Rebecca moaned and leaned into his mouth, the heat and softness of his lips and tongue opposite that of the rougher lace and teeth that pulled at her nipple.
“I love these,” he said, lifting her to lay her back on the dining room table while she laced her fingers through his hair and pulled him closer. “Just a mouthful but so responsive.” He finished with the first, then moved to the second breast. The one he abandoned felt suddenly cool until he brought his hand to it and pushed the cup just beneath it. She wrapped her legs around his back and groaned when he left her breast to trail kisses down her belly.
“And this,” he said, pushing her legs wide and closing his hot mouth over her clit over top of the lace panties.
“Oh… God…” she moaned.
She tried to pull him closer with her legs, but he held them down and spread them wide. He then took hold of her panties and pushed them to one side, exposing her sex. “Beautiful,” he continued, ignoring her plea to keep sucking on her clit and just watching her bared sex for a long moment before sliding her panties slowly down and off her legs. He then stood, keeping her legs spread wide, taking in the sight of her. “I love your pussy, Rebecca,” he said before kneeling between her legs and closing his mouth once again over her nub, tickling the entrance of her sex before turning circles around her swollen clit. He spread her pussy lips open with his fingers on either side of her and within moments, she was bucking beneath him, orgasm coming hard and fast until she could take no more and begged him to stop, to give her a moment to catch her breath.
Sawyer laughed and stood, and when he unzipped his jeans, Rebecca slid to her knees before him and took him into her mouth, hungry to taste him, to make him come. But his hands were in her hair and in no time, he was fucking her mouth, holding her steady and pumping into her, watching her all along as her eyes grew teary when he pressed deeper into her.
“Keep looking at me,” he said. “I want to see those pretty eyes while I fuck your mouth.”
She made some noise and wanted desperately for him to come in her mouth, she wanted to taste him, to swallow him whole. But he wouldn’t allow it and too soon, he was hauling her to her feet and turning her so when she faced the dining room table, he pushed her over it.
“Time to inspect your bottom,” he said, his voice hoarse. “I want to know every inch of you.”
She glanced back, her face heating with embarrassment as he nudged her legs wider and both hands were on her bottom, pulling her cheeks apart, spreading her open.
“I think we’ll plug you before all your appointments,” he said.
She moaned when she felt him take hold of the base of the plug.
“It worked rather well.”
“Please,” she managed when he began to play with it, turning it, pulling on it just a little.
“Today I’m going to fuck your pussy,” he said, drawing the plug out halfway, then pushing it back in. “But it won’t be long before I’ll want to fuck your ass, Rebecca.”
With that, he pushed his cock into her pussy and she lifted to him while he continued to play with the plug, drawing it out and pushing it back in several times while he moved slowly inside her.
“Please!” she begged. “Fuck me hard, Sawyer. I need you to fuck me hard.”
“Greedy and impatient,” he teased, removing the plug and gripping her hips with both hands, holding her just slightly open. “You want a good, hard fucking,” he asked, slapping one hip with the flat of his hand.
“Ah! Yes. Please, yes.”
He slapped again, then gripped her harder and she felt him swell inside her. He began to thrust faster in and out of her until, with a loud groan, he pushed one final time and released inside her as the walls of her pussy clamped down around his cock, drawing every last drop from him.
Chapter Nine
The next day, Sawyer drove her to the physical therapy office to pick up her last paycheck. Both were lost in their own thoughts and Rebecca didn’t even realize they had arrived until Sawyer parked and switched off the engine.
“I’ll come in with you,” he said.
Rebecca checked her watch. “No, that’s ok. I’ll just run in. It should just be Claire in there right now so I won’t have to run into anyone.”
“You’re sure?” he asked.
She nodded, but truly wasn’t sure at all. Taking a deep breath, she climbed out of the car and walked toward the office. She saw from the windows that made up the front wall that only one patient sat waiting for her appointment and at the desk was Claire. Just Claire. Rebecca breathed a sigh of relief.
