by Evie Rose
Ricky’s eyes light up and he implores, “Can we go to the beach, please?”
Roxi in a bikini, oh I definitely think I can handle that. I look up at Roxi, her face beaming, and she nods. “Sounds like a plan, tough guy,” I answer, referring to his earlier assessment of himself. “How about you get changed into your shorts?” He races off down the hallway and I waste no time in dropping the sheets, jumping over the counter, and taking advantage of this alone time with Roxi.
Leaning up against her, I place my hands on her hips and growl in her ear, “I’m starving and there’s nothing I want more than to lay you out on this kitchen bench and eat you out, but considering we only have about two minutes before innocent eyes wander back in the room...” I take her chin in my hand and devour her mouth with my own, taking control of the kiss and where I want it to go. I want to make sure it’s something she doesn’t forget in a hurry. I want to give her something to think about, to penetrate her thoughts as much as she infiltrates mine.
Using my spare hand, I delve into her panties and swipe my finger through her liquid heat, then pull away leaving her panting for more. I suck her juices off my finger and witness the melting of her brown eyes, the rise and fall of her chest, and the quiver in her legs. Once I’ve licked off every last drop, I pull the finger out of my mouth. “Fucking sensational.”
Ricky shouts out from the bedroom, ending our moment, “Come on Mum! Come get your swimmers on.”
I groan as I watch her walk off in a daze. What did I have to go and do that for? It’s gonna be hard as hell, literally, to hide a boner under my swim trunks all day. Bloody great. While dragging my feet to the laundry, I pinch the tip of my dick, hard, willing it to go down. I don’t want to have to explain to an unusually observant kid why there’s a tent in my pants. My efforts prove futile though, when Roxi walks back out in mini shorts and a bikini top. I can’t even pick my jaw up off the floor, let alone get rid of my wood.
Ricky comes out and sighs heavily, clearly exasperated. “Luke, aren’t you getting ready?”
With great difficulty I take my eyes of Roxi’s smoking hot bod to answer him, “Sure buddy, I’ll be super quick, I promise. Why don’t you guys go hop in the car and I’ll be there in a second?” He seems appeased and I go to change while they head out the front door.
Just as I pull my shorts up, I hear a blood curdling scream from outside. My heart stops and I am frozen for a moment, before my pulse accelerates uncontrollably. I don’t think, I just run for the door.
Chapter Twenty One
“Why not go out on a limb? Isn't that where the fruit is?” - Frank Scully
Roxi
I feel the blow before I even see it coming. An explosion of intense pain shoots up my side and knocks the wind right out of me. My head collides with the pavement as I fall to the ground and my vision blurs. When I rise, dizziness overwhelms me and my stomach rolls with nausea. Ricky’s terrified scream sounds like an alarm in my ears, causing panic to surge through me.
With difficulty, I push myself up to standing on wobbly legs. Everything is distorted as I reach for Ricky’s hazy outline in front of me, only he is being pulled farther and farther out of my grasp. The large hand wrapped around Ricky’s wrist comes into focus and I look up to see Joseph sneering down at me.
Venom spews from his mouth, “Did you really think I wouldn’t find you? I told you time and time again that you couldn’t hide from me. You’ll pay one way or another, you stupid bitch.”
Adrenalin rushes through me and I lunge forward, grabbing a hold of Ricky’s other arm. Still Joseph pulls, like this is some sick game of tug-of-war. Ricky howls, tears streaming down his frightened little face.
“Let go, you fucking bastard,” I screech.
The front door slams in the background, seconds before I hear Luke by my side. “Give Ricky to me.” His voice is low and menacing, but Joseph doesn’t flinch.
“Who the hell are you?” Joseph questions. “My family’s none of your concern, why don’t you just piss off, pal?”
Luke’s jaw clenches. “I’m not your pal. I’ll give you one more warning,” he threatens, “Give Ricky to me.”
Joseph looks at Luke like he isn’t worth the air he breathes, and then narrows his eyes at me. “Why does this guy even care, Roxi? Are you fucking him, you filthy little slut?”
