This Mess We're In

by Scarlett Grove

  The bodyguard went for one of his guns, but I yanked mine from the waist of my jeans and pointed before he had a chance to pull his out. I had him in my sights. I didn’t know what the fuck I was doing except that I was getting really tired of all this sidestepping bullshit. I wanted to go home to Claire and hold her in my arms. These fuckers were standing in the way of my happy life.

  I pointed the gun at the bodyguard’s face, and he lowered his weapon to the ground.

  “The kid has spunk, I’ll give him that,” said Callahan. His hands were in a mocking posture of surrender. I pointed my gun from one man to the other while Martel stared at me blankly. I cocked the pistol.

  “Do we have a deal?”

  “Yeah, we have a deal. You make a good case.”

  “Call your boys and tell them to get the fuck out of our clubhouse.” I continued pointing the gun while he reached his hand around his back to pull a phone from his back pocket.

  “Don’t freak out. It’s just the phone.” The man dialed and gave someone instructions to leave the clubhouse. He hung up and looked back at me. “See, I’m a reasonable man. Now put the gun down.”

  “In your dreams.”

  “Martel, control your kid.”

  “Stop calling me kid. Just get the hell out of here and don’t come back.”

  “I’d listen to him if I were you,” said Martel.

  Callahan looked from me to Martel and back again. He could tell I was serious. I’d had enough. I was tired. I wanted to go home. He finally put his hands up.

  “Fine. Martel, we’ll iron out the details later.” They got in their SUV and drove away.

  “Now, about my mother.”

  Chapter Thirty: Claire

  The mood in the house had been somber since Zoe and I had returned. Neither of us wanted to talk about what we had done to Regan. We passed through the house speaking single words to each other, until Zoe went upstairs to be alone.

  Damien arrived at my front door carrying two bags of groceries and a bouquet of sunflowers. I took the flowers from his hands and reached up to kiss his cheek. My heart raced even through my utter exhaustion.

  I carried the flowers into the kitchen with Damien behind me. Bradly jumped up and sniffed at Damien excitedly. He roughhoused with the dog until Bradly wanted to go outside.

  He put the dog out and then slid his arms around me as I put food away in the cabinet. I felt his warm, hard body behind me and leaned my head back against his chest, then turned into his embrace. Wrapping my arms around his waist, I let myself drink him in. I felt warmth rise from my heart and envelop me with tenderness. It was such a soft, glowing feeling, a feeling that could only be called love. I let a satisfied sigh escape my lips.

  Damien ran his fingers through my hair and held my head in his palm. I tilted back while he leaned in to press his soft lips to mine. My body melted into him like flowing liquid. His tongue pressed against my partly open mouth, and I widened my lips to invite him inside.

  The flame of his burning, wet mouth ignited my desire from the tip of my tongue to the soles of my feet and everywhere in between. He squeezed me to him, moaning softly between my lips.

  I took a sharp intake of air as his hand gripped my ass and pulled me against his rising hardness. “Oh, Damien,” I whispered into his ear. “I want you now.”

  We were free. Nothing stood between us. The feeling of liberation caught up in my throat, and I sang out an electrified sigh, tilting my head back. He bent to kiss my neck and the soft flesh of my upper chest exposed through the top of my shirt.

  “Let’s go to your bedroom,” he whispered into my ear.

  I led him down the hallway into my new room. The door creaked open and we stepped inside. The second the door closed behind us, Damien had me in his arms. I could feel the tingling sensation in my panties as the blood rushed to my core.

  He backed me into the bed, and I sat down in front of him. I could see the bulge of his cock straining against his jeans. I ran my hand over it and flipped open his belt. Before I could get his button open, he sank to his knees and threw his arms around my center, his head resting on my chest.

  He looked up at me, eyes big and shining like blue stars. His hand caressed my cheek, and I kissed it with eyes closed. “Claire,” he whispered. “You’re my everything.” He nuzzled into my chest and scooped up the swell of my breast in his hand. My heart sang at his words, and flew like a liberated bird out an open window into the beloved sky.

