by Nicole Hart
“Yeah. I had to get out of there.”
“What happened?”
“Her husband found my number in her phone and called me, said he would ruin my life for ruining his. I acted like I didn’t know what he was talking about. She called me later that night trying to tell me she was in love with me, and wanted to leave him.”
“And?” Mackenzie asked.
“And what?” I asked.
“Did you love her?” she asked, looking a little sad.
“No,” I said. I couldn’t help but laugh a little.
“Did you even care about her?” she asked.
“No, I didn’t, Mackenzie. It was just sex. I never told her any different.”
“Maybe I do need another beer,” she said, and stood up. I stood with her.
“I’ll get it,” I said, as I put my hands gently on her hips. She was staring into the kitchen.
“Look, I told you before, I’m not proud of the shit I’ve done,” I said, and touched her chin so she would look at me.
“I know,” she said, but I could see the worry in her eyes.
“But, do you know that it’s different with you?” I asked, as I pressed my forehead to hers.
“Is it?” she said, as she backed her head away from mine, so she could see my face.
“It’s been different since the day you came knocking on that door.”
“But it’s only been a few weeks, what if you change your mind?”
“I mean the very first time you knocked on that door,” I said, as I wrapped my arms around her and kissed her forehead.
“Months ago?” she asked.
“Sweetie, you’ve been fucking with my head since that day,” I said, and I felt her shake a little with laughter.
Two more beers and an hour later, Mackenzie was sleeping peacefully on the couch with her legs in my lap. Her eyes were still a shade of purple surrounding them; she tried to cover it with makeup, but it was still noticeable. The memory of that dickhead hurting her made me shake with anger. I hadn’t felt hate for anyone in a long time, but this feeling surpassed that, by far. I had only had a glimpse of his psychotic actions the past few weeks; she had been dealing with him for a long time. I should have beaten his ass the first morning I witnessed his bullshit. When I saw the words “Die Bitch” spelled out with rose petals on the front porch, I just wanted to hide it from Mackenzie. I didn’t want to freak her out more than she already was. When I went to his job and threatened him in the parking lot, I hoped it would force him to back off. I didn’t think he would go that far. Now, I wasn’t sure what he was capable of next. But I knew I had to stop him at every turn. I would protect her from him. The thought of going back to work in a few days made me nervous, though. How could I stop him if I was hours away? Fuck me, man, I hadn’t worried about anyone but myself in years. And now all I did was worry about her. Being a selfish asshole was a much easier lifestyle. But, I couldn’t turn my back on her, no fucking way.
5:00 a.m.
The sound of my phone buzzing woke me from my half-ass sleep. Joe’s name was on the screen. I answered it quickly, and jumped up before I woke Mackenzie.
“Hello,” I said quietly, as I opened the bedroom door and walked into the living room.
“Hey, buddy,” Joe said.
“Hey, Joe. Is everything ok?” I asked. It was early, and he didn’t call that often.
“Yeah, I gotta question for ya. I know you’re still phantom down south, but there’s an A.D. position that just came up about an hour outside of Bailey. Are you still good with your pusher?” Hell yeah, this is perfect.
“Yeah, man. I’m good with him; you think he’d approve a transfer though?” I was tired of floating around; a steady rig would be nice.
“It’s bumping you up, so he shouldn’t have a problem with it. The pusher on that rig put in a request for you; all you gotta do is run it by yours.”
“Damn, Joe. I can’t thank you enough. This really helps me out,” I said.
“Sam told me a little about what’s going on, you need to be there for that girl if you’re gonna be with her, you got it?”
“Yes, sir. This is different, she’s different,” I said.
“Well, I just hope you’re serious; seems like she’s got a whole lot of shit going on,” he said.
“It’s not her fault.”
“Yeah, I just don’t understand some people.”
“He’s fucked up, Joe. The whole situation is,” I said.
“Sounds like it,” he said.
“But anyway, I’ll call my pusher as soon as light hits,” I said.
