Landon (In Safe Hands Book 1)

by S. M. Shade

  “Who the hell is that?” a voice calls from a back room.

  “Looks and sounds like Landon, but he said he has a girl, so I can’t be sure,” Dare answers with a grin. A large folding table with four chairs is set up in the center of the living room. Dare and Jeremy are seated on opposite sides, arranging piles of bills and coins. Dare gestures to the couch across the room from them. “It’s good to see you again, Zoe. Have a seat.”

  “Holy shit, what happened here and where was I?” The mystery voice belongs to a blond man with a long, lean, muscular body. I know this because he struts in wearing only a towel, a razor clutched in his hand.

  “Justus, get some damn clothes on before I tear you a new asshole!” Landon demands.

  “I had to shave. I have to perform in a few hours.” Good god, what kind of performance are we talking about?

  “Well, take it back in the bathroom. Nobody wants to see that shit,” Jeremy gripes.

  “Women of all ages pay to see my shit,” Justus retorts, giving me a wink before retreating back to the bathroom.

  “Don’t mind him,” Jeremy advises. “Strippers have no manners.” He regards Landon. “Justus is only staying for a few hands. Are you bitching out on us, too?”

  Landon sits beside me, throwing an arm around my shoulder. “I have more important things to do tonight.”

  “And you know I’ll take all your money,” Dare taunts.

  “Go kick his ass,” I tell Landon, and he grins down at me. “I’m not in a hurry.”

  “Just a few hands. I’m in a hurry to get you home and naked,” he murmurs in my ear, before joining his friends at the table.

  Justus emerges from the bathroom, this time wearing jeans and a T-shirt. Dare gestures to him to join the game, but he flops onto the couch beside me. “I’ll sit this one out.” I’m met with a teasing grin. “I want to get to know Zoe. She’s gorgeous.”

  He scoots closer. “So, Zoe, since Landon’s busy, why don’t you come to my show? I’ll get you a great seat right up front.”

  Landon is on his feet in half a second, pulling Justus to the table. “She’s not watching you strip, asshole. Leave her alone before I beat your ass.”

  Dare and Jeremy laugh as Justus blows me a kiss before taking his seat, and Landon tries to give him a dirty look, but the corner of his mouth twitches up. Justus was obviously trying to rile him up. Something tells me it’s not out of the ordinary for these guys.

  I don’t know how long they’ve all known each other, but they’re obviously close. I suppose the work they do brings them closer together, makes them trust and depend on each other, and I’m glad they have Landon’s back. We stay for a little over an hour, and I have to admit, they’re funny. Listening to them taunt and insult each other is hilarious.

  It doesn’t hurt that they’re all too hot to be real. Seriously, I don’t think I’ve ever been in a room with so many lickable guys. I’m not surprised Justus is a stripper with his lean, muscular body, and blond curls. Dare is a pile of muscle topped with dark hair and a wicked grin. That smile must drop panties all over town. Jeremy is more classically handsome, clean cut with neatly trimmed brown hair and a slender build.

  I wonder why I’m the only woman here. Surely, men like these can’t all be single, unless—like Landon—they don’t date, just fuck.

  It’s after ten when we finally say goodbye, and return to Landon’s hotel suite. The weeks apart have been as difficult for him as they were for me, judging by the way he tears my clothes off the second we get through the door. My back is pressed against the sitting room wall as our lips slam together, tongues battling for dominance. I make short work of his clothes as well, and after a peek at how hard he is for me, I can’t resist dropping to my knees.

  I’m rewarded with a yelp when I suck him in, showing no mercy. My hands find his firm ass and squeeze while he fists my hair, making me groan. His moans and curses encourage me and I work him faster, rolling his balls between my fingers. “Zoe, I’m going to come if you don’t stop,” he warns, breathing hard. He’s losing control and I love it. His hands slam against the wall, holding him up as he comes, and I swallow, making him groan.

