by A. J. Macey
“What?”
“We love that you enjoy your friends here,” Kingston explained.
“We like seeing you happy,” Jesse tacked on.
“You’re also gorgeous, so it’s hard for us to look away,” Reid teased.
I rolled my eyes but couldn’t stop the eruption of butterflies in my stomach.
Whoever associated butterflies with butter must surely have been drunk.
“Which first?” Zoey held up some movies. I shrugged, not really caring, I was just happy to be able to spend time with my friends outside of school for the first time in two weeks. “Aubs, pick something. Emma, pick out your nail color.”
“So bossy!” I teased but did as she asked. The tinkling of the glass bottles hitting each other as I ran through the rows of colors filled the air while Aubrey hemmed and hawed about the movie before finally settling on 13 Going on 30.
“Masked Monday,” I called out after deciding to go with plain black nail color. “Sounds like superheroes,” I laughed.
“I usually do ‘self-care Sunday,’ but I was busy yesterday hanging with Brandon, so I figured with everything going on with you and stuff, we could have a self-care party. Nothing helps me feel better than a couple stress-free hours with a soothing mask on and pretty nails,” Zoey explained as she scanned through the nail colors quickly, settling on an icy blue while Aubrey decided on a sparkly red-orange.
“Same. I may take a bath when I get home, depending on how I feel. Those are the fastest ways to calm me, but I do love me some sheet masks and rom-coms, especially because the boys don’t watch anything sappy with me. Unless it’s Christmas, apparently,” I added with a chuckle. “Okay, do either of you hate putting these things on, or is it just me? I always feel super clumsy doing it.”
“Ugh, yes, I usually do mud mask style, but I ran out over the break, trying to make sure my skin wouldn’t crack off from being so dry in the mountains,” Aubrey murmured, her words muffled as she maneuvered the thin essence-soaked sheet onto her face. “I look ridiculous.”
“That’s okay, we can all look ridiculous together,” I told her as I got the mask settled, pressing down on the edges of the eye, mouth, and nose holes to make sure it was secured—well, as secure as a slippery piece of material could be.
“Amen to that,” Zo added. “Gotta get a picture for Emma’s photo album.”
“Did Reid tell you about that?” I laughed, my mouth unable to open very much because of the mask, so my words were slurred.
“Yeah, but we love the idea. It’s easier than scrapbooking, but you’re still able to keep memories in an easy-to-see place,” Aubrey mumbled. “Okay, photo time. The movie’s about to start.” We crowded together, looking absolutely ridiculous with the translucent masks and strained half-smiles, but right now, I wouldn’t change it for anything because of these two. They were pretty freaking amazing. I left later that night feeling relaxed and ready to handle the next day.
Nothing can dim my happy mood.
January 21st
‘Kill the Lawyer!’ -Rufio
#Hook #MovieReference #DontActuallyMurder #TickedoffTuesday
I spoke too soon.
A police officer closed the distance between us, weaving his way through the students who were trying to make it from lunch to their next class. My body was immediately set on edge as his narrowed gaze centered on me. Thankfully, I had been talking to Ms. Rogers before the bell rang, and she intercepted the cop, stepping in front of me.
“Can I help you?” Ms. Rogers questioned coolly, her arms crossing in front of her chest as the cop half glared at her.
“I’ve been instructed to bring Miss Clark to the Corsian Law Firm for questioning,” he stated, his tone tired but hard. My teeth ground together, knowing the Warlands were behind this. How dare they have a police officer come get me from school in the middle of lunch when they knew it would be busy! I didn’t have to turn to know the eyes I felt on my back were Brad’s. The goosebumps that erupted over my skin told me more about my admirer than looking back ever would.
“Can I ask why this needs to be done in the middle of the school day?” Ms. Rogers snapped. “Emma has classes she needs to attend.”
“Ms. Rogers,” I heard a familiar voice ground out. My jaw was starting to ache from how hard I was grinding my teeth. Mr. Derosa stepped up to our little group, his hard eyes on my counselor before falling on me. His lip curled into a disgusted sneer briefly before smoothing out.
