by Vicky Jones
“Come with me,” Shona said, taking Chloe’s hand and slowly leading her to the floor bed. Untying Chloe’s robe, she pulled the silk cord out from it, throwing it on the ground. Without a word, Shona slipped her hands underneath the shoulders of the robe and let it fall away from Chloe’s baby soft skin.
“Lay down,” Shona commanded, her voice barely above a whisper. Chloe obeyed, her whole body tingling with anticipation. She lay on her back completely naked, looking up at Shona whose movements were almost ethereal. Shona kneeled down and spread her body over Chloe, who lifted her face to reach Shona’s lips, but Shona pulled away. The look on her face was pure seduction as she reached over for the silk cord she’d taken from the robe and instructed Chloe to put her arms above her head, which she did without question. Shona wrapped Chloe’s wrists with the cord, not too tight but enough to keep them where she wanted them, threading one end through the leg of the armchair behind Chloe’s prone body to anchor her. Chloe murmured, the pulsing between her legs growing.
“I want you to lie still, understand?” Shona breathed in Chloe’s ear, then kissed her on the neck.
“I understand,” Chloe replied. The ache was pounding now.
“Chloe, do you trust me?”
Biting her lip, Chloe nodded.
“Completely?” Shona added, her blue eyes mesmerizing.
“Yes.”
Shona then sat back on her heels after gently pushing Chloe’s head back so it was resting on the blankets. She took a thin silk scarf out of her back pocket and laid it carefully over Chloe’s eyes, tucking the ends underneath her head.
“Can you see me?”
“No.”
Leaving it a second, Shona stood up. “Promise?”
“I promise.”
Seconds ticked by. Long, agonizing seconds.
“Shona? Are you there?”
“Yes.”
Crouching down, Shona began tracing the back of her finger down Chloe’s side, reaching one naked hip, then circled around the bone. Chloe gasped at Shona’s light touch, lifting her body to try and catch a firmer contact, but Shona pulled her fingers away.
“Stay still,” she commanded, then lowered her face to Chloe’s hip bones. Moving across from right to left, Shona kissed every inch of Chloe’s lower body, apart from where she knew Chloe craved to feel her mouth the most. With her long, wet tongue, Shona travelled the length of Chloe’s inside leg all the way down to her ankle bone, then, picking up the other silk scarf she’d brought in and choosing her spot, she took her time to run it delicately over Chloe’s breasts, circling the rougher part of the tassel around her nipples, generating more gasps from Chloe who was struggling to take any more. Pressing her mouth against Chloe’s breasts, she took in each nipple, one after the other, feeling them harden almost in an instant against her tongue. She then drew back and blew very lightly on one, then the other.
“Oh my God, Shona. I can’t…”
Ignoring Chloe’s please for mercy, Shona picked out an ice cube from her glass of tea and ran it along the same path her fingers had traced only moments earlier. Squeezing the ice in her hand, Shona let her body heat slowly melt it onto Chloe’s skin. Smiling, she watched the droplets dribble between Chloe’s breasts and stomach, until they eventually rolled down over her hip bones. The ice water now mixing with the throbbing heat between Chloe’s legs, Shona’s hungry mouth followed, catching every drop. Then, gently pulling apart Chloe’s delicate lips, Shona blew on her most sensitive spot, softly at first, then harder, each breath longer than the last. The sheer cold of the ice water running over her skin simultaneously made the sensation even more intense. All Chloe could do was groan, waiting, hoping, that soon Shona would put her out of her delicious misery.
“Shona, please,” Chloe’s strained voice begged.
Shona lifted off her undershirt and laid her naked torso on top of Chloe, kissing her hard and wrapping her hands around Chloe’s still-bound wrists as she did so. Chloe could just about make out Shona’s shadow through the blindfold. Their bodies moved together as one, then, letting go of Chloe’s wrists, Shona kissed her way down her body again, revisiting the parts she’d tormented earlier, finishing up where the droplets from the ice cube had come to pool between her legs. This time, without hesitation, Shona allowed her mouth to explore there, slowly at first, her tongue finding all the places Chloe had been aching for it to find. With a hunger she could barely control, Shona buried her tongue deep inside Chloe, her hands gripping on tightly to Chloe’s writhing thighs.
