Freedom

by KC Kean

  Stumbling back slightly, my hip hits the edge of my desk, and I blindly lean against it, pulling her in between my legs.

  “I can’t fucking deal with you all. Consuming my mind, my soul. All I want to do is protect everyone, and save myself anymore heartache. Yet, one day of seeing you and Aid has me forgetting everything I decided. Lord fucking help me after seeing West last night,” she complains against my lips before sinking her teeth into them and kissing the sting away.

  “Petal, this is how we are meant to be, together. We will figure the rest of the shit out. I thought you would have more faith in us than that,” I respond, bringing my forehead to hers as I look into her eyes.

  Nose to nose, with her eyes closed, she grips the back of my neck as I watch her eyes flicker behind her lids, emotions at war inside her mind.

  “I’m scared, Maverick. I can handle the fear my mother gives me, but the unknown with you guys, after everything at the warehouse too, I don’t know how to handle that.”

  “Then we figure it out together, petal, as a team. You are much stronger than you give yourself credit for.”

  I stroke my hand gently up and down her back as she finally opens her eyes. “Since when are you all-wise and calming?”

  “It’s my old age,” I respond, getting the glimpse of a smile I was after.

  “Stop.” She playfully whacks my chest to chastise me, and I grin down at her. My soul has never felt so calm after an emotional breakdown like I did back in that basement with Frankie. She is everything I need to be content.

  “Don’t give up on me, Jessica, please.” I can’t keep the emotion from my voice as it grows thick and gravelly.

  “I can’t seem to quit you, no matter how hard I try,” she returns, bringing her lips back to mine. “I need you, Maverick, please.”

  Fuck. “Not here, petal.”

  “Yes, here, I feel lost, and I need you to ground me.”

  How the hell can I argue with that?

  “Are you sure you’re fit—”

  “Shut the fuck up, Maverick,” she grunts, lifting the hem of my t-shirt over my head. Holy fuck, giving Jessica control is like pouring gas on an open flame. It looks sexy as hell on her.

  Bringing her mouth to my chest, she peppers me with kisses, and my skin prickles beneath her touch, Goosebumps creating a path where she touches.

  Removing her t-shirt, just as she did mine, I cup her face and crush my mouth to hers again, needing everything from her. Pulling the straps of her sports bra down, I reveal her breasts, leaving the bra around her waist as I kiss down her neck, pulling her nipple into my mouth.

  The moan that escapes her lips has my cock straining in my shorts, itching to be closer to her. The feel of her fingers running through my hair only enhances my need for her.

  My fingers find the waistband of her leggings and slowly pull them down. Pulling her lips from mine, Jessica steps back to speed the process up, clearly unhappy with the pace I’m going at. I sit frozen in place, my hand squeezing my cock to ease some of the pressure as I watch her undress.

  My eyes cover every inch of her body, noting every bruise as I take her in. Stepping in between my legs again, I grab her by the waist and spin us around so she can lay on the desk. I knock my laptop to the floor, and the photo frame I only just added along with it.

  She gasps at the cool touch of the wood against her skin, and I bring my lips to the bruises at her wrists. Wordlessly I move from one to another, trying to override the pain with a sweet touch instead.

  “Maverick, please,” she begs, and just as I brush my tongue against her clit, her fingers grip tightly in my hair. “No, I want to feel you stretch me.”

  “I’m not going to hurt you by doing that, petal. Let me make sure you’re ready.”

  She rolls her eyes at me, wrapping her other hand around my aching cock, and brings it to her entrance. I can tell she’s slick already as the tip of my cock feels how wet she is.

  “Fuck, Jess,” I moan, and I note the surprise in her eyes as I call her the shortened version of her name everyone else uses, except me.

  “Please, please.”

  Her legs wrap around my waist, nudging my dick deeper inside her pussy, and it feels like heaven. I work myself in and out slowly, stretching her a little more each time until I’m seated deep inside her, and her mouth hangs open with a silent moan.

  I give her a moment to adjust, and she pulls my head closer to hers, so I’m hovering above her. “Do you remember when you looked down at me like this, in the medical center after The Pyramid?”

