Justus (In Safe Hands Book 3)

by S. M. Shade

  “Really?” Amber’s eyebrow lifts. “I would’ve thought you worked a more…physical job.”

  Laughing at the mortified look on Sadie’s face, I reply, “No, but I like to work out. I spend a lot of time in the gym.”

  Sadie changes the subject, and they chat for a bit before we hear the back door slam and a car start. “So, I don’t suppose he’s going to work?” Sadie asks, glancing down the hall.

  Amber shakes her head, her expression dour. “No, I’ve been after him to get a job. I’ve tried to tell him I won’t be around forever, but you know how he is.”

  “I don’t suppose throwing him out on his ass is an option?”

  “I can’t do it. He’s still my son. Someday when you have kids, you’ll understand.” She looks from Sadie to me then back again. “You do want kids don’t you?”

  Sadie snorts. “Slow down, Mom. We haven’t been together that long.”

  “Nonsense. Nine months is more than enough time. Lord, your kids would be gorgeous.”

  “If they take after Sadie,” I agree, slipping my hand into hers. Her mother nearly melts on the spot.

  “Why don’t you show him where you’ll be sleeping? I’m sorry, but I really do need a little nap. I get tired so easily.”

  Sadie gets to her feet and hugs her mother again. “Go get some rest. After we’re settled, I want to show Justus around town a little, and then I’ll make a lasagna for dinner tonight.”

  Amber’s face lights up. “That sounds fantastic. And we’re all going for a spa day tomorrow. Don’t forget.”

  Sadie leads me upstairs, and down a hall, stopping at the last room. “This was my room growing up. The other bedroom is being used for storage, so I guess we’re sharing.”

  “Where’s your brother’s room?”

  “He stays in the basement, and Mom’s room is downstairs. It’s too hard for her to climb stairs now.”

  She opens the door to a large room, painted light blue. A queen size bed rests in the center of the room, made up with cream colored bedding. The walls are covered with pictures and awards from her high school years. She tosses her bag on the bed and proceeds to unpack. “You can use that dresser. The drawers on the right side are empty.”

  “Thanks,” I reply absently, my eyes drawn to the pictures on a corkboard above the dresser. Sadie poses in a leotard and tutu, a large trophy in her hand. She looks about sixteen and is every bit as beautiful as she is now.

  A much younger Sadie smiles at me from a photo, surrounded by a group of girls wearing identical short skirts and carrying pompoms. She’s fucking adorable. “You were a cheerleader.”

  “Freshman year.”

  Turning to face her, I grin. “Do you still have the uniform?”

  “No, you perv.”

  “That’s a shame. You’ll just have to show me your routine in the nude.”

  “Just hold your breath and wait for it.”

  I love her little smart ass comebacks, and the way she pretends to hate it when I flirt with her. I’ve seen how she looks at me when she thinks I’m not paying attention, and trust me, she doesn’t mind. When she first agreed to take me on this trip, I planned to use it as an opportunity to get her in bed. A week together? Sleeping in the same bed? Simple. But after seeing what she’s going through with her mother, that isn’t a priority anymore. Don’t get me wrong, if she offers, I’ll be all over her, but right now she needs someone and I’m it.

  The photos on her walls take me back to the last time I saw my sister. A social worker arranged it so I could visit her in one of the foster homes. She was thirteen and living with an older couple whose kids were already grown. She seemed happy when she proudly showed me that she had her own room, and she had a wall just like this one, filled with pictures of her and her school friends. Maybe all girls do that, I don’t know.

  I was relieved to see she was happy, healthy, and with good people. I was told later that the woman had a severe stroke, and the husband didn’t want to deal with raising a teenager along with caring for a disabled wife, so she went back into the system. She must have ended up somewhere worse, or she wouldn’t have run away.

  I’ve never stopped looking for her. No matter how hard I try, I can’t shake the feeling that something terrible has happened to her. Why else would she not look for me? I’ve made sure to always have my phone number and address listed. A simple Google search on my name and my information pops right up.

  “Are you okay?” Sadie’s uncertain voice draws me out of my reverie.

