“It’s a dinner and dance to raise money for whatever charity the town adopts. This year, it’s for the high school’s second computer lab,” April explains.
A very worthy cause, and after next week I wouldn’t have any reason to keep April from going to the gala with Biff. I don’t like that. “Well, we’d better be going.”
I keep my hand around her, preventing a goodbye hug and sure as hell not another kiss from Biff. I don’t even care if it was on the cheek. I’m glaring at the back of a retreating Biff, which is probably why I don’t notice April giving me her own disapproving look.
“What was that?” she asks.
I turn at the frosty sound in her voice and ask, “What was what?”
Her brows rise as she stares me down. “Elias, you know exactly what I’m talking about.”
“He wants to fuck you.” I don’t mince words. That’s the message Bongo was sending out.
April gasps and crosses her arms, saying nothing, but I get her message loud and clear. I’ve crossed a line. Without a word, she turns and starts back toward the truck. What am I doing? I run my hand through my hair. I have no hold on April. “Wait up, April.”
I jog to catch up to her. I touch her arm, and she yanks it away as she turns to confront me. “What?” She points all her anger directly at me and I can’t help thinking she’s beautiful.
“I’m sorry,” I quickly admit. “That was a dick move.” But I’m really not sorry about a thing. I’d stake my claim again.
She cuts her eyes up, then levels her gaze back at me. “Yes, it was.”
I take a step closer and am rewarded when she lets me. “Am I forgiven?”
She sighs, rolling her eyes, and I see her body relax, releasing some of her previous anger. “I’m not entirely sure.” She starts to walk again, and I fall in beside her.
I take her hand, and she wraps her fingers around mine. I shouldn’t push my luck, but I need to know. “Just tell me this. Is there anything between you and Biff?”
She cocks one brow in my direction. “Biff? Do you mean Banks?”
I chuckle. “That’s a stupid name.”
“Elias…” She draws my name out much like my mother used to do, but I see the smile playing around the edges of her lips.
“Banks,” I repeat as courteously as I can. “Is there?” I ask again.
She sighs. “It’s complicated.” By this time, we’d reached the truck, but instead of getting in, she leans against the door. “Why do you even want to know this?” she asks, searching my eyes.
I have no answer for her, because I have no clue myself.
April sighs and looks down at the grass. “I’ve known Banks all my life. He’s a really nice man.”
I take a step closer and tip her chin up until I see her eyes. “Then why aren’t you with him?”
“I don’t love him,” she answers without a pause.
I can see the truth of that statement in her eyes. The tension I’d been holding inside eases. “But you don’t think of him as a brother?”
She shakes her head and smiles. “No. Not at all. We’re… convenient.”
I know what that means. My lips press together in a slight grimace as I ask, “Convenient?”
Pink rises in her cheeks, and she shrugs. “Treemont is a small town. It’s gotten better since White Oaks Apartments opened, but eligible men are few and far between. You’ve either gone to school with them, or you’re related to them.”
“So, you’re fuck buddies?” I ask, just to clarify.
She flinches at the harshness, but doesn’t answer. She looks very uncomfortable, but she gives me a slight nod. I should let it go. I got my answer. I can’t be upset because she was honest. I have no right to be. But I don’t like it. Not so much because of her past with Biff, but because when I leave, Biff will move right back in.
April sighs and explains. “Banks doesn’t live here. He comes into town to visit his mom a few times a year.”
I get what she’s saying, or rather, what she isn’t saying. “When was the last time he visited his mother?” I try to keep my tone neutral.
April forces a laugh. “About six months ago.”
Why that gave me a bucket full of jollies, I have no clue, but it does. “But he’s here now.” Probably hoping to hook up while he’s in town. Not. Gonna. Happen.
She nods, resting her hands on my biceps. “Yes. He is.”
“And he wants to get together,” I ask, and I feel April’s close gaze.
She hesitates. “Elias. Are you…jealous?”
“No.” Yes. Rationally, I know that doesn’t make sense. If April asks me about my past, my answer would be vastly different from hers. I didn’t even know her until last week. Wow. Hypocrite much?
