by Milly Taiden
“That’s because she is! But I love them to death.” The server laughed, picked up her empty tray, and headed to the kitchen. Amie looked at him, but he cut into his steak, pretending that the strange conversation hadn’t come from down the rabbit hole.
Amie asked Mom what the mother’s name was. Mom said, “Alice, I think. Alice and Roger—”
“Rabbit,” Amie finished.
His mom smiled. “Actually, it’s Angora. Roger and Alice Angora.” He hoped his mom didn’t go on to tell Amie that Angora was a breed of rabbit.
The three went about quietly eating. He wanted to get back to the house as soon as he could. Not only to get away from the whole shifter debacle, but he had plans for his guest this evening. His mother sniffed and looked at him. Fuck. Being in a shifter town sucked when you had your mate with you and you hadn’t had sex except with Mr. Hand for a couple years.
The main door opened and Mom’s breath caught. He noted a scent he never expected, nor wanted, to smell from his mother. Thinking about your parents having sex is one thing. Smelling when they wanted it was another.
He turned in his seat to see who had walked in. It was just Butch. Amie tapped his arm. Even she noticed Mom’s reaction. Huh, his mom had something for the meat man. At least she picked a guy who could keep her fed.
He’d think about matchmaking his mom later. Right now, he had his own libido to think about.
CHAPTER 14
Blanket thrown over one arm and an old basket with a couple water bottles and beef jerky sticks in the other, Frank led Amie out of the backyard and into the woods.
“Where are we going?” she asked.
“It’s a surprise. You’ll love it. Just wait.” Seeing that they had an early dinner, the sun was just now settling over the tops of the trees. The breeze was cool, which was good because his skin was already hot.
He stopped and looked over his shoulder at his mate. “Hurry up, slowpoke. We’re here.” She came up beside him and her eyes widened. “You like it?” The old hollow hadn’t changed much in the years he’d been gone. Overgrown a bit. He could take care of that before he left. He wanted to keep it clean and easy to access.
“It’s beautiful, Frank.” A small rocky stream meandered through the woods, flowing over worn-smooth stones into a shallow pool. The tinkling of the mini waterfall was calming and serene. The perfect place to talk and . . . whatever.
Frank spread the blanket over a flat spot by the peaceful pool and helped Amie sit. He settled next to her, not expecting the butterflies in his stomach. Since when had he been shy or nervous around anyone? That was what she did to him.
“Frank—”
“No, let me say something first,” he said. “I have questions about things that happened in the past, but I’d rather let them go if we can begin again.”
“Begin again?” she asked.
“Yeah, you tell me about you. I tell you about me.” Her eyes were on her fingers pulling at a thread in the blanket.
“Have you been with a lot of other women?” she asked, catching him off guard with something so personal.
“No,” he said. “I went on a date once, but it was a disaster. She talked about her ex, and I talked about you. At the end of the date, she gave me the number to her shrink and left. How about you?”
“My uncle has paid for escorts to take me to functions he wanted me to attend, but I arrived and left by myself. I had no interest in anyone.”
He nodded, feeling very relieved. His cat would’ve pushed him to find and skin these “escorts” if they would’ve touched her. “Your uncle the Mafia boss?”
She sighed. “Yeah, him. Giuseppe Ragusa.”
“I never thought—”
Amie grabbed him around the shirt and pulled his lips to hers. Her mouth was hot and tasted of filet mignon from dinner. He wanted more of her. Needed more of her.
She pushed him back just far enough to talk. “Frank, don’t ask any questions, don’t expect any answers, don’t hope for any future. But tonight, hold me the way you did before I had to go away. Make me believe we were never apart. Love me tonight.”
He leaned down, intent on giving her exactly what she asked for. What she didn’t know was that he planned on keeping her. He would find out what made her “go away” and put an end to it. But for now, he would love her with everything he had.
• • •
Amie loved the feel of his lips on hers. If she’d had any doubt about wanting him, it had gone out the window at that point. The feral way his gaze swept her face made her shiver in need.
