by Ranae Rose
He fucked her hard, slowed a little after a few thrusts to ask whether it hurt her hips, being pressed against the table like that.
She said it did but she didn’t care, that she hardly noticed because all she could think about was the fact that she was going to come because his dick was hitting just the right spot inside her, and if he stopped it’d kill her.
He couldn’t accuse her of being melodramatic, not when it felt like stopping would kill him too. The thought alone was unbearable.
“I like it like this, on the table,” she said when he slowed to let her speak. “You’re so hard inside me, and it’s so hard against me – there’s no give. You’re in so deep it hurts a little, and I can’t move to an easier position.”
“Do you want to?” Knowing he was hurting her – that it wasn’t as good for her as it was for him – would be the only thing that could possibly stop him.
“No.” She shook her head, breathless. “I want to feel you when we’re done. I want to feel you after I go home and in the morning when I’m missing you. Fuck me harder. Don’t hold back.”
He groaned, felt a little weak in the knees. Earth-shattering lust held him up, made him strong. He fucked her like she’d asked him to, didn’t worry about anything. Her words had unleashed a floodgate, and the way she moaned and shrieked kept it open.
He was sure he’d feel this long after they were done, too – sex like this would linger as satisfaction deep in his bones, hard fucking imprinted somewhere on his soul. Permanently.
He’d meant it when he’d said he loved her, when he’d parted her pussy lips as he’d drawn his next breath and buried himself to the root inside her. This wasn’t why he loved her, but it was a big part of how.
He loved that she let him show her how he felt like this, loved the way she writhed and moaned beneath him, like his love and his body were the two best things she’d ever been given. Loved that the only thing that went deeper than his cock inside her was the way he felt about her. There was no hesitation and no shame in the way he fucked her or the way he loved her, or the way she fucked and loved back.
There was only honesty. She looked him in the eye – when the position allowed – and told him what she wanted, how she felt. He couldn’t help doing the same right back; it felt natural. It was so easy with her. He’d never imagined he’d have that with anyone.
She exhaled hard, went rigid against the table. “I’m going to come. Don’t stop!”
The note of desperation – fear – in her voice was real. Did she really think he was even capable of stopping now?
He could barely understand the English language anymore, he was so far gone. The only reason her words had registered was because she’d spoken them. “I won’t,” he promised. “I can’t.”
She’d balled her hands into fists, bundles of soft skin and white knuckles above the silver cuffs. The metal caught the light, filled his eyes with stars. She looked phenomenal, bound like that. She was so sure of what she wanted, so full of energy that having her cuffed beneath him almost made him want to stop just to stare, to catch his breath.
Almost.
He pulled back far so he could watch his shaft barreling back into her, thick flesh disappearing into her tight pink folds. It made him even harder to see her stretching to take him in, to see the shine her wetness left on his dick. She’d take charge in a heartbeat if he let her, but when he had her like this, she took everything he gave her and panted like she wanted more. It was the best thing he’d ever seen, heard, felt…
She screamed as he pumped into her, his rock-hard dick being squeezed tighter and tighter by the pulsing in her pussy, contractions that seemed to knock the breath out of her as they made him swear and groan.
Fucking her was the only time swearing felt like a prayer. Something breathed in a moment of awe and desperation, a plea that he’d live to experience this again. And again. And again.
He didn’t want it to ever stop, but his own climax was looming over him as hers ebbed and her screaming became softer, then stopped altogether. She lapsed into saying his name so softly he had to strain to hear it over the sound of his own breathing. Her words lit him up from the inside out, and he felt that he was about to come just like he felt electricity when he was outside during a storm and every hair on his body stood up.
Charged, pulsing, he poured himself into her, groaning as it hit him. He’d probably never come so hard before, but then again, he thought that every time he came inside her. He couldn’t help thinking it. It felt better each time, like he’d never get enough of her.
