by Rye Hart
“You think?” I licked my fork and smiled like a tomcat, feeling more like myself than I had in months. “Her Dad will likely string me up.”
“It’s all part of the fun.” She reached out and patted my arm. “You’re special forces. Figure out a way to make it all happen. It’s part brains, and part strategy. You got both. Use them.”
CHAPTER SEVENTEEN - ABIGAIL
I must have slept for two days straight. By the time I got back up, everyone was gone to church. My Dad would give me hell for missing it, but knowing my Mom, she would take my side and calm everyone down.
After taking a long shower and brushing the tangles from my hair, I walked down to the kitchen and breathed in deeply. Janice, my Dad’s chef, had a pot roast in the crock pot and was singing Bruce Springsteen at the top of her lungs.
I laughed and tapped her on the shoulder.
“Oh hell!” She jumped, turned around and pulled her ear buds out. “Child, you scared the hell out of me!”
I laughed and moved into the warm hug she provided. “See there? No need for church when you can get the hell scared out of you in the kitchen, right?”
“Don’t let your Daddy hear you say that.” She laughed again and released me. “You gave us a big scare, missy. You know you’ll always be the baby around here. You’re the only one we got to raise.”
“I realize that.” I moved around her and picked up an apple before hopping up to sit on the counter beside her cutting board. “I’m not a baby anymore though. I’m a grown woman, and I want to start living my life. It’s stupid that I still have to ask to go places and take a bodyguard with me.”
“Really?” She glanced over at me and put a hand on her portly hip. “Girl, you’re out of your mind. I saw that bodyguard, and I’m telling you this… he can guard my body any time he wants to.”
I chuckled and almost choked on my apple. “He was handsome.” A dreamy feeling raced through me, and I realized how badly I wanted to see him again.
“Your Dad is handsome. This man was F-I-N-E, fine.” She handed me a napkin as juice from the apple ran down my chin. “He and your Daddy had a rough talk though from what I gather.”
“Rough talk?” I tilted my head to the side as my heart sunk in my chest. “Harley saved my life and got me back home safely.”
“And your Dad thinks something happened between the two of you.” She lifted her eyebrow and pressed me with a hard stare. “Now you know I don’t gossip, but did something happen?”
“That I can’t share, Janice.” I hopped off the cabinet and walked toward the front door as the sound of my parents coming into the house filled up the foyer.
“They replaced the twelfth disciple, honey. I’m telling you. It’s in the book.” My Dad turned to face my Mom with his hand on his hip. That was never good.
“No. They didn’t.” My Mom leaned around him. “Hi, baby. You look good.” She moved in front of me and gripped my shoulders. “Are you feeling okay? You slept forever.”
“Two days, Mom. Not forever.” I hugged her and eyed my Dad. “Can I talk to you for a minute, Dad?”
“Yep. In the office.” He turned and walked toward the office, lifting his hand in the air. “And I’m telling you, there was another disciple after Judas. Look it up honey, and then you can let me know that I’m the winner.”
“You’re wrong!” She yelled playfully behind us as I followed my Dad. It was nice to see that he had a regular relationship with someone, but he always had that with my Mom. They were friends, lovers, partners in all things.
It’s the type of relationship I wanted my whole life, the type of relationship I could see myself in with a man like Harley.
“Right this way,” my Dad said and moved back. “And tell me now… is this about Harley?”
I stopped in my tracks and turned to face him. “Yes. Why?”
“Lauren. You’re needed in here with us.” He left the door open and walked to his black leather couch, dropping down and letting out a long sigh.
“And why does Mom need to be in here?”
“Because,” he gave me a stern look, “Your Mom and I have been discussing you and Harley for the last two days, sleeping beauty. It’s not right.”
“What about Harley and me?” My voice rose as heat scorched my chest. This wasn’t going to go well. It never did with my Dad.