Yeah, well, I don’t like you either jerkface.
“Mr. Derosa—” she started.
“Miss Clark is an adult in the eyes of the legal system,” the assistant principal cut her off, “and this an important legal matter. We don’t want any issues with police here in school, so I suggest she goes with him.” I stepped around Ms. Rogers, not wanting her to get in trouble with Mr. Derosa because of me. I knew what I needed to do, remembering Kaleb’s warnings and urgings when I talked to him.
“I’ll go with you,” I told the officer, “but I would like my lawyer to meet us there.”
“You’ll have to take that up with the lawyer when we get there,” the officer bit out, seemingly irritated he was required to escort a teenager instead of doing his actual job.
“Are you sure, Emma? Do you need me to call your mom?” Ms. Rogers questioned quietly. I shook my head with what I hoped was a reassuring smile.
“It’ll be alright, I know what I’m supposed to do,” I whispered before turning and following the cop through the crowd that had formed to watch us. Taking a steeling breath, I held my head high and walked through the crowd as it parted.
I didn’t do anything wrong, and I won’t cower or be treated like a criminal.
The car ride was quiet, and the hard plastic of the back of the cruiser was uncomfortable, but I didn’t complain because I knew the cop was just doing what he was asked to. He wasn’t purposely out to inconvenience me, so I didn’t want to make his day any harder than it was. When we finally reached the law office twenty minutes later, he gave me a grin and a small ‘thank you’ for being cooperative.
“Miss Clark,” a smarmy man with greased back black hair and a pinstripe suit greeted me at the front door. I smashed my lips shut, trying hard to not make a sassy comment that he looked like a used car salesman or he’d just walked off the set of an old film noir shoot. “Please, come with me.”
I followed him, silent and fuming as we made our way through the elegant and sleek building. If I hadn’t been so danged angry, I probably would have appreciated the way the decor and modern elements mixed with the more unique architecture, but at that moment, all I could focus on was wanting to tell them I needed my lawyer.
They may have embarrassed me and made me miss classes, but I wasn’t going to be dumb enough to believe they had my best interest at heart, so first chance I got, I told the man I wanted to call my lawyer.
“Miss Clark, there’s no need for that,” he tried to convince me in his most “charming” voice. “I just want to get the facts for the trial, and what better way to do that than to go to the source?”
“I want my lawyer,” I repeated. “I’m not answering anything until Kaleb Bell is here.”
“Can you tell me what happened the night of the party?” asked the man, who hadn’t even bothered telling me his name. I sat silently, staring at him as I crossed my arms.
If this is how he wants to play it, so be it.
I might talk a lot, but I could play the silent game just as well as the next person.
After the eighth question, the man sighed, the noise irritated as his eyes narrowed on me. He got up, excusing himself, and walked out of the room. As soon as the door was shut, I dug out my phone, quickly texting Kingston to have him call his dad, followed by a quick explanation of what was going on. Not wanting to catch the attention of any cameras or anyone possibly watching through the mirror on the wall to my left, I put my phone away and continued to wait.
And wait, I did. After an h
our, I finally heard a commotion on the other side of the door, shouting filtering through the thick wood. I was startled when the door flung open, revealing Kaleb’s angry scowl on the other side of the threshold.
“Sir, you can’t just barge in,” a measley man tried to say, but Kaleb glared over his shoulder, stopping his statement.
“She is my client, and she has been here for over an hour after clearly stating she wanted a lawyer. I know because she had my son contact me after she was escorted by police from school. All of which was completely unnecessary, and if you try to tell me I’m not allowed back here one more time, I will take my client with me, and you can have the judge schedule a time to question her. Am I understood?”
My brows shot up, my lips parting in surprise. I’d never once heard Kaleb raise his voice or snap at anyone. Even when King or Killian were acting up, he would talk to them calmly. Kaleb turned and stepped into the room, slamming the door closed in the man’s face before sinking into the chair next to me.
