by kj lewis
The policeman finally makes his way to us, so he hasn’t seen what happened before Jules throws the punch. He only knows that the guy is yelling about his broken nose. Jules and I tell Becca to call a cab and take Lucy home. Ten minutes later, we’re in the back of a police car being charged with assault. You’ve got to be kidding me. I never touched the guy.
We try to explain to the officer on the way to I don’t know where. I guess East Hampton has a police precinct. I think we would have had a little more leverage with him had we not been laughing about the whole thing, making fun of the guy getting beat up by Jules.
We are fingerprinted and placed in a cell that reminds me of something out of Mayberry. We’re the only two in there. A man comes to our cell and introduces himself as Sheriff Baker, asking for our side of the story and reminding us that we get one phone call.
There is no way I’m calling Graham. I would rather stay the 24 hours to be released. I know he is going to be pissed. Instead, Jules calls Adam
Jules lays on the bench and puts her head in my lap. She’s out in no time. The girl can sleep anywhere.
I’m playing with her hair when I notice a shadow fall across the floor. I look up to see Graham standing on the other side of the bars with his hands in his pockets. As I suspected, he does not look happy. I gently wake Jules when Ben and Sheriff Baker join Graham at the cell door. It’s obvious that Ben and Sherriff Baker know each other.
“Three of the guys at the scene corroborated your story. We aren’t filing the assault charges,” Sheriff Baker says.
“I always knew you would be beside me if I ever got arrested,” Jules winks at me sitting up, and I giggle. The guys are not amused by us at all.
“Thank you,” I say to the Sheriff as I exit the cell.
“Miss James. I do have some business to discuss with you before you go.” The look of confusion on my face has to tell him that I have no idea what that business would be.
“Do you have a dollar in your purse?” he says handing us our stuff. I nod my head. “Give it to Ben there.” I do as I’m told. “Good. You now have legal representation. I’d like to see you and your lawyer in my office please.”
Jules and I look at each other before I follow him to his office.
“You can’t come son. Lawyers only,” Baker says to Graham. I didn’t even realize he was behind me. He wasn’t happy before, now he’s simmering.
“Take Jules home, son. Emme and I will be right behind you,” Ben tells Graham. I can tell he is not pleased with this directive, but he knows better than to say so.
“Call me as soon as you leave,” Graham says to me.
It’s an order, not a suggestion. He puts his arms around Jules and heads out.
Sheriff Baker’s office is standard, nothing fancy. There are drawings from his grandchildren on the bulletin board. Ben points to a seat in front of the desk. I sit and he takes the one next to it.
“What’s going on, Ray,” he asks. This is Lawyer Ben. His demeanor has changed and he’s all business.
“I never touched the guy. I promise.”
“Miss James has a warrant in the city,” Baker says, addressing Ben.
“For what?” I ask. “There has to be a mistake.”
“You’ve been charged with assault.”
“Assault?” I say in disbelief. Ben raises his hand to silence me.
“What are the exact charges?” he asks.
“A one, Mr…” he puts his glasses on to read the paper he’s holding, “John Michaels, has filed a suit alleging you attacked him.”
“You’ve got…” Ben raises his hand to stop me from saying anything further.
“Is your purpose to detain her?”
“No. I talked to a sergeant, a friend of mine in the city, and he changed it to a desk ticket. When she gets back to New York, she will need to go to her local station and turn herself in. I suggest you take Ben with you, young lady. Stay out of trouble until then. You understand?”
Ben stands.
“Yes, sir,” I nod.
“I knew we would get the other guys to confirm your statement. I just needed some time to get the story out of them. I’m sorry my officers didn’t get to you before you were put in a situation where you had to defend yourselves.”
He has an officer take us back to the Mercedes. Ben opens my door for me and I climb in. He slides in the driver’s side with an easy grace that reminds me of Graham. Without a word, he starts the car and we head home.
We pull into the garage and he turns the car off. He stops me as I go to open the car door.
