Picked

by Jettie Woodruff

  “Hey, Cooper,” I interrupted in a calm, cool manner, halting his poor me speech.

  “Huh?” he asked, puzzled when I stood and pointed to the street with my thumb.

  “How about you get the fuck off my steps before I go to jail for murder.”

  “What?” he asked, looking even more perplexed.

  “You’re a snake. You’re a low life, and you’re not a good person. I hope you get lost and get run over by a tsunami. Maybe you can take a picture of it right before it swallows you whole.”

  “I was going to tell you, Cass.”

  “Were you? Just go, will you?” I asked, waving my hand to the curb. I didn’t care. I was mentally and emotionally drained. I just wanted to be alone with my thoughts and this crazy, ridiculous day.

  “I’m sorry,” I heard from behind me.

  Keeping my head down, I walked inside, closed the door, and slid to the floor. And there they were, the tears that had been hiding all day. All at once, a flood of tears streamed down my face. I’m not sure how long my cheek lay on the cool, hard wood, but I knew it was him as soon as the doorbell rang. Coming to my knees I opened the door.

  “Shhh… I’ve got you,” Becker whispered, dropping to his knees with me.

  Clinging to him, I cried, and cried and cried. Becker didn’t say a word. He held me tight, stroked my hair, and kissed my head. What the hell was I supposed to do? This is what I wanted. I wanted Becker and I wanted this baby. Why did it have to be so difficult? Love wasn’t supposed to be hard, was it?

  Becker finally dropped to his butt, pulling me with him. I snorted, running snot from all the crying and wiped my tears with the collar of my shirt. Sitting between his legs with my back to his chest, I blubbered, my whole life full of lies, sniffing in more snot, shedding more tears, and inhaling needed air. I let it all out. Becker had to say “what” a few times due to my lack of being coherent and not making any sense.

  “And Cooper isn’t who I thought he was, either. He stole my photos. He won a really big photo contest with National Environmental Magazine. All three of the photos he won with were mine. Somebody took my camera, too. He won a new one. A really nice one, nicer than mine.”

  “I’ll buy you a new camera,” Becker whispered, kissing my hair just above my ear.

  “Becker, what’s going to happen to us?” I asked, turning to him.

  “We’ll work it out. Don’t worry about that now. You’ve dealt with enough for one day. How about a nice, hot bath? You go soak in a relaxing bubble bath and I’ll make us some dinner.”

  Nodding my head yes, I sniffed again. Becker stood, and pulled me to my feet. Kissing my pouty lips and wiping tears from my puffy eyes, he smiled. “I love you. I don’t want to live without you,” he said, kissing my forehead.

  I didn’t reply. I didn’t know how. I loved him, too. He knew that, but he also knew I wouldn’t be a number. Smiling, I walked away.

  The hot tub and fresh scent of lilac helped. I had a lot to deal with. Matt was my dad. My dad was my uncle, and Jacob was my brother by my mom and my uncle. What? What a crazy mess. Closing my eyes, I remembered one more dilemma. Becker’s sisters were being sold as sex slaves. Of everything that I had dealt with throughout my crazy day, that had to take precedence over it all. They were young, innocent girls, and Becker had to do something. He had money, lots of money. He had to help them, and I had to talk to him about it. As big as my problems seemed, theirs were bigger.

  “Better?” Becker asked, sitting right on the floor, taking my soapy hand.

  I shrugged my shoulders with half a smile. I wasn’t sure I would ever feel better. How could I? Becker listened to me explain in a more coherent state about my mom, how my dad told me that she was in love with Matt.

  “She was only fifteen when she got pregnant with me.”

  “Do you know why someone would want to hurt her?”

  I sat up. Thanks a lot, Becker. Just what I needed, more questions. I bet my dad knew, or maybe even Matt. I wanted to know that, too.

  “Come on, let’s eat,” Becker coaxed, sensing my epiphany. He, too, knew I’d had enough.

  Chapter 30

  Dinner was quiet. It was delicious, I just didn’t have much of an appetite. Becker made me eat some of the mash potatoes and corn, and I had a little bit of the chicken breast. I couldn’t help but smile when he informed me that our little baby needed food. He was excited about it. I wanted to share that excitement, too. I couldn’t. My entire world was doing summersaults right in front of my eyes.

