Mollify

by Xavier Neal

“That’s your wife,” Dad teases Uncle C.J.

  “Yeah, yeah, yeah.” He gets up and rushes after. “Come on baby. She’s three! It wasn’t like it was a hate crime!”

  Mom and Megan break out into further laughter and I plant a kiss on my girl’s cheek, just thankful she’s here with me. Thankful I never have to go too long without being around her.

  It’s fucking nuts making it work. Between her classes and mine, both our jobs, and the fact she doesn’t want to sleep over at my place and I’m not sure where exactly she lives since she always changes the subject when it comes up, it’s not a walk in the park. But fuck, it’s worth every minute she’s in my arms.

  Faith starts climbing on Dad as he directs his question at Uncle Stuart, “You two still good next weekend watching Little Bit?”

  “Yeah,” Stuart replies while Alex plops in his lap.

  “Where are you going?” I invade the conversation. “I don’t remember seeing a sticky note.”

  “I’m taking your mom away for the weekend.” His eyes shoot her a look that can only mean one thing.

  “I’m still packing my birth control tiger,” she replies starting to pick up the game pieces.

  “Can we not discuss contraception in front of mixed company?” Uncle Luke groans.

  “Megan’s family,” Dad brushes him off. “Right Megan?”

  “If ya’ll will have me,” she shyly answers.

  “More like if you’ll have us,” Stuart’s words are followed by Alex throwing a game piece at Faith.

  “Alex!” Uncle Luke shrieks.

  Before anyone has time to scold him further, Faith hops on her feet and pops him across the face.

  She really does have an amazing front hand....what! I’m saying!

  “Faith!” Mom yells back.

  Alex starts crying and Dad shrugs. “Girl’s got quite a hit to her, doesn’t she?”

  See. We even think alike.

  “Logan!” Mom directs the yelling at him.

  “Natural consequence,” Uncle Stuart declares again.

  “That doesn’t make it okay!” Uncle Luke snaps.

  “Hey!” my voice booms between them, Alex turning off his tears. “Alex, what happened?”

  “Faith hit me,” he growls at her and she prepares to hit him again when Megan grabs her swiftly.

  “Why?” Megan asks him in the voice I assume she’ll use as a teacher.

  Girl is gonna be a fantastic teacher. And I wanna fuck her on her desk. But that’s not the point right now.

  “I threw something at her,” his small voice confesses.

  “Why?” Megan asks again this time tucking Little Bit closer to her body before she gets the urge to attack again.

  “She made a face at me!” He points defensively.

  “You look funny!” Faith yells.

  “Hey!” I raise my voice stopping them before it gets worse.

  Mom interrupts, “Faith and Alex, you may not always like each other, but you’re family and in this family you deal with your feelings. You use your words and your kind hands. You remember why you like each other and not why you fight. Faith, who always goes to swing with you?”

  “Alex...” her voice sounds like it might cry, hating being scolded by Mom and especially Dad.

  “And Alex who always gives you half of her Oreo?” Uncle Stuart points out.

  “Faith...”

  In a whisper to Megan, Faith says, “I only like the frosting.”

  “Unbelievable,” Uncle Luke sighs.

  Mom’s the same way.

  “What should you say Faith?” Megan encourages. “Why don’t you go make it better?”

  “Sorry.” Faith walks over to Alex and places a hand on his back. “Wanna go swing?”

  “Yeah!” He pops up and runs off after her as she heads to the backyard where Aunt Erin and Uncle C.J. are swinging in the hammock.

  “You sure you want in this family?” Dad says to Megan. “They don’t get less crazy. Just more.”

  Uncle Luke adds, “Big talk from the guy who made a career of hitting people.”

  “Lucrative career,” his voice speaks up as he pulls Mom so she’s sitting between his legs the same way Megan is between mine.

  “Speaking of,” Megan shifts the subjects. “How did you all like meet? I kinda know, but I feel there’s a good story here...like didn’t you used to fight at a bar?”

  “That’s a long story,” Uncle Luke whispers out. Uncle Stuart drops an arm around his husbands shoulder with a smirk. “You sure you got that kind of time?”

