by T. L Smith
“I’m pulling rank,” I argue back.
He takes a sip of his water, placing the cup on the counter after he’s finished with it. “I wouldn’t even try it, because I have the vote. Even if you do own most of the club, I’ll still win. This is my part of the business, you have no say in it, and she stays.”
We sit in silence until Olympia’s finished.
She walks around the bar and stands next to me. “Okay, big guy, take me home.”
I turn to Creed to see him smirking again as I walk off.
Fuck him.
She’s already at my car when I reach her. Olympia watches me, one foot crossed over the other, and she’s smiling as I walk closer.
“You’re really used to getting what you want, aren’t you?”
“Yes,” I answer truthfully.
“Do you really want me to leave? To quit?”
“Yes.”
Olympia looks down to the ground then back up to me. “Well, I’m not, so get used to it. Just because you couldn’t keep your dick in your pants and your hands to yourself doesn’t mean I should be out of a job.” She opens the passenger door and slides in. I walk around, taking a deep breath before I do the same. The car smells of her, and I use everything in my power not to reach over and take her again. Because now I know how she tastes, I want more.
“You’re awfully quiet,” she says as we near her apartment.
“Don’t have much to say.”
“What about how you flipped me over then kissed me between my legs?”
My head turns to see her watching me with her leg up on the seat, one foot tucked under her ass as she waits for a reaction.
“You want a reaction out of me,” I say, shaking my head and watching the road as her apartment comes into view.
“No. I want to have sex with you again.”
She isn’t shy, that’s for damn sure.
I’m not sure how I feel about that. But then again, she does work at our establishment, and being shy wouldn’t be a good attribute to have in our business. I come to a stop and glance over at her.
“Would you walk me in?”
“Are you afraid?” I ask.
“Yes. Deadly afraid. Now come up and rescue me.”
I sit back. “No can do. I have to get back to Charles.”
Her eyes light up. “Oh, take me. I miss his cute little face.”
“No.”
“Why?” She crosses her arms across her chest, pushing her breasts up and forming a cleavage I would love to have my face between right now.
“Because my father’s there…” I pause.
“I can be quiet,” she whispers.
“And also, simply because I don’t want you there.”
Olympia unbuckles her seat belt, opens the door and gets out. “You keep telling yourself that and maybe sooner or later you will believe it. But in the meantime, maybe I’ll go find my own big man to play with.” Olympia shuts the door and starts to walk off.
I have the car turned off, out of the car, and catching her wrist in my next breath before I know what I’m doing. Her back slams against the wall, and she smiles like she expected me to react this way.
She goes to speak, but I cut her off. “Shut up, while you’re ahead.” My lips smash into hers, taking her next words away, and before I know it, my hands are up her skirt again.
“Inside,” she whispers, and it pulls me back, crashing me into reality. My hand stops from adjusting her lace to the side, and my lips let hers breathe as I take a large step back.
“I mean, if you want to do it in public, then…” she jokes.
“I have to go.”
She doesn’t say a word as I get into my car and leave.
“You’re home.” My father’s sitting on the couch reading a newspaper. I didn’t realize people still did that. I nod my head and walk straight into Charles’s room. He’s smiling and wide awake when I step in, so I pick him up and carry him out with me. He grabs at my face and instantly every worry in me goes away at his touch. Nothing else matters, but him.
“He’s a good baby, much like you were.” I look up at him surprised. “Your mother was sick for a while after you were born, so I did most of the work associated with a new baby. All your diapers, bottles… you were never much of a screamer, always sat in your cot smiling when I’d come get you.” His eyes appear lost in thought. “Much like him.”
“Why did you stop?”
“It was her turn. She deserved to get to know you the way I had. She idolized you and was jealous when you cried and it was my arms that calmed you down. So, I pulled away and stopped picking you up and rocking you to sleep for her.”
“I don’t know what to tell Charles about his mother, I didn’t know her at all.”
“Get to know her now.”
I look up at him in disbelief. “That’s impossible.”
“Is it? She had a life. People knew her. She left you a letter that’s still sitting in the drawer which you haven’t opened.”
“I don’t want to open it.”
“She gave you the biggest gift a man can receive. Unconditional love. That’s what you will get from that little human right there. I get it from you. Even when you thought I didn’t care, you still loved me.”
“I don’t know if I can.”
“You can and you will… for him. Get photos of her, too. He has to know you can’t keep him in the dark about what his mother was like. Would you have liked it if I took every photo of your mother away so you forgot what she looked like?”
“No.” She was beautiful, I remember her well to this day.
“Exactly. So why do that to him? What she did wasn’t right… you get that, I get that. He doesn’t have to know that part of his story. And in the future, you will fall in love and hopefully marry, and that woman will give him everything you can’t. A boy needs his mother.”
“I didn’t—”
“You did, son. You had Ma. All you boys did. She was everything I couldn’t give you. I was glad when you found her.” He smiles at the mention of her name.
“You know you can move on, Dad?”