“Are you alright, Emma? I’m sorry if that scared you.” He waved at the door to the interrogation room.
“It didn’t, it was just different to see, that’s all,” I explained. “I’m tired, any idea how long this is going to take?”
“Hopefully, not long,” Kaleb reassured.
As soon as he said that, the door opened again, showing the city’s prosecutor talking to an older man and woman, dressed in nice clothes—the man in a black classic suit with a gray tie, and the woman standing next to him was wearing a soft sweater and slacks, a strand of pearls around her neck, and a large gaudy ring on her finger—anger prevalent on their faces, narrowed eyes and lips thinned into a tight line.
I instinctively knew who they were, their cold icy gaze on me as sneers curled their lips—Brad’s parents.
They’re as creepy as their son.
“Alright, Miss Clark, now that your lawyer is here, we can finally begin,” Brad’s lawyer bit out, placing a heavy emphasis on the fact he had to wait for Kaleb to show up.
This better not take long.
Not long, my ass. An hour later, we finally left the building. I was pissed, so angry, in fact, I could tell I was storming down the sidewalk to Kaleb’s car since he had, thankfully, offered me a ride to my car.
“Are you okay?” Kaleb asked as we finally reached his car, the rumble of it starting the only sound as we sank into our seats. Huffing, I buckled my seatbelt and crossed my arms.
“I want him in jail. I don’t want him or his family to do this to anyone else. I didn’t do anything wrong, and I don’t appreciate being made to feel like this was my fault,” I ground out, remembering all the little snide comments the lawyer—Steve Corsian—made during his questioning about my behavior at the party and what I was wearing, hinting I wanted Brad to hit on me and I was leading him on.
Assholes.
“What?” I questioned when I noticed Kaleb hadn’t said anything, just looked over at me with a little grin.
“I’m proud of you, Emma, for standing up for yourself and for anyone else who could be in this situation against the Warlands.” His tone conveyed how pleased he was, and with his statement, my anger fizzled, my lips curling as we settled into our drive.
At least one adult in my life is proud of me.
January 22nd
I found out today, it’s a myth that erotic, steamy books are only for desperate housewives. Holy BJ, Batman!
#JesseReadingSmutIsSexy #FirstBJEver #WeirdnessWednesday
“Meh,” I grumbled, my head flopping onto the open booklet in front of me. “Finally, to the end,” I huffed, my words muffled by the paper.
“Yes, Em, all done,” Jesse chuckled. I could hear him shuffling around next to me, so I sat back and looked at him.
“Now what?” I asked. “We’re done earlier than normal, and I don’t have to be home until nine. Not that it really matters since my mom will at work late tonight with for international call,” I rambled.
“Want to read our book?” My heart fluttered as he dug out the paperback we had picked out to read together, loving the tradition we had started.
“Yeah, but since my mom’s not going to be home for a while, want to head there? I think it’d be comfier than these wooden seats and table.” I tapped the tabletop for emphasis. Don’t get me wrong, I loved Coffee Grounds, but it wasn’t the most conducive location for cuddling up to read together. Jesse agreed, and we made quick work of packing up our study supplies before we were in my car, heading to my broken home.
The only thing keeping the oppressive silence at bay in the house my mom and I rented was the sound of Jesse’s movements as he followed me to the basement. As he settled into the corner of the couch, I pulled up one of the music channels I had taken to listening to when it was too quiet. Jesse reading out loud would help keep the loneliness at bay, but I still wanted something familiar.
“Come here, Em,” he murmured, holding up the blanket he had draped over his legs extended on the chaise of the couch.
Smiling, I made my way over, curling into his chest, my head nestling against his muscled shoulder as I looked at the book. Jesse started to read, his honeyed voice soft and gentle, relaxing me. The book’s epic storyline sucked me in, its fantasy world playing like a movie in my head as he made his way through the chapter. It had been all about action and adventure, but it quickly started to shift into a steamier scene, and with Jesse reading it aloud, I couldn’t stop fidgeting.
