Remember Me

by Jo-Anna Walker

  “Shh…rest.”

  She nodded. “I feel…” she licked her lips. “Light-headed.”

  Garrith reached into the drawer of the end table beside them and pulled out a container of sugar cubes. He picked one up and placed it before her mouth. “Open.”

  She did as he said and he stuck it on her tongue. “Sugar?”

  Garrith smiled. “You aren’t a big chocolate person but you need sugar after we scene, so what’s better than pure sugar?”

  A soft moan escaped her lips as she sucked on the small square. “Why?”

  He ran a hand down her side, pulling her against him. “It helps build up your energy.”

  She nodded in understanding. “I…I remembered something.”

  Garrith’s heart sped up. “Oh?”

  Her eyes twinkled. “I remember the first time we used the Sawhorse.”

  Garrith barked a laugh and ran a hand through his hair. “That was an experience for us both.”

  She giggled softly. “We had fun, though.”

  Garrith smiled and kissed her full on the mouth. “Yeah, we did, love. Now rest.”

  He looked at the time. They needed to leave but he was not having Keisha up and about with her in mild subspace. The thought that it actually triggered a memory made his heart skip a beat. His idea had worked.

  Garrith jumped up. His eyes were grainy and he rubbed the sleep out of them. He frowned when he realized that Keisha was no longer in his lap. Footsteps rained overhead and he let out a whoosh, breathing a sigh of relief. He had never fallen asleep before during aftercare but with the emotional trauma they had both been through over the past couple of months, it was to be expected. His jaw clenched. It would never happen again.

  Garrith rose to his feet and grabbed the cleaning supplies from the cabinet. He couldn’t believe Keisha had let him scene with her. He unleashed his full Dom and she accepted it, willingly. He tested her, wanting to see how far she would let him go and when she didn’t use her safeword at the end, he felt a wall break around them.

  As soon as he placed her on the sawhorse, he saw his old Keisha in her beautiful green eyes. She submitted completely to him. Allowed him the enjoyment of fulfilling their deepest and darkest desires, a task they both loved experimenting with. They took each other to higher limits, testing and playing.

  Garrith smiled as he wiped down the black leather padding with the disinfectant wipes while Keisha’s footsteps sounded upstairs. His stomach fluttered. It was like old times. A time before she got shot. A time before they even knew about Jose Alvarez’s sadistic obsession with Tori. A twinge of unease ate at his stomach over the shit they had all been through.

  Recruiting Sebastian years ago, even though it was only temporary, should have had Jose behind bars right away. But that fucker was smart. Him being dead set Garrith’s nerves at ease. To think that that cocksucker had been walking around less than a year ago made Garrith realize that life was too damned short as well as to not get on Sebastian’s bad side. Thanks to his old job, Garrith was able to make Jose disappear. No one questioned the FBI.

  Once Garrith finished cleaning up, he headed to the door. Looking back at the room, he smiled. His body stirred at the new memories created there. He shook himself and shut off the light, making his way upstairs.

  “Of course I forgive you, Brett,” he heard Keisha say as he walked into the living room. He found her on the phone, sitting on the floor with her back to him in front of a bookcase.

  “Well you were being an asshole but I’m used to it,” Keisha teased. “Brett, it’s fine. Honest. I’m glad you enjoyed your date.”

  Garrith raised an eyebrow. Brett MacLean went on a date? Who was the victim? Brett didn’t date. Since things ended with Tori, he had established quite a reputation for himself.

  “When do I get to meet her?” she paused. “I did? Who is it? Brett…fine. I’ll wait.” She giggled. “You’re in love with her.” She laughed.

  Garrith’s dick jumped at the sound. He had always loved her full-bodied laugh.

  “Fine. I’ll drop it. For now.”

  Keisha turned her head, looking at him over her shoulder and smiled, her eyes warming at the sight of him.

  He joined her on the floor, wrapping an arm around her middle and kissed her neck. She sighed and leaned against him. An open photo album sat in her lap. His stomach twisted; would she remember? Ever?

