by Ashley Lyn
His hands gather my hair in a tight grip. His hips buck up and I moan again, loving the feeling of him bumping the back of my throat.
“Fuck, Amy. Fuck, baby, that’s so good. Suck it hard—mmmmm, baby, that’s it. Shit. Use your hands.” Keeping him in my mouth, I wrap my hand around the base of his cock and stroke him up and down, in time with my mouth.
I can feel him shaking and his cock is pulsing. It’s difficult to keep eye contact like this, but I want to watch the moment the pleasure takes him over.
“I’m gonna come, baby. If you don’t want a mouthful, pull off now.”
This only increases my efforts. I use my tongue to put pressure on the underside and fist him tighter until explodes, spilling into my mouth. The pull of his hands in my hair stings, but I welcome the pain. Swallowing him down, I pull back and lick him clean before sitting back on my heels. I’m pleased as punch.
I crawl up his body and settle in my little nook. His arms wrap around me as we both get our breathing under control.
Looking up at him, he leans his head down to give me a sweet Eskimo kiss.
I snuggle back down and drift off, satisfied, and safe in the arms of my love.
Parker
Silencing my alarm with a groan, I look down at the snoring beauty in my arms. Her face is practically shoved into my armpit.
How she can sleep with her face always covered is beyond me. Leaning down, I give her a soft kiss and slide out of bed.
She burrows under the pillows again, rooting around until she finds a position she’s comfortable with. I chuckle again as I make my way to the bathroom. Jumping in the shower, I find myself irritated at the idea of washing the scent of our lovemaking off. Last night was beyond anything I could have ever imagined.
Stepping out of the shower, I quickly dress. I have to get to the office so I can round up the paperwork for Tanner, who is coming by first thing this morning.
Walking into the living room, I glare at the stupid fucking box. Once I get in the office, I should be able to drill out the lock. I spent half the night trying to pick it, using a handy skill that my sister and I picked up when we were trying to sneak peeks at our Christmas presents when we were kids.
Grabbing a travel mug, I grab the box and lock up, then I head over to Thelma’s to grab some breakfast. The place is dead. The only person here this early, surprisingly, is Shamus. He was on my list of welfare visits today. Over the past month, no one has really seen him.
He hasn’t been going to Bailey’s, or out on his porch at night like normal. And, if I'm honest, he looks like shit. He’s definitely lost weight, and his crazy beard is even crazier. I look up at Thelma, who looks sad as she looks at him. The grief is suffocating.
I slide into the booth across from him and just sit there. Thelma drops off my coffee and tops off Shamus’s.
“How’s it going, Shamus?”
“Fine.”
“You sure?”
“Yes,” he snaps. He’s gripping the coffee cup so hard, his knuckles are white.
“Man, I’m here for you, whatever you need. I talked to Savannah a while ago. It sounded like she might be able to make some progress. Have you talked to her yet?”
“I don’t need any fucking help. I just want everyone to leave me the fuck alone.” He mumbles something under his breath about a nosy woman.
Thelma sets my plate in front of me and I dig in. He looks up at me, and I feel like I’ve been punched in the gut. His eyes are bloodshot and tear-filled.
He opens his mouth to say something, then he huffs. Clearing his throat, he tries again.
“Do you…do you know my story? I would assume you would have access to that information, being a police officer and all.”
I nod. “I looked into it. Then Savannah came to my office to go over what she found.”
“Fucking Savannah, thinks she’s goddamn Superwoman on a fucking mission. As if that fancy fucking investigator she works for can perform fucking miracles and magically find my kids. I hate that she’s digging all this shit up, and I hate that I gave her all the shit I had. What little information and stuff I had of my kids is with her. I really hate that she’s seen all my shit like that. I hate the goddamn hope that I feel. I can’t get my hopes up again, whether to have them say there isn’t anything to find or find my babies dead. I won’t survive this again. I barely made it through the first time, and now, I don’t think I have the strength to take the disappointment again.”