  “Yeah. Fine.” I force a smile.

  We take a few minutes to put our stuff away and get settled. Sadie approaches me as I’m placing my items on the counter in the attached bathroom and hands me a white envelope. “Here’s your money. And as I said, I’ll pay for everything while we’re here.”

  I feel like an ass taking money from her now that I know why she wanted me here, but I know she’ll feel like I pity her if I don’t accept it, so I just take the envelope and nod. “Are you sure you’re okay?” she asks.

  Damn. Thinking about my sister has soured my mood and apparently, it’s obvious. Grinning, I take a step toward her, pinning her against the cabinet. “I’m good. I was just thinking we need to practice.”

  Her forehead wrinkles. It’s cute. Am I seriously admiring a woman’s forehead wrinkles? I’m off my game. It’s time to get the upper hand back.

  “Practice what?”

  “You want your mom to think we’re in love, right? Couples in a long term relationship don’t freeze up when their partner touches them.” Her breath catches and her eyes widen as I slide my palm across her cheek. Oh yeah, I affect her whether she likes it or not.

  Deep blue eyes stare into mine and her lips part. God, she has great lips, full and a little pouty. “I wouldn’t want you to go all weak in the knees the first time I kiss you in front of her.”

  She rolls her eyes. “I think I can handle it.”

  “Yeah?” She doesn’t get a chance to answer. Her lips are soft and warm beneath mine, and I suck gently on her lower one before easing my tongue into her mouth. Her eyes slam shut and she melts into me, her hands sliding behind my neck as we deepen the kiss. The little whimper she makes goes straight to my cock.

  My intent was to give her a little kiss, draw her attention away from my sullen mood, but the taste of her erases all my control. Soft fingers play with the hair on the nape of my neck as we lose ourselves in each other. My hand has just settled on the curve of her amazing ass when we hear a door close downstairs, jerking us back to reality.

  We break apart, and I take a step back. She stares up at me, and I run my thumb over her red, slightly swollen lips. “Still think you can handle it?” I tease.

  “Huh?...oh, yeah,” she stammers, dazed. Her gaze darts from mine and she pulls herself together. “Not bad, I guess.”

  “Not bad?”

  “Yeah, you know, for a pretend kiss. It was okay.” So that’s how she wants to play it?

  “You’re so full of shit.” I back her against the wall. “If I put my hand down your panties right now, I’ll bet you’re dripping wet.”

  She licks her lips, and I know I’ve got her again. And again we’re interrupted, this time when her brother bangs on the bedroom door. “Sis, you in there?”

  Her breasts rub across my chest, exposing how hard her nipples are as she squirms away from me, taking a deep breath before opening the door. “Hey, I didn’t interrupt, did I?” Doug asks, peeking around her.

  “Of course not,” she huffs.

  “Do you have five bucks? My car ran out of gas down the street.”

  Without a word, she digs in her bag and shoves a five dollar bill at him. “Thanks. Tell Mom I’ll be here for dinner.” He scampers off like a child instead of a grown man of twenty-eight.

  She won’t look at me as she shoves her feet into her shoes. “Come on, I’ll show you around town.”

  Fine. I’ll let her off the hook. For now.

  *
* * *

  “So, what’s up with your brother?” I ask, sitting next to her on a bench. She has spent the last hour showing me around town, and we ended up here, at a small park behind a grocery store.

  “He’s useless,” she sighs. “I’ll bet he’s worked at every business in town more than once, but since he never lasts more than a month or two, they all know better than to hire him again.”

  “Has he ever lived on his own?” I slide my arm around her shoulders.

  The little sideways glare she gives me makes me chuckle. “No one is watching us now.”

  “Can’t be too safe. What if your brother drives by and sees us? He could report back to your mom.”

  Laughing at my bullshit answer, she shakes her head. “No, he has never lived on his own.”

  “Wow, can’t imagine he’s drowning in pussy, then.” I couldn’t wait to get out on my own and I can’t imagine why any guy would be content living with his mother until he’s damn near thirty.