  “I’m sure.” Her head hits my chest and I rest my face against hers, the sound of my family’s voices fading the same time my eyelids fall. With my eyes shut I place another soft kiss on the side of her head.

  Have I told you how lucky I am to have this family and this girl? Because I really am.

  Chapter 15

  Megan

  “I can’t wear that.” I shake my head at the lingerie she’s dangling in front of me. “No way. No way in hell.”

  “It doesn’t really matter anyway.” Liv puts the piece back on the rack.

  I don’t think sex clothes should have enough buckles that NASA has to approve it.

  “You’re gonna be naked. That’s all he cares about this weekend.”

  The remark has me looking off into the distance.

  Confession time, but only cause I know you won’t tell anyone. I haven’t been naked in front of a guy in over a year. Save the gasp please. Marcus told me I put on too much weight and he couldn’t stand the sight of me naked, so we did it with the lights off or most of my clothes on. Again stop right there. Save the ‘how the hell did you not leave him sooner’ speech. It boils down to fear. Fear I’m still fucking living in even now that we’ve broken up.

  “I’m gonna pretend your inability to make eye contact with me about this subject is because you think my taste in lingerie belongs in a Leather Fetish video and not because Marcus did something else to royally fuck up your self-esteem,” Liv hums out. Grabbing another piece of lingerie she offers it. “What about this?”

  The simple black lace number has me raising my eyebrows. It’s a baby doll with a matching thong. I like that it’s simple but sexy.

  “That’s a yes,” Liv declares. “And I’ll buy it. We’ll call it a deflowering gift.”

  “First of all, I’m not a virgin—”

  “Might as fucking well be.”

  “And they don’t give gifts for that.”

  “They should!” Liv states heading towards the counter. “Anyway, put some hustle into that step girlfriend. We’ve still gotta hit the makeup counter and the salon to get you re-waxed.”

  Yes I get waxed. Completely. And at first, I hated it, but then you just kind of get accustomed to it. Like your eyebrows.

  “When is he expecting you?”

  “Uh...dinner?” I answer grabbing my phone that’s vibrating.

  Relieved that it’s a text from Dean I quickly open it.

  Dean: Can I have you for dinner instead?

  My face flushes and Liv immediately says, “I love that he sends you dirty texts.”

  “How do you know it’s dirty?” I look up as she gives me a sarcastic look.

  “There are only a couple reasons your face turns that color. Ask him if he has any friends that aren’t total sacks of lying shit? Like the one he went to the concert with last night. You know, the one who blocked you getting to have two slumber parties instead of one.”

  I lightly laugh as my phone vibrates again this time alerting I have an email in my inbox. With a simple click I pull it up and see a subject line that freezes me in place.

  Subject: Marcus’ Itinerary For Returning Home

  Nothing good is gonna be inside. You click it for me. I’m too scared.

  Hitting the button I open the email getting a blow by blow that says he lands tomorrow afternoon. At the very end is a message warning me that I better be there when he lands or I won’t like the results
.

  I’m not gonna be there, but I have to make sure everything is out of the apartment by then. I know I should’ve by this point, but all the time I’ve been spending with Dean has kinda put the rush to unload my old life on hold. I’ve been so busy enjoying my present and planning a future, that I guess time flew by faster than I realized. It’s cool. It’s fine. I’ll just leave Dean’s a little earlier than I had planned, go do one final look through before I try to disappear. Where exactly though? Think the Kellar’s have room for one more?

  “Are you even listening to me?” Liv whines as we move up in the line.

  Quickly I click away the message and put my phone back in my bag before it can ruin any more of my day. “Something about spankings?”

  “So you were listening,” she says sounding pleased.

  “Vaguely,” I mutter. “Can we talk about non-sex stuff please?”

  “No. Now, you’re still on the pill right?”

  “Yeah. Heaven knows I never wanted children with Marcus,” the words alone churn my stomach.

  “You’d have Dean’s babies,” Liv teases in a childish voice.

  “Shut up,” my voice whispers.

