by L. Ann Marie
Jess looks from me to him looking confused. Maybe she didn’t see.
“So. This one is even lighter. It’s just for the fingers so we have it attaching at just above your wrist. I took what you told me into consideration and made it with the metal clip. You slide the Velcro through then attach it back to itself. This one should be easy for you to put on alone. I’ll mark it when I see it’s in the right position and you just attach it where I mark.”
I smile. She is so damn smart. “How cool are you?” I love the way it attaches. It’s way better and I can do it alone.
She smiles. “If you wouldn’t have said anything I would have made it the same as the longer brace.”
I just smile; she’s too much. “Thank you.”
“I need to warn you about the difference. You need to build up some strength in that hand and wrist. You’ll get there with practice, but watch when you lift something heavy or even the boys. This brace is to get you to normal, it doesn’t have the strength that the longer one has.”
Shit. I look at the old brace thinking maybe I should keep it for a while. “No. I know what you’re thinking and it will slow your progress down. Do the therapy, practice at home, and you’ll get there. If you take the old one back, you’ll use it and never get better.”
I nod. “Show off.”
She laughs. I shrug and Little Ben laughs. “Thank you Jess. I’m taking my old lady to celebrate.”
She smiles. “I heard. I’m happy for you. Go have fun.” She shoos us out the door.
He takes me to an elevator and we meet a hologram of Mitch. “Hi M4. We’re headed to the hangar,” he says, and I wonder how he knows the number.
“Hi Little Ben and Lily. Your new brace looks great Lily.”
“Thank you M.” I watch her slide the panel and push the bottom of two buttons. How do they get that to look so real? I know she’s a hologram, but it looked like she moved the panel. Mitch is amazing.
“The lights will turn on twenty feet in front of you all the way to the hangar. Have a safe flight you two.” She’s smiling and bouncing.
“Thanks M,” Little Ben says smiling at her. As we’re walking in the tunnel I ask how he knew her number.
“The necklace. It has stones on the chain. Each hologram appears with the number of stones on the chain. So M2 has one on each side of the pendant.”
“She’s crazy smart with the details. Did someone tell you?” I look around and shiver. It’s kind of creepy down here.
He smiles down at me holding my hand tighter. “I noticed the uneven number when I was introduced to M5. The same thing happened with M7 so I knew it wasn’t a chance thing, but an actual detail written into the program.”
We climb stairs and I love the light shining when he opens the door. I definitely don’t like the tunnels. Jess says the boys played in them. I wouldn’t.
The helicopter is already going when we come out of the room and out of the hangar. I wonder if you say it’s running like with a car, then drop it as Little Ben walks me closer and I hold my skirt down. I don’t like flashing the Security guys and Little Ben was pissed the last time. He looks at me and I smile. I remembered this time. I almost stick my tongue out, but remember the look he gave me last time and just smile instead.
I climb in and sit in the first seat, he sits beside me and puts headphones on me. I sign, ‘thank you’ because he doesn’t have them on yet. He goes for a different color in a higher drawer. I guess he doesn’t like yellow, he took blue.
It’s a longer ride than going home, but I see the compound on the way. We get dropped off on Narragansett Island. It’s a beautiful place with a few neighborhoods and some really big houses. We get dropped off at one of the big houses. Chet and Hyde are here waiting at the door.
“Your ride in okay?” he asks and they throw him chin. Men are funny.
We walk into the foyer and I see it’s a Bed and Breakfast. It’s beautiful and I’m getting excited. Jess and Steve are here somewhere with the boys. That’s about all I was told. Chet gives him a key and he walks up the stairs slow so I can keep up. He knows right where he’s going; he must have been here before.
He unlocks a door and walks me in turning so he can see me. “Our home for the next three days, babe.”
I’m so excited I kiss him. “It’s so quiet here.”
He smiles. “Only a few of us right now. Tomorrow it will be busy.”
I don’t ask him why; I just walk around looking at everything. It’s a beautiful room with an old Americana feel to it. “I love it.” He walks up behind me and walks me to the bed then pushes my shoulders down so I’m bent over it. “I love this place.” He laughs.