  He’s still catching his breath as I slide up the wall until we’re eye to eye. His lips tilt and an eyebrow climbs his forehead at the sight of my expression. “I’m going to wipe that smug little smile off of your face,” he warns, grabbing me around the thighs and carrying me over to the couch. I’m bent over the arm as he pushes my feet apart with his foot. A gasp escapes when I feel his tongue delve between my legs, and I start to stand up. “No, you don’t. Bend back over that couch. Keep your hands on the cushion.”

  “Or?” I taunt.

  “Or I’ll tie them together and spank your little ass.”

  My heartbeat triples. “Not exactly a deterrent.”

  Chuckling, he plants a palm on my back and pushes me down again. His cock prods my ass as he bends over me, his chest to my back, and murmurs in my ear. “In due time, baby. I’m going to spank that ass, and fuck it, but tonight I’m going to eat you until you can’t stand up, then fuck you until you can’t walk. Now, hold still.”

  His palm meets my ass with a delightful sting before he plants both hands on my thighs, holding them apart while his tongue resumes its divine torture between my legs. His fingers join in, dipping and rubbing. Fuck, but the man is talented. And true to his word. After too many orgasms to count, my legs are shaking as I hear him unwrap a condom.

  A moment later, I’m filled with him, stretched to the limit.

  * * * *

  It’s afternoon, but we’re still lounging in bed. After last night, I may never walk again. I hate to leave, but I’ll have to soon. Peeking up at him from my comfy place curled against his side, I tell him, “Schools are closed this week for teacher’s meetings, so I need to spend some time at home. I don’t want to leave Ethan alone too much.”

  Landon is quiet for a few moments before a smile climbs across his face. “Let’s go somewhere. Do you like the beach?”

  “Of course, but, surely you can’t…”

  “We can have fun after the sun goes down. You and Ethan can enjoy the beach during the day. He could bring a friend to hang out with in the evenings. Panama City Beach wouldn’t be crowded this time of year and I’ll arrange for a suite for us, plus a room for Ethan and a friend.”

  His eyes burn with the excitement that’s clear in his voice and I really don’t want to disappoint him, but we can’t just up and run to Florida. “Last minute plane tickets cost a fortune, and I can’t let you-”

  “I’ve got more money than I’ll ever be able to spend, Zoe,” he interrupts. “You work so hard to take care of Ethan. You deserve a week away, and after the month he’s had, I’m sure Ethan could use a break. Plus, I’d like to get to know him. We can take a night flight tomorrow night, and be checked in before dawn.”

  Rolling over on my belly, I grin at him. “Are you sure you want to take two teen boys on vacation?”

  “Yep, you’ll be the one that has to deal with them during the day.”

  “All right. I’ll call Ethan.”

  Less than forty-eight hours later, we’re unloading our luggage at an amazing hotel in Panama City.

  Ethan and his friend, Zach, are excited and bright eyed despite arriving at five in the morning. I know Ethan was disappointed that Colin couldn’t join us, but apparently you can’t take a kid who has just been placed into foster care out of the state. Their room is down the hall from our suite. When the attendant shows us their room, Ethan runs and dives on one of the beds. “We have our own fridge, Ethan!” Zach exclaims. “And the T.V. in the sitting room is huge!”

  Their enthusiasm is contagious. “Why don’t you take a nap and we’ll hit the beach in a few hours?” I suggest. Two sets of eyes gaze at me like I’ve lost my mind.

  “You go to bed, and we’ll go to the beach,” Ethan replies. Yeah, that’s not going to happen. I slept a bit on the plane, so I suppose I c
an grab a few hours this afternoon.

  “I tell you what. Get unpacked and we’ll go get breakfast at the restaurant downstairs in a half hour or so. Then we’ll hit the beach.”

  “Yes!” They’re both on their feet and digging through their suitcases when Landon and I are escorted to our suite. Ethan’s room is beautiful, but it’s nothing compared to our suite with a built in hot tub and a balcony overlooking the ocean.

  I only have a second to peek out at the shimmering surface of the ocean as the sun begins to rise before I have to shut the curtains for Landon. The hotel was happy to change the curtains for him when we called, and heavy blackout curtains cover the wide plate glass window. He wraps his arms around me. “Well, what do you think?”

