by Alexa Riley
“Goddamn it.”
I grab the front of my shirt and rip it down the middle, throwing the scraps to the floor. I breathe heavily. It seems my inner caveman has found his way out. Layla’s eyes go wide at the sight of me shredding my shirt, but just as suddenly there’s a hunger on her face. I know she needs this. We both do. I reach down and push my loose shorts down my waist and over my dick. I’m so hard I’m pointing straight up as cum drips out of the tip and down the shaft to my balls.
I stomp towards Cherry and her hand stops its movements. She looks energized and a little aggressive. Good. I need my girl with me on this. I reach out, grabbing the front of her panties with my fist and rip them off her body with one pull. Her hand remains in the same place, fingers on her clit, and her pussy dripping with her honey. I lower my head a little and glare at her. “You played with fire, Cherry. Time to get burned”
She gives me a wicked smile and spreads her legs farther apart. She uses her little fingers to spread her pussy lips in an invitation for me to enter her. “Give me all you’ve got, baby. My pussy is needy.”
I glare back at the stairs and want to be sure neither Saint nor Jeanette is going to interrupt us. “You better hope nobody walks in on this, otherwise I’ll spank your ass after I fuck you.”
“Oh God, I hope Saint is good with knots,” she says and wiggles her hips.
I’ve got to stop letting her orgasm after I spank her. It’s not an effective punishment if she likes it so much. “Shut up and be still, Cherry. I’ve got to concentrate.”
I grab my cock and line it up with her pussy opening. I’m so nervous fucking her, but I know I can be gentle. I love her so much that for her I can go slow.
“Carter, hurry. Give it to me. I need you to fuck me hard.”
“Can’t baby, gotta go slow,” I grit out and rock into her pussy gently. She feels so hot and tight, I’m already tingling and ready to cum. I feel myself leaking inside her as I slowly glide in and out, leaving trails of cum along the way. Our juices mix together and make wet sticky sounds as I move.
Suddenly Layla reaches out and slaps me across the face.
I’m so stunned I stop all movement and just look at her in shock.
“I said ‘fuck me hard’. Either do it or get out of me. But if your cock is in me a second longer, you better show me what that dick can do.”
“Layla…”
“I’m a walking bag of hormones right now, Carter. Don’t mess with me. Now get to it.”
It hits me then that as much as I like to have control, Layla will always be the one in charge. I could never deny her anything for long. And with her statement, I give in.
“You want it? You got it.” I plant my hands on either side of her hips on the counter, lunge forward, and give her all of my cock. She throws her head back and shouts my name. “You’ll get it, Cherry, but you’ll be quiet while you take it,” I growl and lean forward. I bite down on the front clasp of her bra and jerk back, ripping it open. Her big tits fall out and her hard nipples point right at me. I immediately lean down again and take one aggressively in my mouth. I suck her nipple hard and fuck her pussy at the same time. I bottom out inside her and she begs for more. I fuck her harder and harder until she’s got her feet planted on the island and she’s bouncing on my dick.
“Fuck, Carter. That’s it, baby. I’m going to cum.”
“Cum on my cock, Cherry girl. I need to feel that cream all over me.” I alternate between her nipples and her mouth. She claws at my shoulders. This is just primal fucking. She uses my body and I love it. Before long I feel her cumming. She hits her peak and breaks our kiss so I get back to her nipple and lick and suck, prolonging her orgasm. My cum pumps out of my thick cock and into her tight pussy while she comes down from her high.
She whispers dirty things to me and licks my ear while I empty every last drop I have inside her. I’m completely spent and finally sated for the first time in weeks. Jerking off just wasn’t going to cut it anymore. I needed her. I needed this connection.
Leaning back, but still holding her, I look into Layla’s eyes. “I love you, baby,” I whisper, kissing the tip of her nose. “I’m sorry. I’m just scared,” I say and bury my face in her neck.
“I know, baby. Me too. But you can’t shut me out.”
I nod against her neck and I feel her arms come around me, rubbing my back and making everything okay.
“Can we eat now?” she asks and I hear the smile in her voice. I can’t help but smile against her and I nod my head.
“I don’t understand why you have to go.”
“Because he’s a threat to you and our son and I can’t have that hanging over our heads.”
“Stop saying it’s a boy!” Layla exclaims, stomping back over to the bed and sitting down. She crosses her arms over her chest and sticks her lip out, making her look all the more adorable and harder to leave.
I kneel in front of her and cup her face with my hands, making her look at me. “Layla. This has to be done. You know it and I know it.”
She nods, but I see the fear in her eyes. “I’ll take care of you and our baby. Always. I’ll be back tonight,” I tell her, and she looks away. “Look at me.”
I wait until she makes eye contact again before I talk. “I. Will. Come. Back.”
A little tear runs down her cheek but she nods her head in acknowledgement. I kiss the tear on her cheek and then kiss her soft, full lips.
“Try to get some sleep, baby, and I’ll be back by the time you wake up.”
I stand up and caress her chin one last time before turning to leave. I get to the garage and Saint is there waiting on me. “You sure you want to tag along?”
