Stolen Tyme

by S. L. Ziegler

  “Naomi Minter.”

  “Pleasure.”

  “And on that note, I’m going to head out. Xavier, thanks for the help, and nice meeting you, Zoey. Oh, and, Charlie, you’re just has cute as your father said.”

  Charlie gives her a little curtsey. “Thank you, Amoi. I like your coloring book.”

  I laugh before glancing at Naomi. “She’s talking about the tattoos.”

  “Oh. Ohhh. Well, thank you, Miss Charlie.” Naomi smiles down at my daughter.

  “You a very welcome, Ms. Amoi,” she says and offers another bow.

  “It’s Naomi, dear.”

  “That what I said.”

  Zoey’s face turns flat. “Did you say Minter?”

  “I did.”

  Shit, the wheels are turning. “Are you Locklan’s daughter?”

  “I am. I would love to chat, but I have to get ready for work. Bye.” She’s out the door before Zoey can question her any more. That’s my girl.

  “Pops, I like her.”

  “She’s cool. She’s the one who gave me the idea where to take you today.”

  Charlie bounces up and down on her feet like a typical five-year-old, her blond curls swaying with her. “Tell me, Pops! Tell me!”

  Zoey clears her throat, her whole body still in her perfect posture, and if it wasn’t for the vein in her neck looking like it’s about to explode, I wouldn’t know she was mad. “Sweat pea, please go to daddy’s car and wait. We may have a change of plans.”

  “But, Mommy. I want to stay here.”

  “Do what I say, please.” Zoey’s teeth grind as she speaks.

  “Yes, ma’am.”

  She waits while my daughter walks to the car and slams the door of the SUV I paid for last month when she just had to have it for Charlie’s safety.

  “Are you serious, Xavier? Locklan’s daughter?”

  “What?” I play dumb. I must play dumb.

  “Don’t what me. I know that look she gave you. The deer in headlights spell you put on girls. And you did it on Locklan? The same man who was our friend?”

  “Your friend? Zoey, you’re lying about memories again. You hated him, called him a bad judgment call.”

  “Of course I did, he got into fights, smoked, got a girl pregnant he didn’t know.”

  “And are you forgetting about the man he became when Naomi was born? Save the self-righteous shit for someone who doesn’t know your past. Like your wonderful husband. You aren’t perfect. In case you forgot, we snorted countless lines for almost ten years, and you had your fair share of one-night stands.”

  Her cheeks turn a deep red, and her hands are in fists. “Don’t you dare.”

  “I wouldn’t dream of it. But you may want to think of not living in a glass house anytime soon.”

  She huffs out as she digs through her bag. I know what the white box is before she even pulls it out, what she gives me whenever she feels like holding the power. “Whatever, Xavier. She’s not allowed around when my daughter is here.”

  “Our daughter—ours.” I rip it out of her hand. “Home drug test, wouldn’t have it any other way.”

  “Just take it. I have things to do.”

  “And my money to spend,” I mutter out too low for her to hear. She thinks I’m stupid; she hasn’t worked a day in her life, she ran from her parents’ with me the day I left, rode my coattails until she had Charlie, and after that, ran right back here, into the arms of Joshua. A math teacher at the local school.

  “Pops, this is the best day ever!” Charlie spins around in her chair, her face covered in chocolate yogurt.

  “I’m glad you liked it.”

  “Liked it? I loooovvedd it. Tell Ms. Amoi thank you for the tickets.” The smile she has plastered on her since the minute I told her where we were going, is enough for me to drive over to Naomi’s tonight and show her just how thankful I am.

  “I will.”

  “Is she your girlfriend?”

  “What? No. We’re friends. I’m helping her make some music.”

  Charlie’s whole body changes, gone is my happy little five-year-old.

  “What’s the matter?”

  “I liked her and I got excited when Mommy was telling Daddy your girlfriend stayed over.”

  I clench my teeth. I’m not going to kill my baby’s momma. “One, I don’t have a girlfriend, and two…baby, now this is between us…your momma is not always right.”