  Chapter 17

  “I’m surprised you went on a date, actually.”

  Brett chuckled in her ear. “You and me both.”

  Keisha smiled and fingered the glossy on the page of the photo album before her. The scent of sex and man invaded her nostrils making her core pulse. She leaned against Garrith, snuggling into him as he held her tight. “She must be some woman,” she whispered.

  Brett cleared his throat. “She is.”

  “Are you happy?”

  There was a pause before Brett continued. “Oh yes.”

  Keisha laughed and shook her head at the innuendo in her brother’s voice. They said goodbye and she sighed. Even though they were stepsiblings, she always felt that they were blood. They both went through separations as children and they both lost their parents, which brought them closer. He was her rock.

  “Keisha?”

  She looked up at Garrith.

  “We should go, love,” he said, kissing her forehead.

  She nodded and put the photo album away, biting her bottom lip. She wasn’t sure how long Garrith was standing behind her when she was on the phone but the sense of calm and peace surrounding him made her realize that he didn’t hear her first conversation. Jason Anderson had called her. Her stomach twisted at the thought of agreeing to meet up with him for dinner. Was it cheating on Garrith? No, they weren’t together. Not officially. Were they? She needed to see Jason. To get closure. She couldn’t remember why they had broken up in the first place but he was pretty adamant about seeing her.

  Keisha rose to her feet and winced, her muscles twitching and groaning at the movement. Her core throbbed, remembering the hard way Garrith had taken her and her body bloomed at the memories. She submitted to him and it didn’t scare her. Made her nervous, yes, but no fear had taken up residence inside of her. She trusted Garrith but a part of her felt like something was missing.

  “Kitten?”

  Keisha startled at the deep voice by her ear.

  “What’s wrong?”

  She shook her head. “Nothing.”

  He grabbed her arm and spun her to him. “Talk to me.”

  She sighed and placed her hands on his chest. “I’m meeting up with Jason for dinner.”

  Garrith’s eyes turned cold, his mouth set in a grim line. “You’re what?”

  Keisha swallowed, wishing instantly she could take the words back but she didn’t want to keep anything from him. “He called me.”

  “And you think that’s a good reason to go on a date with him?”

  She rolled her eyes and shoved out of his grip. “No. It’s not a date. But I need closure, Garrith before we…”

  He cupped the back of her neck, tilting her head. “Before we what, love?”

  Her heart beat hard against her ribs at the icy tone of his voice. “Before we take this further.”

  He frowned. “You mean before I fuck you again?”

  Keisha glared and pushed him. “I mean before I give myself to you completely, asshole.”

  Garrith crossed his arms under his chest, his back rigid. “I’m not letting you go out with that fucker.”

  She glared at him. “Garrith.”

  “Do you know what kind of mental shit that asshole put you through?” Garrith’s eyes turned cold. “No, of course you don’t.”

  “Drive. Me. Home,” she bit out.

  “You are fucking home, Keisha!” Garrith yelled. “That’s what I’m trying to tell you. This,” he motioned to the area around them, “is your home.”

  Hot tears burned her eyes. “I don’t…God, we need…” she
huffed and grabbed a set of keys off the table in the hall before slipping on her shoes.

  “Where the hell do you think you’re going?”

  “I’ll drive myself.” Keisha stomped down the hall when she was grabbed from behind and pushed up against the wall. She gasped at the cold look in Garrith’s eyes when he fell to his knees, wrapping his arms around her waist.

  “Please. We can get counseling. Talk to someone. Just don’t leave me.”

  A lump formed in her throat as the moment of vulnerability washed around them. Keisha ran her hand through his blonde hair and took a deep breath, before pushing out of his grasp. “I have to do this.”

  “Love, please.”

  She swallowed back a sob and opened the door, heading out into the cool morning air.

  “If you leave, don’t bother coming back.”

  ***

  The sound of the door shutting made Garrith’s heart jump. She left. He couldn’t believe it or that he told her never to come back.

  Garrith rose to his feet. “Fuck.” He slammed his fist into the wall. A sharp pain exploded through his hand and travelled up his arm. Same hand from the other night. Shit! Fuck, that hurts.

