Mended: A Salvation Society Novel

by Gabrielle G.

  Dagger to the heart and twist, but thankfully, I have my answer ready. “Mother, Andre isn’t my father, but my stepdad. And I was fine until two days ago. Whoever recommended this is an asshole.”

  “I didn’t raise you to speak that way, Tessa. And, Dex Crawford is a very respectable lawyer and the son of a dear friend of your father. In fact, he’s very recognized in what he does. He’s one of the best in the field right now.” I roll my eyes. Knowing her, the guy has a perfect pedigree. His parents are rich and one of them has a position that could help Andre in his endeavours.

  “I’ll ask Catherine if she’s heard of him. That’s what she does after all.”

  “I’m pretty sure Jackson’s wife won’t know who he is. He’s very discreet in what he does. And without criticizing your friends, of course, they don’t mingle in the same circles.”

  As usual she dismisses my friends at Cole Security. She never liked King and the guys. She would have preferred me to marry someone like this Crawford guy. If she was fine, King was a SEAL, she wanted him to have a rank, be more of something she could show off, have an ambition that would make me be the wife of someone important.

  “Look mother, I understand and I’m glad you decided to protect me. Thank you.” I’ve told her a lot of bullshit over the years but this one might be the biggest one. After pushing me to be his daughter, they throw me away the moment they need his life to look flawless. I was never the perfect doll they needed me to be like my sister. Fucking Dex Crawford is lucky not to stand in front of me or I would rip his head off. But being angry at a stranger won’t help me face my family and deal with the duplicity I feel my life is. Stepping away after giving my mother the respect she thinks she deserves; I decide to call Oliver, hoping he can anchor me in the storm I feel inside of me.

  “You okay?” he asks.

  “I’m better now. I asked my mother some questions and I don’t think I was ready for the answer.”

  “Hmm. Let me get a car and pick you up,” he says without a hint of hesitation.

  “No, I’m fine. I’ll take an Uber and meet you later.”

  “Tessa,” he grumbles. “Let me be here for you, sweetheart.” My heart becomes mush at the term of endearment.

  “No really, I’m fine. But I have a name for you, the guy who told my parents to make me disappear from their life.”

  “Go on. I was going to call my guy to see if he knew who could have been working with your stepfather.”

  “No need. His name is Dex Crawford and it seems he’s the son of a friend of my family.”

  “Shit,” Oliver says right away.

  “Do you know him?” I ask while twisting my hair in a ponytail.

  “Yeah,” he drags his answer, “he’s the same guy I wanted to contact about your stepfather. Knowing him he’s already two steps ahead and knows what I’m doing in Virginia. He’s helped my friends a lot.”

  “The Darling Devils?”

  “Yes.”

  “Like the guy does PR for rock stars and CIA directors?”

  “Look, let’s discuss it tonight. What I want to tell you now is that I want to take your lips and kiss them softly, and if you let me, maybe I could bring you home after our date?”

  Home.

  The smile I had on my face since I heard his voice falls.

  Home is the place I shared with King. The place I sold and is not mine anymore. Home isn’t where I live now and spend most of my sleepless nights.

  Home isn’t the VanHorn residence either.

  Home is nowhere I belong.

  “Tessa, I can be there in ten minutes.” Oliver insists, alarmed by my silence.

  I twist my fingers and take a big breath in, “I’m fine, sorry. Just I don’t really have a home and…”

  “Say no more,” he cuts me off, “I know. Let me rephrase what I just said. Maybe I can bring you back to your apartment or to my motel?” His voice drops and my desire spikes.

  “Okay,” I whisper, “but maybe this time we can talk afterwards?”

  “Yes,” he laughs, “I promise not to play the mute and to talk to you. In fact, I promise to tell you everything you need to hear to turn you on and talk dirty to you the whole time I fuck you, Tessa. I promise to make you so wet with my words, you could come on demand. I promise that even after you come, you’ll drench my dick, my fingers and anything else I decide to put inside you because my words will continue to turn you on long after we’re done fucking. So yes, Tessa, I will speak. And I can’t wait. Seven pm. Be ready.” He hangs up and for a moment I stay in the backyard of my parent’s house, shivering with pleasure and craving his words until my mother pops her head out.