Dad’s eyes widen in surprise. “I’m trying, believe me. I think I might stay longer, if that’s okay with you?”
“Of course, you know you can stay as long as you want. You’re always welcome.”
He doesn’t answer, just smiles and walks over to kiss Charles on the head and does the same to me. “Goodnight, son.” He turns to go. “I’m proud of the man you are today. I want you to know that.”
Something in me changes or is happy, I’m not sure which emotion it is, but I needed to hear that. Not just the part where I should give Charles the memories of his mother, so he can get to know her, but the part where he said he was proud of me. I’ve never heard him say that. He hardly said much growing up, and the part where he raised me when she was sick, I didn’t know about that either. I see him in a new light, and I don’t want him to go. Is it sad for a grown man to want his father to stay? Because I do. I want him here, not for just me, but for Charles as well. He deserves to know the man who’s everything I hope to be.
Charles reaches for my face, and I now realize how hard it must have been for Dad to have had to stop picking me up at night, and rocking me to sleep. Because I’d hate to have to give up a second with Charles. You’d only do that for someone you love, and my mother was his greatest love.
16
Olympia
“You’re leaving.”
My hands cross over my chest as I shake my head. “No, I’m not.”
“You are, if I have to drag you back home myself.” My brother’s eyebrows rise in challenge.
“Try, I’ll stab you.”
Barren checks the knife I’m holding to cut the cheese then he rolls his eyes.
“You’re staying because of him, aren’t you?” I stare at him with a clueless expression. “Your boss. I saw the way you looked at him. I saw the way he was staring at us. Should I tell Father this
as well?”
“Don’t you dare!”
“That’s what I thought. So, pack your shit and let’s go. I’ve let you play for long enough.”
“No. What’s so hard to understand about that word, Barren? No. I am not going back to that life, I like my life here.”
“Tell me what you hate about it? You’re basically a fucking princess.”
“That, exactly. You’ve just said it.” I point at him.
“You don’t want to be a princess?” He raises an eyebrow.
“No. I like working, and I like my life the way it is. And if you run to Papa again, I might just have to stab you.”
“He’s threatened to cut you off, you know.”
This I already know. Father rang and rang, and I refused to answer his calls, so I listened to his ranting and raving voicemails instead.
“I earn enough to support myself.”
Barren’s eyes float around my very flashy apartment. “Not this place, you don’t.”
“I’ll move.”
“You know that’s not safe, and you know you don’t do well in the dark.”
“I’ll get somewhere with heaps of lighting.”
Barren runs his hands through his hair. “I just want you safe. With us, you’re safe.”
My eyes turn down to the floor at his words. “I’m not. I feel safe here. Let me be, Barren.”
“You’re making this hard.” He starts pacing back and forth.
“I’m not. Stop seeing me as a young girl, and start treating me as a woman.”
“You are a woman, but you’re still that broken woman to me, Olympia.”
I shake my head at him and his words. “Don’t start, Barren, you promised.”
“All that blood, so much blood.”
“I said stop!” My voice echoes around my apartment as I yell at him.
“I’m sorry, I didn’t mean—”
“Go, please. I have to get ready for work.”
He reaches out for me, but I pull back and away from him. Hands shouldn’t touch me right now, I don’t want hands on me. I don’t care whose hands they are.
“Ring me if you need me. I’ll tell Father you’re safe. But Olympia…” he closes his eyes like he’s in pain and then reopens them, “… I will be back. You need to come home.”
“Leave,” I say again with more gusto, and this time he does.
I go through the motions at the club, it’s a nice distraction. But it doesn’t work, not entirely. I wish it did.
“Olympia…”
I glance up to Darby standing at the end of the bar, his eyebrows scrunched as he watches me. “Yes?”
“I’ve been calling you for the last five minutes. Where are you right now?”
I check around to see a pile of orders on the bar. What have I been doing?
“I’m sorry, I’ll pay attention.” I turn to start getting the orders ready.
“Olympia…”
I turn again and notice he’s shaking his head. Darby doesn’t say anything, so I go back to what I’m doing. I manage to get two done, I think, before a set of hands cover mine, and when I look up, Darby’s standing in front of me holding both of my hands in his.
“Walk with me.” I don’t, but he pulls me anyway, keeping my hands in his. We step through the doors and up the stairs to his office. Once we reach his office, he shuts the door behind us and directs me to the couch.
“I have a lot to do,” I manage to say.
“Someone else is handling it.” Darby sits next to me, his hand lying on my thigh. “Are you okay?”
I nod my head then shake it. “No. I need to go home. I need…” I look around, not finding the right word, “… I need…” I say again, this time standing. He stands with me. “I need—”
Lips touch mine stopping my repeating of words, and then hands cover my back, gripping me and holding me to him as he assaults my lips. I take a deep breath and breathe him in. My hands grip either side of his shirt, gripping tightly and not wanting to let go.