My skirt is lifted and he slaps my ass. “These sexy as fuck panties are killing me.” He rips them off and I put my face into the bedspread. He keeps ripping them and buying more. I’m smart enough to keep that to myself.
His fingers slide down to my ring and I freeze. Damn he’s so good with his hands. “I love it when you start off wet.” He bites my neck and I shiver. “What to do, what to do. We have forty minutes.” He moves his hand and I hear his zipper. “Are you wet enough?” I don’t say a word, I know he isn’t really asking me and I’m trying to breathe here. I am so damn turned on. His fingers go right in me. I push back getting a slap, then I do it again. “You want it rough today. I like that.” He slaps me three more times and I stop. My hair is wrapped around his hand and he pulls me up. “I love your back arched just like this. It pushes your ass right where I want it.” He bites my neck again, this time a little harder. I moan. He doesn’t slide in, he slams in and I cry out. He slaps my hip and I quiet. I want to yell harder, but he doesn’t want directions today and I’m still trying to breathe. Dear Lord he gets me hot fast. He slides out slow and slams in again. I grab the bedspread with both hands trying to hold on. “Hands on your bars Lily.” I love the Prez voice and move one under me. “Now!” I get slapped again three times. I’m ready to come and try for deeper breaths. “Fuck that looks pretty.” He’s still slamming into me; I have no idea how he keeps moving when I’m ready to blow apart. His hand moves around me and he fingers my ring. I turn my head into the bedspread again and scream. Holy shit I need air. He moves his hand, but keeps going. When I feel the heat building in me again he pulls out.
“Sit.” He lets my hair go and I turn sitting up. He doesn’t move back for me and I open my mouth knowing what he wants. “My smart naughty girl. All I can think is I want to fuck those pretty red lips.” I roll my tongue on his ring glad he changed it. I like giving it a tug with my tongue. His hand grips my hair harder and I love it. “Mmmm babe you never disappoint. Open so I can fuck those red lips.” I do keeping the smile off my face. I read red lipstick has men picturing those lips on their dicks. I guess it was right. I do everything I can to get him breathing as heavy as I was. When he’s gripping my hair hard and moving fast I feel him swell and move against his hand swallowing him. “Fuck!” He growls out and I slow down without moving my tongue. I just suck hard and let him slow his pace. “So fuckin’ good Lily.” He pulls out and bends kissing my lips. His phone rings and I smile. His pants are around his ankles. He swears pulling them up and grabs his phone zipping them just enough to hold them on his waist.
That is so damn sexy and I bet guys don’t even know, it is more for practicality than to look hot. I take my torn panties into the bathroom and see my bag and his shaving kit. He thinks of everything. I smile.
***
Little Ben
I hear the water go on and I walk to the balcony. “Are you fuckin’ serious?” Because one fuckin’ nightmare a year isn’t enough. Jesus!
“Yes Prez. I got him telling about your getaway. The kid was acting nice, but he was not thinking it. He wanted to hit Alex with a tire iron for being slow.”
“Sonofabitch! Get Security to get Alex away from the garage before he gets hurt. Give Jax the kid. It should be easy if it was his first time. I want Alex here when you come up. I’ll get a
room straight for him. Anything else I need here?” Like a kidnapping isn’t enough. Fuckin’ pussies never stop.
“They are unsuccessful, but be aware and it has to play out.”
Great comfort. It’s only for a little while. Fuck I want to hit a wall. I clench my fist and breathe. “Thanks Dakota. I’ll see you tomorrow Brother.”
When I walk back in, Lily is sliding on another pair of sexy fuckin’ panties. I don’t know if I need to stop buying them or just stop looking. When she turns I see her ass and know I won’t stop either. Shit.
She gives me that shy look. “I thought it was about forty minutes and you were busy.”
“Come here.” She isn’t smiling, but isn’t nervous. I like this look. “You’re right on both accounts.” I bend and kiss her. “Thank you babe.” She’s breathing heavy again. “We’ll fix that tonight.” She nods. I take her hand and bring her to the balcony to see the ocean. While she’s looking I call my dad and tell him what Dakota said in Mohegan.
