Broken Beats

by D. Kelly

  “And why is it going to make you happy?”

  “How could having you around more not make me happy?”

  And how can I not love that answer? I lean over and kiss him, and he pulls me onto his lap until I’m straddling him. I start to move off, but he clamps his hands down on my hips.

  “Oh no, this is where I want you, can’t you tell?” He pulls me flush to his groin and groans. “We should get naked and you should ride me right here.”

  “First we need to finish talking …”

  He nips my neck. “You can talk right here.”

  “I have money. Richie left me everything—his restaurant fund, his life insurance, and there was a hefty payout from the car insurance. You don’t have to buy me things in order to spend more time with me. You just need to ask me to do it.”

  Darren tugs on my bottom lip with his teeth and then kisses me. I’m pretty sure if I were dying, his kiss would bring me back faster than CPR. This man connects with my soul on a level I’m not sure Richie did. It seems like I fell in love with Richie a little bit each day, but with Darren, I fell all at once.

  When we break apart, he caresses my cheek. “I’m happy Richie took care of you, Haddie, but now it’s my turn. I need you to let me take care of you too.”

  Tears spring to my eyes.

  Darren’s eyes widen. “I’m sorry, I didn’t mean to—”

  “No, stop … thank you.” I lean forward and kiss him again. “You’re right. I have to figure out the line between ‘he’s a rich and famous rock star who can have anything and anyone he wants’ and ‘this man loves you and wants to do nice things for you.’ It’s a lot to process.”

  “I’m just Darren when it’s us. Think of me as some random guy with a shitload of tattoos. My hobbies include spending time with my girlfriend, doting on my daughter, and making sure my family is taken care of. My after-dark hobbies include feasting on your pussy, fucking you until you scream my name, bringing you to multiple orgasms, and falling asleep with you in my arms.”

  Well hell …

  “Do you have a driver tonight?”

  He cocks his head and grins. “I’ve only had about three sips of wine. I can drive us. What are you thinking?”

  “I’d like to go home and pack a bag for the next couple of days. We can go shopping tomorrow, but I need to bridge the gap between then and now. Then I want to come back here and get started on the after-dark activities.”

  “Sounds good to me. Let’s go.”

  “Shower with me.”

  I pause and look up from my duffel bag. “We just showered before dinner.”

  Darren steps behind me and meets my gaze in the mirror. Making a show of licking his lips, he lowers his mouth to my neck and licks a path to that sweet spot below my ear. “We did, and now I want to get you dirty in the shower, clean you off, and get you dirty all over again.” Darren squeezes my ass and his eyes flare. He brings his arms around my breasts and squeezes my nipples.

  “You don’t play fair.”

  “I never claimed to. Strip while I start the shower.”

  When he releases me, I stop unpacking and watch as he shucks his clothes on the way to the shower.

  He looks over his shoulder and shakes his head. “Less watching, more stripping. The real fun can’t start until you’re as naked as me.”

  I strip, and he beckons me closer. He steps into the shower and holds out his hand for me. Accepting his offer, I step inside and wrap my fingers around his hard cock as water rains down on us from multiple showerheads.

  “Haddie … fuck yeah,” he groans as I stroke him.

  I take a step back and sit on the shower bench, putting his dick level with my mouth. Darren steps closer and places one hand on the wall behind me.

  I circle the tip of his cock with my tongue, and he hisses. “You don’t have to do this,” he says as his dick jerks against my lips.

  “And you have no idea how long I’ve wanted to do this.” I reply before taking his length deep down my throat.

  “Oh my fuck,” he growls and brings his free hand to the top of my head.

  Blowjobs have always been one of my favorite sex acts. I’ve missed this almost as much as sex itself. He pulls my hair, and I moan around his length.

  “Damn, Haddie … you’re going to make me come.”

  I tighten my grip on the base of his cock and redouble my efforts. Looking up, I meet his gaze as he fucks my mouth and cries out his release. I swallow again and again, milking every drop he gives me. Gently, he pulls out of my mouth and helps me to my feet. Caging me against the wall, Darren kisses me as if his life depends on it.