  “Please don’t sit in the grass like a hippie. We pay a lot for it to look great. Next time, use a chair.”

  “Of course, mother.”

  “Would you be joining us for dinner? I need to know.”

  “No mother. I have a date.”

  “A date? With whom?” I love to crash her hopes.

  “With Dereck. Remember Dad’s partner?” Of course, she does. But she would never admit it. In my mother’s world, this is a betrayal. I’m choosing to spend the evening with someone she wishes was dead instead of having supper with her. In mine, it’s just a mic drop. “So I’ll be going, and I’m not sure when I’ll come back now that I know I’m a casualty for Andre’s campaign to rule whatever he decides to rule.”

  “You’re so dramatic, Tessa. Always were.” My mother goes back inside without a goodbye. This will be the only tell that she’s pissed at me. Standing up, I leave with a smile on my lips, knowing what I have to do next and feeling free and not guilty anymore to do so.

  Chapter Twenty

  OLIVER

  Beautiful.

  There are no other words to describe Tessa.

  Walking toward me in a skirt showing more leg than usual, it seems like she’s floating. Her hair is loose and flowy like a river of gold, her step is light and bouncy, and her eyes are dancing with a bliss I have never seen there before. Something made her happy, and I hope it could be the idea of me sliding inside of her. I’m pretty sure it has nothing to do with me, a man can dream though.

  “Hey, Blue-hair,” I greet her trying to keep my cool. Having worked all day on trying to find a trail on her stepfather, she hasn’t left my mind for one second.

  Infatuated with the idea of us, I got hard just at the hint of her lips on mine again and never really softened.

  “Hey.” She stops in front of me, and wearing the sexiest thing I’ve ever seen, doesn’t hesitate to take my lips with hers and kisses me.

  Fuck, I’ve missed having someone claiming me for all to see.

  Not wasting a second of our kiss, I deepen it and force her to open for me. I lick her tongue like I would her pussy, unhurriedly, sensually and hungrily. And while I get lost inside of her mouth, nothing else seems to exist.

  My hands find their way to the nape of her neck, and my body slams into her. If I could, I would fuck her in the middle of the street.

  Damn the consequences.

  I laugh at myself.

  For a guy who has been petrified of every outcome in his life for five years, I’m now ready to throw caution to the wind because of a blue-haired girl. I knew she was dangerous from the start.

  When I shove my hips against hers, she slows me down. Her hand comes on my chest and pushes me away, slowly. I push her back in and steal another kiss before stopping.

  “You started it,” I finally say when we separate.

  “Yeah and you finished the job quite passionately.” She looks at me and I adjust myself to hide my state of arousal. “What are we doing, Green-eyes?”

  I haven’t told her yet.

  The only clue I gave was a dress code. If I’m not the one who can jump from a plane or drive on tracks anymore, I can still give her a little thrill, at least I hope.

  “Do you like singing?” I smirk, knowing what I planned.

  “Like it? Yes. Being good at it?
That’s another story.”

  “Well then you won’t see any problem standing on stage, sober, in front of strangers and belting out “Dreams” by Fleetwood Mac?” She frowns and smirks at the same time, and I can’t help kissing the corner of her lips.

  “Fleetwood Mac?” she exclaims. “No, if I have to be ridiculous on a stage, I’ll do it to Alanis.”

  “So predictable,” I say, taking her hand in mine and tugging at it for her to follow me.

  “I’m far from being predictable,” she pouts. It’s so fucking adorable. I want to eat her up.

  “Every woman your age would choose to sing Alanis.” I playfully roll my eyes.

  “And every guy your age would choose Lynyrd Skynyrd.” I stop in my tracks.

  “How old do you think I am, Tessa?”

