by F. L. Jacob
“I’m sorry, Beth. I don’t know what came over me. I felt so betrayed and the way my life has been taking twists and turns, I didn’t know what to believe.”
She puts her arm around my shoulder and pulls my head down to rest on her shoulder. “It’s okay, Bre. I understand, but you have to believe me. I’d rather die than to get involved with him.”
We sit for a few minutes in silence. “Bre, I’m scared. Why was he in my apartment?”
I sit up and look at her. “I don’t know, but Caston and Jake will find out.”
She nods, and our attention is drawn to the doorway. Jake has reappeared. I feel Beth shudder at the sight of him.
“I’ll leave you two alone. Beth, I can’t apologize enough, I’m so sorry.”
I leave her side and make my way to the doorway. I stop a few inches from Jake. “You screw her over and I’ll kill you.”
“I’d never.” He responds to me, but never takes his eyes off of her.
I walk past him to find Caston leaning on the wall, his foot propped up, and his arms crossed over his bare chest. He looks so god damn sexy standing there in his shorts. His messy, just fucked hair and sparkling blue eyes make me lick my lips. I want him.
“Bre, you could have waited until I told you everything. I knew Beth wasn’t involved with him.” His tone is almost a warning.
Rushing up into his arms, I press my body to his. “I’m sorry. I feel like a fool.” He accepts me into his embrace, and my heart skips a beat.
I look up to meet his eyes. A deep rumble sounds in his throat as I’m swept up into his arms and cradled to his chest. I snuggle into him as he descends the stairs and heads back to our room.
Sliding my hands through his hair, I grip it and tug. Once we make it back into our room, he slams the door shut with his foot. Walking over to the bed, he throws me down with a wicked smirk on his face. His hands undo his shorts, and as he shoves them down, his cock springs out. I suck in a breath at the sight of him. I’m not sure I will ever tire of looking at this magnificent man in front of me.
Feeling overdressed, I pull my shirt over my head, leaving only my panties. “Fuck, you’re so perfect,” Caston growls.
I clench my legs to try to relieve the ache. Grabbing my feet Caston slides me down to the edge of the bed and kneels in front of me.
“I can smell you, Bre. You’re wet for me already, aren’t you?”
My hands are on my breasts, kneading them and tugging at my nipples. His head lowers between my thighs, and he bites my pussy through the cotton fabric. My head flies back to the mattress. His mouth isn’t even on my skin, and I’m already about to come.
“Fuck, Caston.” My hands grasp his hair again.
His strong hands make their way up my legs, and his fingers hook my panties. He swiftly pulls them down without even missing a beat on my pussy. Feeling his mouth pressed to my hot flesh sends me spiraling into bliss.
His mouth leaves my wet lips and makes his way up my body, trailing light kisses along the way.
“Caston.” It’s a breathless plea, for what I’m not exactly sure, but I know he will take care of me.
He comes to my nipple, and his tongue darts out and traces a circle around my peak. When his teeth nip at it, I let out a small cry.
Just when I feel as though I can’t take anymore, he slides into me. Just an inch to begin. He knows it will drive me crazy with want.
“Do you want me, Bre?” His eyes look down on me with a heat that makes me feel so alive.
“You know I do.”
“Tell me.”
“Caston, please. I need you. I need you inside of me. I want to feel you fuck me hard. Fuck me like it might be the last time.”
Just as I finish speaking, he shoves himself into me completely. His body meets mine, and I scream out his name as he pounds into me harder than he ever has before. It’s exactly what I needed. We are one. It feels special. Different. I can’t place what the difference is, but we’re one. There’s no telling where he ends and I begin. I’m about to lose myself again.
“Fuck, Bre. You’re so fucking hot. So wet for me.”
“I’m coming, Caston.” My body shudders, and I lose myself to him. I pull him down to me, needing him close. As my lips crash to his, I feel him find his own release deep inside me. My belly flutters accepting all he has to give. I can’t get enough.
