HisMarriageBargain

by Sidney Bristol

  Rebekah slowly lowered to sit next to her. “I’m sorry if that sounds harsh. I’m not good with talking. That’s my husband’s job. I’m much better at cooking to solve issues.”

  Autumn sighed and rested her head on her knees, studying her unlikely friend. “You did fine. I talk to people all day. It’s nice to hear someone shoot you straight.”

  Rebekah slowly lifted her hand, as if she were afraid Autumn would push her away. When she didn’t, Rebekah patted her back. “I’m sorry. I don’t want you to get hurt.”

  “Is it really going to be that bad?” She’d had a taste tonight with the socialites, and that was just for being a white-trash-looking woman with a first-class man. What would it be like when it was his family?

  Rebekah let a moment pass. “If his mother is anything like mine, then yes. Yes, it’ll be bad.”

  * * * * *

  Tamara folded her hands in her lap and stared at the man across from her. Dr. Abshire was at least ten years her junior and had an odd love of short-sleeve button-up shirts and penny loafers. He was a tidy, slow-spoken man who took copious notes on everything she said and did.

  His constant attention amused Tamara, which was why she continued to see him even after Samuel had stopped ensuring she went to these sessions.

  “How is your head feeling, Dr. Abshire?” she asked.

  “A lot better since last week, thank you.” He twirled the pen between his fingers.

  “The tea helped?”

  “I suppose so. Is this the tea you make for all of your ill friends?” He glanced at his paper and clicked the gold pen.

  She shifted her weight. No one would get her recipe. She had it under lock and key. “It is. I brought a different one today. Would you care to try it?”

  “Sure. Let me get some hot water.” He swung to a small table nearby with a phone and rang his secretary for the necessary components. “How’s your son doing? Feeling any better?”

  “I wouldn’t know.” She pursed her lips, still annoyed that her son was out of touch and, as far as she could tell, gone without a trace. The police had informed her that his message to his workplace negated a missing person report, but she’d tried anyway.

  “Oh? What’s he up to these days?”

  “I haven’t a clue. My chef was out ill for several days.”

  Dr. Abshire merely nodded with the change of discourse. “You mentioned she wasn’t doing well. How is she?”

  “Better. Back at work.”

  “Did she get some of your tea?” He smiled and clicked the damn pen twice in a row. She wanted to school him on etiquette, but previous attempts had proven useless. The man was destined to spend the rest of his short days uncouth.

  “She did.”

  The secretary entered with two plain white mugs of hot water. Tamara sniffed, still dissatisfied that the office couldn’t see fit to keep actual teacups around. The mugs were deposited on the coffee table in front of Tamara and the girl left as wordlessly as she had entered.

  Tamara scooted forward, pulling the mugs toward her. She took a packet out of her purse and removed the metal ball with holes all through it, placing it in one of the cups. With a few dunks and swirls, the water began to turn colors, becoming murky and brown.

  “Here you are, Doctor.”

  Dr. Abshire accepted the mug and sipped the brew.

  Tamara picked up her mug and settled back against the couches.

  “Tell me, Doctor, how have you been lately?” She blew across the top of her mug.

  “Fine. Fine.” He nodded and took another sip.

  * * * * *

  Autumn crept toward wakefulness. The bed was so comfortable and a clean, linen scent surrounded her. So much better than the sheets on her bed, which probably still smelled like the fries she’d accidentally left in the bedroom for a whole day last week.

  She rolled to her back and stretched.

  The first thing she noticed was the absence of ocean waves and birdsong. Instead, silence reigned.

  She cracked her eyes open, only to be met with shadows on white walls.

  Sammi’s house.

  No.

  Our house.

  Autumn glanced at her husband, who was sprawled out on his stomach, still asleep.

  They’d arrived back in Texas the night before and promptly curled up on the couch with takeout. She’d had most of a bottle of wine and they’d compared tastes in TV shows. It was a little foggy after that, but she was pretty sure she’d stumbled to bed serenading him with a Spice Girls song.