I take it. I’ll take it all. Because he helps me forget. I can forget with Darby, and that’s all I need right now. My hands pull at his shirt, and we separate as I pull his shirt off, then my hands automatically go to my shirt, pulling it over my head. A sharp noise leaves his mouth when my breasts are freed, and I pull off my work skirt so it drops to the floor and all that’s left is my lace G-string. Stepping out of my skirt, I reach for him again, this time undoing his buckle and freeing his cock. He makes another sharp sound when my hand covers his cock, and I pump a few times before I find his lips.
“Olympia, we…” I don’t let him breathe another word as I bite his lip then push him down on the sofa, straddling him.
“I need…” I reach for the jar of condoms next to his sofa and tear one open and slide in on before I push my lace to the side and sit down on him. He’s watching me, with so much intent that I have to look away. Instead, I glance down between us. From the way his perfect fucking body has abs that are so lickable, to an enormous dick to fuck, he’s perfect. Darby’s mouth is so kissable and all mine right now. In this very moment, all this helps me forget things that I thought I’d moved on from.
“Tell me you want me,” I whisper leaning close to his ear, biting his earlobe. “Tell me,” I growl when he doesn’t say a word.
“I fucking want you,” he says then takes charge.
My arms wrap around his neck as he stands with me. My ass hits a cold desk, then he pushes things off, and I lie back as he grips my hips and starts to fuck me, now having full control. I’m a sucker at his mercy, and there’s no one else I would rather be with at this moment. He may not realize it, but right now he’s saving my heart from the destruction that I like to bring upon myself. And if he can do that, I might just fucking marry him, so I can fuck him every day to help make me forget.
A knock comes on the door. We both pause, me longer than him, but he doesn’t care and starts moving again.
The knock comes again.
“Fuck off,” he yells then leans down, covering my mouth with his while his hands fondle my breasts as he fucks me with his cock.
The knock comes again, and his mouth leaves mine and makes its way to my breasts. Darby toys with the nipple, sucking it, licking it while I pinch the other one.
“I’m almost…”
“Ah, no you don’t.” He lifts me now, my arms against his back. He starts to bounce me, the movement causing my clit even more stimulation, and I can feel my orgasm building so fucking fast that I’m afraid I will let go and fall. Will he catch me?
“Darby…”
We both come, and my hands go weak and as he catches me. He keeps me upright while he walks to the sofa, laying me down gently on the soft surface.
“You two better hurry the fuck up, Darby, your father is waiting for you.” Falcon’s voice echoes through the door. I manage to pull my skirt up, and then pull my shirt on. I glance up to see Darby watching me.
“I have to go.”
I nod. He walks off and doesn’t look back.
Falcon peeks in as Darby walks out topless with his shirt in hand. Falcon winks and then they’re both gone.
I curl myself up on the sofa and try to think of a future, one I want to see myself living in.
17
Darby
“Olympia.” I try to wake her but she doesn’t move. She’s still in the same position I left her in, in my office, over four hours ago.
“Man, what did you do to her? Fuck her into a coma?” Falcon laughs.
The place is now closed, and she should have left hours ago. But no one checks my office, so no one would have seen or known she was in here.
“If you aren’t going to help, fuck off.”
Falcon throws his hands in the air. “Fine, fine. What should we do?”
I don’t know what do with a woman who won’t wake up. “I don’t fucking know.”
“Poke her, maybe?” Falcon suggests shrugging. “I mean, she might wake up t
hinking it’s your dick again.”
“You’re fucked up. You know that, right?”
He winks at me. “Carry her to your car. Take her home.”
“I have Charles,” I say stating the obvious.
“Your father’s there. Who, might I mention, likes blue.”
“Maybe I can lay her down on one of the beds.”
“Your funeral.” He waves and walks off.
“Fucker,” I mutter reaching for Olympia. She finally opens her eyes, sees it’s me, then closes them again softly. Her head snuggles into mine, and I wonder how she slept with the light on because it’s way too bright in here.
Falcon’s downstairs with the doors already open for me. “Knew you’d take her.”
“You’re a real dick, you know that?”
“Why… thank you, kind sir.” He bows, and if my hands weren’t full right now, I might just punch him into the middle of next week. “She must be really out of it. Did she take anything?” he asks as I get her to the car.
“Not that I know of.”
Falcon nods and steps away. I buckle her up, and she still doesn’t wake. She just lies there like she’s a zombie. Who the fuck is this girl, and what did she do with the one that likes to talk back at me any chance she can get?
“I’m going to repeat and say you’ve fucked her into a coma. Good luck, buddy.” He slaps my back and walks to his own car.
Fuck! What am I meant to do with her now?
Olympia’s in my bed, asleep. I turn away from her because if she wakes up and sees me staring, she might freak more than she already will. It’s been a few hours since we got back, and I’ve only managed to sleep a bit. She, on the other hand, still hasn’t damn well moved. The sun’s now shining through my curtains, and I can see Charles starting to stir in his cot. I throw the blanket over her that she threw off and get up out of the bed to retrieve him. He smiles his perfect baby smile when he sees me, and I instantly forget I haven’t had much sleep to function and that my life is fucked up right now apart from this beautiful little bundle in my arms.