We lay in each other’s arms for a while, not wanting to lose contact. My fingers slide up and down his spine mindlessly. Right now it’s just us.
“Caston?”
I hate breaking this peaceful moment, but I need to know.
“Yes, baby.”
“Is everything going to be okay?”
His shoulders flex and he tenses. Lifting his head to look into my eyes he says, “I’m not sure.” Letting his finger trace down my cheek he continues, “I’m not sure, and that scares the fucking shit out of me.”
Kaitlyn’s time in town is up, and I’m actually sad to see her go. She was a good lay that gave me a run for my money, dare I say I was falling harder for her than I thought possible. I was able to keep my side job a secret from her, and I hope once I’m done with it we might be together again.
It’s been a week since I’ve seen any action worth mentioning with Caston or Sabrina. I know the wedding is coming up, so it’s been ridiculous flower, cake, dress fitting meetings. Shoot me in the head. I’m never getting married.
I open my phone and see a text from Broc. Weird, it’s been months. Just as I’m about to open it my phone lights up. I see that it’s a restricted call.
“Hello?”
“Mark. I’m being released in a few hours.”
I’m already on my feet, reaching for my keys. “I’m on my way.”
“Mark?”
“Yes, ma’am.”
“That bitch whore better not be there.”
I’m momentarily caught off guard. Composing myself, I whisper, “No, ma’am, she’s not.”
The phone hangs up and a cool shiver goes through my body. Is it excitement that I get to be with Mistress again, or is it something else?
I reach the jail in plenty of time, so I wait in the car for a little while. Remembering the text, I pull out my phone and read it.
Hoping to put our past behind us. Number is still the same. -Broc
Odd. Why now?
I don’t really have time to think about it before I see my Mistress strolling toward my Charger. Even after being in jail, she’s looking better than ever.
Getting out, I walk to her side of the car. I smirk as I look up and down her legs. Opening the door when she’s close, I acknowledge her. “Mistress.”
She smiles wickedly and leans in to kiss my cheek. “Mark.”
Kiss and a nip. She slides gracefully into the car.
When I get behind the wheel, she immediately starts questioning me. “What news do you have for me? Now that I’m out, for good, I want to get this finished. I knew they’d have nothing to stand on once they found out that the bullet in Sabrina didn’t come from my gun.”
She smiles wickedly over at me. I remember when we came up with the plan to have me shoot her instead of Beverly. It was genius really. They would do surgery, analyze the bullet. Beverly was going to plead not guilty, saying she was only holding her gun up out of self-defense. Getting charged at by Sabrina, Terrance, and Caston scared her. Thinking of her being scared makes me laugh.
“They still have me on that fucked up restraining order. You’ll have to continue on as planned, since I can’t go near them without sending the red flags up.”
I nod.
Her evil smile lighting up her face in a way that used to thrill me, but I now find slightly—disturbing? “Our judicial system is so fucked up.”
My mind drifts off. I know that all too well. That’s how that asshole got free before he killed my mom.
Sitting in history class I feel my cellphone go off. Brother Ed has been going on about the Civil War for almost an h
our. Waiting for him to turn around I reach into my pocket just as it goes off again. It’s my home number.
Fuck! Glancing at the clock I see there is only two minutes of class left. Surely it can wait two minutes. Those were the longest minutes of my life. Time seemed to stand still. I’ve never moved as fast as I did when the bell went off.
Pushing my way through the hall, I tried to make it seem like I was being a jerk and not scared out of my mind for my mom. Clasping hands with some friends on the way to the restroom and a few kisses on the cheerleaders’ cheeks makes everything seem A-Okay.
I finally make it to the restroom and lock the door. After checking to make sure it’s empty, I dial my home number. I tap my foot quickly and slide my finger under my collar of my polo. Fucking uniforms are so stiff. Three rings and no answer. Five. Ten. Then the phone connects, but there’s nothing but the sound of air.
I clutch the phone, calling out, “Mom?”
Nothing. No sound.
“Mom, are you okay?”
Silence.
“Mom? Please, say something.”
