by Hamel, B. B.
She stood and followed without a word. I led her into the kitchen and poured three glasses of whisky. She accepted her glass silently and stared at it. She leaned against the counter and stayed there as I took Simon his drink.
“Have some,” I said. “It’ll help what’s going to happen next.”
He groaned and threw the drink back. I nodded and went back into the kitchen.
Colleen stared at me and I could tell she was thinking about something.
“What happened back there?” I asked, my voice soft. “Did you know about someone on the roof?”
“No,” she said, her eyes wide. “I mean, I knew they did that sometimes. Something they learned from the IRA again. Provos used to hide on the roofs of buildings in the Catholic neighborhoods, snipers that would kill any Protestant that came down their streets. But I didn’t know—”
“Didn’t know?” I asked. “Or conveniently forgot?”
She stared at me, her mouth hanging open. “What the hell are you suggesting?”
I stepped up and stood right in her face. I forced my anger away and stared into her eyes.
“That was your idea,” I said. “You told me to go there. Did you know they’d have someone on the roof?”
“No,” she said, her lips drawn back in a sneer. “And maybe you should’ve gotten inside faster, or been a little quieter.”
I reached out and pinned her against the counter with my hands. I grabbed her wrists and held them down as she stared up at me. I released her right wrist and grabbed her hair hard, pulling her head back.
She gasped as I kissed her neck.
“Don’t lie to me,” I whispered.
“I’m not lying.” She stared at me, her eyes hard, her mouth hanging open. “I wouldn’t do that.”
“Wouldn’t betray me?” I asked. “I don’t see why not. You don’t owe me anything, do you?”
“I just… I wouldn’t.”
I pulled tighter and she groaned. I kissed up her neck and found her lips. I kissed her, hungry, angry, and I wanted to take that frustration out on her.
“I believe you,” I said, breaking off the kiss. “But don’t make me regret this.” I released her and stepped back.
She rubbed her wrist and glared at me. “You don’t have to be an asshole.”
I shook my head. “You don’t get it, do you? I’m not going to lose anyone else.”
“That doesn’t mean you get to be a bastard.” She turned away from me and sipped her drink. She finished half of it and put it down on the counter.
“Go upstairs,” I said, keeping my voice level. “When Chen gets here, I’m going to pay him up front. And then I’ll be up to see you.”
She turned and stared at me, mouth hanging open again.
“What are you talking about?”
“Go upstairs,” I said, speaking softly. “Go into my room and wait for me there.” I stepped close and touched her cheek with my palm.
She nuzzled against it for a moment and took a sharp breath before pulling herself together. She gave me a long look then turned and stormed off. She went upstairs and I watched her go before turning my gaze back to Simon.
Poor guy was pale as a sheet, but he’d be okay. The wound wasn’t too bad, and I knew Chen could take care of him.
My thoughts drifted back to that man on the roof and my beautiful Colleen.
I didn’t think she’d sell me out. It didn’t make any sense for her to do that. She could simply walk away and help her uncle whenever she wanted to, she didn’t need to stay in my house to fuck me over.
But then again, it might be easier that way.
I banished those thoughts and shook my head. I drank back my whisky and put the glass down on the kitchen table.
I wasn’t going down that path. Colleen didn’t betray me, and that was all I cared about.
We fucked up and walked into an ambush.
Let the Celtic Club think they won something over us. They could laugh all they fucking wanted.
Next time, I wasn’t going easy.
22
Colleen
I went upstairs just like he ordered, but I stopped in my room first. I rifled through the clothes he bought me until I found a lacy navy-blue bra and the matching panties. I hurried up to his room and shut the door behind me as I undressed.
I left my clothes in a pile on the floor. I put the bra on, pressing my breasts together, then pulled on the panties. I stood there nearly naked for a long moment before walking into his bathroom. I stared at myself in the mirror and bit my lip. I looked at the bandage on my shoulder, but left it where it was. I wanted him to see it, wanted him to remember why I was there, why we came together in the first place.