  “I wanted to kiss you so badly,” I answer honestly, liking how I feel safer than I expected to be a little more vulnerable with her.

  “I know you did.” She kisses the corner of my lip, her pussy clenching around my cock, and I rock slowly to make sure she is okay. “Condom,” she shouts, pausing as she looks up at me, remembering my breakdown at the fight club.

  “You think I’m going to put a barrier between us now, petal?” I ask, pulling out slowly before hammering hard and fast back inside her, and she groans, long and husky. “You. Are. Mine,” I continue, driving each word home with a thrust of my dick.

  “Mav-Maverick, please.” Fuck, I love it when she begs. Sweat lines my brow as I try to keep control of my orgasm. I’ve missed her, and I never expected this today, so I feel like a fucking horny teenager.

  “Maybe I should plant my seed inside of you, then you won’t leave,” I growl, but it shocks me when her pussy tightens around my cock at my words instead of frightening her away, as the words spout from my mouth uncontrollably.

  My thumb barely caresses her clit before she’s screaming out. Her head throws back, her fingers digging into my neck as wave after wave of pleasure crashes through her body. I can’t stop myself from rutting into her like a damn animal as my movements become short and jerky, and I follow her off the cliff.

  Every muscle in my body lights on fire as my orgasm explodes through my body, and my cum fills her, just like I wanted.

  Laying beneath me, her red hair wild around her face as she tries to catch her breath. She’s never looked so beautiful.

  Mine.

  Slowly pulling from her body, I use my discarded t-shirt to clean myself and offer it to Jessica since there is nothing else in here.

  We silently dress, and she picks my laptop up off the floor along with the frame. I wrap my arms around her from behind, kissing her neck as she stares at the frame in her hand.

  “This is new,” she whispers, and I nod against her, unable to find my words.

  The frame holds two photos. She knows one of them, she ought to, it’s her. It’s a photo of her at the Halloween party dressed as an alien that Aiden took and sent to the group chat. The other is a story for another day.

  “It’s my mother, petal.”

  She nods in response, not pushing for more, knowing I will divulge more information when I’m ready.

  “Where do we go from here?” She asks, changing the subject, and I kiss her temple.

  “Wherever we have to, Jessica. Just as a team because we will defeat everyone that stands in our way. But you have to talk with West properly. I disagree with the shit he pulled, but I think he had his reasons, and last night he would not shut up about how much hope he has even after you left.”

  She remains silent for a moment before whispering, “I still fear what my mother will do, Maverick.”

  Turning her to face me, I look her dead in the eyes, determination filling every inch of my body. I refuse to let other fuckers dictate my happiness, especially now I’m feeling it for the first time.

  “You should be more afraid of what I’m willing to do to keep you.”

  West

  Running the cloth along my motorcycle for the millionth time, I do it again, on repeat, wiping away the invisible dirt as I polish every inch of Holly the Honda.

  I convinced Rafe to move it over to Ace before he left this morning. Especially since they’ve convinced me to st
ay in the Morgan room while I’m still not one hundred percent. Maverick said he would join me. Apparently, he’s a good Florence Nightingale. I have a feeling Aiden won’t be far behind too.

  It’s crazy how Jess has drawn the three of us together, and now we can’t seem to stop.

  Most nights, we have sat in silence, trying to find a way to bring her back to us, but the obstacles in our way are making it pretty difficult, and I am sick to death of other people’s opinions.

  If Rafe tells me to be patient one more time, I might pull my shotgun on him, but he’ll just roll his fucking eyes at me. We all know where Luna got it from.

  My problem is that I’m too nice and understanding. I need to be a little more like Maverick and steamroll her into submission.

  My hands are black and covered in oil from tinkering with the bike, but when Aiden messaged to say Oscar gave him his seat in Science so he could be beside Jess, I had to occupy my mind. Otherwise, I’d have stormed their Science class and demanded her attention.

