by Lola Rivera
And I had been the worst girlfriend ever. I had left a mess in the kitchen after satisfying my late night munchies and a pile of clothes and a wet towel on the floor of our bathroom. Instead of coming home to the clean space he liked and a girlfriend who could attend to his emotional needs, he had walked into a messy house and found a drunken girlfriend starfished right in the middle of his bed. Not only that, but I had forgotten to set my alarm and hadn’t packed so I had been in a rush and had been rude and snippy because of my slight hangover.
“Gage?” I bit my lower lip and hoped he wouldn’t shut me out after I had been such a bitch to him.
“Yeah, sweetheart?” When he glanced at me, there was nothing mad or angry in his expression. He was tired, but he wasn’t cross.
I reached across the space between us and took his hand. “I’m so sorry about the way I treated you this morning. I’m sorry I was so childish and rude. I’m sorry I didn’t pack and that I left a mess all over the house.”
Interlacing our fingers, he lifted our hands and kissed the back of mine. “You’re allowed to make a mess and be a jerk every now and then, Meg. That’s part of being in a relationship. We aren’t always going to see each other at our very best.”
“I really am sorry that you came home to a dirty kitchen and a passed out girlfriend when you probably needed me to be awake and comforting.”
He didn’t answer me immediately. After a few tense heartbeats of silence, he admitted, “I was upset that you had been out drinking and having a good time while I was staring down my scope at a psycho. When that call was over and those kids were safe and we were finished debriefing down at the station, I wanted to come home to you. That’s all I could think about while I was driving home. I had seen your texts so I knew you had gotten back to the house safe. I wanted to shower and crawl into bed with you and just hold you.”
Hearing him talk like that, hearing him speak so honestly and openly about his raw feelings and what he had needed left me feeling lower than mud. “I’m sorry, Gage.”
“It’s all right. You didn’t know. I didn’t tell you that I needed you. I could have sent you a text and asked you to be awake for me.” He gave my hand a squeeze. “I know you would have downed about five cups of coffee to sober up for me.”
“I would have,” I agreed. “I should have done that anyway.”
He shook his head. “I told you to go out and have a good time—and you did. There’s nothing wrong with that.” His gaze skipped from the windshield to my face. “But next time you clean up your messes and stay on your side of the bed if you’re going to snore like a lumberjack.”
“I do not snore!”
“You sure as hell do, baby girl.” He laughed hard at that. “It was like cuddling up to a chainsaw.”
Mortified, I silently swore I would never drink more than a glass of wine or one cocktail ever again. Gage yawned again, and I asked, “Do you want to pull over and let me drive? I can tell you're tired."
He squeezed my hand. "I'm fine. Besides," he added with a teasing grin, "I've seen you drive."
"Hey! I'm not that bad."
"Meg, I work in SWAT, and I almost pissed my pants the last time you drove us to a movie."
I rolled my eyes. "Oh, please. That light was totally yellow."
"I'm sure it was. But, again, yellow means slow down. It doesn't mean hit the gas." He shook his head. "That car almost ended up in my lap."
I snorted at his exaggeration. "Yeah. Okay. Whatever."
He flicked my bare thigh with his fingers. "It's true."
"Ow." Now it was my turn to be melodramatic. The little snap was nothing compared to the spankings and floggings Gage had given me when we played. It was hard to believe it had only been such a few short months since we had started our secret relationship. I had gone from a lily-white virgin to sitting here in the front seat of his SUV with a small anal plug inserted in my bottom while we drove to my mother's house. Wild, right?
"So this thing between us," Gage said carefully.
My heart skipped a beat. "Yeah?"
"Are we telling your mother and my father or are we keeping it quiet a little longer?"
I sighed as the weight of the question settled onto my shoulders. "Honestly, I think Mom would handle it okay. She's always been fairly pragmatic about these kinds of things. I mean, we're not actually related. It's not as if we knew each other when I was really young or anything pervy like that."
"Hell no!" Gage seemed aghast at the thought. "It's the age thing I worry about most. You're not even twenty-two."
