Dirty Money

by Michelle Love

  “Give the chick a shot, Angel,” I say as I bat my eyelashes at her. “For me. Please. Gage needs a life too, sweetheart.”

  Ever since we found out just how much irreversible damage was done to Gage’s brain a few months ago, Angel has become his fierce protector. And God help anyone who thinks they can attempt to pull anything over on the man.

  The doorbell chimes and Angel races Gage to the front door. I come along behind them, holding Woody and making faces at him to make him laugh. I love this kid’s laugh!

  Gage manages to beat her and he opens the door and there stands a woman. Not a chick, a full grown older woman. Pretty and nice looking but at least twenty years older than Gage.

  Angel stares at her as Gage reaches out and takes her hand. “Dana, it’s nice to finally meet you face to face.”

  She smiles, revealing a really nice set of dentures. She has to be in her early fifties, I think. A bit early for dentures but who am I to judge.

  I wonder if he realizes how much older she is than him.

  He pulls her into a hug and she squeals with delight. “Oh my, Gage! You’re even more handsome in person!”

  Angel steps back and looks them over as they hug and she looks kind of shocked as she mutters, “Um, hi.”

  Gage lets the woman out of his tight hug and holds her hand as he looks back at Angel. “Angel, this is the woman I’ve been telling you about. This is Dana Braxton. Dana, this is Angel, my self-proclaimed guardian.”

  Angel doesn’t even attempt to conceal her thoughts from the woman. “Hey there, Dana. Did Gage’s ad on that dating site say he was twenty-eight?”

  “It did,” she says as she pats his hand. “We talked over the phone too and he told me. He also told me his sad story and my heart just went out to him. I’m a bit of a nurturing soul. My last kid just left for college in the fall and I’m an empty-nester. When I found Gage here, well, I knew I’d found the man I’m supposed to take care of. My husband died three years ago and I’ve been very lonely.”

  “How many kids do you have, Dana?” Angel asks as she crosses her arms.

  “Six,” the woman says without blinking an eye. “I love having a big family.”

  “You like kids, huh,” Angel asks adding a little tap of her boot on the hardwood floor to accent her words and how she’s really not cool with this.

  But she’s not looking at Gage who’s beaming at the woman. She’s shorter than he is. Her hair is shoulder-length, blonde, and cut into a bob-like hairstyle.

  He likes her a lot from what I can tell. She’s okay for her age, but damn!

  The woman nods enthusiastically then looks at Woody. “Is that your son?”

  I walk up to her. “Hi, I’m Benny and this is Woody.”

  Our son holds out his arms to her, which is not a thing he does with strangers. She takes him and coos and he coos back at her. And all the while Gage looks at her with adoration.

  I wrap my arm around Angel’s shoulders, and she looks at me with such a scowl on her pretty face. I give her a little squeeze and whisper, “Invite her to stay for dinner.”

  She shakes her head a little and I squeeze her shoulders a little more and nod. Her eyes go narrow and she finally says, “We’re having a roast for dinner. I don’t suppose you like roast.”

  Dana looks away from Woody and smiles. “I love roast.”

  “Oh,” Angel says then frowns. “I don’t suppose you’d like to eat with us?”

  “I’d love to. If you’re inviting me.” Dana looks at Gage. “Is that something you want to do, sweetie?”

  He nods. “Angel makes a good roast.”

  Dana looks back at Angel. “If you’re inviting me, then I’d love to stay for dinner.”

  With a deep sigh, Angel says, “Great. I’ll be in the kitchen.”

  Dana hands the baby to Gage and winks at him. “I’ll help you, Angel. Gage has told me all about you and I think it’s fascinating that you make motorcycles. I ride too.”

  “You’re shitting me!” Angel says, making me cringe.

  Gage just laughs and looks at me. “She’ll have Angel wrapped around her finger before you know it.”

  I nod and wait for the women to get all the way out of earshot then say, “She’s a little older than you, you know.”

  He nods and follows me as we move along to join the women in the kitchen at a slow pace. “I know that. But there’s something about her. I don’t know what it is.”

