by Tia Louise
“Yes, but I broke into his house.”
“You were the guest of his sister, who is an adult and invited you there.”
Taking a drink, I nod, wiping my lips with the back of my hand. “Then she screamed at me to get out.” Flashbacks of the blood, of Angel crying on her knees… all of it hits me like a sucker punch. “I’m a fucking fool.”
“Ease up on my friend Deacon.” He’s joking, but I’m not.
“I actually thought I’d introduce myself to her family, tell them we were in love and wanted to marry. I thought they’d welcome us with open arms. We’d have a party, a big wedding. Happy ever fucking after.”
“You’ve always been a cocky bastard.”
“Asshole.” I take a longer sip of beer.
He exhales a laugh, leaning forward. “You know, most couples expect the same thing. It doesn’t make you a fool. How were you supposed to know your family had a history to rival the Montagues and Capulets?”
Shaking my head, that reminds me. “How’s it going with the title search?”
“No dice.” He polishes off his beer. “Deeds that old aren’t stored electronically. But, lucky for you, I know how to search the county archives.”
“I can help—”
“You’ll just get in the way.” He rubs a hand through his messy blond hair. “Plus I’m interested now. This is fucking fascinating. You think your grandfather cheated hers out of Fate?”
“It’s what they think.” I don’t mention the baby, my grandmother, or the murder allegation.
“I want to know who’s right.” He grins at me, blue eyes crinkling in his tanned face.
The sound of tires on gravel below draws our attention. My chest tightens, and I’m pretty sure it’s her.
“Nice ride.” Rich stands.
She steps out of the driver’s side, and the wind pushes thick, golden-brown curls over her shoulders. Her dress swirls around her slim body, and using one hand to shade her eyes, she looks up at me.
She’s so fucking gorgeous. My breath stills in my lungs. “Angel…”
“Go.” A grin is in his voice.
I barely hear it.
I’m jogging down the massive wood staircase, through the open foyer, and out the front door as the words hang in the air.
I hesitate on the porch.
Our eyes meet, and a tear traces down her cheek. “Deacon…” It’s a mixture of longing and exhaustion, and my uncertainty is gone.
Closing the space between us, I pull her into my arms, tucking her sweet head against my chest and inhaling deeply… jasmine. Relief hits me like a rush of life in my veins, and the fist in my chest unfurls.
“I thought you’d given up on us.”
Lifting her chin, she gives me a teasing smile. “I’m very determined.”
Leaning down, I press my lips to hers, ready to push them apart and claim that sassy mouth.
A throat clearing pulls us up short. “Sorry to interrupt this beautiful reunion scene.” Rich twirls a set of keys in his hand. “I’ve got to head on back to Dallas now.”
My brow furrows, and I check the time. “You can’t drive to Dallas. It’s late—”
“Dude. BP has a private jet.” A car slowly makes its way up the long driveway, and he tosses the keys to me. “Uncle Skeeter won’t be home until Monday. You two stay and do something you’ve never done.”
Lifting my chin, I squint one eye at him. “Like what?”
“Spend the weekend together as a couple. Have fun. Go skinny dipping in the lake. Take selfies.” He jogs out to the waiting vehicle. “Lock up before you leave.”
Angel drops her forehead against my chest, and I call after my friend. “Thanks, man.”
He waves out the window, disappearing down the two-lane road leading away from the secluded compound. I slide my hands down Angel’s smooth arms, threading our fingers, palm against palm.
“I’m so glad to see you.”
She makes a humming noise, arching her back and rising on her toes to kiss my lips. “I’ve missed you so much.”
Her eyes are the color of sunset, and she feels like heaven in my arms. Our mouths reunite in a slow kiss, lips pulling, tongues touching. Heat fills my stomach, and I pull her body against mine, loving the feel of us chest to stomach to thigh. I’m ready to take her inside. I want us to be completely reunited.
“Did you bring any bags?”
Her whiskey eyes meet mine. “I brought everything.”
Stepping back, she goes to the small car and opens the trunk. One rolling suitcase is inside, and I take it from her. “This is everything?”
