by Frankie Love
Good. That’s how I need her, ready and willing.
TESS
His cock is so perfect, and when I lick his tip, I remember the way it felt when he came in my mouth. All I want is that sensation again.
I take him in my mouth, as much of him as I can, and I begin sucking with my arms wrapped around his ass.
“Oh, that’s good, baby,” he encourages me, and it’s all I need to hear. I take him deeper, feeling his veiny cock against the roof of my mouth.
My pussy is still on fire, and I want him to come so I can taste him, but also so I can take him deep inside me, so I can ride him and feel his skin against my own.
His release pulses out, and the salty come coats my mouth as I swallow. Slowly taking him from my mouth, I smile at his hardness. And as I massage his balls, I see him stiffen again.
“Fuck, woman,” he groans.
“What?” I ask, a grin spreading across my face.
“You ruined me for all women, you understand that, right?”
“Shut up,” I tell him, standing, and then pushing him onto the couch so I can have my turn. “And let me ride you.”
He reaches for his jeans and fishes out a condom.
“Really?” I ask. “You put a condom in your pocket this morning after I told you we were running from a biker gang?”
“Listen,” he says, smiling as he unrolls it on himself. “I am nothing if not prepared.”
“I’m glad you are. Prepared, I mean. You’re taking care of me in a way no one else ever has.”
He laughs, not letting the mood become overly sentimental. “Well, damn, girl, you’re taking care of me in a way no one else ever has, either.”
And then I slide on top of him, my core filled with his hardness, and I ride him until we come. I ride him until we collapse.
Later, we get up and shower. My thighs are shaky from the best kind of exertion, and a smile is on my face. It’s only been a few hours, but I feel so far from Vegas that the only reason I remember that city exists is because my phone starts buzzing with notifications.
Throwing on one of my new tee shirts, I dig out my phone from my purse.
“Have you spoken to any of our friends?” I call to Jack, who is upstairs in the loft looking through his dresser drawers for some socks.
“Just Ace. I told him about the security. He’s got his eyes on things.”
“Okay. Emmy just texted wanting to make sure I was okay.”
Jack snorts. “And what did you say?”
“I told her I lost my mind,” I tell him. “I said that Jack just fucked me silly.”
“You did not.” He climbs down the ladder, jeans slung low on his hips and his hair damp. Damn, he looks amazing. I’m still confused about how this is me, here with him.
I twist my wet hair into a bun on the top of my head, and then rip open the pack of underwear. Holding them up, I tell Jack to look.
“You are not wearing those,” he says.
“Yes, I am. It’s my only underwear.” I slide them on. “And I’m not going to meet your parents commando.”
“Nice shirt, by the way,” he says, laughing.
“Just so you know, I love this shirt,” I tell him with mock seriousness. “I’ve always had this unbridled passion for the great outdoors.”
“And now you have a shirt with a bald eagle on it. So not only are you into nature, but you’re also proud of the US of A.”
“Exactly. Your parents are going to be impressed that you’ve brought home such an All-American gal.”
“Gal, is that what I’m calling you now?”
Sure. You can tell your parents I’m your gal.”
“Not my fuck-buddy?” Jack grabs my waist from behind, nuzzles his mouth against my ear.
“Nope.” I encourage him by leaning back into him.
“Not my hook-up?”
“Not me.”
“You’re my gal, then, is that it?”
“I think so.”
“It’s kinda cute,” he says, nibbling on my ear. “A throwback.”
“You better stop what you’re starting,” I tell him.
“What, calling you my gal is too intense?” he asks, kissing my neck.
I shake my head softly, realizing how he’s misunderstood me. “No, I like that. I meant, this kissing business. You are going to make me all horny again and I’ll soak my brand new panties.”
He smacks my ass. “You buy any pants?”
“Overalls.”
Jack shakes his head, cracking up as I pull them on.
I have to roll them up three times because they’re so long. All I have for my feet is a pair of TOMS, so I slide those on, too.
“Gal, those are some fine looking bibs.” He opens the studio door. “Now let’s go introduce you to my fancy parents.”