  Becker got up to retrieve my ringing phone.

  I answered it, knowing Justine wouldn’t stop.

  “I’m sorry, Cass. I didn’t know.”

  “It’s okay. He can have them.” I shrugged. I was over the thieving son of a bitch. Nobody seemed to be who they said they were. Whatever. Cooper could have my photos, the new camera, the scholarship money, and the trip of a lifetime. “How did you know?”

  “Hunter told me. He was pissed. He knew those were your photos.”

  “Well, I’m glad Hunter’s not a snake, too.”

  “He’s not, Cass. I think I’m in love.”

  I snorted a little. “I hope you are. Hey, can I talk to you tomorrow. Matt’s beeping,” I asked. I needed to answer that call.

  “Yeah, sure. I’m sorry, Cass.”

  “Don’t worry about it. I’ll talk to you tomorrow.”

  I clicked over to the call coming through.

  “Hey,” I answered Matt. “You should have told me. Someone should have told me a long time ago.”

  “I know. I’m sorry, Cassie. I really am. I wanted to. I’ll tell you anything you want to know. Meet me for lunch or something tomorrow and we’ll talk. I don’t want to do this over the phone with you there alone.”

  “I’m not alone. Becker’s here with me.” Waiting for the silence to end, I glanced at Becker’s eyes, staring right at me with nothing but pure love. I was sure that was what I was staring into.

  “I don’t know if I like that, Cass.”

  “You don’t. I already know you don’t, but we’ll talk about it tomorrow,” I promised. I was going to tell him everything, too. No more lies. I didn’t like the way it made me feel, and I was sure my mother wouldn’t have wanted any of this, not for me or Jacob.

  “Did you talk to him about the case?”

  “Not yet, but I plan to. Meet me at Sanders Fish Fry around one tomorrow. You should bring Jacob.”

  “Not tomorrow.”

  “I want to know him, Matt.”

  “I know. You will, just not tomorrow. I’ll see you then.”

  “Okay.”

  “Cassie?”

  “Hmm?”

  “I really am sorry.”

  “I know. I’ll see you tomorrow.”

  I pushed my plate away and Becker took my hand. Kissing my knuckles, he pulled me to him. He slid his chair back and I sat in his lap and placed my arm around his neck.

  “I missed you,” he whispered, placing his hand right on my stomach. Looking up at me, he smiled. “We have a baby in here.”

  I took a long, deep breath. We most certainly did have a baby in there. Now what?

  “Can I stay?”

  “We’ll have sex,” I assured him.

  Becker laughed, causing me to laugh with him. “I hope so, but we don’t have to.”

  “I have never been able to be this close to you without wanting to jump your bones.”

  “You can jump my bones,” he teased, kissing me.

  My lips parted—well, I think his tongue parted them—my eyes closed and I fell. I felt light, like I was floating, and the tingling sensation in my stomach wasn’t from the new little baby. It was from Becker. Becker was the only one who could cause those feelings. I loved him.

  Leaving the dishes and the leftover food, Becker led me to my room. It was far from the first time with Becker, but it felt like it. I really felt like a virgin on prom night, nervous as hell. Wearing nothing but panties and
a long shirt, left little to be removed. Looking up to Becker, I lifted my arms and let him remove my shirt.

  “You’re so beautiful,” he whispered.

  I snickered a little. I never saw myself as beautiful, not like he did. Becker saw something in me that I was never able to see for myself. I wanted him to stop staring at my naked breasts and kiss me or something. This awkward observation of my naked body left me feeling exposed and uncomfortable.

  Becker’s hands roamed down my arms and to the silk on my ass. He slid both hands through the elastic and cupped my butt cheeks with his warm palms. I knew this was only going to lead him on, and I should have stopped it until I figured out what the hell I was going to do. I couldn’t, and I didn’t want to. The throbbing between my legs didn’t want to. I wanted him. I wanted all of Becker. I needed this. I deserved this after the day I had. A little pleasure was just what the doctor ordered.