“I’m going to take what’s mine, Amie. You.” His words skyrocketed her need out of this planet. Desire and lust pushed her at this point. He took her clothes off in a quick, tense rush. Then his lips were all over her. Not nearly as fast as she wanted, but driving her slowly insane with their perfect caresses.
He bit down on her belly. His downward travels stopped when he reached her bare pussy. He licked her inner thigh and she groaned. “I’ve been dreaming of having a taste of you again, Amie. So badly.”
She bit her lip. Words stuck in her throat. Any will to say no had evaporated and been replaced with her need for him. To give in and to get her man. She’d missed him so much and it was time to stop waiting for him. Her legs spread wider as if to give him the hint. His lip curled in a fuck-a-licious grin.
“Know what I want?” He licked closer to her pussy but not close enough. God, that was nowhere near close enough and she might lose her mind if he didn’t hurry it up. She almost yelled at him. Did he fucking need a map? He was bent on torturing her.
Jesus, how she needed to come. Her legs already shook from her lack of control over her muscles. He was going to kill her from sexual frustration. She lifted her hands to her nipples and pinched, the bite of pain adding to the ever-growing need in her body.
“I want to feel your pussy soaking my face.”
Oh. My. God.
A sharp electric current shot down right to her clit, making it twitch. Her body trembled and all he’d done was have a few licks around her pussy. At this rate she’d never make it another five minutes.
He licked at the crease between her pussy and her leg. So close but still so far.
“Please, Frank,” she moaned. She let go of her nipples and gripped clumps of his short hair.
“Ah, fuck, baby.” He licked over her pussy lips. “Wiggle those hips and show me how much you like my tongue on your clit.”
She whimpered, pressed closer to his mouth—if that were possible—and waited. If he didn’t do more, she’d be the first woman she knew to come with words alone.
“You are so fucking gorgeous, Amie. I’m so hard seeing you slick, hot, and wet,” he groaned. He rubbed his face on her slick folds. “You smell delicious, like an amazing memory. Only you’re real and this won’t be a dream that goes away when I wake up. You’ll be mine. All mine.”
The ragged sounds of her breaths filled her ears. She couldn’t think. All she could do was hope he’d lick her again. Soon.
She spread her legs even wider. “Frank . . .”
His gaze caught hers at the moment he flattened his tongue and licked a slow trail up to her clit. It ended with an agonizing suck of her tiny hard nub.
“Yesss.”
Her nipples puckered so damn tight. She hadn’t had sex since the last time she’d been with Frank. He’d killed her desire to be with anyone else. Now here he was again, touching her, taking her. Everything was perfect as long as he was doing those wonderful things to her body.
Frank licked her clit in quick hard swipes. One after another, they left her breathless and begging. Her body tensed so fast it caught her off guard.
“Oh . . . oh . . . my . . .” She choked the words out.
Frank reached his hands up to cup her breasts and tweak her nipples. The feel of his callused fin
gers added a new dimension of painful pleasure. Desire flowed through her in waves of heat and fire, and a storm raged in her core, pushing her closer to the edge. She rocked her hips, rolling them back and forth on his face.
“That’s it,” he muttered between licks and sucks. “Ride my face.”
She liked the sound of his voice. Liked the way he encouraged her to be naughty. Not that any encouragement was necessary. She was one lick away from coming on his face and that thought alone made her even hotter.
“Come, baby.” He pushed his tongue into her sex. She almost came on the spot. “Once you do, I promise to lick up every bit of your sweetness.”
She wanted that oh so badly. Her body vibrated with the need to ride the orgasm wave. She was at the peak; a little push and she’d go over.
Frank’s actions got more aggressive. He pressed his tongue over her clit and then sucked her harder. Her body trembled with his low growl over her sensitive flesh. That definitely caught her off guard and pushed her into the abyss.