  “I think you should have a girlfriend, that way I can stay over.”

  “What do you mean?”

  “Maybe Mommy will let me stay at your house sometimes if a girl is there to watch me.”

  “Is that what you want? To stay over at my house?”

  “Yes. MaryJo in class stays with her mom one week and her dad the other week. I think that’s the best idea. We should do that.”

  My heart splinters. She doesn’t remember me not being there before now, she doesn’t remember I was out scoring when she was born, she doesn’t remember I was an awful dad for the first two years of her life. She only sees the man who’s made it a point to be there for her from now on.

  “Baby, maybe I can talk to your mom about starting off slow. One night a week?”

  “Yes, I would love that, Pops.”

  “Good, now finish your stuff before I take you home.”

  She starts eating, humming along to herself. I wish I could be like her—young, innocent, and be able to have these conversations without knowing the scope of what she’s truly asking. I’m not that lucky. I had her stay at Zoey’s house because that was right for her. But, now it’s my time to man up.

  Chapter 6

  With her dark hair flowing over her pillow, her red lips pouting—she is fucking gorgeous. My dick just aches watching her sleep. I fucked her ‘til she passed out—literally. Naomi came over after she got off work. I opened the door and there she was with a coat covering her body and makeup still on from the club. I thought she just couldn’t wait to see me, but that wasn’t it.

  She dropped the coat and had her fucking outfit on from the night I’d seen her at work, and then she made all my dreams a reality. On the couch, against the wall, on the stairs. I couldn’t keep my hands off her, and she was dripping for me, always ready for more.

  Naomi is the distraction I need right now.

  I rub the curve of her ass; the fucking watercolor flowers over it are my favorite. I don’t know what it is about that certain one.

  Naomi shivers against me, slightly opening her eyes, offering me a lazy grin. “Were you staring at me?”

  “I was just in awe over how beautiful you are.”

  “That’s awfully sweet.”

  “When you’re not talking shit.”

  “You’re funny. Oh, shit! What time is it? Charlie should be here soon.”

  My whole body stills, and my heart beats against my chest. I loathe talking about my problems, and for so long, I didn’t. But I can’t hold it in anymore. “She’s not.”

  “What? It’s Friday.”

  “Zoey’s keeping her from me.”

  She flips over. “Why? It wasn’t because of me, was it?”

  I shake my head. “No, it’s because I want my daughter and she wants control.”

  “X, you have to do something.”

  I sit up. “I know, I just…Charlie wants to spend one week here, one week there. I knew Zoey wouldn’t go for that, so I asked for one day a week. One. And she flat out said no, but in the same sentence, asked for more money. I already pay for way more than what I have to, and I’ve never batted an eye because Charlie got some of it. I don’t want to take it to court. That would put a strain on Charlie. But now I think I’m gonna have to. She can’t hold my baby girl out like a fucking carrot.”

  “Do it. You need Charlie with you.”

  “I know. I just hate that we are even there. If…” My voice cracks.

  “If, if, if. You can’t keep beating yourself up for the shit you did. You’ve changed, grown, and ar
e one of the best people I know.” She lays her head on my back and wraps her arms around me.

  I stare over at my bedside table where a picture of Charlie and me at the concert is, and I know the fight is going to start. “Thanks.”

  “Let’s do something fun.”

  “Aren’t you sore?”

  “No, not that kind of fun. The kind of fun that involves having to wear clothes and going out in public.”

  “Omi, we can’t.”

  “Did you just call me Omi?”

  I shrug. “It fits you. But if your dad—”

  She slaps a hand over my mouth, a playful smile on her own. “He won’t, and he won’t fucking be where we’re going, so loosen the reins up a little.”

  “Fine.”

  She stands up, on my damn bed, and starts jumping up and down, naked.

  “What the hell?”

  “Giving you a clue.”

  “Jumping on my bed is a clue?”

  Naomi jumps one last time to the ground. “You’re so old. Pick out your clothes, but you can’t wear anything with zippers,” she yells out, already walking to the bathroom.

