Conor Thames 2

by R. J. Lewis

  He dropped his head and swiftly kissed her soft lips. His hold on her loosened as he parted her mouth with his tongue and tasted her.

  Suddenly, she stepped away from his grip. He whipped his eyes open in confusion as she continued backing away, grinning wickedly at him.

  “You made me chase after you,” she said through a laugh. “You can do the chasing, too, Mr Thames.”

  “Sneaky little tart.”

  He lunged at her and she just managed to slip away, running to the stairs. He came after her, tackling her over the steps. She let out a cackle as he turned her around on her back, pinning her down. He felt a laugh bubble up his throat as she struggled, her face pink with laughter, but she wasn’t getting away. He crowded her, covering his entire body over hers. He dropped his head down and stole kisses from her. Every brush of his lips and she was turning her face away to evade him.

  “Dove,” he said in warning, though his tone was light now because she was so cute. “You really think you can overpower me?”

  She let out another laugh as he forced another kiss out of her. He stole a kiss here and there, until he wasn’t stealing anymore. She surrendered, stopping to let him kiss her, and just as quickly, the amusement died and his warmth was all around her and she was writhing and groaning as he spread her legs and pressed his groin against her. She sucked in desperate breaths, moaning as he kissed down her throat. He pulled the shirt up over her chest and squeezed at her breasts, growing harder now at all her soft curves.

  “Conor,” she let out, squirming as his hands continued to roam her body. “God, Conor, I can’t take it. I want you to fuck me.”

  “Shh,” he hushed, pushing her bra down now. “We can’t be loud.”

  “Pen’s asleep,” she returned. “She sleeps like the dead, Conor.”

  He wrapped his mouth around her nipple, sucking gently, loving the way it made her tense. He slipped her stupid shorts off, grinning against her nipple because she had no underwear on.

  “You do this on purpose,” he murmured, moving his attention to her next breast. “You walk around hardly clothed, kinda like that stupid fucking towel –”

  “You’re always complaining about that towel.”

  “It’s so ridiculous.”

  “Like these shorts?”

  His hand grazed her pussy, causing her to twitch. Then he worked his fingers over her folds, slipping them in and rubbing along her clit. She bucked on the steps, sucking in breaths. Her head dropped back against the stair as he continued to run his finger up and down. She made these desperate little sounds, urging him to keep going. When she was soaked and ready, he slipped his finger inside her. He groaned at the feel of her; she was soft and warm and so fucking tight. His dick was pulsing with the need to bury himself inside her, but he wasn’t ready just yet. He wanted her to writhe and lose all sense of herself. When Charlotte let go, when she was horny as fuck and her walls were down, it was hot as fuck.

  He dropped down and, with his finger still inside her, he sucked at her clit, working her slowly, slowly, slowly. She cursed, shaking as she came, grinding herself against him.

  After she lay limp, he wrapped his arms beneath her and lifted her up off the staircase. Her legs came around him like vines, gripping him tightly as he strode up the steps and to the bedroom.

  He fucked her mercilessly, trying to expel that heavy stress in the pit of him.

  It didn’t work at first.

  He needed to fuck her again.

  And again.

  He came and came and came but it was hardly taking the edge off. He was frantic and needy, and he was greedily taking it out on this little body, and she took it. God, she took it like it was nothing and showed no sign of slowing down.

  He’d wound up sucking on every inch of his dove’s body, marking her in places, and some places not enough. He was coated in her juices, she was covered in his, and it was still not enough.

  “More, Conor,” she begged, climbing over his sweaty body.

  His heart hadn’t come down from his orgasm yet, and she was already mounting him, her movements slow, her kisses sloppy. He gripped her hips as she positioned herself over him, waiting for him to take his cock and angle it inside her.

  His eyes fell to her tits, skin red from his biting, and already he felt himself stirring again. She was insatiable and he loved it. He loved knowing it was only his dick that’d been inside this perfect little pussy, that he owned it even when they were apart. It turned him the fuck on to know she’d desired no one else. That it was him, all him, and he wanted her to know it was all her, too.