  I ran my hand through his short hair and watched him as he dipped his face between my breasts. He had come into my life unexpectedly, but now I couldn’t live without him.

  He gently pushed me backward on the bed and hovered over me, supporting himself with his strong arms as he kissed my lips. My nipples sharpened and cut into the fabric of my bra. I opened my legs to let him fall inside. He lowered himself into my craving desire, the line of his hard shaft pressed against me.

  I wanted him inside me, soft and slow, with tender kisses and words of love. I wanted him to ride me like a raging bull, hard and fast until my brain exploded. My hands ran up his sides, and I felt overcome with joy. A surge of giggling laughter burst from my mouth, and I leaned my head back to let it escape.

  He looked at me and smiled, kissing my cheek. He kissed down my body as I giggled, unbuttoning my shirt as he went. He descended further and tugged off my skirt with one fluid motion.

  I lay giggling on the bed. He stood and lifted his shirt over his head. My giggles died down as I looked at his bare chest. Bruises littered the smooth taut skin and discolored his tattoos. I frowned, thinking of him being hurt.

  He unbuckled his belt and kicked off his boots before he came back to me. Kissing my shoulder, he pulled my shirt down my arms, and then reached up to slip open my bra.

  The bra fell away and he sucked my nipple into his mouth. I gasped and my fluids ran hot into my thin panties. I could feel them soaking wet between my legs. Damien scooped my other breast into his hand and kneaded them both, transferring his mouth from one to the other. His teeth lightly clenched over the puckered flesh of my nipple and the slight pain made me moan.

  I reached for his pants, and my fingertips dug into his waistband, trying to pry them off. He drew away with a sly smile and slipped his pants down, his underwear going with them.

  His cock sprang out, long and thick, thrusting toward the ceiling. I slid a finger up his shaft, but he knelt again to pull my panties to the floor. His face sank between my legs and I gasped, running my hands over his head. The sensation of his mouth against me surged through my body.

  His slick, hot tongue flicked against my mound, making me want to open my legs wider. The moisture from his mouth mixed with my body’s juices, rendering me sopping wet as he pushed his finger inside me. I let him rock my body with his tongue and hand. His finger hit just the right places, and I panted as the sensation built to bursting.

  He caressed my inner core and flicked my clit with his raspy tongue. With each thrust, I felt myself drawing closer to oblivion. He slid a second finger inside me. This time the dual force of his digits launched fireworks into my veins. My back arched, and I gasped for more.

  Pleasure gathered like a galvanized force waiting to erupt. I gasped, feeling the momentum built. He moaned against me, and the vibration sent me over the edge.

  “Oh, oh, oh!” I yelped, feeling the energy build until it ruptured. My body clenched over his fingers, drawing them further inside. My clit twitched under his hot tongue. “Oh. God. Yes!” I yelled, and covered my mouth, not wanting anyone to hear me. Pleasure radiated from my core through my entire body in pulsating waves.

  Damien slipped a condom from his pocket and quickly slid it over his hard length. He wiped his face with the back of his hand and moved to claim my mouth, lowering himself over me. Our tongues played as he pressed his shaft against my soaking-wet slit. I moaned pitifully, causing him to groan and kiss me with bruising force.

  He slowly slid, inch-by-inch, unti
l he’d buried himself deep inside me. My breaths were shallow and fast with excitement. I clung to him, overcome by emotion. My heart felt as if it would burst.

  “Damien. Oh, God.”

  “I love you,” he breathed in my ear.

  I whimpered and writhed beneath his huge, muscled body. He sucked air through his clenched teeth and increased his rhythm. I clung to him, my legs and arms wrapped tightly around his strength. I felt my head and heart might burst from the ecstatic pressure of it all. He groaned as my pussy twitched.

  Damien drew me down to the side of the bed and stood over me. He held my hips as he thrust hard into my throbbing core. The sound of smacking flesh and panting filled my ears. His rapid thrusts hit my sweet spot, and he pressed his thumb against my wet mound. I groaned and gripped the sheets as I came without warning. My body clamped on his cock. I shook my head from side to side, as the pleasure racked my body.

