by Sybil Smith
All she does is put on a pout and her best puppy dog eyes. "Please?"
Shit. Might as well get this over with. "I don't know. Maybe between…40 and 60?" If you subtract the ones before him, that's only about ten people a year when you think about it. Considering how many times I would go to the bar to pick people up, it's really not that bad.
Oddly enough, she doesn't even look phased. Which might mean she's secretly plotting my demise. She's smart enough for that shit, I'm never going to underestimate her.
"You know, after all that happened with him…it just helped me feel in control of things, if that makes sense? Like I was in control of what they were feeling, even if it was only for a little while." I finally look away from her. I feel embarrassed and ashamed of admitting that out loud. I can't believe I used people like that. "I know that's awful, you don't have to tell me."
"Roma," she reaches over and starts running her fingers across the scar on my palm, "I'm not going to tell you it's awful, because it's not. It was your way of coping and I understand that."
I look over and see nothing but compassion and sincerity in her eyes. "Really?"
"Yes, Roma. I was only wondering because sometimes I feel as though I'm much less experienced and much less," her face turns a bright shade of scarlet, "skilled than you are."
I can't even help but start laughing. She's plenty skilled. At least 10 times better than anyone I've ever been with. "You definitely don't have to worry about that." I wink and nudge her side like a twelve year old. "I'll even show you some of my advanced techniques tonight…if you're lucky."
She laughs and stands up to walk back into the morgue. "At your mother's house? Most likely not, Roma."
Chapter 29
Holy shit. One of Mom's new neighbors came over to join us for our 'almost two weeks late Thanksgiving' and it's like Francis and Jarrod are having a pissing contest to vie for her attention. If Schrock we're here, they'd most likely be having a foursome on the damn table.
Ugh. Now I'm picturing a foursome including my brother, sister, and Schrock. This shit just isn't even right. I down what's left of my fourth beer as Harper wobbly walks back from the kitchen and hands me my fifth. She's already finished ¾ of a bottle of wine on her own, it's just that fucking unbearable.
"Hey, Roma, tell Lana about that one time I hot-wired a car in less than fifteen seconds and—"
"—No, no, no. Tell her about the time I took down that suspect with an explosive strapped to his chest!"
"Well how about that time I…"
All I can do is roll my eyes and watch this fucking train wreck. Poor Lana is just sitting there wide eyed and very amused. Mom is sitting at the table with her mouth dropped open and eyes darting back and forth, clearly not believing how weird her family keeps getting.
Harper just keeps pouring herself wine and trying not to laugh. Oddly refreshing, my ass. She tips the wine bottle completely upside down, willing the last drop to come out. She's so fucking cute I can hardly stand it sometimes. Her hand squeezes my thigh and she whispers out of the side of her mouth, "I'm out of wine, Roma. What should we do?"
Jarrod starts to lift up his shirt and I know shit is about to get good. "Just keep watching," I whisper back.
He raises his shirt to his neck and points at the worst fucking tattoo I've ever seen. "I got this bad boy in the slammer when—"
"Jarrod Anthony Raine," Mom shouts as she shoots up from her chair, "put your shirt down, right now!"
Harper takes my beer from my hand and starts drinking it, but I hardly notice because Mom is now stomping over to Jarrod, eyes ablaze. She yanks his ear and starts pulling him to the kitchen. "How dare you do that at my table! Of all the things…"
Her voice is drowned out by the sound of Harper's laughter mixing with mine. We are so tipsy and it fucking shows. Lana stands up and gives us a hesitant smile. "I'm just gonna," she says as she points to the door.
I nod and wave at her. It’s impossible to stop laughing as Francis jumps up like a three year old. "It's only right that I walk our guest to the door, ya know."
That just makes us laugh even harder. Mom hears the door shut and walks back in to the table. She glares at me and Harper until we stop laughing and try to act innocent.
"Don't think I'm pleased with your behavior either, young lady."
I scoff and raise my eyebrows. "What the heck did—"
"Upstairs. Now."