“We've had this discussion before, Gage. I'm good with the age spread. You're good with the age spread. We're making it work."
"So you want to come clean with your mom and Jack?"
"No." My eyes widened. "Not at Thanksgiving dinner, Gage. If Jack takes it badly or if Mom reacts differently than I expect, we could ruin the holidays."
"So after the New Year?"
I nodded. "After the New Year."
"Okay.”
“Okay,” I echoed, feeling calmer now that we had discussed our plan. I wasn’t sure how well we could hide what was happening between us. The chemistry we shared was undeniable, and those looks we exchanged, the ones that were heated and longing, would be hard to hide.
“Meg?”
“Yes?”
“Pull up your skirt and show me your pussy."
I gasped at his brazen instruction. "But we're on the highway!'
"And?"
"And?" I glanced around the cab of his SUV. My gaze skipped to the empty lane on our right. "A car could pull up next to us! What if someone sees me?"
"They'll be jealous as fuck that I’m the guy you chose to eat that pretty pink pussy of yours.”
My face flushed at his rather tawdry compliment. His gaze skipped from the road to my lap and then to my face. It was a silent command that I couldn’t refuse. So I gulped and lifted my skirt with trembling hands. My nipples buzzed and pulled tight into hard peaks as the excitement and illicit thrill of what I was doing settled low in my chest. This was dirty in a good way.
"Pull aside your panties. Let me see your cunt, Meg."
A white-hot frisson rippled through me. I licked my lips and tugged aside the fabric of my pale pink panties. My bare pussy was revealed to Gage—and anyone who drove beside us.
"Open your legs."
I let my thighs fall open and adjusted my panties so they were fully pulled aside. The silicone plug in my ass started to change from an annoying intruder to a welcome accessory. I shifted in my seat and started to focus on just how good that small, smooth plug felt inside me.
"Show me your clit."
I parted the lips of my sex and revealed my clit. The pink nub started to swell with excitement and peek out from under its protective hood. Down below, my pussy began to throb and seep its slick wetness.
"You're getting wet."
It wasn't a question. He knew, of course. He knew my body and my mind so well. In so short a time, he truly had mastered me.
"I want you to come, Meg. Touch your clit. Fuck your pussy with your fingers."
I glanced at him, my face burning with excitement and nervousness. He looked so calm and assured. I found the courage I so desperately needed in his strong, confident demeanor.
No longer caring if someone saw me touching myself, I swirled my fingertips over my clit and then dipped them inside me. Just an inch or so inside and then back out again. My fingers flicked over the little pearl and then I slowly thrust into myself with two fingers and spread the wetness around my clit.
I squeaked when Gage reached over and grabbed my breast through my shirt. November in Texas wasn't exactly chilly so I had worn a simple top and skirt, the material thin enough that I could feel the roughness of Gage's palm through the fabric. His hand slipped under my shirt, his palm rasping across my belly before moving over my bra. He jerked down a cup and freed my nipple.
I cried out as he tweaked my flesh, pulling
my nipple and rolling it between his fingers. My pussy clenched, and my clit pulsed at the bright flash of pain. I strummed my clit even faster now and then slid my other hand even lower and plunged two fingers inside me.
Feet planted on the dashboard, I worked my body with both hands. I thrust my fingers in and out of my slick channel and rubbed my clit. Gage kept pinching and pulling on my nipple and squeezing my breast. The soft buzzing pain of his fingertips tormenting my breast made my belly flutter.
I came with a low groan. My toes curled hard against the dashboard as I rocked in the seat. Spasms of ecstasy gripped me. I cupped my sex as the last few bursts of pleasure left my body.
Gage rubbed my breast before tugging my bra cup back into place. "Let me taste you."
His husky voice left me trembling. I placed my glistening fingertips against his mouth. He sucked them between his lips and let his tongue glide across my skin. He moaned hungrily and sucked hard on my fingers. I glanced at his lap and noticed the front of his jeans stretched and tented across his thick erection. My fingers fell from his mouth. I started to reach for his fly but he stopped me.
