Indulgence

by Liz Crowe

  His face softened. “I just saw my best friend being fucked! Though it was damn hot seeing you ride a sexy cowboy … ” he looked me up and down and continued, “that was just twisted and evil. You knew I would be coming to wake you up like I do every day!”

  “Actually, I was a little busy with the Stud here to remember that you’d be making your morning wakeup call. But I’m not sorry I forgot. That was too good.” They both laughed. “You gotta admit, it was a good burn.”

  “I think I need a shower now. Seeing Hank in all his cowboy yumminess, I need to go home and spank Dean.” Spank Dean? More information than I needed to hear about the pipsqueak and his sexual preferences.

  “Well, you do that. I’m going to take my angel here and dirty her up some more. Tell the nurse to come back in an hour. Thanks, Buddy, and sorry for yelling at ya. I was as surprised as you were by her joke,” I said, trying to make a small effort with her friend. Seemed as though the way to her happiness was a wicked orgasm and making this guy happy.

  His smile split across his entire face. His teeth were a startling white. “Buddy? I like it,” he mused and then turned to leave.

  “That was good of you, Hank. You’re going to have to get over some of your jealousy toward Oliver. He’s very gay and very in love with his boyfriend Dean. Actually, you might like Dean. He’s a firefighter.”

  “I don’t have any gay friends, so it’s not every day that I see a guy openly talking about being with one. I don’t really care what he does in his personal time but he doesn’t need to be seeing you naked. That’s reserved for me, and me alone.”

  “Is that right?” Her eyes were swirling with heat.

  “Damn straight!” I smacked her on the ass. “Now about that bath.” She laughed and ran to the bathroom.

  “Come on, Stud. The water’s mighty fine,” she called from the bathroom, butchering a Southern accent.

  Chapter Eight

  We spent the next two weeks in a similar routine. I’d go to work; Hank would wreak havoc on my home staff and check in with me and his crew by mobile. Gustav my chef didn’t understand the relationship between Hank and I, but neither did I.

  Spending time really analyzing it hadn’t been at the top of my list of things to do. Instead, I preferred to enjoy the easy relationship we’d grown accustomed to, even though I kept waiting for the shoe to drop. I knew one day it would.

  Every day Hank would greet me with an earth-shattering kiss, leaving me breathless and ready for him in mere seconds. We’d discuss our day, chat about different things we didn’t know about one another, eat whatever Gustav prepared, and spend our evenings making love like wild animals. I rather enjoyed the routine. Having someone to come home to was new to me. Even Butch wormed his way into my heart.

  “Tomorrow I’m gettin’ outta here.” Hank took a monster-sized bite of his garlic bread. The man was just so damned big. Everything he did seemed monumental.

  Panic started to rise, my heart pounding out of my chest. “What do you mean? You’re leaving? But … ”

  Hank cut me off before I could start in. “Darlin’, don’t worry your pretty little head. I’m not leaving you, I’m leaving the house. It’s been over two weeks and I’m going crazy, shoulder-bitin’ crazy.” My entire body physically relaxed. “’Sides, I need to check in on my men. Make sure they’re keeping up their end of the work.”

  “Okay, I’ll have my driver take you.”

  “Nope. I can drive myself. My truck’s automatic and the therapist thinks it would be a good idea for me to start stretchin’ myself a bit. Push the limits, ya know?”

  “Really? So soon? You just started showing real improvement in your mobility.” I thought back to earlier that morning when he fully gripped my hips and rammed into my body from behind making me scream out in pleasure. He was definitely getting better. I could feel the warm blush spread across my cheeks and down my neck.

  “Yup. I’d love to drive you to work tomorrow.” His eyes were close to pleading.

  Smiling, I agreed knowing my security team would not appreciate this option. Having a lot of money had its disadvantages, and concern for my safety was one of them. Between disgruntled employees and the everyday wacko, I couldn’t be too careful, and getting into a truck not manned by my security team was risky. Hank would keep me safe though. If anything, our concern for one another was growing in spades over the past couple weeks. Besides, if he’d throw his body under a sky raining metal pipes, I think he’d ensure I got safely to my building.

