by Tia Louise
“Then I imagine they’re around somewhere.” She puts a hand on my shoulder and rises to kiss my cheek. “You don’t need to worry yourself about all that. Like I said, it’s ancient history.”
She puts her teacup in the sink and starts for the door. “Are you sleeping here tonight? I’ll make a note for cook to fix you breakfast, and maybe you’ll consider joining me at church?”
My lips are tight. I’m not happy with her version of events, but my phone vibrates in my pocket, and I need to go. “I’ll sleep here, but don’t worry about breakfast.”
I head for the door. She calls after me, something about night owls and eagles, but I’ve got to get to my girl.
The catering van is the last to leave. I sit under a pavilion just down from Beto’s house, watching as they load up, slam the back doors, and finally drive away into the damp night.
It’s been raining since I left, and I traded my car for my bike, which means I’m soaked. The Apple store was closed, so I picked up a burner phone at Best Buy for now. I haven’t heard from Angel, but Lourdes texted me a basic description of where her room is located in the house.
According to the description, Angel’s window looks out over the lake, just above a small cottage with an oak tree that has low branches. I walk my bike to the end of a separate driveway and leave it parked. In this neighborhood, for as long as I’ll be here, it should be fine.
As soon as the last light in the downstairs area is extinguished, I stroll up the sidewalk then dash across the dark lawn to the line of trees surrounding the back yard, hoping Beto doesn’t have a security system filming the perimeter.
Voices on the patio pull me up quick, and I press my back to a large crepe myrtle near the side porch.
“She didn’t grow up here.” I recognize Valeria’s voice, and my ears strain to hear what she’s saying. “She doesn’t understand the way things work.”
“She knows to respect her family.” Beto’s angry voice is unmistakable. “How could she have done this right under your nose?”
“Your sister is a grown woman, Roberto. I don’t follow her everywhere she goes. I have two children to raise and a full-time job.”
“Ah.” Beto makes a dismissive sound. “Then I came back at the right time. I’m willing to keep an eye on her. I’ll guide her in the right direction.”
Anger tightens my chest. So much for making friends. My jaw clenches, and I scan the area, looking for the tree Lourdes described. I’ll have to cross the back yard to get to it, and with these two on the patio, I have to wait.
The noise of a chair scraping on stone catches my attention. “It’s late,” Valeria sighs. “The party was a success in spite of it all. I’m going to bed.”
“We’ll discuss this with her in the morning…” Beto’s follows her inside, and I lean forward, peeking carefully to see the door close before I streak across the yard to the giant oak tree behind the cottage.
It’s an easy climb to her balconette. I have no way of calling her, and I can only hope Lourdes told her I was coming as I swing a leg over the balustrade and tap lightly on her window.
Misty rain settles in the air around me, and I’m glad for my leather jacket, even on this warm night. It keeps me somewhat dry underneath, and it’s black. A few moments pass, and I’m about to tap again when I hear her soft voice. “Deacon?”
The curtain swishes away, and bright eyes meet mine. The glass double-doors wobble and open, and I cross into her room, closing them quickly behind me.
“You’re here.” Her voice breaks, and I cup her cheeks in my hands, lifting her pretty face.
Her eyes are glassy with unshed tears, and I lean down to cover her lips with mine. Hers part, our tongues lightly touch. It’s a gentle kiss, soft and warm, and emotion squeezes my chest. I want to wrap her in my arms, take her away from this mess, but she stops me.
“You’re all wet.” She holds the lapels of my jacket, pushing it off my shoulders. “Were you riding in the rain?”
Shrugging out of the soaked garment, I put it at the base of her window. “I didn’t want anyone to recognize my car.”
She goes to a large, stone bathroom, returning with a plush, white towel. “Here. Give me your shirt.”
Catching the hem, I whip it over my head, and when our eyes meet, she blinks quickly as if she’s stunned.
Her cheeks flush, and I’m acutely aware we’ve only been together once since my homecoming. The memory of our white-hot reunion in the tower has my cock rising to attention.