Chapter Seventeen
JACK
Walking into the kitchen, I immediately wish Tess and I had talked out a few more things. Like, sure, we joked about her being my gal, but what are we really?
Defining our relationship after just a week of spending time together feels intense, but so are the feelings rushing between us. When Tess and I are together, the world feels small in a way that’s comforting, in a way that feels like ours.
“Jack, what in the world?” Mom steps away from the stovetop and pulls me into her arms. “What are you doing here? Benny, come in here; Jack’s here, with a....” She gives Tess an appraising look. “A friend.”
“This is Tess, Mom,” I tell her, taking Tess’s hand and pulling her into the kitchen. “And Tess, this is my mom, Judy.”
“So nice to meet you, Mrs. Harris.” Tess smiles tensely. Clearly she’s nervous, but with no reason. My parents will love her. How could they not?
“Oh, shush with the Mrs., dear. I’m just Judy.” Mom pauses, looking at Tess more closely, but then pulls her into an embrace as well, and it is just as I predicted. Comfortable. “Now, tell me, what in God’s name brought you here without even a phone call?”
“We needed to leave town,” I tell her as Dad walks into the kitchen. “Hey, Dad, this is Tess; Tess, this is my father, Benny.” They shake hands and Dad comments on Tess’s outfit.
“Is that what the kids are wearing these days?”
“Just me. And Roscoe.” My parents laugh as Tess explains that she didn’t pack for the trip and had to buy some things at the grocer’s.
I cut in on the conversation. “Is dinner ready? We’re starved. Have you had that roast yet?”
“You came snooping in my kitchen?”
“We got here a few hours ago, but you were out on the boat.”
“Well, kids, come sit down,” Mom instructs. “Benny, grab some more plates, won’t you? The food is already on the table. Jack, get the lady a beverage.” She tsk-tsks me as she takes Tess’s arm and leads her into the dining room.
Once seated at the table, I remember to breathe in a way I never do in Vegas. Mom and Dad want to know everything. When we got here. How we got here. How I know Tess. What Tess does in Vegas.
It might be overwhelming to some people, but I have come to learn that Tess is not some people. Just when I think I have a part of her figured out, she surprises me.
I’d have guessed the interrogation would shut her down, but she seems genuinely chill as she passes around a bowl of roasted potatoes and adds slices of pot roast to her plate.
“I’m a waitress at Ace’s casino. It’s a good job—I mean, I’m grateful for it and it keeps a roof over my head and food in my fridge. Can’t really ask for much more.”
“That’s great,” Dad says agreeably. “Keep it simple, right?”
“Seems like so many young people these days just want bigger and better, keep looking for the next thing.”
Tess laughs. “That isn’t me, that’s for sure. I never had any big aspirations. Like, a childhood dream. That’s why Jack is so impressive to me, though. Like right now, with this potential contract? He could have the next ten years of his li
fe mapped out.”
Mom and Dad share a look across the table.
“What aren’t you saying?” I ask them.
Dad shrugs. “We want you to be happy. You seem to be coming home more and more often, and maybe there’s a reason for that.”
“You think I want to move back to my parents’ house?”
Mom cuts her roast, not meeting my eyes when she speaks. “Maybe not in with us, but maybe you want to focus on music again. Your first love.”
“Don’t be so hard on him, Judy,” Tess says without censor. “Jack plays music at the clubs. Everyone loves it.”
Mom pats Tess’s hand. “I bet everyone does. But does Jack?”
“Can we not do this now?” I ask.
Dad nods, then claps his hand and stands. He takes a bottle of wine from the rack and, as he opens it, he does his best to change the subject. “So, Tess, where did you grow up?”
She stops eating and dabs her mouth with a napkin. “Um, in Arkansas.”
“Really?” Mom says. “I’d never have thought it. You don’t have an accent hardly at all.”
“Right, well sometimes some references to sweet tea slip out, but for the most part I try to fit in with the locals.”
“Your folks still out in Arkansas?”