  “So it’s settled then.”

  “What’s settled?” A voice called from the entryway to the dining room. I knew that voice. Grew up hearing the shrill tone, so high at times it could pierce an eardrum.

  Hank looked confused. “Who the hell are you? Jesus, Angel! Your security in this place needs some fixin’!” He stood up from the dining table and put himself between me and the she-devil.

  I turned slowly as my mother’s shocked face looked Hank up and down before her stoic exterior wall went back up. Yeah, he’s that impressive.

  “Hello, Mother,” I said with no endearment. I needed to talk to the clerk managing the doors. Remove family members from having immediate access to my home. Now that Hank was here, you never knew what position we’d be in. That thought put a little smile on my face.

  “Aspen, Darling. I just heard about your accident,” even though it happened two weeks ago, I wanted to add, “and wanted to come and check on you.” She looked between Hank’s imposing form and then back to me. “I see you have company. I apologize for intruding.” Her long over-trained manners made her sound almost polite and concerned for my welfare. I knew better.

  “I’m fine, Mother, as you can see. This is Hank Jensen. He’s the man who saved my life.”

  “Oh?” Her eyebrows rose to the ceiling. “So I am in your debt then.” She thrust out a hand. Hank lifted it to his lips and kissed her knuckles in a move that was very old-fashioned. His Southern ways were quite charming.

  “Pleasure to meet you, ma’am.” He gestured to a seat and pulled it out for my mother. Damn Hank and his gentlemanly behavior. I wanted the woman out of my house, not sitting at my table.

  “Don’t mind if I do, Hank. Thank you.” She sat ramrod straight and delicately placed her hands into her lap.

  “Would you like some dinner, Mother? I can have Gustav bring you something.” Please say no, please say no, please say no …

  “No thank you. A lady has to keep her girlish figure.” Her eyes grazed over my huge plate of pasta. Normally I didn’t eat this way, but I did work out a lot and Hank had been working me double-time in the bedroom. “I would love a martini though, Darling.”

  “Sure. Just a moment.” I got up and went to the kitchen to request the martini and another bottle of wine for me. I had a feeling this unannounced visit had more to it than motherly concern. She was not the type to fawn over her children.

  Growing up, she never cleaned a wound, kissed a boo-boo better, stayed up with us when we’d had nightmares. None of that. All of the normal things a good mother did were done by highly paid nannies. London and I still spent time with ours and bought Christmas presents for them, celebrated our birthdays together, but Rio probably couldn’t even remember their names. He had always been self-absorbed. Just like my mother.

  I made my way back to the dining room and could hear her highness grilling Hank. If she ruins this relationship for me, I’ll disown her. Relationship? I came to a screeching halt. Thinking about Hank and me as anything more than friends with benefits was going to get me in a world of hurt. Besides the jealous outbursts with Oliver and the possessiveness of my body between the sheets, he’d never so much as hinted at anything more.

  I wasn’t even sure I wanted more.

  Yes, things between us had been great—fantastic even—but how long would that last? Until he recovered? Probably. He was a cowboy from Texas. His business happened to be doing work in New York. That didn’t mean he’d be here in
definitely, and there was no way I’d be able to leave the city. Leave Air Bright for what? A man. Even in my head it sounded ludicrous. We were having fun. A lot of fun.

  We were compatible physically and I genuinely enjoyed his company. He was different from anyone else I knew, better somehow. His honesty, character, and moral values were appealing, but that wasn’t enough. You actually needed to live the in the same state. Everyone knew long distance relationships never worked out, and trying to make it work with people from two different classes was an added knife in the shit cake that was my love life. Confused and downtrodden, I entered the dining room.

  “So you’ll come, then?” were the dreaded words I heard come from my mother’s perfect crimson-stained lips.

  “Sure thing. I was just telling Aspen here that I was going stir crazy on account I’d been stuck here for two weeks. Dinner with the family sounds great!”

