Road to Freedom

by Piper Davenport

  “Yeah, baby, I get it. But you could help someone else.”

  “Yes. Definitely. But, if I’m being honest, I’m selfish and I just want to help her.”

  “I’m sure that’s how most people feel.”

  “I’m willing to do anything, though, if it gives her a few more years, you know?”

  “Yeah, I know.”

  “I signed up. I’m just waiting for the swab.”

  “You want me to sign up too?”

  “You would do that?” I asked, my heart filling.

  “Sure. Why not?”

  “Oh my god, you are the best human on the planet,” I whispered, then burst into tears again.

  He chuckled, pulling me close again and dragging the covers over us. “Okay, baby. I got you.”

  “I’m falling in love with you,” I whispered into his throat. “It’s why I didn’t tell you I was leaving. I’m sorry.”

  “For falling in love with me or leaving?”

  “Both.”

  “I forgive you,” he said with a cheeky grin, then kissed me gently. “I’m sorry your friend is sick.”

  “Me too.”

  “We’ll both donate if we can, okay?”

  I nodded. “That’d be good, Merr.”

  “You hungry?”

  “I am if pizza’s on the table.”

  He grinned. “Pizza’s always on the table.”

  “Then I want combo.”

  “Okay, I’ll order combo.”

  “With anchovies.”

  “No.”

  “Why not?” I challenged.

  He shook his head and slid out of bed. “Not gonna dignify that with a response.”

  “You don’t want my fishy mouth all over your body?” I leaned up on my arms. “Come on, Scuttle, live a little.”

  He dragged on his jeans and pulled his phone out of the pocket. “Who the fuck is Scuttle?”

  “Disney Seagull, from the Little Mermaid.” He rolled his eyes and I grinned. “I nannied for a family during the summers for a few years in college. I’m well-versed in all things Disney, among others.”

  “Apparently.” He texted something into his phone, then leaned over me and kissed me gently. “I’ll be right back.”

  “Where are you going?”

  “Gonna grab some drinks, only got beer in the fridge, and grab the pizza when it gets here.”

  “I can help.”

  “Nah, it’s good. You hang here and relax.”

  “Do you have wine?”

  “I’ll look,” he said, snagging his shirt off the floor and heading for the door.

  “And plates and napkins.”

  “Got it.” He smiled at me over his shoulder. “Text me if you think of anything else.”

  “Oh, I will, Tweety.” I slid my legs off the bed. “Chocolate.”

  He laughed. “Text me, baby.”

  “Fine,” I said with a huff. “Hurry.”

  “I can’t do that if you don’t let me leave.”

  I flicked my hands toward him. “Shoo.”

  He laughed again and walked out the door.

  * * *

  Finch

  I pulled my T-shirt over my head as I walked downstairs. Goddammit, my woman was funny as shit. When she wasn’t being crazy. But I loved her crazy.

  Fuck.

  I stopped walking.

  I love her.

  I shook my head and headed into the kitchen where I found Alamo and Jasmine making out. I cleared my throat and Jazz tried to jump away, but Alamo held tight with a chuckle. “Not doin’ anything wrong, Firefly.”

  She shook her head. “I know. I just forget sometimes. Hi, Finch.”

  “Hey.” I grinned and stepped to the fridge. “Do we have any wine anywhere?”

  “In the pantry,” Jasmine said. “Willow and I bring a couple of bottles every get together. Only red, though.”

  I smiled. “That’s all Remi’ll drink.”

  “Perfect, then.”

  “I’ll replace it this week,” I promised.

  “No rush.”

  I stepped into the huge pantry and found a bottle that would work, then noticed bars of chocolate next to graham crackers and marshmallows, so I snagged her some chocolate. I walked back into the kitchen and set everything on the huge stainless-steel island.

  “Is Remington okay?” Jasmine asked.

  “She will be,” I said.

  Jasmine smiled. “Wine will help.”

  I chuckled. “Yeah, that’s what I’m hoping. I also ordered pizza, so gonna put her into a wine and carb coma.”

  “Good plan,” Alamo said, and Jasmine smacked his arm. He grinned and pulled her close again. “It’s how I calm the feral Firefly when needed.”

  She jabbed a finger toward me. “Do not listen to any advice from him on how to treat your girlfriend, Finch.” She turned her frown on Alamo. “And, you and me? Well, we’re going to have a conversation later when we’re alone.”

  “You gonna be naked when we do that?”

  “No.”

  “Well, shit,” Alamo hissed. “That doesn’t bode well for me.”

  “No, no it doesn’t,” Jasmine said, but she winked at me and I knew she was messing with him.