“I think it might be best if I go home,” she says quietly, releasing my arms.
I don’t let her go. Instead, my hands tighten on her waist, and I press her gently against the truck door. “Why?”
Her head tips up to look at me. “Come on, Elias. What are we doing?”
“I don’t…” I can’t answer her, because I don’t know what we were doing. What started out as one thing suddenly doesn’t seem to fit anymore. I shift my gaze away, feeling too exposed.
Her hands move back to rest on my forearms. “We’ve only got a few more days until Belinda’s wedding. I have everything under control, so maybe it would be best if we just back off now.”
A feeling of panic settles inside me. Back off? That’s not going to work for me. I move even closer. “No, April. While I’m here…you’re mine.” But what about afterward? I leave that question unasked, and unanswered. I press her back against the truck with my body. I feather my lips over her neck, and her hands inch up my arms. The only thing I do know is that I need to be inside her again. I need to watch her face as she takes her pleasure. I need…
A growl leaves my throat as I take her lips with mine. One swipe of my tongue on her bottom lip, and she opens for me. I caress her tongue with mine and deepen the kiss. My hands move under her t-shirt, and I calm with the touch of her heated skin. With one tug, I pull the cups of her bra beneath her breasts, and my hands are on her. Kneading, squeezing, claiming. With my thumb and middle finger, I roll her hardened nipples and capture her moan in my mouth. What she does to me. She’s my drug of choice, and I can’t get enough. I unsnap the button of her jeans and slide one hand down her stomach and under the pale blue panties I’d watched her put on that morning. She sucks in a gulp of air when my finger brushes over her wet, swollen clit. I’m so close to losing it. A groan comes from my own mouth when she shivers as my fingers work their magic on her wet, hard clit. She whimpers when my lips leave hers but then moans when they move to her neck. I grab her shirt by the hem and pull, exposing her breast for my mouth. I nibble on one rigid nub while continuing to tease her with my fingers.
I’m so lost in bringing her to orgasm that at first, the crunch of shoes on gravel doesn’t register, but the high-pitched giggles finally break through. I tug on her shirt to cover her breasts and reluctantly pull my hand from her pants. She whines at the loss, and it’s the best fucking sound. She wants me. She wants this. I rest my forehead on hers as we both try to cool our raging desire for completion. I turn my head to make sure the intruders are gone, and I see three young women walking away. I have lost my mind. If anyone had recognized me… I adjust my ballcap lower over my eyes as I glance back to the area where the women had gone.
“I’m sorry. I shouldn’t have let things go that far out here.” Her eyes are glazed, and all I get is a nod. I kiss the top of her nose. I hate leaving her frustrated, but protecting her overrides her need.
“Come on. Let’s go home.” She hums an agreement and I grin.
The ride home is a very quiet one. When I walk April to her apartment, I fully expect her to say good night and close the door in my face. Since the night at Aunt Rita’s we’ve not slept apart. I would understand if she didn’t invite me in. But instead, she stuns
me by taking my hand, pulling me inside, and leading me straight to her bedroom, where we finish what we’d started back in the flea market parking lot.
April
A few mornings after the Banks incident, I wake to Elias’s magical tongue. At least that’s the way I’ve begun to think of what he does to me. I’ve never had anyone make me feel the way he can with just his tongue and fingers. I’m not saying other parts of him aren’t just as…entertaining, but he excels at cunnilingus. Nothing’s been said officially, but he’s been staying over. It’s more like a silent communication. He didn’t ask, and I didn’t say he couldn’t. It just means more orgasms for me.
After we shower…well, eventually we actually shower, but not before I’d had two more powerful orgasms, I fix a simple breakfast of coffee, eggs, bacon and toast. That’s about the extent of my cooking abilities. But Elias is eating them. Sitting at the table eating with Elias feels normal. Which might not be a good idea. Of course, I’ve been telling myself this since the day I met him. He’s leaving.