And when he was done, he still hadn’t had enough. As he pulled out, he could feel the aches and exhaustion in his muscles. He uncuffed her and pulled her close anyway, lifted her up and carried her to his room.
“I know you can’t stay the night,” he said, seeing the question in her eyes.
“And you have to get up super early again, anyway.”
“I know. But don’t leave just yet.”
She stretched out on the bed, then peeled off her crooked top and bra, finally tossing them aside. Next thing he knew she was pressed up against him, naked.
He curled around her reflexively, with an arm across her chest.
Something faintly reflective caught his eye, a muted flash of light on her cheek.
The bottom dropped right out of his stomach. “What’s wrong? Did I hurt you?”
“No, I’m fine. I mean, I ache a little, but it’s the good kind of hurt. Like I said—”
“You want to feel me in the morning.” The words came out half-groan. Just thinking about her saying that gave him an instant hard-on, even after what they’d just done.
“Yeah.”
“Then what’s with the tear?”
There was only one, but that was definitely what it was.
She curled in on herself more tightly, then relaxed, as if by sheer force of will, resting against him again. “Remember when you said you had a bad feeling, a few days before everything that happened in the woods?”
“Yeah.”
“Well, I have a bad feeling now. I’m terrified that something will happen to you.”
He felt her shake and guilt swept over him like an avalanche, burying him. It’d been stupid of him to say that to her, stupid to put that idea in her head.
“I’ll be fine. You worry about yourself, and staying safe. If I know you’re being careful, I won’t have to worry as much, and I can focus on what I’m doing.”
“Saying something doesn’t make it true. If it did I’d be an independently wealthy billionaire living in a beachfront mansion. And you’d be my hired cabana boy, naturally.”
He snorted. “I guess that’d be all right, but only because I’d get to stand behind you all day and stare at your ass while you wore a bikini.”
She laughed, but only for a second. “I can’t lose you, Henry. I can’t even stand the thought. So be careful tomorrow.”
“You’re working tomorrow evening, right?”
She nodded.
“I’ll stop by Wisteria after work – come see you. How’s that?”
“I’ll make dinner for you. My mom will be there – she’s coming to eat at the restaurant. I’ll be working, but it’ll be nice to see you, even if it’s only for a little while.”
“I’ll be there. I promise. Does that make you feel better?”
“Yes. I still prefer the cabana boy scenario, though.”
The thought of her in her red bikini made his dick ache. “Me too, but that’s strictly between us. I’ll never admit it if you tell anyone else.”
CHAPTER 29
“Just thought I’d let you know your mom’s here.” Alicia stood in the kitchen’s open back doorway, leaning on the frame.
“Great. Thanks.” Sasha poured the contents of a pot into a colander and left them there to cool. “So are you and Kerry going to stay for dinner too?”
Alicia glanced back at the house. “Yeah, but Kerry said she’d be a little late fi
nishing up her shift today. Those exterminators are here – you know, the ones who are supposed to get rid of the rats. They were going to come earlier but ended up rescheduling several times. Apparently there was a bat crisis in the municipal building that took priority.”
“Why do they need Kerry’s help? I thought the rats were only in the basement.”
Alicia shrugged. “They want to check the house for any signs of rats there, just in case. Faye asked Kerry to show them around.”
“Okay. Well, the shrimp will be ready in fifteen minutes, and trust me, you want to eat them fresh. Has my mom already been seated?”
“I think so.”
“I hope they put her at a big enough table for everyone. If they didn’t, will you ask them to?”
“Sure. It’s just her, me and Kerry, right?”
Sasha shook her head. “Henry’s coming, but he’ll probably be late. Just save him a seat. Feel free to invite Liam too, if you want. And Grey – wouldn’t want to leave him out when they’ll all be getting off work together.”
“We might all be done eating by the time they arrive, if they work today like they have been all week. Liam’s been lucky to get home by dusk.”