“About whatever happened between the two of you over in Madrid, baby.” My Mom walked in and stopped beside me, wrapping her arm around my shoulders. “We could tell something was up, and your Dad saw you kiss him.”
“He saved my fucking life.” I pulled away from her as tears burned my vision.
“Watch your language,” my Dad barked out.
“Robert. She’s hurting. Leave her be.” My Mom wrapped me in a tight hug and kissed the top of my head. Of course she was going to treat me like a child. I was acting like one. “You know that we love you.”
I pulled back and glanced up at her. “Yes, well then, let me live my life. Please?”
“Your Dad and I have reservations about you being with someone like Harley.” She brushed my tears away.
“Like?” I glanced over at my Dad. The conversation was really with him. My Mom was just cannon fodder of sorts.
“Like him being ten years older than you,” my Dad lifted his fingers, counting off the things wrong with me and Harley like he was working on a how-to manual, “and he has a tormented past, and he’s not a relationship kind of guy. He’s killed people before, baby.”
“Dad. You have a tormented past. Just because you fought for freedom in a different way doesn’t mean you haven’t seen some crazy shit.” I pulled out of my Mom’s hold and walked over to my Dad. “Don’t make me choose between you and him. I’m tired of always having to let go of the things I want most to prove my dedication and respect to you. I’m twenty-two years old!”
“Robert.” My Mom moved up beside him and patted him on the chest. “Go check on the roast. I want to take this conversation with Abi, okay?”
My Dad glanced over at her, his jaw locked. Surprisingly enough, he nodded and walked out of the room without a word.
She turned and smiled. “You’re in love with him, aren’t you?”
I dropped down on the chair beside me, feeling so incredibly deflated all of a sudden. “I don’t know, Mom, but I… I…”
“You want him in your life?” She sat down next to me and wrapped an arm around my shoulder.
“Yes.” I glanced over at her. “And I gave him my virginity. I don’t want that to be it between us. He was so gentle and loving. I can’t just walk away from this. I can’t.”
“Then don’t.” My Mom kissed my shoulder, taking my v-card confession much better than I thought. “But understand that he’s nothing like you. He’s a different type of person, baby, and he’s much older than you. I don’t want you getting your feelings hurt if he’s not willing to start a relationship with you.”
“I have to try.” I leaned against her and closed my eyes. “I have to.”
CHAPTER EIGHTEEN - HARLEY
The text from Abi that she wanted to meet later that afternoon in town was a bit of a surprise, and a huge ass relief. After talking things through with my Mom, I knew I had to try and see the girl again. Even if it turned out we were now just friends. I wanted her in my life.
I drove the back roads to the quaint little bookstore that she’d given me the address to. It wasn’t a place I’d haunted before, but I was willing to go to a pantie store in the middle of the mall if it meant checking on her.
She’d taken up residence in my dreams and had me waking up each night with a throbbing hard-on and sweat trickling down my face and chest. How in the world I’d fallen for a sweet, simple, innocent girl was beyond me. I’d always thought I would end up a bachelor for life, but in the last few days, I’d come up with a hundred different scenarios for my future, and none of them were without her.
The bell dinged loudly above my head as I stooped do
wn and walked into the bookstore. The smell of dusty pages and sage filled my nose, causing me to sneeze a few times.
“Bless you.” I knew that soft, sweet voice.
“Thank you.” I smiled and turned to face her. The look on her face caused my heart to melt. We could both play games, but she missed me. It was written all over her pretty face.
Her light blue dress was playful, thin, made for summer. I could see the faint outline of her nipples through her bra, and the vein beating along the side of her neck left me without a doubt. She was turned on. She was completely mine. Oh, the possibilities.
Relief mixed with happiness swept through me, and it stole my breath. Had I really fallen that hard for her? It couldn’t have just been the sex, though it was delicious and felt right with her. It was something more. I was her protector. I was her man.
“You look good.” She reached out, and I took her hand, pulling it to my lips and kissing her knuckles. I couldn’t help but lick at her fingertips before pulling one into my mouth.
