Jay stops eyeing my walls and looks at me. “He can and he might. Wrap your mind around it.”
We’re both silent, letting his words sink in. Sighing, he stares at his polished shoes. “You did what you did. And now you need to come clean.”
I swallow and nod. “That’s why I’m going. Is…?” I swallow again, trying to relieve my dry throat. “Is he there?” I croak out.
Jay’s eyes assess me. “Picked him up this morning, dropped him off at the estate.” He turns away, again inspecting my art on the walls. Any other time I would happily discuss it, but not today, not right now.
“I need to know,” I say.
He keeps looking at one of my favorites. “What is it you need to know, Tess? I was told to come get you. Here I am. I was told to make sure you bring everything. I’m assuming you understand what that means and that you are cooperating?” He lifts a dark questioning brow at me.
I turn toward him, “Who said that?”
“Jax.”
Panic races up my back, causing goose bumps on my arms.
“Reed’s changed. I’m not going to lie and say it’s for the better. It’s in his eyes. He’s seen things that have made him ruthless.”
I sink down in my chair and gesture for him to take a seat on the couch.
Turning off the opera music, I murmur, somewhat dazed, “You know Brance is coming with me, right? I need him.” The last twenty-four hours seem like a bad dream that I wish I would awaken from.
“Whatever you need.” He leans back, stretching his legs out in front of him. I fidget with my watch.
“He wanted to get some of the energy out before getting on the plane. He’ll be here soon.”
“Relax, Tess. I’m not your enemy.”
I cross my legs, looking at my new Louboutin Bianca platform boots. I wasn’t going to buy them because I don’t usually spend that kind of money on shoes anymore. But Brance wouldn’t leave the store until I had them. So, here I sit in my house, waiting, uncomfortable, a nervous wreck, and all I can think about is admiring my boots? Christ, I really am losing it!
I clear my throat. “So, Brance and I are going to stay at the Plaza. Did Jax give you any information about when the funeral is?”
Jay looks at me. “I think everyone expects you to stay at the estate.”
My cheeks heat up. “What?” I stand and start to pace. “Well, I can’t do that!” My breaths come in shallow and fast. “If that is what Jax is thinking, then you might as well turn around and leave because I… I can’t do that!” I’m stuttering in full-blown panic.
The room is silent, except for my boots clicking on the hardwood floors. I run my fingers through my straightened hair. Fear like I have never experienced crawls all over my skin.
Jay stands. “I guess I need to make a phone call then.”
“Yes, you do. You know what? Screw it. I’ll call.”
Taking my own phone, I walk into the dining room and push on Jax’s name. Figures, it goes to voice mail!
My hands shake as I call again. At long last, Jax growls, “What?”
“You didn’t honestly think I was going to waltz in there after being gone for years and confess to Reed, did you? Your poor family has just lost your grandfather—a man I genuinely loved. For fuck’s sake, Jax, he is not even buried yet.” I try to stay calm and sound reasonable. The last thing I need is Jax knowing that I’m ready to have a complete breakdown.
“You didn’t honestly want me to do all that. Tell me you didn’t!”
“Tess, I have been up for almost two days. I’m fucking exhausted. What we did was wrong on so many levels—” I try to talk, but he raises his voice and talks over me. I give up and listen. “Reed made his mistakes, and he is paying for them. It’s time he knows, Tess. Get on the jet or I’ll tell him everything. And you can deal with him alone banging down your door in LA.”
I tilt my head up and stare at my white ceiling, taking deep breaths. “Please, I’m going to tell him, I promise. And I appreciate everything you have done and still do for me. Trust me, I know Reed. Blindsiding him right now will cause more damage. I won’t do it.”
Jax is silent. “You will do it. You have to.”
“That’s not what I mean,” I snap, losing patience. After all, I’m the one with the secret eating me from the inside out. “Yes, I’m going to do it! I was hoping to at least get through the funeral first. You know how many people are going to pay their respects to you and your parents? Me showing up is going to be a fucking mess as it is. Telling him the truth as soon as we get to New York is crazy!”
His silence tells me he’s thinking. Poor Jax. I love him like a brother. But Jesus, when he gets his mind set on something.