  Feeling my panties slide down, I wiggled my hips, helping myself out of them. Stepping out of my panties, Becker kissed my collarbone with warm kisses while cool chills traveled down my spine. I always had to tell myself to breathe at his touch. Feeling the back of my legs make contact with the bed, I sat. Becker hovered over top of me, kissing me like nobody else could. I tilted my head back, letting him devour my mouth with his. Pressing firmer with his lips, Becker forced me to lay down. I obliged. No problem.

  Lifting my feet to the bed, Becker moved my knees out, exposing my wet, throbbing sex. I wondered if he could see the wetness as his eyes moved down, stopping on my glistening folds. His hands slid down my thighs and stopped. His thumbs moved my lips out more and the lustful look in his eyes made me squirm beneath him. He looked to my eyes briefly when my hips pivoted on their own, begging him to touch me.

  “You’re wet.”

  “I’m sure of it,” I panted, wondering where all the air had gone. I could see Becker’s hardness, begging to be set free. I forgot about it when my eyes abruptly closed from the feel of his fingers, lightly sliding up my slit. Now I really couldn’t breathe.

  “You feel amazing,” Becker rasped.

  I hoped he wasn’t expecting a response. The only responses my body would allow were the ones being permeated from his two fingers, easily sliding in and out of me. One hand trailed fingers up my body, straight to my nipple. Holy hell, were my nipples ever sensitive. It had to be the changing hormones. I think I could have come like that, just the feel of his fingers twisting my nipples were enough to pull a whiny moan from my throat.

  “You like that?” Becker whispered.

  Jesus, I loved the lustful look in his eyes. I barely nodded, feeling a straying finger slide over the pucker in my ass. Two fingers dipped in and out of me, one finger assaulted my throbbing nub, and then a thumb, I think, penetrated my ass. I was going to come.

  “Take over right here,” Becker coaxed, moving both my hands to my nipples.

  His hand never missed a beat. I watched him fumble with his belt, trying to maneuver his button with one hand. Oh my. Oh my. Oh my. Watching Becker stroke himself over me was erotic and orgasm-worthy. Dropping to his knees, he continued to stroke himself. I couldn’t see it anymore. Damnit. I wanted to watch that. Becker pushed my knees down more and licked, one long, slow stroke. Oh my god!

  “You taste amazing,” he said, pulling away, looking at my sex, and doing it again.

  The erotic, lustful look in his eyes every time he licked and pulled away to stare at my throbbing wet sex was unbearable. I scooted away more than once. I couldn’t help it. He was on fire, and his tongue burned my skin with every stroke.

  Raising to my elbows a little, I watched him stroke his massive rod while his mouth devoured my aching core, sending wave after wave of sensations through my body. I loved it when he cupped his tight balls like that. I wanted to do that.

  “You want that?” he asked, sucking on my swollen nub, letting it pop from his lips.

  “Yes,” I panted.

  “Get on your knees and take it.”

  Again, I didn’t respond with words. I dropped to the floor and he moved to the bed, trading me places. Becker spread his legs, giving me full access of anything I wanted. I cupped his balls in my hand and tasted the pre-come beading at the head of his cock. Fisting my hair out of my face, Becker pushed down on my head, wanting me to take him in my mouth. I, of course did, taking him to the back of my throat, wishing I could take more. Becker moaned and shoved my head down more, thrusting into me. I gagged and he eased up, only to do it again and again. It was the hottest thing on earth.

  “You better stop,” he warned after, I don’t know, ten minutes or so.

  I could have kept going and going. I was so turned on by Becker guiding himself in and out of my mouth, controlling how much of him I took.

  Becker pulled me to his lap and I straddled his waist. Holding on to his rod, he guided the head inside me. I slid down, little by little, until I was sitting in his lap with him filling me completely.

  “Is this okay?” he asked, kissing me.

  I could taste myself on his lips and it caused me to once again devour his mouth with mine, rocking back and forth on his steel rod. I didn’t answer—I moaned, sliding up and down, letting him know that it was more than fine. I knew he was asking about the baby, but I didn’t want to think about the baby, Cooper, my dad, Matt, Jacob, my mom, Christina, or Britney. I wanted to think about this, block out the rest of the world and feel nothing but the orgasm building deep in my stomach.

