Free Bird

by Amelia Oliver

  The woman singing was blonde and curvy and her smile zapped a bolt of life into my gut. Her long tan legs spun her around the room as she sang along to the radio, and her beautiful blue eyes were trained on a smaller version of her, giggling as they twirled and laughed freely, looking like two magical creatures. When the woman noticed me, and her eyes connected with mine, I knew that was it. I needed this soul close to mine. Her chest heaved from dancing, but my eyes wouldn’t leave hers. When the little one noticed me, I felt like I knew them already, and I didn’t feel like I needed to cower or pretend I wasn’t there.

  I didn’t know their names, but I knew they were already a part of me, at least the woman was. Anytime I heard music, it was her voice singing along in my head. She looked unaffected by the world, but also a little damaged for some reason and I wanted to know the reason. I found myself looking for her any time I was in town. I saw her in every tall blonde with long legs and a beautiful smile, but they were never her.

  When Joseph told me we were hired to work on her family’s house, the old Hamilton residence, I experienced an odd reaction; excitement. I was excited at the chance of seeing her again, the woman who’s name I didn’t even know then. Excited that I might get to talk to her, to know her. Maybe it was because she wasn’t from here that intrigued me so much, or maybe something else. I’d thought about hundreds of scenarios of bumping into her when I started work, what I would say, maybe ask her out. But nothing prepared me for when I did see her. The sun shone on her blonde hair like a halo of light surrounding her. She saw me before I noticed her, because she was already smiling at me when we locked eyes. A dopey lovesick high came over me and I forgot what I’d come outside for to begin with, feeling that internal pull that took me right to her.

  Finding out she remembered me, even though we’d just met only days ago, had my heart pounding and I could’ve stood there and talked to her for days. I’d overheard my Dreamweaver being called Faye, and it fit her. Her name was constantly on my brain, like saying it over and over in my head would make her mine. Seeing her walking alone on the road near my house, for a moment, just a moment, excitement flooded me that maybe she was on her way to see me. a silly thought since she had no idea where I lived and why would she be looking for me. Asking her to go on a ride with me, to share with her the one thing that has always been my escape, it felt huge for me. The spark in her eye at the invite fucking shot my heart into my throat, but nothing compared to the moment she slid on behind me, her arms holding me. I was relieved she couldn’t see me, see my grin, see the dopey look I imagine I had. I didn’t intend to take her to Galaxy Field initially, but I wanted to spend time with her off the bike, so there we went. However, I didn’t anticipate my reaction to her asking me about my parents and instantly, my elated mood turned to shit.

  I felt like a total wuss that I showed her my weakness, especially when it came to something as ridiculous as a man having issues with his parents. Although, I knew from my working on the house, her parents argued and fought and her mom was always on Faye and her sister’s backs. Again, seeing both of them on the deserted stretch of road, I felt I could redeem myself. I didn’t understand the tears Sweetie had over her bike, but I did understand the sympathy and urge to make it better that radiated off Faye. I wanted to do the same thing. Seeing Sweetie crying, it broke my heart. taking Them to my place, having them in my space, it was a head trip. I got drunk off the feeling of this being a thing, the three of us, a family. It ran through me so intensely that my hands shook as I worked on the bike chain. I didn’t want that night to end and I was nailed with sadness at the idea of coming back to the loft alone and that light and beauty was never going to surround me again.

  The movie theater run in, the moment that I felt the planets align and my dreams come true, her skin was soft and smooth, warm and she was just so fucking sexy. I wanted to bury my face between her legs, make her cum on my tongue, scream my name. Her reactions to me, head falling back, back arching, just from my fingers over her panties, had me shifting in my seat and fighting the urge to cover her mouth with mine. When she brought her hands up her torso, she paused just beneath her breasts before continuing them toward her neck. Fuck that. I wanted her free with me, uninhibited, wild. I wanted to kiss her, to taste her sweetness, I just wanted all of her. But then the movie stopped, and she was gone. Next thing I knew, I was outside her house in the dark. It wasn’t like I was going to knock on the door or anything, I didn’t know what I’d planned to do. I just wanted more of the feeling she gave me. It had ended too abruptly, too quick, and I want to bask in her warmth over and over.