We just sit and stare at her. What the hell? She points to the stairs with an expression I know not to fuck with. "Both of you!"
I grab Harper's hand and drag her to the stairs. I hate being told what to do and I'm not fucking happy about this. I don't even know where the fuck we're going.
Well, until Mom comes up behind us and pushes us into the spare bedroom. "Mom, what're we—"
"You're both drunk, Roma! You're staying here tonight."
"Mom," I roll my eyes and slap my hand to my face, "We'll just call a cab."
She smacks my arm as she walks around me and starts putting a blanket on the ground beside the bed. "Nonsense, Romie. My house is perfectly fine. I'll even cook you breakfast in the morning."
I scowl at Harper as she starts to giggle before looking back over at Mom. She's making a fucking palette on the floor. What the actual hell. We aren't 15 anymore.
"Harper is not sleeping on the floor. The bed is plenty big enough for the both of us."
She gasps as if that was the most offensive thing she has ever heard. "I would never make Harper sleep on the floor! This is for you."
"What? No way. We shared a tent during the camping trip, Mom. I'm not sleeping on the floor."
She waves her hand in the air as she starts fluffing the pillow. "No one has sex in the woods, Roma. I wasn't worried about that then. This is my house and I'd rather not know that my children are messing around in it."
My face heats up as I remember we did actually have sex in the woods and we were almost caught. Jesus Christ. She always has to bring up shit like this. I go to say something, but Harper opens the door and smiles. "Thank you, Julie. That's very considerate of you."
Ma scowls at me before kissing Harper on the cheek and walking out to the hall to her room. Harper shuts the door and does this cute little tipsy smile thing that I've seen way too many times.
I walk over and sit on the edge of the bed and start taking off my shoes. "There's no way I'm sleeping on the floor tonight, Harper."
"Oh no," she shakes her head as she unzips her dress and it falls to the floor, "you're definitely not."
I strip down to my bra and underwear and she walks over and straddles my lap. She bites at my earlobe and pulls back, her damp breath is hot against my ear. "I was wondering if you could," one of her hands trails down my back and unclasps my bra and the other comes up and tangles in my hair, "show me some of your advanced techniques, Detective."
Tipsy Harper is officially one of my favorites. "You bet your sweet ass I can," I say as I flip us over to where she's on her back below me.
I start licking and biting at her neck as she starts trying to thrust her hips up towards me. I push her bra up and starts squeezing one of her tits. She moans so loud I'm pretty sure they heard her in China. Sober Harper is loud, this Harper is definitely louder. I pull back and pretend to be annoyed.
"Harper, you have to be quiet. My mother is on the other side of that wall and I don't want her running in here."
"Okay," she whispers with a devilish grin. Before I know it, she's worked her way out of her frilly as hell panties and shoved them in her mouth. I can hear her start to suck against them and I almost lose it. I never know what to expect with her and I love it.
"Mmmf," she moans out, causing me to focus and start licking my way down her body until I'm directly above her center. Her feet dig into the bed and her legs spreading open as far as they will go—begging me, putting herself on display.
I love the way she tastes, the way she smells. But she wants something new tonight, so t
hat's what she'll get. I push two fingers into her, searching for that one place that'll get her going. You learn a lot of things after being with so many people.
She lets out another stifled moan as her back arches and her hips jerk completely off the bed once I find it. I use my free hand to push against her stomach and hold her down on the bed as I start working my fingers inside her. I use quick, short strokes to start tapping, rubbing, pressing against it.
Her legs are jerking open and closed and her stomach muscles are clenching under my hand as her body tries to either hurry up and come or fight it off just to keep feeling as good as it is right now. She has handfuls of the bedspread clenched in her fists. Her eyes are closed and her head is arched back towards the pillows. She's more beautiful like this than I've ever seen her.
My fingers are moving inside her so fast—almost vibrating. I lean down and use my tongue to tentatively flick her clit and her whole body lifts off the bed as she gives a strangled whimper. Clearly, she can't handle me doing that again.