  She swung her feet over the side of the bed, grabbed her glasses from the bedside table and crept out to the den. They’d taken a quick tour of the house, but besides some essential furniture, like the bed, a couch and at least three TVs, it was pretty much empty, with a lot of white walls. She felt a little bit like a squatter breaking and entering, except the ring on her left hand meant she belonged here.

  Autumn wrapped her arms around herself and meandered from room to room. Judging by the light, it was heading into midmorning on a lazy Monday.

  She was supposed to work at the shop today. It was on her schedule, but she really didn’t want to show up yet. Though she didn’t think it was a good idea, Autumn went to the couch where she’d dropped her purse and dug out her cell phone. She hadn’t turned it on in almost a week, not since they lifted off for St. Maarten. She powered it on and chewed her lip while the screen lit up.

  Instantly it started buzzing with incoming messages and voicemails.

  Autumn squeezed her eyes shut.

  She did not want to hear those yet.

  She slid it back into her purse and pulled off her glasses to rub her face. One more day wasn’t going to hurt anything, not when she’d already skipped out on five. Today would just make six. It wasn’t that bad.

  Autumn paced through the living room restlessly and into the kitchen. They’d bought a handful of groceries, but that was only because she’d wanted the wine.

  She pulled the fridge open and stared at the meager offerings. Eggs. Something that looked like bacon. Some vegetables.

  The makings of an omelet.

  Perfect.

  As far as cooking skills went, hers were passable, but an omelet was totally in her wheelhouse.

  It took her only twenty minutes and one false start to turn out two edible omelets. They would be better with real bacon, but Sammi’s fake bacon would have to do. Some juice would have been nice, maybe a cup of coffee, but all they had was a little milk she divided into two glasses. She piled the whole spread onto a serving dish she found in the cabinets and tiptoed back into the bedroom.

  The room was bathed in a dim glow, the curtains not dark enough to cut out all of the harsh sunlight.

  Sammi had rolled onto his back, one arm curled under his head and the other thrown out toward her side of the bed.

  Maybe she should let him sleep, but her stomach was growling and tomorrow they’d have to resume normal schedules. And they could always nap later.

  Autumn set the tray down on the tall dresser by Sammi’s side of the bed and turned to study her husband.

  There was really only one way to wake him up considering it was the first night they’d spent in the house together. She put one knee on the mattress and swung her other leg over him so she straddled his thighs. The only thing covering him was the sheet, the rest of the blankets had been kicked off onto the floor during the night.

  Sammi shifted but didn’t wake up. He really was a heavy sleeper.

  Autumn set her glasses on the dresser and pulled the sheet off. Leaning over him, she tugged the waistband of his boxers down, all without him stirring. Except for the rousing in his shorts. She was able to get his underwear down most of the way so that his semierect cock was in view. Sammi rolled his head this way and that against the pillow, but that was it.

  “Wakey, wakey,” she said quietly as she grasped his dick and caressed the shaft.

  He stirred in her palm, growing harder.

&n
bsp; Autumn pumped him with firm, purposeful strokes.

  Sammi groaned and his eyes opened slightly. She grinned and ran her fingers over the mushroom cap.

  “Mm.”

  “Someone’s waking up.” She scooted back and leaned down until she could take the head of his cock into her mouth. There was the salty taste of skin and the clean scent of soap clinging to him.

  A hand dug into her hair, signaling Sammi’s climb to wakefulness. She ignored it and continued stroking him. He gripped harder, pulling at her roots as she bobbed up and down.

  “Holy shit,” Sammi muttered. His legs shifted under her and he lifted his hips, moving with her for a moment.

  She glanced up at him and almost laughed. Sammi was staring at her with an expression akin to wonder. And what man wouldn’t be in awe of a woman giving him a blowjob?

  “Autumn, fuck, I’m going to—”

  She sat up and wrapped the sheet around his cock as he came.

  Sammi’s back bowed and he thrust his pelvis up. He stared at the ceiling and his cock twitched in her hand. He froze for several moments, gasping for breath and slowly relaxing, turning into a boneless creature.

  “Good morning,” she said.

  “I’d say so.”