  I watched her daily as she came and went from the house, I wanted to talk to her, but I was always a second late or she was with someone else and I couldn’t talk to her like I wanted. But one afternoon, I went outside for supplies and saw her coming up the driveway. Because I didn’t think I’d ever have the opportunity again, I told her how all I thought about was how she smelled that day in the theater. But I kept out how I thought about her reactions to my fingers, and that those images had made me jerk off every night before bed. I thought she was about to admit she felt something for me, when her mom came out.

  Faye’s whole energy changed when her mom came onto the scene. She became tense, agitated and defensive. Her eyes glanced toward me and then I looked up at the woman as she sauntered down the steps. She looked like her daughter, but older obviously. She wears too much makeup, her clothes too tight, and her hair too perfect. She extended a hand with long painted nails and large jeweled rings nearly on every finger. I couldn’t tell what her aim was here, to seduce me or attempt to scare me from talking to her daughter. Regardless, I smiled and nodded, pretended she was not a massive bitch. Normally, I’d tell her so, but I could see it would only cause issues between her and Faye, and I don’t want that for Faye.

  When I overheard her mention the diner, I suggested to Joseph, Jasper and Owen that we head into town for lunch. We normally go to the diner to eat, a few sweet bottoms from the club worked there, so we normally got shit for free. Frank Hamilton’s Buick was parked out front of the diner, and I got the fast heart beat again. I also noticed a police car there and know it’s Chief Milton’s. Entering the diner, I didn’t see her straight away, but followed the guys toward a booth in the back.

  “Tippy’s here,” Joseph told me, and I groaned inside my chest.

  We sit and I felt the wave of realization from other diner’s whisper across the room as it does now that we’re home from Vietnam. I didn’t like it. We did what we had to do; we’re not special or Jesus or something. I did what anyone else would’ve done in my position.

  Then I saw her. Her head turned over her shoulder, looking at me, and all the gawking diners ceased in my mind. She’d changed her clothes since earlier and her hair’s down. I truly see what a beautiful woman she was. Classy and well-bred, not like the shit I come from.

  “Son,” Mr. Bannon said to me as he came up to the table and extended a hand. “I’d just like to thank you for your service and patriotism.”

  I shook my head in disagreement of the praise, but shook the man’s hand regardless. That goes on for several minutes as other patrons came over and offered their words of thanks.

  “Hey, boys!” I heard Tippy’s obnoxious high-pitched voice, just as she stepped in front of me.

  “Tippyyyy,” Jasper said, thinking that if he laid on the charm she’d give us our food for free, but she always does that anyway.

  This whole game annoyed me. She was a sweet bottom at the club. I’d never fucked her, but she’d blown me while Joseph nailed her from behind, and for whatever reason she thought that meant she has some sort of claim on all of us. The guys ordered beers and when she got to me, she put her hand on my shoulder for my attention, I’d been gazing out the window since I couldn’t see Faye.

  “How about you, hon,” she purred right before snapping her gum.

  “A Coke,” I ordered, shifting in my seat to see Faye again. S
he’s turned back around in her seat, and Tippy noticed what I’m doing.

  “She ordered something called a sweet tea. What is that even?” she teases with a laugh.

  “It’s a drink they have down south,” I replied.

  “But we’re not in the South?” she said stupidly.

  “Well, if she’s never left the South before then she wouldn’t know we don’t have that here.” My tone is one of annoyance, and I didn’t like that Tippy was trying to make fun of Faye; it instantly puts me on the defensive.

  “Her accent is so funny, like one of the Beverly Hillbillies,” she laughed again.

  My fist slammed on the table, and her laughing stopped.

  “How about you go get our drinks,” I said while looking up at her.

  She looked embarrassed, as she should’ve, and simply swallowed while nodding.