He’d seemed so jealous of Banks. And his reaction to my suggestion that we end things wasn’t what I’d expected. Should I hope he, too, is feeling whatever this is between us?
“So, what’s on the agenda for today?” Elias asks before taking a sip of his coffee.
I contemplate my schedule as I munch on a piece of crispy bacon. Our time is running out, and there’s still so much to do. “I’d like to call and check on some wedding things. I need to go see Rachael and make sure we’re good to go for catering. I also need to call my flower supplier and make sure my order hasn’t met with any problems. They should start delivering tomorrow, then Grammy and I will probably work through the night creating the arrangements we’ll need.”
He nods and stabs another piece of egg. “When do we start setting up the venue?”
I’m so excited to get started with the wedding decorations. “I’d like to get a jump on it and at least start setting up the tables for the reception as soon as they are delivered.”
“I can’t do the flower arrangements, but I can set the tables up. When are they being delivered?” Elias asks.
That would help a lot. “Sometime tomorrow afternoon. It would be great to have your help with stringing the garden lights and wrapping the beams with twinkle lights and tulle.”
His brows crunch together in confusion. “I have no idea what tulle is, but consider it done.”
“Thanks. I’ll give you written directions.” I smile at his muddled look. “Have you heard from Belinda?”
Elias wipes his mouth with a paper napkin. “I got a text from her this morning. She said they’re coming in Saturday. My email is filled with friends letting me know the time they would be arriving. It’s all falling into place, isn’t it?”
I swallow the mouthful of eggs I’d just shoveled in before answering. “If I’ve done my job, it should.”
Elias’s phone rings. He glances at the screen and pushes the button to ignore, then looks at me from across my small dining table. “You’ve done an amazing job, April.”
I feel myself blush. “Thank you, Elias.”
“I know we got off to a rough start, but I can’t imagine trusting anyone but you to give my baby sister the wedding of her dreams. She’s a very lucky woman to have found you.”
Hearing him say that after what he first thought… “I know you didn’t trust me at first, and I completely understand why. I’m glad she found me, too.” I want to say more, but my eyes chose that moment to begin stinging.
“Why don’t you go start your calls, and I’ll clean up in here? I need to run a few errands and touch base with the security detail I’ve hired. How about we meet up for dinner at Sixth Street Diner at seven?”
“That sounds like a plan.” Fifteen minutes later, I’m on hold with my supplier when Elias pulls me into his arms, takes the phone from my ear, and kisses me goodbye. Stunned, I watch the door close behind him with what I’m sure is a goofy grin on my face. A small voice coming from my phone rousts me from my daze, and I get back to business.
A few hours later, I’ve finished up my calls. I’m pleased with how things are progressing. Everything is on schedule, as it should be. I can’t have anything go wrong. Not only because it’s going to be our first event ever held at White’s Manor, or because it’s going to be a high-profile wedding that could literally make or break us, but because it’s Elias’s sister. That’s come to be more important.
I pull on a pair of jeans and a white t-shirt, with a red and black plaid button-down fleece over the top. I grab my purse and head to The Sweet Spot to talk to Rachael. As soon as I open the door, a strong scent of cinnamon and sugar hits me, and I feel like five extra pounds has attached to my hips. Henry is sitting at a table with his head bent over a notebook. He’s getting so big. It seems just like yesterday I was holding him in my arms. I ruffle his red hair. “Hey, buddy. How’s it going?”
He looks up, his jade green eyes shining. “Hi, Aunt April. Where have you been?”
I take a seat across from Henry. There’s usually not a day that goes by that I don’t see Henry. Lately, I’ve just not had time, and I feel guilty about that. “Sorry, fella. I’ve been busy with the wedding we’re having on Saturday. I promise it won’t be for much longer and then our lives can get back to normal.” But somehow, I just don’t think “normal” is going to work for me anymore.
“I wanted to come over last night and play video games with you, but Mom said you were too busy.”
How did Rachael know Elias was at my apartment last night? I look up and find Rachael behind the counter with a customer. I have no trouble getting the message she’s sending me without saying a word. We’ve not had a chance to talk since Elias and I went to the Wolcott’s. I need to catch her up on a lot of things.
