by Colt, Shyla
She leans back on her heels. “Pants off.”
I oblige, curious to see what she has planned. The minute my pants hits the floor, she presses down on my chest, urging me to lie back. Her lips are soft and warm as she kisses her way down my chest. My stomach muscles jerk in response to her tongue as she traces my abs. My cock is at attention. She moves lower and it twitches, as I hold my breath. I don’t want to sway her to anything she wants, but all I can think about are those kiss swollen lips wrapped around me.
She grips my base and squeezes.
My eyes roll into the back of my head and my hips move forward on their own accord. Her tongue explores my slit, and all I can do is feel.
She circles my head, teasing me as she moves down my shaft. She deep throats me.
“Holy shit, V!” I cry out stunned and smug. My woman is a hidden treasure. I prop up on my elbows and watch her take me. Together, we determine a rhythm and before I know it, I’m spilling down her throat. She swallows me down and I shudder as the pleasure overrides my brain. I’m a panting, drained mess when she lays beside me on the bed. I wrap my arm around her shoulders. No words are needed as we peer into each other’s eyes. We’re finding our starting point. Saying we’re gun-shy due to our past would be a huge understatement. If we want this to be built to last— and I do— we have to take our time. I don’t want her to wake up one day and feel this was something she did because of the situation we’re in. I can’t take another disappointment like that from a woman I’ve placed my trust in.
My picker has proved to be off before.
The doubt pushes in like a driver. I place a roadblock up in my mind and shut down the negative thoughts. This is our time and I’m not going to let my fucked up head space ruin it. She buries her face in my neck, and I allow myself to enjoy the feel of her weight pressed up against me. It’s pointless to be worried about things that far in the future, when we’re in the middle of a war.
Take happiness where you find it.
It’s a saying my father used often. Spent, I close my eyes and drift off to sleep as her breathing evens out.
****
Rapping on the door puts me on full alert. I sit up in the bed. I feel the mattress shift and I glance down.
Vita’s eyes are large and dilated.
“You heard it, too?”
She nods.
“Get dressed, and stay here until I come get you, okay? You have your 9 Millimeter?”
“In the drawer.”
“Once you’re dressed, get it out and be ready.” I grab my pants and yank them on, not bothering with boxers. Marbles just came by earlier and said nothing about coming back. So, chances are this is a foe.
But who knocks before they fuck your world up? Someone who knows they got you right where they want you.
I rush to my room, remove my .45 from under the pillow, and creep along the hall.
The knock comes again.
My fight or flight kicks in. Blood rushes through my veins. My heart knocks against my chest. Sweat breaks out on my palms and at my hairline. I slip to the right side of the door and peer outside. What I see makes me laugh. I lower my weapon tuck it in the back of my waistband and unlock the door.
“I almost blew your brains out, you crazy son of a bitch!”
Houdini snickers. “I couldn’t hold out any longer without seeing Vita with my own eyes. You understand.”
“Yeah, I got you.” I glance behind him. “You come alone?”
“And on foot. Well… bike. I made sure I wasn’t followed.” He glances over my shoulder. “She’s here, right?”
“Of course. I wasn’t about to let her come with me to possibly meet her doom.” I frown.
“You’re taking this whole keeping her safe thing damn serious.” He pats my shoulder. “I like that. But I’m here now, so at ease.”
I resent the words and his lack of knowledge. Now is not the time to tell him about our status update, though. “I’ll go let her know it’s okay. I told her I’d come back if the coast was clear.”
“All right, I’ll wait here.” He walks over to the couch. His gait is slightly uneven, but he looks damn good for a man who’d been on the brink of death. The bruises on his face are turning yellow and green. His lips are scabbed over and slightly swollen. I’m sure they were worse before. He’ll have a permanent mark on his right eyebrow where the skin was split.
Probably make the pretty boy more appealing. The man never lacked for feminine attention.
