Upper Hand (Cedar Tree Book 5)

by Freya Barker

  “There she is,” he whispers only a breath away from my mouth, before nipping at my lips, his tongue tracing the contours. Teasing. At the same time his tongue slides inside and takes possession, his fingers plunge inside my pussy causing my back to arch off the bed. I can’t help grinding down my hips on his hand at the sudden invasion.

  “I own this pussy.” His voice is deep and low against my mouth. I don’t have it in me to argue about ownership, I’m too busy feeling. The slide of his fingers inside me, once, twice, has me so close to the edge, I feel their loss when he slips them from me.

  “Appetizer,” his voice rumbles in my ear, as I feel the touch of his fingers, coated in my arousal, painting my lips before his mouth plunders mine again. The spicy combination of our tastes is heady and the kiss leaves me breathless. Amazing what his mouth can do to my body, just by kissing mine. Other than our lips, there is no other contact, and it’s like every cell in my body is reaching for him. When his mouth pulls away, I’m suspended once again. After the smooth wet slide of his fingers inside me and his tongue in my mouth, the abrupt scrape against the inside of my thighs is a shock to the system. No sooner has my skin adjusted to the harsh touch, it is replaced by the hot wet rasp of his tongue. Again my body shivers at the contrast, but when his mouth closes over my clit and sucks it hard inside his mouth, I’m up and over, shattering apart like particles in the wind. His mouth never leaves and with soft strong strokes of his tongue he brings me down gently.

  “Could taste you all day long,” he says right before a vaguely familiar hum hits my ears. Still lapping around my clit, I feel something slide inside me, the light vibration bringing my body to life again. That’s where my BOB went.

  -

  -

  She’s fucking phenomenal.

  I can feel the moment she gives herself to me. The muscles that strain under my hands go slack, her knees open wide in invitation, and her face now without tension, leaving her open and trusting. No fucking better high than that. Her skin even softer and her taste even sweeter now that all resistance has disappeared. The beautiful flush of her skin, wetness between her legs, and the hitch in her breaths the only measure of my effect on her. So responsive. Even the backscratcher Jed once gave to me on a lark, that for some reason I’d never gotten rid of over the years and had found a permanent spot in my shaving kit, came in mighty handy.

  Fucking love playing with her. Bringing her to the edge before retreating, only to build her up again with a light touch. The moment I slide her own vibrator, the one I confiscated a while back from Max, between her swollen lips while biting down on her still sensitive clit, her body arcs off the bed and a guttural moan wrenches from her body. Before she has a chance to ride out her second orgasm, I’m between her legs, my hands pushing her knees up and open, sinking my aching cock into her. It doesn’t take much and I’m right there. My mouth taking hers in a hungry kiss, I buck hard a few more times when my balls pull tight, and I shoot my cum deep inside her, as she swallows her own name from my lips.

  -

  -

  “Yes, he’s been moved to room 104. Mr. Flemming requested a private room.”

  The nurse at the desk smiles at my confusion.

  “Mr. Flemming?” I repeat, turning around to find Gus right behind me.

  “Be easier to keep an eye on him that way,” he explains. “Things are heating up with the feds closing in on our man, and I’d rather not leave things up to chance.”

  Makes sense, even though I can’t help but consider the lack of income coming from Mason Brothers, with neither Jed or I working right now. I should go in tomorrow to see what I can set up for next week and get in touch with the crews to check progress on the current jobs. So I tell Gus, who follows Beth and I to room 104. “Gotta go into the office tomorrow. See about the business.”

  “Tell me when. One of the guys will come with.”

  I stop outside Jed’s door and turn to Gus. “How long are you gonna keep up covering the three of us—four, counting Max? You’ve got Caleb and Katie with Max, that leaves you and three more guys to cover three of us. Doesn’t leave much time for anything else.”

  “Like I said, Damian swears he is close and has enough to hang Jablonski the moment he can get his hands on him. He keeps me in the loop, and I’m responsible for your security. I’m also still looking for Dylan. One way or another, this will be over soon.”