  He slides his hand between my legs and dips two fingers into my pussy. I cry out as he thrusts a few times before pulling one out and sliding it to my ass. “Whoa,” I hiss.

  He flashes me a cocky smirk. “If you hate it, I’ll stop.” Darren continues finger fucking me, and when I nod, he uses his other hand to rub my clit. Dropping his lips to mine, our tongues meet as his finger enters my ass.

  I cry out into his mouth as he continues thrusting into me and circling my sweet spot. He pushes a little deeper into my ass and wiggles his finger. My orgasm hits with a blinding quickness, and my knees are like jelly. Darren presses against me, keeping me between him and the wall. As I come down from my release, he slowly removes his fingers.

  “Holy shit,” I pant breathlessly. “That was …”

  “Pretty fucking good, right?”

  He chuckles against my skin and pulls me back under the spray. He slides his hands down my backside and cups my ass. “One day, I want to fuck you here too.”

  “Your dick is a lot bigger than that finger. Would you let me do the same to you?”

  “I’ve never given much thought to pegging, but if you want to try, I’m game.”

  Laughing, I flip around in his arms and reach for the soap over his shoulder. “Maybe we can revisit that conversation another time.”

  We take turns soaping each other up and washing each other’s hair.

  “We should get out. We’re wasting so much water.”

  Darren begins rinsing the conditioner from my hair. “I’ve got a reclaimed water system. Whatever we’re using will be reused.”

  “Wow, that’s really cool.”

  “Do you want one? I can have one put in at your house when we update your security.”

  Once he finishes my hair, he turns off the water and steps out and grabs a towel for him and two for me.

  “No, you don’t need to spend that kind of money. It’s just me. Wait, were you serious about updating my yard and stuff? I thought that was a worst-case-scenario thing.”

  He steps up behind me. “I want you safe, Haddie. When the news breaks about us, you’re going to be a hot-ticket item. I could hire guards instead.”

  “No guards, Darren. I need to be me.”

  “Then you have to have security. It’s one or the other, but you’re lucky I’m not forcing both. A few years ago, I would’ve.”

  I move to put on my underwear, but he stops me. “Sleep naked with me.”

  “Do you always sleep naked?”

  He grins. “Whenever there aren’t kids in the house. Try it. If you don’t like it, you can sleep in your underwear.”

  “Okay, but just for you. I’ve never liked sleeping naked.”

  Darren reaches for my brush. “May I?”

  “You want to brush my hair?”

  “I’m pretty awesome at it. Don’t you like it when someone brushes your hair?” He steps behind me and pulls the towel from my head.

  “I love it.” My shoulders relax as he squeezes the towel around my hair.

  “I know you think I’m overreacting about things, but I promise I’m not. Did I ever tell you Noah had a stalker?”

  “I think you briefly touched on it.”

  Once my hair is finished, he lowers my towel and begins drying me.

  “You know, I can do that myself.”

  Darren
smirks. “What’s the fun in that?”

  After we’re both dry, he takes my hand and leads me back to his bed and turns off the lights. “Noah’s stalker almost killed him and Mel. It was a wake-up call for all of us, especially Sawyer. She got to them while we had security on high alert. We had extra guards, failsafe protocols, and she still managed to get through it.”

  We lie side by side, facing each other, and I bring my hand to his cheek. “That’s crazy. I’m sorry.”

  Darren rests his hand on my hip. “My point is, you have nothing protecting you right now. Unless you’re ready to move in with me, we have to fix that. I can’t risk losing someone else.”

  I exhale softly. “Okay, do whatever you need to. Let me know how much it is—”

  “Absolutely not. This issue comes to our relationship because of who I am. I’ll pay for it.”

  “Fine, but no reclaimed water system. I mean it. And as far as moving in with you … it’s way too soon. You should ask me again later on though.”

  “You’d consider it?”

  “I’d consider a lot of things when it comes to you.”