"We can't, Meg."
I pouted. "Why not?"
He shot me an amused grin. "I'm driving on the interstate. It's not safe. You'd have to unbuckle your seatbelt to reach me in this Tahoe. Besides, I'm a cop. It wouldn't look so great if I got pulled over with my cock buried in your throat."
I sat back and pulled my panties back into place. "You're no fun."
He laughed and adjusted himself. "I hear that all the time."
I smiled at him and tugged my skirt down over my thighs. He reached over and took my hand, the gesture gentle and loving. We sat in comfortable silence as his SUV raced down the highway. I let my mind drift as the post-orgasmic buzz swamped me with its lazy euphoria.
When Gage flicked his turn signal and merged into the right lane, I took notice. We were still an hour or so from our destination. He took an exit that led to one of those big rest areas. He parked in the far corner of the lot in a secluded spot that faced away from the large facility of bathrooms and vending machines. With the tinted windows, we would be mostly obscured inside the cab of the SUV. I didn't even have to ask what he had in mind.
Grinning with excitement, I unbuckled my belt and pulled my legs up into the seat. Kneeling on it, I turned and kissed him. Gage groaned with need as my greedy little hands slid up under his polo shirt. I scratched at his muscular abdomen and well-defined chest and enjoyed the feel of his hard body beneath my fingertips. My hand followed the ridges of his abdomen right down to his belt buckle. I grasped his cock through the denim and gave it a playful squeeze.
We laughed and kissed as I unbuckled and unzipped him. He lifted his hips to help create some room while I pulled down the front of his boxer briefs. His heavy cock sprang free. I clasped his hard shaft and stroked from the tip to the base. Our tongues dueled as I caressed his hot flesh.
After nipping his lower lip, I slid down and wrapped my wet lips around the head of his cock. Gage combed his long, rough fingers through my hair as I lavished his dick with attention. I took my time and licked every inch of him. I really wanted to suck and lick on his sac, just the way he liked it, but knew that it just wasn't a possibility right now.
With my ass in the air and my head in Gage's lap, I relied on him to keep us safe. I didn't doubt for a second that he would protect me. The thrill of our taboo act, of me going down on him in the corner of a rest stop parking lot, heightened the experience. The way his hand slid up under my skirt made it even hotter.
I moaned around his cock as his fingertips slipped under my panties. He played with my slit while I bobbed up and down on his shaft. I swirled my tongue over the ruddy crown before sucking him deep. I loved the little frisson of panic that vibrated my lower belly as his cock jabbed into the back of my throat.
"That's it, baby," he urged with a raw groan. “Take me deeper.”
I relaxed my jaw and let him savor the sensation of being buried in my throat. When he finally eased off, I inhaled a long, shuddery breath. He plunged into my mouth again. My heart racing with exhilaration, I used the skills I had refined during our time together to rock his world.
"So good," Gage murmured. "Your mouth is so hot and tight."
Gage's fingers penetrated me, my slick honey easing his way. My stomach trembled as he slowly fucked me with his fingers. His thumb wiggled the base of the plug in my ass. My pussy clenched and my clit throbbed.
Gage pumped his hips, jamming his cock even deeper into my throat. I hummed around his shaft. His thick fingers pounded into me. I moved faster on his cock, my head bobbing up and down above his lap. I couldn't wait to taste his salty cum on my tongue.
There was a split-second of warning before he came. He grunted my name and shoved deep. Hot cum splashed my tongue. I gulped it down as I stroked his shaft. He breathed hard as I licked him clean. His fingers slowly left my pussy. I ached with need but recognized that mischievous glint in his green eyes. He wasn't going to let me come now. He was going to leave me aching and desperate for a climax.
Gage stroked my face and kissed me long and hard. He patted my bottom. "You want to pop into the bathroom here to clean up?"
I nodded. "You coming?"
Gage laughed. "Pretty sure I just did."
