Gutter Princess

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Gutter Princess Page 15

by Kimmie Easley


  “That sounds promising.” He stood and took her by the hand, leading her to the couch. “You scared the shit out of me.”

  “Lucky, I’m sorry. I can’t believe you stayed and took care of me after everything.”

  He hooked his index finger under her chin and looked her in the eyes. His jaw tightened. “Don’t apologize. I had no right to turn my back on you. I could have at least given you a chance to talk. I should have thought about how much you were hurting. I’m the one who let that son of a bitch prey on you. Shit, Baby. I left you alone. Can you forgive me?”

  “There’s nothing to forgive. We’re not going to get anywhere if we keep beating ourselves up. You stayed. You took care of me and did more for me than anyone else.”

  “That reminds me, Ma’Linn has been here every day to check in on you. She helped clean up and made sure I ate. She’s been worried about you.”

  Baby’s face fell. “Damn, it must have been hard on her with everything she’s going through with Phillipe. I need to let her know I’m ok, or at least that I’ll be ok.” She made a feeble attempt at a smile.

  “You’re still going to feel like shit for a while. We need to get some electrolytes into you.” Lucky went to the refrigerator and popped open a Gatorade.

  “Seriously?” She looked at him through her long lashes.

  “Damn skippy. It’s gonna go down easy, but drink it SLOW,” he warned.

  Her eyebrows arched. “I doubt that.” She sipped on the blue liquid, surprised at how good the tanginess tasted on her tongue. She guzzled from the bottle until Lucky pulled it away.

  “It’s gonna be nasty when you throw that shit up.”

  Baby Jade nodded. He had been taking care of her for days. He obviously knew what he was talking about.

  “Do I still have a job?”

  Lucky paced the room. “I don’t know. I haven’t talked to anyone from the club since the night I carried you out.”

  “I had to be carried out?” She found the knot on her head and rubbed it with her fingertips. She remembered bits and pieces from that night.

  Lucky filled her in on the details, clear down to Slade threatening to silence her if she had been taken to the emergency room. They both knew he meant it. That’s why he brought her home and nursed her through the detox.

  Baby dropped her face into her hands and shook her head. “I’m embarrassed. I can’t believe you saw me like that.” She was all too aware what coming down looked like. She was able to piece information together like a puzzle. She remembered yelling and throwing things. The vomiting and diarrhea. The way she attacked him and offered to give him a blowjob for dope. She didn’t want to look at him in the face ever again, especially after the way she had tried to whore herself out for a taste.

  “I told you, I wouldn’t have been anywhere else.” His gentle tone soothed her as he massaged her shoulders.

  His words triggered a memory, but she thought she must be mistaken. “I remember something that wasn’t exactly bad.”

  “Yeah? What’s that?” His firm hands kneading away at the tension in her back.

  Baby tilted her head and turned toward him, flashing a full smile. “I thought I heard you say you love me.”

  His lips curled into a lopsided grin. “I don’t know what you’re talking about. You must have been hallucinating.”

  Her eyes danced, drinking in the pink flush of his cheeks. “Yeah, maybe. What do we do now?”

  “Well, I’ve had a few days to think about that.” Lucky sat beside her on the couch. He rubbed his hands together and rested his elbows on his knees, giving her the impression he had something on his mind. “I have that business meeting tomorrow. After that, I’m free to do whatever. When things were still up in the air, I put in my notice with both Mickey and Rodney.”

  “You were quitting because of me?”

  “I thought it was time to move on.”

  Baby’s face fell. She couldn’t bear to think of him leaving town.

  “Hey, don’t look like someone kicked your dog. I didn’t know you cared that much.” He reached over and ran the back of his hand across her cheek.

  With every part of her screaming out in pain and her brain beating against her skull, the man still made her body hum.

  Lucky smirked. She had no doubt that he recognized how easily he got under her skin.

  “Listen, I was thinking maybe after my board meeting, we could take off for a while. Go on that trip we were talking about.”

  Baby Jade’s green eyes widened. “Are you serious?”

  “Dead serious.”

