Family (Men of Steel #5.5)

by Mj Fields

  I nodded once, “I’m not looking for anything more than a good time.”

  “I’m not offering anything else.”

  I nodded again.

  “I’ll meet you outside gate twelve. I have a room at the Hilton airport hotel.”

  “Perfect.”

  She walked away. I was tempted to stop her and ask what her name was, but I decided it really didn’t matter.

  ***

  I stood outside gate twelve waiting for flight attendant, Delta. No, it wasn’t her name, but for all intents and purposes, it worked. I had packed light, so I didn’t have to wait for luggage. If I forgot anything, I could just buy it. It wasn’t like college days when we had to scrape pennies, so I wasn’t going to. “Fuck it” was my motto for the next week. Fuck the responsibilities, fuck the planning, and fuck anyone I wanted without concern for what tomorrow would bring.

  I wasn’t always like this, but things had changed. I was no longer delusional about needing to do the right thing by the woman I was about to be inside of. If they were game, so was I. I could decipher between those looking for a man and those looking for a body. I was gonna be that body, regardless of the inner conflict it sometimes caused me.

  When she walked out, she was in a pink tank dress that hit well above her knees. Knees that I was hoping would wear the imprint of her hotel room rug very soon. She didn’t try to make small talk, which I was grateful for. I no longer had time for bullshit and pleasantries. Fucking was fucking.

  I took her bag and her free hand, like a gentleman, and we walked out into the humid spring Florida air.

  I hailed a cab, held the door open as she got in, and then slid in beside her. She gave the address to the cab driver, and I immediately rested my hand on her bare, sun-kissed knee. I tested the water by running my hand slowly up to the hem of her dress and looked at her. She relaxed against the seat and I pulled her knee closer to mine opening her legs slightly.

  I ran my fingers up her inner thigh and she took a short intake of breath. I continued my slow journey. Her eyes opened as I ran my finger across the silk fabric between her legs. She looked at the cab driver and then back at me. She was a bit nervous. I held my free hand up to my lips and whispered, “Shh.”

  I wasn’t worried that he might see what was going on. There was no way in hell he could, and I really liked the idea of taking this woman out of her comfort zone. She was confident, which is a turn on, but I wanted to be on top, most of the time anyway.

  I pulled her leg so it rested over mine and her eyes grew bigger. I sat back and relaxed as I slowly ran my finger up and down the soft, damp, silky material between her legs. She made little moans that encouraged me to continue slowly teasing her, working her up so that as soon as we entered the hotel room I could have her on her knees.

  ***

  She opened the door to her room and turned to me.

  “I’d like a shower. Care to join me?”

  “I’d like a blow job, care to give me one?”

  She smiled, and when I didn’t return a smile, she swallowed hard. Just like she would be doing in about ten minutes.

  She looked down and nodded, “You want to sit on the bed?”

  I kept eye contact and said nothing as I removed my shoes and started to unbutton my shirt. She was only a beat behind me throwing clothes off all over the place. I really didn’t like the mess. I laid my shirt neatly over the chair, then my pants and boxers were next.

  She looked down at me, “That’ll be fun to work with.”

  “Then let’s not waste any time.”

  I lay on the bed and patted the spot next to me. She climbed up and immediately took my cock in her hands.

  “You’re not hard yet, honey.” She gripped me a bit tighter than I was comfortable with and started stroking me too damn fast.

  I held my hand over hers and slowed her down.

  “This how you like it, honey?”

  Damn, damn, damn, she was fine and all, but I really just wish she’d shut up with the honey already.

  “Music?”

  “Of course. What’s your fancy, honey?”

  “Whatever. Anything is fine.” Just please hurry it up already.

  She got up and turned on the radio. Take You Down by Chris Brown was playing. Maybe she’d get the hint.

  She climbed on the bed and leaned in like she was gonna kiss me. I don’t kiss. As odd as that sounds, it’s too damn personal. We weren’t on a date or falling in love here. She was gonna suck me off, shower, and then I was gonna nail her. This was a mutual exchange, a give and receive.

