by HJ Bellus
“Going to go, Shug, Jesus, going to go,” I say between clenched teeth.
I fight to pull her off me, pressing back on her shoulders. She pops her mouth from my dick.
“I want to taste you.”
“It’s a lot for the first time, Shug.”
I grab her hand, placing it at the base of my dick then cover it with mine. Our hands work in unison, moving up to the tip then back to the base. I teach her silently how to grip it tight then loosen up for a few strokes. The elbow I’m perched on begins to tremble with my whole body fighting for a release.
We stare into each other’s eyes for a long time until I see movement. Vannie sneaks her hands down to her core. I’m magnetized to the scene of watching her rub her clit in slow circles.
“Fucking hot, baby, so fucking hot.” I bite down on my bottom lip trying to prolong my release. “Let me taste. Bring me your finger.”
“Hart, oh Hart,” she sings out over and over.
I see it happening on her face the moment she indulges in another orgasm. She soothes out her clit until her body is done shuddering, then slowly brings her finger to my mouth. My lips wrap around her finger, savoring her taste. It happens so fast with all the different sensations flowing between us. I bite down on her finger, staring into her eyes when my warm seed flows over our connected hands.
This tops all of the times we’ve ever been together. I release her finger from my mouth, reach up and pull her shirt off, thrilled to see she doesn’t have a bra on. I fall back on the bed, pulling her with me. Our bodies press together in a mess.
“Hart,” she squeals.
“Now, you have to shower with me. It’s my favorite thing in the world to do besides eating you out, making love to you, you sucking my dick, kissing you, eating candy out of your mouth…”
“I get the idea, baby.” She kisses me lightly. “Thank you so much for the phone. Best present ever.”
“Anything for you.”
“Let’s go shower, together.”
I don’t hesitate at her request; sitting up from the bed and packing her sweet, little ass to the bathroom. I set her on the counter while I wait for the shower to heat up. When I turn and look at her naked on the counter, I’m fucking hard again.
Vannie giggles and points down at me.
“It’s your fault.”
“How? I’m just sitting here!”
“Naked and covered in my cum. The hottest fucking thing I’ve ever seen.”
I step closer to her and am surprised when she reaches down to push down my pants and boxers as far as they can go. I step out of them the rest of the way.
“Condom,” she whispers on my lips.
And just like that well-trained dog, I dart back into the bedroom pulling one from the drawer in my nightstand. Neither of us have talked about the night we didn’t use one. I have the motherfucker out of the package and rolled on when I step back in. The bathroom is beginning to steam up from the hot water. Vannie holds her arms up to me, and I go to her. Her arms wrap around my neck as her legs wrap around my waist. She slides down slowly onto my throbbing cock, taking my breath away.
It takes me long minutes to muster up the clarity of mind to begin moving inside her. We find the perfect rhythm with Vannie bouncing up and with my hands palming her ass helping her and my hips thrusting in her hard and fast. She buries her head in my neck, moaning out my name. It sounds sweeter than her singing. It’s her song she sings to me every single time our body connects.
“Shug, I’m going to go.” My fingers dig into her ass. “Go with me, let go.”
My voice is begging her to fall with me. It takes three more thrusts inside of her until we fall together. My legs exhausted and unsteady. I dig deep inside to find the strength to gently set Vannie down. Her legs are just as wobbly as mine. Nothing like fucking each other to exhaustion. I slip the condom off and join her in the shower.
Even though we just devoured each other’s bodies for the last hour, we still can’t seem to keep our hands off each other. Vannie washes me first, paying extra special attention to my dick. I mean, he’s a good boy and deserves a treat after all. When it’s my turn to wash her, I do it with great honor.
After the soap is rinsed from her skin, I bend down and kiss every inch of her torso, letting her know how beautiful she is. She’s my temple.
“The water is getting cold, baby,” Vannie’s voice floats throughout the shower.
She drags her fingers down the length of my back since I’m still bent over kissing her stomach.
