New Beginnings : A Novella (Men of Whiskey Row Book 2)

by D. A. Young

  Casey was in heaven. Sidra’s oral skills were phenomenal, and he suppressed the thought of where she could have learned them. Her eyes locked with his as she took him all in. He buried his hands in her hair, disregarding her previous warnings to never touch a black woman’s hair. “Damn, baby,” he crooned, “You look so fuckin’ pretty with my dick in your mouth.”

  She purred with pleasure and the vibration radiated through him, shooting up his spine and making his toes curl. His grip tightened in her hair as he began to thrust faster into her warm, wet mouth. Sensing he was close, Sidra turned it up another notch, but he surprised her by pulling out of her mouth and pushing her down on the bed. “What are you doing? You were so close…”

  “Shut up, Sidra,” he ordered as he yanked her legs forward and threw her thighs over his shoulders. Sidra wailed as he thrust his tongue deep into her core. “Yes, baby, looks like my pussy missed me as much as I missed it. Do not ever think to deny me my treat again. Do you hear me?”

  Casey lifted a thigh to give her ass a sharp slap. He watched with satisfaction as more cream gushed out of her. Sidra mewled with pleasure. He repeated the action on her other cheek and got the same response. “I can’t hear you, Sid.”

  “Mmmmm, no. No, I won’t deny you ever again. Pleeeaaase Casey….” she sobbed as she shoved her pussy forward, begging for more of his touch.

  “No, I don’t think you understand quite yet,” he smirked, as she moaned in frustration. “Grab the backs of your thighs and open yourself up for me. Let me see how much my pretty, little pussy missed me. If you let go at any time, I’ll stop.”

  Sidra did as he requested, shaking with anticipation of what was to come. She felt his warm breath on her center and then the barest flicker of his tongue. Her pussy clenched tightly in response. “Stop torturing me.”

  “Oh, darling, I haven’t even begun to torture you. This is me being irritated about the pesky, little freak-out you had. But we’re not going to have that problem anymore are we?” Casey asked silkily as he slid two fingers in her, expertly scissoring them deep inside of her as he sucked her clit into his hot mouth. Crying out, Sidra exploded, shaking uncontrollably as she gushed and squirted all over Casey’s hands and face. He greedily lapped up her essence, before thrusting his tongue lower into her rosette. Her arms were weak, but she held on as he pleasured her mercilessly. His fingers rubbed her clit, and tiny convulsions turned into big ones as she came once more.

  Spent, Sidra sobbed as she tried to hold her thighs up. Casey sat up and moved onto the bed to kneel between her legs. He stroked his cock and she watched the pearl of liquid gathered at the tip. He scooped it up and held his finger to her lips. Sidra eagerly sucked his finger into her mouth, loving the combined taste of him and her. “Now, Casey. I can’t hold on any longer.”

  His hazel eyes were a turbulent mix of desire and anger. “Am I going to have any more trouble out of you, Sid?”

  She shook her head no, as he continued, “So, the new agreement is that we are officially in a committed relationship and dating. There is no hiding, and we will do couple things together, correct?” He placed the tip of his dick at her entrance, slowly stroking up and down her slit, waiting for her confirmation. Gasping, she eagerly nodded her head yes. Slowly he entered her, and she sighed with relief. However, he stopped and Sidra wanted to cry. “Who am I to you?”

  “You’re my boyfriend!” she cried, tears filling her anguished eyes. Casey plunged into her hard enough to rattle her teeth. Greedily her arms and legs locked around him as he covered her lips with his in a fierce kiss. She tasted their combined flavors and needed more. Eagerly her hips thrust up to meet his plunges as their tongues dueled together. Together they were volatile and tempestuous, the perfect storm that neither wanted to take shelter from.

  “I am not just your boyfriend. I am also your lover, friend, and confidante. More importantly, I am your man, and you are my woman.” His hand slid down to tease her swollen button. “This is my pussy.” He let his lips slide down her neck to suck gently at the spot he knew got her going. For his efforts, he was rewarded with more cream coating his shaft. “Touch your dick,” he commanded, shuddering when her hand drifted down to cup his balls.