I rolled me eyes. "You know what I mean."
He smiled and helped me back into my seat before tucking his cock back into his boxer briefs and zipping up his jeans. "I'll walk you inside." He glanced around, his police officer eyes scanning the area for any danger. "This place is a little rough."
I didn't argue that point. Most rest stops were dodgy places, even the super clean and reasonably nice ones like this. Gage put the SUV into reverse and maneuvered into a closer parking space. I waited for him to come around and open my door, as he always did, and then stuck close to his side as we made our way to the main building.
He gave me a look that made me shiver just before I ducked into the ladies restroom. It was simultaneously warning and loving. Silently, he warned me not to remove the butt plug still tormenting me or to even try to get off and ease the discomfort of my pulsing clit. The protective warmth in his gaze showed me such care. More than anything, he wanted me to be safe.
As I crossed the bustling bathroom in search of an empty stall, I caught my reflection in the mirrors mounted above the sinks. I looked like a young woman who had been thoroughly debauched. I had to admit it was a good look on me. Flushed cheeks, slightly mussed hair, my shirt a bit rumpled.
One look at me and Mom was going to know exactly what was going on between us. I wasn't embarrassed or ashamed. What we shared was amazing and I wouldn't trade it for anything in the world. Still, I rather liked our dirty little secret.
For now, at least, I wanted to keep it that way.
Chapter Nine
Hours later, I finally made my escape from the kitchen to the Jack-and-Jill bathroom between my bedroom and the guest room where my Great Aunt Vicki was staying for the night. I locked the door on her side and leaned against the cold wood. I closed my eyes and dragged in an exhausted breath.
Spending an entire afternoon and evening with dozens of family members crowded together would have been difficult on a good day. Holidays were still hard for me. Seeing our big, extended and now blended family sitting in the dining room, eating off the table my father had built with his two hands, brought back so many memories. Most were amazing but some were difficult to endure.
The sight of Jack, the stepdad I loved and respected, sitting in Dad's old spot left me feeling lonesome and mournful. I assumed it was just as hard for Mom. She loved Jack so much, but there was a reason she hadn't left this house when they had gotten married. At first, the excuse had been that Mom wanted me to finish high school in the same house I had grown up in all my life. When I had started college, she had decided that the real estate market was too soft. Now, well, I think Jack had finally accepted this home was never going
to be sold. Dad’s memory, his spirit, pervaded every inch of this house, and Mom just wasn’t ready to let it go.
I didn’t know how Jack could stand it. More and more, I understood the depth of his love and affection toward my mother. His first wife—Gage’s mom—had been killed in a car accident when Gage was still a baby. The rumor was that she had been high on pain pills with tiny little Gage in the backseat when she lost control at an intersection and plowed into the side of a big rig truck. I had never been brave enough to ask or dig into that rumor. It really wasn’t any of my business.
I suspected Jack understood my mother’s need to stay inside this house and to honor my father’s memory. When people asked him why they were still here, he told them the house was part of my trust fund—and it was—but there was nothing in the trust that said they both had to stay in it. They could just as easily have rented it out or sold it and put the proceeds in my account.
Maybe Jack enjoyed living here and feeling close to my father. They had been friends since they were little boys, going off to the Army together and then coming back to Dallas as cops and detectives. Maybe he just liked keeping my mother happy.
Now that I had gotten to know Gage so much more intimately, I could see that the resemblance between the two men ran deeper than their looks. Both were sweet, kind and loving. They seemed to commit fully to one woman and to give her everything they had to offer. My mother and I were seriously the luckiest women in Texas right now.
A knock on the bathroom door that led to my bedroom interrupted my troubled thoughts. "Yes?"
"It's me." Gage's gruff voice penetrated the door. "You disappeared on me. You okay?"
I crossed to the locked door and opened it. We stared at one another through the gap for a long moment. Gage moved first. He pushed aside the door and stepped into the bathroom with me. He closed the door behind him and locked it, sealing us inside the small tiled sanctuary.