  “I doubt she can have kids,” I say and watch his reaction to see what he thinks about that.

  Gage stops and looks sheepish for a second. “I’ve been keeping something from you guys. It is part of the reason I hang out with Woody so much. In the accident, some real damage was done to my private area. I’m sterile. No kids are in my future, anyway. And I really do like Dana.”

  “Why didn’t you say anything to us about that, Gage?” I clap him on the back and feel terrible for the man.

  “It’s not a thing I like to talk about. I’m sure you can understand.”

  When we get into the kitchen, he puts Woody down and the kid goes straight to Dana. He’s a great judge of character so I think Gage may be onto something with the woman.

  Dana picks the baby up and keeps on doing what she was doing like it’s not a problem at all rinsing off baby carrots as she holds him. And after six kids, maybe it’s not a problem.

  Angel looks at our son and shakes her head and I know she’s thinking he’s a little traitor. She asks Dana, “Guess with six kids, you have a lot of grandkids, Dana.”

  “You’d think so,” Dana says with a nod. “But do you know, every one of those dang kids of mine are going to medical school and waiting to start their families until they’re finished? My oldest son got married last year to another dang doctor.”

  Angel stops peeling potatoes and looks at the woman with skepticism. “Do you expect me to…?”

  Gage cuts her off. “Look, Angel, here she is at the oldest one’s wedding.” He takes his cell phone to her and starts showing her the pictures of Dana with her apparently very intelligent kids.

  Angel taps her foot as she looks at picture after picture of the woman with her family. She doesn’t bother to look at Gage and see how his face is all lit up as he looks at the pictures.

  Angel spins around and looks at Dana. “Okay, I have to say something.”

  “Please do,” Dana says. “I’m an open book, dear. And I’m very pleased to see Gage has someone who looks out for him so well. His own family doesn’t do half the job you’re doing.”

  “Wait,” Angel looks at Gage. “How does she know your family? You never ever took me to meet them. Damn it!”

  Gage laughs. “My mother cleans her house, Angel.”

  Angel narrows her eyes. “Oh. Well, you said you met on the internet.”

  “And we did,” Dana says. “His mother told me about her son and his tragic story and told me he was on this dating site. And when I put in my information into the site, he was one of the ones it said I’d be compatible with.”

  “But you’re so much older than he is,” Angel says very bluntly.

  I find myself cringing again and hiss, “Angel Worthington!”

  She looks at me with an incredulous expression. “Well, she is.”

  Dana nods. “I am. But he and I have not only similar experiences in life but also interests too. I love to play video games and ride motorcycles too.”

  “You like to play video games?” Angel asks as if there is no possible way that could be true.

  Gage laughs. “She does like to play games. We’ve played a lot online. She’s totally cool. You’ll see.”

  Dana’s cheeks go pink as she says, “Oh, Gage! You, flatterer.”

  Gage gets off the barstool and goes around and takes her up in his arms. His lips touch her cheek and Angel’s mouth drops open as he says, “You are cool. And gorgeous and sexy and I’m so damn happy to finally get to actually touch you.”

  Angel goes to the fridg
e and pulls out a few beers. She pops one open and chugs it then opens another before she offers, “Anyone else want a refreshing beverage?” Then she burps and we all laugh.

  Seems like my Angel is having problems letting Gage just be Gage.

  ANGEL

  I climb into bed with Benny after putting the baby to bed and still can’t wrap my head around Gage with the old lady. “Benny, why would he want her?”

  “Come on, Baby. He has his reasons. I get that you don’t understand that but the woman checks out. She’s very wealthy. Maybe the whole thing where she’s stable and can’t have kids either has him liking that about her.” He fluffs his pillows and lies back on them.

  “What do you mean, can’t have kids either?” I stare at him and he freezes like a deer in the headlights.

  “Huh?” He acts stupid.

  “Benny, what do you know?” I pinch his shoulder and he lets out a yelp.

  “Damn! Okay, stop torturing me!”