Her soft groan was enough to have my dick thick and hard, my heart beating like crazy and a million naughty thoughts racing through my mind. Why a beautiful woman like her was willing to take a chance on a guy like me was a mystery, but I wasn’t willing to give her up. Not yet. Not ever.
“You do too.” I glanced around. “You alone? Cause I’m pretty sure your Dad isn’t going to approve of this.”
She laughed, and the world felt lighter. “He doesn’t have a say in it. I’m a grown-ass woman, remember?”
“No?” I let my eyes run down the length of her as she turned and walked toward a row of bookshelves. She looked like a grown-ass woman, her body luscious with curves, her skin smooth and flawless. There wasn’t a part of her that I didn’t want to touch, to lick, to possess.
“Nope.” She glanced over her shoulder, giving me a look that could only mean one thing. She wanted time pressed to the bed or wall beneath me. Give the woman sex a few times and then she’d want it all the time.
This is not a bad thing. I followed her, memorizing the soft curves of her hips, the soft curves of her legs. She had no clue of the power she had over me. It was mesmerizing.
She stopped short, and I almost bumped into the back of her. I wrapped my arms around her shoulders and leaned down, pressing my mouth to the side of her neck just below her ear. “What are you doing right now, Abi? We’re in a bookstore, and I’m hard as a rock thanks to those bedroom eyes you keep fucking throwing my way.”
“Being naughty,” she whispered and reached for a door in front of her. “These are quiet reading rooms. You can only occupy them for twenty minutes, but I think that’s long enough.” She opened the door and turned, moving to her knees and motioning for me to join her.
“Are you serious right now?” I glanced around and moved into the small room with windows on both sides. There was no one on either side of us, but there could be any minute. “Let’s just got back to my place and spend the night together.”
“We can do that too.” She reached up and unbuttoned my jeans, her fingers so soft, her eyes wide with wonderment. “I want to work on this thing between you and me.”
“You know I’m not good with relationship.” I reached down and brushed my fingers by the side of her face. “I can’t make any promises.”
“Do you care about me?” She tugged my boxers over my hips, freeing my cock as it stood proudly at attention.
“I’m falling in love with you.” I cupped the side of her face as she moved up and brushed her cheek down my length, stealing my breath.
“Me too. Then stop thinking about it, and let’s just see what happens.” She swirled her tongue around the head of my cock, sucking softly. “Tell me if I do this wrong.” Her pretty cheeks colored pink.
“Just don’t talk with your mouth full.” I laughed as she swatted at me and moved up to take me into her mouth. My humor turned into moans, grunts, and whimpers as I lost my load to the only woman whose body I’d be guarding.
My woman.
EPILOGUE - ABIGAIL
One Year Later
I couldn’t help but pace the floor as I waited for Harley to return. He’d been gone a month on his latest job, and not having him in my life or my bed was driving me crazy. We’d been through some ups and some serious downs, but he’d been true to his word. He was trying to make us work; there was just a lot of work there to do.
He was in counseling a couple of times a month to help with his nightmares about being in the war, and I was more than happy to sit for hours to listen to him talk through some of the events and feelings. He wasn’t nearly as opened up as I wanted him to be, but I figured that would change, and soon.
After checking my watch for the millionth time, I walked into the kitchen of our high-rise New York apartment and pulled out the stuff to make a salad. I had a chicken and veggie in the oven and hoped he would be hungry, as I’d cooked enough for three people.
A smirk touched my lips at the thought. Poor Janice had the horrible task of teaching me to cook, which was like trying to teach a frog to fly. It just didn’t work too well.
I yelped as the sound of someone coming through the front door filled up the space around me.
“Baby? I’m home. You here?” The sound of him breathing in deeply followed by him growling left my stomach in knots, my heart racing.
Would he be upset with my news? I brushed the front of my dress nervously and walked around the corner to greet him. “I’m right here. I’ve missed you.”