The bell rang as it did any time the front door was opened and Rebecca walked inside. Claire turned to her, her expression strange for a moment, but in the next, she came around the desk and pulled Rebecca in for a hug. No, more of a very tight squeeze that caused tears to well up in Rebecca’s eyes.
“You ok, honey?” she asked. Claire was in her mid-forties, a married mother of two and one of the kindest, non-judgmental people Rebecca knew.
They separated and Rebecca wiped the back of her hand across her eyes and inhaled deeply, straightening. “Not really,” she said, smiling a small, sad smile, feeling the full weight of her situation like a rock in her stomach.
Claire rubbed her back and walked her behind the front desk. “If it makes any difference, I know you had nothing to do with any of it,” she said, holding out the box of tissues as Rebecca began to cry.
“Thanks,” she said. “It does. I had broken up with Jeff the night of the fire. Kicked him out of the apartment.”
Claire nodded and went to open a drawer at her desk. “The others will be back in about ten minutes,” she said. Rebecca was grateful that Claire understood without her having to explain. “Here’s your check and you know when this is over, you’ll be off your suspension.”
“I don’t know if I would be able to come back. God, I’m so embarrassed!”
Claire shook her head. “Nonsense. Just focus your energy on the trial now. I’ll be following it and if you need anything at all, call me.”
“I will, thank you,” Rebecca said, looking at the envelope she held. Something was stapled to it, it was a letter addressed to her with no return address but she recognized the handwriting. “When did this get here?” she asked.
“Just this morning. I attached it to your check to make sure you got it. Figured it was a patient or something.”
It wasn’t. She would know Jeff’s sloppy scribble anywhere. “Thanks, Claire. I’m going to go before I run into anyone.”
“Ok. Here, leave me a phone number where I can reach you just in case.”
Rebecca nodded and took the pen, jotting down the number to Sawyer’s house phone.
“Hang in there, honey,” Claire said, pocketing the sheet of paper.
They hugged once more and Rebecca slipped out the door.
Sawyer looked at her when she climbed into the truck. “If anyone said anything,” he began.
She smiled. “No, it was just Claire,” she said, pulling the letter free of the check. She tore the envelope open. “I got a letter,” she said, opening the folded sheet. “From Jeff.”
Sawyer had started the truck, but he put it back in park and waited for her to say more. She read the letter to herself:
Baby,
Can you believe this shit we’re in? Heard your new boyfriend got you bailed out. Do what you need to do, babe, but you know you’re in this just like we are, right? You’re going down with us and that new man of yours won’t be waiting around for you when you’re out, but I’ll be there for you. You’ll get a shorter sentence, being a woman and all. And I’m sure you’ll play your ‘I’m innocent’ card. Guess you should have thought twice before breaking up with me, huh? Sure wouldn’t be in this mess if you hadn’t pissed me off. And that old man, what was his name? The guy in the wheelchair? Poor man died because of you.
Don’t get too attached to that new boyfriend of yours. You won’t be with him too much longer, but if y
ou come see me, I just might be able to help you out.
Your one true love,
Jeff.
“Asshole,” she said, crumpling up the letter.
Sawyer just looked at her and raised an eyebrow. “Let me see it.”
She handed it over and shook her head, snorting. “Fucking asshole.”
“I’d normally tell you not to lower yourself with that sort of language, Rebecca,” Sawyer chastised, then took the letter and flattened it out against his thigh to read it. “But,” he said, as he finished up, “you might be right on this one. He’s an asshole and not a very smart one. I’ll get this letter over to John later and see if it can help our case.”
“How would it help?” she asked. “All he does is blame me for everything.”
“It might show he’s lying or at least hint to the fact he might be lying to get revenge. Can’t hurt us, only him.”
“Maybe I should go see him,” she said.
He gave her a look as he drove.
“Maybe he’ll realize what he’s doing is wrong,” she added.