“How else am I gonna rile my woman up? She loves when I make her mad,” Saint says and rubs his crotch. I know Saint, and this is more than just riling his woman up. He’s still pissed about her being taken and he wants his revenge. But like most things, he covers it up with a joke.
“Let’s talk on the way,” I say and get behind the wheel of my GTO.
We drive for a while before we reach the location. Turns out Layla’s mom did her one last favor before she split town. She dropped off a note with Dean O’Leary’s location. She was a terrible mother, but at least she’s helping give Layla some peace.
Saint and I pull up and get out. We scouted the location Saint found using his computer skills. He hacked some satellites, and I don’t know how he does that shit, but he’s a fucking pro at it. We know exactly how many people are here and where they’re located so this should be pretty cut and dried.
Quietly we walk along the front porch of the abandoned run-down cabin and outside the front door stop. I nod to Saint and he nods back. We both raise our guns, prepared. I turn and kick the door wide open.
I train my gun on O’Leary in half a second. He’s sitting at an old shabby table. Saint grabs Marco, slamming his head against the wall. Blood shoots out the guy’s nose before he hits the ground. O’Leary looks startled but not surprised. Turns out ol’ Dean has had everyone he ever knew turn against him. We’ve been watching this location for weeks and he and his driver-bodyguard are the only ones who have been here in that time. It would have been a great hideout if his wife hadn’t finally turned on him.
Saint leans down and drags Marco off the floor. I would love to play with Marco myself for what he did to my girl and Jeanette, but I’m going to let Saint have this one. I’m going to get my share with O’Leary. He’s all mine. I know Saint is still burning from how he found Jeanette with half her clothes ripped off her. Saint may be all jokes, but when you piss him off he’ll take pliers to your teeth just to hear you scream. It’s something a lot of people don’t see coming with him.
“Well, I figured you and I would meet up again. Just didn’t think it would be this soon,” O’Leary says.
I hear a loud crack behind me and turn to see Marco’s neck at an odd-looking angle. Saint stands and trains his gun on Dean as I walk over and sit down at the table with
him.
“This whole thing started because you killed my parents. It’s ending with me putting a bullet through your head. Before I do that though, I want some answers.”
O’Leary laughs a little and leans back in his chair. I can’t believe the motherfucker is still cocky after all this.
“How about you ask your questions and I’ll decide if they’re worth answering before I die,” he sneers.
“I’m killing you either way so think of this as your confession. I’ll be your priest for a few minutes.”
He doesn’t say anything so I continue. “Why’d you kill my parents?”
He smiles again and I lose my cool. I aim my gun and pull the trigger. He starts screaming and holding his knee, his leg awash with blood. “I’m guessing point blank range on that kneecap didn’t feel so great. You still smiling?” I ask and lean back in my seat.
After a moment he gets himself somewhat under control. “So let’s start again, okay? Why’d you kill my parents?”
“Your father had information I needed on an arms deal. Your mother was bait.”
I nod my head slowly. I assumed it had something to do with that, and while I’ll never have all the answers, it’s some kind of closure for them.
“Where are your books? I want the accounts and all your black books.” Most bosses keep them. They like having dirt on anyone and everyone they can get. I’ll put the books to good use. Send them into the FBI with a fucking bow tied around them and let them sort the shit out. I’m done with all this bullshit, and I don’t want dirty hands any longer.
“That what this is really about? The fucking money? I’ll give you the money if you want it. Just let me go.”
“I don’t need your dirty money, I got my own that I didn't make off the blood of innocent people, but I’ll use yours for some good. Maybe save a few lives instead of destroying them like you seem to do.”
He stares at me for a minute, and I can tell he’s trying to see how far I’ll go. He should know by now the only thing that could stop me is death.
“Under the bed,” he snaps, nodding his head towards a room off to the left. Saint makes his way into the room and a moment later comes back with a pile of books and notepads, dropping them on the table.
“Why come back to get Layla after all this time?”
“I needed her signatures to release the funds. I was broke and I needed the money. I was never going to hurt her.”
“Bullshit!” I yell and shoot his other knee.
“Fuck!” he screams as more blood pours onto the floor.
“You mess with her brakes too?” I ask, already knowing the answer, but I just want confirmation so I know the whole story.
“I knew it wouldn't kill her. I just needed to draw you out. I swear I wasn't going to really hurt her,” he pleads again.
“Don’t tell me you were never going to hurt her. The second you took her from me you hurt her. You had her beaten, you neglected her and used her as bait. What kind of father does that?”
“Just wait, Carter. You’re about to be a father too. There’ll always be someone coming to try to take it away. Don’t let your family make you weak. Don’t make that mistake. She’s known fear her whole life. She won’t know how to live without it.”
I stand up, look down at him and raise my gun. “That’s where you’re wrong, Dean. She’s mine now, and for the rest of my life I’ll protect her. Her fear ends tonight but I’ll never stop looking over my shoulder. As long as I have a breath in me, she and our baby will always be safe. You can die knowing that you didn’t win, that she’s stronger than you. And one day, when our child is grown and asks who you are, she’ll struggle to remember because that’s how little she’ll ever think of you again.”
