“Gonna fuck you harder than you’ve probably ever been fucked before. You good with that?”
Drawing her lip between her teeth, she nods and a second later her tight pussy is hugging my cock. I try to slow myself down but again, I’ve lost all sense and all control. Taking both her hands, I pin them over her head as I pound into her, rotating my hips with every long thrust. Her blue eyes peer up at me and the noises our bodies make as they come together fade. The line we drew between us so long ago is obliterated and for the first time since I walked into the tavern, it hits me that I’m fucking the only girl I’ve ever respected in my life.
“Harder,” she demands. “You can’t break me.”
Swallowing, I release her hands and thread my fingers through her hair. Pulling the ends, I dip my head and kiss her. My pace quickens and every stroke of my cock becomes harder. She cries out, chanting my name over and over and I swear there is not a better sound in the whole damn world.
One night.
One girl
Such a mistake.
After tonight I’ll see Bess in every woman that comes my way.
I’ll hear her voice.
I’ll feel her touch.
I’ll wish they were all her.
Chapter Nine
“A re you hungry?” Bess asks, her head tucked tightly into the crook of my arm. She draws circles on my abdomen with her index finger as I gently stroke the length of her arm. Two rounds and the itch ain’t even close to being scratched. A man could die happy in Bess’ bed, especially if he’s in her bed and between her legs. I should’ve known it would be pure fire between us. The most forbidden things usually are.
“Ryan?” she questions again, lifting her head from my arm. Before I can answer her, she pulls out of my arms and sits up.
“Whoa,” I say, reaching out for her hand to pull her back. She’s quicker than me, though, and escapes my hold, throwing her legs over the side of the bed. She stands and I’m treated to the most magnificent view of her ass as she bends over.
“What are you doing? Where are you going?” I ask, rolling on my side as she searches the floor for something. My hand moves to my cock and I wrap my fist around the length of it as that ass continues to taunt me.
She straightens up and turns to me with her ripped panties dangling from her finger.
“I guess I won’t be putting these back on,” she says cheekily, flinging them at my face.
Releasing my cock, I take the panties from my face and begrudgingly set them aside. I watch as she moves towards her dresser and pulls open the drawer. Rummaging through it, she pulls out a pair of panties and a tank top.
“Why are you putting clothes on?”
“Apparently, I’ve worked up an appetite and I don’t make a habit of eating without clothes.”
“That’s a shame,” I mutter. She turns to face me and pauses. Clutching the panties and tank top in her hand, she cocks her head to the side and pulls her bottom lip between her teeth. It’s something I’ve seen her do countless times when we were younger and a sure sign something is weighing on her mind, something being us and the fact that we’ve just fucked like champs. I’d be lying if I told you somewhere in the back of my head I wasn’t panicking too. After all, Bess isn’t just some random chick I picked up in a bar. She’s the girl I grew up with. The one person that truly knows Ryan Perry and yet I’m still not willing to walk away. Not yet anyway. We still got a couple of more hours until the sun comes up and I got at least another round in me.
“Quit thinking of all the reasons we shouldn’t be doing this,” I scold as I sit up and throw the sheets off my legs. Her eyes drift down to my semi-hard cock and up again. A blush tints her cheeks as she opens her mouth, but no words come out. Shaking her head, she runs her fingers roughly through her hair before pulling on the skimpy pair of panties.
“Bess,” I call as I climb out of the bed.
“What’s done is done, Ryan, there is no point in arguing over whether or not this was a bad idea.”
“I’m not finished with you yet,” I say, grabbing my boxers from the floor. Stepping into them, I quickly pull them up my legs. When the waistband snaps against my skin, I turn to her and watch as she wrestles the tank top over her head.
“Bess, come on, stop.”
Her head pushes through the neckline and her eyes snap to mine.
“Stop what? You’re the one making a big deal of things. All I said was that I’m hungry.”
“I ain’t some stranger you picked up in a bar, Bess,” I reply, my tone harsh and unapologetic. “You forget I know you. I know every fucking expression you make. I know when you’re worried, when you’re panicking and now, I know what you look like when you’re on the edge of ecstasy.”
“You know the old me,” she spits. “I’m not the same girl I used to be, and you might as well be a stranger I picked up in a bar because you’re nothing like the Ryan I remember. Tonight was a mistake…a lapse in judgement. You’re grieving your father and…it doesn’t matter. Let’s just forget it happened.”
Maybe she’s right. Maybe I should cut my losses and get the fuck out of dodge. It’s not like this can go anywhere. Hell, I don’t even want it to, but my mouth betrays my mind and blurts, “What do you want to know?”
Her eyebrows pinch together, and confusion mars her pretty features.
“Excuse me?”
Deciding I’ve already dug my own grave, I drop one foot into it and take a step closer to her. Spreading my arms wide.
“My life is an open book. You say you don’t know the man I am now, well, let me introduce you to the bastard. After I left Texas, I traveled from one state to the next, searching for some place that felt right. Somewhere I could be me without the weight of any pretentious bullshit dragging me down.”
“So that’s what I was to you? Some piece of pretentious bullshit?”
“I didn’t say that.”