  “Tell me what you are so scared of?” he whispered into her ear as her hands slid into his hair. He moaned his pleasure and thrust into her harder, bracing himself on one elbow. The bed started to rock in time to his rhythm. “Tell me, baby.”

  Sidra was drowning in sublime pleasure as she felt another orgasm building. Although sex with Casey was always fantastic, it had never been like this. Tonight he was still rough, but he was also tender and sexy. He was running this show, and she was not only allowing it, but also enjoying every minute of it. However, her heart, her damn heart was cowering and afraid, tightly locked up and sending her brain ‘what the fuck are you doing message?!’ messages. Her brain refused to respond as pleasure rocketed through her body and she came. “Aaaaaaagh! Yeeeeessss!”

  Still Casey didn’t come. He would not, no matter how badly he wanted to. Not until he had answers. The smell of their lovemaking filled the trailer, and he wished the scent could be bottled up, to tide them over for the nights they weren’t together. He kissed her shoulders and made his way down to her juicy nipples; his thrusts growing languid as he gave her body time to build back up. Slowly he pulled a fat tip into his mouth and drew lazy circles around it, before gently suckling. Sidra’s body jerked as if shocked by a defibrillator. Again he urged, “Tell me, baby.”

  His gentleness was her undoing. Sidra opened her tear-filled eyes and saw him watching her with so much feeling; she was scared to put a label on it. She dragged him up, greedy for more of his kisses. Against his lips, she breathed, “I’m scared that you won’t want me, that you will use me and toss me away like garbage when you are done. I am scared that you will realize I am not what you wanted at all and made a mistake. Goddammit, Casey, I’m just fucking scared!”

  Relief washed over him, and he started to cum, devouring her swollen lips, and swallowing all her cries of pain and pleasure. He pistoned his hips harder and harder and she received him willingly. “You think I’m not? You are so beautiful and have this wildly exciting life, traveling the world with rockers. What would you want with a boring- ass lawyer?” Casey asked hoarsely. “You could have any man you wanted. I’m scared you’ll leave me too, darlin’.”

  And holding onto each other tightly, as if to put whatever inside of them was broken, back together, she came again, just as he released himself deep inside of her once more.

  Chapter Eleven

  Casey’s eyes flew open and heart pounding, he quickly rolled over. The other side of the bed was empty. His heart sank, and his blood began to boil. Clearly she didn’t understand simple English. What part of ‘we’re not doing this bullshit’ did she not understand? Throwing back the covers, he jumped out of bed, bare-ass naked. He snatched up his pajama pants and yanked them on. Now he was good and fucking mad. She had run from him. After he admitted to having feelings for her, she took the knowledge and ran. Fuck! He snatched a sweatshirt from his duffel bag and pulled it over his head.

  He tried to ignore the aching in his chest, but it was growing. Casey was searching for socks when he noticed the luggage— Sidra’s luggage. It was still here in the trailer. Then he heard the toilet flush and water running. The ache in his chest started to subside. Sidra hadn’t left him! Slowly the bathroom door opened and she stepped out, wearing nothing but his tee shirt. Her lovely face was freshly scrubbed, and her hair a wavy disarray around her shoulders. She wore a vulnerable expression, and to Casey, she’d never looked lovelier.

  “Hey,” she said shyly, and he grinned, the ache in his chest now gone.

  She hadn’t run. Sidra wasn’t rejecting the idea of ‘them’. Clearing his throat, he replied, “Good mornin’. How did you sleep?”

  Sidra blushed, and Casey grinned harder, happy to see this softer side of her. “I think you and I both
know I barely slept.”

  “You’re welcome. I’m happy to oblige you anytime,” he teased and held his arms open. “Come here, baby.”

  Willingly she went into his arms, and they held each other tight. “Where were you going?”

  “Uh, I was going to the house,” he mumbled into her hair, and she froze in his arms, dropping her arms.

  “Release me,” she said coolly. He did and she stepped back to look at him. Casey braced himself for the explosion. Five, four, three, two, one…

  “You thought I left didn’t you?”, her tone accusatory as she glowered at him. “After everything that happened last night, how could you think I would leave?”