“Are you okay?” Jesse finally questioned after what seemed like the tenth time I fidgeted. “Do you want me to skip this part?” Rolling further onto him, so I could look at him, I opened my mouth to tell him everything was fine, but instead, I came in contact with Jesse’s hard-on.
It seems I’m not the only one turned on by the book.
“Are you okay?” I teased softly, shifting my leg up, so my thigh could rub against him. His eyes slammed shut, and he groaned, his head pressing back into the cushion.
“Em,” he ground out. Feeling confident, I just smiled at him, continuing to tease. Jesse had his turn to tease me during our movie night last month—now it was my turn.
His gaze heated, his eyes melting into two obsidian pools as I dragged a finger down his chest and stomach. Pushing away from his chest, I sat back on my heels, straddling his right thigh. Without hesitating, knowing I might have chickened out, I reached out and cupped his erection.
His jeans were rough against my palm, but I reveled in the feeling as I rubbed him. My body burned, fueled by Jesse’s clenched jaw and fists, so I unbuttoned and unzipped his pants, freeing him from the tight confines. He was thick, his silky skin shifting over the hardened steel as I stroked. Counting quickly to three in my head, building the last of the nerve to do something I hadn’t done before, I bent over and wrapped my lips around him. A low groan mixed with a hiss emanated from Jesse as I tentatively brushed my tongue over the bulbous head.
“Em,” Jesse breathed, “have you ever done this before?”
A rush of heat flooded my cheeks that had nothing to do with how wet my panties were or that my lips were wrapped around Jesse. Pulling off of him, I shook my head as I looked up at him from under my lashes.
“You don’t have to…” he started.
“I want to,” I whispered. “Will you... will you teach me?” Jesse’s lip curled up, his hand brushing my hair away from my face.
“If that’s what you want.” When I nodded, Jesse’s fingers brushed through my hair again, this time holding my head and hair, nudging me down, guiding me.
Not that it’s rocket science, but still, this isn’t about me right now, and I want Jesse to feel good.
He had a unique flavor, slightly salty, but for the most part, my attention was focused on adjusting to his size. Jesse was careful to not push my head down too far to the point where I’d gag, and my fist curled around the base of his shaft to keep me from choking.
When I heard him moan, the deep sound rumbling through his
chest, I glanced up. His eyes were shut, his lips parting as his head fell back against the cushions. Shifting my head faster, Jesse’s free hand wrapped around mine, guiding me to stroke him in time with my bobbing. Feeling curious, pressing my tongue against the bottom of his length, his hips jerked, and he started to pant. I knew he was near his release when he let go of my head and hand, allowing me to take over.
I didn’t have time to pull back before he came, his cum coating my tongue in a mix of salty and sweet. Panicking slightly, I swallowed as a natural reaction to having something in my mouth.
“Holy fucking shit, Em,” Jesse exclaimed breathlessly. “Come here.” Reaching down, he pulled me up to him until I was sprawled out on his chest. “That was amazing... wait... did you swallow?”
“Uh, yeah,” I dragged the word out with an awkward smile. He chuckled, shaking his head at me.
“You could have pulled away or spit it out, love,” he explained. “Sorry I didn’t warn you, I got too wrapped up in it all.” I shrugged, figuring while it was odd at first, it wasn’t all that bad.
“Did you know the skin inside our mouths is the same skin in vaginas?” I rambled before taking a deep breath to calm my racing mind. “So, how’d I do for my first time?” I asked softly. “Decent, I hope.”
“Perfect, Em, absolutely perfect. I think I should return the favor now,” he said, trying to reach down. Giggling, I rolled away from him, my chuckling growing to full laughter when I saw him staring at me with an open mouth.
“That was to get you back for movie night,” I stated with a brow raise. “Maybe next time, we can both have fun, but for now, I just want to listen to you read. That was a lot more work than I anticipated.”