  “Can’t wait,” Beth voices what I’m thinking. “I need my boys back.”

  I’m worried we haven’t heard anything from Dylan all this time, and I’ve seen the deep concern in Beth’s eyes, too. We haven’t talked about it much for which I’m glad, because I’d hate for her to have the suspicions I do about his fate.

  “I’ll wait out here,” Gus says as I push open the door and let Beth go in first. Lingering a moment in the hallway I turn to Gus.

  “Dylan?” I ask and he cottons on right away.

  “Gone to ground in a way we can’t seem to dig up. Could mean one of three things: Jablonski has him, which doesn’t make sense cause he wouldn’t be after Beth. Same goes for option two; he’s dead, also doesn’t make sense because of Jablonski and besides that his body would’ve likely turned up. And three; he has help—help from someone powerful enough to bury any trace of him. I’m voting three.” His hand reaches around me for the doorknob. “Visit your brother, my friend. Let me do the worrying.” With that he gives me a light shove into the room.

  CHAPTER TWENTY-TWO

  I hear the sliding door open and twist my head to see Beth walking toward me with my phone in her hand.

  I’m making good headway with the tree house. The platform is mostly finished and I’m putting together the walls. They’ll have to go up separately and I’ll need someone to help me with that. The floor of the thing will be at about my eye level, which means most people would be able to stand underneath. I just didn’t want it too high. Even if kids were to fall off, I’d rather have it be six feet than twelve. Max is going to love it.

  I’m just trying to finish up the frame on one side before I clean up and head back into Cortez with Beth. Jed’s doing much better and seems to have avoided any abdominal infection, which is a great relief. The past few days have really gone a long way to eradicating any lingering grudges. Life is too damn short to hang on to them; both Jed and I have been close enough to losing ours to make that really hit home.

  Beth reaches me and puts her hand on my stomach, holding the phone up in the other.

  “Left your phone in the kitchen. It’s some woman for you.” I reach out my hand but she presses the phone to her chest before whispering, “Says she ‘needs’ you, all breathy and sweet. Yuck,” she says rolling her eyes.

  I fight a grin as I take the phone from her hand. She’s a nut.

  “Mason.”

  “Oh hi, Clint.” Sarah fucking Creemore. Should’ve figured. The woman was hard enough to shake off the first time. I lucked out when Jed ended up drawing her attention.

  “What can I do for you, Ms. Creemore?”

  “Please call me Sarah, Clint. No need to be so formal, after all, we did have lunch together.”

  The woman really rubs me the wrong way, so I keep my eyes on Beth when I respond. “Ms. Creemore, we had a business meeting after which my brother took on the work on your house. Now what is the reason for your call?”

  “That’s just it, you see? I can’t seem to get a hold of Jed, and I have a big problem.”

  My turn to roll my eyes. From what Jed’s told me, the bitch is making up shit to keep him busy. I’m sure this is just another ploy for attention. Beth is listening closely, her sweater wrapped tight around her to ward off the cold chill, but her mouth is tilted up at the sides. She enjoying this, the little minx.

  “Jed’s temporarily unavailable. What did you need him for?” I’m being short and borderline rude, but the woman seems unable to take a hint. She just keeps at it with what is probably supposed to be seductive with her sugar-sweet voi
ce and silly giggles, but it only aggravates me more.

  “I have a flood.”

  I wait patiently for more information, but when none is forthcoming, I raise my eyes to the sky and pray for patience.

  “You have a flood.”

  “Yes, there must be a leak in the master bath somewhere because water is coming from the bottom of the vanity.”

  I lift my hat and scratch in frustration at the light stubble that’s growing in on my head. Last I knew, Jed and his crew had finished the new master bath a week or so ago. Dammit.

  “I have to be in Cortez later. I’ll swing by in an hour or so. Check it out.”

  “Oh yay! That’s such a relief,” she titters like a teenage girl, stupid behavior for a grown ass woman. “I’ll make sure to have a pot of fresh coffee and some lunch for you.”

  Oh hell, no.