He’s pissed and his words are stilted. I can’t complain knowing he’s going to go overboard. I remind him we’re on an island and the suspects are on a pretty limited list. He asks me who would speak of such things and my jaw snaps shut. Fuck. Some things just don’t translate well. I step on my foot and double over. “I don’t know Dad. Where are you? We’ll meet you there?” I switch to English.
“Watchin’ you fuckin’ laugh,” he says and I stand up fast swinging my hair back. Fuck. He’s on the wooden walkway heading toward the water looking up at me.
“I meant no disrespect Dad. Some things don’t translate well. Biker dialogue is one of them.” He laughs and I look from him to my phone as if it will verify that he’s laughing. Jesus. I need a fuckin’ vacation.
“Thought same thin’. Come walk. Girls can talk.” He hangs up and stands at the bench my mom is sitting on.
He’s not as crazy as he used to be, or maybe I am getting crazy and not seeing it, but he didn’t yell at me or threaten me for laughing. The normal thing would be to call me a pain in the ass. He didn’t even do that. I change Lily’s shoes, putting on the plastic brace Mitch had built for her. It keeps her foot straight, but she can walk in the sand with it.
“My mom and dad have the boys heading toward the water.”
She watches me. “Are you pissed?”
Fuck. “I am, but not at you, babe. I don’t mean to bring it close to you but shit’s hitting and I was hoping to give you some time away from it.”
She pulls my shirt. “Do what you need to, just keep us safe.”
I nod. She’s going to be pissed, but I’m not telling her beforehand. I take her hand and walk her to my mom and dad. She kisses my dad’s cheek, takes Phoenix and starts walking. “Hand him back if he gets too heavy.” She nods walking up to my mom.
“They don’t signal to each other with you?” I ask thinking Teller was way too far away.
“See better now they’re older. Long as he sees him, Phoenix’s good.” I think Phoenix will be a protector too.
“Talked to Dakota and Pres. Let it happen. Both said the same.”
Fuck he checked with Dakota after talking to Pres? He shakes his head no. “Ben don’t get everythin’. Abilities ain’t easy. He’s Pres. Tell him more than anyone. Got Dakota on with him. He talks Indian. Pres only gets some.”
I think about that and having only half a picture when Dakota moved to the Compound. “You want me to help that with basic information. Aligning ours with yours?”
He looks at me then starts walking again. “Dakota’d know. Thin’s he knows better than me, but don’t say it better. Maybe you can help Pres.”
“Dakota helped me when we started. I can give Pres that without putting everything out there.”
He throws me chin. “Do that.”
I think about how that should look. Dakota put what’s in me on his list. I’m not sure all of that should be included, but I can give him what is already showing. I smile, mostly because he’s seen it.
I see Lily struggling to lift Phoenix up and move closer. My dad takes Teller from my mom thinking it will keep Lily from feeling bad. I throw him chin and he nods.
We walk behind them up the beach. When they sit I put Phoenix’s feet in the water and the little man kicks his feet up laughing. “So fuckin’ cute little man.” My dad is laughing with Teller. I move so they can see each other and they start screaming and laughing together. My mom and Lily are cracking up.
When they calm down, Teller reaches his hand out for Phoenix. My dad moves him closer and they hold hands. I’ve never seen them move to each other during the day. They sleep holding hands, but this is different. Lily’s recording it on her phone. I smile at her and lift them up. Teller won’t let go so I hold them both.
They’re making talking noise at each other and my dad cracks up. “Geek’s too. Always talkin’.”
“Marty said they woke her up one night, playing and talking away, after an hour or so they fell asleep all tangled in each other,” my mom says.
I look at Lily. “Jeremy and Jacob used to sleep holding hands.”
She smiles shaking her head. “Whatever keeps them happy is good for me.” I smile, she’s so easy.
By the time we get back they need a change and to eat. We do a quick bath getting the sand and salt off and get them fed. Lily wants to take them to see the puppies we met coming in. I walk to the next house with her and notice Hyde following. Good. As soon as the boys see the puppies they’re screaming and laughing again. All I can do is laugh. It’s so fuckin’ cute. I sit Teller down and Phoenix is kicking to get down. I grab him from Lily when I see her struggling to hold him and set him down as if it was my intention all along. She’s worried, but I leave it alone. She just needs some time.