  I held her cheek in my hand and rubbed my thumb across her lip, slowing her down a bit. Hoping she’d get the point, I pushed my thumb gently into her mouth. Now I was doing this for another reason too. If her beginning hand job was an indication of what she’d be doing with her mouth, I was a little bit concerned.

  She was a licker. She lapped at my thumb like a dog does water. This may not be my preferred method, but it could work. Her mouth on my cock was all I needed right now.

  I hooked my thumb in her mouth and slowly dragged her down towards my dick.

  “You need this huh, honey?”

  “Yeah.”

  She bent down and started lapping at me. I pulled her ass over towards me and started stroking her soaked seam. I spread her, and she opened her mouth and sucked my tip. Okay I get it. I pushed a finger in her, and she moaned with her mouth full of cock. The vibration felt damn good. I pushed in more, and curled my finger up and pressed the magic button.

  “Oh, honey,” she moaned with her mouth still full of my dick.

  I thrust my hips up at the same time as I rubbed my thumb over her clit. She was lapping, sucking, and grinding into my hand. Two minutes later she came.

  I wasn’t sure if she liked it, or if she was pissed. She turned into an animal growling and bobbing up and down so fast I was a little concerned with my well-being.

  “You like it in your ass girl?”

  She stopped, just like I expected, and looked up at me.

  “If that’s what you want honey. Just. Be. Nice.”

  “How about we try it after your shower?”

  “Mmm perfect,” She said between licks. “Honey, does it always take you this long?”

  “You can stop. Go shower. Relax and enjoy.”

  “Sure thing, honey. Can I get you a drink? A snack?” She waved her hands in flight attendant fashion, and I shook my head ‘no.’

  As soon as I heard the shower start, I jumped up and got dressed. I leaned into the bathroom.

  “Something came up. I won’t be able to stick around.”

  She leaned out of the shower and looked at me curiously. “Surely I should return the favor, honey.”

  “Damn it. I wish you could, but as I said, something came up. Maybe I’ll see you around next trip.”

  “I’ll look forward to it.”

  With that, I grabbed my bag and was out the door, dick intact. Fuck! This was not a good start to my relaxing vacation.

  Thank god the cab was waiting. “2272 North Atlantic BLVD, please.”

  ***

  I walked into the rental house and was pleasantly surprised. The view of the ocean was amazing from the first of two master suites, and I’m sure the other two rooms were just as magnificent. I threw my bag on the bed and flopped down beside it. I stared at the ceiling and laughed to myself.

  How the hell are you gonna learn to relax, O’Donnell?

  I sat up, pulled my shirt over my head, stood and shed my pants. I reached in my bag, grabbed a pair of board shorts, and threw them on. The realtor said there would be boards in the garage and I was dying to get out there and ride some waves.

  I walked out into the kitchen, and as promised, it had stainless appliances with granite counter tops. I couldn’t wait to cook. I worked so much lately, that opening a take-out container was the extent of my culinary creativity. I grabbed a flyer from the counter and decided to order groceries and have them
delivered. I was gonna surf, drink, cook, and fuck all week long. Out with the new Abe and in with the old Abe.

  ***

  I sat in the ocean off the private beach watching the sunset. I missed this so damn much. Years ago, I won the Manasquan Big Sea Day Surf Contest three years in a row. It was basically a fundraiser for a group of local high schools surf teams; it was pretty damn cool. Hometown hero shit is what I miss when I’m CFO of a billion dollar business. A year in, and Steel is running like a top, but walking away scared the shit out of me.

  I paddled back to shore and dragged the board up the beach. I put it away and walked through the gate, but stopped when I saw the pool. I decided to take a dip to rid my body of the salt water. I was proud of my Irish heritage, but genetically my sensitive, fair skin had to be babied or I’d break out, and that wasn’t gonna happen. Five days from now, I’d be a golden tan and rash free when I returned to my office. I dropped trou and dove in. The water felt damn good, and alone or with someone, it didn’t matter much to me. Nothing felt as good as being naked in the water.