  “I love it!” His chest is firm and warm on my back. I have to keep in mind there are two teenagers waiting for me because all I want to do is drag him to bed. “Thank you for bringing us.”

  “Anytime, sweetheart.”

  “The restaurant, can you…?”

  He shakes his head. “Sorry, windows all around. I’ll order room service. Don’t worry about me. Go take the boys to breakfast.”

  “They can come up here and eat.”

  “Tomorrow morning if you want. Right now, they’re excited. Get them out and let them explore. We’ll have our fun later.” Hot lips land on my neck, making it even harder to leave him.

  “Fine, but I’ll be back this afternoon. I’ll need a nap if I’m going to keep you up all night,” I murmur, tilting my head up for a kiss.

  “I’ll be here, baby.” He smacks my ass. He really seems to like to do that lately, not that I’m complaining.

  I can feel his eyes on me while I change into my bikini and throw a pair of shorts and a T-shirt on over it. “Get out of here before I change my mind and fuck you all day,” he warns. I can’t resist shaking my ass a little on my way out the door, smiling at the sound of his growl. I’ll probably pay for that later.

  Ethan and Zach are dressed in their swim trunks and tees, practically waiting at the door for me to show up. The hotel restaurant is bright and cheerful, and the food is fantastic. The boys eat like they’ll never have another chance, and I may go a little overboard on the fresh fruit salad. It’s delicious, but I feel stuffed.

  It’s still early, so there aren’t many beachgoers. The sun is out and the temperature climbs quickly, prompting me to strip off the t-shirt, and wander up the edge of the shoreline in my bikini top and shorts. Ethan and Zach waste no time rushing into the chilly water, but since they’re both strong swimmers and there’s a lifeguard on duty, I’m not worried about watching them too closely.

  It feels a little strange being out here alone, knowing Landon is stuck up in the room, but I know he wants me to enjoy the day. He even offered to bring Frannie along if I wanted, so I would have someone to hang out with while the sun’s up, but I’m glad I didn’t. I’m enjoying the peace and tranquility of being alone in such a beautiful place.

  It occurs to me I haven’t done enough things like this. My every second has been consumed with survival. I’ve missed a lot. I really don’t even have any friends other than Frannie. The girlfriends I had growing up were members of the church, and their parents would’ve never let them speak to me after I left, even if they wanted to. Sometimes I wonder about my former best friend, Dayna.

  We spent nearly all our time together from age twelve until I disappeared from that world. I never tried to call her or contact her after my parents threw me out. Her parents were just as hateful as mine, and I knew it would only cause problems for her. I cut ties to everything and everyone other than Ethan, though my parents tried to keep him from talking to me. I’d meet him before or after school, or when they weren’t home.

  Curiosity gets the best of me and I sit on the cool sand, letting the waves wash up over my feet as I look for Dayna on Facebook, careful not to drop my phone in the water. It’s been about five years since I’ve seen her, and she’s grown up a lot judging by her profile picture. Her account isn’t private so I scroll through her posts. I’m surprised at the lack of religious posts, nothing about the latest activities at church.

  Instead, her feed is full of pictures of her and a red headed guy who’s apparently her boyfriend. She looks happy, and I suddenly realize how much I’ve missed her. Maybe it’s an impulsive move, but I decide to message her.

  Hi Dayna,

  I know it’s been a long time, but I’ve been thinking about you and wondering how you’re doing. I should’ve gotten in touch long ago, but I didn’t want to get you in trouble when I left, and after that, I guess life just got in the way. Anyway, I’d love to hear from you. Take care.

  I doubt she’ll message back, but at least I tried. I don’t plan on getting a job anytime soon since I have enough to money to cover our monthly expenses for now, so I can focus more on school, but I also need to get a life.

  Look at Landon, even though he’s limited by XP, he lives his life the best he can, helping kids and having fun with his friends. Even when I realized we had money to spare, I never considered doing anything fun with it. The way he just decided we need a vacation and a day later, we’re on a beach? I wouldn’t even have considered doing such a thing. I’m too young to be this boring.