This time I hear a deep wheezing breath. Now I’m scared. That sound isn’t normal.
“Did he hurt you? If he hurt you… Mom, if he hurt you press a button.”
There is a pause, a wheeze, and then BEEP.
Fuck! “Mom, I’ll be right there. You hear me. I’m coming.”
I don’t even hang up the phone. Bursting through the doors of the restroom I run in a full sprint to the car. I can hear the principal running after me, but I know she won’t be able to catch up. Plus, I don’t care if I have to run her over. I have to get to my mom.
I snap back to reality. Looking over at Beverly to see if she noticed my distraction. She didn’t, thankfully. She was too busy looking at herself in mirror.
“See something you like, big boy?”
For the first time, since I met her, I’m not ready to fall to my knees for her. Thankfully, we pull up to the condo before I have to answer. She waits for me to open her door, but she takes off into the condo before I can even shut the door.
There’s a tense silence between us.
“I need a hot bath. This jail grime needs to be soaked off for hours.”
“Can I bring you some wine?”
She stops on her way to the bedroom, looking over her shoulder. “What do you think?”
I cringe, stupid me.
In the kitchen, I reach up to grab a wine glass and a bottle of merlot. I’m so used to having my music blaring when I’m home the silence is nerve wrecking. So much so that I almost drop the glass and wine bottle when my phone goes off.
Damn, Mark, hold your shit together, I scold myself.
Quickly shifting the items to my other hand, I reach into my pocket. Kaitlyn’s picture lights up the screen.
“Hey, baby,” I answer.
“Hey. I miss you.”
Moving to the patio, so I wouldn’t be heard, I lean up on the fence. “You have no idea. I want to see you.”
“I have two more weeks of non-stop travels for work. Then I was originally planning on heading home, but I could come to see you?” Her voice breaks at the end as if she is unsure if she overstepped.
I run my free hand through my hair. Am I really going to ask to see her again? I can’t believe I’m even considering this. What are these feelings? Relationships with feelings aren’t really my thing, but something is different with Kaitlyn.
“Oh baby, I’d love to have you stay with me, or I can go with you.”
Okay, no turning back now. The sentiment has been spoken out loud.
“Really?” She squeaks.
A smile creeps over my face. “Really.”
I can hear the smile spread over her face just by the way she’s talking.
“Kaitlyn, I have to go. I’ll call you back tonight. Will that be okay?”
“Of course. Bye, Mark.”
Hanging up, I quickly head back inside and toward the bathroom to give the wine to Beverly.
The room is full of steam. I can see her resting her head back on a bath pillow. Bubbles threaten to spill over the top of the tub. Jasmine wafts through the air.
“About time you brought my wine.” She doesn’t even open her eyes when she holds out her hand for me to place the glass in.
“Once I finish this job for you, I’m done.”
I place the glass in her hand and turn to leave the room as I hear her shift, making water slosh over the side. I can only assume she’s sitting up, but I don’t look behind me to find out. I won’t give her an inkling that I’m afraid of her. She would feed off of it and hold it against me.
This is my place, I’m not going to walk on eggshells around her. Walking into the living room, I pick up the remote and turn on “Radioactive” by Imagine Dragons, turning it up loud. A lot louder than I normally would, but I want to make a point.
This is it. Exactly as the song says. Welcome to the new age. My age; my time.
I sit on the brown leather couch and cross my leg, resting my ankle on my opposite knee. Staring at the doorway between the rooms. A foreboding sense of doom fills me, but I won’t give up.
No more will anyone run me. It started with Ric, my step-dad, moved to my coaches, and now it’s her. I want to run my life. My soul is alive for the first time.
As the music pumps through me, she suddenly appears.
“Turn this shit down.” Her face is hard and unrelenting.
My eyes harden. I shake my head slowly, purposely. I’ve woken up.
She walks over to me and smacks me across the face. I don’t even flinch. I can tell she is flustered when I don’t give in to her. She backs up a few steps, almost stumbling over the coffee table.
“What the fuck is wrong with you? You respect me.”