  How the hell could he let her leave like that? She needed closure. Garrith scoffed. Please.

  Closure with Jason Anderson would just give her hell and then some. That fucker almost destroyed her. Ruined her for all men and not in a good way. It took weeks for her to trust Garrith again after the shit they went through and once Jason hurt her, it had set everything back.

  Garrith shoved a hand through his hair and was headed into the kitchen when a knock landed on the door.

  “Come in!” he barked and leaned against the counter.

  Heavy footsteps rained into the hall. “Garrith?”

  “In here.”

  Sebastian rounded the corner, his dark eyes narrowing once they landed on him. “Problem?”

  Garrith huffed and picked up a half empty bottle of tequila. “Yes. There’s not enough fucking tequila in the world to make me feel better.”

  He popped the cork and brought it up to his lips when it was snatched from his hand. “What the hell?”

  Sebastian replaced the cork and put the bottle back on the shelf. He leaned against the opposite counter, mirroring Garrith’s pose.

  They stood there in silence until Garrith couldn’t take it anymore. “She left. She fucking left!”

  “Is that why there’s a second hole in the wall?”

  Garrith clenched and unclenched his fist, reveling in the sharp pain that flowed through his arm.

  Sebastian cupped the back of his neck. “She’ll come back.”

  Garrith looked up into the dark eyes of his friend. Multiple tattoos peeked out from under the collar of his white shirt. The intricate designs lined his thick neck. Garrith couldn’t understand how anyone could get that many tattoos. Just getting one had hurt like hell.

  Sebastian smirked. “You checking me out?”

  Garrith rolled his eyes and punched him in the shoulder. “Asshole.”

  Sebastian chuckled and followed him out of the house. “You think I’m an asshole, wait until you meet Lucas.”

  Garrith slid into the passenger seat of Sebastian’s sleek black muscle car. It was hard, rough around the edges, just like its owner.

  The smell of vanilla and…Garrith frowned and turned to him. “It smells like a woman in here.”

  Sebastian grinned but didn’t respond.

  That wasn’t the only thing it smelled like. Keisha.

  Garrith’s body stirred as images of their time together rained into his mind. He sighed and pinched the bridge of his nose as a throbbing pain erupted behind his eyes. He only came back just over two weeks ago and already he had her submitting to him. It happened way too fast. No wonder she left.

  “Tell me about Lucas and why Mathis is looking for him,” Garrith demanded, needing to change the subject.

  Sebastian shifted in his seat beside him. “Lucas got mixed up with the wrong crowd. I met him on the streets.”

  “Did he know Jose too?”

  Sebastian shook his head, his jaw tensing. “No. Hitched a ride outta town before that fucker came into my life.”

  “How old was Lucas?”

  Sebastian stared straight ahead. His knuckles turning white as his fists clenched the steering wheel. “Fourteen.”

  God, they were just kids.

  “We kept in contact through a mutual friend. When the friend died, Lucas came back. Tried to get me out of Jose’s grip but I was in too deep.”

  Garrith nodded in understanding and pinched the bridge of his nose.

  The thought of not having family tore at his heart. Even though his parents drove him insane, he wouldn’t change them for the world. Garrith frowned. He needed to call them. It had been a while since he last talked to them and being an only child, he should really make more of an effort in keeping contact with them. Asshole.

  “So why does Mathis want Lucas?” he grumbled.

  Sebastian shrugged. “I think you should talk to Lucas about that one.”

  “Fine. So what should I expect when I meet him then?” Garrith’s gaze met Sebastian’s and he bit back an eye roll.

  Sebastian had a malicious smile on his face. “You remember meeting me for the first time?”

  Garrith barked a laugh. How could he forget? A couple of broken ribs and a bloody nose later and they’d been friends ever since. A guy with anger problems, known for fighting and for being Jose’s enforcer did not take it well when the FBI approached him.

  “So he’s a douchebag, then?”

  Sebastian smirked. “He’s a good guy. Just had a shitty life.”