She screamed. Her back bowed. Her head thrashed with the eruption of pleasure rushing her body. Her breath reeled, pumping hard into her lungs. She kept coming, her orgasms pushing each other until she was spent and almost falling asleep from the amount of energy she’d expended. She’d missed this. She’d missed the intimacy between her and Frank. He pulled her into his arms and held her close.
“Tell me what you want now, beautiful.”
She rolled him onto his back and placed a leg on either side of him and slid his cock into her entrance. “You. I want you. Deep.”
She rode him hard, her body gliding up and down and tensing with every slide down. He was hot and thick, pulsing deep inside her. He gripped her hips with every single slam down.
“Do it, baby. Ride me. Suck my cum into your hot wet pussy.”
She wiggled more. He helped her, biting his fingers into her hips and lifting and dropping her on his cock.
With every slam down, she moaned and whimpered his name. He grunted, telling her how much he loved her curves. How gorgeous her body was. Then she was going faster and faster, her body slick with perspiration and the tension inside her ready to snap.
She slammed down a final time, taking him as deep as she could. Pleasure flowed as tension snapped. He growled, lifting his hips up and driving deeper into her. His cock felt harder, hotter, and bigger inside her. Then he was spilling his seed into her. She took large gulps of air while her pussy contracted around his cock. Her body sucked his cum into her channel.
“That’s it, baby. Take it. Take me.” He yanked her head down and met her lips for a ferocious kiss. “We’re just beginning, gorgeous. I plan on having you every way possible.” He met her gaze. “Every way.”
CHAPTER 15
Even though it was early morning, she called her son. The Running Winds were up with the sun, so she knew her little one would be awake. She missed him so much. His cute way of talking, puppy-dog eyes, innocent baby-toothed smile, and great big heart. That he’d definitely gotten from his father. She loved thinking of the conversations with her son. He was adorable and if she could hug him every day of her life and never let go, she would.
“Hi, Mommy!”
“Hi, baby. I miss you so much! How are you?”
“’Kay. I eat eggs,” he said in a muffled voice.
“That’s really good, French fry. Are you having fun?”
“Mm-hm. We feed the chickens. I miss you, Mommy. When you coming?”
“Soon, baby. Really soon. I just wanted to tell you that I love you, okay? You know how much I love you?”
He giggled. “A cow?”
“Nuh-uh. Try again.”
“A chair?”
“Bigger, baby. Think really big.”
“A pwanet?”
She snorted at the awe in his voice. “Even bigger.”
“The sun?”
“I love you more than all the biggest things. You’re my heart.”
“You my hart, too, Mommy.”
• • •
Now in her robe, Amie stepped off the sixth stair and heard the creak, switching her weight to the next step. She was a bit sore this morning after years of no action. But it was the sweetest pain, for her heart’s happiness far outweighed the ache.
Frying bacon and ham smelled great to her growling stomach.
She came around the kitchen’s corner to find Frank standing at the stove and Mom sitting at the table with a newspaper in front of her. “Good morning, early riser,” Mom said. “No need to send the cat up to get you.”
Frank glanced over his shoulder at them.
Amie didn’t know what Mom meant. “What cat?”
Mom waved her hand around. “It’s just a saying we have.” Mom grinned and her brow rose. “Ask Frank about it. He’ll explain.” Frank frowned and flipped the ham. Mom snapped the paper in her hands.
“Oh,” Mom said, “did you hear about the senator killed in Las Vegas? They think the Mafia used a bank robbery as a cover to kill the man. Kinda strange. Not sure why they wanted to cover it up like that. Why not just shoot him? That’s how they usually do it, right?”
“Mom,” Frank said.
“You know what I mean. It’s the Mafia, for crying out loud. Since when did they care if they were thought to have killed someone? Honestly, though, I didn’t know the Mafia really existed anymore.”
Amie peeked at the newspaper in Mom’s hands. “Does it say why they killed the senator?”