  “You’re such a pig! He’s had a few girlfriends, who are usually as lazy as he is, but it never lasts long. I have to admit, having him still living there has been a good thing lately, though. He’s a slacker, but he does take care of her. I wanted to move back, but she won’t hear it.”

  “She seems like a great lady. I’m sure she wants the best for you.”

  “She’s the best. What about your family?”

  “What about them?”

  Her cautious expression tells me she caught the edge in my voice. “I just wondered why you don’t talk to them. You don’t have to tell me. It’s really none of my business. We should head into the store, get some groceries for dinner.”

  Shit. I grab her hand and pull her back down beside me. “I don’t know who my dad is, and I haven’t seen my mom since I was nine. She was a junky, and my sister, Hannah, and I were raised in foster care.”

  “Oh.” She squeezes my hand. “I’m sorry. Have you tried to find them?”

  “I’m looking for Hannah, but not my mother. I have no desire to see that bitch again.”

  “I don’t know my dad either. Mom said it was a one night stand, so she doesn’t even know his name.” She gives me a reluctant smile. “This is a little deep for a fake relationship conversation, huh?”

  I tuck a stray lock of hair behind her ear. “I’m sure your father would be proud to call you his daughter. Now, let’s get moving. I’m starving to death.”

  Sweet laughter fills the air. “How do you eat constantly and still keep that physique?”

  My arm finds its way around her waist as we head toward the grocery store where we parked the car. “I knew you liked my body. Now, when you’re ready to admit you liked the kiss…”

  The corners of her mouth turn up. “It was…passable.”

  Chapter Three

  Sadie

  It’s everything I can do to resist the grin trying to surface on my face as I lie through my teeth. Justus’s kiss nearly knocked me off my feet. It was the best kiss of my life and all I can think about since is tearing his clothes off. It’s annoying as hell. He is not the kind of guy I’d date. I mean, he once lied to a woman and pretended to be his friend just to get laid. Who does that? Still, I can’t help but tease him.

  “Passable? You loved it. Admit it.”

  “Don’t worry, big guy.” I pat him on the chest. “I still think you’re sexy.”

  “Of course you do. And my tongue is amazing. Women write poems praising the glory of my oral skills, and they don’t stop at kissing. I’ll show you later,” he promises.

  “No you won’t. You can keep that tongue in my mouth.” I try to backpedal the second the sentence comes out. Fucking Freudian slip. “Your mouth! I meant keep your tongue in your mouth.”

  Laughing, he grabs a grocery cart. “No you didn’t. You love my kissing. You want me to kiss you every second. Sorry, Sweets, but we have shopping to do.”

  An older lady returning a cart snorts with laughter, and Justus grins at her. “Sorry. She can’t keep her hands off of me. It’s a problem.”

  “A beautiful young woman like that? You should be thrilled.” The lady gives me an amused smile before walking away.

  “I hate you.”

  “Nope. Not true.” His arrogant smirk makes me want to trip him. “Now, what do we need?”

  I need to go back in time and talk myself out of this crazy plan, but it’s too late now.

  No wonder Justus is so conceited. Every woman we pass rakes her eyes over him. Seriously, it’s a wonder their tongues aren’t hanging out. The young cashier blushes when he chats with her and it takes forever for her to ring up our purchases. By the time we get in the car, I’m thoroughly annoyed, though I have no idea why. Why should I care that he gets hit on constantly? I get plenty of looks and remarks myself.

  Justus unloads the groceries, and sits across from me in the kitchen while I start preparing dinner. Mom comes in looking a little more rested and resumes questioning Justus about his life and our relationship. To give credit where it’s due, he handles it well.

  “So, you work in computers?”

  “Yes, Ma’am.”

  “There’s good money in that, isn’t there?” Do not ask him how much he makes, Mom.

  “I’m fortunate enough to make a good living,” he replies, smiling.

  “Are you planning on moving in together?”

  “Well, I’d move Sadie in today if she’d agree, but I fear she might be one of those no living together before marriage people.”

  Oh no. He mentioned marriage. Mom’s eyebrows reach for the ceiling and a grin breaks across her face. “So, you want to get married, then? And raise a family?”