  “You’ve been staying here for two weeks?” It was the first time in a long time I’d seen my mother at a loss for words. Her perfect temperament slid off balance. Her fingers gripped the seat of the chair cushion and her lips formed a tight line. It gave me a great deal of pleasure to see her slip off her pedestal. Point for Hank!

  “Yes, ma’am! Aspen’s been taking real good care of me.” He threw a wink my way. “So don’t you worry yourself none.” Oh Hank. She didn’t give a damn about him and his health. She was worried about what it would look like for others to find out that he was staying with me. To her it was as if I’d taken in a filthy stray.

  “Excuse me … ” I butted in.

  “Oh, it’s settled then. Darling, your friend Mr. Jensen is going to attend our dinner party at the estate.”

  “You know, I don’t think that’s such a good idea. Hank’s treatments have been exhausting and … ”

  “Oh nonsense. The man obviously wants to get out, don’t you, dear?” The sweet man ate it up. It was like watching the evil witch give Snow White the poisoned apple.

  “Absolutely. Angel, you know I’m doing heaps better. ‘Sides, I’d love to meet your family.” He dug into his pasta, happy as a clam. Poor guy just didn’t know any better. She was planning to feed him to the society mavens and make a spectacle of him. My mother was nothing if not imaginative in her attacks.

  Her plastic smile was on full display, her emotionless mask making her appear even colder.

  “Angel?” she asked, her eyes pointed and squinting.

  “Hank likes nicknames.” I didn’t really need to defend his pet name for me, but my mother brings out the psycho in anyone within a ten-foot radius. Hank seemed completely immune, just eating his dinner with fervor.

  I pushed my plate away, no longer hungry.

  “I’m glad you didn’t eat all of those carbs. You’re not as young as you used to be. You’re close to thirty. A good man doesn’t want a fat wife, remember that, dear.”

  I held my breath and counted to ten so I wouldn’t throttle her.

  “Hey now, she’s got nothin’ to worry about in that department.” His eyes bored into mine, heated desire pooling in those honeyed depths. “Her body is fantastic.” His gaze scanned my plate. “You’re not hungry, Darlin’?”

  My mother was stunned, mouth agape and eyes wide. If there was a doubt to the extent of our “relationship” before, there definitely wasn’t now. The thought actually thrilled me. Knowing she’d spend hours on end fretting over my lack of social class and snubbing my nose at my proper upbringing would give her a heavy dose of anxiety. Maybe she’d rethink that invitation and call it off.

  “Not anymore, thank you, Hank. Mother, if that’s all, I’ll see you out.” Hank stood when I did, the consummate gentleman. He walked us both to the door.

  “Mrs. Reynolds, it was good to meet ya.” Hank brought her hand to his lips for the second time that evening. I made a mental note to have him wash his face before he kissed me again.

  “It sure was a surprise meeting you. Thank you for assisting Aspen. I look forward to seeing you tomorrow, Mr. Jensen.” Her saccharine sweet tone made me want to gag.

  “Goodbye, Mother,” I said, trying to close the door. She air kissed both sides of my cheeks. When she was gone, I leaned against the door with a heavy thud and closed my eyes.

  “What’s the matter, Darlin’?” Hank’s fingers traced the edges of my hairline. Home. His touch was becoming a necessity, something I craved and I leaned into it until his large hand was cupping my jaw.

  “Hank, what’s happening between us?”

  “What do you mean? We’re enjoying each other’s company. Immensely, I might add.” He waggled his eyebrows suggestively, his hands gripped my hips. “And I’m healing up. Gettin’ stronger every day.” He thrust his pelvis against me playfully.

  His response was exactly why I hadn’t allowed myself to fall, to feel something more for this beautiful man. When he was healed, he’d go back home to his ranch, to his real life.

  “I’ll make excuses about the event tomorrow. There really is no need for you to attend. I, on the other hand, will not be able to avoid it. If she paid a visit that means my father will be next if I don’t show.”

  His face scrunched up, his mouth twisting into a grimace. “Why wouldn’t I go? I meant what I said. I’d love to meet the rest of your family. I met your wacky sister and your mother seemed nice enough.”