  “Oh my God!” Baby leaped up and landed on Lucky’s lap, wrapping her arms around his neck. Her lips crashed down onto his. When she came up for air, she said, “Yes! Yes! I can’t wait!”

  He chuckled. She hadn’t planned on acting like a schoolgirl who was being asked to her prom by the star quarterback. She was taken aback. It was exactly what she needed. There was nothing keeping her here. Nothing but Ma’Linn and her job. She would have to make sure her friend would be ok while she was gone, but the job, she was sure to be unemployed when she got back anyway. That is if she wasn’t canned already.

  “What about Mickey?” she asked. “I have to make a living.”

  “Don’t you worry about him. Your job will be waiting for you when you get back if you still want it.” Lucky gathered her into his arms and stood. She locked her legs around his waist.

  “Do you have to go home?”

  “Nope. I packed my shit and only kept what would fit in my saddlebags. I’m all good. Hope you don’t mind me staying the night. I let my studio apartment go too.”

  Still wrapped around him like a spider monkey, Baby beamed. “What will we do to get through the night?”

  “I’m sure we can think of something.” Lucky wagged his eyebrows. He carried her to the bathroom, placing her on the countertop while he turned on the faucet. He filled the tub and poured in some of the Sweet Pea bubble bath, swishing it around with his hand to stir it up.

  He then slid his hands underneath Baby’s t-shirt and guided it over her head. He hooked his thumbs under the lace trimming of her thong, pulling it off, and letting it fall. He lifted her and gently lowered her into the tub without saying a word. She was thankful the hot water heater was cooperating. The warmth eased her aching muscles.

  He dipped the purple loofah into the water and then squeezed on some shower gel. Lathering it up, he massaged it across her back. He still didn’t speak. Heat filled the room as he washed her. First her back and shoulders. He moved down her arms and then her legs. She giggled as he washed her feet. When he was done with her body, Lucky poured water onto her thick mane of black hair, massaging in shampoo with his fingertips. He filled a cup and used it to rinse out the soap.

  The silence was palpable. His tenderness stirred something deep inside her. She saw the same desire in his dark eyes. The combination of the water and his touch made her skin flush and tingly. Baby wanted him, every part of him.

  Being with Lucky came naturally, as if he were a part of her, a part she never wanted to live without.

  After rinsing away the soap and bubbles, he swooped Baby Jade up, wrapping her in a towel. He carried her to the bedroom and placed her in the center of the bed. Lucky leaned in and worked the towel down her body, drying her soft, smooth skin before dropping it to the floor.

  He kicked off his boots before pulling his t-shirt over his head and then stepping out of his jeans. Seeing him standing naked in front of her made her breath hitch.

  He climbed onto the bed and lowered himself on top of Baby, propping himself up on his elbows, and lingering. His heat made her shudder, sending goose bumps across her bare flesh.

  She pushed her palms into his chest and took charge as she rolled him onto his back. Trailing her lips down his hard chest, Baby worked her way down his rippled abdomen.

  As her head lowered, Lucky sat upright. “You don’t have to do this. It’s too soon.”

 
; Baby rolled her eyes in jest and her pouty lips curled into a grin. She lowered her head between his legs and held his hard cock with one hand while running her hand along the inside of his thigh. His muscles clenched as she teased the tip of his cock with her tongue, tasting his excitement. The deep groan from his throat when she took his length into her mouth made her juices flow.

  “Oh, shit. That feels damn fucking good right there.” Lucky’s body stiffened. His hand found her head and massaged it.

  Baby cupped his balls with one hand, taking him into her mouth, and pumping him with the other hand until he was empty.

  “Shit!” Lucky popped up and grabbed Baby’s backside, pulling her forward. She straddled his waist and lowered herself onto his throbbing erection. Her pussy, pulsing and wet.

  He gripped her ass and rolled her hips back and forth. Her breasts bouncing in perfect rhythm. His piercing stare made her heart flutter, and his quick breaths told her he was getting close. Lucky sat upright and she wrapped her legs around his waist. He folded her in his arms and buried himself in her, running his tongue down her neck. She tossed her head back as he worked his way down, fondling her breasts with his hot tongue, her nipples hard and erect.