I recoil at his spiteful words, and without warning, Luke slams his fist into Joseph’s face, causing him to stagger backwards.
“Learn some fucking respect,” Luke growls.
As Joseph sways on his feet, his grip on Ricky loosens, and I pull him into my side.
“Quick, get inside the house,” Luke urges.
I’m already a step ahead of him, leading Ricky away from the danger as fast as I can. It’s not until I get us safely inside that I realise Luke is no longer with us. He must have shut the door behind us and I wince, as I hear the sickening crack of what I assume is someone’s skull against the other side of the heavy wooden oak. Ricky cries out and I usher him away from the violent scene and into the kitchen, where the phone is.
While I lift up the receiver, a scream rips out of my throat, calling for help, “Jake!” To my relief, he comes running out in a daze, shock replacing the confusion on his face once he takes in our appearance.
“What’s going on?” Thick sleep still coats his words, however his eyes dart around, surveying for danger.
“Luke’s outside in a punch up with Joseph, I’m calling the police.” I’m not sure if he takes in the last part of my sentence, as he’s already flying towards the door. I call the police and manage to relay the address before sinking to the floor and holding Ricky firmly in my arms.
The adrenalin is subsiding, and a heavy dread settles over me, wondering if Luke and Jake are okay out there. I feel terrible over having involved them in this whole mess. Ricky shakes in my embrace and I squeeze him tight, not just to assure him that we’re okay, but me as well. I sing lullabies in his ear to soothe him, trying to keep my voice steady, as I rock us back and forth. I’m trying to drown out the sirens that are getting closer, drown out the horrific images that fill Ricky’s mind, and replace them with more suitable thoughts for a child.
Eventually, he settles and I pick him up in my arms to go peek out the window. Joseph glares in the direction of Luke and Jake from the back of the police vehicle, but doesn’t notice me through the gap in the curtain. I take Ricky to the couch, not wanting to go outside, even though I’m curious as to what’s going on out there. I’m sure they’ll come in if they need to talk to me.
Ricky curls into a ball on the cushions and I rub my hands over his back and shoulders, then down his arms to comfort him. Fury hits me, as I notice the bruise forming around his wrist.
“I promise you sweetie that nothing like this will ever happen again. Your father’s a bad man. You did nothing to deserve this. None of what happened is your fault.” I swallow the lump of emotion lodged firmly in my throat before I’m able to continue. “The police have him now, and they’re going to lock him away so he can’t hurt us anymore.”
He turns to look at me, and then reaches up to wipe the tears trickling down the side of my face away. “Don’t cry Mummy, don’t be sad. Be happy because we’re okay, because we still have each other.”
When did my baby get so wise? I guess he had to grow up quickly with all the adult situations he’s been through. My heart aches for him and I swear to give him more cheerful memories from this moment forward, to wipe the bad ones away.
“I love you Ricky,” I croon.
He smiles warmly back at me, “Love you too, Mum.”
I’m not only impressed by how wise he is, but amazed at his strength, his positivity, how he’s able to look on the bright side of life after what’s just happened and concentrate on what’s important. Knowing he has the ability to do this makes me feel like less of a failure as a mother, I must’ve done something right to have such a fantastic kid.
He gazes anxious
ly towards the door and I turn on the TV to the cartoon network, to take his mind off whatever’s going on outside. The truth is, I could use the distraction too. He lies quietly in my lap, watching the telly, and I gaze down at him, each smile or giggle that comes from him calming me.
After what seems like forever, Luke and Jake come back in the house and Jake heads off to his room. Luke goes into the kitchen and comes back with a bag of frozen peas against his jaw, sending a pang of guilt through me that he got hurt while protecting us. I meet his eyes over the back of the couch and he mouths, “They’re gone,” he briefly glances at Ricky, then continues, “I’ll fill you in later.”
“Thank you,” I whisper. “And sorry,” I add, referring to his swollen jaw.