“You do that. This opportunity won’t last long; you’d better grab it while you can.”
“Thanks again, Uncle Joe,” I said.
“No problem, son, just don’t fuck it up,” he said with a laugh.
“You have my word.” I wasn’t sure if that promise made a difference to him, but I wasn’t going to fuck it up, not when it meant I could be home every night.
“I’m trusting you, Kash,” he said.
“I won’t let you down.”
“Alright, boy, go back to bed. Rest up, you got a lot to learn coming up on crew change.”
“Yes, sir,” I said.
Once I hung up the phone, I started pacing back and forth. I was excited about a promotion, and being there for Mackenzie. I would be home every night. Holy shit, we would be together every night. We were basically living together, now. A few months ago, I would never even consider staying the night with a woman. What the fuck? Mackenzie had flipped my fucking world upside down. Was I ready for this? I knew she needed me, and I wanted her. And, right now, that’s all that mattered to me.
Chapter 22
It was still a little dark outside. My adrenaline was pumping, and I needed something to occupy my time until daylight. I hadn’t tasted her in days, and I missed her sweetness on my tongue. I knew she was still sore, and I wouldn’t push for anything else. But I needed her pussy. Before her, I never went down on many women. I never really knew where they had been, and the thought of it was a turn off. But Mackenzie was different. I craved her sweet pussy. I thought about it day and fucking night. It made my dick hard just remembering that sweet taste.
I crawled on the bed gently and started to kiss her ankles. I made my way up her knees, and ran my tongue up her inner thigh. I heard her moan quietly and that made the craving stronger. I buried my face into her panties and took a deep breath. So fucking sweet. I pulled her panties down slowly as I looked up at her. I could only see her shadow, but she was propped up on her elbows trying to watch me. I started to kiss her stomach, and then gently rubbed her breasts. They were so fucking soft, and I had to put those nipples in my mouth. Everything about her was sexy.
“Oh, Kash,” she whispered, as I flicked her nipple with my tongue, and she lifted her hips so that smooth pussy rubbed across me.
“Fuck,” I moaned, as my dick got harder. I started to kiss her neck, and then put her earlobe between my teeth, gently. I put my finger inside of her and listened to her moan.
“Do you know why I call you sweetie?” I asked, and I felt her shake her head.
“Because you are the sweetest fucking thing I’ve ever tasted. I crave that pussy every second of the day. Can I taste it? I need it,” I asked, already knowing the answer by the wetness soaking my fingers.
“Please, Kash,” she said, and bucked into my hand.
“Fuck yeah,” I whispered, as I crawled down her body and found the spot I needed. I wisped my tongue slowly on each side of her clit, basking in the taste. Then I licked her clit slowly and squeezed her ass cheeks.
“So fucking good,” I said into her pussy. I felt her grip the sheets on either side of my head before she moved them to my hair. She pulled it gently, and that just made me lick her harder and faster. I knew she was close, she was so fucking wet. I felt her clit get harder and I sucked on it gently.
She cried out loudly, and I felt her body shaking. Fuck. Yes. I wasn’t finished
tasting her when she grabbed my hair and pulled me away from her.
“I want you inside me, Kash. Now. Please,” she begged, as she pulled my hair closer to her face. I kissed her hard and reached over on the nightstand, trying to grab a condom out of my wallet without breaking away from her. I ripped it open as fast as I could and put it on, anxious to slide inside of her.
“I’ll be easy,” I whispered, not wanting to hurt her, sliding in and out of her gently.
“Harder, please,” she begged, as she grabbed my ass and pushed me deeper into her.
“Fuck, baby,” I said, as I thrust inside her, not wanting to hurt her, but refusing to deny her what she wanted.
I came quicker than I wanted to, but between her begging and that sweet pussy, it was fucking unavoidable.
I rolled over on my back and pulled her on top of me, not wanting to press all my weight on her. She kissed me gently on the lips and then nuzzled into my neck.