“It’s what’s mine. I’m never going to that house again.”
“Angel—”
“I’m an adult, I have money, and I’m done with trying to include them in our lives.” She puts her purse on her shoulder and takes out what looks like art supplies from the back seat. “Beto tried to kill you.”
“And I nearly killed him in return.”
Her eyes flash to mine. “None of this would have happened if he hadn’t attacked you.”
I can’t argue with her. “The police will have questions.”
“Mateo told them Beto was cleaning the gun and it went off. He didn’t know it was loaded. I don’t think they’re going to pursue it.”
Our feet crunch on the gravel as we walk to the porch. “So I don’t need to turn myself in?”
“You didn’t do anything wrong.”
Inside, I put her suitcase on the landing before pulling her into my arms again. “Are you okay with that?”
Her chin lifts, and our eyes meet. “It’s what’s right. Now where’s that lake? I’m ready to go skinny dipping.”
Angel’s soft breasts flatten against my bare chest. Water laps at our shoulders, and her body is warm against mine. She eases the pressure in my chest, the relentless stress since that gun went off.
Leaning forward, I capture her lips, parting them so I can stroke her tongue with mine as her legs rise and wrap around my waist.
Her lips trace a line to my ear. “I want you to fill me.”
It’s a sultry whisper that tingles my erection. I reach down, grasping my cock and sliding it up and down until I’m at her opening, thrusting inside.
“Fuck,” I groan as wet, clenching heat surrounds me.
“Deacon…” She whispers hungrily at my ear, and my eyes close, my hips thrust upward.
“Mm… yes…” Hot murmurs as our mouths kiss and pull, devouring lips, cheeks.
I lightly bite the side of her neck, and she moans, tightening around my cock. She rides me, pushing her thighs against my waist. Fingers thread in my hair, and her chin lifts.
Her full breasts are at my mouth, and I catch a hard nipple, pulling it with my teeth. Sweet water is on my tongue, and she pulls me deeper. I’m right on the edge about to come.
“Come for me.” My hands grip her soft ass, and I move her, doing my best to hold on as she chants my name, moaning softly.
“So good…” She holds my face, sweeping her tongue in my mouth.
Our mouths seal together, tongues unite, and her pelvis moves like a wave against mine, up and down, blowing my mind.
“Fuck.” I’m losing control. My ass tightens, and one more massaging pull from her hot little body is all it takes. I start to come.
“Oh, God…” She gasps, shuddering and scratching my shoulders.
My lips are on her neck, and we rise together, higher and higher, pulsing and swirling, holding and touching… Until we’re breathing hard, hearts beating fast, as we come down, hugging each other tightly, returning to this moment.
Opening my eyes, I gaze across the placid lake. The surface shines gold with the setting sun, and it’s so peaceful, as if nothing terrible is waiting for us anywhere.
Walking with her in my arms, I lower her so I can see her pretty eyes. They’re sunset and dreams and all of my future.
I slide my palms along her cheeks, kissing her cute little nose. “
I love you.”
Her eyes flutter closed, and when they open slowly, they shine with unshed tears. “Deacon…” She puts her hand against my face, sliding her thumb along the top of my cheek. “You own my heart.”
She’s in my arms, and our kisses are slow and languid, sated and happy. “Remind me to thank Rich for this.”
A pretty smile breaks across her face, and she laughs. “He’s on the permanent Christmas card list.”
“Are we starting a list now?” Holding her hand as I go to where we left our clothes.
“Absolutely. One for Christmas cards and one for switches.”
She’s behind me, and I hand her my shirt off the dry grass to wrap around her naked body as I pull my jeans over my hips. “I thought it was lumps of coal.”
“Those are for throwing.”
I chuckle, hugging her to my side, my arm around her shoulders as we walk back to the house. She’s a centerfold with her hair wet in only my shirt and those sexy lace panties. The sun is dipping behind the horizon, creating layers of red, orange, yellow, and blue across the sky.