  “You’re so beautiful,” he said, moving me around to sit on his lap. I rested my arms on his shoulders as he squeezed my ass and guided me with his hands.

  He gazed up into my eyes and lifted his hands to hold my face. We looked into each other as the tide of pleasure built between us. I could feel his cock growing wider, thicker. He reached down, stroked my breast, and teased my nipple.

  My body responded as he ran his hands down around my hips again, pulling me down onto him. He wrapped his arms around my waist and enfolded me in his arms while he moved me effortlessly up and down on his lap.

  “I love you, baby. I love you so much,” he panted as my orgasm squeezed his body. He shot hard into me, taking me further into vibrating bliss.

  “Damien,” I breathed in his ear. “I love you too. Don’t ever leave me.”

  He shuddered as my body continued to release. My arms wove tight around his neck. I loosened my grip and ran kisses over his shoulders, neck, and face. Love poured out of me like an overflowing river. We slipped apart and lay down on the bed.

  I rolled into his side and pulled the comforter over us. I nuzzled into his chest and inhaled his musk. With his arm around me he looked into my eyes, running his finger along my jawline, and lifted my mouth into a sweet, gentle kiss.

  “I won’t ever leave you,” he said, his face serious. “I’m yours and you’re mine. I knew it from the day we met.”

  “You did not,” I teased.

  “I did. I thought to myself: That’s the girl. That’s her. What did you think of me the first time you saw me?”

  “I thought you were incredibly hot… and trouble, and it made me feel like a dork.”

  “I might be trouble, but you’re no dork. You’re like a superhero.”

  I snorted and started laughing. He rolled halfway on top of me and pinned my hands gently over my head. He stared into my eyes. “You have no idea how strong you are, Claire. Fighting some guy in a cage isn’t even close to what you do every day.”

  I blushed and frowned, trying to get away from his penetrating gaze. I didn’t want to feel what he was making me feel. The stress of the last two years welled up in my stomach and overflowed into my throat. Tears formed in my eyes, and I started to cry.

  “What’s wrong?”

  I covered my face, embarrassed. “Nothing, it’s just… I’ve felt like such a loser. For someone to tell me I’m so strong and everything — I can’t take it.” I was full-on weeping at that point.

  “Come here,” he said; his tone had a hint of humor tinged with exasperated confusion. He pulled me into his arms and rocked me. “I didn’t mean to make you cry.” He petted my hair and kissed my forehead.

  “I know. I’m sorry.”

  “Shh. Don’t apologize. You’ve had a lot on your shoulders. I get it. I’m offering to take some of the load, and now you can feel how heavy it’s been. You’re tired, that’s all.”

  “Yeah,” I said, suddenly feeling less weepy. I looked up and smiled at him, tears still streaking my face.

  “You’re still beautiful with snot in your nose.”

  I shot out of his arms and wiped my nose with the back of my hand, then hit his shoulder. He tackled my center and hugged me, still lying on the bed. I looked down at his rippling back and shoulders and the tattoos running down his muscled arms, feeling my body twitch.

  “How about that food?” I said. I felt hungry. We could do it again and again and again later. That knowledge made me grin like an idiot.

  “Good idea.” He jumped from the bed and threw on his clothes. I slipped into pajama pants and a thick tank top.

  We went into the living room, pulled the food out of the refrigerator, and set it on the table with tall glasses of ice water.

  “Should we get Zoe?” he asked.

  “I think she’d just feel awkward. Let’s leave her something if she gets hungry. She might be asleep already anyway.”

  We ate the food and joked with each other at the kitchen table. We left Zoe several big slices of baked tofu and rice before we went back to the bedroom.

  It was late, but we made love again, slowly, sweetly. I couldn’t get enough of his body, or his love. My heart and my brain began to believe he’d really stay with me. He would really make my life better instead of worse. Visions of our future together swam through my mind as I drifted off to sleep. He would take care of me, so I could take care of everyone else.