  Ethan’s laughter tears me away from my long thoughts. Now isn’t the time to bemoan my shortcomings. It’s time to have fun. I spend an hour or so just lying in the sun, relaxing, until an impromptu volleyball game breaks out just down the beach from me. “Zo! Come on! We need one more!” Ethan calls, waving at me.

  The day flies by. I join the boys for volleyball, swim in the ocean, and collect shells along the shore. We eat lunch at a nearby sub shop, and buy T-shirts from a souvenir stand. It’s afternoon when we head back to the hotel. The lack of sleep is catching up with us, and there’s no argument from the boys this time when I suggest a rest.

  They make plans to visit the arcade across the street this evening and have already figured out they want to have dinner at a nearby taco place. At least everything is walking distance. Now that we know our way around, I have no problem cutting them loose to spend the evening on their own.

  The suite is dark when I let myself in and Landon is asleep in the king sized bed. Careful not to disturb him, I grab a towel and my bathroom items and sneak away to shower off the sand and crud of the day. I adore the smell of sunblock, but it feels grimy after a while. Landon is still sleeping when I return, and I’m not going to wake him, though I still want to ride him like a stolen bike. Instead, I climb in beside him, naked, and curl up in his strong arms which wrap around me instantly. Within seconds, I’m asleep.

  I’ve always thought the best way to wake up was naturally, with no alarm jerking me from sleep or knock at the door making me scramble from bed to dress. Screw naturally, the best way to wake up is with a warm, wet tongue between your legs, and scruff scraping lightly on the inside of your thighs.

  “Mmm, now you’re awake,” Landon murmurs, his face still buried.

  “Or I’m having the best dream ever.” My hands clamp down on his hair, pulling it as he brings me to orgasm faster than ever before.

  “I couldn’t stand knowing you were naked under the blanket. I had to touch you.” He grabs my hips and flips me over, tucking a pillow beneath me so my ass is sticking up. “But we have to make this quick, because we have a dinner reservation in less than an hour.”

  “I have complete faith in you.”

  Cupping the back of my knee, he bends my leg and sinks deep inside me, proving my faith was well founded.

  * * * *

  After checking in with the boys, Landon takes me to a Mexican restaurant a few miles away. Small and cozy, it overlooks the ocean. It’s perfect. We’re seated on the patio by a smiling waitress who doesn’t fail to run her gaze over Landon every chance she gets. Instead of being jealous, I just nod at her. I completely understand. I can’t keep my eyes off of him either. And dressed in a pair of dark jeans with a blue fitted
T-shirt that makes his eyes appear to glow, no woman has a chance.

  “What did you do today?” Landon asks, popping a tortilla chip in his mouth.

  “We spent most of the day on the beach. I kicked some ass in volleyball.”

  His fingers brush a strand of hair from my cheek. “You’ve got a little sun on your cheeks. You look lovely.”

  How can this man drive me insane one minute, then grab my heart the next? I lean to give him a soft kiss. “I spent some time lying in the sun and reading an actual novel for once and not a textbook.”

  “Good. You need a break. Did Ethan and his friend have a good time?”

  “Couldn’t wipe the smiles off their faces. They’re at an arcade now, but I told them to be back in their room by midnight.”

  “So, you’re mine for the night?” he asks, a mischievous grin settling on his face.

  “Yep. You’re stuck with me. Any ideas what we could do all night?”

  “Oh, I have plenty of plans for you later, but first, I have a little surprise for you.”

  That remark prompts me to eat a little quicker, which makes him laugh. “You have no patience, do you?”

  “Absolutely none.”

  Laughing, he pays the check and leads me down the road. “Do we need a cab?” I ask.

  “Nope, it’s only a few blocks away.”

  The night air is cool and refreshing against my sun kissed skin and Landon’s arm slung around my neck feels so comfortable, so right. I take a moment to just soak it all in, imprint this beautiful night on my memory. If there’s one thing I’ve learned, it’s that you need the thoughts of times like these when everything goes downhill and you’ve forgotten what happiness feels like. Walking with Landon, the smell of salt in the air, the whole long night ahead of us to do as we please…this is happiness.

  I’m led to a giant building, and I turn to grin at Landon when I see the name of the place. “You brought me to an aquarium?”