“I want to paint this.” Her voice is quiet, dreamy. She looks up at me, and her eyes blend with the horizon. “I want to paint you.”
Lifting her hand, I kiss her fingers. “Sounds hot.”
A brown sack is on the back steps with a receipt attached from L&J Cafe. “What’s this?”
My phone has a text on the face. “Rich says, ‘Enjoy the best Tex-Mex in the city. Tell Angel not to be too critical. I’m sure she’s had better.’”
Her lips press in a smile, and she shakes her head. “I’m sure it’s delicious.”
We’re in the kitchen, and I put a Dos Equis in her hand. I take out the contents of the bag—flautas, pollo en mole, with sides of chips, salsa, and guacamole.
We carry the entire spread out the back door to Skeeter’s airy patio. Ceiling fans and the breeze make it pleasant, and as the sun goes down, so does the temperature.
I click on the gas fire pit, and yellow twinkle lights are strung around the edge of the roof. An enormous pillow is on the floor beside a low table. I take a seat, and Angel crawls between my legs, dipping a chip in salsa and feeding it to me.
“This salsa is the best I’ve had.” She crams a loaded chip into her mouth, crunching loudly. “Okay, Valeria’s is really good… But this is really good.”
“It’s hot.” I reach around her for my Modelo. “Give me some of that mole.”
“Mm… Try this.” She holds a flauta to my lips, and I take a bite of the roll.
Nodding, I lift my chin. “That’s good. Mole.”
“Okay, okay…” She giggles, cutting a piece of the chicken covered in brown sauce.
I groan in approval at the fruity, spicy, hot sauce with the chocolate undertone. She polishes off another flauta, and when we’re good and full, I lift her to her feet, pulling her onto the couch where she curls up at my side facing me.
“I guess we never really got to do this.” Her head rests on her hand, and I slide a curl off her cheek with my finger.
“I was always gone. Why did you ever wait for me?”
Leaning forward, she kisses my lips briefly. “Have you seen you?”
“So it’s purely physical?”
“Yes.”
Reaching down, I grab her ribs, and she squeals a laugh, nearly rolling backwards off the small couch.
“Take it easy, sex kitten.” I catch her, pulling her to me again.
Her arm goes around my waist, and she lifts her chin, tracing her lips along my jaw. “We missed some things, but we did what mattered most.”
“Which was?”
“We talked about our hopes and dreams. You always supported my art.”
“You’re fucking talented as shit. Of course I support you. That portrait of Winnie is stunning.”
She leans her head against my chest. A minute passes, and she sniffs. I frown, giving her a little shake. “What’s wrong, Angel?”
Meeting my eyes again, hers shimmer with light. “I love you so much.”
Cupping her cheek, I lean in for a real kiss, lips parting, tongues sliding together. She exhales a noise, and I’m ready for more. Sitting up, I sweep her into my arms and stand, carrying her into the house.
“What are you doing?” Her mouth is at my ear, tugging it with her teeth.
“Taking you to bed.”
20
Angel
“Favorite Green Day song?” Deacon kisses a line along my jaw, and I’m vibrating with freshly fucked happiness and so much love.
He’s between my thighs, propped on his elbows, and we’re both naked in an enormous California king-sized bed surrounded by soft white sheets and a silky beige duvet.
After our conversation about missing out on the little things, he decided we needed to catch up on all the minutiae of teen life we missed.
Sitting forward, I trace my lips along his brow. “American Idiot.” Then I drop back, shaking my head. “No… no, no… Boulevard of Broken Dreams.”
We both sing at once, “I walk a lonely road…”
“Good one.” He gives me that killer smile, the dimple ghosting his cheek. He is so damn fine. “Your turn.”
“Uh…” I try to think. “Favorite Nicholas Cage movie?”
His brow lowers over those devastatingly blue eyes. “Was that a thing?”
“Sure! He’s made a buttload of movies.” I remember all the guys going on about him in Into the Spider-Verse.
“Hm.” He looks around. “He was the dark Spider-Man in Spider-Verse, but that was more recent…”
“Oh my lord, you all know that one!”