  He hadn’t even realized it until it was too late, but she’d taken his cock into her own hand and sank down onto it, taking him all the way in. She tensed, looking pained for a moment.

  “You okay, baby?” he asked, wearily.

  “Sore,” she answered.

  “Take it easy, then.”

  He wasn’t going to dominate her this time. He’d gone rough enough times, his dick was chafing. He fell back, too tired to fight her off if he tried. Through bleary eyes, he watched her use him. Watched her take her time, hands on his chest, body rocking back and forth, face broken apart by pleasure.

  She was lost in her own world, and it stirred him deeply to watch it. Too intent on hiding himself away, he’d not watched it before, and now he was damning himself for all he had missed.

  He reached his hand out and ran his finger down the side of her face, stopping at her mouth to trace her wet lips. She parted her mouth and took his finger in, grazing her teeth along the length of his index, sucking him the way she’d suck his cock if he’d allowed it.

  God, he wanted it.

  And slowly she rocked, sucking his finger, guiding his other hand to her pussy. He rubbed her clit as she moved, as she fucked him, as she came closer to the edge. He swallowed hard, feeling his skin heat as she got off on him, riding through her orgasm.

  She was so fucking sweet.

  He felt his cock jerk inside her, and he groaned through the release as he stared at her wet parted lips, envisioning them wrapped around his dick.

  “You are so fucking perfect, Charlotte Miles,” he declared. “You’re the sun in my world, dove. Everything’s dark until you’re near, and suddenly it’s blinding light.”

  She dropped her head down to kiss him. “I love you, Conor,” she whispered.

  His eyes felt raw. He didn’t understand why he was so emotional all of a sudden. But fucking like that, watching her come apart, watching the pleasure in her face, did something to him. It was getting to him, piercing through his walls like dynamite.

  It hurt.

  The dynamite hurt when it hit those walls and burst through his apathy.

  Sometime later, after she washed herself and slipped into her night gown, she lay on her side, her back to his front. He cradled her, unable to keep his hands to himself.

  He kissed along her shoulder and up her soft neck, stopping at her ear to whisper, “I want a dog, dove.”

  He heard the smile in Charlotte’s voice. “Ah, I see the little rebel has gotten to you.”

  “Whatever do you mean?”

  “I’m no fool.”

  “Come on, pup.”

  “Dogs are a big responsibility.”

  “It’ll be good for her. She wants to tame one.”

  “She wants a Pitbull, Conor. That dog’ll tame her.”

  “Little Dozer is out there somewhere, wanting a home and a little girl to love.”

  “This isn’t like that game she plays. She can’t throw food at the animal and have unlimited loyalty. It takes work, and she’s young, and she might think Dozer’s cool for five seconds, and then we’re cleaning up the poo and washing her and walking her –”

  “If it makes Pen smile, I’d be happy to do all that work myself, and you can watch on with your cold little heart.”

  Charlotte laughed, spinning around to face him. “Oh, God. Don’t make me the bad guy.”

  “I ha
rdly understood that.”

  “Am I slurring?”

  “Yeah.”

  “I’m so tired, and it’s so late. Waking up is going to hurt.”

  “We have caffeine for that.”

  “But what about my pussy?”

  He let out a groan. “Say pussy again.”

  “Pussy.”

  “So hot, dove.”

  “It’s sore.”

  “It’s your fault. You ran from me.”

  She laughed again, and it went straight to his heart. Her laughter was infectious. He’d die happy just thinking of it in his final moments.

  He kissed her lips, his hand roaming at the same time beneath her naughty little gown. He swore she wore it just to drive him mad. Everything she wore drove him mad with lust. He’d spent the evening mentally counting down the minutes to hold her like this.

  He didn’t like her absence at the table. It startled him how he’d endured years without her, and now, so soon after he’d left prison, he couldn’t handle her away.