“I want to thank you girls for protecting Lucy. She ditched her security about an hour before you found her. The boys and I were out looking for her when Becca called. That said, I know you are tired. It’s,” he looks at his watch, “almost five in the morning. Why don’t you go to bed, and we’ll talk about the rest of this after you’ve had some sleep? Okay, sweetheart?”
“Thank you.” I hug him.
“Until you and I talk, you say nothing to no one. Understand? By law, they have to repeat anything you say if asked. Until I have all the information, not a word.”
“Got it,” I say climbing out of the car.
When I walk into the kitchen, Ruth greets me with a hug. “Can I get you anything dear?”
“No, thanks. I think I’ll get some sleep.” My eyes lock with Graham’s and he starts to say something.
“She can only tell you what happened with Lucy tonight,” Ben cuts in. “I have instructed her not to say anything other than that. That includes to you, son.” He looks at Graham. “Not a word.” Graham opens his mouth to say something. “Son,” Ben says, meaning business. Either out of respect or fear of his Dad—my guess is the first—he keeps his mouth shut.
“How’s Lucy?” I ask Ruth.
“She’s sleeping. Honestly, I’m not sure she is aware of what happened.”
“She will be when I finish with her tomorrow,” Graham says. He can’t focus his anger on me, so poor Lucy will catch it all.
“We’re her parents. We’ll take care of it,” Ruth says in a tone not to be messed with.
“Mom, it’s inexcusable that she ditched her…”
Ruth cuts off Adam’s rant. “I said we will handle it. Can you tell us what happened, Emme? Becca didn’t have all the details, and Jules was asleep by the time Graham got her home.”
I recap the story for them. Graham and Adam are fit to be tied when I’m finished. Mad about Lucy, mad about me and Jules. Ruth and Ben are seasoned veterans and are handling this better.
“I told you that outfit was…” Graham starts.
“Lay off the outfit. This had nothing to do with her outfit. She’s a teenager. She’s testing her boundaries. Your parents will deal with it and her. It will be fine,” I say, exasperated and exhausted.
“Emelia…”
“Graham,” I cut him off again. “Enough!”
I can see the vein in his neck popping and his thumb moving across his fingers like he’s itching to touch me but doesn’t. Adam throws his head back in laughter and slaps Graham on the back, like he’s been let in on a secret. He says his good nights.
“You’re doing just fine dear,” Ruth says, squeezing my hand.
“Yes she is,” Ben chuckles and kisses me on the forehead. They walk out of the kitchen. “Not a word, son.” He says loudly from the other room.
Graham and I stand there staring at each other. I blink first and head upstairs. I’m too tired to argue. We check on Lucy. She’s asleep. I’m headed into my room, when Graham pulls me into his without a word, closing the door. He heads into his closet and I undress where I’m standing. He comes out in his pajama bottoms and pulls one of his t-shirts over me, and we climb into his bed. He hits the button lowering the room-darkening shades and pulls me into his chest. He kisses the side of my head.
“Sleep,” he orders. And I do.
The room is dark and cool when I wake. The darkening shades must be down s
till. I’m alone. “No sex for me I guess,” I mutter to myself.
I’m quite sore. Stretching my arms, I head to my room and throw on a yoga outfit. It’s eleven. I’ve only slept a few hours, but I feel rested enough.
Making my way to the stairs, I hear Graham talking. I’m about to walk to Adam’s room to say good morning, when Graham’s frustrated tone stops me.
“Stay out of my business, Adam.”
“Look man, I want this to work. I think Mags is the best thing that could happen to you. Last night in the kitchen, when she was giving it right back to you, it reminded me of me and Jules, and I want that for you more than anything. All I’m saying is that Mags is not like the other girls you date. She’s different. I don’t want her to get hurt.”
“That we can agree on. Now stay the fuck out of it.”
“We’re good then, bro. Mags is not a fuck-her-and-leave-her kind of girl. Got it?”
“You don’t know shit, Adam.”
“I know spending three days with her doesn’t make you an expert.”
“Well, your time spent with her doesn’t make you one either. I know Emelia.”