“It’s time to tell him. I’m not denying that. But please think. This is not the right time. After the funeral, okay?”
He sighs. “Tess what you fail to understand is that we’re all involved in this dirty secret. None of our hands are clean. My dad and mom are sick over worrying what Reed is going to do. Literally, we had to sedate my mother earlier. They need this to be over.”
My head is throbbing. I lean against my polished wooden dining table. Silence fills the phone.
Finally, I speak. “I can’t, Jax. I have to think of what’s best for everyone involved. Telling Reed as soon as I land is not going to happen. So, I guess if you can’t respect my wishes then you do what you have to do. Also, we will not be staying at your grandfather’s estate. You let me know if you can live with that. Otherwise I will send some flowers.” I push End on my phone.
Oh God, this is so bad. I don’t even have Jax on my side and other than Brance, he’s my partner in crime.
Jay’s phone rings, and I assume it’s Jax, letting him know my fate. I walk into my bedroom, shutting the door, and make my way into the huge bathroom—my one big splurge. I had a contractor come in and knock out a wall so that my bathroom is the size of a bedroom. I love it. It’s my safe haven. My gaze absently drifts over my custom bathtub large enough for three. Separate shower, over by the window. I even had special lighting put in, so that when I put on my makeup, it’s perfect. An extravagant, gold-striped, antique couch sits in the corner. Like a sleepwalker, I make my way to it and sink down.
Jax is obviously exhausted and not thinking straight. I know what I have done is wrong. But he was there. He supported my decision. In fact, if I remember correctly, he helped make it for me. Or did he? Maybe he protected me because that’s what he and Reed have always done. A light tap alerts me that my time is up. Standing, I square my shoulders back and walk out to whatever my future holds.
REED
Past – twenty-one years old
New York, NY
“Nice shot, Kitten.” I’m standing behind Tess as she bends over the worn green felt of the pool table.
“Why the hell would you wear this skirt?” Growling, I take in her long tan legs as she straightens up.
With a sassy grin, she ignores my question and starts singing “Take on Me,” a shitty eighties song that’s playing on the sound system. Fuck, I love her. My lips twitch as she throws her arms around me and grinds her hips against me.
“Christ, Tess, I’m serious. I can see your G-string when you bend over.” Glancing around the Irish pub, I look to see if anyone is checking out my girl’s goods. Of course they are. You would have to be dead not to. In her defense, we thought we were meeting up with Jax for breakfast. But as we were walking out the door, he called to say he hadn’t even left Harvard yet. So here we are, drunk on shots of Jameson and playing pool at three in the afternoon. Tess pulls my ear to her lips. She smells like vanilla and Jameson. Is there anything better?
“Reed?” she tries to whisper.
I grin because she is so goddamn cute when she’s fucked up.
“Yeah, Kitten?” I wrap my arm around her.
“I want to take you in the bathroom and suck you off.” She’s loud, so the couple next to us stares in shock.
I glare at
them but pull Tess close and whisper in her ear to keep it down. “Stop it.”
Pulling away, she stomps her foot like the brat she is. I can’t believe I allowed her out of our apartment in this outfit. Tank top and white Converse complete her gorgeousness.
“I want to be gagging on your thick cock now!” Launching herself into my arms again, she rubs herself on me much like a kitten would.
“Jesus, Tess.” I can’t help but laugh. “I think you’re cut off, babe.”
She glares at me. “Are we going?” She licks her pink pouty lips. Thank God, they’re normal again.
“You want me to get the check? Even though you’re actually winning this game?” I tease, knowing exactly what she wants. But a hole-in-the-wall bathroom is not the right place for Tess to give me a blow job.
Her eyes narrow on me. “We’re not leaving.” Taking my hand, she pulls all six four of me into the small women’s bathroom.
Locking the door, I can’t help but smirk. She’s determined, I’ll give her that. I watch with amusement as she takes in the dirty floor. But she surprises me. Grabbing a bunch of paper towels, she drops them on the floor and kneels down. Her hands go straight for my cock, which has been hard the last hour.