  “Well, you’re the one speaking of Fleetwood Mac… So I assumed you were as old as their music.” She tries to contain her laugh but fails. It’s a burst of sunny laughter in the rainy days my life has been until now, and I can feel my heart growing out of my chest like a fucking rainbow on steroids.

  “Incredible,” I grumble. “You’re going to get on stage, sing Ironic, and we’ll see who would make fun of the other then.” Walking toward the bar, I interlock our fingers and squeeze her hand when she continues laughing, smiling like a fool myself.

  Once sitting in a booth with drinks in front of us at the karaoke bar, Tessa quiets down when she realizes the people getting on stage aren’t bad singers at all. Trying to make me uncomfortable, she signs me up for an Alanis song. I retaliate by doing the same with a Bruno Mars one. Waiting for our turn, we hear a good amount of Darling Devils songs and I can’t stop myself from filming some of the best ones and send the videos to Dan saying I found his replacement. When it’s my turn, my heart skips a beat. I haven’t felt this excited in a while. It’s nothing crazy like I did before, but it’s a great way to get my blood flowing somewhere else, rather than in my dick for four minutes.

  Lightheaded, I go on stage, knowing Tessa is in for a surprise.

  I’m no Dan Darling, but I can sing.

  Something that runs in the Spencer family. Starting the iconic Ironic, I try not to look at her. There is something nerve-wracking singing in front of the person you’re crushing hard on. As if the song you choose tells them everything there is to know about yourself.

  Thankfully what I’m singing isn’t my choice but it tells me everything I need to know about Tessa right now.

  Yes, us meeting now is ironic.

  Seeing our situation, it’s a perfect choice.

  Both in love with people that aren’t around anymore.

  Both trying to survive.

  Both finding a little bit of peace in the other.

  My eyes find hers, and I get into the song more than I thought I would. My voice cracks, but I’ve learned to embrace it, and seeing the star she carries in her gaze, I’m doing just fine through it all.

  Once I’m done, I go back to her, and I’m welcomed by a gentle kiss. I try not to push too far this time.

  “You can sing!” I shrug at her observation, playing a false modesty I know she’s not buying. “Come on, Green-eyes. You brought me to sing karaoke, knowing you would slay it. It’s like me bringing you to a race, knowing I’ll beat you.” She smiles, and I’m not sure if it’s the idea of her kicking my ass or the hope I see in her eyes, but I’m not as uncomfortable at the thought of driving at a fast speed as I usually am. Something feels looser in my chest, the perpetual weight I’m carrying less cumbersome than usual.

  “We could start with go-karting,” I smile, wondering to myself where that idea comes from but happy I could take the step with her.

  “It’s a date!” She beams and I feel proud to be the reason for her burst of delight. “I used to go go-karting all the time with my father when I was a kid. Then he died and well… I wasn’t allowed anymore. I started again when I was traveling and it felt like something called me to do it. Have you ever felt compelled to do something like that?”

  The answer is easy. Kissing her. I dive in, take her lower lip in between my teeth, and pull slowly.

  “That,” I say, my voice filled with desire.

  “Shit Oliver, you should have sung Head over Feet. That’s pretty much how I feel right now.” I would love to believe her but I know those are just words influenced by yearning. I’ve heard enough women thinking it could be love when in fact, it was the attention I was giving them they loved. Not that I wanted them to fall in love anyway.

  “Let’s go, Murdock, you’re next.” The emcee announces. Tessa rolls her eyes and flips me the bird but doesn’t move an inch.

  “Blue-hair, you’re up… or are you too chicken to sing after me?” The look of determination on her face makes me crinkle my nose with excitement. There is nothing better than a little competition, and even though I know I’ve already won tonight, seeing her jumping on stage and with no second thoughts then dive into Just the Way You Are—as out of tune as she can be—touches me more than I thought possible. Because, yes, with all her wounds, and all her issues, she’s the most beautiful person I’ve ever met. Inside and out. And I know it isn’t my dick craving her when I say, I might be the one falling head over feet if I’m not careful.