  Autumn let him rest while she gathered the soiled sheet and tossed it in the corner. There wasn’t even a hamper. So many things to get from her apartment. Just the thought of it made her want to dive back in bed.

  She picked up the tray, circled the bed and laid it next to Sammi, who was looking a little more awake.

  “You made breakfast too?” He pulled the pillows up and resituated his clothing. “Blowjobs and omelets. Today’s going to be a good day.”

  “Hope so.” She grinned.

  They sat with their backs to the headboard, food balanced on their thighs and they ate while Sammi flipped channels on the flat screen hung on the opposite wall. He paused longer on news shows and anything to do with politics.

  “What’s going on today?” Autumn finally asked.

  “I thought we could move stuff into the house from our places. I’m not going into the office until Wednesday, but I’ll need to swing by and at least see my mother today.”

  Autumn tensed, waiting for something, but she didn’t know what.

  “It’s…probably not a good idea for you to meet her yet. When do you have to go back?”

  “Wednesday.” She didn’t miss how he glossed over the issue of his mother, but she wasn’t anxious to meet the woman any time soon. Her track record with parents wasn’t the best, so she wasn’t expecting a warm reception.

  “Awesome.”

  Sammi’s cell phone rang from where it sat on the nightstand. He glanced at the screen and grimaced.

  “Hello?” He perched the phone on his shoulder and continued cutting the omelet. The frown lines around his mouth deepened as the call drew on. He finally said, “I’ll be around in a bit,” and hung up.

  Autumn’s heart sank. “Something wrong?”

  “Yeah, guess I’m going into the office today. Can you manage without me for a bit?”

  “I’m a big girl.” She put on a smile though she didn’t feel it.

  Without the excuse of being with him, there was no reason she shouldn’t go into the shop. The very idea gave her heartburn.

  * * * * *

  Autumn groaned when she saw the line of familiar cars parked behind the So Inked shop this early on a Monday morning.

  Kellie’s Cube, Mary’s DeVille and Pandora’s Honda.

  Autumn parked her Buick in the space designated for her in the alley and stared at the back wall of the building. If the three tattoo artists were there, then Carly probably was as well. Usually she got a ride, though she was supposed to get a car outfitted without pedals.

  Carly had regained feeling in her pelvis, upper thighs and left foot first. Originally she’d had no function of her legs. They just lay there. But with steady work over the last year she could move her toes on her left foot and a little at her right knee. It wasn’t much, but it was enough to hope that someday she’d be able to stand, walk a little like Brian, Pandora’s boyfriend, had.

  It was time for Autumn to face the music, and the full choir was there.

  Autumn rolled her wedding set around on her finger. Maybe they’d forgive her once they knew the reason. She hoped. Actually, she was betting on that with everything she had.

  She gathered her steaming cup of coffee and bag before getting out of the car and locking it. If she could smile through this it wouldn’t be that bad, right? With her trademark grin in place, Autumn pushed through the back door.

  “Hey, bitches,” she yelled and strode up the hall, past the empty office, piercing room, storage closet and bathroom into the shop proper.

  The four women were standing around the new front desk that had been installed a month ago. Initially they’d had a tall bar-height desk, but with Carly taking over as their shop manager since Mary’s son gave up the job, it wasn’t functional. Now it was table height and built to make Carly as efficient as possible. It was like a mini command center.

  Autumn glanced between the four faces with almost identical expressions of apathy and disinterest, except for Pandora, who smiled and glowed. Autumn would have to check the calendar. They’d all taken bets on how soon Brian would knock Pandora up, and that was the look of a woman with news.

  “Where the fuck have you been?” Kellie was the first to speak. She turned to face Autumn fully, a hand on her cocked hip.

  Mary merely hummed at her, which was more concerning. Kellie and Mary were technically her bosses and though Kellie was the vocal one, it was Mary you had to watch out for.

  “Damn, girl, you got some sun. Look at that tan!” Carly pivoted her chair and leaned forward, a shock of white hair falling forward over her face. She grinned, genuinely happy to see Autumn, which was a relief. Over the last year they’d gotten close.