I spin on my heel and continue through the main living room to her bedroom. I tap on the door lightly. “V, it’s me, I’m coming in.” I step inside and smile.
She has her muzzle aimed at the door.
“Good girl. The visitor is a friend. One I think you’d very much like to see.”
She scrunches up her face.
I can practically see the wheels in her mind spinning. I nod toward the door. “Go ahead, I’ll hang back and give you some one-on-one time.”
Her eyes light with joy and she runs past me with a wide grin.
It’s the happiest I’ve ever seen her. I envy her bond with her brother. I once shared that with my siblings, and I’ll never get to feel that way again.
I need to stop the pity party. I have more brothers than I can count now. Family doesn’t just mean blood.
Self-soothed, I make my way to my room and wonder how long Houdini plans on staying. I know I wanted to take things slow, but he’s pretty much a complete cock block.
Let’s see if she’s ashamed of me. Maybe I was just a distraction during a difficult time.
The old demons raise and gnash their teeth, sharpening their claws for the feast. I step inside my room, grab a pair of headphones, and plug them into my phone. In a few moments, classic rock is drowning out the hateful voices in my mind. I focus on Robert Plant’s voice and the riffs from Jimmy Page’s guitar. I’m in a peaceful trance when a knock sounds. Sitting up, I pull the buds out of my ears. “Yeah?”
The door pushes open and I see an anxious looking Vita.
“You okay?” I ask.
“Are you? You’ve been in here for an over an hour.”
“I wanted to give you time with your brother.” I shrug. “I figured you could use it.”
“Do you …?” She shifts her weight.
“Do I what? Finish it.”
“Regret what we did?”
“What? No.” I stand. “Do you?”
She smiles up at me. “No.”
“Then we’re on the same wavelength. Where’s Houdini? Did you tell him about us?” I’ve switched to sign language to keep our conversation private if he’s nearby.
“He said he needed to get back to things and I wouldn’t see him for a while.”
“Well damn, I feel slighted. He didn’t even say good-bye.”
She shakes her head and smiles. “What do we do now?”
“Whatever we want.”
She blinks, looking confused.
I take pity on her. “Come on, let’s watch a movie and eat some popcorn.”
Her eyes widen with shock.
“I’m not a ravenous beast that’s hell bent on pouncing on you. If all I wanted was sex, I wouldn’t have invested anything into this.”
“And you did?”
“If I hadn’t, we wouldn’t even be having this conversation. I don’t do serious anything. Haven’t you realized that by now? Everything about this situation has forced me to step-up. Some of it I’ve hated, but this, between us is worthwhile.” I push past the fear and place a hand over my heart. “I feel it here and I see it in your eyes. You’re not the same woman I first met.”
“How could I be?”
“It’s more than that, and you know it .We agreed to be honest, didn’t we?”
She gazes up at the ceiling. Her shoulders rise and fall. “I don’t know who I am anymore.”
“Do any of us? We’re constantly changing and molded by our experiences. I thought I was as happy as I could be. Th
en you showed me differently.”
“Was it worth it?”
“Is this a trick question?” I ask.
“No, a serious one. When I look at you, I wonder what it is you see in me.”
“Have you looked in the mirror?”
She shakes her head. “No. Don’t do that, hide behind humor. You hated me at first.”
“I didn’t know you.”
“But you thought you did.”
“No, I didn’t think. I let Jewel blind me and control my life yet again, from behind bars. I made the decision not to do that anymore.”
“Because of me.”
“Partly, but more for myself. I’ll never really make peace with what happened. It’d be impossible to. However, I can move forward and honor them by living the best life I can. None of them would want me to languish away. It’d let her win. And she’d love it, the evil bitch.” I can’t help but growl as her face swims in my mind.
Vita places a gentle hand on my shoulder, bringing me back from the pathway of anger.