Slowly, I back away from the door and start down the stairs. This is why you shouldn’t eavesdrop, I remind myself. I understand Adam’s need to be protective, but honestly, I can handle myself. I wish people would let me. I’m sick of being handled.
Entering the kitchen, I grab a Diet Coke and put a bagel in the toaster. When it dings, I slather it with cream cheese.
“A little bagel with your cream cheese?” Matt swipes across my bagel, sucking the cream cheese off his finger. I was so caught up in being annoyed with Adam, that I didn’t realize there were people in here.
I laugh when I see Jules and Becca sitting at the kitchen table donning dark sunglasses. Too much to drink and too little sleep. They are each nursing a coffee, and both have serious bedhead.
Lucy, sitting with them, isn’t looking much better. I know she has been in trouble with her parents. I will have to make sure to pull her to the side and spend some time with her, give her a chance to talk. Ruth and Ben are on the opposite side of the table from the girls, hiding their smirk behind their coffee cups.
“Good morning,” Adam sings. Graham follows him into the kitchen.
“For the love of all things holy, please don’t talk so loud.” Jules puts her hands to her temples.
I laugh where I can be heard this time. Grabbing my breakfast, I move to the table and pull out a seat at the end. I’m only one bite in when Graham kisses me on the top of my head and whispers “good morning” in my ear. I catch Ruth and Ben’s glance. It’s a sweet, tender moment that is shot to hell when he reaches for my Diet Coke to replace it with a cranberry juice. He’s in mid-motion when my hand finds his, halting him.
“I would think long and hard before you take my Diet Coke,” I warn him, catching the smile appearing on Ruth’s face. I give her a “this is not cute” look.
“Emelia.”
“Graham. I refuse to have this argument with you every day. I don’t drink coffee. Diet Coke is my wake-up drink.” I take a big bite of my bagel.
“That would be fine, if you drank something else the rest of the day, but you don’t. All you ever drink is Diet Coke.”
“You are not the boss of me!” Better comebacks, James. You have to work on better comebacks.
“That’s a completely different topic,” he says in a tone only I pick up on. “I bet you can’t go a week—scratch that, you can’t go three days without having Diet Coke withdrawals.”
“And if I can?”
“Then I’ll lay off. If you can’t, you agree to give up all except one a day at a time of your choosing.”
I think on it for a minute. “Deal.”
I shake his hand. He lifts my Diet Coke off the table and I slap his hand. “Can’t touch this!” I am getting my one a day.
“Actually, MC Hammer, I can. The one a day doesn’t start until after you have gone three days with none.”
I think back over our conversation and make a face when I realize he’s right. Dammit.
“Won that one, son” Ben pats him on the back. “Emme, let’s talk in my office.”
I shake my head in annoyance that this is even an issue, a movement intended only for me, but I catch Matt’s eyes and I know he saw me. Becca puts her hand in his and gives a slight shake of her head, letting him know this is not the time to ask questions.
I follow Ben to his office, sitting as he closes his door behind me. “Now, Emme, I am legally bound to not share anything you tell me. Do you understand?”
“I do.”
“Good. I don’t want you to withhold anything because you think I will tell Graham.” He visually confirms I’m with him. “Now, tell me about the alleged incident John Michaels is charging you with. Don’t leave anything out, no matter how small a detail.”
I go over everything that happened that day, including the flowers and necklace afterwards. I include the information about Colleen and how she introduced me to the Commissioner who helped me report the attack. I leave out no details.
“I’ve never liked John Michaels.” Ben moves from leaning against his desk to sitting behind it. “He’s always been a sleazy son of a bitch,” he says with some venom. “I’m friends with Commissioner Ralston. I’ll see if we can’t handle this through some back channels, keep it out of the news. I should be able to arrange the desk ticket to be withdrawn. Have you have told anyone besides Colleen?”
I shake my head.
“Well, it’s your decision to tell anyone or not. You won’t be jeopardizing your case at this point. I honestly don’t think he will want this in the press, and I don’t see any way for him to spin this in his favor. I don’t know how he wins this, so I don’t know why he is trying. I don’t trust him though. I would like you to have some protection until this is resolved. Will you let me arrange that for you?”