“It’s not the first time you’ve seen me without a shirt, beautiful.” I can’t help teasing her.
She shakes her head and goes to her bedroom door. “I’ll put this in the sink to dry. Give me your pants, too.”
The smooth click of the lock changes the temperature in the room. My body aches for hers. I’m ready to pull her to me and devour her.
“I haven’t been here five minutes, and you’ve already got me naked.” I hold out my hand as she returns. “Come here.”
She walks straight into my arms, and I hug her tightly against my chest. Rubbing her back, I take a long inhale of her jasmine scented hair. “Are you okay?”
“I’m much better now that you’re here.” She looks up at me, and I can almost make out her soft breasts beneath the thin material of her long-sleeved tee. She’s so damn sexy.
I scan her shapely legs in short white shorts, searching for any sign of bruising or injury. “Did that guy hurt you?”
“No.” A sad little smile touches her lips. “I’m so sorry, Deacon. For tonight, for not telling you—”
“Don’t.” Reaching up, I place my finger lightly against her lips, pulling her to me again. “It doesn’t matter. I’m sorry I had to leave you that way. I didn’t want to ruin the party—”
“I understood.”
“But I had to come here tonight. I needed to see you, to know you’re okay.”
“I’m okay.” She lifts her chin, and I lean down to kiss her again.
Her lips part, and our tongues curl together. It’s electric and need shoots straight to my cock. My hands go under the hem of her shirt, finding the smooth, warm skin of her lower back, pressing her hips to mine.
She exhales a soft noise, and I break the kiss, looking around the room. “This is a nice place.”
“The bed’s big enough for both of us.” Her palms slide against mine, threading our fingers, and she takes a step backwards, drawing me towards the bed with her. “Everyone’s sleeping over. You might as well, too.”
“Sounds risky.”
“I’m not afraid.” She lifts her shirt over her head, and her soft breasts are bare, tipped with pale light. My mouth waters. “I want you to stay.”
“I’ll do whatever you want.”
She slides the terry fabric of her shorts down her shapely legs, and it’s my turn to be stunned by her beauty. Delicate lace rises over the soft curve of her hips leading to her narrow waist and full, round breasts. They rise and fall with her rapid breathing.
“I want you inside me.”
I close the space between us, ready to devour her.
I want her all over me.
I want her skin against mine.
She pushes the towel off my hips just as I reach her. It hits the floor with a soft thump, and my erection springs hard and thick between us.
“Deacon…” She wraps her fingers around me, stroking my shaft, making me groan.
I cover her mouth with mine, pulling and kissing, hungry and needy. We move quickly, and I can’t think of anything but loving this woman in my arms. She’s the girl I fell in love with before I ever knew what that meant.
Turning, I sit on the bed, scooting back so she can straddle my lap. I want her to ride me. I want to see her beautiful body getting off on mine, breasts bouncing, hair cascading around us.
She rises over my cock and drops, sheathing me completely in her warm depths. Closing my eyes, I swallow a loud groan as my mind blanks.
T
he house is filled with people who hate me. It does nothing to kill my desire, but I have to be quiet.
“You feel so good.” My jaw is tight and I grind out the words, holding back.
“Yes…” She gasps, holding my face as she kisses me.
Our lips seal, quieting our moans as she rocks faster.
“Angel… Jesus.” My body is on fire with the things she’s doing to me.
Her insides clench and pull, massage and tug. It’s hot and slippery and so damn wet. I want to yell as my orgasm tightens my ass. Her head drops back and she bites her lip. Her soft breasts are at my chin, and she’s better than every centerfold. Angel getting off on my cock is fucking nirvana.
Palming her breasts, I suck a hardened nipple into my mouth, and her body responds. My lips move to her neck, and I pull a nip of skin between my teeth, moving higher, behind her ear.
She breaks with a moan, spasms rippling and clenching her core, and I relax my brow and let go. My balls tense, and my cock pulses as I fill her, holding her, loving her.
We hold each other, eyes closed as our breathing drifts to normal, as I have these thoughts about merging our lives together permanently.