I don’t know how I could’ve ever lumped her in with Jewel. Her eyes are too kind and open; I can see straight through to her soul. It’s a kind one, capable of compassion and strength when needed. She’s loyal above everything, and despite the betrayal she endured, she’s chosen to trust me. I thread my fingers through her silken hair and tip her head back. “We’re both taking a chance on each other. I happen to think it’s worth it. Do you think it is?” I lean in and caress her sweet lips.
“Yes,” she mouths the word against my mouth.
“Good, cause I gave you your chance to leave. You’re mine now, and I don’t relinquish things so easily.”
Her breath hitches.
“Does that frighten you?”
She shakes her head.
“You like it, don’t you? Knowing you’ve gotten me wound up in knots.” I wind her hair around my fist and pull tight. Her lids lower and I know she’s enjoying this as much as I am. “We need to get into the living room, or we’ll spend the whole day in bed.”
She bites her full bottom lip.
I release her hair and wrap an arm around her waist, moving us to the couch. We sit and I pull a pillow over my lap to conceal the raging boner, straining toward her. “You pick the movie.” I think of cold water, puppies, anything to take my mind off the hormones bursting through the roof. She has me acting like a horny teen who can’t keep his hands to himself.
She picks a neutral rom-com with a bit of action and we settle in. She snuggles against me.
Her breasts press against me and my pants grow together.
I’m not going to catch a damn thing going on in this film.
Chapter Nine
Vita/Elisa
On days like this, I feel like I’m watching paint dry. The windows are all open and the fans are on. It doesn’t stop the sticky heat from making me feel like I’m melting. Prophet is in his room talking business with Dallas, and I’m attempting to watch a show on the laptop. I mentally cry uncle and shut the screen. I feel disconnected from the world.
Well, I guess I pretty much am.
My mind wanders to Cora. She’s been on my mind a lot lately. Her due date is getting closer. I pull out my phone and enter the number I know by heart into the text.
How are things? ~ V
A few seconds later my phones buzzes.
Oh my God, it’s so good to hear from you. I’m huge and ready.
I snicker. Any signs baby girl #2 will be showing up soon?
No… frowny face.
I smile at the emoticon. I can imagine her pouty face right now.
Enough about me, V. How are you?
Good, bored out of my mind right now, and hot as hell, but safe and content.
Content, hmmm? Prophet must be doing his job well.
Heat fills my cheeks. No one knows about our shift in relationship and I’m dying to tell someone.
Can you keep a secret, Cora?
Always. Spill it woman.
Prophet and I … something happened.
Do I need to kick his ass?
No, mama bear, ease up. It wasn’t bad. It was possibly the best thing that’s ever happened to me.
Whaaaat?
I laugh. I know, caught us by surprise, too.
I’m literally stunned. Prophet… I mean he’s a good guy, but he doesn’t do commitment.
Except for when he does, he REALLY does. I shiver in anticipation as I think of the commanding presence he has in the bedroom.
So, you have a cave man, too?
I laugh. Basically.
I’m happy for you. Both of you. What happens when you come back?
I think we’re still figuring that out. I’m afraid of what Houdini will do.
Um, yeah, you should be. He’s probably going to freak. He’s super protective over you. It’s going to take a while for him to get used to you being so independent, and with Prophet…
The last thing I want to do is hurt my brother. He’s done so much for me.
I know, babe, but you have to live your life, too. I bet he’ll overlook all the things that initially piss him off because you’re living. What you were doing before in that house was existing.
I know.
I have to ask, how’s he in bed?
Cora! I laugh. I wouldn’t know, we haven’t gotten that far.
Then you know he’s a keeper. The brother’s aren’t huge on…restraint, until they’re in it for the long haul.
I think…maybe he’s the one. The admission scares me.
Then hold on to him, and don’t let anyone or anything come between you two. For you to say that, I know you must be halfway to in love.
Love. The word startles me. It’s not something I even thought about. My chest tightens. Do I love him?
You there?