I should stop this. After all, we’re both drunk and deserve better. But I don’t because my balls have been uncomfortable for too long. I almost had a heart attack at the view she presented me with when she leaned over to take that first shot, her tiny black G-string barely covering her pink pussy. Every shot she took on that ratty pool table, I grew harder until I almost picked her up and fucked her on it. But since I’m graduating next month, I’m trying to be good, presentable. Instead, I sent the death stare at every single asshole in the place. Stood behind her like the good boyfriend I am. Guarding what’s mine. No one gets to see her perfect cunt but me.
She pulls down my basketball shorts and moans with delight when my erection springs free.
“I love your cock…sooo much. I love, love it!” She sucks the tip, sliding her pink tongue around the edge.
“Fuck,” I groan, and I’m gone. My head thumps on the bathroom stall. I’m going to allow her to suck me off in a shithole and love it. Her tongue licks my slit and then she takes me all the way to the back of her throat.
“God, Kitten, you are the best.” My voice is like gravel.
She smiles up at me. “I ought to be. You’re the one who taught me.” Her hand grabs at my base and squeezes tight. Then her mouth—that fucking sweet mouth—is sucking my cock hard. With every bob of her head, she tries to take me farther until I’m ready to jet off in her warm mouth. I fist her thick dark hair and guide her head as she makes the hottest sucking noises. Her other hand goes to my tight balls and starts to massage them as her lips suck my cock deep. I lean my head back, banging it against the door, letting Tess use her magic on my dick. In and out she sucks and pumps her hand.
“Yeah… Kitten, that’s it, I’m going to come. You ready?”
She moans her want and squeezes my balls tight. And I literally explode in her mouth. Spasm after spasm of ecstasy spurts into the back of her throat.
“Fuck… Tess.” I jerk one last time. Pulling her up, my hands under her arms, I kiss her, my tongue going deep inside her mouth. Tasting myself on her tongue, I pull back. “Sorry, that was a lot to swallow, wasn’t it?”
Her eyes are half-closed, and she looks so magnificent I rub my heart. Taking her hand, I place it on my tattoo. We don’t talk. I lean my forehead on hers. Our moment is broken by a rude pounding and kicking on the door.
“Give us a minute,” I yell, and Tess’s eyes get wide.
“Reed,” she hisses. “You’re not allowed in here. I’m the one who does the talking.” She grabs some clean paper towels to dry me off, noticing one of the towels she was using as a buffer is stuck to her knee.
“Gross.” She tosses it off. “We will… I mean, just a minute.” She laughs, moving her hands away. I pull up my shorts and kiss her swollen red lips.
“You’re ridiculous.” Swatting her ass, I unlock the door. An angry-looking woman, sixtyish with tattoos, pushes past us and slams the door, mumbling about youth. Lacing our fingers together, we walk over to the bar and signal for the check. The bartender takes one look at Tess and smirks as he sets the printed bill down. Fucker. I have half a mind to give him a shitty tip, but that’s not my style, and again, it’s not his fault Tess is drop-dead gorgeous. I leave a couple hundred on the bar and take her out into the warm sunny afternoon.
Blinking as our eyes adjust to the day, we hail a cab back to our apartment. She pretty much passes out. I tuck her in and make myself a sandwich, take a shower, and slip into bed with her. She turns and mumbles how much she loves me. With half her body on top of mine, I fall into a peaceful sleep.
Morning sunlight blinds me. I must have forgotten to shut the blinds last night. Reaching for Tess, my hand feels nothing but a crumpled sheet. I bolt up from our empty bed. As I’m getting ready to search for her, I hear the toilet flush and flop back onto the mattress. I don’t know what has spooked me.
“Tess? You okay, Kitten?” She opens the bathroom door, and I chuckle at her appearance. I can honestly say that no matter what Tess does, I always find her beautiful. That being said, this morning her pale face and wild hair have definitely got me wanting to take care of her.
Getting up, I guide her back to bed. “Kitten?” I lay her down and slide in behind her, pulling her tight to my warm chest. I land kisses on her neck. “Did you throw up?”
“Yes, I’m never drinking again!” She groans. “Why did you let me get into that condition?”