The single gunshot rings though the small cabin. I turn and grab the books off the table, then walk out. I hear Saint’s footsteps behind me as we exit.
We’re silent for a moment. “You killed him faster than I would have,” I say, thinking of Marco.
“Done with this shit, man. I could stay here all night and rip his fingernails off one by one, or I could snap his neck and spend the rest of my night inside my Mama.”
I nod in understanding, and we sit into the car. I understand his point. He’s been fighting to get back into her bed for months now, and I’ve been fighting to be with my Cherry for years. We're not wasting our time with this bullshit. Pulling on to the highway, my only thoughts are of my girl.
Chapter Twelve
Layla
“Wake up, baby,” Carter mumbles against my ear before peppering kisses down my neck. Rolling over, I wrap my arms around his shoulders. I knew he would come back to me – he always does –but I was still worried. I tossed and turned for hours before sleep finally took me.
“You showered,” I say, rubbing my nose against his neck and breathing him in. I swear I’ll never get enough of this man. “Why didn’t you wake me? I would have joined you.”
“Had to wash the filth off,” he rumbles and picks me up from the bed.
“Where are we going?” I ask as we make our way out of our room and quickly descend the stairs. I continue to nibble at his neck while he carries me.
“We’re free, Cherry, one hundred percent free.” Putting me down on the piano bench, he stands behind me and I take in what he’s said. My father is gone. Dead. I feel a lump rise in my throat, and I’m not sure if it’s because of my father’s death or the fact that now Carter and I can really have a life together. No more looking over our shoulders or wondering when the other shoe might drop. Not only that, but Carter is truly free. I’m not sure he’s been free since he was a little boy and his parents were taken away from him. He has that freedom now.
I feel a pressure I didn't even realize was there leave my chest. I won’t cry for my father. I’ve already wasted so many hours on him and he didn’t deserve them. If my father’s death grants Carter the freedom that he’s needed, then I would’ve pulled the trigger that took my father’s life myself. Now that I’ve had a taste of the life I can have with Carter nothing will stand in the way of that ever again, not even my own silly little self-doubts.
“Play for me,” he whispers and places an open-mouthed kiss on my shoulder before lying down on the sofa and closing his eyes.
I run my fingers over the keys and begin to play. When I look up, I see Saint and Jeanette staring at me from the top of the stairs. Both smile for a moment before turning to go back into their room.
I let myself fall into the music until I look out the windows and see the sun is finally starting to rise. Glancing over at Carter I see he’s still out and his chest falls and rises with his deep breaths. He looks utterly relaxed. I grab the blanket from the back of the sofa and I lie on top of him. Then I drift off to sleep, feeling happier than I can ever remember being.
“What the hell is that?” I glance over and see Jeanette standing in the doorway of the gym with her face all scrunched up.
She and I found the gym about a week ago when we couldn’t find the boys one day. We stumbled in to find our men working out in all their glory: half-naked, covered in sweat and grunting. I’m not sure how it took me so long to find – it was freaking massive – but in all fairness this entire warehouse is massive.
After the first time we found them in there I climbed up my man’s sweating body and had my way with him, getting my very own workout. Two days later a girly-ass corner magically appeared in the gym, complete with a comfy pink sofa, a table, and a pink mini fridge. Where Carter found a pink fridge is beyond me. When I asked him about it all he said was, “my woman wants to watch me work out and fuck me to death after I’m done, I’m going to make sure she can,” which only made me giggle. One might think a man wouldn’t want his woman’s “girly shit” all up in his stuff but Carter said I could paint the whole fucking house pink if it made me happy. He said it’s because when I’m happy he’s happy and apparently that’s all that fucking matters.
“You like it?” I ask, li
fting my feet up so she can have a place to sit down.
“You can get that man to do anything, Lays,” she quips with a half-smile on her face. She sits down and pulls my feet into her lap.
“You’re one to talk,” I reply, because I’m just as sure Saint would build Jeanette a pink freaking house if she asked. As long as he got to be in her bed in that pink house every night, he’d do whatever she asked. Not that I could ever see Jeanette wanting much of anything pink.
“If I could get that man to do what I said, I sure as hell wouldn’t be where I’m at.”
“Where are you at?” I ask. I’m not sure what she means. She and Saint seem great, wonderful actually. I love having them here, and I’m not looking forward to their leaving anytime soon, but I’m sure it’s coming. My father has been out of the picture for a few weeks now, and everyone has just been enjoying being here. Any time there has been talk about going back home or getting back to work, the men quickly dismiss it. I know I’m not going back to the library, but I’m not sure what Jeanette is doing. She runs that place, and I’m not sure how they’re getting by without her. She said something about having a ton of vacation time stacked up, but that has to be coming to an end soon.
She starts rubbing my tiny baby bump and just ignores my question. When she makes eye contact with me it hits.
“Oh, my God!” I squeal, jumping up and hugging her.
“Calm down, Lays. I’m not even sure yet. I’m just kind of late and all.”
I can’t stop the stupid smile spreading across my face. It might just crack my face in half. I get to be knocked up with my best friend – that’s pretty freaking kickass.