“I’ll never pretend to know even a tenth of what you went through then, or what you’re going through now. I’ve heard lots of stuff about the man that she works for. He’s dangerous, but he’s also relentless when it comes to his cases. Savannah might think she can work miracles, but that man has solved cases no one would touch. If he thinks that there’s something there, something he can work with in the case, then there just might be a reason to hope. If he didn’t think that there was anything to find, he would have told you that. He would have come down here himself and explained. You need to clean yourself up, go down to Denver and talk to him. Savannah said you have an appointment in a couple days. I think you need to go because your direct perspective would be helpful.”
He blows out a shaky breath and nods his head. “Call him, Shamus. Get involved, because you can’t live the rest of your life wondering what if. You need to know.”
I slap him on the back and head out. Fuck. That man carries so much. How he’s stayed upright and functioning this long is a fucking miracle.
Amy
One minute I’m sleeping, warm and snug as a bug in a rug. The next, the blankets are gone and people are shrieking. Looking up through blurry eyes, I see Roger turn and try to haul ass out of the room, only to introduce his face to the door frame. Ali’s hunched over, laughing like a lunatic as she watches Roger crawl out of my bedroom.
“What the fudge, Ali.”
“Oh, my God. I had no idea you slept naked. Man, you should have seen Roger’s face.”
“You’re a turd, Ali. Give me the blankets back.” She chucks the blankets back and I wrap up and sit against the headboard, trying to get my heart rate back under control.
Roger peeks his head around the door. “Are the girl parts covered?”
“Yup.”
Ali lays down across the bed on her stomach, her head propped on her hands, smiling at me. I blush, because seriously, the look on her face says, I know what you did, dirty girl!
Roger leans against the door jamb, smirking at me. I pull the covers over my head and groan, causing them both to laugh.
“Why are you both here, waking me up?”
“You have a hair appointment today with Chelsea. After working with your hair for the date the other night, we decided to make you an appointment for a cut and a color.”
It was on my list of things to do, but I just hadn’t gotten around to it yet. “Who’s Chelsea?” I ask.
“She owns Clips and Color. She inherited it from her grandma, Stella McClusky. You remember her? She passed about six months ago. I saw it was open the other day so I went in and met her. I swear, she’s just about the sweetest thing ever.”
“So get that tush shaking, girl. We have to be there in about an hour,” Roger tells me as he smacks my ass. Not wanting to argue, I drag my tired butt out of bed.
“Don’t get your hair wet. It colors better if you don’t wash it,” Ali calls out after me.
Putting my hair up in a messy bun, I jump in and wash up quickly. Getting out, I look through my closet. I’ve never had so many choices, and it takes me a while to decide on a rocking pair of light skinny Capri pants. I also choose a wide brown belt and a plain white V-neck T-shirt. After slipping on my ballet flats, I put on a long necklace. I can’t help but smile when I look in the mirror. I put on a little mascara and lip gloss, then practically skip out to the kitchen.
Roger and Ali start hooting and whistling at me, making me blush.
“You’re both crazy.”
Sit
ting down in the kitchen, I eat the bagel and cream cheese as I sip my coffee. I’m trying to work up the nerve to talk to them about the information that Parker shared with me yesterday.
“Spit it out, chick.”
“So, Parker found out some information about my mother, and I’m not sure how I feel about it. Apparently, she ran away with my father when she was eighteen, he was twenty. She…God, this sounds weird in my head, but her family was very wealthy, and she was an heiress to a considerable fortune. There’s some fishy stuff with her older brother who is not a good person. He’s trying to get access to the trust now that mom’s death will be recorded. I’m listed as her only surviving heir, and Parker thinks that this is going to cause problems. He’s worried about this other guy, and I’m worried about what exactly he means by a considerable fortune.