“John’s right, you are naïve and Jeff is not a good person. No, you are forbidden to go see him.”
“I’m not a child, please stop using that word,” she said as they pulled onto his driveway.
“No, you’re not a child, but you also don’t know how to best take care of yourself.”
“Please don’t start,” she said, climbing out of the car and shoving him away when he came to her.
Sawyer took her hand anyway and pulled her close. “Look at me,” he said, forcing her to stop walking.
“What?” she asked, looking up at him, feeling bad for snapping at him.
“I know you’re stressed and that doesn’t help. I am too, but I’m trying to keep a clear head and do what’s best for you. Don’t take out your frustration on me, I don’t deserve it.” He held her all the while he spoke and his expression wasn’t mean or stern. It was just that of someone who cared.
And it made her feel worse. She dropped her gaze to her feet and nodded. “I’m sorry. You’re right, you don’t deserve the bad stuff,” she said, glancing up at him. “Forgive me.”
“Already forgiven,” he said, hugging her tight. She loved that, loved disappearing in his arms. It was the safest place she had ever been.
* * *
Rebecca had forced down a piece of dry toast on the morning of her first court appearance. Well, second, really. Her arraignment had been the first.
On the drive to the courthouse, she glanced over at Sawyer who sat wearing a dark suit she had not seen him in before. His face was shaved clean and she could see a spot of dried blood where he had nicked himself at his jaw. He looked more like a businessman today than the Sawyer she knew. She could still smell the scent of his aftershave.
He pulled into the parking of the courthouse and parked the truck, then turned to her. His forehead was creased and his expression, although he smiled at her, was so serious it made her even more nervous. He reached out a hand to her and she looked down at it resting now on the navy pants of her suit. His covered hers whole.
“Are you ready?” he asked.
She looked back at him and nodded, a shudder running through her as she did. “I’m scared.”
With one hand at the back of her head, he pulled her face into his chest and kissed the top of her head while holding her to him. She rested her forehead against him and forced in a deep breath.
“It’s going to be ok,” he said. “I promise.”
She pulled back and looked up at him. “How can you promise that?” she asked. “You don’t know and if it doesn’t go ok, I’ll go to jail.” Her voice broke at that and she touched the tissue she’d been holding all morning to the corner of one eye.
“Rebecca,” he said. “Look at me.”
She did. “It’s going to be ok. We have to stay positive.”
She nodded and wiped her nose. “I know.”
“Let’s go inside. Keep your chin up, John and I will be there with you.”
She nodded again, choking on the lump in her throat before she could say thank you.
Sawyer climbed out first and she took a minute to collect her purse while he came around to her side. It was a bright, sunny day and she could already see that reporters had lined up along the entrance of the courthouse. But as they neared it, she realized the reason they didn’t rush toward her.
“Who’s that?” she asked Sawyer when she saw a crowd gathered around a man and a woman who had their backs to her.
Sawyer kept one hand at her back, keeping their pace up toward the entrance.
“Sawyer.” They both turned to see John coming down the stairs toward them, but the call also drew the attention of the reporters and the man and woman they were talking to.
“Oh, my God,” Rebecca said, staring at the girl.
John followed her gaze.
“That would be the governor of Arizona,” Sawyer said.
The man’s eyes bore into her, their gaze crucifying her. “That’s Shannon,” Rebecca said. One corner of Shannon’s mouth went up into an evil smirk and although she had changed her look altogether, the bleached blond hair now cut into a civilized dark brown bob, the makeup toned down, and the jeans and t-shirt she usually wore replaced by a suit, the way she chewed her gum and the look in her eyes left no mistake that the true woman she was beneath the cleaned-up exterior was exactly the woman Rebecca knew.
“They cleaned her up. Looks nothing like her mug shot,” John said.
“Ms. Banks,” came a call from a fast-approaching reporter.