His jeans hugged his hips tightly, and his black t-shirt left little to the imagination on how well he took care of his body. Our fight before he left a month ago was more than forgotten as I walked across the room and crashed into him.
Strong fingers sunk into my hair, winding around the strands and pulling tightly as he kissed me with a fierceness I could only conjure up in my dreams.
“I’ve missed you so much,” he licked my lips and ran his free hand down my back to cup my ass. “I think I need to find a local gig. This traveling away from you isn’t going to work the way I thought it would.”
“Life’s too short to spend it apart.” I ran my fingers down the back of his hair and molded myself against his body, kissing him a few more times until the room grew faint.
“You keep licking at my mouth, and we’re not eating whatever’s making that heavenly smell.”
“What are we eating then?” I purred and licked at his mouth again.
He chuckled low in his chest and moved out of my arms, putting his bag down by the TV. “How about we spend the evening eating each other, and then I’ll fuck you real good from behind like you like?”
My body hummed with energy. One of the best parts about moving in together had been the ability to constantly explore each other – any time we wanted to.
“I like it.” I bit my lip as he winked and walked toward the bedroom. “Dinner will be ready in fifteen minutes, and I have some big news.”
“Me too. I’ll be out in just a minute,” his voice was muffled as he closed the bedroom door.
The ache between my legs was equal to the stiffness of my nipples. I wanted him all over me, but first… I needed to tell him my news. He’s been so good with me every time something new had come up over the last year, especially regarding my parents.
My Dad was still dead set against Harley and me being together, but my Mom had accepted the idea when we moved in together.
It was a different life, a different world.
Needing to grow up and remind my Dad that I was grown, I rejected his firm’s offer upon graduation from Harvard a few months before and decided to work at a competing firm. It was nothing against my Dad, but rather the need to start making a life of my own.
“Where you at?” Harley’s voice pulled me from my thoughts.
“In here.” I reached for the knife and finished dicing up various items for a salad.
“Smells so good.” He moved up behind me, sliding his strong h
ands up my side and cupping my breasts as he ground against me. “Feel that? I can’t even walk into a damn room with you and not get a hard-on. You’re going to be the death of me.”
I rolled my hips a little and laughed. “You probably say that to all the girls you guard.”
He chuckled and moved around me, grabbing a carrot. “Only boy bodies for me now, and to be honest, this last guy was a total asshat. How someone can act like they own the world and still have fans is a mystery to me.”
“Want a beer?” I walked to the fridge and got two out.
“I need a beer.” He lifted his hands, and I turned and tossed one to him.
“He was that bad, hmmm?”
“Yep. There’s only one person I’ve had to work with before that was worse. The girl just wouldn’t relent. Throwing her panties at me, pretending to want to learn self-defense so she could grind against my cock.” He shook his head and lifted the beer to his perfect lips as his eyes filled with merriment. “It was a little embarrassing.”
“Someone I know?” I took a sip of my water bottle I had by the stove and put it down, moving over to him and sliding my hands up his strong chest. “Anyone hitting on my man should be put down.”
“Like a sick animal at the vet?” He lifted his eyebrow.
“Yep. And it should be painful.” I molded myself to the front of him.
“Ouch!” He laughed and cupped my ass, rocking against me. “You’re so jealous all of a sudden. Can I tell you that I like it?”
“You can tell me anything.” I pulled him down for a long kiss, sucking on his tongue softly as our sweet moment quickly morphed into both of us panting, needy for more. “Dinner can wait.”
“No.” He nipped at my lips and moved back. “I need to tell you something. Big stuff. Come out to the patio with me. After that, we can eat and make love or make love and eat. Totally up to you.”
“Really?” I whined playfully as he pulled out of my arms and walked to the patio door. “Just tell me here. It’s getting cold out there.”
“Get out here before I spank your fine ass.” He opened the door and gave me a smile that melted my heart. He was a different man than the one I met and fell in love with, but love had the power to melt even the hardest of hearts.