“You’re not the one who punched me Roxi, don’t apologize for his actions. He’s his own person and you’re not responsible for what he does,” he quietly stresses, before narrowing his eyes and adding, “any of it.” I’m well aware he’s talking about so much more than just this morning.
After the ordeal Ricky just went through, it’s not long before exhaustion creeps in and he falls asleep on my lap. I put him into bed and come back out to find out from Luke what happened with the police. He’s putting the peas back in the freezer as I enter the kitchen and I go up on tip toes, gently kissing beside the bruise on his face. “Thank you.”
He brushes off my praise, “Anyone would have done the same, Roxi.”
Shaking my head, I tell him, “Most people would’ve looked the other way.” I can’t quite look at him as I say, “I feel like white trash getting into domestic disputes on the street. I’m the one everyone wants to ignore, because I make the neighbourhood look bad by airing my dirty laundry.”
He places his hands on either side of my face and tilts my head to look at him. “Whatever you’re thinking, Roxi, stop it. Don’t ever think of yourself like that. He’s the trash here, not you. Don’t ever let anyone make you feel less about yourself. You’ve overcome so much. You’re nothing less than incredible.”
The praise sends unexpected warmth through me. It’s not something I’m used to. It gives me the urge to wrap my arms around him and kiss him, to show him everything I feel, but can’t think of the right words to say. However, I’m not sure if we’re at a stage where I can do that. I have no idea what last night meant to him, or even exactly how much it meant to me. All I know is that whatever it means, it feels amazing and I want more.
While I battle with the impulse to kiss him, he starts to inform me of what happened outside and the moment is lost. He tells me that because it was his friend Harry who was on duty, he was able to convince him to let Ricky and me go into the station tomorrow, once we’ve settled down, to write a statement. We have to call in the morning with a time so that they can organize a child psychologist to be present for Ricky. I’m glad all the drama can wait another day, I just want to close my eyes a while and forget.
“I can’t thank you enough Luke, I’m really not up to it today. I’m actually going to go have a nap with Ricky, if you don’t mind?”
He steps closer to me and runs his hand over my face, lingering near my forehead. I close my eyes and sigh at the comfort he brings me. “Wait. Let me clean up your cut first.”
My cut? I place my fingers on my head, moving them gently across my forehead, and gasp at the stinging sensation it causes. He lifts me up at the waist and places me up on the counter, then goes about tenderly cleaning me up. Even though it hurts, I don’t mind, because I want his hands on me, need his hands on me, they make me feel safe.
*****
Over the next few days, things slowly get back to normal. We go to the station and write our statements and an officer takes photos of our injuries. I’m informed that Joseph has a trial date set for one month’s time, and was denied bail, to which I breathe a huge sigh of relief. It’ll be good to be able to go outside the house, without being paranoid.
I have a meeting with Ricky’s teacher and let her know what’s been going on. She’s actually really great. Extremely sympathetic and makes me feel at ease. I had no need to worry about her thinking any less of Ricky or me, in fact, it’s quite the opposite. She has nothing but encouragement and offers of help to give us. She even gives us a spare uniform.
I agree it would be best to get Ricky started back up at school the next day, that the normalcy will help him. Sue, the school psychologist, will see him twice a week to monitor how he’s progressing. Neither Sue, nor his teacher, Gail, are concerned he’ll have any issues though. They’d both previously noticed that he’s a little behind in his school work and slightly anxious at times, but now that his father is out of his life, with a little love and support, he’ll have no trouble catching up and becoming less agitated.
I’m looking forward to getting back into a routine. To running again, to being free, truly free. To getting a part time job, something for me, so I won’t just be Roxi, the stay-at-home-mum, I’ll have a purpose. Mind you, it might only be waitressing at a local café until I find a career, but I’ll have the opportunity to study, to be whatever I want to be. I have no idea what that is yet, but nothing will hold me back from finding out. Most importantly of all, I can be Roxi, the socializing mum, the mum that takes her kid on play dates and all the other fun things a child should get to participate in.
For the first time in a long while, things are looking up.