I stare at her. I don’t speak. I hold my ground.
“Mark, kneel. NOW.”
I want to fuck with her, so I stand up. Towering over her, I look down and see her straighten her spine. An evil smile crosses her face, but I intend to wipe it right back off.
“Kneel,” she commands, but I hear that slight crack in her voice.
She’s now mine. I control her. Placing my hands on her shoulders I press down. She resists at first, but she finally gives up and sinks to her knees. I’m stronger than she is physically, and now I have the motivation to take back the control of my life.
Welcome to the new age.
I’m the master now.
We’re on high alert since Broc’s email. Terrance and I scheduled a meeting with him back at my office in a few days to see what he knows. Right now we’re relaxing in Mexico, and Sabrina is safe in my arms.
We lie on the outdoor bed on our balcony. The sun makes her hair shine with an auburn highlights. The slight wave is more prominent because of the humidity. I listen to the waves crash onto the shore. It’s so peaceful.
Her finger slowly traces a swirl pattern around my muscles, sending a shiver to run through me in this heat.
“I love listening to your heart,” she says it so quietly I almost didn’t hear her.
Turning my head, I place a kiss on the top of her head. I take a deep breath, but don’t say anything. I don’t want to distract her thoughts. She’s been tense since I arrived. Isolating herself, avoiding Sara, staying quiet—she’s making me very worried.
“Your heart and the waves crashing make the perfect combination.” She shifts so she’s resting her chin on my chest, staring up at my eyes.
I place one arm around her and stroke her back with my thumb while the other hand goes behind my head. “What’s going on, Bre? What has you so worried?”
She bites on her bottom lip, and her eyes leave mine.
“Nope, I’m not going to let you get away with that today.” I shift, so I’m sitting up a little more and cup her cheek to make her look back at me.
Tears are threatening to fall from her eyes. “I’m scared, Caston.”
I pull her up into my arms and cra
dle her. “What is there to be afraid of?”
“This crazy path my life has led me on. I’m scared that I’m going to wake up, and it’s all been a dream. We’ve been through so much and made it through. One day we aren’t going to be so lucky, then what am I going to do?”
“Baby, I can assure you this isn’t a dream. You and I, we’re in it for the long haul. Nothing can take you away from me. We’ve made it this far. I promise you, we’ll make it through anything. Honey, look at me.” Her glistening eyes shift and meet mine. “There’s something else wrong. You’ve been distant.”
Her eyes widen as if she was caught doing something wrong. She tries to scoot off my lap, but I pull her closer.
“You aren’t going to get away that easily. Don’t make me resort to tickling you.” Sliding my hand up the side of her body, I already have her squirming.
“Okay, okay. I can’t handle you tickling me.”
My hand stops.
She takes a deep breath in, blows it out, and now she’s making me nervous. “Caston, I had a moment with Sara, when you weren’t here. I feel so guilty. It shouldn’t have happened. I pushed her away as soon as I came to my senses. I don’t know what came over me. I’m not usually so reckless, but the music and alcohol were flowing through me. Not to mention the damn dancing—”
I silence her with a kiss. She backs away from me. “Nothing happened between you the two of you.”
“We kissed Caston, I wanted it to go further. That makes it so wrong.”
“Bre, I’ve seen you kiss her before.” She turns a beautiful shade of red and looks away. “You’re fucking hot as hell when you kiss her.”
“But, Caston, you weren’t there. What if I didn’t stop? That’s cheating. I couldn’t live with myself.”
I move her, so she’s looking at me again. “Bre, you didn’t, you stopped. I saw you in the club when you were dancing with her, remember? If I hadn’t stopped you then it would have happened that night too. Do I think it would have gone farther? I’m not sure. I would hope that Sara would respect me enough to stop if I’m not there. They have an open relationship, but I don’t want that with you. Yes, we have been with them, but Sara is the only one that has done anything with you. I’d never let another man lay his hands on you. Sabrina, I trust you. I don’t want this to be a source of tension between you two.”