  “Why?”

  “Because I said so. Now you better hurry if you want to get your dick sucked in the shower. We have things to do, fun to be had.”

  “Such romantic things you say to me.”

  “Straight way to a man’s happy place is through his penis,” she yells over the water.

  “Truth.”

  The shower curtain is open, and Naomi’s there waiting for me, on her knees. Water cascading down her body, her mouth opens just slightly as she hears me come in. She helps me forget, reminds me to have fun, makes me laugh, and teaches me how to live.

  My pulse races when her hands move over her tits. She gets me, knows what I fucking love without being told, and her touching herself is the fucking thing for me.

  Naomi moves to me. Taking my dick in her hand, she strokes it up and down, putting her tongue to the tip to play with the piercing.

  I’m struggling. Everything she does could bring me to my knees if I’d let it. I’m glued on the sight of her taking the whole thing in her mouth. She glances up at me and our eyes lock on each other. A jolt of something in my body takes over. I don’t want her mouth—I want her. Her coming on my dick, her screaming my name, it’s her pleasure I want to take.

  I fucking need to take.

  I lift her to her feet, our eyes still synched together, both breathing rapidly. “I want you. Every inch of you.” My fingers trace every curve of her body before I grab her bottom and lift her into my arms.

  “Nothing between us, Xavier. Nothing. Just me and you.”

  “You sure?”

  “Yes.”

  I walk her back against the tiles of the shower, my mouth fused to hers, spreading my palms over her ass as I slowly slide into her. Naomi’s hands explore my body, moving in rhythm with me. I draw her to me with each roll of my hips, her dark hair swinging. Ripples of pleasure roll through me.

  “That’s it, baby,” she whispers in my ear. “I want it. I feel you.”

  I buckle and drive into her, each time her insides clamp down, and her heels dig into my ass.

  “Oh, God,” she cries out.

  Her nails claw down my back as she throws her head against the tile wall, her lips curled over her teeth. She doesn’t stop coming as I pound into her, turning her moans into gasps, then screams as we explode together.

  My arms never let her loose as I continue to gradually move inside of her, getting every last second I can.

  The sound of my heart beating so recklessly plays in my ears. Pulling out, we both let out a hiss, and watch together as my cum trails down her legs.

  Damn. Fucking sexiest thing ever.

  Naomi bites her lip, her face brighter than I’ve ever seen it. The pleasure, the high, the fucking euphoria I get when I’m near her—or in her—is addictive.

  “I think we may have a problem.” Her sweet voice breaks through the barrier in my brain.

  “Why’s that?”

  “Because I’m pretty sure, we won’t ever leave the house.” Naomi lets out a nervous giggle.

  “That’s not a problem. It’s the answer to my damn prayers.” I stare into her eyes, taking a piece of her hair and wrapping it around my fingers.

  Naomi goes soft in my arms, beaming up at me, but saying nothing in return. Our future is floating between us, time together is our distraction, and soon, we’ll be a fleeting memory. Yet, with her in my arms, water turning to ice on us, I think I may be dreaming, because some part of me could fall for her if I let it.

  She smiles up at me, one damn smile, and I know some part of me just let her into my heart.

  And that’s a dream that will never pass our expiration date.

  I peek out my window and my damn stomach hits the ground. Lock’s waiting outside my fucking door. The fear creeps in that he found out, he knows our secret that I took the thing he loves the most on this earth.

  My hands shake, head clouding with visions of him ripping me from limb to limb as I reach for the door, damn glad Naomi decided to leave to get lunch instead of her cooking. “Hey, man, what’s up?”

  “Can I come in?” His words come out rushed and thrown together.

  The second between me answering him is too long. “Yeah, sure. What brings you over here? You never come. I mean…” I stumble over my thoughts.

  He rubs the back of his neck as he walks inside. “Have you talked to Naomi lately?”

  “No,” I quickly throw out, before recovering. “I mean, she came over here to work on some songs but that’s all. Why?”