  “Gage told you he can’t have kids?”

  He nods. “It’s not like he told me not to tell you but I doubt that he wants me to.”

  “Why wouldn’t he tell me that? And how long have you known this? And why haven’t you told me sooner? And…”

  He grabs me and kisses me. I’m sure to get me to stop asking questions. When he releases me I’m a little out of breath because that’s just how badass our kisses are.

  “He didn’t want anyone to feel sorry for him. It happened when he was in the wreck. I only found out today when you and Dana went to the kitchen and this is the soonest I could possibly tell you.” He holds me in his arms and looks at me.

  “Poor, Gage.” My eyes go misty. “That fucking Sandy is so lucky she’s in prison right now because I would fucking kill her if she was free. Can’t you sue her for that?”

  “Sue her? She doesn’t have anything,” he says as he lets me go and I fall onto his wide chest and hug him.

  “Life just isn’t fair for him.” I run my hand over his naked chest. “I feel so responsible for not being more available to him when he and I were together. I should’ve done so many things different. I’m not saying I would’ve stayed with him or anything but maybe those awful things wouldn’t have happened to him if I had been different.”

  “Is that why you became his crusader when you found out everything that Sandy did to him? You feel responsible?” he asks me and pulls me up to make me look at him.

  I nod. “You have no idea what that feels like to know because you were so wrapped up in your work and school that you let someone hurt someone you love. It feels terrible. If I could go back in time, I’d change it all. Gage wasn’t a bad guy.”

  “Life is life, baby. For whatever reason that happened to Gage isn’t for you to understand or take the blame for. He did mess with the chick. He wasn’t a complete innocent.” He pulls me back down to rest my head on his chest and runs his hands up and down my arms.

  “And what if this woman is crazy too?” I ask as I nuzzle his chest.

  “Then at least you and I are going to be around and we can watch out for that. He needs to make a life for himself instead of his revolving around ours.” He rolls me over onto my back and looks down at me. “I love the guy. I do. And that’s why I’d like to see him get to share his life with someone. Really share it. If you care about him, then you should want that too.”

  “I do want that for him. But with someone more age appropriate. I like Dana. She’s funny and nice and damn it, she is cool too. But that age difference is ridiculous!”

  “And if it were a fifty-something man with a nearly thirty-year-old woman, then what would you think? Because I’ll have you know that we not only hobnob with couples like that back in New York but also in the motorcycle club. You’ve never said a word about any of them.” He just stares me down and waits for me to say one word against what he’s pointed out to me.

  “Damn it, Benny,” I whine. “You’re right. I’ll give this woman the benefit of the doubt. But I’ll be on top of this. If I see anything the least bit weird. Well, weird is going to happen with how I look at them. But I mean that looks like he’s being done wrong or she’s crazy. Well, she does have to be a little crazy to want to spend her golden years with a man nearly half her age. But I mean anything that…”

  His mouth crashes down on mine and I get his drift. Stop talking and kiss him.

  I can do that. I can do that for a long, long time.

  BLAZE

  My hands run up her arms and I pull her in close to me as I gaze into her deep blue eyes. “You are so beautiful.” My lips touch hers and I’m lost.

  On a mission of their own, my hands travel over her shoulders and down her back and then I take her sweet, plump ass in them and pull her to me as I press my growing erection against her soft core.

  She shudders and wraps her arms around my neck. Her legs go around my waist as I pick her up.

  She strokes my tongue as I stroke hers and it feels right. Angel in my arms always feels more than right.

  Four years after Woody’s birth, Angel finally said that we can have another baby. This is our first attempt at getting her pregnant and I’m getting this woman primed and ready.

  Her body is shaking as I lie her back on the bed.

  I slip first one thin strap of her silky blue nightgown down then the other. Her breasts are bare and I take them all in. My eyes roam over them then I touch them using only the tips of my fingers.

  Goosebumps raise across her flesh as her nipples grow and harden. She moves her fingertips up and down my arm and watches me as I take in her gorgeous body. A body I hope to see changed very soon as she grows our next child inside her.