  “You never came back down,” he uttered just then, skimming his finger along her panty line. “After you put Penny to bed, you stayed up here.”

  “You guys were bonding,” she explained. “I didn’t want to intrude. Then you went for a drive. I hope it was good to be out.”

  After the heavy discussion between him and Jem, they’d dropped the subject of Locke and moved on to lighter topics. Dominic had advised Thames in prison to shun all situations that made his body zing with that familiar adrenaline, and the topic of Locke was an adrenaline fuelled trigger. He still felt wired from it, and because of that, he needed to steer clear thinking about it.

  It was a fun catch up, to see Blackwater in the night, to feel a remnant of his old self lurking in the shadows of his being, but he’d still have preferred his dove’s company.

  “Jem’s not how I remember,” he said thoughtfully.

  “You mean he’s less of an asshole.”

  “That’s right.”

  She grinned. “He’s still a shit, don’t worry.”

  “Yeah…” His voice trailed off for a moment before adding, “He seems a little off.”

  “A little haunted, you mean.”

  “Mmm.”

  “Jem keeps running from what hurts,” she explained softly. “He’s got a few skeletons in the closet.”

  “Know of any?”

  “He refuses to say.” She sounded sad. “I’ve tried to be there for him, I’ve tried to get him to open up about it but…he’s tough. You boys are tough to crack, you know that?”

  He nodded slowly, thinking of the way Jem behaved tonight. “Yeah, well…He took me down Hawthorne street.”

  Charlotte pulled back from his lips to look him square in the eye, confused. “Why did he take you there?”

  “To show me around. Hawthorne street had a bunch of family businesses not so long ago. It’s overrun by drug addicts now. It looked desperate.”

  She frowned. “Not sure why Jem was so motivated to show you that.”

  “He was trying to make a point.”

  “Concerning what?”

  “Locke.”

  Charlotte looked away, seeming bothered. “Don’t let whatever feud’s going on between Jem and Locke into your life. Don’t let it influence the way you view either of them.”

  Curious now, and unable to resist, he wondered, “Were you around for the Henry Tiller trial?”

  Her face blanched. “Yeah…” she said quietly.

  He studied her closely. “He was a good man, pup. Why would he deal drugs?”

  “I don’t know.”

  But she did know, didn’t she?

  Without wanting to, Thames recalled what his mother said the first morning he was here.

  “I had no idea he would come here, and it was late when he did,” Charlotte responded coolly. “I was overwhelmed. I didn’t think to call you at three in the morning.”

  “Is that really why?” Megan sounded uncertain. “Or is it because you’re afraid I’d tell him about you and Locke and what I walked in on that day?”

  Secrets.

  So many little mysteries in every corner of this town.

  And Charlotte was caught up in some of it, Thames was certain.

  Once again, it was tethered to Locke somehow, and Thames was on the cusp of some grand realization.

  After a tense few minutes, she feigned a yawn and turned her back to him. Soon after, she fell asleep.

  THE HOLE

  The second the steel doors slammed over Max, he stumbled up the steps, arms high above his head. He felt the cool steel and began pounding at the doors, screaming for help.

  He heard shuffling sounds above him. Something brushed against the door on the other side of him. He pounded his fists against the steel, hyperventilating now as the darkness stretched, as his heavy breaths filled the air around him.

  He nearly blacked out from fear.

  “Please,” he screamed. “Please, please, open the door! Please, please…”

  Please.

  Please.

  Please.

  He repeated himself, screaming, crying, pounding, until his voice cracked, and his hands bruised.

  Why wasn’t anyone answering him?

  “Conor,” he whimpered because Conor was always there to protect him. “Conor!”

  Was this some sick joke?

  Well, he didn’t want to play anymore. In fact, he would never play this game again, and he would never play it with the boys, and he would never venture so far out of town in this horribly haunted place.