  “They’d be cute little mixed babies,” she giggles to herself. “Oh! And I can be Aunt Liv!”

  “We’ve barely been...whatever we have been…aren’t you rushing things here?”

  “No.” She drops the clothing on the counter. “Not at all. You’re one of those weird fairy tale couples. You know the ones that meet and fall in love in like a day.”

  “Fairy tales aren’t real,” I remind her.

  “Oh yeah? Then why am I watching one with my own two eyes?” Her comment makes me hide the smile that’s trying to show up.

  “Can you...can you just focus on buying my second chance deflowering clothes,” I huff making the sale’s lady’s eyes widen.

  Liv starts chuckling triumphantly.

  Worst best friend ever.

  ***

  As the sun starts to set, I pull up in front of Dean’s house, an immediate flood of peace rushing across me.

  Every time I am anywhere near this house it just feels...it feels like home. How is that possible? I’ve barely been here. Okay you’re right that’s not true. But I barely know him. Right. Another lie. I totally know him. I mean past all the basics we’ve gotten through with my skirting around the topic of Marcus, I know him because even though people change they don’t. He’s still my Dean. Sweep me off my feet Dean. My make me laugh like no one else can Dean. Always after my heart Dean. And he never forgets to remind me of that. You’ve seen him! He’s stuck to me like glue.

  I grab my shoulder bag and start searching for my charger.

  I let Liv borrow my car one, but now I can’t find my wall one and my phone’s not gonna make it all night. I guess I could use Dean’s right?

  Slightly defeated over the charger issue, I head for the front door. Before I have the chance to knock, he swings it open revealing him in a pair of jeans, and old Mario Brother’s T-Shirt.

  Hottest college look ever. I totally prefer this to sweater vests and khakis.

  “You ready to have your ass handed to you?” the comment gets a sarcastic look from me. “I’m kinda the Mario Kart champ.”

  “By champ you mean loser right? Because that’s what’s about to happen,” I declare back and Dean smirks cockily before lowering his lips to mine for a warm welcoming kiss.

  Clearly the kiss was supposed to be brief, but something inside forces me to grab his shirt to keep him attached to me. Pleased, Dean groans and slides his hands down to give my ass a good squeeze pressing me firmly into his hard on.

  Pulling away on a giggle, I nuzzle my nose with his. “You still wanna shit talk.”

  “Not the kinda talk I wanna do right now baby.” His lips push against mine again, nipping at them like a puppy in need of attention.

  I whimper in return before pushing him back gently. “Mario Kart.”

  “Fine,” he stops pushing, something that’s a relief.

  Marcus never stopped til he got what he wanted. God. You’re right. I have to stop comparing them.

  “But when I crush your soul, I don’t wanna hear you whining. I gave you the chance to play a different kind of game instead.”

  “Nut up or shut up.” I playfully punch him.

  “I thought you wanted to play video games?”

  The two of us chuckle as he leads us upstairs to the living room. For the next couple of hours, we play video games, eat pizza, ice cream sundaes, and watch mindless television. The entire time is so easy between us, you would’ve never guessed we had ever stopped being friends or that we haven’t been dating that long.

  Anxiously I wait for him to push things in a sexual nature, but it never comes. Instead he softly kisses my cheek randomly and holds me tightly, hands never wandering into the places I want them too.

  Did I mess this up? Does he think I don’t want him at all anymore?

  “You’ve got that look again,” his voice whispers in my ear from behind me on the couch. The heat on my ear causes me to whimper and close my eyes. “And now this look...what’s on your mind baby?”

  “Dean,” my voice bravely croaks. “Do you not want me anymore?”

  “Why would you ask me that?” He sits up so he’s hovering over me.

  Rolling over onto my back, I look up at him nervously. “I don’t know. A few hours ago you couldn’t get enough of me and now it seems like....like you’re not interested in me. Did I do something wrong?”

  His mouth slips open but nothing comes out.

  Well doesn’t that just say it all? How did I screw this up? No wonder no guy ever wants me.