  My hands run over both her plump and firm tits. It sends heat through me as she gasps at the immediate reaction my touch gives her body. I climb up next to her on the bed and place my mouth on one as I play with the other.

  My tongue makes lazy circles around her taut nipple. One long suck I make. “My God, that feels amazing,” she moans and runs her hands through my hair.

  She hasn’t felt amazing yet!

  ANGEL

  Warmth spreads over me as his mouth leaves my breast, trailing kisses up my chest. His piercing blue eyes meet mine and his intensity has me quivering.

  It’s been no secret he’s wanted to have another child for some time now. I can see it’s going to be his mission to impregnate me as soon as possible. And I have a feeling he’s going to keep me satiated until we see a plus sign on one of the dozens of pregnancy tests that the man has already bought.

  A wildness in him comes out through those steely eyes and it thrills me. With one quick motion, he pulls his T-shirt off and I find myself gazing at his perfectly muscled chest.

  My hand moves over the tight muscles. A six-pack and pecs that won’t quit, ripple as my hand moves over them. His pecs are large and look powerful. A thing I know they are as I’ve seen this man pick things up that weigh crazy amounts. He’s so strong and virile and it makes me so wet for him.

  “My God, you’re gorgeous, Benjamin Worthington. You sure you want to have another baby? You know a little one takes away a lot of our sex-life.”

  He nods and makes a deep growl. “I’ll deal with that. I want to see your stomach filled with my seed.”

  “Okay, Conan! That didn’t sound barbaric at all,” I say with sarcasm-laced words.

  He grins and gets off the bed, dropping his pajama bottoms, releasing his huge gift. My eyes go wide as it seems larger somehow. He must really be excited about having another kid!

  He pulls my nightgown the rest of the way off and slides my silky panties off me. I lie naked in front of him as he looks me over and I chew on my bottom lip in anticipation of what he plans on doing to me next.

  His fingers trail lightly over my chest, down my stomach and it makes the muscles tighten. An electric current flows in the wake of his touch and my body is on fire now.

  My brain starts to spiral and I can only focus on the way h
e’s making my body react to his touch. Only the tips of his fingers are on my skin yet I can feel it all over my body.

  He makes another deep growl. “You are beyond gorgeous, baby.”

  My heart pounds and my body quivers as he climbs back onto the bed and spreads my legs and gives me a smile before his mouth is on me. My hands fist the sheets with the intense reaction my body has to him.

  His tongue taps my clitoris and I nearly fall apart. “Oh, hell!” My breath is already coming in gasps.

  The heat of his mouth on me and the wetness of his tongue are insanely good. He has my legs pulled up so my knees are bent and then his hands go to my ass and he squeezes it.

  Pulling me up to take more of me in, his mouth goes ravenous on me. It has my insides a liquid mass of intense pleasure.

  All too soon I find myself screaming out as my body falls apart under his mouth and my hands go to his hair. His tongue goes inside me as he laps up the juices my body has released. He moans and growls and seems to love it.

  The way he’s being so animalistic has me going crazy for him. I should’ve let him get me pregnant a long time ago.

  He’s very good at it!

  Benny’s eyes go soft, and he changes his entire demeanor as he kisses me with a gentle and sweet kiss. My arms move around his neck on their own. My heart skips a beat with his soft touch after being so rough before.

  He lies on the side of me and moves his fingertips over my stomach, trailing down until he finds my still pulsing clit. He strokes it and makes his way down my heated and wet folds.

  I arch up to him as he continues to stroke me softly while he kisses me. The fire inside me builds and his gentle touch is making me crave so much more.

  His tongue flows smoothly over mine then he pulls his mouth away and looks into my eyes. “I love you, Angel.”

  I stroke his cheek and gaze into his eyes. “I love you, Benny.”

  He moves his body over mine and slowly enters me as I pull my knees up to allow him to move in deep. Then he kisses me again as he makes gentle strokes into me and it makes me moan, wanting more from him.

  Slow and easy he shows me only gentleness and I feel so loved by him.