Laughing, I say, “I tried to stop you, but you kept ordering more shots, then insisted we play pool. Remember that? Your fucking skirt was so short, every time you leaned over the table, I had to stand behind you so that no one saw what belongs to me.” I rub her stomach in gentle circles as she moans again.
“I feel like shit, Reed.” She snuggles her tight ass on my erection, all whiny and needy the way she always is when she’s hungover. I love it.
“I can see that, baby.” I kiss and suck her neck, licking her ear, moving my hips to rub my hard cock in between her ass cheeks. “Maybe I can help.” Rubbing her stomach, I slide my hand in between her legs. She’s already wet.
“Reed,” she groans. “I can’t. I don’t feel good. And I hate you since you’re the reason I feel like this.” She says all this as her ass is moving to the same rhythm of my hips. Her hands clutch the white sheet.
“I know, Kitten,” I whisper. “Let’s see if I can redeem myself.” Moving my two fingers back and forth, I smile as she becomes wetter.
“Fuck, you’re drenched, Tess. You need a release. You need to come hard.” She’s panting and rubbing herself all over my slick fingers. I let her fuck herself with my fingers any way she wants and dip inside her to stroke that G-spot before I let her go at it again.
A loud moan fills the room, the smell of her making me have to taste her, eat her. Her body starts to tense and clench. I roll onto my back and pull her on top of me. Her blue eyes meet mine, her lips downturned. “Reed, I don’t want to play games—I want to come,” she snarls. I love when she’s a bitch. So does my cock, and it’s straining for her impatient pussy. I pull her up and place her two knees between my face as I look up at her pink, glistening cunt.
“Sit on my face,” I demand. Quickly, she lowers herself onto my waiting mouth and tongue. She must be hungover to be that greedy. I growl my approval as she starts to fuck my face, her hips thrusting hard on my mouth and chin. I grab her ass and take over, rubbing and sucking her until she screams my name, her pussy pulsing and clenching all over my face. Tess is draped on our headboard, her wet center resting on my neck.
“That feel good, baby? You came so hard.” I pull her hips down and before she can respond, I shove my hard, throbbing cock inside her. Gasping as I fill her, she arches back, her arms reaching, grabbing my shins as I thrust and guide her h
ips on me.
“Christ, you are so hot, so wet, I love it.”
She sits up and grabs my chest, her nails clawing into me. I moan at the slight burn and watch as she lifts herself almost off me then slams herself back onto me. My breathing is harsh, my blood is pumping, and she keeps impaling herself on my cock. It feels so fucking good I’m seeing spots. My stomach muscles tense, and her sex starts to quiver. With one last thrust, she sits still as we both feel how hot and deep I am inside her.
Lowering her lips to mine, she hisses, “Shit… Reed, I don’t want to come yet. You feel so fucking good!” She grinds onto me, rubbing her clit against me.
“Fuck yeah, Kitten. Fuck me hard. Rub your clit on me hard.” My cock is deep inside her, easily hitting her spot. Her swollen clit is so tight from doing what I told her that a couple more grinds is all she can take. Her body goes off, pulsing and throbbing in orgasmic bliss… so strong that I can’t stop myself exploding into her, spilling my seed over and over deep inside her. She stays on top of me, her vagina clenched around my dick as our breathing returns to normal. At last, she reluctantly lifts off me, collapsing back on the pillows.
“I need a shower.” She looks at me, her eyes narrowing. Turning on her side, she props her head on her hand. “Please tell me that I dreamed I pulled you into one of the most disgusting, filthy bathrooms ever yesterday. That I did not kneel on that floor and give you a blow job.”
I trace her perfect nose with my finger and can’t help but laugh.
“Again, you were full of surprises yesterday. I was going to stop you, but when you put the paper towels on the floor and knelt, my mind left me and my dick took over.”
“Reed!” She pushes my chest.
“What? You have been insatiable lately. Good thing my life is about pleasing you,” I tease.
Rolling over, I get up and pull her with me into our large bathroom.
“Come on, my little nymph, let’s get you cleaned up.”
I spend the whole day babying her, giving her Advil and orgasms. Besides our shower and answering the door for pizza and wings, we stay in bed naked all day.
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