  I can already see myself chained to the bottom of her soul.

  “So, not that bad, right?” Tessa asks, sliding back next to me.

  “Well,” I wince, “you’re not a singer but I give you an A-plus for trying.” She puckers her lips, and I can’t help myself from rubbing them with my thumb. Her pout becomes a smile at my touch, and she opens her mouth for me to push my thumb inside of it. Slowly, her tongue licks the pad of my thumb while her lips wrap around my knuckle. I stir from my toes to my dick, everything in me telling me to fuck her here and now. I quickly glance around, making sure no one has their sights on us, then pull my thumb out, folding her lower lip and wetting her chin. My thumb continues its way to her neck and down to her cleavage. Once settled there, my hand slides in and grabs her left breast through her bra, kneading her hard. She whimpers at my touch, and I become gentler, brushing her skin before rolling her nipple.

  “Oliver,” she moans while her head falls back. Offering her full throat to my lips, I suck on her like a vampire needs blood, with my erection as hard as a wooden stake. Pressing my hand on her thigh, I roll up the delicate fabric of her skirt and make my way to her core, my fingers tingling with anticipation of being coated by her juices. Pinching her nipple, I let my mouth follow the trail my thumb took before and wet her breast with my tongue while my hand plays with the elastic of what I hope is a thong. Grazing her lips, I force my mouth to abandon her breast and to swallow the moan I know she’ll give me as soon as my fingers caress her. The music of the karaoke is loud, but I won’t let another man hear the noises she can make while I fuck her. If giving her pleasure in public is a big turn on, having anyone else aware of what we’re doing is not an option. I won’t share Tessa with anyone.

  I flick her clit and wrap my hand around the back of her neck at the same time that I kiss her, wanting her to abandon herself under my touch.

  Faster, deeper, stronger, I go on until she falls apart. Sliding inside of her, so she clenches on something, I catch her with sweet kisses and a firm hand around her neck, making sure she knows, she’s in good hands. The beauty of her coming in my arms surpasses every piece of art I have ever laid eyes on. I slide her skirt down and kiss the corner of her mouth, thanking her for trusting me tonight.

  “Let’s finish this at your motel,” she says in a husky voice when she can finally find her words. Throwing a stack of bills on the table for drinks we barely touched, I drag her out of the booth like a mad man on a mission. “Slow down,” Tessa adds out of breath.

  Turning around, I grab her under her ass and lift her in my arms.

  “Wrap your legs around my waist and your arms around my neck, Blue-hair. We’re walking, and we’re walking fast.”

  “Don
’t be crazy. Let’s take an Uber,” she protests, wiggling around.

  “No way, Tessa. If we get into a car together, I’ll fuck you right there in front of the driver. I need to be inside you like a dying man needs his last breath, so hang on to me baby girl, because we’re walking and once in my motel, I’ll fuck you like you never were fucked before.”

  She takes the lobe of my ear between her teeth and nibbles at it, before her lips come closer and, in a whisper, she says, “so run Oliver, run and fuck me as no one has before.” And so I do.

  Chapter Twenty-One

  TESSA

  “I found a trail,” Oliver exclaims, his eyes filled with desire when they fall on me. We’ve had a couple of great days, followed up by spending our nights together at his motel. It feels like I’m taking mini vacations from my daily life and I love every second of it. Every minute spent with Oliver is a cyclone of affection.

  I feel like the yellow face emoji with the three little hearts at all times.

  Orgasm glasses and all.

  The moment Mark told me I should sit in that meeting, I knew Oliver had found something. I’m not sure how I feel about that. Even if Andre and I never had a strong connection, even if he always seemed too eager to spend time with me, too fervent about everything I did, too fast to come to my rescue against my mother for years, he still provided for me and raised me since I was a kid. My parents never lived together and when Andre entered our lives, I was a child. He was never around much until my father died. But then, once we left the country, he became a full on stepfather and was more receptive to my grief than my mother.