“I’m pissed that my parents struggled and dragged me along with them. There were so many times that food wasn’t available, and winters were hard. There was sickness and broken bones, and she could have had access to resources that would have made it easier and didn’t. I feel guilty for thinking that because they obviously lived that way for a reason. What the reason was, I doubt I’ll ever know since there’s no one alive to fill me in.”
They’re both looking at me like gaping fish. “It’s confusing and frustrating. I have all these emotions swirling around inside of me. I mean, in the last couple weeks, I have totally flipped my life on its head. I moved, I have a job and a house, and I’m dating. The business with my mother, and now this? I just feel overwhelmed.”
Roger comes up and hugs me. “We’re here for you, no matter what, Amy. You need to let off some steam, we’re here. You need space? Just let us know.”
Ali steps up and hugs me as well. “Does Parker know when the trust, or whoever will be notified that you exist? Like, do we need to keep a lookout for shady fuckers?”
I shake my head. “He hasn’t told me yet. He was waiting for some more information and for Michael, the coroner, to finish with my mother's paperwork. I would think it might be a couple weeks. After my hair appointment, I’ll get ahold of him and see if he’s heard anything. I want to keep the money thing quiet for now. I don’t know what I’m going to do with it, or if I’ll even get it. Either way, I just want to keep it on the down low.”
“Mums the word, girl. Now, let’s get cracking. We have to get to Clips and Color,” Ali says as she gives me another hug.
Shucks
Parker
It took a second to drill the lock out and get the box open. Inside, there are letters—so many letters, all addressed to Amy. The handwriting is feminine, so I have to think they’re from her mother.
The will is in there, along with pictures, jewelry, and other mementos from her mother. I’ve called Paul in, since he used to be a jeweler, to have him inspect the pieces. There’s a beautiful diamond ring that looks old. Each piece of jewelry is in yellowing envelopes with a description of what the piece is on the front. The ring envelope said Grandmothers’ Wedding Ring. If Paul can clean it up and fix it, I want to use it as Amy’s engagement ring.
Picking up the phone, I call that asshole, Todd.
“What’s up, Deputy Dope?”
“I found the will.”
“No shit? What’s it say?”
“To paraphrase, the will belongs to Alexandria’s father, and says that the estate is to be split between his two children—Alexandria, and her older brother, Felix. And that if both are deceased, the estate would be split between their children. If neither have any children, then the estate would be liquidated and the monies distributed to a massive number of charities. It specifically states that their younger brother, Marcus Hampden, has been disinherited and is not to receive anything. I looked into it and both Felix and Alexandria’s father died in a car accident about five years ago, and Felix never had any children.”
“Well, shit. So what are you going to do?”
“I have to get ahold of a lawyer to help Amy claim her rights to the estate. I have a buddy a couple towns over who should be able to help. I have a call into his office, and he’s supposed to call me back sometime today. The coroner will be releasing Alexandria’s remains and filing the death certificate, probably tomorrow. After that happens, I’m thinking things are going to move pretty quickly.”
“Okay. Well, I’ve been keeping an eye on our boy Marcus. Things are not looking good for that man. Caught up to him yesterday, coming out of a CVS, and he looked like he went ten rounds in a dryer. Beat the fuck up. I have some bad news for you. The probate hearing for the estate was moved up to next Wednesday.”
“Shit, okay. Looks like Amy and I will be coming up sooner than I had expected.”
“Be good to see you and your girl. Anxious to meet the woman who manages to put up with your lame ass.”
“Fuck you, Todd. God, can’t you go one conversation without giving me shit?”
“Nope. Gives me the warm fuzzies when I can rattle your cage a bit.”
The afternoon flies by. Not one call came in, but I got Tanner all squared away and Paul dropped in. I decided to keep all the jewelry here for Amy to look over, and had Paul take the ring. He said all the pieces are real stones, and very valuable. A couple of the pieces are missing stones, which Paul thinks based on the tool marks is how Amy’s mom and Dad paid for things along the way.