“Oh God, Shona. Just there, yes.”
Shona needed no encouragement. All her attention was now on that one spot, her tongue working hard and slow, then speeding up to encourage the inevitable conclusion. Feeling Chloe’s body about to give way, Shona suddenly stopped what she was doing and lifted her head up, licking every delicious drop of Chloe from her own lips.
“No, please Shona, don’t stop…”
“Shhh… All in good time. I’m not finished with you yet,” Shona replied with a devilish grin, the menace oozing out of her. She waited another few seconds, then sank her face back to the same spot as before. As if a switch had been flicked, Shona felt Chloe’s wetness increase in an instant as she worked her tongue against Chloe’s spot over and over again. Then stopping again. Seconds later, with the loudest groan Shona had ever heard from her, Chloe raised her back off the blankets, her whole body convulsing with ecstasy as her orgasm thundered through her.
Panting now herself, Shona wiped her wet mouth and looked up to see the silk scarf still draped over Chloe’s face. Then a panic appeared to set in with Chloe, startling Shona into action.
“What? What is it?” Shona asked, climbing back up her body to rip the scarf off. Chloe’s sweaty face was bright red, strands of hair matted to her forehead.
“Get me out of this,” Chloe demanded, yanking her wrists against the legs of the armchair.
Untying the cord as quickly as she could, Shona threw it away and clamped her palm around Chloe’s face. “What’s the matter?”
“Nothing. I just need to fuck you. Now.”
Chloe’s eyes were filled with pure lust as she rolled over the top of Shona and ripped down her pants. Pinning Shona’s wrists above her head with one hand, Chloe used her knees to spread wide Shona’s legs, then positioned her free hand between them. Carefully, she slipped in her long fingers, letting them travel deeper and deeper until her fingertips hit the ridges inside of Shona, who groaned as she felt Chloe rub against them, then pull out. Chloe slid her fingers back inside Shona again, pressing harder this time against her inner walls.
“Oh, Chloe. That feels… Oh my god…” Shona could hardly catch her breath, let alone form words.
Rubbing herself against Shona’s thigh, Chloe felt the sensations inside herself build again. With Shona’s inner muscles tightening around her fingers, Chloe could tell she was almost there too and, after a few more seconds, they cried out together. Collapsing into the blankets of the floor bed, they lay in each other’s arms completely exhausted.
“Oh my God, Shona, I’ve never felt our bodies do that before,” Chloe panted, then laughed, her mouth pressed to Shona’s ear.
“I know,” Shona replied with her eyes closed. “It’s a good thing we live far away. The whole town would have heard you scream just then.”
“We should get a sitter more often.”
Together, locked in each other’s arms, they lay there watching the candles flicker, feeling closer than ever.
Chapter 45
Shona woke up with Chloe still in her arms. She hadn’t moved an inch, as if a minute hadn’t passed since they had fallen asleep together. Slipping out from underneath Chloe’s arm, she rose up, put on her undershirt and pants, and headed into the kitchen. As she poured the second cup of coffee, she felt Chloe’s arms wrap around her.
“Well, good morning,” Shona said, smiling and turning around to hand Chloe her coffee cup. “You sleep well?”
“I sure did. I woke up at one point to find a gorgeous blonde lying naked next to me.”
At that moment, a loud knock at the front door made them both jump. Cooper sat up in his basket, the faintest growl coming from him.
“Cooper, lie down,” Shona commanded, to which he obeyed. “I’ll go see who it is.” She kissed Chloe on the cheek and hopped down the hallway. After opening the door, her blood ran cold.
“Hello, Shona.”
Shona stood motionless, hardly able to breathe. Every punch and kick of the beating she’d received back in Alabama came flooding back to her. Feeling her legs start to wobble, she leaned against the door frame.
“What the hell are you doing here?”
“I don’t want any trouble. Is Chloe here?”
Leaving their visitor on the doorstep, Shona padded, slower this time, back to the kitchen. The second Chloe looked at her pale face, her heart began to race.