  Swiping a hand down my face, I sigh, my eyes flickering to my phone that I purposely placed on the other side of the garage, so I didn’t stare at it, waiting for updates. I know after lunch Jess has Combat, and I was starting to get a little jealous that I wasn’t magically on her schedule.

  She looked stunning last night, my bright sunshine as always.

  I hear my phone vibrate against the countertop again, and I lose my restraint as I climb to my feet and try to wipe the grease from my hands on my jeans. Twenty-two unread messages flash across the screen. Eighteen from the group chat I have with Maverick and Aiden, three from Rafe, and one from Jess.

  I rush to click on her name, my heart pounding in my chest as I prepare for whatever may come up on the screen, and I almost stop breathing as I read her message. My eyes scan the words numerous times to make sure I’m reading it correctly.

  Jess: Hey. Maverick convinced me to listen. I’ll be free after four if that works for you?

  Works for me? She could call at midnight, and it would still be the perfect time for me.

  What time is it? Shit. It’s almost four now, and she sent the message nearly an hour ago. Sending a quick message back, confirming I’ll be there at four, I start to panic.

  All of a sudden, everything I’ve wanted to say to her, that’s been running through my mind on repeat, is forgotten.

  I’m filthy, but I’d rather turn up dirty than keep her waiting.

  Phone in hand, I rush for the door, deciding to glance at the group chat. Hopefully, they’ll have more details for me since I purposely kept myself out of the loop on the worst fucking day possible.

  Aiden: My hand is currently on Jess’s leg. Just saying.

  Aiden: I’m also just saying that I just chipped her armor. I know it.

  Aiden: Why does it hurt so much to not be at her side every second of the day?

  Aiden: I swear to god Maverick, be fucking nice to her in Combat, we do not need your grumpy tendencies to fuck this up any more than it already is!

  How the hell do we even cope with this guy? But the fact he got to touch her fills me with hope. I crave her more than my next breath.

  Stepping into the hall, the lobby seems quiet as I cut through to head for the stairs. At least Rafe isn’t sitting guard again. Glancing back down at my phone, I see what else has been going on.

  Maverick: West, you fucking owe me man.

  Aiden: What’s going on? What happened in Combat?

  Maverick: Nothing happened in Combat.

  Maverick: But my office on the other hand…

  Aiden: What does that mean?

  Aiden: ??

  Aiden: MAVERICK!

  I nearly tripped up a step, so focused on the chat instead of where I’m walking.

  Maverick: I was considerate, and she asked me where her Maverick was instead.

  Aiden: And??

  Aiden: Maverick don’t make me fucking call!

  Aiden: West. Tell. Him.

  Maverick: And I gave her exactly what she asked for.

  Maverick: Expect a text from her West. She’s willing to listen.

  Aiden: You are so fucking shady with details Maverick. That’s not enough.

  We are all so crazy over her. It should be embarrassing, but it isn’t. I love it.

  Me: I’m on my way to her now.

  Aiden: I’ll send a caramel Frappuccino. Let’s face it, you’re going to need all the bonus points you can get.

  Rolling my eyes, I click out of the chat, I press on Rafe’s name as I arrive on her floor.

  Rafe: You better be well rested, and ready for the conversation you’re about to have.

  Rafe: Don’t fuck it up.

  Rafe: Or you get shit jobs for the rest of your life motherfucker.

  If I knew how to send a middle finger emoji, I would. Asshole. Pocketing my phone, I wipe my hands again before taking a deep breath and knocking on her door.

  It feels like an eternity as silence surrounds me. Using the hem of my t-shirt, I swipe at the sweat and grease from my face, but it does very little — a click of the lock and a gush of a breeze. I drop my t-shirt just as my sunshine opens the door, and I don’t miss the way her eyes linger on my now covered abs.

  There’s my girl.

  Jess

  “You’ve got this, Red,” Luna says on the phone.

  The second she stepped into the changing rooms after her Combat class, she knew what I’d been up to. Waggling her eyebrows at me, I cringe with embarrassment, but I was thankful she didn’t start quizzing me for details. Although, I could tell she wanted to.