  “Conor!” he cried, pounding and pounding at the door. “Please, open up! Please, I’m scared, Conor. I’m scared!”

  He was so scared, he might faint.

  He couldn’t see around him.

  He wasn’t used to this blackness. He’d never been submerged in it before. He’d always had a light nearby, however faint it was, it was always there to calm him down.

  His stomach twisted and his heart sped faster as his mind worked against him. It felt like the dark might claim him. It might wrap its arms around his body, claw his flesh and laugh in his ear, and whisper in a chilling voice, “Scaredy cat Max, such a baby.”

  It felt so real, so palpable – the monster in the room – that Max sensed its presence behind him and he panicked. He screamed louder, at the top of his lungs, crying out as he pounded and pounded.

  Then arms did wrap around him, pulling him down the steps and into the black hole.

  Chapter Seventeen

  Charlotte

  I played with my keys outside the school, standing with all the other parents waiting for their kids to come out. I hated showing up so early. I hated exchanging tight smiles and awkward conversation. I sucked so bad at socializing. Ended up staring at my feet most of the time, waiting for the bell to ring.

  Today in particular was extra savage for me. People stared extra hard.

  “How’s Conor doing?” a mother asked, smiling nicely at me.

  This was a woman that had never spoken to me once.

  I forced a nod. “Good.”

  “I’m glad.”

  “How’s he doing for real?” a father interjected just then, overhearing us. His arms were crossed as he stared me down like I was full of bullshit. “No one leaves prison and ends up feeling good.”

  I stifled a sigh. “Well, he’s good.”

  “Huh.” He scoffed, narrowing his eyes at me. “Why isn’t he here then?”

  Oh, my God. These people.

  “I don’t know,” I retorted. “Why don’t you ask him when you see him?”

  He averted his gaze. Yeah, he wouldn’t ask Conor shit.

  “I heard a bunch of guys showed up at your house?” said another father nearby, frowning. “I hope they didn’t cause any trouble.”

  That was said really sweetly.

  I shook my head at him. “No, no trouble.”

  He smiled. “Is there really a shovel sticking out of you
r front yard?”

  I smiled back. “Yeah, there is.”

  “Good.”

  I looked at everyone else listening in, but they just gave me the Bert stare. Thank God I had a phone for moments like these. I pulled it out and stared down at the screen, hoping Laura had messaged me back so I could find something to do.

  I need to come down to see you guys! Let me know when Conor’s settled in so I don’t just crash the place. I miss you so much. We have so much to catch up on.

  I smiled and replied. I’ll let you know a good time. Tbh, I could use a friend right now. Everyone’s been staring at me like I’ve got the plague.

  Ah. Your banishment is over. Only took them how many years?

  I’m pretty sure I’m still banished, and to be honest, I like my dark little corner of solitude. I just wish they’d stop being nosy.

  Char, they want the latest drama. Can you blame them? The town’s so different now, so many new people, but most people still remember Conor and lived through his wild days. They’re curious as fuck. Your guy left a lasting impression. He beat your step brother’s head to the ground, and this is just after all his other crazy shit. And you’re the only constant thing in his life. You waited and they’re awed by that. Don’t let anything slip. Have them wondering. Keep up with your resting bitch face and they’ll leave you the fuck alone.

  I missed this girl so much, it hurt.

  I laughed lightly just as the bell rang. Hallelujah.

  Penny came barrelling out of the doors, her mouth moving fast, rambling away at the eager Kane who was hovering close behind her, listening to her every word. He had stars in his eyes, and she was completely aware of it.

  Kane was an adorable looking boy with black hair and blue eyes. He was taller than most of the kids his age, which probably gave him that bullying edge when he stood up for Penny.

  When she got to me, she slid her backpack off and handed it to me, never breaking her conversation with Kane. They spoke about Minecraft, and their latest world. Kane logged into her world regularly, and they played together from their own homes. I knew it was a matter of time before she would start badgering me to let him come over, but that wasn’t a door I was happy to open.