I’m leaning back in my chair, seconds away from falling asleep when the bell over the door rings and the breath stalls in my lungs when I get a look at my girl.
Her hair is shorter, but the way it’s cut frames her beautiful face, just skimming her jaw. The highlights in her hair make me smile, because she has a little pink and a little purple. The most stunning thing I notice is her blinding smile. The longer she’s in town, and the more comfortable she gets, the more confident she is, and that is sexy as fuck.
Her outfit makes me think naughty thoughts. The T-shirt isn’t tight or too revealing, but it hugs her figure. The long necklace dangling in between her breasts draws my eyes right there. And there are those tight jeans that mold to her thighs. I hold my finger up and spin it around. I have to get a look at the backside.
She turns around, giggling. “You like it?”
“Love it. Love that ass in those pants even more.”
It’s then that I see Roger and Ali behind her. Ali has a sweet look on her face when Amy comes around and sits on my lap. Too late, I realize that the jewelry and all the paperwork and letters are spread out on my desk. I feel Amy tense, and Roger and Ali have concerned looks on their faces.
I kiss the back of her neck. “This is everything from the box, babe. There were pictures of your mom and Dad when they were younger—some of your mom’s family, and some of your father’s. These envelopes have jewelry, and it looks like she wrote you many letters over the years.”
She takes the stack of photos and starts studying them. Ali and Roger sit down and look at the pictures as she sets them down. If you look at them in the progression I have them in, you can see the transformation of her mother, the ones where she’s younger, maybe early teens. Her face is sad, pinched, and in some of them, she looks nervous. But the change comes around maybe fifteen or sixteen. She’s not as sad, and almost looks happy. It’s like she’s trying to hide it as best she can, but there’s hope shining in those eyes.
The ones of just her mom and Dad are beautiful. There was love there—deep love. Pictures of when they probably first ran away together. There are funny road trip stops, a big ball of yarn, and things like that. They’re goofy and silly. Just a couple kids, having a ball.
“They look so happy in these. And man, I look just like her. I guess I forgot what she was like when she was younger. The last memories I have of her were when she was sick, and those just stuck with me. I have to try harder to remember the good memories I have. I’ve been so focused lately on the bad, but these photos are bringing back the good times. I’m happy we opened it, Parker.”
She glances at th
e letters and takes a shuddering breath. “I don’t think I’m quite ready to read the letters yet, though.”
“That’s fine, love. You can take your time. They’re all dated, and I have them organized. We’ll just rubber band them so you can take them home and read them when you’re ready.”
She starts opening and looking at the jewelry, and I explain what Paul told me about the tool marks. I also tell her that he offered to replace all the stones and get everything cleaned up and repaired so that she could wear them, or just keep them.
“I would like that, to be able to wear them.”
I open my drawer and pull out the box that has the necklace I had ordered for our first date. It was late getting here, and I want to give it to her now. She’s going to need to be strong over these next few days.
Sliding it across the desk, she looks at me with a giddy smile. Opening it, she gasps. “You’re going to need to be strong over the next couple weeks. We got a lot of hard times coming up, and I’m here with you every step of the way. The will is going to probate court next Wednesday, so we’re going to need to be there. Marcus will be there, and it might get hairy. My brother-in-law will be there with a couple of his buddies, so we’ll be safe.”
I help her put the necklace on and kiss her. Settling my hands around her hips, I look up to find Ali and Roger, both crying. I wink at them and feel Amy settle in my lap. Everything will be fine, I just know it because we’re stronger together.
Mother Fluffer
Amy
Mom’s service was beautiful. The whole town came out to the graveyard and it was packed. It made my heart happy to see all these people out celebrating the life of a woman very few of them knew personally.
We’re at Bailey’s, and Steven helped me scan all the photos and put them in a slideshow. I told everyone that I didn’t want them to show up in black because we’re here to celebrate the life of my mother, as well as my father.