  “Jesus, Sven,” Jasper said to me.

  “Shut up Jasper,” Owen cut-in sharply.

  “Fuck you. You don’t think that was rude?” Jasper asked.

  “What she was saying was rude. Just because a new chick comes into town and Sven’s all eyes for her…” Joseph answered.

  It’s then I noticed Faye and her dad sitting with Chief Milton, and I wondered what he told her about us as they kept looking over here. I felt a bit nervous, not that I’d done anything wrong, but my family has a reputation. I guess I can’t hide who I am from her, not like I could pretend to be anything different, with my hair and beard. My look doesn’t exactly scream conformity.

  I needed to stop pretending there was something between her and me. I wanted to tell myself it was just because she was something new and different in a town that never changed. But I’ve been across the world, and around the country, and I’ve never been consumed by someone like this before.

  Then, Faye and her dad stand, shaking Milton’s hand before exiting, and she didn’t look at me. Milton watched them out the window before coming over to us. I already knew what was to come.

  “Afternoon boys,” he greeted as he stood at the end of the table.

  “Chief,” Owen replied, giving him a wide grin.

  “Heard you boys are working on the Hamilton house.”

  “Indeed, we are,” Jasper nodded.

  “You know we don’t like outsiders knowing what your little club does, so as long as you’re working there, no funny business all right? These are good people, and they won’t be here long. Just pretend to be law abiding citizens,” he told us.

  Joseph or Owen snickered and I looked over to see Jasper saluting. I shook my head.

  “You hear me, Frederickson?” Milton asked.

  Looking up at him, I clenched my jaw and nodded. “I hear you.”

  With that, I stood as I saw Faye and her dad part ways, and she began down the sidewalk. I could’ve call her name for her to stop as I started following her, but I didn’t. The warm breeze blew around us as the sun shone down on her golden hair. I was in a trance as I watched her walk. She was graceful and elegant, the walk of someone trained to appear perfect. She ducked into the store and I hung back to just wait for her to come out.

  I didn’t know what I was doing exactly. I knew nothing could happen between us. Even though I’m not a bad guy, she deserved a decent guy, someone who worked a nine-to-five, and came from good people.

  Waiting for her was torture, so I decided to go in and talk to her. The sooner I could get her out of my system, the better. I scanned the levels starting from the basement and didn’t see her. I’ve almost given up on the upstairs, which seemed deserted, until the changing curtain opened. My jaw dropped as I saw her. Never mind the clothes she was wearing, but they’re tight and showed me every swell and curve of her body. Shit, I started to get hard and thoughts of me fucking her in the dressing room, or on the floor flooded my mind. Like the first time I saw her, my feet had me moving toward her without my mind having a say so. Her body was tight and sleek, but full in the places I’d like to touch the most. She looked at herself in the mirror, running her hands up and down her torso and I wished for nothing more than to be able to do that too. Noticing me she startled.

  “You scared me,” she sighed and it’s then I fully realized I’d walked only a few feet from her and I was just staring at her.

  “Sorry.”

  “What are you doing here?” she asked, and I saw something in her eyes, like she wanted me to be closer maybe to be touching her.

  “I wanted to make sure I didn’t cause any problem with you and your mom this morning,” I said, and it’s true, but that’s not really what I needed to say.

  “It’s nothing new,” she shrugged, “but thank you for being concerned.”

  With the mention of her mother, her whole body became stiff and rigid. I’d learned the hard way that you’re the only one who can determine your self-worth, and I wanted her to realize it too, but not in such a hard way. I realized no one’s perfect, but Faye was pretty damn close. When I commented that there’s nothing someone could do to be treated that way, something shifted in her expression, a steeliness and resolve that had her lifting her chin and training her eyes on me.

  “Well, I have.”