  “Ms. Creemore,” I say firmly. “I’ll come over to look at the leak. That’s my job. No need for fresh coffee or lunch, it’s not a social visit and I won’t take long.” Before she has a chance to respond I disconnect. That’s when Beth starts laughing, her eyes sparkling with amusement, mouth wide showing her pretty white teeth. I reach out, grab her arm and pull her hard against me. She immediately slides her arms around my waist, head tilted back looking up at me, still with the big smile on her face.

  “Trouble in paradise, baby?”

  “Watch it, woman,” I grunt as I lean in and kiss the smile off her face.

  -

  “So who is this?” Joe asks from the passenger seat.

  I’d called Gus to let him know we were on our way to the hospital, but that I would drop Beth off and head out for a quick check on a job. He suggested Neil, who was our bodyguard for the day, would stay with Beth in the hospital. He would call Joe, who was in town anyway, checking in with the sheriff’s office, and would meet me at the hospital.

  “A pain in my ass is what she is. Doesn’t understand the meaning of ‘I’m not interested,’ and has her eyes set on one or the other Mason brother. Been there, done that, and have the T-shirt.”

  Joe hisses between his teeth. “Sounds like a story.”

  “It is. It’s a long and complicated one, but it’s done. One day over a beer, maybe.”

  “Fair enough.” Joe, good guy that he is, drags my thoughts back to where they should be. “Besides, you’ve got Beth. Nothing like the love of a good woman to put shit in perspective.”

  “You’ve got that right.”

  We say nothing more until we pull into Sarah’s drive. She’s already standing on the porch, waiting with a big smile on her painted face. Dressed to the fucking gills in a skin tight dress that leaves nothing to the imagination, since her tits are spilling out the top, and the bottom barely covers her crotch.

  “Fuck me sideways,” I curse, as Joe says, “Holy shit,” at the same time.

  “Probably should come in with me. Don’t trust the bitch.”

  “I’m thinking not a bad idea. No worries, I’ve got your back,” Joe mutters, getting out of the truck.

  -

  -

  After Clint kissed me goodbye, thoroughly and not caring about Neil and Joe watching, he took off with Joe taking my place in the passenger seat. Off to see to a leak. Whatever. I turn, smile up at Neil and slip my arm through his.

  “Walk me inside, handsome?”

  He does as I ask, despite my attempt to lighten the heavy pall hanging over us and the resulting small lift of the corner of his mouth, Neil is all business. Which in turn makes me all antsy. There’s something in the air.

  “Hey.”

  “Hey. You’re looking a bit better. But we seriously have to find some better places to meet. You guys get a family discount or something?” I joke, earning a smile from Jed.

  “Surprised to see you without my brother attached to your side. Where is he?”

  “Had to go see to a leak,” I smile when I see Jed pull up an eyebrow, “at your favorite customer’s home.” A laugh bubbles up when I see Jed’s face go from questioning to confused, finally twisting in a look of utter disgust.

  “Sarah Creemore? Holy shit, I hope he brought some reinforcement because that woman’s like a piranha. She’s gonna chew him up.”

  “No worries. He’s got Joe with him for muscle.” I snicker at the thought of a bunch of big, brawny, grown men shivering over some woman. “I’ve got Neil. He got Joe.”

  “Things coming to a head?” Jed wants to know, his expression one of concern now.

  “I don’t know. There’s something oppressive in the air though, but that could just be my imagination. Ready for this to be over. I miss my babies.”

  “Still nothing on Dylan?”

  “Not even a hint. But Gus had a theory that he shared with Clint yesterday. Says if anything really bad had happened to him, we’d likely have found him by now. He thinks Dylan had help from someone to stay out of sight.”

  “You don’t say?” Jed covers his mouth when a big yawn escapes on the last word.

  “Why don’t you grab a nap? I’ll go see about something to eat. It’s coming on lunchtime. Can I bring you something back?”

  “Maybe I will, didn’t sleep a lot last night. Don’t need anything from the caf though. I’m still on restricted diet,” he reminds me.