“Mmmmm. I don’t want to get out,” I mumble into her skin.
“It’s going to be freezing soon,” she says it a bit louder this time.
When goose bumps begin to prickle on her skin, my greedy ass finally pulls away. I turn off the shower, hop out grabbing her a towel, and flipping on the bathroom heater. Vannie steps into the towel spread between my legs. I dry her from head to toe, making sure her lady bits are nice and dry. She swats me away when I try to sneak a finger up inside her.
“Baby, we have to get going. I want to visit with your mom for a bit before I leave.”
“You are a damn fun cop.” I step back, forcing my best pouting face.
She doesn’t fall for it. Actually, she never has, but it’s never made me quit trying. Vannie scurries from the bathroom into my bedroom to dress. I take my time drying off knowing that if I watch her dress that I’d be attacking her again.
When I hear her leave the bedroom and skip down the hall humming ‘Amazing Grace’, I know the coast is clear. I smile seeing her pile of dirty clothes on my bedroom floor. She’s not tidy at all, and it only makes me feel at home. It makes me feel constantly surrounded by her. I throw on a pair of loose blue jeans and a dark Henley since I’m planning on going to the bar tonight after Mom is asleep. Even though she’s getting sicker every single day, it hasn’t stopped her from pushing me out the door to spend time with Vannie. I love her for it, but it scares the shit out of me. Without me telling her, my mom knows that I’ve found my forever girl who will take care of me the rest of my life. It’s like her permission slip to let go of the pain and fly free. Talk about being a selfish prick…but I am and always will be a Momma’s boy.
The sight in the living room when I make it out there makes my fucking knees go weak. Vannie’s curled up on the arm of the recliner showing my mom her phone. She’s chattering away about it. I soak up the scene in front of me, leaning on the wall and crossing my arms to watch them.
Fucking life is so unfair. This picture should be guaranteed in five years with my mom rocking our baby to sleep wrapped up in her loving arms. Vannie exhausted on the couch dozing off from sleepless nights. The smell of my mom’s home cooking wafting through the house while I lay across Vannie watching a football game. Tears prick at the back of my eyes realizing that will never be a reality.
The tears dry up instantly from the intense heat of my anger. This should be my fucking useless father having his body eaten alive from the inside out. It should be him dying and not getting another day on this earth.
“Baby, you okay?”
I look up to see Vannie and my mom staring at me. Even though I was looking at them, I had checked out.
I clear my throat and push off the wall. “Yeah, just listening to you ladies who never shut up.”
“Oh, Hart.” My mom smiles brightly.
“Your mom downloaded the Kindle app for me.” Vannie waves her phone at me. “I can read whenever I want now.”
I chuckle, flopping down on the couch and pat my lap. “Here, let me make you an account.”
“Here.” She hands me her phone. “I need my cuddle time with your mom. I’m sick of you.”
My mom laughs and breaks into a coughing fit. Vannie sits her forward beginning to rub her back.
“Oh honey, I’m so glad you found this girl,” my mom replies after her coughing fit.
I look up at my two girls, growl, and shake my head at them. Mom has picked up a wo
rd search with Vannie snuggling in even closer, helping her find words. Vannie’s excitement over having the Kindle app was priceless. The poor girl has no idea she has to create an account using an email and credit card.
I tap away on the screen using one of my old emails to set her up and then pull out my wallet, putting the numbers in. Shit, I even add Prime to her account because I have a feeling once she realizes the magic of Amazon she’ll be hooked. I set her phone on the couch, stretch out, and continue to watch the women who make my world spin.
“Here, I found a word.” Vannie points to the book. “Res…”
She shakes her head, calms down a bit, and studies the word a bit longer. Her nose wrinkles when she’s deep in thought.
“Rectangle,” she squeals, then throws her arms up in the air celebrating.
“Okay, word ninja, it’s time to go.” I stand up and stretch my arms over my head.