“Yeah,” she hesitates, and I’m fucking glad I brought her to this table. My parents can ask her the questions that seem to shut her down. I want the answers, but I don’t want her pissed at me for asking. “Well, I’m not close to my family. It wasn’t the best childhood, so I left when I was able. I don’t plan on ever going back.”
My mom pats Tess’s hand tenderly. “I’m sorry, Tess. I can’t even imagine how difficult it must be to navigate life on your own.”
Tess brushes her off. “No, I’m pretty lucky. I met really wonderful friends this year. You’ve met some of them, I’m sure, or heard of them at least? Ace and Emmy, and Claire and Landon. McQueen and JoJo. Our mutual friends are why Jack and I have become close.”
“All those whirlwind romances,” Mom says, shaking her head. “I can hardly believe it. Every time Jack tells us about a new one, I just smile, remembering when Benny and I were young.”
“How did you meet?” Tess asks softly.
Dad raises his wine glass to Mom’s. “We met here, born and raised. My parents raised chickens and Judy’s father taught at the school. We grew up together.”
“Then they had me and their lives were complete,” I can’t help but add.
“Jack always makes it about him, in case you haven’t noticed,” Dad says jokingly.
“Well, I think that’s really romantic, and not at all what I expected,” Tess says, leaning back in her chair, taking us in. “In Vegas, Jack is this oh-so-handsome famous DJ, who used to date Ashley Fast. Seeing you guys here, as this picture-perfect family, I’m just trying to make it work out in my head.”
“We’re far from perfect,” Mom says.
“I don’t believe you,” Tess pushes back, playing along. “Give me one non-perfect thing.”
“Well,” Mom says, looking down again. “We didn’t want to mention it. And maybe now isn’t the time....”
“Judy, don’t,” Dad tells her.
“Don’t what?” I ask. “There are never any secrets between us. Are there now?”
“No, Jack,” Dad says, sighing. “It’s just not appropriate dinner conversation.”
“It’s not appropriate anytime conversation is it?” Mom asks. “But Tess asked me a question, and it would be wrong not to address it.”
“Stop talking in code. Just say it.” I don’t have the mental energy for an Ashley-Fast-style fight.
“We saw the videos,” Mom blurted.
Tess gasps. “Oh my God.” She closes her eyes, her forehead falling into her hands.
“Shit, you knew who Tess was when we walked in?” I ask.
“Well, I told you we got Wi-Fi,” Mom says, throwing her hands in the air.
“I’m sorry, Mom. You shouldn’t have seen that.”
“The article was one thing, and I don’t know why they care about who comes and goes from your place, Jack, but the videos were something else entirely. There is no privacy. No decency.”
“We didn’t know we were being taped.”
“Jack, sex in a car when you’re a high profile public figure?” Mom tosses her napkin on the table, defeated. “It’s like you don’t see the fire you’re playing with.”
“I’m not playing at all. I hate the scene, the bullshit. I didn’t want a fucking sex tape. Ashley’s the one who set all that up. She set everything up, has been since day one.”
“Really?” Dad asks. “Jack, if that’s true, that girl’s playing dirty.”
“I know. Kirby thinks we should sue, but hell, I don’t want her money.” I look at Tess who is crying softly. “And it really messed things up for Tess. She doesn’t want her family to find her, and now, after the article came out, followed with the tape, her face is everywhere.”
“I can understand why you needed to get out of town.” Dad taps his finger on the table, as if trying to work something out. “But Tess, why are you running from your family?”
All eyes are on her, and I know that might be overwhelming, but if she’s going to feel safe anywhere in the world, it’s in this room, right here, right now.
“Tess, you can trust us,” I tell her.
“I know I can, Jack,” she says, looking up, the tears filling her eyes spilling over to her cheeks. “It’s not about whether or not I can trust you. It’s about the way everything will change if I tell you.”
My mom speaks, her gentle voice reassuring all of us. “Look, Tess, you don’t need to share some deep dark secret to be welcome here. The truth is, maybe I shouldn’t have gone there with you both about the videos. But it felt like an elephant in the room.”