  “Shit. Sorry, totally forgot about that. Anyway, just rest. I’ll be back in a bit.”

  I find Neil chatting in the hallway, a little ways down, with one of Drew’s deputies. Just as Gus has had someone cover Clint and me at all times, turns out Drew has made sure someone had an eye on Jed in the hospital. Neil’s eyes turn to me when he sees me walking up to them.

  “Jed’s having a nap. I’m gonna see if I can grab something at the cafeteria. You guys want something?”

  “I’m good, thanks,” the deputy says, but Neil pushes away from the wall and grabs my hand to pull it through his arm.

  “I’m coming with,” he states, marching us down the hall.

  It’s busy inside the hospital cafeteria. Seems we’ve just caught a shift change or something, because most of the crowd is hospital staff by the looks of it. I grab yogurt and a muffin, just something to tide me over until Clint gets back, and shuffle in the line to the cash register. Once I paid—something Neil made me fight over—I walk away with the win and out the door, when his phone rings. He stops in the hallway to answer it and I keep going toward Jed’s door, giving Neil some privacy. The deputy must’ve gone for a bathroom break or something because his chair is empty when I pass it to go into Jed’s room.

  “Oh, I’m sorry, I can come back later,” I mumble when I find a male nurse bent over Jed’s IV line. He turns to me and smiles.

  “No worries, I’m just giving him the last of his intravenous antibiotics.”

  Jed still appears to be sleeping, since he’s not reacting, but a small niggle of worry has me walk over to the bed and lean over him.

  “Jed?” I barely get his name out before an arm slips tight around my neck, and I feel the pinch of a needle at my neck. Then the world turns black.

  -

  -

  “Jesus that woman is something else.”

  “Jed calls her a piranha, but she’s more like an octopus to me,” I tell Joe, who’s still shaking his head, after we finally manage to get away from the Creemore woman. She’d been completely in my space at every damn turn. Going so far as to step over me as I’m on my belly with my head in the vanity to tighten up the connections that were loose, giving me a full view of her very bare pussy under the much too tight dress she was wearing. Not adverse to exposed pussy normally, this woman’s wares are not a turn on. Not when basically stuck in my face. Fuck. That shit makes me feel almost violated.

  She wasn’t too happy when I asked her, barely hanging on to my temper, to move her ass out of the way so I could get up. Next thing you know, she turns to Joe, rubbing her tits against his arm. By the look of revulsion on his face, he’s no more welcoming to her attention as I was. Christ what a morn
ing.

  “Figure she loosened that shit herself?” Joe asks.

  “Wouldn’t put it past her. Glad I had you there. Figure it kept her from literally throwing herself at me. Although, judging from what almost looked like a vertical lap dance she treated you with, she’s an equal opportunity man-eater.” An involuntary shiver runs through me.

  “Don’t say it often, but that chick needs to get laid in the worst possible way, but I pity the man who steps up to the task.” Joe does his own light shake of the shoulders.

  We’re on our way back to the hospital, to check on Jed and hook up with Beth, when Joe’s phone rings. Just as I hear him swear loudly, I have to slam on my brakes when I turn the corner onto the hospital parking lot. A Healthcare Laundry van comes tearing out of the loading dock, barely missing my front fender. When I look back at the loading dock where it came from, I see Neil jumping down the platform and running for his ride.

  “Go after it!” Joe yells from beside me, pointing at the van that’s now turning right onto North Mildred Road, barreling toward the 160. Takes only a second for me to react, but then I have both hands on the wheel and my foot all the way down on the gas, tearing out of the parking lot.

  “Putting you on speaker phone,” I hear Joe say, and then Gus’s voice sounds clear in the cab of the truck, freezing the blood in my veins.

  “Clint, buddy. Beth’s in that van. Someone got to Beth from inside Jed’s room. Neil was in the hallway, saw a hospital employee come out the door with a laundry cart. He checked the room, found Beth gone and took off after the guy with the cart, only to see them load it in the van and take off. Keep a cool head and listen to Joe.”