  “Man, we got into a fight two weeks ago, and ever since, she either doesn’t come home or leaves before I wake up and gives me one-word answers in texts. It’s not like her,” he thunders out, walking toward my living room.

  I follow him and stop dead when I notice a pair of her shoes right under the table.

  “She hasn’t said anything to me about it.” Lie.

  “I just want her to get it into her head that she doesn’t have to leave, this life isn’t bad, but she won’t listen.”

  “Lock, from my experience, you can’t hold her here. Look what that did to me. She’ll come back home when she’s ready. But if you keep pushing it, she’ll feel like she won’t have a place to come back to.”

  “I know, but it’s just so fucking hard. Me and her…we grew up together. Imagine if Charlie left you.”

  “It would suck, but at the same time, I love her enough to let her follow her dreams.”

  “Her dreams are to be a damn stripper. Did I tell you that?”

  “A what?” I have to bite the inside of my mouth to keep from yelling at him to shut the fuck up. What she does isn’t that. What she does is damn art.

  “A stripper who sings! That’s not a damn job or dream.”

  “She never said anything about stripping.”

  “Fucking burlesque. It’s the same thing. Damn fucking Penny taught her. Went behind my back and took her to classes when she was fourteen. My fucking partner’s wife did that shit. Even got her a job they both lied to me about.”

  I stay silent, running my hand through my hair, letting him vent about his daughter. The daughter who just left my house a few minutes ago.

  “It’s not the same thing.”

  “What?”

  “I’m just saying, I saw some shows in my day. They do a whole story thing. It’s kinda neat.”

  “Neat? My daughter’s body will be showing. Guys will watch solely on the basis of fucking her. Not fucking neat.”

  “Calm down. I get it, I do.”

  He takes a deep breath. “If you could, try to talk her out of this. Do it. She’s too good for old shits like us to want to fuck her. I’m leaving for a ride out to the west coast to look at some parts for the shop, so keep an eye on her. You’re the only one I trust to help her.”

  Trust me? He shouldn’t be even talking to me; he shouldn’t
be friends with me. Everything about us has changed. Nothing will ever be the same, but I can’t find it in me to care.

  I can only offer a nod.

  “Thanks. I’m glad I have your loyalty and friendship. Because God knows all those other fuckers have been keeping shit from me. Not you. Glad you’re here.” He hits me on the back before leaving.

  Trust went out the window the minute my eyes landed on Naomi.

  My loyalty turned on its axis the first time our lips touched.

  My friendship shifted from Lock to his daughter when I took her in my bed.

  “Xavier? What’s wrong? It’s not the thing with Charlie, is it?” Naomi touches the same spot her father just hit when he spoke about me watching out for her.

  “I’m just worried, that’s all.”

  “No need to worry, you’ll get her back and all will be right with the world. Now, come and see what I got you.”

  “You got me something?”

  “I did. It’s…umm, I can’t lift it. So I’ll need your help.”

  She grabs my hands and pulls me to my feet, then leads me outside.

  “Ta da!” Naomi waves her hands, jumping up and down.

  “What’s that?”

  “It’s a trampoline. I figured when you get Charlie she’ll like it.”

  “You did this?”

  She nods, her face slightly falling.

  “For her? For my daughter?”

  “Yes?” Her brows rise in question.

  I grasp the loops on her jeans and haul her close. “She’ll love it. I love it.”

  She wraps her arms around my neck, the smile back on her face. “Good, now you have to put it together.”

  “Anything.”

  I should be thinking of ways to end this, to walk away, or shit, wishing like hell we never started…but I won’t.

  She’s my safe place.

  And I’ll hold her right next to me ‘til I have to watch her fly.

  Chapter 7

  White papers are scattered all around my table. The constant spinning of my silver ring on my finger isn’t doing anything to calm my anxiety like it usually does.

  I’m taking Zoey to court. I’m going to get Charlie if it’s the last thing I do. Months and months of emails and texts between us printed out, all asking for one thing from me—money.