  Becker laid back, held my hips and rocked me back and forth, sliding in and out every so often while he watched. His thumb found my throbbing clitoris and he circled it with just the right amount of pressure. Hmmm, it was amazing. Ahhh. Yes. Hmm. Right there, I chanted to myself, staring into his eyes while his stared at our sex coming together. We were so into each other, so perfect together, and— Oh lord. Oh boy.

  “Ahhhhhh!” I called, grabbing his chest, sliding him as deep in me as I could and letting go. Where the hell did that come from? Wave after wave of bliss surrounded my lower extremities.

  “Shit, Cass,” Becker growled, twisting me from on top of him.

  Wait. I wasn’t done. My body protested, but only for a second. Becker slid deep inside me, forcing his manhood in and out quickly. Dampness formed on his chest while he went at it like a crazy man. I was moaning again in no time, feeling the second surge.

  “Where do you want it,” he asked, going harder. Again, I couldn’t answer. “You ready?” he moaned, sending me over the edge, toppling over and falling fast, I came again. Hard. Becker pulled out, came to his knees and touched my lips with his head. I parted my lips and let him do what he wanted. I didn’t care. I took him, all of him, to the back of my throat and swallowed. It was the most erotic thing I’d ever experienced. Jesus, God. I loved him.

  ***

  Laying in Becker’s arms, curled to his chest with my naked body, he ran his fingers down my arm and kissed my forehead. I wanted to feel like this for ever and ever. I didn’t want to ruin the moment, but I had to know. I had to know if he knew what was happening.

  “Beck?”

  “Yeah?”

  “How did you end up here? I mean, why did you come to Philly all the way from Utah?”

  “I used to come here with my father.”

  “Why?”

  “It’s nothing you need to concern yourself with. He was making me, Mason, and a couple other of my half-brothers do something I didn’t agree with.”

  I breathed in a long breath of air, and looked up to him, propping my chin on his chest. “Matt and I have been investigating an attorney in the city. Matt says he is buying young girls for a sex trade. Do you know anything about that?”

  Becker moved his eyes to mine and paused. He did know. I could tell. “Yeah, I know what’s going on. I don’t want you anywhere near there, Cassie. I don’t want you going back to work there period. You don’t need to do that.”

  “Matt says your father is involved. Is that what you meant
? Were you involved, too, Becker?”

  “I was fifteen, Cass. Don’t worry about this. I’ve got people on it. He promised when we got the hell out of there that he was done. I’ve always kept an eye on him, and I still talk to a couple of my siblings. My half-brother, Paul called me a couple months ago. He had a couple year gap where the girls were pretty young. They’re all getting up there now, and he doesn’t want to feed them anymore. I know what’s going on. I’m taking care of it. You stay out of it.”

  “It’s not just him. Other girls are being brought there, too. How many sisters do you have? Do you know where they all are?”

  “I know Michelle was recently delivered and taken to a club in Texas. Mason and I flew out there to get her, but she wouldn’t come.”

  “Why?”

  Becker shrugged his shoulders. “She said she was happy there, and it was much better than going back where she came from. She wouldn’t leave.”

  “He brought two girls. One didn’t make the cut,” I explained what I had witnessed.

  “That’s Julie. Julie has a touch of autism. I’m glad they didn’t accept her. She would never make it.”

  “How can you be so cool about this? They are your blood, and your father is selling them off for a profit.”

  “I’m so not okay with this, Cass. We have our own investigators on it in Texas. Stay out of it. Please.”

  “Matt’s not going to stay out of it. Matt wants this guy to go down, him and all his minions. Other guys are bringing in girls, too. I think they’re from the same walk of life.”

  “Let it go, Cass. I’m going to talk to Matt. You don’t worry about it.”

  “You can’t talk to Matt. He’ll kill you, especially when he finds out that I am pregnant.”

  “He’s not going to kill me. You’re pregnant, Cassie. We’re going to have a baby.” He smiled. I knew he was just trying to derail a conversation that he didn’t want me tangled in, but he was genially happy about it. “We have to tell the girls.”