  I floated around enjoying my privacy. I couldn’t do this shit at the gym or at the shore. Conservative or not, there was something cool about my dick being free outside of my home.

  I thought I heard voices. When I opened my eyes, I saw three women standing around gawking at me. My ears hadn’t failed me.

  I quickly pulled my lower half under the water and swam to the opposite side of the pool. They all started giggling.

  “Something I can help you ladies with?”

  The blonde smirked, “No please don’t let us interrupt you.”

  She dropped her towel and jumped in.

  The blonde was laughing like a fool, and I tried not to look annoyed, but fuck, I was a little taken aback by what was going on. The dark skin brunette jumped in laughing, too.

  “Howdy neighbor,” she said when she surfaced.

  “Neighbor?” I asked.

  “The cottage right there is where we’re staying. Shared pool, shared lawn, shared…”

  “Fuck! This was supposed to be private.”

  “Nothing’s private around here anymore,” the blonde shed her shirt and jumped in.

  “One of you ladies mind fetching me my shorts?”

  “You go right ahead big guy, no need to hide it, we’ve already seen it.”

  “So that’s how it’s gonna be?”

  They all passed around looks, and the brunette swam to the steps and got out as the other’s continued giggling.

  “Here you go.” She threw them into the pool.

  “Thanks.”

  “Need some help?” The blonde asked and they all started giggling again.

  I pulled my shorts up, contemplating what the hell to do next, and I was at a loss. I could stand in front of a boardroom full of investors or behind a podium holding meetings for hundreds of employees, but this right here was way out of my comfort zone.

  I swam to the steps and walked out of the pool.

  “My apologies. I will straighten this mess out as soon as I can.”

  I walked quickly to the back door of my semi-private vacation retreat and slammed the door.

  I walked into the bathroom and got in the shower to rinse off the chlorine. I jumped out and grabbed a towel, wrapped it around my waist, and headed into the kitchen to call the fucking realtor and ream him a new ass.

  I jumped and nearly lost my towel when the blonde was standing in the kitchen setting bags on the counter.

  “Hey big guy, the delivery boy came. Hope you don’t mind I signed for ya and brought them in.”

  “Thanks…um…”

  “Laney.”

  “Right. Thanks and sorry about earlier. Had I known I never would have … ”

  “Don’t stress. You have nothing to be ashamed of ... ”

  “Abe.”

  “Abe, cool. We are all here for a couple more days, so let’s just not make a big deal about it, okay?”

  “Sounds good.” I reached out to shake her hand and caught my towel right before I exposed myself a second time.

  She laughed as I wrapped myself up again.

  “We’re going to grill tonight, if you’re interested.”

  “Not tonight, but thanks.” The look on her face told me I was probably being a dick. “Maybe I can cook for the three of you tomorrow night?”

  “Four.”

  “Excuse me?” I scratched my head.

  “Four, our friend is coming in, so there will be four of us.”

  “Four, good. That’s good. See you all then.”

  She waved over her shoulder as she walked out.

  ***

  I had some cheese and salad before I decided to put this fucked up day behind me and call it a night. Tomorrow would be better.

  I lay in bed and returned Carly’s text.

  Abe: Banner start to stress-free vacation. Exhausted. Going to sleep. Chat tomorrow.

  I was almost asleep when I heard the neighbors giggling. I lay in bed trying to ignore the commotion. I had decided I should probably shut the window to give them some privacy when I heard the blonde’s voice.

  “No girl, we’re not pulling your leg. All American boy naked as a jay bird floating around in the pool.”

  “Shut up,” I heard a sweet voice giggle. I wasn’t alone. Shit stirred under the covers.

  “He is built, too.”

  “You guys are drunk.” The voice sighed quietly.

  “Drunk or not, the boy had six plus eight.”

  “Really?”

  “Yeah, and those lines that make even the smartest chick lose her mind.”

  “I swear I would have licked down that V if he’d have asked.”

  “And kept right on going.”