The owner lets one puppy out and the boys go crazy. She’s laughing with us. “They don’t make a sound most of the time, this screaming and laughing started today,” Lily tells her trying to keep Phoenix from crawling toward the pen.
My mom comes over. “I thought that scream sounded familiar.” She laughs watching them. They’re holding hands, but touching the puppy with their free hands. It lays across their legs and they’re screaming again. “You should get one.”
Fuck. Lily is just getting her movements back. I give my mother a look. “Don’t give me that look. You think Hawk would let anyone near Christian? Or Max with Tess?”
Lily looks at me and I know I’m getting a dog. “He’ll need to be trained.”
She nods smiling at me. “Jess wants one too. I’ll send her a video.” Jesus. She starts taking a video of all the puppies.
The owner talks to my dad about training and how big they’ll get. These are not going to be small dogs. They’re only three weeks old. She calls the mother and I’m fuckin’ shocked. She’s like a small horse. She sits by the boys and I’m watching to make sure she doesn’t get too close. The owner says something in what sounds like German and the dog lays down. Again, too fuckin’ close to the boys. Hyde moves close with his hand behind his back and I know he’s ready. Thank fuck.
My dad looks at me. “Could learn in Mohegan.”
That is not fuckin’ helpful. I want to pull him away and talk Lily into a smaller dog. One that a fuckin’ saddle won’t fit on. He laughs. I give him a look and he laughs again. The boys move closer to the horse and Lily and my mom help them. I hold my breath and look at Hyde. He’s watching. I want to pull my gun too. Fuckin’ dogs.
They touch her paw and she licks their hands. Jesus. They laugh and scream and her tail wags. Fuck. I’m fucked. Hyde smiles and I give him a look. Fuckin’ HS too!
My dad comes over to me. “Goes to train for a month—two tops. You train like Tess and dogs stay with you. Could be like Christian. Just tell ‘em in your head.”
“Them? What the fuck dad?”
“Need two, one for you, one for them.” He looks back at them. “Takin’ all of ‘em. Cloud needs one, Jessie and Darren. Bet Trapper too.”
“Jesus. And for some ungodly reason you feel I need two?”
“I’ll train ‘em in Mohegan.”
“Sonofabitch!” I look at him. “One is more than enough. You’re not hearing me, Dad.” If he says he’ll train them I know he will, but fuck.
“Heard you. You need two.”
Lily thinks this is great. She’s asking him about training them and my mom has the boys over at the puppy pen. I’m never getting away from here without fuckin’ dogs. He looks at me. “Would keep everyone away from them and you.”
“Because I lost the ability to keep me and them safe somewhere between the room and here?” He smiles.
“I’m going back to find it. I’ll see you on the porch.” I walk away disgusted with every one of them.
I hear Phoenix make his sound and turn just as I’m at the path to the Bed and Breakfast. “Little Ben!” Lily screams. I run seeing a guy running toward the beach. Hyde has his gun out running and the horse passes him. I jump over the stairs and run full out flipping in front of the guy. My boy makes his sound and I pull him to me throwing everything at the guy. The horse jumps knocking him over then sits on him as he screams. Fuckin’ pussy. I picture the black rolling through him like Dakota told me and he screams louder.
My dad touches my arm. “Did good.” I look at him not getting what he’s saying. I play it back but still don’t get it. “Let go.”
I let him go and he stops making noise. Phoenix is kicking his feet talking away. I kiss his head. “Let’s go show your mom that you’re good little man.” I look at my dad. “You got the pussy?”
He laughs. “What’s left.” I look at him. Jesus.
Hyde walks back with me. “Sorry Prez. I was with Teller on the other side. The big dog was by him.”
I nod. “Get Chet with my dad. There’s someone he was running to.” He nods and talks on his mic. It had to happen like this. Dakota didn’t tell me about the fuckin’ horse though. I smile. The horse knocked the guy down. I’m glad I had Phoenix, but if I didn’t, I’d rather he fell, than be stolen by a New York gang. Lily comes running with tears on her face. Fuck. “He’s good babe.” She trips and both Hyde and I catch her. Shit. “Not a scratch. Lily. He’s fine.” The owner and my mom come up.