He blinks at me a crooked grin on his cheeks, and my stomach flips. “Who’s we all?” I love his sexy, teasing voice. I love having him between my legs, making love whenever we want. “Spill it, Carmelita.”
“Boys. All you boys.” I can’t resist. “I’m not your aunt.”
His forehead drops to my stomach. “How can you work for her?”
He rolls onto his back, and I curl up beside him like a cat, using my foot to pull the sheet a little lower so I can admire the lines of muscle in his stomach, the V leading past his waist. I’m lost in a haze of lust when he gives my shoulder a little nudge.
“Hey…”
“Huh? Oh, your aunt.” Stretching higher, I kiss his cheek. “She’s paying me very well.”
“Good.” He stretches his arm out, wrapping it around me. “You’re worth every penny.”
“You’re so sweet to me.”
“I’m not sweet. I’m honest. Now, what’s yours?”
“What?”
“Favorite Nicholas Cage movie.”
“Oh!” My head drops to the side, and I exhale trying to think. “Raising Arizona… No! No no… Moonstruck.”
He chuckles, and rolling forward into his chest, I meet his eyes. “Why are you laughing?”
“You do that every time.” He looks at me like he’s done since I arrived.
He starts with my eyes, gazing into them with so much feeling, then he goes along my hairline, down my neck to my shoulders, my breasts… It’s like a slow, loving touch, memorizing everything about me.
“Look at me.” I lift my gaze to his blue eyes burning bright. “You are my family. It’s only you and me. Always.”
This guy.
Rising onto my knees, I straddle his waist, leaning across his chest to press my lips to his. “Nothing can keep us apart.”
I feel his dick stirring at my backside, and I want to slide lower, to put him in my mouth and blow his mind.
Instead, he grips my upper arms. “Ride me.”
It’s a rough order, and I’m instantly wet. A hot breath escapes my parted lips, and reaching behind me, I grip him, hard and thick in my hand, sliding up and down as his jaw tightens. Guiding my body over his, I line us up and drop. His eyes close with a low groan.
He’s watching me, dark and intense, and I want to put on a show. I want him to com
e so hard. I straighten, arching my back and rocking my hips faster on his dick. I cup my breasts, lifting them and making them full and round. His blue eyes follow my movements, and tingles spread beneath my skin, down my legs.
I move faster, back and forth, and the friction of my clit against his shaft has me losing control. He lifts his hips, driving deeper into me as I lean back, placing my hands in his thighs and sliding faster, faster…
He sits up in the bed, catching a hard nipple in his mouth and giving it a firm suck. It registers straight to my core, and I gasp on the edge of orgasm.
“Oh, yeah…” It’s a strangled whisper.
His fingers lightly trace my ass as I move. “So fucking hot…”
He slips a hand between us, rubbing his thumb over my clit, and I electrify at the sensation.
“Deacon…” It’s a frantic moan. His finger moves faster, making me jerk with every pass.
His dick slides higher, hitting that spot that makes me see stars. He doesn’t stop, and I’m losing focus. My vision blurs.
“Oh, God… Don’t stop. Don’t…” I’m rising on my knees, bouncing on his dick as instinct takes over.
My stomach twists, feral noises scrape from my throat. Every nerve in my body is on fire, and I ride his cock until I break.
Like touching an electric fence, my body jerks and shudders. He grips my ass in both hands, holding me against him as he groans deep, pulsing and filling me. His fingers cut into my skin, and I hold him, wrapping my arms around his shoulders.
His body trembles, and I feel him moving inside me. His heart beats hard against my breast, and he’s breathing in my ear. Kissing my hair, loosening his grip.
My arms are tight around him, and his arms band around my waist, holding me flush to him. Our breathing moves in time. I lower my cheek to his shoulder, and I’m sure I’m on another planet, another world where the only things that exist are this beautiful man and the love we share.
How could that ever be wrong? Why should we pay for the sins of our fathers?
I don’t like that thought crowding my blissed-out state, but our reality is only a few hours away, and while we can’t pretend forever, we can pretend for a few days…