  “Don’t let her fool you. She’s a wolf in sheep’s clothing. She only came here to check you out.”

  He shrugged his shoulders. “Don’t care. Doesn’t bother me none. But we’re going to that shindig.”

  This was going to be a disaster. Hank would be his fun-loving, straightforward cowboy self, and my family would be ready to pounce. It was like throwing a steak in a tank of piranhas.

  “Hank, this is not like a family barbeque.” I blew a frustrated breath over my forehead. “It’s a high society social gathering. The place will be chock full of high-powered executives, politicians, people with more money than God … ”

  “Are you saying I won’t fit in, Darlin’? I can hold my own.” His gaze searched mine. The next four words shook me to my core. “Do I embarrass you?”

  “Of course not! No, I … no. I just don’t think you’ll enjoy yourself.”

  “And you will?”

  “Well, no. But I never do. Being with my family is a necessary evil.” I slid my hands over his broad torso, trying to express how very much I didn’t want him to be near that kind of evil. He gripped my hands to his chest.

  “Angel, I’m going to escort you to that party. I’m going to dance with you in front of your family. I’m going to show you that you can have fun anywhere as long as you’re with the right person.” Was he even real? It wasn’t possible that there was something so good in the world.

  “God, Hank, I could get used to you so easily.” But I won’t.

  He laughed and kissed me, tentatively at first, then pulled an inch away, our breath still mingling. “I should hope the hell so. I’m not going anywhere anytime soon. You’re stuck with me, Angel.”

  “Do you mean that?” I whispered, keeping my eyes closed tight, not wanting to see his response. He kissed each eyelid and leaned his forehead against mine.

  “I wouldn’t have said it if I didn’t.”

  Ever since her mom visited yesterday, Aspen acted differently. She seemed almost sad when she got ready for work this morning and left for the office. We didn’t make love. She said she had a headache and scampered off like a scared kitten to the washroom to shower and get ready for work.

  Alone.

  She barely pecked me on the lips as she left. Thinking back, that may have been the first morning we hadn’t made love since I moved in. Had I really moved in, or was I just staying here? I thought things were progressing nicely between us. When I wasn’t with her, I wanted to be. But maybe she didn’t feel that way.

  Something was off. When she left this morning, it felt like she was stepping back from me. All I knew is that she held my heart in a vice
and my balls in her grip. All she had to do was bat those pretty eyelashes and I was damn near putty in her tiny hands. Whatever it was, I was gettin’ to the bottom of it tonight.

  A knock sounded on my bedroom door. Technically I hadn’t actually slept in the room yet, but it held all my clothes and things. It was probably the therapist. That girl was a looker, but nothin’ like my girl. One thing they had in common though was the over achieving. She was set on pushing me just to my breaking point every day with my treatments and Aspen encouraged her. I didn’t look forward to it, but if I was honest with myself, the progress I was making did give me something to smile about.

  “Come in,” I hollered, a smile plastered across my face. Thinking about my girl did that.

  “Hello, Hank.” Oliver strode in, a fierce set to his thin lips. He went straight to my closet without a word and swung the hangers on the rod from left to right with a quick, practiced hand.

  Such a strange fella. He’d pause a moment on one piece or another, then continue smacking the hangers around. He was Aspen’s best man-friend, not mine. I was making an effort, though. Seemed as if the guy was happy, my woman was happy. So, I did what any hot-blooded American man who wanted to keep getting laid would do: I decided to befriended the guy. Well, sort of.

  “Mind telling me what you’re doing there Buddy? Aspen’s already at work. Shouldn’t you know that?” He smiled secretively. I didn’t particularly like his face, especially not when he was hiding something.

  “Well, cowboy, our Aspen tells me you are going to the Bright-Reynolds estate to attend a social gathering. Everyone who’s anyone will be in attendance, including yours truly.” He pulled at my clothes, a deep frown set to his pinched features. “You don’t have anything suitable. Just as I thought. We’re going shopping. I’m rescheduling your therapy for this afternoon.”