  Their hips grinding, his skin smoldering against hers until the final thrust that put them both over the edge as an orgasm flowed through their melded frames. The blood surge vibrated through her body.

  Still entwined, they collapsed into the bed. Baby rested her head on Lucky’s chest and threw one leg over his. Inhaling, she grinned, as the floral scent of Sweet Pea body wash filled her nose. The thought of him using her shower while nursing her through detox gave her butterflies. His fingertips traced her back and his other hand clasped hers.

  “Your hands are soft.” Lucky pulled her in tighter.

  “Why do you keep saying that?”

  “I know. It sounds weird, but they are. I could hold your hand all day.”

  Baby giggled and nestled into his chest.

  “Don’t laugh. You’re going to have to learn to take a compliment. I plan on helping you do exactly that.” Lucky planted a kiss on her forehead.

  The room went quiet other than the rise and fall of Lucky’s chest. His steady breathing indicating he was asleep. Baby Jade’s body sagged under the weariness from the last couple of weeks. But in the middle of exhaustion, and the aches and pains, for the first time she was content.

  Chapter Twenty-Four

  Lucky

  The shrill sound awakened Lucky from the deepest sleep he’d had in years. Reaching for the end table, it took him a second to realize his phone wasn’t there. He scrambled out of the bed, trying not to wake Baby Jade, and fumbled for his jeans.

  He checked the caller ID and was annoyed to see it was his mom again. Why in the hell does that woman keep calling me?

  Dammit, today was the board meeting. He wasn’t looking forward to seeing his family. He hated coming back to town for business. It reminded him of the life he almost got sucked into. Thankfully, he dodged the close call.

  Lucky studied Baby. Her black hair feathered across the pillow. She slept on her belly with one knee cocked out to the side. The bed sheet covered her from the waist down, revealing silky, dark skin. The peaceful look on her face made his heart feel like it was being jump started like a battery.

  Last night was perfect. The way Baby made him feel alive for the first time was crazy. After years of being angry and bitter, he never thought he would see the day he looked forward to the future. He could wake up next to her every single day and never get bored.

  Once he got this damn meeting out of the way, the two of them would head off into the sunset. They would finally get their chance.

  “Lucky?” Baby stirred before rolling over onto her back.

  He moved to the bed and sat next to her. “Good morning, sugar. How’d you sleep?”

  Her sleepy smile made everything right in his fucked up world.

  Baby scooted back in the bed, and propped herself up against the wall. He would breathe her in if he could, messy hair and all. “I’m not sure I’ve ever slept that well in my life. What about you? You’re up early.”

  “I could have laid there next to you all day,” he grazed her cheek with his lips, “but I have my board meeting today. And you know what that means.”

  Baby’s green eyes danced. “Road trip?”

  “Hell yeah! The bike’s all ready to go. You can pack a bag and go with me to the meeting and we can leave from there if you want?” Lucky knew it was pushing it, but he didn’t want to let her out of his sight. He didn’t know what he had done right in the universe to finally be this happy.

  Baby tugged on her bottom lip, nibbling while she contemplated his offer. “I think I’d better stay here and take care of a few things. I still need to pack and talk to Ma’Linn. I may try to see my mom, and I guess I should at least call Mickey.”

  He opened his overnight bag and threw on a clean pair of jeans. “I don’t give two shits about Mickey, but I understand. The meeting shouldn’t take too long. Remember to pack light since we’ll be on the bike.” He opened the closet and pulled out a hanger covered in clear plastic, fresh from the dry cleaners. The long sleeve shirt was a burnt orange button down from Duluth Trading Co. It wasn’t something he would normally wear, but it was his idea of business attire.

  “Oh, fancy.” Baby drew her legs up underneath her, allowing the sheet to slip, revealing her bronze-colored cleavage.

  She looked good enough to eat.