I pull my face back and use my hand to push her harder down on against the bed. She's so fucking close, so ready, that she's about to cry if she doesn't come soon. But her body is fighting it, trying not to let go just yet.
"Mmf nam mmn," she sobs out through her underwear as her knees knock together and then fall back open. Her body is covered with sweat and her chest is heaving up and down. My hand is starting to cramp from moving so fast, but there's no way I'm about to stop now.
"Shh…hold still…just relax…you have to relax, Harper. Just relax and give into it," I whisper as I force my fingers to go harder, faster against that same spot even if my arm is starting to feel like fucking jelly.
She finally listens and her body loosens up beneath me. Not for long though. A few more taps inside her and she yells out, pushing up on her feet so that her arms and the back of her head are the only things still in contact with the bed until she falls back down against it.
I feel the liquid come out into my hand, covering her thighs. I try to keep going, but she jerks back so hard she pulls herself away from me. She finally calms down enough to where there's just a random twitch of her leg or clench of her stomach. I reach up and pull the underwear out of her mouth—they didn't help one fucking bit, even if it was fucking hot—and toss them off the side of the bed.
She doesn't open her eyes as she lazily pats the bed beside her. "That was…I never…Roma, please."
I laugh and lay down beside her. There's nothing better than turning her brain into pure mush. I pull her to where she's halfway laying on top of me. I feel her breath against me and her finger tracing one of my nipples. Such a tease. "That's one I'll definitely have to learn, Roma."
My body stiffens up as I remember our last attempt at doing something like that to me. I nod even though she can't see me and draw patterns on her cool skin with my finger. "Maybe one day."
"We'll get there," she says as she turns just to where she can brush her lips against my sternum.
I tighten my grip around her. There's no telling where I'd be right now if she hadn't come into my life. I'm so lucky to have her. "I love you, Harper."
I feel her cheeks move as she smiles. "I love—"
Her head pops up and her eyes are as wide as they can get. "Roma, how are we going to explain this mess to your mother?"
Chapter 30
It finally happened. It took more time and tears than I'd like to count, but it finally happened. On Christmas eve, no less. Last night, Harper finally got me. All of me. And two days before that, I got the ring. So we're ready. I know we're ready. Hopefully.
We just have to make it through Christmas with my mother.
Fortunately, we both had to work until 4 today, so we got to miss all of Mom's craziness, Francis' whining about how her Christmas pajamas are too short and girly, and Jarrod's incessant flirtation with Harper. Granted, he's gotten better about it but it still pisses me off when he so much as looks at her for a millisecond too long.
Harper's fingers thread their way between mine and squeeze as we walk up the front steps. She has a massive gift bag for Mom, but she refuses to tell me what's in it. It's probably something good, though, 'cause it's no 50 cent gift bag from Walmart. Hell, she probably had it shipped from France or something. No telling what she put in it. If it's something to 'aid in her libido because she's getting older' I will kill myself. One talk about that was enough.
I raise my arm to open the door, but almost lose my balance as she wraps her arms around my waist and pulls herself flush against me. It's freezing out here, but I'd stay like this forever if I could. Even after working all day, her hair still smells like vanilla and her makeup is perfect. How she does it, I'll never know. The bag probably starts to get heavy in her grip so she gives me one final squeeze before dropping her arms.
Her cheeks are red from more than just being cold. Or I'd like to think so, anyway. Her eyes are watery and she's giving me the biggest smile I've ever seen. My heart even clenches. I love seeing her smile like that.
"Thank you for letting me be a part of this, Roma. My family….well," her eyes flick away from mine so briefly I hardly catch it, "Well, it just wasn't like this. So, thank you."
"Come 'ere," I say as I take the bag from her hand and pull her back against me. "Don't thank me for this. You deserve to be surrounded by people who love you every day. I love you, my family loves you, and you are always welcome here with us. Understand?"