“I have an idea.” My beautiful, sated girl props an elbow on my shoulder, smoothing her hand in the side of her gorgeous, wild hair. “We’ll pretend they don’t matter. They don’t exist. We’ll go on with our plans, and fuck them.”
A smile lifts my cheeks. “You’re adorable when you cuss.”
“I’m serious!” Her whiskey eyes widen at me. “If they don’t want to be a part of our happiness, who needs them?”
Damn, I love this girl, but I know better. “You do.”
“I do not. Especially not some absentee brother, who suddenly appears trying to push me around and ruin my life.”
Sliding down into the bed beside her, I pull her back against my chest. “I hate to say it… Your brother’s kind of a dick.”
“Kind of?” Her voice is sarcastic, and I chuckle.
“But a dick with a point. Something happened. We can’t just ignore it.”
Her fingers thread with mine. “I don’t care what happened. It’s the past. We’re here now. It doesn’t change us.”
“Life is long, Ang.” I squeeze her hand in mine.
She pushes up on her forearm turning to meet my eyes. “Nothing changes us, Deacon. Promise me.”
Exhaling a smile, I slide my hand along the side of her neck. “I promise.”
She settles in again, nestling close against me. I wrap my arms around her, burying my face in her softly scented hair. This is right, us together, forever. She’s all I’ve ever wanted. She’s mine…
But uneasiness is in my chest.
Late night promises are one thing, but when the morning comes, we’re facing a lifetime of warring with our families. Angel doesn’t want that, and neither do I.
I will fix this. I’ve just got to find the truth.
10
Angel
I’m floating on butterfly wings through clouds of sparkling bliss. At some point I mount a unicorn and ride his horn to an orgasmic Eden where a lion curls up with a lamb, giving me a knowing look. I smile shyly, warm bands of iron wrap around my waist, and a woodpecker starts tapping against my tree of happiness…
The annoying tapping grows louder.
My misty mountaintop begins to melt.
The pesky woodpecker learns to speak, and it’s shouting outside my door. “Ceecee, wake up! Waaaaake up!”
It’s not a woodpecker. It’s Sofia.
“Oh shit!” I sit up fast, looking at the window then at Deacon asleep beside me.
My shoulders drop at the sight of him. He’s so damn sexy in my bed. Full lips rest gently together, thick dark hair curls right around his ears… Muscles ripple down his arms, his abs… My insides clench at the memory of his cock. I’m pretty sure I know whose horn I was riding, and it was thick and delicious.
“Carmieeee!” Sofia’s voice grows louder, effectively killing my love buzz.
Locked doors did not exist in Valeria’s house. As soon as the girls were old enough to walk, they’d get up every morning at dawn looking for company.
“Give me a minute, Soph!” I jump out of bed, grabbing my discarded clothing and pulling it on.
The sun is only just brightening the horizon, thank God. Everyone was drinking and celebrating last night, and I don’t expect anyone to be awake at this hour—anyone older than four.
“Deacon.” I gently nudge my sleeping Adonis. “Wake up, babe. It’s morning.”
“What?” His blue eyes blink open, and when he sees me, he smiles. “Hey.”
My heart melts, and I lean down to kiss him slow.
The rapid banging on my door starts again.
He hears it and pulls back. “Who’s that?”
“Carmie! You’re missing it!”
My eyes narrow. “That’s a four-year-old child.”
Deacon is out of my bed in a flash. “I forgot to set my alarm.”
He’s in the bathroom pulling on his jeans and tee. I’m sitting on the foot of my bed, my heart breaking at the thought of him leaving me. Returning to my bedroom, he looks my way and pauses.
“Damn, girl.” His eyes are hot as he surveys me, sitting in my short shorts and nearly transparent tee. Crossing the room, he cups my cheeks and kisses me, looking deep into my eyes. “You are so beautiful.”
Could I love this guy more? Sofia starts to whine, and panic tightens my chest. She’s going to wake up the whole house if I don’t let her in, but I’ll be damned if I let her see Deacon here. That girl cannot keep a secret.