“Who is it?” Chloe strode over to her. “Who’s at the door, Shona?”
Shona raised her eyes to meet Chloe’s.
“It’s your father.”
The coffee cup in Chloe’s hands slipped to the floor, smashing into pieces.
After dressing as quickly as she could, Chloe approached the door, her face like stone. “What the hell are you doing here?”
Larry Bruce had stepped down from the porch by this time and was now stroking his moustache and looking out to the ocean. His formerly rotund figure was now noticeably thinner, his face much grayer. “I needed to see you. To talk to you.”
“I thought they’d lock you up for life for what you did,” Shona shot back from the hallway.
“They let me out early,” he replied over Chloe’s shoulder. He looked back at his daughter. “I’m dying.”
“Of what? Shame? The devil finally caught up with you, huh?” Shona blasted.
“I guess so,” Larry replied. “I’ve got weeks, if I’m lucky.”
Shona laughed. “Please tell me it’s painful what you’ve got? Tell me it hurts every fucking day just to breathe?”
Larry cleared his throat “Yes, actually. It does. I got cancer. My lungs are riddled. Can’t hardly breathe most days. Fifty years of cigar smoke has finished me off.” He paused to sniff the cool sea air. “Your mother told me you were here. I can see why you chose this place now.”
“Yeah, well, now that you’ve seen it, you can fuck off again.” Shona spat on the ground next to him.
“I’d like a minute with my daughter. Alone. Please?” Larry motioned for Shona to go back in the house, but she stayed put. “Look, I promise I won’t hurt her.”
Chloe looked at Shona and nodded. “I’ll be OK. You go inside.”
“Are you sure?”
“Yes. Honestly, go on.”
“I’ll be right inside the door. OK?” Shona traipsed back inside the house, leaving the door open.
Chloe stepped down from the porch and joined her father at the edge of the yard leading down to the beach. “So, what do you want to talk to me about, Larry?” Chloe still, from the day she’d found out about what kind of a man her father was, and what he’d had arranged to be done to Shona back in Alabama, couldn’t bring herself to call him “father.”
“I wanted to try and put things right between you and me. You’re my only child now, Chloe. A man should go to his grave knowing his affairs are all in order.”
“Shame you couldn’t have afforded the same consideration to all those guys you had murdered. Poor Cuban. You remember him? He was Shona’s best friend. He didn’t deserve what you did to him.”
Larry shook his head. “You’re right, he didn’t deserve that. If I could take it back, I would. As God is my witness, Chloe, I swear I would.”
Chloe stared in disbelief at her father. Was he really the same man? He seemed so different, a shadow of his former intimidating self. He’d lost at least fifty pounds and the gray sack suit he was wearing was nowhere near the quality of the expensive tailored ones he used to wear.
“While I was in prison, I met a couple of nig…um, negro men. At first I was wary, I was disgusted, but the more I got to know them they seemed like decent enough fellas. One helped me out when I wasn’t well. Made sure I saw the doctor. If he hadn’t have insisted on it, I would be dead by now and not have this chance to speak to my daughter for the last time.” He turned to Chloe and exhaled at length, his breath crackly. “What you told me the day I was arrested. About Moses and how he helped on the day your brother died? It hit me hard, Chloe. I couldn’t stop thinking about how wrong I’d got it all those years. And after that, all those men that died because of me and my actions. I am truly sorry for that. I’ve found God, Chloe. Done a lot of work on myself, a lot of thinking. Tried to do some paying back when I can. That’s why they let me out early. They knew I was dying and my lawyer got a deal with the D.A. back in Alabama.”
“How’s Mother? Have you seen her since you’ve been out?”
“Not really, just told me you were here and shut the door in my face. Can’t say I blame her.” Larry replied. “Apparently Ellis gave her some money to help her to keep the house, but on the agreement that she’d never have anything to do with me again and that I never came back to Daynes after that.”
“Yeah, that’s Mother all over really. All about the wealth and status.”
“She did ask me to get you away from here if I could. She never did get over you dumping Kyle, and his money, for Shona.”