She sniffs and nods against me before pulling away and taking back the bag. I reach up to fix some of her hair that wooled against my shirt, but I end up pulling her in for a semi-heated kiss. It only stops when I feel how cold the tip of her nose is and remember we are standing outside in the middle of the fucking winter. I pull back and run my fingers over her reddened cheeks and smile at her. I can't wait to officially make sure she's always going to be in my life and I'm in hers. "I love you and all, but we really should get inside before Mom thinks we're dry humping on the porch."
Harper laughs and gives me her best coy look. "Considering what happened the last time we were here, I highly doubt she would be surprised if we were."
I wag my eyebrows at her.
For the only time I can remember in my whole damn life, the house smells like cinnamon and pine needles on Christmas instead of food. And that's only because I called ahead and told her we couldn't stay long so she shouldn't cook. She almost flipped her shit, but I finally convinced her after telling her there was an important reason why and I'd tell her once we got here. Not my best plan.
She hears us taking off our coats and shoes in the hall and walks towards us so fast I think I should probably hide. I haven't even told her, and she knows what's up.
She pulls Harper in for a hug and then smacks me on the arm. "Roma! How could you make her stand outside like that for so long? She's freezing," she grabs Harper's arm and starts to pull her towards the living room, "I taught you better than that. Have some manners."
Of course. I'm always the one at fault. She knows how to push my buttons better than anybody else, I swear.
Harper sits on the couch—definitely more prim and proper than she does when it's just us, even when I tell her this is her family now, too, and she could sit sprawled eagle for all anyone in this weird ass family cares—and I put my horribly wrapped gift on the couch beside her.
"Sit tight, I'll be right back," I say as kiss the top of her hair and follow Ma down the hall into the kitchen.
Ma leans against the counter and starts rubbing her hands together in front of her. Legitimately rubbing her hands together like a three year old. I've never seen her smile like this in my entire life. It's making me nervous. She tilts her head and cranes her neck towards me. "So…"
"I'm, uh…" Suddenly my fingernails have become very interesting. I look up and she's wringing her hands and her eyes are already starting to water. She already knows, I might as well spit it out. "I'm going to askHarpertomarryme," I ramble out in one quick
whisper.
Ma literally shrieks and wraps herself around me. Then starts jumping us both up and down. What the hell. I can't even make this shit up.
"Oh, Romie," she says as she pulls back and wipes the tears from her cheeks. She puts her hands around my arms and gives a little squeeze. "After all you've been through, after everything….I'm just so proud of you. The one thing a mother wants is for her children to be happy. These last few years were hard for all of us. I really wasn't sure you'd find it, Roma. But now…now I can see that you really have."
She leans up and kisses my cheek. "Don't ever sell yourself short and think you don't deserve this, Roma. You deserve to be happy and you deserve to be happy with her."
Even when I tried to pretend it wasn't there, this was always at the back of my mind—nagging at me, tormenting me. Was I good enough for her? Could she do better? Chances are…yeah, she could do better in terms of someone with good money or social standing or whatever. But, I've finally started to realize she would never get someone that understood her as much as I do. Someone that completes her as much as she completes me. And Mom believes that too, I can see it in her eyes. This isn't just some bullshit a mother tells her child. She means it and that gives me the push I need. I can do this.
"Thanks, Mom."
She smiles and gives me a small swat on my arm as she walks back into the living room. She knows my 'thanks' was much more than a 'thank you' for her pep talk. It was a thank you for reassuring me, believing in me, and so much more. She may know how to push my buttons better than anyone else, but at times like these…I wouldn't trade it for the world.
I pick up the box and hand it to Ma before sitting down as close as I can next to Harper. There's more than enough room for me to not be pressed up against her this closely, but by the way she pulls my arm on her lap and runs her fingers across my skin, I don't think she minds very much. Her warmth, her smile, her smell, the lights on the tree twinkling in the corner, the smile on Mom's face as she sits down across from us…it just feels so right that I almost start to cry.