  Running my fingers through my curled hair, I paced the floor in front of my coffee table. I’d texted West on the drive back from Combat, with Luna’s encouragement, but he had only just messaged me back, and I was suddenly nervous.

  “I know. Thanks, Luna, it helps to be able to talk to you.”

  “Damn right it does. But you better make him sweat, Red. More than you did Maverick at least, or well, in a different way.”

  Her words make me blush, and I shake my head at her even though she can’t see. “I’m going now,” I respond, ending the call before she says anything else or the Aces get involved.

  As I place my phone on the coffee table, it vibrates again, this time my mother’s name flashing across the screen, but a knock sounds at the door at the same time, and my mouth instantly goes dry.

  I don’t have time to recheck myself in the mirror before I go to the door, and I don’t understand why I’m so nervous. Pushing my mother to the back of my mind, I open the door, stunned into silence as I watch the hem of West’s t-shirt fall to his waist, offering me the briefest glimpse of his chiseled abs, and I’m close to drooling.

  “Hey, sunshine,” he murmurs, finally breaking the silence, and I force myself to lift my gaze to his.

  “Hi.” I can’t remember what we’re supposed to be doing here, but I step back and lift my hand in the air, encouraging him inside. “How are you feeling?”

  “Much better than I probably should if I’m honest. The occasional headache and a couple of bruises left, but otherwise, I’m fine.” The soft smile he offers melts my heart as I close the door, and he keeps his eyes on me.

  “You look gorgeous as always,” he says, his eyes trailing over my wooly sweater and leggings, topped off by my fluffy lounge socks, and I shake my head at him.

  “You look…” What on earth is the black stuff smeared all over his face and arms? And how the hell does he look so hot when he’s so dirty? “Hot as hell,” I blurt out. My filter is long forgotten as he grins at me.

  “I was downstairs tinkering with Holly when I saw your message.”

  “Holly?” I ask with a frown, and he instantly panics.

  “Oh my god, sorry. Holly is my motorcycle, Holly the Honda Blackbird. I didn’t— I mean—”

  I can’t stop the bubble of laughter that bursts past my lips, and West’s shoulders instantly relax.

  “Do you want to get
cleaned up?”

  “I didn’t want to keep you waiting,” he responds, glancing down at himself.

  “It’s totally cool. You can shower here if you want. You still have a few pieces of clothes here anyway.” I walk towards my bedroom, glancing over my shoulder at him as he follows.

  “Well, I’m glad you didn’t burn everything connected to me,” he mumbles, and it’s my soul that burns. I hate how selfish I was, only considering my own feelings as I left them to just get over it, but I honestly didn’t believe the impact I would have on them.

  “It all hurts, West, because I care a lot. I’m not the kind of person to seek revenge,” I respond honestly, and I watch as he reaches his arm out to touch me but quickly retreats, not knowing what’s best.

  Quickly grabbing a pair of his shorts from the spare drawer in my closet, I only see a few t-shirts that are Maverick’s and Aiden’s, and that’s when I remember what I wore to bed last night.

  Shit.

  Stepping back into my bedroom, my eyes frantically searching around, I find West standing by my bed with his crumpled t-shirt in hand. After seeing him lay in that hospital bed, I wanted to feel close to him.

  “I, uh…”

  Without a word, he keeps hold of the t-shirt and takes the shorts from my hand, placing the smallest of kisses on the crown of my head as he does. Any worry lines he had earlier now gone since he knows I was missing him.

  “I’ll be two minutes, sunshine. Listen for the door. Aiden is sending a caramel Frappuccino thingy for you.” I stare after him as he heads for the bathroom as I process his words.

  “Why is he doing that?”

  “Because he said it would get me brownie points,” he responds with a wink before leaving the bathroom door slightly open and turns the shower on.

  Well, he’s not wrong.

  Like magic, a knock sounds at the door again, and when I open it, I find a cup holder with two drinks sitting on the floor outside of my room. Checking the corridor, I don’t see anyone.

  Quickly grabbing the sweet goodness, I kick the door shut behind me and place the other drink on the coffee table, watching as a voicemail notification flashes across the screen from my mother.