  “Eight plus eight.” The blonde purred.

  “What?” The sweet voice giggled.

  “Eight pack, eight inches.”

  “He wasn’t even hard.”

  “Oh my god, you three are so bad.”

  Damn that voice was killing me.

  “He’s cooking us dinner tomorrow.”

  “We should tag team his ass.” It was the blonde Laney.

  “You three have fun with that. I’m going in to shower and get some sleep. Maybe tomorrow after some shots I’ll be able to follow this conversation.”

  “Hell no, you just got here!”

  Yeah, hell no, keep talking sweetheart, please, I pleaded in my head.

  I heard a door shut and then the girls all laughed.

  “Six months, do you think she’s over him yet?”

  “She’s fine.” The blonde piped in. “She deserves better than a douche that’s gonna cheat on her. She’ll be just fine.”

  They all stayed quiet and then I heard the door shut again. I closed the window, cranked up the AC, and fell asleep thinking about that voice.

  Surf’s Up

  Nikolette

  I woke feeling better than I had in weeks. I wasn’t going to let the past hinder what I was to become. I am a strong woman. Beautiful in my own way. That had been what I had told myself for the past five months since Steve and I had split up.

  “Split up” was a nice way to put the hell that I lived for five months. How is it possible that two words – split up, break up, end this, I’m out –could have so much emotion attached to them? Those two words couldn’t begin to describe what had gone on between us since I caught him in bed with a girl who had been not only my friend, but my college roommate for almost three years.

  She was a Texas girl. She had been in pageants from the time she was five, always doing what her Bible-toting momma told her. Always lived to make everyone happy. Then Sally went to college. What happens when the straight and narrow go off to college? All hell breaks loose. Sally went through a phase where she was bringing home boys every weekend. Then she went through a period where she was sure she’d go to Hell and she ate those damn éclairs like there was no tomorrow. Girlfriend gained her freshman fifteen and then some.
Her momma came up and the way she looked at her with contempt, still upsets me, and I’m no fan of Sally anymore.

  Don’t get me wrong, no one loves Jesus more than I do. Southern Baptist girl, here. Raised up in church and my extended family living with us. My Daddy is a podiatrist, whitest white boy on the planet. He met my momma playing piano at church and immediately fell in love with her. Neither one of my grandparents minded the fact that he was white and she was black. As my Granny Ivy would say, “It’s a heart thing. Love isn’t black and white, either is life.”

  Granny Ivy lived with us from the time Grandpa Isaac died. That’s how family is supposed to be. Mom and Dad both agree. When Steve and I broke up, it was her and my mom that got me through it, “Love is a funny thing, not always good, not always easy, and not always meant to be forever.”

  Sally begged me not to move out of our room. She just didn’t know how she would explain it to her mother. “Not your cross to bear,” Granny said when I told her, but I only had one semester to go before starting my internship over the summer that would last through my senior year. I sure as hell wouldn’t give Steve or Sally the satisfaction of breaking me. Momma taught me right. “Hold your head high and don’t give nay-sayers the satisfaction. Grace under pressure. And when you just can’t do it anymore, come home and fall apart. We’re here for you sugar plum.”

  I lay in bed contemplating what was next. I would have rather not have come here before moving on to the next part of my life, but my parents insisted I go and have fun. So here I was, passing the time, hanging with my girls in Florida, who were doing the same.

  I sat up and looked in the bed next to mine, Laney was still asleep. The girls had gotten pretty tipsy last night; probably needed to sleep it off. I walked out of the room and peeked in at Mel and Paige, they were still passed out, too. I decided to go for a walk on the beach.

  The beach was beautiful and peaceful. Small waves rolled into the white sand beach. A few surfers paddling around and one in particular rode a small wave toward shore. The sun behind him made him appear to be glowing. I was glad I had my sunglasses on because I didn’t want to get busted for staring at him. I couldn’t help but stare. He was a vision, even from a distance. Tall and built very well, his shoulders squared. He looked so comfortable and confident, like he belonged out there amidst the rolling waters.