“And what about you, Larry? After what I told you about what he did to me, you still think I should be with him?” Chloe glared at her father.
“Of course not. If I ever see him again, I’ll kill him.” He paused. “You seem happy now…living here. It’s beautiful. And if Shona is the reason for that then you both have my blessing.”
Chloe was stunned.
But, after everything that had happened, and the news he’d brought with him, it was just too late now.
Larry coughed and wiped his mouth. “I’ve made so many mistakes, Chloe. I just wanna put them right now. I brought a few gifts for the boy. Will you allow me to give them to him?”
“He’s not back from his sleepover yet. I need to think about all this before I agree to that,” Chloe replied, shaking confusion from her head.
“I understand. I’ll come back tomorrow morning if that’s OK? I’d leave it longer but…” He coughed again, leaving his sentence rhetorical.
“OK. Say around ten?”
“OK. I’ll be here. Here’s my number at the hotel, in case you need it.” He handed her a business card. Chloe noticed it was the same place Kyle had stayed at.
Larry reached out his arms for a hug, but Chloe recoiled.
“I understand. Not yet,” Larry said, nodding.
“I’ll see you tomorrow.” She waved goodbye as Larry drove slowly back up the drive to the highway.
“Did he tell you he’s changed? That he’s seen the light finally?” Shona scoffed as Chloe walked back inside the house.
“Yes. And you know what? I actually believe him.”
Sunday morning, ten o’clock on the dot, Larry Bruce’s battered old Chevy parked outside the beach house. He got out and walked up to the door. It opened before he had chance to knock.
“Larry,” Shona said, her tone emotionless.
“Shona. Chloe said it was OK to come back today. I brought this for the boy.” He held out a small box of painted wooden toys he’d clearly bought from a thrift sale.
“Good morning, Larry,” Chloe said after appearing in the hallway seconds later. “Come in.”
“Thank you,” Larry replied. He took a seat at the kitchen table next to Shona as Chloe went to fetch David.
“What are you playing at, Larry? You think I believe your act? We got nothing now other than each other. We’re a family, which is more than you offered Chloe.”
Larry, wearing the same creased gray suit as yesterday, looked defeated. “I know. Look, I said this to Chloe and I promised I’d
say it to you too. I’m sorry for everything I did. I know you won’t believe me, and I don’t blame you, but I’m dying. I’ve got nothing left to lose now by admitting my mistakes.”
Chloe appeared at the kitchen door. Behind her was a wide-eyed David, looking around her to see who the strange man in the kitchen was.
“David, go say hello. This is your grandfather. His name is Larry.” Chloe brought him out from behind her and pushed him forward. “Go on, don’t be shy now.”
David stepped forward. Larry bit back his tears, then looked at Chloe. “He’s the image of his…”
“I know,” Chloe whispered, her expression broadcasting her regret at that fact.
“Well, he’s grown up around you both, so I know he’s been well loved. He’ll be OK,” Larry said to Shona, who raised an eyebrow. “Come here, boy. See what I got you.”
David edged closer and looked into the box. “Can I play with the red one?” he said, pointing at a wagon near the top.
“Why, sure you can. Here.” Larry fished into the box and handed his grandson the wagon. David beamed and began rolling it up the back of the wooden chair Larry was sitting in.
“David, no. On the ground,” Chloe said.
Laughing, then coughing, Larry reached down and picked him up, seating him on his knee. David began to roll the wagon gently up Larry’s arm and up to his shoulder. “I’m gonna drive wagons when I’m older.”
“Is that a fact?” Larry replied, hugging him in close. “He’s beautiful, Chloe. You’ve both done an amazing job.” His eyes filled with tears.
“Grandpa, why are you sad?” David asked, looking up at him.
“I’m just sad I missed out on this, that’s all. But, um, they’re happy tears. Yeah, happy tears.”
“Hey, why don’t we take a picnic down to the beach? You can show off your new ball, David. Would you like that?” Shona’s suggestion surprised and delighted Chloe in equal measure.
“You mean…?” Larry began.
“Yeah. All of us.”