is it?”

  “Ten-thirty.” I sat on the side of his bed, watching him twist around on top of the covers. He was still wearing his work shirt and jeans. “You gonna be all right?”

  “Hmm?” He winced, slowly opening his eyes, his voice low and gravelly. “What’s goin’ on?”

  “I heard you howling from the kitchen a few minutes ago. Got you some tomato juice. It’ll help.”

  His eyes opened all the way as he forced himself to sit up. He immediately winced again and let himself fall back to the pillow in a heap. “Fuck.”

  “Come on. You gotta get up. Aunt Trixie just called to warn me. There’s an ambush on the way.” I put the glass in front of his face and bent the straw down to his mouth. “They probably won’t let you sleep.”

  Slowly, he raised his head just enough to give me room to put my hand under it, against his matted hair, to help guide him to the straw. He took a few sips before his lips curled in disgust. “Man, that’s some nasty shit first thing in the morning.”

  “I know but it’ll make you feel better.” I put the glass down on the barren night table next to his bed.

  Aaron sat up, rubbing his palms against his eyes. “I gotta take a shower.”

  “Yeah, you do. You smell like shit. And you also look like shit.”

  “Fuck you.” His mouth barely formed a grin as he opened his eyes and started to shift his legs around to where I sat.

  I stood up to give him room to put his feet on the floor.

  He sat on the side of the bed, massaging his temples with both hands, cursing under his breath.

  I bent down and curled my arm under his to coax him up. “Come on. You’ll feel better in the shower.”

  Aaron breathed in and stood up beside me. And then, to my shock, he put both of his arms around my back and collapsed against my chest. “Welcome home, bro.”

  “Thanks.” The force of his body almost knocked me down. I steadied myself and hugged him back. “Didn’t expect that. Not after last night.”

  He stepped back, staring up at me. “Was I that bad?”

  I groaned and turned my face away. “Dude, your breath.”

  “Sorry.” He stumbled toward the door. “So, last night was bad?”

  I followed, making sure to stay far away from his mouth. “Well, you hit on my girlfriend and tried to pick a fight with me in the living room. Then you passed out on the couch.”

  “Oh shit. Sorry. I only remember crawling on the floor to bed in the middle of the night.”

  “Yeah, I wondered how you got in here.”

  He turned around and gave me one last glance before walking inside the bathroom. “I’ll make it up to you. We’re all goin’ out Friday night. Whatever you want, it’s all on me. You and Susie both. Okay?”

  “Sure.”

  He closed the bathroom door. I stood in the hall for a few minutes to make sure I didn’t hear him fall down in the shower.

  When I came back to my bedroom, Susie was walking out of our private bathroom, adjusting her earrings.

  “How is he?” she asked.

  “Hungover. Says he doesn’t remember last night.”

  She laughed. “That’s good. I’ll meet him again for the first time, just like I said.”

  “Guess so.”

  Just then, we heard loud knocking at the door. I gave her one last peck on the lips and took her hand to walk out to the living room. I had no idea who was knocking, but I knew there was a high probability that I was about to catch hell for not being in touch.

  Susie

  Wednesday, November 24, 2010

  2:34 p.m.

  “So, you’re the one who’s been keeping our Tyler busy?” Aunt Judy asked.

  Or, at least I thought she was one of his aunts. She sort of looked like a younger Leona, with dark hair and a lot of makeup. I’d met so many relatives, there was no way I could keep them all straight. The women were all obviously customers or recruits of Leona’s Bonita Bliss makeup business. They certainly had the perfume and eye shadow to prove it.

  The house had filled up quickly as people came and went, dropping off casseroles and desserts. Some of the guests only stayed long enough to get a look at Tyler and give him a hug. Others seemed to be there primarily for the food. One of the uncles, a man who walked with a cane and had aged well beyond his years, was there to eat most of Aunt Cookie’s lasagna and he made no apologies about it.

  It seemed like Tyler wanted to stay near me but he kept getting pulled away. Currently, he was outside with his cousin, Nelson, to look under the hood of Nelson’s old car. Leona and Ernie floated between the living room and dining area, mingling with relatives. I often heard Leona’s sharp laugh cutting through the chatter in the small house.

  She and Ernie were both in the living room, sitting on the couch about ten feet away from the dining table, which is where I sat between aunts Judy and Minnie. They were both eating and talking my ear off. Minnie had white hair and looked a bit older than Judy. And I had no idea how she was related to anyone.

  I was unsure if I should give Aunt Judy a real answer to her question. I knew she was probably just trying to make small talk,
but Tyler warned me not to tell some of these people too much because family gossip was a great source of his stress. I picked up my fork, playing with some green bean casserole on my plate. “He’s busy with school, mostly.” It was none of her business that we’d only met seven weeks earlier, or that we didn’t spend every waking minute together because of Tyler’s ridiculous bet... that he eventually won.