  He laughs. “Like pegging me?”

  “If that’s really something you want, consider it done.”

  He laughs again and pulls me into his arms. “We’re going to have an incredible sex life, and we’ll figure out what we do and don’t want as we go.”

  “Does it bother you that I’m not as … experienced?”

  “Does it bother you that I am?” he counters.

  “No, because you wouldn’t be who you are without the experiences you’ve had. Good or bad.”

  He kisses me and nips my lip before pulling away. “Thank you. I know it’s old-fashioned, but I like that you haven’t been as adventurous as I have. I’d never ask your number—”

  “Six, and that includes you.”

  “Jesus,” he groans and buries his head in my chest.

  “Why are you hiding in my breasts?”

  “Your breasts are extremely comfortable, and I’m not hiding; I’m thinking.”

  “About?”

  “What an asshole I am for being happy your number is so low. How excited I am because I know I can corrupt you sexually, give you new experiences, and enjoy every fucking minute of it. But what if I’m too overwhelming for you?”

  I push him away. “Are you trying to say I can’t keep up with you? That I’m too vanilla for you?”

  “Fuck no … that sounded bad. I’m very sexual, Haddie. There isn’t anything about sex that I don’t like. I’m excited to explore every aspect of it with you.”

  I take a cleansing breath and calm my anxiety. “This is a closed relationship, right?”

  He pulls me close and presses his hardness against me. “Most definitely, but if you want to try a threesome, I’d be open to that as long as it’s not a long-term situation.”

  “The only kind of threesome I’d be interested in would be with two men.”

  “We can do that if you want,” he replies without hesitation.

  I choke on my own saliva and cough. “Are you serious? You’d willingly be with me and another guy?”

  “If it turned you on, without a doubt.”

  “What if I wanted him to be with you too?”

  Darren slips his fingers between my legs. “You’re wet.”

  “Answer the question.”

  “I’ve been with a man before. It wasn’t horrible.”

  “Do you consider yourself bi?”

  “Nope, I did it for her. Watching me with someone else turned her on and that turned me on. Sex isn’t only for my pleasure.” He pushes his fingers deeper and crooks them against my g-spot.

  “Ahh …”

  Darren flicks my nipple with his tongue. “See, we’re just talking about it and you’re drenched. Is it the idea of us with another man turning you on? Or is it my dirty talk?”

  “Dirty talk …”

  He removes his hand. “Turn over.”

  I do as he asks. He scoots close behind me and slides his cock down the seam of my ass, leaving a trail of wetness behind.

  “This ass is going to be mine.” Darren pulls my leg back over his hip and presses his cock inside me, filling me completely.

  “Oh God,” I whimper, and he nips at my neck.

  “Nope, still me, Haddie.”

  “You’re so deep.” I grip the sheets in my fists as he slowly and meticulously fucks me.

  “What if we watched people at a club? I could fuck you while we watch from behind privacy glass, or I could eat your pussy as someone else is feasted upon. Maybe they’ll be blindfolded or receiving punishment. Would you want me to spank you? Slap that voluptuous ass while I fuck you from behind?”

  I can’t catch my breath. His mouth is in complete control of my body right now.

  “Darren, please.”

  He thrusts faster, deeper, and harder, sending me to the point of no return. When he grips my hip and slams into me, I shatter completely.

  “Darren!”

  He comes on a roar, and it’s everything I never knew I needed to hear during sex. I clench around him tighter, riding the waves of our shared orgasm.

  When we’re both spent, he pulls out and lies behind me with his arms around my waist. “That was hot. You’ve got some kink inside of you, and I’m going to have a blast helping you explore it.”

  “What if I’m pure vanilla?”

  He kisses the back of my neck. “As long as you’re fucking me and I’m the one you come home to, you can be as kinky or as vanilla as you want. I love sex, but I love you more. I can talk to you about all the dirty, sexy, and depraved things you want if it turns you on. But if you never want to do any of those things, we don’t have to.”

  “In other words, you just want to make me happy?”