  Casey tried to pull her back into his arms, but she twisted away to bend down and grab her suitcase. Watching and feeling slightly panicked, he confessed, “It’s true, I did think that, but can you blame me? This is all new to me, and you don’t have the best track record for stickin’ around after a night. I’m sorry I thought that, but the important thing to remember, baby, is that I was coming after you, to talk some sense into you and work it out. What are you doin’ with that suitcase, Sid?”

  Slightly mollified by his admission, she replied, “I suppose that’s only fair, but you’re doing it again. I was just going to look for my robe because it’s a little chilly.”

  Casey went to the front of the trailer and adjusted the heat. “You won’t need your robe. We’re going back to bed, and I promise I’ll keep you warm.”

  He advanced towards her, and she backed away playfully. “I don’t think I want to. You’re going to overheat me if anything and I have plans today. Don’t get me started on what you did to my hair.”

  His smile was full of wicked intent. “Well I’d tell you to stop bein’ so good at that one thing, but I’d be deprivin’ myself and you of bein’ a perfectionist.”

  “And people think Darby’s the scandalous one,” she said mockingly as her legs hit the bed behind her. Sidra watched Casey walking towards her, loving the way his pants were slung low on his waist, revealing his V cut. His bare, muscled chest and six-pack flexed with his movements. She wanted to take a pic and post it to the world that he was all hers. His hazel eyes were dark with desire, and she licked her lips in anticipation. Finally, he reached her and yanked her against his hard, warm body. Happily, she wrapped her arms around his neck.

  “As your man and number one supporter, I’m goin’ to encourage you to turn your thoughts into actions,” he drawled and pushed them back so they fell onto the bed. Quickly, he rolled so that he lay between her legs and stared at her. He seriously needed his eyes checked. Last night their relationship took a turn for the better, and it was like he was seeing her for the first time. Sidra was happy. Her face was unguarded, relaxed, and free of suspicion. “You are stunningly beautiful.”

  Sidra froze. “I’m not. Don’t say that. Beauty or looking good is so overrated. There is much more to like in a person, you do know that don’t you?”

  “It’s true,” he said stubbornly, and she struggled against him, but he refused to let her up. “Sidra, look at me.” He waited until she did so to continue, “Not to sound vain or conceited, but one knows more than me that there is more to a person than their looks. What’s got you so upset?”

  “Nothing; it’s just something that I grew up with and try to forget,” she mumbled, closing her eyes.

  Expelling a harsh breath, Casey asked, “Did someone hurt you? Or touch you?”

  Her eyes flew open in surprise. “No, Casey! Nothing like that. It’s my family. She paused and took a deep breath, searching for the right words. “My family…they’re kind of… fucked up…”

  Casey laughed hollowly. “Baby, my piece of shit father murdered my mama. It doesn’t get any more fucked up than that.”

  “Dammit! I’m so sorry, baby, I didn’t mean…damn…shit…I’m so sorry,” she said contritely, and he smiled.

  “No apologies necessary, I was just making a point,” he kissed her slowly. “That’s the first time you’ve ever called me baby. You’re not plannin’ on stopping anytime soon are ya?”

  Pulling him closer to her, she looked deep into his eyes. “Soooo…we’re really doing this?”

  “We’re really doing this. I’m committed to seein’ where this goes. I ain’t interested in anyone else. You told me you want the same thing, were you lyin’?” Casey asked seriously. She needed to let him know now, so he could make a contingency plan for his heart. Although at this point in their relationship He knew it would just be wishful planning because it was already too late. “Don’t put yourself in, and then pull yourself out. This ain’t no ‘Hokie Pokie’ bullshit, Sidra Barton. Be all in or get the hell out.”

  “I’m in, Casey Sullivan; this is new to me too, so I’m asking for your patience. Just. Don’t. Hurt. Me.” Sidra said fiercely, pulling him down for a kiss. Quickly he divested her of his tee shirt and pulled the covers over them.

  ***

  “Nice of you to join the land of the living,” Noelle teased them when they entered the house, holding hands on Christmas morning. The couple looked a tiny bit embarrassed, but really were too happy to give a damn what anyone else thought right now. “Merry Christmas!”

  Sidra released Casey’s hand long enough to give her friend a reassuring hug. “Merry Christmas to you too! Sorry, I’ve been preoccupied for the last day. I promise I’ll make it up to you.”