I stand, catching his arms and leading him to the window. “This is so risky.” My throat is tight as I watch him throw a leg over the balustrade. “What’s going to happen now?”
His lips press together as he looks out across the yard. “This isn’t how I wanted things to go.”
“I know. I’m sorry—”
“Sh…” He lightly touches my lips. “I told you no more of that.”
“I can’t help it.”
His finger slides to my cheek, moving a curl behind my ear. “I’ve got to go to Harristown and check in with my clients there. I’d wanted to take you with me, see if you liked the town.”
“I want to go…” I’m half listening, half worrying about Sofia’s ongoing noise.
“I’ll only be gone a day, maybe two. Will you be okay here?”
“Oh, sure. As long as I do what I’m told.” Like a child. I’ve got to get my own place.
Deacon’s lips tighten, and he pulls me close, kissing me firmly. “I’ll be back soon, and we’ll work this out. You have the burner phone I got you?”
“I’ve got it.” The box is on my vanity.
“If anything happens, call me. I’ll drop everything and come to you.” His hands are firm on my arms.
“Can I call you now?”
He traces his thumb along my jaw, resting his hand on my shoulder. “We’re going to fix this, Angel. I won’t let you give up your family for me.”
“Maybe they’re the ones giving me up…”
Exhaling slowly, he looks into my room. “Your brother obviously loves you. Look at this beautiful place—”
“It’s a beautiful cage.”
“Just give me some time. We’ll find a solution.”
Lourdes would say my boyfriend is so privileged, but I don’t want to be cynical. I was raised to believe. “We can try, I guess.”
One more kiss, one more longing look, and he’s gone, dropping fast behind the cottage and pausing to look back. We extend our hands in a wave… or maybe a wistful grasp… before he dashes across the tree line and off my brother’s property.
A feeling of dread tightens my chest. Deacon is so optimistic, and I wish I could be the same way. I’m afraid this is not going to end well. Sofia’s voice pulls me from my troubled thoughts, and when I open my bedroom door, she’s sitting with her back to it.
“
Good morning, sunshine.” I reach down for her hand.
She pops up and marches into my room. “Watch Moana with me!”
Climbing into the middle of my bed, she props her little body against the pillows. The remote is in her hand, and she turns on the oversized, flat screen television hanging on the opposite wall to the channel she needs.
“I didn’t know Beto had Disney plus.” I climb in beside her, curling into the blankets and pulling Deacon’s pillow to my chest.
“He has all the channels.” Sofia’s tone is very duh, and she immediately starts singing. “You’re welcome!”
I bury my face in the down, inhaling deeply of rich citrus and sage. It’s almost like he’s still here, and I hug the pillow tighter, fighting my sadness, dreaming of his hard body, his soft kisses, his expert touch. His impossible dreams.
“I’m sorry you were hurt.” My brother stands in the kitchen with his arms crossed. As always, he’s in jeans and a white tank, feet bare, brow lowered.
“I’m fine.” I finish my coffee, ready to go.
Valeria reaches for my hand across the table. “We don’t have to discuss it right now.”
“There’s nothing to discuss.” Beto walks away from where we’re sitting. “It’s settled.”
I’m not in the mood for him. “How’s Lo feeling today? All grown up?” I wonder if anybody catches the irony in my question.
“Who knows?” Valeria sits back, lifting her coffee. “I don’t understand half the stuff she says anymore. It’s all YouTube quotes and video game references.”
My brother returns, placing a white box on the table in front of me. It’s a brand-new, latest model iPhone.
“What’s this?” I frown up at him.
“Lourdes said your phone was broken when you fell.” He looks down, and while his tone is stern as ever, I do see a flash of something almost like an apology in his eyes.
Whatever.
“So you’re paying for my phone now?”
“Mateo is the reason you broke your old one. He was following my orders.”
Orders. I love how he tosses that word around like he’s el presidente.
Opening the box, I lift the shiny new device. “It’s yellow.”