  “Happy and sexually satisfied. Both are equally important in any relationship.”

  “Relationship …”

  Darren entwines our fingers. “Is it strange to think about?”

  “No, the opposite. That word has taunted me for years, but with you, I wouldn’t want anything less. Thank you for bringing me back to life.”

  He releases my hand and pulls the duvet over us. Curling up against my backside, he whispers in my ear, “I should be the one thanking you. Goodnight, Haddie.”

  “Night, Darren.”

  16

  Darren

  “Are you sure you’re ready to do this?” Haddie paces the floor anxiously.

  “Baby, I’m sure. Cady and Nate are going to love you. Stop worrying.”

  She throws her hands up in the air. “Aren’t you worried? If she doesn’t like me, this is it, Darren. We can’t be together if she hates me.”

  I cross the room and wrap my arms around her. “She’s going to love you. Maybe not at first because kids don’t typically work that way, but she will. We’ll figure it out, Haddie, because there is no way my little girl isn’t going to love you as much as I do. It’s not possible.” The doorbell rings and I reach for her hand. “Come on, it’s now or never.”

  She takes my hand and grips it tightly. I wish I could take away her fear, but I’ve got a feeling this goes far deeper than just meeting Cadence. Her whole life is about to change.

  I pause on the way to the door. “If you don’t think you can do this and be part of our lives … if that’s why you’re scared, speak up.”

  Haddie leans forward and kisses me. “That is not what this is about. Open the door, Darren.”

  I open the door to V and her husband Marcus. Looking over their shoulder, I find the kids playing in the yard behind them. V looks down to where Haddie’s hand and mine are laced together and smiles. “It’s about damn time.”

  V hugs me, forcing me to let go of Haddie, and whispers in my ear, “I’m proud of you, Belle would be too. This is a big step.”

  I swallow over the lump in my throat as she steps to the side and Marcus shakes my hand. “Good to see you, Darren.”

 
“You too, Marcus.”

  V jumps right in with Haddie. “I’m Veronica, and you must be Haddie. I’ve heard a lot about you and it’s very nice to finally meet you.”

  Veronica pulls Haddie in for a hug. Haddie quickly swipes at her tears as V pulls away, and V nods as if she knows a secret.

  “It’s nice to meet you, Veronica,” Haddie answers softly.

  Veronica reaches out and squeezes her hand. “This is a happy day; no tears are necessary. God has a plan and this is part of it. Be good to each other and to my grandbaby.” The “don’t fuck with my grandchild” message is clear.

  “You know I always am,” I reply firmly.

  Marcus chuckles. “Come on, V, stop intimidating them and let’s go get some food. I’m starving and you promised you’d cook a Sunday dinner feast if I went to church.”

  V points at Marcus. “Do you two hear him? I have to bribe him to give God some of his time one day a week.”

  “I call it an enticing incentive.”

  “Incentive, my ass,” she mumbles. “We’ll see you later. After all, if Marcus doesn’t eat soon, he might wither away and die. Then he’ll at least be grateful he went to church today.”

  We all laugh as they walk toward the car and say their goodbyes to the kids.

  “Oh God, this is it. I think I’m going to be sick.”

  I turn toward Haddie and put my hands on her shoulders. “Breath, babe, this is going to be fine. I promise.”

  “Daddy! Are we going to the movies now?” Cadence runs inside with Nate hot on her heels. They both look up at Haddie and back to me. “Are we in trouble?”

  I release Haddie’s shoulders and turn to the kids. “No, why would you be in trouble?”

  They point at Haddie as Cadence says, “Isn’t she from our school? She works in the office.”

  “Yeah, but she’s Miss Marina’s friend too,” Nate adds.

  “Oh yeah, she is. You’re Miss Marina’s best friend, right?” Cadence looks up at her with her big brown eyes.

  “Yes, I’m Miss Marina’s best friend, and I also work in the office at your school. The kids at school call me Miss Haddie, but you can call me Haddie when we’re not at school.”