But that wasn’t the only place I wanted him to look.
I splashed water on my face then walked back to the bed. I sat at the end of it, leaning back on my hands, and tried to keep my heart from racing.
I couldn’t blame him for thinking I might’ve betrayed him.
It looked that way, at least. Hitting O’Hare’s was my idea, and before they could even get inside the building, someone was shooting at them. It looked a lot like I set them up.
But I didn’t. He wouldn’t believe me, I knew he wouldn’t, but I didn’t. I was tempted to tell my uncle about it, if only because that would’ve guaranteed my father would get released. But I couldn’t bring myself to do it, and when the time came to go out with him in that car, I went willingly.
And I hoped they’d find a bunch of Club assholes inside that bar and kill them all.
If I had told my uncle, I knew there would’ve been every single Club soldier at that bar. They would’ve made sure Steven got inside, and they would’ve made sure he never got back out again. But instead, there was a single lone sniper on the roof, and I think they always left him up there to watch over their little favorite spot.
Probably because my uncle had a lot of cash hidden inside.
I took deep breaths, trying to calm myself. I felt foolish and silly, and more than once I thought about getting up and pulling my clothes on.
But instead, I stayed on the bed, nearly naked.
Until I heard him come up the steps.
I sat up straight, chest out, heart hammering. He opened the door and the light from the hall spilled inside. He stood there for a moment, a brief flicker of surprise ghosted across his expression, before he shut the door behind him.
The room was lit by a single bedside lamp.
He walked to me and tilted his head.
“For me?” he asked, and his eyes moved up and down my body.
I opened my legs and leaned back on my hands.
“If you want,” I said.
He dropped to his knees in front of me. His hands moved up my thighs to my hips, then pulled me closer to him. He looked into my eyes and my heart beat so hard I thought I might pass out.
“You know what I want,” he said. His voice was low and thick, and I bit my lip hard enough to hurt.
“Why?” I asked. “Why do you… why do you want me?”
“Because.” He reached up and took my hair with his right hand. I let out a little moan and shut my eyes. His other hand moved down between my legs. “This is why,” he said. “And this.” He kissed my chest, then moved to my neck. “And this.” He kissed my neck, then my lips.
I kissed him back hard as his grip tightened in my hair. His other hand massaged between my legs and sent lightning bolts of pleasure up my spine. I moaned into his kiss, unable to help myself, and I wanted him so badly it hurt, it ached between my legs.
He released my hair and moved back. He stood and took a few steps back. I took deep, panting breaths, my mouth hanging open.
He began to unbutton his shirt.
“Stand up,” he said.
I stood slowly.
“Turn around,” he said. “Let me see you.”
I did a slow circle, up on my toes. His eyes stared at my ass and I loved the pure lust in his expression. He got hi
s shirt off, his muscular torso so gorgeous in the dim lamp light. He began to take off his belt and I stepped up to him, taking over. I dropped to my knees and unbuckled him, then unbuttoned the front. I pulled his zipper down and took off his trousers. He kicked them aside as I massaged his thick, hard cock over his briefs. I took them off next and sucked in a breath at the sight of his twitching, rock hard shaft.
I took him with both hands and sucked his cock. He growled a moan and held the back of my head, hand in my hair, pulling tight. He pushed me down along his shaft and I gagged as he slid into my throat. I pulled back, gasping, and stroked him faster with both hands. He pushed me down again, fucked my mouth, grunting with pleasure as he used my lips. He thrust deep again and this time I suppressed my gag, let him fuck my throat.
He pulled me back and kissed me. I moaned into that kiss as he lifted me by my hair and shoved me at the bed. He turned me around and slapped my ass hard before pulling off my panties like he was unwrapping a present.