  “Yeah, sunscreen is bullshit. Applied it every other hour and I’m still pink.” Autumn paused by her work station and dropped her bag off before approaching the choir.

  “Really, where the hell have you been?” Kellie demanded with more heat in her voice. She was really pissed. “I had to ask Pandora to come back early because of your flaky ass. This isn’t acceptable, Autumn. Do you know how slammed we’ve been? That’s so uncool to just leave us like that.”

  “I’m sorry, really. It wasn’t planned or anything.” She set her coffee cup on the table and wiped her palms on her hips.

  “I’d love to hear why you couldn’t be bothered to answer your fucking phone or come into work. I’m all ears.” Kellie’s gaze dared her to give her a good enough reason, because there was no doubt she’d gone to bat with Mary again for Autumn, like she did every time.

  Guilt ate at Autumn. She hated this moment, when she had to account for her spontaneity and poor decision-making. Someday she’d get this whole adult thing down. Someday she’d learn how to think about the future.

  “Okay, well, there wasn’t any cell reception, so I couldn’t call you,” she began to explain.

  Mary snorted and rolled her eyes.

  What did she do? How was she supposed to answer all the questions?

  There was only one way.

  Autumn held up her left hand.

  “I got married.”

  “What?” Carly shrieked.

  Pandora gasped. “To who?”

  “Are you serious?” Kellie grabbed her hand and eyed the ring, eyes large with surprise.

  “Where did you go?” Carly asked, her smile larger as she practically bounced in her seat.

  “We went to St. Maarten, so there really wasn’t any cell reception,” Autumn added hurriedly.

  “And there aren’t any land lines in St. Maarten?” Mary glanced at the ring and rolled her eyes again, unimpressed.

  Autumn smiled harder, though she just wanted to cry. She’d known this would be the hardest part for her. Bailing wasn’t okay, as they’d disc
ussed many times in the past, but she’d really screwed up by jumping ship.

  “Who is he?” Kellie’s mouth screwed up on one side in a skeptical expression.

  Oh, this was going to be explosive.

  Autumn held her hand out and stared at the ring. She focused on the way Sammi had looked at her at the wedding, how he’d kissed her, the time he’d chased her into the ocean and all the quiet moments they’d shared. She’d done it for him, and gotten more than she could have imagined in return. Her heart warmed at the thought of him and damn them all, she would enjoy the rush he made her feel.

  “Sammi.”

  “You have got to be shitting me.” Kellie gaped at her.

  “Our landlord?” Mary’s eyes were about to bug out of her head.

  “Damn, Sammi? He’s hot.” Carly ducked her head, but she was grinning. Little fazed her these days.

  Tense silence descended as Kellie and Mary no doubt thought through the consequences of her actions, seeing only the problems with what she’d done. But the truth was she’d do it all over again.

  “Congratulations, Autumn.” Pandora came around the desk and gave her a hug, squeezing her especially tight.

  Autumn wrapped her arms around the other woman’s waist. Of course Pandora would forgive her. She’d become such a graceful, mature woman over the last two years since Brian had entered her life. And now Autumn had screwed up Pandora’s weekend away. While it hadn’t been intentional, the memorial service for Brian’s band had also served them during the pretrial hearings for Robert, which would have given Pandora a much-needed distraction. And Autumn had landed her back here. Great.

  “I’m sorry you had to cut your trip short,” she said quietly to Pandora.

  Pandora stepped back and shrugged. “It’s okay, but since we’re sharing big news today…” She pivoted to face the whole group. “I’m kind of glad you’re back, because I’d hate to not tell you all at once—we got engaged.” Pandora slipped a ring from her pocket and slid it on her left hand.

  “No way!” Autumn gaped at her friend, echoing the exclamations of the other three.

  “Yes, and it’s all on fucking video.” Pandora tossed her head back and laughed.

  As one, they swarmed Pandora, hugging her and peering over her shoulder to glimpse the ruby embedded in the ring, surrounded by tiny diamonds in an antique setting. It wasn’t the traditional diamonds Autumn had, but it was Pandora, and Brian had chosen well.