  “Doesn’t everyone?” Justus replies, not really answering the question.

  Mom scoots the cutting board across the counter so I can scoop up the chopped vegetables. “Well, not everyone. You know what they say about buying the cow when the milk is free.”

  And now I want to crawl under the counter. He’s not had my milk and he isn’t going to.

  Justus chuckles and approaches me while I’m washing my hands. He plants a quick kiss on my neck, sending a shiver through me. “I’m quite fond of my cow though.”

  Mom laughs when I shake my hands at him, flicking water in his face.

  “What was that for?” He steps back, wiping his eyes.

  “You called me a cow!”

  “As a term of endearment!”

  “Cow means fat,” I insist, crossing my arms.

  Justus laughs and puts his hands on my hips. “You could never be called fat, but I apologize. That was udderly out of line.”

  “Ugh,” I groan. “I hate you.”

  “Just keep saying that. You might convince yourself you mean it.”

  Mom stands back and watches us with a mixture of amusement and joy. Apparently, we’re having no trouble convincing her we’re crazy about each other even with our childish bickering.

  “We have to be at the spa at nine tomorrow. I thought we’d have breakfast at the restaurant next door to it.” Mom turns to Justus. “You’re welcome to join us, but if a day spa isn’t your thing, maybe you’d like to hang out with Doug here.”

  “Are you kidding?” Justus pretends to buff his nails against his shirt. “My nails are a wreck. I’m totally game for a spa day.”

  “Fantastic!” Mom claps her hands. It’s good to see her so excited. “I’ll call and tell them to add another person. We’ll get the works!”

  Dinner is a pleasant and lighthearted affair, broken only by Doug grabbing a plate of lasagna and heading back downstairs. We spend the rest of the evening watching a movie with Mom, until I start to yawn.

  Justus slips his hand into mine, interlacing our fingers. As he promised, he’s taken every opportunity to touch me. Either his arm is around me, his fingers stroking my shoulder, or his hand is on my thigh. I don’t exactly hate it. At some point in the evening it slipped my mind that he was pretending, and I leaned into him, enjoying the
physical affection. “We should probably go to bed, Sweets. You didn’t get much rest last night,” he says, and I watch my mom’s expression soften.

  After a quick goodnight, we head upstairs.

  “Are you sure you want to go to the spa thing tomorrow?” I ask after we’ve taken turns showering and settled into bed.

  “What? You don’t think I can be one of the girls?”

  My gaze travels down his body, now clad in only a pair of shorts. There’s not a damn thing that’s girly about him. As much as I hate to admit it, my fingers are itching to travel over his broad shoulders and down his well-defined chest.

  He grins as if he knows what I’m thinking. “You know waxing is included, right?” I tease.

  “Babe, I’m an exotic dancer. I’m completely deforested.”

  Yeah, I saw that last night. And now I’m picturing it again. “Hmm, I guess it probably makes your penis look bigger, huh? Every little bit helps.”

  “If you want to see cock-a-saurus again, all you have to do is ask.”

  “No thanks,” I yawn, turning over. “Keep that Tic Tac to yourself.”

  “Freshen your breath right up.” My body shakes with laughter as he drapes his arm over me.

  “You know, my mom isn’t going to come in to see if we cuddle at night. You don’t have to fake it when we’re alone.”

  “I like to cuddle, so you’re just going to have to deal.”

  “Fine,” I reply trying to sound aggravated, but falling far short. “Then keep cock-a-saurus from poking me in the ass.”

  “He likes you.”

  “Good night, Justus.” We made it through day one and it actually went much better than I thought. The spa day tomorrow should be interesting.

  “Night, Sweets.”

  * * * *

  Despite his big talk, Justus looks completely out of his comfort zone when we check in at the day spa. “What are you signing up for?” he whispers as we peruse the options.

  “Pampering package. Do you want me to choose for you?” I ask, looking up at him innocently.

  “Please,” he replies, relieved. He wanders over to the water cooler while I fill out his form, and I try to keep the smile from my face as I sign him up for one extra service.