I looked over my shoulder as he dropped to his knees and spread me wide. He licked me from behind, licked every inch of me, and my fingers curled into the comforter. I moaned as his tongue did its work, made me soaking wet, sent shivers of pleasure down my spine. I couldn’t help myself, I writhed and pushed back against his mouth, wanting more of his tongue, more of his body.
He pulled back and spanked my ass again before taking off my bra. I let it fall forward and pushed it onto the floor. He held me down, pinning me to the bed, my dripping wet pussy up in the air for him to do whatever he wanted.
First, he teased me with his fingers, sliding in and out as he held my hair tight.
“I dream about this pussy,” he said. “I wake up rock hard and stroke myself thinking about your tight, delicious, slick cunt wrapped around my shaft. And I know how fucked up it is. I know how you came into my life. But I don’t really care about any of that.”
“What do you care about?” I asked, then moaned as his slipped his fingers deep.
“I care about making you sweat,” he said and pulled his fingers back out. “I care about making you moan.” He pressed the tip of his cock against my aching, dripping pussy. “And I care about making you feel good.”
He pressed himself deep inside of me and I threw my head back in ecstasy.
I moaned his name as he fucked me. He pinned me down and took me, like an animal claiming his prize. He spanked my ass so hard I knew there’d be bruises and palm prints, and I wanted more. I wanted all of him, every inch of him, every ripped muscle of him. He slammed his cock against me and I bucked my hips back, working my body, sweat dripping off my skin.
All my fear, all my anxiety, it dripped away in layers. None of it matters, none if it clung to me anymore. As he fucked me, as he took me, I felt like it all melted and fell from me.
I let it all go. I let my anger disappear, I let my fear and my desperation disappear.
There was only Steven.
He kissed me over my shoulder, cock buried deep between my legs. He gripped my ass and fucked me raw and right. I worked my hips and slid along his shaft, moans escaping my lips in a loud, staccato rhythm. I couldn’t help myself, couldn’t stop it.
Pleasure bloomed all over my skin.
He thrust faster and let out a growl. His eyes were fire behind me when I looked back. He leaned forward, lips against my ear.
“Every inch of you,” he whispered.
“Steven,” I moaned. “Oh god. Every inch of me.”
“That’s right.” He thrust deep, filled me to the brim, held me there right on the precipice of pure pleasure. “All your agony and your pleasure, it’s all mine to do with what I will. You’ll give it to me, darling, I know you will, sure as you’re sweating there wrapped around my cock, sure as you’re moaning my name, sure as when this is through you’ll lie in my bed and dream about taking me again. Every, single, inch of you.”
I threw back my hair as he fucked me then, wild and without mercy. I couldn’t help the moans spilling from my lips. We worked together and the orgasm burst from between my legs in a massive spray of bliss as I took gasping, intense, gulping breaths to try and keep myself from passing out.
I fell forward, spent and overwhelmed.
But he wasn’t finished with me.
He turned me around, spread my legs, and took me more. He licked my nipples and palmed my breasts as he fucked me. He filled me, ripped into me, and I gasped his name again and again.
And just as I pressed my breasts together for him, he came deep inside my tight pussy. I felt him come, thick and heavy. I stared into his eyes and loved feeling him inside as he slowly slid himself out then collapsed onto the bed.
I snuggled up against him, and could still feel him between my legs.
He pulled me closer and held me tight. We stayed like that, quiet for a little while.
“You’ll stay tonight,” he said.
I nodded and kissed his chest. “Yeah,” I said. “I will.”
“Good.”
He kissed my lips and held me, and that night I fell asleep in his arms.
23
Colleen
I woke up in Steven’s bed, stretched my legs, and rolled onto my side. I reached out to touch his chest with a little smile on my lips.
And found an empty bed.
I sat up, confused for a moment, then saw the clock. It was after nine in the morning, and I’d never seen him sleep past seven since I’d been living with him.
I got up and slipped downstairs in just my bra and underwear. The house was quiet as I tiptoed into my room and shut the door. I washed my face, brushed my teeth, and changed into some clean clothes before heading out and down the steps.