“You didn’t have to!”
I laugh at the absurdity of her assumption. My accident left me in a dark place. Sure, I recovered but I still lost a piece of me that I’ll never get back. It made me bitter and angry at the whole fucking world. Self-depreciation became my friend and rebellion became my purpose. I had one good thing in my life and that was Bess. If I stuck around, I knew I not only would ruin the friendship we had, but I’d destroy her too.
“You were the only thing I didn’t want to escape.”
“Apparently this version of you is a liar.”
“It’s the fucking truth but I knew if I stayed, I’d shit all over our friendship.”
“So leaving without so much as a goodbye was a better option?”
“It was the only fucking option, Bess. Look at you, you’ve got your shit together. You went to college, scored the job of your dreams and judging by the fancy threads, you make bank. I ended up being a tattoo artist with a rap sheet who can barely function as a fucking parent. If I had stuck around, I would’ve taken you down with me.”
“You don’t know that. Our lives--”
“Our lives were never meant to be on the same course,” I interject. “We were thick as thieves, Bess. For fucks sake we used to finish each other’s sentences. I would’ve tainted your dreams just because I could…because I’m an asshole who destroys everything. That’s not friendship.”
“Maybe my life didn’t turn out as great as you think it did.”
“It’s a better life than you would’ve had if I stuck around, that much I can guarantee.”
Her shoulders slump as she turns her head. Focusing on anything but me, she speaks softly.
“What happened with Ashlynn’s mom?”
Grinding my molars, I cross my arms against my chest and force the words out.
“She took off after she was born.”
It still stings and not because I give a fuck about Tori but because Ashlynn needed a mother. Granted she wouldn’t exactly have hit the jackpot with Tori, but she wouldn’t feel abandoned. She wouldn’t wonder
why she wasn’t enough for her mother. She’d be spared the burden of feeling unloved. Un-fucking-wanted. I guess that’s karma for you. Tori never felt love from me and in turn she didn’t love our daughter.
“She’s a sweet kid, Ryan,” she murmurs, bringing her eyes back to mine. “For what it’s worth, I don’t think you ruined her.”
“There’s still time,” I mutter, uncrossing my arms. Uncomfortable with the admission, I scratch my jaw as Bess sighs and takes a step closer to me.
“She looks like you, you know?”
I meet her gaze. A lump gets lodged in my throat just as it normally does when it comes to Ashlynn and I force myself to swallow.
“Poor kid.”
Bess gives me a slight smile and shakes her head.
“Never could take a compliment.”
“Not really my style,” I agree. Reaching out, I tuck a wayward strand of her dark hair behind her ear. “You’re still the prettiest girl in all of Texas.”
“Ah, there’s the smooth talker I remember,” she teases, winding her arms around my neck. “Maybe there’s a little piece of Ryan Perry lingering under all the leather.”
“Wanna find out?” I question, dropping my hands to her hips. In one swift move, I jerk her body against mine. She squeals in protest, but I lift her over my shoulder and quickly turn towards the bed. Dropping her lithe body on the mattress, I watch as her tits bounce beneath the thin tank top as I climb over her.
“I told you I’m hungry.”
“Funny, so am I,” I growl, spreading her legs wide.
“Ryan…”
Whatever else she planned on saying dies on her tongue once mine meets the scrap of lace covering her pussy. Her hands move to my hair and her hips arch off the bed as a moan slips past her lips.
“Fine,” she hisses. “One more time but then you gotta go.”
Chapter Ten
I n case I forgot Bess wasn’t full of shit, she made it clear after another orgasm when she kicked me out of her bed. In fact, my cock was still hard and covered with the remnants of what we had spent the better part of four hours doing, when she threw my pants at me and ordered me to go home. Angry, I started to argue with her, but I quickly realized there was no point. The longer I stayed in her bed, the harder it would be to push her out of my mind once I got back home.
She did everything in her power to avoid me at the funeral and when our meddling mothers asked what happened the night before, she changed the subject. I finally got her alone at the repass and wouldn’t you know, I fucked that up too because I had no idea what to say to her. When I remained silent, she laughed in my face and patted my arm dismissively.
“It was good and now it’s over,” she said. “There’s nothing left to say, Ryan.”
A month later those words still ring loudly in my ears. I still think about that night and when I wrap my hand around my dick, it’s her haunting blue eyes I picture. Foolishly I let myself believe I’d regret not making the most of that night. I believed I needed to know what she felt like in my arms. I had no idea I was setting myself up for more regrets. You see, when I’m not reliving the memory of her naked and writhing beneath me, I’m thinking about all the things I didn’t ask. All the things I didn’t say. For the first half of my life, Bess was the person I told everything too. She was who I ran to when my folks gave me shit. The girl who knew all my fears, dreams and secrets. It wasn’t one sided though. I knew everything about her too. All her desires and every wish.
Sadly, who we were is nothing like who we are. I’m a miserable fuck and she’s haunted by something too. What that something is, I don’t know, and I probably never will.
“Daddy, can I talk to you?” Ashlynn asks, pulling me away from my thoughts.