  In the morning, I got up and went to the kitchen to make coffee before Rose woke up. As I filled the coffee maker with grounds, I looked out the window at the morning light that filtered through the greenery beyond our yard. Robins hopped in the dewy grass, and my heart felt as light as their flitting wings.

  Zoe trudged down the stairs and poured herself a cup of coffee while I leaned against the kitchen counter.

  “Good morning,” I said in a chipper tone.

  She groaned a good morning and poured cream in her cup. “You had a good night,” she said without looking at me.

  “Maybe.” I smiled at her.

  “Claire, there’s something I need to tell you.”

  “I don’t like the sound of that.”

  “I’ve talked to you about this before. Now that things have settled with Regan, I want you to know that I’m leaving Leggetville.”

  “What? When? Where are you going?”

  “I’m leaving for Seattle next week. Stacy and I are going to move in with her cousin and some of her friends. She got a job at a gym up there, and I am going to take up dancing again. I already signed up for community college. I’m going to try to get my grades up and transfer to a four-year so I can get on their cheer squad.”

  “Zoe. Are you sure about this?”

  “Yeah. I’m sure. I can’t stay in Leggetville for the rest of my life.”

  “Why are you going all the way to Seattle?”

  “Stacy has a cousin up there, and she can get me a room in their shared house.”

  “Oh. Okay.” Red flags waved around in my head, but I couldn’t tell her it was a bad idea or that she was too young to leave home. Zoe had been helping run our house since she was sixteen. If she wanted to move to Seattle, it was her business. It didn’t mean I wasn’t worried.

  “Look, Claire. I know it sounds crazy and dangerous. Thank you for not lecturing me.”

  “Sure, no problem...”

  “You know I’ve always wanted to dance. I can’t do that here. Stacy is giving me the opportunity to get out of this town and go somewhere I can pursue my dreams. This is my chance.”

  “I know. I’ve just got to worry, as mom stand-in.”

  “Now that Regan is getting help, and you’ve got Damien, I don’t feel like I’m leaving you in a big mess of problems.”

  I put my cup down and went to hug her. She folded her arms around me and took a deep breath. I was going to lose my best friend. I wanted to cry.

  “You’re going to knock them dead,” I said, holding back my tears.

  I let her go, and she took a big gulp of coffee before going to take her shower. She got dressed and left the
house before Damien and Rose woke up. Damien came out of the bedroom while I fed Rose at the kitchen table. He looked puffy and hungover.

  “Hard night?” I teased.

  “Meh, I guess I needed some rest. I’ve been waking up at five in the morning to train. What time is it?”

  “It’s almost noon.”

  “Dang.”

  He poured himself a cup of coffee and slid into a chair on the opposite side of the table. Rose shoved oatmeal in her mouth and giggled. Damien made goofy faces at her and she squished her cereal in her hands, laughing hysterically.

  “You’ll never believe what I found out about Martel.”

  “What?”

  “I’m his son.”

  “What!” I dropped Rose’s spoon on the table. Oatmeal flew into the air and landed on Damien’s naked shoulder. He eyed it and wiped it off with his finger.

  “How the hell does that work?”

  “I guess he did my mom because my dad was shooting blanks. He and Martel had some kind of bro pact. After my mom left, she went to see Martel. Martel told me she’s in Mexico.”

  “Oh, Damien, that’s great.”

  “She had a good reason to leave, apparently.”

  “What happened?”

  He heaved a sigh and looked down at the table. “I guess my ‘dad’ had been hitting her. And worse. I never saw it.” He shuddered and clenched his fists. “Martel said she ran away because my father would never let her go. She didn’t want me to lose my scholarship, so she didn’t take me. I want to see her. She works at a resort in Cancun. She’s really my only parent. I understand why she left now. My dad was a douchebag. He had me doing forgeries just out of high school. It’s a federal crime. You know, that’s the only reason I came up here in the first place. Martel was threatening to rat me out to the feds.”

  “And Martel is your biological father…”