*****
When I drop Ricky at school on Tuesday morning, all the kids are excited to see him back. It makes my heart swell that the school I’d chosen for him is such a small, accepting community. Ricky isn’t at all distressed, like I feared he might’ve been, merely happy to act like a child with his friends, to worry about nothing more than if they should build a race track with the wooden blocks, or a tower. I kiss him on the check before leaving and ask the teacher to give me a call if he becomes upset through the day.
I walk in the door and Luke grins up at me from the couch. “So, you wanna go for a run?”
This is just what I need, easy, uncomplicated, completely the opposite at what the past week or so has thrown at me. “You bet,” I smile back at him. “Only, I’m going to go fast, I’m not sure if you’ll be able to keep up with me,” I say in jest, remembering back to the first time we met.
He rises to his feet and challenges, “I’ll be prepared this time, bring it on.”
I take in the way his muscles ripple as he moves and revaluate; maybe I’ll let him win this time, so I can appreciate the view from behind. Nah, I want the rush, the wind in my face and to feel like I’m flying, like nothing can catch me - not my worries of what the future will bring, not my past hurts; nothing. Although... I’d let Luke catch me if he wanted to. Happy endorphins are humming through me at the mere thought, exhilaration building before we even start to run.
I’m still in the skirt and top I wore to drop Ricky off and need to get changed before we get going. “I won’t be a minute, just let me get ready,” I say, as I walk towards my room. Pulling up the teeny tiny running shorts I bought, just to stick it to Joseph now that I can, I twirl in front of the mirror in satisfaction, giving my ass that’s half hanging out – not really, but that’s what Joseph used to say – a shimmy and a shake.
A low groan sounds from the doorway and I flush. “What are you doing in here? I’m getting changed.”
“Sorry I was on my way to the bath room. The door was open and I couldn’t help but notice you shaking your sexy ass around. Don’t be embarrassed, I’ve seen a lot more than that, remember?” he winks.
My gaze drops to his mouth and heat flashes through my body, jolts straight to my core as I recall exactly what he’s seen.
“Okay, if you don’t stop looking at me like that, we aren’t leaving this room, and it’d be a damn shame not to see you running in those shorts. So I’m gonna go to the bathroom and I’ll meet you in the lounge room in a minute.”
I shake my head, already a little breathless before I step foot outside the door
. I quickly put on a more suitable shirt and then swap my flip flops for joggers, before going out to wait on the couch.
Luke enters only a minute later. “Let’s go.” He motions for me to go ahead of him and I feel his eyes on my shorts, or more accurately, my ass. He doesn’t make me feel cheap like Joseph did though, doesn’t slap or grope me as though it’s his right. I sense the way he admires me, the way I turn him on, and he still doesn’t do anything about it without me giving him the go ahead. He makes me feel desirable and confident.
We fall into a comfortable rhythm and everything else disappears, it’s just us, the sounds of our feet hitting the pavement, our steady breaths, the sunshine warming me – I feel it, smell it, allow it to radiate through me and lift my spirits. I concentrate on the here and now, on one step at a time. Running is like a parallel to everything life should be. It clears the mind and brings perspective.
It ends all too soon and we slow down as we approach the house. Endorphins make me feel as though I’m floating, lighter, they buzz through me, a blissful energy filling me. I follow Luke out back to where his boxing gym is set up and stretch out, enjoying the slow burn through my muscles as I extend them.
Calloused hands wrap around my ankles, helping to push my leg back towards me. Luke gazes down at me, eyes unblinking and filled with desire, causing my heart to accelerate; I feel my pulse through my whole body.
His fingers glide down the sweat that covers my legs and as he presses into my tightly wound muscles I groan in pleasure. When he moves lower, my back arches up off the ground, wanting more, needing more. My leg drops around his waist as he massages my inner thigh, all the while our eyes locked, my breath coming out in short pants, just feeling, craving more.
His thumb slides under my shorts and grazes over my panties, making me whimper. He swallows my needy sounds, by pressing his lips to mine. My eyes roll to the back of my head and my lids flutter closed. I match his tongue stroke for stroke, hungry for his touch, anywhere, everywhere.