“Graham is already having me followed,” I say somewhat embarrassed.
“I see. Well good for him. My son is nothing if not thorough. Do you plan on telling him?”
“No, sir. Not at this time I don’t.”
He doesn’t say anything for a beat.
“Alright then. I’ll call the Commissioner now, and we’ll handle the rest when we get back to the city next week.” He stands and moves towards the door. As I make my way out, I stop to give him a hug. He wraps his arms around me and kisses the top of my head to let me know everything will be okay.
Graham clears his throat. He seems puzzled by the scene. I give Ben one last squeeze and make my way out the door.
“I’ll give you two a minute,” I say.
“Emelia?”
I squeeze Graham’s hand as I walk by.
The girls are still in nursing hangovers when I re-enter the kitchen.
“I really like your yoga outfit, James. I need you to shop for me,” Becca whispers.
“I can. All you have to do is ask and give me a budget. I style anyone. Let’s go, ladies. Yoga on the deck. It will do us some good.”
“I don’t think so,” they say in unison.
“Come on. You’ll feel better I promise.” I give my best puppy-dog look, but to no avail.
“Fine. Lucy?”
“Thanks, but I’ll sit this one out.”
“Ok. I’m going riding later. Want to go?”
“Sure.” She looks a little brighter. I can tell she is still down about what happened last night. I don’t have all the details, but I know it has been a long morning for her.
I reach for a Diet Coke, but remember the bet I made with Graham. I grab a bottle of water and head up to my room to do yoga on my balcony.
It’s so pretty up here. The ocean looks like it’s never ending. I try to clear my mind and get into the groove of my yoga. It feels good to stretch my body. Remove some of the soreness.
I’ve moved from a warrior pose to a downward dog. My hands and feet are flat on the ground. This is o
ne of my favorite poses - it stretches everything.
Graham walks out and stands behind me, rubbing his hands over my ass. I’m noticing a pattern with him. Without a word spoken, he slides my pants over my hips and down my legs. He moves to his knees and puts his mouth on me from behind. With his hands on my hips, he continues to make a meal of me, fucking me with his tongue. I’m beginning to see that Graham likes to take me in unexpected places. I lift my head, but the balcony is solid and private. We can’t be seen from here. He pulls his tongue out of me and runs it up and down my sex.
“Don’t move,” he commands, and leaves. In a minute he’s back with something in his hand. “I’m going to put this in your ass.”
Uh, I don’t know about that, I think to myself.
“It’s small, it will feel foreign at first, but you’ll adjust to it. When I say so, I want you to shift your weight into it, understand?”
“Yes.”
“Yes what?”
“Yes, okay?”
“Who’s in charge, Emelia?”
“We both are.”
SLAP!
“Emelia,” he warns with a whisper. He inserts his fingers in my sex, extorting a moan from me.
“You, Graham. You’re in charge,” I concede in a whisper.
“And how do you address someone who’s in charge?”
When I don’t answer, he slowly rolls his tongue around the bud of my sex and back down my folds. He repeats the pattern, but this time he bites the little bud, then soothes it with his tongue. Then he stops and waits for my answer. I try to hold out, I really do, but he has me so amped up that all I want is for him to bring me to climax.
“Yes, sir,” I acquiesce.
“Good girl. Now, be quiet. The others are on the deck below.”
What the fuck? Then why is he doing this now?
His tongue moves down between my cheeks before entering me again. This time he uses his tongue to fuck me as slowly as he can. From his vantage point behind me, he’s able to get deeper. His tongue should be illegal. Biting my lip, I keep my moans to a whimper. He stops and pushes a cold object into my sex moving it back and forth. It takes me a minute to realize he’s lubing the object with my own wetness. Pulling the object out, he wets his fingers in my sex and runs them up my ass spreading the moisture over me. Placing one hand on my ass cheek, he positions the object against the pucker of skin and slowly pushes it in.