“Already?” Mom looks up from the puzzle.
“I’m coming back tonight with Hart, so I’ll be here in the morning.” Vannie kisses her forehead. “Can we finish this then?”
“Of course, dear.” My mom slowly raises her arms for a hug.
“Deal.” Vannie hugs her right back. “Promise not to work on it until then.”
“Promise.” Mom smiles when Vannie stands back.
“Shit, I need to buy you two those stupid broken heart necklaces that say best friends on them.” I shake my head before kissing my mom.
“What are those?” Vannie asks.
“Young girls wear them and give the other half to their best friend,” my mom answers.
I pull on Vannie’s arm, being the villain and making sure she gets to work on time. “I’ll be home in ten minutes, Mom. Peaches is back in her room.”
“Okay, son.” She waves to us. “Have a good night, Vannie.”
Vannie doesn’t stop talking on the way to work about her new phone, her Kindle app, and finally finding a word in the puzzle. I do nothing but relax back with my arm stretched up over the steering wheel with my other on her thigh. The sign to The Shade Tree comes into view way too soon.
“So, you’re coming tonight?” she asks when I park in front of the entrance.
“Inside of you? Yes.”
I get a nose wrinkle and headshake. “Okay, see you around nine thirty.” Our lips connect briefly. “Love you, Hart.”
“I love you, too, Shug.”
She hops from the car, bounding toward the main door. I really despise those fucking short shorts she has to wear to work. Convincing her and Peaches that she needed to be in a floor length skirt never worked out the way I wanted it to. And of course, she tops off her outfit with those sexy cowboy boots.
I groan inside my car, biting down on my bottom lip. I think I’ll take her tonight naked only in boots with her long legs wrapped around my waist. The feel of those heels digging in as I take each thrust inside of her. Goddamn, why haven’t I thought of this before?
I startle from my daydream and wave back at her. She vanishes behind the club door, and my heart sinks. I don’t like the thought of her vanishing. Chills run up my spine, but I brush them off knowing it’s me over-sensitized by everything going on in my life. I stop at the mall, buying a dumb friendship necklace for Vannie and my mom, then speed home to spend the rest of the day with my mom before going to watch my girl sing.
17
Savannah Ray
Delivery days always suck ass. The amount of inventory that it takes to keep this place up and running is unreal. I have no idea how Peaches has done this year after year, never missing a day, keeping this club running smoothly. I’m still high on the fact I finally found a word in those darn word search puzzles.
I’d guess I counted over a thousand bottles of liquor and whiskey and now freshened up for my shift. My reflection in the mirror is so starkly different from the one I used to study. I never really saw the woman within my soul, but now I do. My hand slowly trails down to the hem of my tight t-shirt, pulling it up until I see the skin I avoided for so many years.
I don’t wince or turn away. I feel all of it, the way Hart can’t take his hands off it or the way he washes and kisses me. It’s marred yet the most beautiful thing I’ve ever seen in my life. My torture has morphed into my beauty. The same beauty that has my future, holding all my cards. A slow grin transforms my face. I’m a new woman, and I love her.
Using my fingers, I comb my hair, keeping it pulled high on the top of my head and off my neck. And then splash some cold water on my face, hoping to give me some extra energy for the shift. It’s going to be a crazy night with three up and coming bands performing along with dozens of talent scouts scouring for their attention.
Of course, my set will close the night out, but it’s nothing special, just my outlet. I have a special song up my sleeve that I hope Hart hears each word of. A loud banging on the door startles me, causing me to rush out of the bathroom and straight into work mode.
Like any other weekend night, the bar is flowing with customers and an energetic vibe. It’s impossible to explain the vibe and high this bar has to offer. I’ve never reached out or even been brave enough to settle anywhere until Peaches. There was something in her kind eyes, and then when this old bar communicated with my soul, I knew I was home. Hart was just the perfect ending.