I turn back to Henry. “How about coming over tonight? I should be home after I meet a friend for dinner.”
“You’re not going to the cookout tonight?” his green eyes question.
“Oh, gosh! I forgot that’s tonight. Of course I’ll be there.” I’ll have to let Elias know about the change in plans. Should I invite him to a family cookout in my parent’s backyard? Would that be too much? “What are you working on?” I try to get a glimpse. All I see are musical notes written on lines which make no sense to me.
“Just something I’m working on.” Henry makes more marks on the page that only he can hear.
Henry’s musical ability is astounding. We knew this at a very early age. My mom and dad have a piano in their basement. Even before Henry could walk, he’d want to sit on our lap and push the keys just to hear the sound. By three, he could put notes together that sounded good. At four, he could put notes together from the songs we’d sing around the house. Then my dad gave him a ukulele when he was five, and within a few months, he was playing songs from his favorite movies on the piano and ukulele. By the age of seven, he’d taught himself how to play the guitar. When he’d turned eight, he was composing songs. His teachers say he’s musically gifted and it scares Rachael—something I’ve never been able to understand. “Are you going to play it for me?” I ask, but I already know the answer. Henry doesn’t like to share his compositions. At least not willingly.
He shrugs and makes another mark on his page. “Maybe, someday.”
“You’ve not given me a concert in weeks. I’m going to need for you to work me into your schedule soon.” I bump him with my shoulder.
Henry looks up from his page and giggles. “Aunt April, you’re crazy.”
“Crazy about you. Always.” I ruffle his red curls again and plant a slobbery kiss on his cheek, which he grumbles about. That makes it even better.
When Rachael finishes up with her customer, she sets a plate of goodies down in front of me. Henry snatches the cinnamon bun before my hand makes contact. “Hey!”
“You snooze, you lose!” He grins around a mouthful of bun.
Rachael and I laugh at his antics. “April, why don’
t you join me in the back? I’ll see if I can find another one of those for you.”
The swinging door between the front and back of the bakery hadn’t even closed before Rachael turns on me. “What’s going on with you and Elias?”
I walk over to her work table and pull up a stool. “I’m going to need that bun and a cup of coffee if I’m going to tell you all that.”
She sets down a white plate with a hand-size bun and a mug of hot coffee. “Spill, bitch.”
I sigh. “Okay. You know we went to see the Wolcotts.”
Rachael nods. “Yes. And you called me in a panic. I am assuming you took my advice and took him for a ride. And I’ve noticed you’ve been having sleepovers every night since.”
I raise a brow. “Rachael, I must say for someone who hasn’t gotten any in years, you certainly don’t mind handing out that advice.” I take a bite of the heavenly bun.
“What can I say? I have to get my grins and giggles somehow. Go on, and don’t leave anything out.”
I lick my fingers, making sure to get every granule of the yummy sugar. “There’s really not that much to tell. Yeah, I slept with him, kinda. And yes to the sleepovers, but I promised you we weren’t doing facials and each other’s hair.”
“Whoa. I know it’s been a while, but I do remember you can’t kinda sleep with someone. Was there or wasn’t there orgasms involved?”
Heat flares up my face at the memories. “Well, for one of us.” I stuff another mouthful of the cinnamon roll.
“Oh.” Her eyes go serious as she nods in understanding. “I never would have thought he’d be an early shooter. He looks like he’d know his way around a vagina.”
I choke when I try to swallow, and begin to cough uncontrollably. Rachael jumps up and starts hitting me on the back. As I gasp for breath, I bang my head on the stainless-steel table. “Oh, my God, Rachael! Stop. I didn’t say that!” I wheeze when I can finally get my windpipe unclogged.
“Why don’t you explain?” She crosses her arms and waits.
I turn around and look over the top of the door to make sure Henry is still in the next room, and wipe the leftover tears from my eyes. “We didn’t have a condom,” I say quietly.
Heartbreaker: Billionaires of White Oaks Page 11