“Mornin’,” she said with a giggle.
“Mornin’,” I repeated.
We both must have fallen back to sleep, because the sun shining into the window woke me with a jerk that scared Mackenzie awake. Her brown eyes were wide and full of fear as she took in her surroundings. I squeezed her against me.
“Sorry,” I whispered. “I didn’t mean to scare you.”
“You didn’t,” she said, but I could feel her heart pounding through her chest against mine.
“Liar,” I whispered in her ear, and squeezed her ass. She looked a little more normal in the light, and that made me feel a little better. I kissed her lips and then stared into her eyes as I swept her hair away from them. The redness was finally gone and the purple dots had lightened up. She really did have the most beautiful eyes I had ever seen. They were big and brown, and most of the time they spoke more than her mouth ever did. My eyes gazed down to those perfect plump, pink lips. They were moist and begging to be tasted, as I ran the pad of my thumb over them. I looked down and the bruise on her neck was still noticeable, but I tried not to focus on it. It only pissed me off.
“Do I still look that bad?” She asked, breaking me from my trance.
“What, no, why?” I asked.
“You’re staring,” she said, and crinkled her eyebrows at me.
“You look beautiful,” I said, as I put my hand on her cheek and pressed my lips against hers. She immediately opened for me as I swept my tongue inside her mouth. My dick started to get hard, and I felt her grind into me, her pussy still wet from earlier. Fuck.
“Wait, I have to stop, for just a minute,” I said as I rolled her off of me, and couldn’t help but smile at the pouty look that she gave me. She was so fucking sexy, and she didn’t even realize it.
“I have to make a phone call,” I said, as I stood up and grabbed my boxers.
“Now?” she asked, as she rolled onto her side and snuggled against the pillow.
“I’ll be right back, hopefully with good news,” I said, as I held up my index finger and then jogged out of the room.
Once I got off the phone, I was excited and nervous. Things were changing, and it was all new to me. I wasn’t sure which feeling was stronger, until I walked back into her bedroom and saw her lying flat on her back, still naked, with her forearm covering her eyes from the sun, her other arm draped over her stomach, exposing that new tattoo that I had been waiting for her to show me. I first noticed it in the shower after the attack, but it wasn’t the right time to ask. I didn’t think she could get any hotter, but a little bit of ink on that body blew my fucking mind. My dick twitched just watching her lie there.
“Do you even know how fucking sexy you are?” I asked her, as I climbed back in bed and slid close enough to touch her. She started to giggle with her eyes still covered, and shook her head.
“I’m serious,” I said, and then rubbed my finger gently over the tattoo. “And this…holy fuck.”
“I meant to show you,” she said, as she uncovered her eyes and squinted a little.
“You like it?” she asked with a little smile.
“Oh yeah, I like,” I said, as I kissed her shoulder. She rolled over on her side to face me; she had a sad look in her eye.
“The swallow represents freedom; I guess I jumped the gun a little on that one, huh?” She gave me a weak little smile. Fuck, I hated what he did to her. I hated the way he made her feel.
“He won’t hurt you again,” I said, and scooted up against her, wrapping my arm around her waist.
“I wish I believed that,” she said, and looked down.
“Listen to me.” I grabbed her chin and forced her to look at me. “I won’t let him hurt you.” I would make damn sure that he never touched her again.
“You’re a good man, you know that?” she said, and then swept her lips across mine.
“I’m trying,” I said, honestly. Because I wanted to be a good man, for her. I had to be. I had never been very good at it, but she gave me a reason.
“So what was so important at the crack of dawn?” she asked, changing the subject.
“Oh, yeah, you laying here all naked and shit, I almost forgot,” I said, as I squeezed her ass. She just giggled and kissed my chest. It was the little things like that, that caused my stomach to do a flip that fucked with me. This would take some getting used to, but I liked it.
“I got a transfer,” I said.
“A transfer?” she asked.
“Yeah, well, I got a promotion, and I’ll be working at a rig about an hour from here, so I get to come home every day,” I said, watching her reaction.