I shake my head to clear the cobwebs. Yeah, you took me for a loop.
With the love comment? Forget I said anything.
Right. We both know that’s not possible. I hadn’t thought about love.
Do you?
I’m not sure. It’s more than like. But love is such a huge commitment and statement to make. I swallow.
Don’t rush it. You’ll know, when you know.
I continue to talk with her for a while longer, then R.J. wakes from his nap and we say our good-byes.
Her words stay with me. I’ve been thinking of us here. Maybe it’s time to think about what I want outside of this cabin. I lay back on the couch. I don’t want to stay cooped up in the farm house— that’s a given— but I have no clue what I can do. Being able to speak is essential to just about any job. I want to give Houdini his life back, and that means taking care of myself. I close my eyes and envision a cozy loft-style apartment, done in an eclectic shabby chic style. It’d be closer to all of the people I care about, Cora and Prophet. I’ve always been great at writing. Perhaps I could moonlight as a freelancer. Or maybe I can do something for Wesson? The club is known for keeping jobs in the family. I could ask. It’s scary, but exciting. I feel like an eighteen year old, gearing to leave the house after graduation. Nothing makes you more eager to live than a near death experience, because you realize just how easily life can be over.
“Hey, you dying of boredom yet?”
I tilt my head back and gaze up at Prophet. “Not yet. How about you?”
“After that forever long conversation, I passed the dying of boredom point an hour ago.”
“Everything okay?” I ask.
“Club business.” He shrugs.
I nod. I know the drill. Women aren’t privy to what’s going on. “Anything I can do to help?”
“Seeing your face is enough.” He bends down and captures my lips.
Closing my eyes I get lost in him. Things between us are easy and natural. It never feels forced or uneasy. I open my mouth and welcome his tongue. My taste buds rejoice at his flavor. Sunshine and fresh air. He’s a wind of change and joy that unexpectedly blew into my life. I want
to hold him tight for as long as I can keep him. I wrap my arm around his neck and tilt my head, plunging my tongue into his mouth, exploring the moist cavern. I want to own him the way he owns me. His name is all but tattooed on my body. I come to life at his touch. I need to know it’s the same for him. He moans, and my heart races.
I have power, too.
We break for air.
“Prophet. I’m ready.”
“What?” he asks, dazed, as he focuses in on my fingers.
I smile. “I said, I’m ready.”
“Oh.” His eyes grow comically wide.
Sitting up on the couch, I hold out my hand. He takes it and pulls me to my feet. We walk down the hall together. I love that about him. He understands the peace that is available in silence. We can communicate with a look or a touch. He steers me into his room. A cool breeze is blowing in through the window, but it does nothing to quench the heat emanating from my skin. Pulling me to him, he cups my face and we kiss slowly. I savor the taste and feel of him. Our bodies press together; he’s hard and solid.
I bring my hands up to trail his well-sculpted arms. They flex beneath my touch and I whimper, eating at his mouth like a wild thing. I can’t get enough of him. I bury my fingers in his soft hair. It’s grown since we’ve been here and the fringe makes him look younger. I tug and he nips at my bottom lip. I shiver.
So good.
He slides his hand over the side of my body and cups my ass. I can’t help but move against him in response. His hardness presses into my belly. I long to feel him between my legs— filling me. He pulls back and we shed our clothing in a frenzy. We stumble to the wall; he lifts me up and I wrap my legs around his hips, hooking my ankles. He attacks my breasts, sucking and nipping. They swell and I arch my back, pushing one further into his greedy mouth. Gripping his shoulders hard I rock my hips, desperate to relieve the throbbing pulse between my legs. My juices slick my pussy and trail down my inner thigh.
“You’re so ready for me. I can smell it.” His voice is husky.
It caresses me like textured silk. Smooth and rough at the same time.
He reaches between us and trails a finger down my slit. “And so wet. You’re on fire.” Parting my lips, he begins to circle my clit.