I’ve made more of an effort to be closer to Ashlynn since Texas. I’m not in the running for father of the year, but after I picked her up from gymnastics tonight, I took her for ice cream. Progress.
“What’s up?”
“I think I miss Texas,” she whispers, surprising me.
I pause the movie we’re watching and turn to her.
“You think?” I question.
“I know we were there because grandpa died but I liked spending time with grandma and I really liked riding the horse,” she admits shyly.
Sighing, I run my fingers over my beard and replay my mother’s offer to have Ashlynn stay with her for the summer. I’m not a fan of the idea, but I also don’t want to begrudge my daughter. I’m about to reveal my mother’s offer to Ashlynn when my phone rings.
“Give me a second,” I tell her, accepting the call without bothering to look at the screen, “Hello?”
“Ryan?”
My body goes still at the sound of Bess’ voice.
Smooth as whiskey.
Sweet as honey.
A hint of fiery.
All fucking Bess.
“You there Ryan?”
Our drunken night together flashes before my eyes and I have to shake the thoughts from my head before I embarrass myself in front of my daughter.
“Look, I’m sorry I’m calling. I know—”
“Quit apologizing. I’m glad you called.”
Covering the phone with my hand, I look at Ashlynn.
“I need to take this, baby, but when I’m done, we’ll talk about Texas. I think I might have a solution you want to hear.”
Her eyes light up and I wink at her as I push off the couch and move towards the kitchen.
“Sorry ‘bout that,” I say once I’m alone. “It’s good to hear your voice.”
“I’m not calling to catch up. I’m breaking all sorts of rules by doing this, but I just can’t let this slide.”
Those words get my attention and I narrow my eyes curiously, wondering what the fuck she could be calling for.
“What the fuck’s going on, Bess? Lay it on me straight.”
“Your mom is in trouble, Ryan.”
Not comprehending how my grieving mother could be in any kind of trouble, I laugh.
“What’d she do piss off the neighborhood watch?”
“This isn’t funny,” she hisses angrily. “You need to come home before the shit it’s the fan.”
My humor flees at the severity of her tone.
“Talk,” I demand.
“This could cost me my job, Ryan!”
That made me scoff.
“Who you bullshitting, babe?” I may not have allowed myself to grill Bess about her life, but that didn’t mean I didn’t do some digging the night before I left. “You work for your old man. No way would he fire your ass.”
Her voice dropped low. “For this he would.”
Sighing, I scratch roughly at my beard.
“If you ain’t going to tell me what’s going on, I’m hanging up. But seeing as you broke down and called me, I’m going to go out on a limb here and say something is eating at you. I can’t help you or my mother without details.”
If Ashlynn wasn’t in the picture, I might’ve entertained her and dropped everything to fly home, but that isn’t an option and Bess knows that.
“Your mom asked dad to come over tonight to rework her will.”
“So, what’s the harm in that? Isn’t that routine considering my father just passed a month ago?”
“Would you let me continue? That wasn’t all she wanted to do. She cut you and Ashlynn out of the will. For God’s sake she even signed over the damn house.”
None of what she’s saying makes sense. Sure, I’m not my mother’s favorite person, but we didn’t leave off on bad terms when I left. She calls more frequently than she did before and just yesterday she was asking me to reconsider the summer trip for Ashlynn.
“Did you hear me? She signed the house over to Pastor Godfrey.
“The fucking pastor?”
“Yes, the one who performed your dad’s service. I knew there was something off with him. I just never imagined he was a fucking conman.” she pauses. “Shit. God forgive me.”
> My jaw ticks as I ball my free hand into a fist. I have to fight the urge to slam my knuckles against the wall as Bess continues to fill me in.
“He’s only been in town about eight months. I’m not even certain he is a real preacher, but he’s got a following your mother seems to be his biggest supporter. I can’t get involved and honestly, I don’t even know where I’d start. I don’t think she’s doing it to be malicious either. She keeps talking about how she asked you to send Ashlynn to visit her over the summer.”
“Fuck that. I ain’t sending her there now. Not without me. Did she sign any papers?”
“Not yet, but she asked my father to draw them up as soon as possible.”
“I can’t just hop on a plane. I already took Ashlynn out of school for the funeral. I need you to stall your old man with those papers while I figure out some shit here. I’ll be there by the end of the week.”
“Ryan—”
“Bess, my life is complicated as shit. That’s the best I can do.”
The line goes silent and for a minute I wonder if she hung up on me. Then she clears her throat and her tone goes soft.
“Need me to book your flight?”
“You being nice to me, ice princess?”
“No,” she deadpans. “You don’t strike me as a world traveler.”
“I’m not a moron, babe. I can book a flight.”
“Fine.”
“Thanks for calling.”
“Just make it right, Ryan. I’d hate for your mother to lose everything.”
I don’t make any promises. Especially because I got a feeling I’m walking into a shitstorm. We say our goodbyes and quickly hang up. My fist collides with the wall and I mutter a curse. That’s when I spy Ashlynn out of the corner of my eye. What the fuck am I going to do? I can’t pull her out of school for this and I wouldn’t want to drag her down there not knowing what I was getting into. Her safety is most important.
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