“I honestly was so focused on getting out of Vegas today, I didn’t even consider that you might know.” I take Tess’s hand in mine, and then I push back from the table and pull her into my lap. Wrapping my arms around her, I claim her as mine. “Thank you for welcoming us even though we’ve put you through all this.”
“Jack, enough. We’d do anything for you,” Mom admonishes me. “And hell, anyone who wants to talk trash is just jealous. My saving grace was that when I made a video in the eighties, no one had fancy cameras like you kids do today. The internet wasn’t even invented.”
“Judy,” Dad says, stifling a laugh. “Maybe TMI?”
“Since when do you know acronyms, Dad?” I ask.
I feel Tess smile against my chest. I pull her closer, wanting her to feel protected after what could have been a ruinous conversation.
“We’re hip to the hop, Jack,” Dad says, laughing.
“It’s true,” Mom says, smiling. “Did you hear we’re coming to your show in a few weeks?”
“What the hell are you talking about?” I ask, laughing at the way my parents are rolling with the punches.
“We are,” Mom says, beaming. “Really. Landon’s parents are flying out, and so are McQueen’s. We all got rooms at Spades. Claire’s mom, too.”
“We even ordered table service,” Dad says.
At this, Tess laughs. “Are you serious?”
“Since when do you talk to my friend’s parents?”
“Since we got Facebook. I’m telling you, Jack, having Wi-Fi on the island has changed our lives.”
TESS
For a week Jack and I live in a bubble. We wake each morning in his loft, tangled in sheets, the soft hum of birds outside the studio.
Judy is in seventh heaven, making our meals every day, showing me how to collect eggs from the chicken coop, how to make biscuits from scratch and bake Jack’s favorite cookies.
Benny is basically everything a father should be. He takes me fishing every afternoon. I never catch a thing, but when he does, I clap and holler. The rest of the time I sit on the boat with a book and a to-go mug of tea, soaking in the apparently
rare Pacific Northwest sunshine.
Jack is MIA most days. He’s working on his music, though he refuses to let any of us listen. I don’t mind. I take long walks and pick roadside flowers. I ride a rusty old bike to Roscoe’s and buy bait for Benny.
I never want to leave.
I’m in the kitchen one afternoon, unloading the dishwasher, when Judy comes in carrying a colander of lettuce.
“So you kids talking about when you’re heading home?”
“Not really,” I tell her, putting away a stack of plates. “I mean, Jack has his show next week. And apparently Kirby is pushing him for an answer about the deal. He needs to decide what he’s going to do about the contract before that night.”
Judy washes lettuce in the sink. “You two pretty serious?”
“Jack and I? Oh, I don’t know,” I tell her, shrugging. “We don’t really go there. I mean, we’re still getting to know one another.”
“Mhmm.” Judy begins tearing the clean lettuce into pieces and adding them to a salad bowl. “What do you think he should do about the contract?”
“It’s none of my business.” I turn back to the dishwasher and take out a handful of forks.
It really isn’t my business. Jack and I haven’t made any promises, and I’m not planning on making any, ever. If we were to be something more, I’d have to confess my crime to him. And I don’t want to bring him into my mess.
My plan is to avoid.
I’ll stay here as long as I can, then I’ll go to Vegas and get my money from my apartment and strike out on my own. But I can’t tell that plan to Jack; he’ll try and stop me.
What I do need to find out is if the security crew is still tracking my family, and if they’ve left town yet. Coming here was brilliant, because we can hopefully ride the storm until it passes.
“You got awfully quiet, Tess,” Judy says, grabbing a basket of tomatoes from the refrigerator. “Sorry to pry.”
“You can ask whatever you like. Honest. You and Benny have been beyond gracious with me, in ways I don’t deserve. You know, in Vegas I’m always reading these stupid celebrity magazines because I’ve always felt out of the loop. I was raised in a really restrictive environment, so I never knew the right slang, or the cool clothes. And I wanted fit in in Vegas.”