  “What does he do now?”

  “Owns a tattoo parlor.”

  Garrith nodded, indicating the designs on Sebastian’s exposed skin. “He’s your tattoo artist I’m assuming?”

  “Yes.”

  They drove in silence until they reached the city limits. Garrith’s stomach clenched as they got closer to their destination. He should have called this in. Gone back to the FBI like a good little boy. His chest tightened. “Listen, Sebastian. I’m—”

  “Don’t.”

  Garrith frowned. “I’m trying—”

  “It’s done.”

  “Sebastian.”

  Sebastian’s grip tightened on the steering wheel.

  Garrith sighed. Neither were men who talked about their feelings and shit but what went down with Jose and making Sebastian leave Tori was his fault. “I never said that I was sorry.”

  “Don’t need to.”

  “Well I’m going to anyways, fucker.”

  “Garrith—”

  Garrith punched the dashboard. “No. Fucking listen to me. I am sorry. For everything.”

  “We’re over it, my man,” Sebastian mumbled.

  Yeah, but he wasn’t. “If I wouldn’t have taken you away from Tori, you would have been there for the birth of your son and Keisha…” Garrith swallowed hard. “She’d remember me.”

  Sebastian sighed. “I’m back. That’s all that fucking counts.”

  Garrith shook his head. “That’s not the point.”

  “Dude, what’s with the melodrama?”

  “I just… I’m trying to set things right.” Garrith huffed.

  “Tori and I are fine. You probably did us some good by pulling me away. You also got rid of Jose.”

  Garrith rubbed his jaw, his memories taking him back to that day six months ago. Jose’s lifeless body staring up at him; the look of satisfaction on Sebastian’s face. “Do you regret it?”

  Their gazes met and Sebastian grinned, his black eyes cold. “Not a fucking thing.”

  “The FBI could use a guy like you.”

  Sebastian scoffed. “Only way I’m doing anything for them is if you go back.”

  Shit.

  Sebastian laughed. “Didn’t think so.” He let out a heavy sigh. “Tori’s pregnant.”

  Garri
th’s head whipped around at the admission from his friend. “Is this good?”

  Sebastian’s dark gaze met his and a cheesy grin spread on his face. “Very.”

  “Well then, congratulations.”

  “Thank you. We’re moving up the wedding,” Sebastian said as they turned into a parking lot.

  “We’ll be there.” He’d drag Keisha with him if he had to.

  “You fucking better be. You’re in the wedding, dumbass, and it’s in your parents’ backyard.”

  Garrith’s eyes widened as he stepped out of the car. “I didn’t think you’d want me in it.”

  Sebastian slammed his door shut. “Of course you’re in it.”

  “And since when is the wedding in my parent’s backyard?”

  “Since I called them as soon as I proposed. You would have known that had you not been drinking your time away.”

  “I said I was sorry for that.”

  Sebastian clapped a hand on his shoulder. “I know.”

  “Making up for time lost?”

  Sebastian smiled. “Something like that.”

  “Fucker.”

  They walked in silence and crossed the street. The late afternoon sun caressed the shops, giving them a sun-kissed glow. The tattoo parlor was in one of the dodgiest parts of the city. Sirens sounded in the background, making Garrith’s blood stir. He missed the chase. The adrenaline at catching the bad guy. He needed his job back.

  Garrith frowned. “He could have picked a less shitty area.”

  “He had to lay low. Be in an area where the cops would leave him alone.”

  Garrith nodded as they approached the small building.

  Sebastian pushed the door open and stepped into the vast space. A cool chill ran down Garrith’s spine as he followed in behind him. Drawings lined the walls of the small room.

  “Be with you in a moment,” a deep voice rumbled.

  Garrith’s gaze landed on the back of a large man hunched over a woman’s tailbone. The sound of buzzing and whimpering traveled around them.

  “We’re not customers,” Garrith stated.

  “I know.”

  Garrith raised an eyebrow and looked back at Sebastian. He smirked and sat in one of two chairs in the small waiting area.

  “You can sit, too,” the guy said without turning around.