“Take her inside,” John said, pushing them forward and blocking the reporters. “Ms. Banks won’t have time to answer your questions right now, I’m afraid,” he said swiftly and the three went into the courthouse.
* * *
Sawyer settled into the seat behind the defendant’s table once the judge called the court to order. Rebecca’s glance at him over her shoulder belied her anxiety. John leaned his head close to hers and whispered something. Next to Rebecca sat Shannon’s attorney, a high-priced one from the looks of him, and beside them was one court-appointed lawyer for both Andy and Jeff. They looked a little worse for wear, but Sawyer didn’t care about that. He turned his attention back to Shannon and saw her watching Rebecca, who was unaware of the look she was getting. Even from his position, Sawyer could see and feel the jealousy, the hate pouring off the girl. He fisted his hands and looked up when the DA began.
The district attorney laid it on thick and he did not paint Rebecca in the best light. In fact, the only person who seemed to be a victim out of the four of them was Shannon after being taken in by the wrong crowd, Rebecca being the leader of that wrong crowd. Rebecca whispered something to John and he could see John’s hand on her shoulder trying to keep her calm. He reached forward himself and touched her and when he did, he felt her soften just a little. He squeezed once, not missing the look from Shannon as he did, before sitting back as they called Shannon to the stand.
He watched her face change, the mask of the innocent victim replacing what he had just seen. She made her way slowly to the stand and took the oath to tell the truth. Sawyer had some idea what little that meant to her. She settled into the seat and the DA began to question her. Sawyer listened to her story, hearing how she had met Andy and Jeff, how she hadn’t known about their drug use. She talked about meeting Rebecca when Rebecca had first started dating Jeff. How friendly and nice she had seemed and how they had become good friends. This went on for a while and Sawyer just listened and watched every time Rebecca leaned in to say something to John. After some time, the DA sat down and it was John’s turn.
Sawyer sat back and smiled when John began, his questions asked in a neutral tone, subtly shedding doubt on the innocent persona Shannon and her attorney were painting.
“How well did you know my client when you were all living in Arizona?” he asked.
“Well.”
“Hm. How often
did you meet her?”
Shannon stared at him, annoyed. “What do you mean?”
“Did you go out for coffee together? Shopping? Friends do that sort of thing I believe, Ms. Ellison?”
“Well, no, but that was because she was busy all the time,” Shannon answered. “I tried to be a good friend, but she had other priorities.”
Sawyer glanced at the jury, smiling a little at how Shannon’s tone had changed, giving away her true self at least a little.
“Other priorities like school, you mean?” John asked.
“I suppose.”
“And you said you ‘partied’ with my client?”
“Yes.”
“Can you define partied for the court, please?”
“You know, we got high,” she said, rolling her eyes. “Smoked pot.”
Rebecca was leaning forward, shaking her head no. Sawyer put a hand on her shoulder, rubbing, hoping his touch conveyed the message for her to stay calm.
“How often did you smoke pot?”
She snorted just as her attorney called an objection to the question.
“That’s fine, Your Honor,” John said, stepping back. “I have no further questions for this witness.”
“Redirect, Your Honor.” Shannon’s attorney stood.
The judge nodded.
“I’d like to enter a photograph taken a little over a year ago that shows the defendants, minus my client, at their apartment in Arizona. Getting high,” he added, a pointed look in John’s direction. At that, the projector screen went on and a photo came up clearly showing the brothers and Rebecca. All were sitting on a sofa, laughing at something from the looks of it. Several cans of beer lay empty on the table and three others stood upright. Next to that was a smoking joint in an ashtray along with other unmistakable paraphernalia. Sawyer looked at it, then turned to find Rebecca looking from it to him, her expression unreadable.
“Where were you when this photo was taken?” Shannon’s attorney asked.
“I had just gotten to Andy’s apartment and took a picture with my phone. Andy wanted me to do that. When I smelled the pot, I turned around to leave right away. I knew it was wrong. They were wasted already and I left right after taking that photo.”
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