“Round of Crown and Coke.” I set the glasses down on the table in front of the men.
“Thanks, sexy lady.”
I nod politely with stiff shoulders, giving off no other clues. My bitch façade still in place. The one I shielded myself with when I started this job. Peaches was the queen and taught me well.
Old habits die hard; I find myself checking the clock on the wall and peering over to Hart’s bar stool. It’s insane how obsessed I am with the man.
“Take your break before lover boy gets here.” Peaches snags my tray.
I have the urge to glance up at the clock but have a better idea.
“Sounds good. Be back in fifteen.” I rush from the bar with a skip in my step.
Once locked in the supply room, I pull my cell phone out of my pocket and check the time. Screw wall or alarm clocks and all that old-fashioned jazz. I laugh at myself because I sound so much like Hart. With shaky fingers, I pull up the home screen and find the text app.
Me: Guess what?
Me: I know what time it is.
Me: Where are you?
Little dancing dots appear at the bottom of the screen. Seriously, I clench, scared my phone may blow up any time now.
DING!
I jump back, knocking into a metal shelving still full of bagged peanuts and pretzels.
Hart: I was pooping.
Me: Oh!
Hart: You okay?
My fingers grow nervous knowing this next text is my longest of all.
Me: I had to check the time and have a break. Cell phone came in handy.
Thank God for that automatic spelling thingy.
Hart: Nice! Just putting Mom to bed then heading your way.
It takes me longer than a person my age to read and process his words, but I do it.
Me: Okay
Hart: Shug?
Me: Yes.
Hart: Have I told you that I love you?
Me: I don’t think so.
Hart: Shug, I love you.
My face will probably crack at any time with the amount of smiling this man causes.
Me: Love you, too.
Hart: I’m proud of you.
I check the time on the phone and know I have to go back to work. I could go on all night in this dingy supply closet texting Hart. It’s a new game, and I adore it. However, life calls. I tuck the phone into my back pocket, gather my thoughts, and try to focus on the task ahead and not Hart Richards.
The door flies open to the supply closet, and I bound out floating on cloud nine. The hall is empty, and for that I’m thankful. My feet glide down the hall until I collide into what seems to be a brick wall.
“Sav
annah Ray.”
Only one monster would call me by that name. The timbre of his voice freezes all my senses, causing me to stop dead in my tracks. Blake holds his hands up in the air, telling me he’s not here to hurt me, but I’m smarter than that.
“Just want a few words, then I’ll leave.”
My mouth opens, but no words come out. I try again and yet nothing. I repeat the action, scrambling to scream for help, or at least tell him to fuck a dry cactus.
“I’m going to hand you one more business card. It will be the last time. You have one week to decide to sign with Arena 55 Studios.” He drops his hands to his sides then has the audacity to fucking grin like he’s won.
That should’ve been my first sign. It was only the silence before the storm. There was a brief handful of seconds where I had the courage to tell him to fuck off and that his threats wouldn’t affect me because I have the world right now. My past no longer holds power over me, and I no longer fear the monsters finding me, who hurt me so many years ago, because Hart Richards discovered me and then saved me.
Blake takes a step closer to me. The smell of his whiskey-scented breath tickles my face. “You have one week like I said, but you should know one little detail. Hart’s father is my janitor. He scrubs my motherfucking toilets.”
He inches in closer, causing me to back up until my spine is pressed against the cold wall.
“I have that fucker by the balls. Want to know why?”
A deadly silence floats between us. I don’t even flinch waiting for Blake’s punch line. Four simple words that I could even spell shatter my entire world.
“I pay her bills.” The devil himself smiles in my face. “Curing cancer isn’t cheap. Treating a dying patient, making her life comfortable is even more expensive. Remember that little stunt Hart pulled by beating the shit out of me? Well, it’s time to pay. I’m going to make it simple for you. Sign with my studio or Maria’s healthcare is cut off. Period.”
“Why?” The one word fumbles out in a stutter.