“I know. But they’ll be hungry, regardless of what time it is. Plus, I’d like Henry to meet my mom and this seems like a good opportunity.”
“Wow. Are things that serious already?”
Sasha fanned herself with the end of her apron, knowing Alicia would assume it was because of the kitchen’s stifling heat. The air conditioner had crapped out again. “I guess so.”
“Well, I’d say I’m surprised, but I guess I’m not when I really think about it. You’ve been head over heels for him ever since you first laid eyes on him. And it was obvious he was into you too.”
Sasha grinned. “Was it? I wondered, at first. Good thing I persevered.”
Alicia laughed. “So when do I get to plan the wedding?”
“Okay, hold on. No one said anything about a wedding. But for the record, I’ve always thought a wedding on the beach would be nice. So if you have some spare time on your hands and feel like looking into that… I guess it wouldn’t hurt.” She winked.
“Okay, but you have to tell me – is the reason you want to get married on the beach so you can wear a bikini during the ceremony?”
“Ha! For your information, I wouldn’t dream of missing out on the chance to pick out a wedding dress. The bikini will go under my gown, of course, and instead of doing a garter toss afterward, Henry could just rip off my whole dress. The photos would be priceless, don’t you think?”
“I think they’d be very you.”
Sasha nodded. “Well, it gives you somewhere to start with the plans. But do me a favor and don’t mention any of this to Henry – I want the gown toss to be a surprise.”
“Of course. We have planner-client confidentiality. Let me know when he proposes and we’ll get the ball rolling. Meanwhile, I’ll see if tear-away wedding dresses exist.”
“Sounds good.” Sasha winked. “Now, if you’ll excuse me, I’ve got some shrimp to drown in butter. Feel free to go inside and have a seat with my mom – I’ll see you when I bring out the food. I’ll be serving it myself.”
“Sounds good to me.”
Sasha turned and commenced with the shrimp drowning, first crushing garlic and chopping the parsley she’d use as a garnish. It was just her and Becca, one of the line cooks, in the kitchen. Becca was more than competent. While Sasha prepared all of the food for her mother, Henry and friends herself, Becca was handling the orders placed by the only two other guests.
It wasn’t a very busy evening – something Sasha was grateful for, even if that fact did make her feel a little guilty. Wisteria had next to no diners and guests because of the panic that had gripped Riley County. Most people were either holed up at their homes or in front of Cypress’s courthouse picketing the prison. Though it was July, tourists were conspicuously absent from the area, having cancelled last minute.
Randy Levinson’s rampage was taking a heavy toll on the little town at the height of tourist season. Still, the economic damage paled in comparison to the psychological impact, and the lives that’d been lost. Riley County was a mess.
Because of the lack of customers, Sasha would be able to serve her family and friends herself, make sure everything was perfect. For some people, having to work while everyone else ate would be a drag, but she was in full-on chef mode. The idea of making something especially for people she cared about and seeing them enjoy it was deeply satisfying. This was why she’d decided as a kid that she wanted to be a chef – she loved making people happy with food. It was a sort of thrill.
As a pre-teen, she’d dreamed of winning the hearts of her celebrity crushes – the Backstreet Boys in particular – with her culinary skills. The thought made her grin now, but in truth, she hadn’t changed much. Her heart beat a little faster as she thought of Henry, and sure enough, the desire to impress him with her cooking was there.
So far, she’d only really cooked for him a few times, during group get-togethers. The spaghetti she’d made one night didn’t really count. This was her first chance to make whatever she wanted for him in a professional kitchen – it was time to pull out all the stops.
“Mmm. Is that cornbread I smell?” Becca appeared at Sasha’s shoulder, carrying a freshly-seared yellow fin tuna steak on an artfully garnished plate.
“I’m making it for my mom,” Sasha explained. “I know it’s not what most people would serve with a meal like the one I’m making, but… It’s a long story.”