  “Yeah, not according to the Gauthier dress code.” Lucky tucked his shirt into his jeans and sat on the edge of the bed to put on his socks and boots. He buckled his belt and slipped his wallet into his back pocket, attaching the chain to his belt loop.

  “Well, you’re still hot in my book.”

  “And that’s all that counts,” Lucky said with a quick wink. He leaned in and kissed her. Her lips were damn smooth and she smelled like a mixture of the bubble bath and sex. The scent made his blood rush to his groin. “I got to get the hell out of here before I never leave.”

  Baby pretended to pout as she batted her long, dark eyelashes. He was relieved to see the color coming back to her cheeks. She was radiating.

  “Not gonna work this time. The sooner I get this meeting over with, the sooner we’re outta here.”

  “In that case, get out.” She blew him a kiss.

  Lucky snatched his jacket off the stationary bike and blew her a kiss in return.

  Chapter Twenty-Five

  Baby Jade

  “Cher, look atchya! I not see you look dis good in years.” Ma’Linn slapped her plump hand on the dining table.

  Baby Jade had already showered and dressed in a pair of jeans and an old David Bowie t-shirt, donned with a pair of Ride Tecs and her hair restrained with a bandana. She had an outfit for everything and it had been a long time she dressed to ride.

  Her small backpack held a few pairs of jeans, t-shirts, bras, and panties. A small makeup bag and a few toiletries fit into the front pocket. She added a small notebook and pen to journal along the way. Her wristlet held her ID, cash from her tip box, and a couple of old photos.

  “Yeah, I guess it’s because I haven’t felt this good in years. It’s kind of scary. I’ve never been this happy before. Maybe it’s too good to be true.”

  “I don’t wanna be hearin’ none dat kinda talk! You deserve da best ’n I t’inkin’ it be dat man who gonna give it to ya. I gotta good feelin’ ’bout dat one.”

  Baby leaned back in the chair, cupping a mug of coffee between her hands, nodding in agreement.

  “When you be leavin’?”

  “We should be heading out any time now. He had a meeting this morning and he’s been gone for a couple of hours. I took care of everything on this end. You have the key if you need anything.”

  “I take care of t’ings on dis end. Dontchya be worryin’ ’bout dat. I be checkin’ on your momma. Dat one hell raisin’ woman right der.” Ma’Linn ru
bbed her brown weathered hands up and down her chubby cheeks.

  “Everything ok? I was actually thinking about trying to see her before I leave.” Baby’s green eyes narrowed. The thought of seeing her mother made her nauseous. She hadn’t seen her in a long time and didn’t know how Rozalie would react, but she didn’t know when she would get back to town.

  “Honey, dat not be a good idea. Roz havin’ a hard time right now. More med’cine to help git her t’rough da night.” She gave a comforting pat on Baby’s arm.

  “Is there something I should do? I hate to leave without saying good-bye.”

  “Der’s nothin’ dat can be done. Let da docs do t’eir job. It’ll all work out. It always do.”

  Baby smiled at her friend. She didn’t know where she would be without the old woman. Looking at her round face, it was clear she’d had her share of trials over the years. It broke her heart to think about what she had been through, what she is still going through. “That reminds me, any word from Phillipe lately?”

  Ma’Linn’s face fell. Her eyes full of worry as tears welled. She shook her head and looked at her lap. Her shoulders sagged.

  Baby didn’t know what to say, everything seemed trivial. “It’ll be ok. He’ll show up. He always does.”

  “No, it never take him dis long.”

  Baby squeezed her hand. “You know he’ll get to missing your home cooking soon. He’ll be home for some gumbo in no time.”

  Her words made the woman shake with laughter. “Yeah, I guess dat be true. Ok baby girl, I gonna let you git ready.” She stood and took Baby’s face in her hands. “You take care of you, cher. I need you to com’back to me, ya hear?”

  Now it was Baby’s turn to tear up. She had taken the relationship with Ma’Linn for granted over the years. She was the only family Baby ever had. It was hitting her now how much she would miss her. She also felt guilty about leaving her to deal with her mother’s drama, not to mention the fact that Phillipe was still missing.

 

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