  Prepared to get up, I’m startled when he pushes me back down onto the couch and attacks my lips. This isn’t the simple or sweet kisses like from earlier. I barely have time to part my lips before he’s demanding my capitulation with his tongue. Overwhelmed by the sensation I softly cry between pushes unsure of how else to communicate that the territory I’m not used to is fast approaching.

  It’s not possible to come from kissing someone. It’s not. I Googled it!

  Dean’s lip abruptly pull away from me and he growls, “Never fucking question if I want you again baby. Understand?”

  With a trembling voice, I agree, “Yes.”

  “Good.” The tip of tongue barely strokes my top lip. “Because it’s taken every ounce of self-control not to fuck your brains out all night.”

  Hearing the word causes my thighs to clench together tightly.

  Dean’s eyes glance down and he smirks. “You like that? You like when I say dirty things to you?”

  I give him a short shrug.

  With a serious nod he leans his mouth next to my ear, “You want me to fuck your brains out don’t you?” A moan seeps out before I can stop it. “You want me to make that pussy quiver baby?” Another helpless sound escapes and I bite my bottom lip. “Promise me something?”

  “Wh-wh-what’s that?”

  “When I make you come,” the emphasis on the word has me trying to clench my thighs together again except Dean’s hand slides between them directly on the outside of my jeans. Right on top of where I want his hand. “And I will make you come,” his clarification is followed by his hand applying pressure to my clit through my pants, a sensation I’m not sure I can take. “Just like I always do. Promise me, you’ll scream my name.”

  With another mewl as my reply, Dean goes to work kissing my lips, my neck, making his way down my body refusing to miss an inch of flesh. He sheds my shirt effortlessly, teases my nipples with his teeth leaving the clear indication he’ll be back for more.

  God I hope so.

  Once I’m naked and sprawled on the couch, Dean’s mouth prepares to lower down to my pussy.

  Instantly I freeze, hands flying to his shoulders. “Wait!”

  His mouth that’s half open barely says, “Seriously?”

  “Yes...”

  Leaning ba
ck on his heels he asks, “What’s wrong?”

  “I’ve...I’ve...No one has ever...” the sentence doesn’t finish but I use my eyebrows to try to help me.

  “Megan,” he speaks my name firmly. “Are you trying to tell me no one has ever tasted you before?” I nod. Dean cockily smirks. “That’s gonna make this that much better baby.”

  “But what if I do it wrong?”

  “Lay back and relax. I gotchu.” He winks, kisses both my hands, and removes them.

  I lay backwards and try to halt the anxiety from boiling over. The minute his lips touch my inner thigh, my legs melt apart, the touch of his tongue magical. Another kiss on the opposite thigh has my eyes shutting. Suddenly the heat of his tongue strokes my pussy and the sound I make is not human.

  I don’t know what the hell that was! Cat? Desperate cat?

  Dean’s tongue strokes softly again before his warm mouth starts devouring me. Swirls and sucks start to ensue, the pressure combined with the warmth so intense I feel like my entire body is going to combust before the next lick. The first time I come it’s sucked out of me so unexpectedly my voice nor my mind have time to scream out in joy for the thrill that engulfs me. As my muscles clench tightly, he doesn’t stop lapping at me like my pussy is made of cotton candy and his tongue the stick it has to be wrapped around in order to stay together. His hands stay planted firmly on my hips, my thighs, my ass, any place he needs them to keep me where he wants me.

  On the verge of my second orgasm, this one shaking my entire body, I warn him, “Dean...”

  Barely missing a heavenly movement he demands, “Louder.”

  “Dean...” my voice increases in volume, pushing me to the edge of sanity.

  “Louder.” The command is followed with his mouth, tongue, and vibration of a pleased hum that spirals me down a yellow brick road of orgasms.

  “Dean!” I scream over and over again, my body now having a life of it’s own as it tries to fall to pieces from the repeated bursts of ecstasy.

  When my mind starts to fall back towards earth, Dean’s face slowly slips away lightly tasting the juices that remain as a proof of a job well done.

  With a cocky grin he asks, “Did I do okay for your first time?”