Becca shrugged. “I’d eat good cornbread any day, with anything. You don’t have to explain yourself to me.”
Sasha cast a glance over her shoulder at the oven. Ten more minutes and the bread would be done. No way was she going to let it burn this time – no one would distract her, not even Henry.
The rich scent of garlicky butter replaced the comforting aroma of cornbread as she sautéed the shrimp, taking special care not to overcook them. By the time they were done, her stomach was growling.
Fortunately, she’d made more than enough to set some aside for her and Becca. She’d bought the shrimp fresh that morning before she’d come into work, at her favorite local seafood vendor. They didn’t get any fresher than the ones she’d selected.
She arranged them on appetizer plates and placed a lemon slice twist on each one, experiencing a twinge of regret when she realized Henry wouldn’t be able to eat his fresh, unless he arrived soon. Glancing at the cupboard in the back of the kitchen where she stowed her personal belongings, she decided to check her phone for the millionth time that day.
There was no message from Henry yet, and so she tucked it away. There’d been a time when she’d carried it on her person, but dropping it into a sauce pan and suffering first degree burns from the splashing gravy had taught her a lesson.
As she placed her phone back in the cupboard, she told herself how stupid it was to worry. Henry had been working late every day – the fact that he hadn’t contacted her yet was nothing out of the ordinary. And yet, she couldn’t shake the bad feeling she’d mentioned to him the night before, the sense of foreboding that’d been dogging her ever since she’d caught sight of a woman in a long white dress on Wisteria’s grounds.
It was stupid, really. She’d only seen the woman in her peripheral vision. Maybe she’d imagined it – stress could mess with the mind, make people see things that weren’t really there. She’d always claimed to believe in Wisteria’s ghosts, especially the Lady in White – the female ghost who always appeared in a white gown and was considered a harbinger of danger.
Now that she might’ve had a sighting herself though, she didn’t want to believe. And she’d been too embarrassed – and afraid – to mention it to Henry.
Even though her possible sighting had occurred shortly before Randy Levinson had opened fire on her and Henry.
“I’ll be right back,” she called to Becca. “I’m
going to take these shrimp out to my table while they’re still hot.”
“Need some help?”
“No, I’ve got it, but thanks.” Sasha had waited tables during school, and she still had a knack for carrying way too many plates at once. She made it to the table where her mother and Alicia were seated without incident.
“Those almost smell too good to eat,” her mom said, seated directly next to Alicia. The other chairs were empty.
“Kerry hasn’t joined you yet?”
Alicia shook her head. “No, I guess there was a hold-up with the exterminators.” She lowered her voice to a near-whisper. “I hope this doesn’t mean rats have gotten into the main part of the house.”
“You and me both.” Sasha wasn’t squeamish, but rats were filthy and the last thing she wanted was for a population of them to be thriving so close to the restaurant. They could be hell to keep out of a kitchen. “I’m glad they’re taking care of the problem before it gets out of hand, though.”
Alicia agreed, then took a bite of shrimp. “God, Sasha, these are amazing.” She closed her eyes, as if shutting out the rest of the world.
Sasha grinned. “Just a little butter, salt and garlic, plus some spice. The real secret is to buy them fresh and not overcook them.”
She reveled in praise from her mother and Alicia for a few moments, until she started to worry that Kerry’s shrimp would get cold. “You know what? I’m going to pop over to the house and see if I can’t get Kerry over here. You know how hard she works – I wouldn’t be surprised if she was going above and beyond what Faye asked her to do.”
“Aren’t you busy in the kitchen?” Alicia stood. “I can check on her for you.”
“No, sit down and eat! It’ll only take me a minute.” She dashed back to the kitchen before Alicia could protest, explaining herself quickly to Becca before walking out the back door.
Her Crocs squeaked against the grass, which was damp from a recent rain shower. Thinking of Henry, Liam and Grey trudging around in the rain carrying weapons and heavy gear made her frown.