“You got a promotion?” she said with a smile, but there was worry in her eyes.
“Yeah, but what’s wrong?” I asked. Her eyes always spoke volumes.
“Nothing, I’m happy for you.”
“Something’s wrong,” I said. She wasn’t going to keep this to herself.
She was quiet for a minute.
“Are you ready to be around me, every day? I don’t want you to get sick of me,” she said, quietly. “I know this is all new for you, Kash. I don’t want to mess this up.”
“You’re right, it is new for me. But I won’t get sick of you, I don’t think I could,” I said, as I moved her hair away from her face, so I could get a good look at her.
“Are you ready to be in a relationship with me, and live with me? Like, every day?” she asked. Well, damn, when she said it like that, it made me a little nervous. I hadn’t been in a relationship in years, and that ended completely fucked up. But Mackenzie was different than any other woman I had ever met. I knew she would never do me wrong, it wasn’t in her.
“It’s going to be different, sweetie, but I care about you,” I said. I hadn’t said anything close to that to anyone in a long time; it surprised me that it came out of my mouth. “I want this to work. Are you ready for it?” I asked.
“Kash, I’ve cared about you for a long time, long before I thought we could ever happen. I dreamt about you almost every night, hating my reality when I woke up. I’ve wanted you for so long, I’m ready. I just hope I’m enough for you.”
“You’re more than enough, Mackenzie,” I said, as I rolled her over on her back and hovered over her. “I hate that he fucking broke you down, and you feel like you’re not good enough. You,” I said, and then kissed her lips. “are fucking perfect.”
I watched as tears welled up in her eyes, and then closed them as a single tear fell down her cheek. I didn’t want her to cry. I wanted to see that smile. I needed her to be happy.
“You dreamt about me?” I asked, and there it was. A small smile.
“Was I naked?” I asked, and a huge grin came across her face, but her eyes were still closed.
“Well, I dreamt about you, too,” I said, surprising myself again for putting that shit out there.
“You did?” she opened her eyes and stared at me, with a look of surprise.
“Fuck yeah, I dreamt about you up against the wall, moaning my name,” I whispered into her ear.
“Oh God, Kash,” she said quietly.
“Just like that,” I whispered, as I started to kiss her neck.
How could I ever get sick of her? I couldn’t fucking get enough.
Chapter 23
“You’re up and at ‘em early,” Mackenzie said with a laugh, as she walked out of the bathroom Monday morning, ready for work. She had on more makeup than usual, trying to hide the bruises and skin discoloration, no doubt.
“I’m taking you to work,” I said, as I stood up and walked over to her.
“You don’t have to do…wait, I still have a flat,” she said, when it dawned on her.
“I’ll fix it today, but I want to take you anyway,” I said, as I wrapped my arms around her.
“No, you’ve done plenty. I’ll have one of those mobile people come fix it for me,” she said with a shrug.
“I’m fixing it, and I’m picking you up for lunch.”
“Thanks,” she said, as she hugged me.
“That’s what boyfriends are for.” I almost choked when the words came out of my fucking mouth. Mackenzie took a step back and looked at me with wide eyes.
“I know, I’m shocked, too,” I said, when she kept staring at me. But when that smile broke out on her face, I couldn’t help but kiss those lips.
“Well, I like the way it sounds,” she said, as she rubbed against me.
“None of that, if you plan on going to work,” I said, and had to back up a little.
“I can’t help it, my boyfriend is so fucking sexy,” she said, as she ran her hands through my hair, and then bit my bottom lip. She couldn’t say shit like that and not expect a reaction out of me.
“Well, my girlfriend is about to get bent over that bar,” I said, as I rubbed my hand between her thighs.
“Don’t tease me,” she said, with that sexy fucking look she didn’t even have to work at.
“I never tease,” I said, as I started backing her up until we were close to the bar, and I turned her around. I pulled her hair gently as a little moan escaped her throat.