  It’s not that I didn’t believe her, but I can’t see her doing anything to be treated so coldly, other than her mom just being a bitch. I gave her a small smile, because I liked how she wasn’t pretending to play the victim. She could’ve stood there and woven some tragic tapestry about how her mom hated her because she used to wet the bed or something, but she didn’t. And I’m not sure if that was because she didn’t want me to know, or because she truly believed she deserved her mom’s treatment. I wanted to kiss her, to grab her and kiss her and drive this pent-up desire I have for her so far inside her pussy she couldn’t think of anything but me.

  Then I noticed her lips part as she started breathing a little faster, and the material over her tits tightening and teasing me with pillows of soft cleavage above the material. I wanted to suck her perfect lips, taste her flavor, feel her tiny hands on me. But I couldn’t fucking do it. I had to break the spell my little Dreamweaver’s cast over me.

  “I’ll see you around,” I said in a rush, as I turned my back to her.

  “Is that really what you came here for?” she asked.

  Pausing, I kept my back to her as her tone caught me off guard. It was needy and full of hope. My brain, heart and cock fought a battle, and in that moment, my heart and cock won. Turning to face her, I took three steps and grabbed her face, kissing her and chasing a feeling I’ve never had. With her I could be anyone, face anything. With her by my side there’s no limit to what we could do. She tasted of hope and love, perfection and promises…all things I couldn’t equally give her.

  It took every ounce of strength to pull away from her, but I did and instantly felt regret. The way she was looking up at me, her eyes clouded with lust, her breath fast, her tits pressed against my chest, my erection against her stomach. But we couldn’t do that.

  5

  FAYE

  I want to do as Sven asked, and stay away from him. Not that it would be difficult, I haven’t even seen him after he kissed me, no, after he possessed me. The next morning, I push past my mind drifting toward Sven. How he makes me come alive just with his presence, but his hands on me, that was a whole other ballgame. It was clear he knew what he was doing. No tentative kisses or nervous fumbling, no, no, he was all efficient hands and demanding lips. His fingers stroking me and coaxing me, just thinking about it has my lips parted and my chest heaving.

  Pressing my knuckles against my cheeks, I shake my head a little to clear my thoughts as I make my way toward the police station. The building is small, just one story with a brown brick and stone façade. Double metal framed glass doors lead me into the reception area where two women sit. They’re dressed professionally, hair and nails done, one on the phone while the other smiles as she looks up at me.

  “I’m here to meet with Chief Mil-”

  “Just on time,”
a male voice says from behind me, which has me turning to see Chief Milton standing there in his tan uniform. Hair neatly combed and face clean shaven, it appears as if he’s also just coming into work. He has his lunch pail in one hand, and a thermos in the other as he smiles at me in greeting.

  Milton’s attractive, but he reminds me of every guy I knew in Mississippi. He’s the kind of guy Gaye wants me to be with, but not the kind that gets my pulse racing. However, his pleasant demeanor instantly has my new-job nerves letting up as I return the smile. I thank the receptionist as Milton motions for me to follow. Holding open another set of doors which separates the officers from the front and I notice a large gold class ring on his ring finger, a red gem of some sort in the center.

  “Football, college champions,” he comments, noticing my observation.

  “Oh,” I nod and smile.

  “Did you go to college?” he asks, as we walk side by side down a row between two sections of the room.

  “No, just the typing courses.”

  “Ever considered it?” he counters.

  “Sure,” I shrug a shoulder. “I need to save money for that though.”

  “Your parents wouldn’t help you?” As soon as he asks, I see his expression take on a mask of mortification. “I’m so sorry-”

  “No, no, it’s fine. I want to do it on my own,” I tell him, feeling brave for admitting this to someone, other than Gwen.

  He faces me as we stop near an office and gives me a look I can’t describe.

  “I admire that,” he says with one nod of his head.

  “Thank you,” I find myself saying.

  We stand there, he’s just looking at me, studying me and I’m just staring at him with raised brows.

  “Oh, this is the office,” he finally says.

  There’s two walls lined with wood paneling, while the wall facing Milton’s office and the hallway have windows. A desk and some file cabinets are the only furniture and a door and more windows separates this space from Milton’s office.