The living room and kitchen were empty. I took a deep breath and stood next to the kitchen table. There was a note right in the center, written in black pen in neat blocky letters.
Colleen, got some errands to run. Hope you slept well. You’ll need your stamina when I get home. - S
I smiled a little and touched the paper. The thought of him writing that for me gave my stomach strange butterflies. I felt like a teenager again, like I had the hottest guy in the school crushing after me.
But I had to get ahold of myself.
I took sharp breaths and headed into the kitchen. There was coffee already in the pot and a Post-It note on the counter.
Fresh as of 8:30am. - S
I laughed to myself and poured a tall mug. I could get used to this note thing.
I lingered in the kitchen for a long moment, looking at the scratches in the cabinets, at the marks on the tile floor. I wondered how much of it he’d done himself, or if he bought this place like that. So much of his house felt empty, like he barely spent any time inside of it, like he barely inhabited it. But I could see so much potential.
And that thought scared me. The idea of settling down like this, settling into this life left me feeling unbalanced. I took my phone from my pocket and checked the screen. I shot off a quick text to Tracy, just so she knew I was still okay, and leaned up against the counter. I sipped my coffee and took deep, calming breaths.
I was starting to feel comfortable. I knew I shouldn’t, knew I should want to get away, but the more time I spent with Steven the more I wanted to keep seeing this thing through. I wanted to be around him, wanted to touch him and taste him, and I could feel myself slowly shifting away from the girl I used to be, turning into something entirely new.
I shook my head and ran my fingers along the granite counter. I sipped my coffee again then jumped as my phone started to ring. It vibrated loud, growling like an animal. I shook my head to calm myself and picked it up, figuring it would be Tracy following up on my texts.
Instead, it was my father’s number.
I answered the call.
“Hello?”
“Hello, niece.”
My uncle’s voice sent a shiver down my spine. My fingers curled into the counter top so hard the knuckles turned white.
“Wh
at do you want?” I asked.
“Same thing I wanted last time.” He sounded like he was on the verge of laughing. “I want information, Colleen. I want something to use against your little boyfriend. He is still alive, isn’t it?”
“He’s fine,” I said.
“Didn’t seem fine. My boy Mikey told me he showed up to O’Hare’s last night. Mikey shot his friend, didn’t he?”
I clenched my jaw and didn’t speak.
“That’s okay,” Uncle Mathis said. “Oh, don’t you worry about that. I don’t mind that you didn’t give me a heads up about your boyfriend’s plans. I know this is difficult for you, deciding to betray him and everything. But I’ll tell you, my niece, if you do decide to side with your family, things will go very easy from here on out.”
“I’m not betraying anyone,” I said. I pushed myself away from the counter top and paced down the length of the house, toward the front door. “I know what game you’re playing, Uncle Mathis. And I’m not a part of it. My father’s not a part of it. Just let him go and fight your own war.”
“But Colleen, you are a part of it,” he said. “You’re staying at that man’s house. Mikey saw you last night in the car, he had a shot on you, lined right up to your pretty little face but he didn’t take it. He decided to spare you, because I told my men not to hurt you.”
“I didn’t ask you to do that,” I said.
“Would you have preferred if he shot you?”
“No,” I said.
“Colleen, I take care of my family.”
I turned my back on the door, completing one full house length, and turned to head back to the kitchen.
“You don’t,” I said. “You kidnap them. You hurt them. I’m not your pawn.”
“But you’re that Italian fuck’s pawn?” he asked.
“I’m nobody’s tool.” I clenched my jaw and stood next to the table, my ears ringing. “And he’s not using me. I don’t have to help him and I can leave whenever I want. I’m choosing to be here, Uncle Mathis.”
“Then choose to betray him,” he said. “Choose to turn your back on that man and help your family. We’re family, remember, Colleen?”