  Noelle drew back and looked her up and down, before turning to assess Casey, “If he’s anything like his brother, I forgive you.”

  Sidra blushed, and Noelle stared at her in shock, causing her to blush even more. “Stop staring at me like that!”

  Casey stepped in to save her by pulling Noelle in for a hug. “Merry Christmas, sis. Thanks for the basket of food. You’re a lifesaver.” He raised his eyes above her head to look directly at Sidra, who looked uncertain, as if she wanted to run out of the house and back to the safety of the trailer. “Get used to seeing us together. I ain’t going anywhere.”

  Noelle hugged him as hard as her belly would allow. “That’s really good to know, Casey. Hey, remember that move Avery used on your elbow? The one that made your arm go numb?”

  “Uh, yeah I do remember that,” Casey said uneasily, and tried to step back. Noelle’s grip tightened and she pulled her head back to look him directly in the eye, her hands traveling down his back. “That’s good. Because I taught her that move. Now I didn’t show her the one for the spine, the one that will leave you paralyzed for an hour, long enough for someone to drag you off and bury you alive. But I will show it to you personally if you hurt my friend. Are we clear?”

  “Baby, don’t kill him on Christmas!” Jack drawled from the family room. “Merry Christmas, y’all! Now get in here, we’ve been waitin’ on you and we are starvin’.”

  Everyone was present except for Holt and Guy. The massive amount of presents reached beyond the tree, lining up alongside both walls.

  “This must be what Santa’s workshop looks like. I can’t wait to get into them,” Sidra observed happily. Avery handed each of them a Santa hat, and with a sweet smile she addressed Casey: “I heard Noelle speaking to you, and I have to tell you that sounds like too much trouble for busy career women like us. My grandparents set a trust fund up for me when I was a baby. It’s just been sitting there collecting interest. I’ve been saving it for the perfect rainy day. If you hurt Sidra, I will use it to find and hire the best assassins in the world to deal with you, and I can assure you, Casey Sullivan, that it will be money well spent.”

  “I have definitely found my tribe,” Vivienne murmured admiringly, causing Alexei to chuckle. For a moment she looked startled, then laughed along with him. Kat smiled happily at Ian, who winked at her.

  “Um, you ladies do realize he is a lawyer?” Darby asked amusedly and received blank stares in return. “It’s his duty to report any death threats made, especially against his person. Not only that, you made them around a group of people who
were definitely listening.”

  Noelle looked at Avery, and they both turned to Darby. Simultaneously they said, “We’re family first.”

  “Thanks for having my back, D.” Casey said as he pulled Sidra close and kissed her forehead. “But they have nothing to worry about.”

  All the women in the room sighed, and Kat spoke up. “This is so romantic. I’m very happy for you guys.”

  “Katerina, the man received two death threats in the span of five minutes, and you think it is romantic?” Alexei teased his daughter, who rolled her eyes and threw a pillow at him. He caught it and blew her a kiss, laughing as she crossed her eyes at him.

  “You should really quit while you’re ahead,” Vivienne suggested to him with laugh. Before Alexei could respond, Jack intervened.

  “Let’s eat, so we can get to these presents,” he suggested, scooping up a sleeping Ruby. Noelle wanted everything to be perfect for Ruby on Christmas morning, but so far Ruby was not impressed. She’d taken one look at the piles of presents, and much to Noelle’s dismay, fell back asleep. They trooped to the dining room and enjoyed a breakfast of German Dutch baby pancakes with blueberry compote, spinach, bacon, and mushroom quiche, and hash browns.

  When they were done, it was back to the family room to exchange gifts. This year’s theme was picked by Vivienne, and it was ‘My Favorite Things’ because she was fixated with Oprah’s Christmas special. Each person, with Vivienne’s ‘bring your A game’ warning in mind, had to give gifts of what was special to them or products they loved. The gifts exchanged consisted of bath products, cookies, sweaters, boots, sunglasses, and spa certificates. Noelle saved the best for last. Asking the men to help her, she walked over to the leather sofa, draped with chenille throws across the top, against the wall. They moved it forward and behind it laid several large, rectangular packages wrapped in brown paper. Noelle addressed the group.