“It doesn’t come right out and say it, but the latest thing the senator was working on was rebuilding the old parts of town to make them family-oriented: parks, playgrounds, residential housing.”
“Oh,” Amie said. “So he wanted to cut off their income. That’s smart.” Which is exactly what Uncle Giuseppe complained about. She wondered if there was a way that she could do something to get her uncle out of her life. Frank laid a plate of bacon in the center of the table.
“Oh, my,” Mom said after Amie plucked a bacon slice from the plate, “did you know Al Capone still has relatives alive?”
Amie choked on her bite of food and coughed. “Really?”
“Yeah, it says Amerella Capone, Al’s great-great-grandniece—her home was damaged in an explosion and she has disappeared.” Nonchalantly Mom turned the page. “Lots going on in Vegas this week. Glad we have none of that nonsense in this town.”
Amie kept her eyes to herself. She felt Mom gauging her Frank’s and reactions. Did Mom know something? Was Mom telling her and Frank they weren’t welcome if they had anything to do with the Mafia or Vegas? If Mom kicked them out, where would she go?
Frank brushed a hand across her shoulders as he passed behind her, setting the ham on the table. “How about I show you around town later this morning?”
“That would be great.” She turned to Mom. “Any plans for today?”
“Not that I know of. Not unless we have another impromptu party this afternoon.”
“I don’t have any clothes left,” Amie said, laughing. “We’d have to do something else.”
Frank looked at her. “Why don’t you have any clothes?”
Mom gave him a funny look. “She gave them all away yesterday, silly. Didn’t you see all the women had something nice when they left? All the blink.”
“Bling, Mom,” Amie said. “It’s bling.”
“All these new words you kids bring home. I feel like I’m learning another language.”
Frank beamed at Amie. She felt a bit embarrassed by his attention. Had she gotten so wrapped up in herself and material objects that she came across as spoiled or snooty? What had happened to her over the past four years? She almost didn’t like the person she’d become. In college, she didn’t care about such things.
Last night with Frank at the stream was magical. She was happy again. Her heart opene
d without fear of reprisal. No one knew they were there. No one knew she was here. As long as she was here, she could have him. She could love like she’d always wanted to. When it came time to go back, she’d deal with it then. But for now, she could love him. Tears burned her eyes. She blinked them away before embarrassing herself.
Frank’s mom sighed. “I think you kids spending the day out would be great. Maybe we can do lunch at Bob’s. He’s got a great lunch menu. But first, Frank, take her shopping at Marianne’s.”
Frank snorted. “Like there is another place to shop for clothes, Mom.”
She brushed him off. “Yeah, yeah. Keep that East Coast attitude to yourself, young man.” She winked and carried her dishes to the sink. “Frank, think about what we discussed at dinner last night. I think it’s time.” Then she left.
Amie looked at Frank. “What’s she talking about?”
He frowned and turned away. “Nothing. I’ll tell you later. How about you put on something to go shopping and I’ll clean up so we can go.”
The walk into town was exhilarating. The clean air had humidity and felt great. They were only a few hours from Vegas and the desert, but she was amazed how different the weather was. Her hair was a constant frizz of curls.
Frank opened the door to Marianne’s Clothes Stop and ushered her inside. Amie froze in her tracks. No wonder Mom and everyone in town dressed like they lived in the past. That’s all they had to choose from. She thought about the Prada store she was in less than a week ago. Night and day.
Bright side was she’d now blend in and not stick out.
A lady stepped from behind a curtained-off area by the counter at the back. “Hello, can I help—” Recognition lit the lady’s face. “Amie and Frank. How good to see you again.” Marianne hugged them both. “I have to say, Amie, you and Jean throw a wonderful spontaneous party. I loved every bit of it. And I didn’t even hog the clothes. But look here.” Marianne flipped her earrings.
They were a pair with pearl centers and gold petals around them. Frank didn’t remember ever seeing those on Amie. But he remembered her saying that when packing, she’d just dumped handfuls of stuff in the suitcase.