  “Alamo, over.” A voice crackled over the walkie, and Alamo grabbed it off the counter.

  “Go ahead.”

  “Pizza order.”

  “Go ahead and pay for it,” he said. “Finch’ll come get it.”

  “Got it.”

  I gave Alamo a chin lift, then headed out to the front gate where I retrieved the pizza and paid Stump back. As I walked back into the compound, my phone buzzed in my pocket and I pulled it out to find a text from Remi.

  Pickles.

  I bit back a grin as I texted back: Is that another bird, or do you want pickles?

  I want pickles. And ice cream.

  Are you pregnant?

  Oh, ha ha. This was followed by an emoji flipping me off.

  I laughed, then went searching for some pickles...which were, surprisingly, in the pantry. There were several choices of ice cream in the freezer, so I grabbed mint chocolate chip. I had a feeling I was going to be replacing a shit ton of food by the time Remi left.

  I found a grocery bag and filled it with what I’d collected, then headed back upstairs, pushing open the door to find the bed empty. “Rem?”

  “Bathroom,” she called, then walked out and I frowned. “What’s wrong?”

  “I left you in my bed, naked, and now you’re not.”

  She grinned. “Panties don’t count.”

  Fuck, they did so count, and, it was all she wore. Her perfect tits were on display but the tiny wisp of lace hiding her pussy was what drove me a little crazy. Goddamn I was already hard.

  I closed the distance between us and wrapped an arm around her waist. “They’re not staying on.”

  “Good. Food first, though.” She kissed me. “Did you find pickles?”

  “Yeah, I found the pickles. You have weird cravings.”

  “Can you imagine what I’ll be like when I’m actually pregnant?”

  “You want kids?”

  “Yes. Don’t you?”

  I shrugged. “Haven’t really thought about it.”

  She leaned back. “Really?”

  “Has Grace told you about our mom?”

  “No. I mean, I know she’s no longer alive, but that’s all.”

  I opened the pizza box and waved to a chair. “Eat, baby. We’ll talk after.”

  Remington

  We ate. In silence. Which made me nervous, and I hated it. I set my elbow on the little table and rested my head in my palm. “Are you okay?” I asked.

  “Yeah. Are you?”

  I shook my head. “What happened with your mom?”

  He sighed, leaning back in his chair and taking a swig of beer. “Long story short, she took Grace hostage and then shot herself in the head.”

  “In front of Grace?” I rasped.

  “Ye
p.”

  I bit back tears. “Why?”

  “Mom was schizophrenic, among other things. She stopped taking her meds and all hell broke loose. The problem was, she’d convinced my dad she was back on her schedule, but he thinks she was taking them, then making herself puke. He always watched her take them, then checked her mouth, so he knew she wasn’t cheeking them.”

  He seemed to fade into the story, so I stayed as quiet as I could in order not to interrupt his flow.

  “Dad had promised to take me to a movie and Grace had begged to come, but Mom wanted a girl day, and honestly, I wanted time with my dad, without my annoying little sister.” He shook his head. “I shoulda fuckin’ objected.”

  I scooted my chair closer to him and slid my hands up his thighs.

  “Mom locked her and Grace in the bathroom and held a gun to her fucking head. If Mom hadn’t called her best friend, Maisie, Mom would have killed my sister. Instead she blew her fucking brains out in front of Grace. She was covered in grey matter and bone fragments, and stuck in the bathroom with our mother’s body until EMS got there. Then she was prodded and poked by the doctors and nurses, and would only let Maisie anywhere near her.”

  I felt tears streaming down my face as I climbed onto his lap and wrapped my arms around his neck. “I’m so sorry, honey.”

  “I’m okay. It’s Grace that’s the fucking rock star. My sister’s the strongest person I know. She’s had to deal with a lot of shit, PTSD, night terrors, the whole deal, but she still graduated with a four-point-o and opened herself up to Flea. He ultimately saved her, I think.”

  “That’s good,” I said.

  He gave me a sad smile and nodded. “Yeah. It’s good.”

  “Were you close to your mom?”

  “Yeah. Can’t talk about that around Grace, though,” he said.

  I stroked his cheek. “That’s gotta be hard, honey. Not to talk about her with your sister.”

  “Sometimes. But the good memories are tainted for her, so I get that.” He sighed. “She’s gotten over the fact I wear one of Mom’s earrings, but that took a while.”

  “God, you’re a good man, Merrick.”

  “You think so?”

  “I know so,” I whispered, and kissed him.

  He cupped my breast and rolled the nipple into a tight bud, his tongue dipping into my mouth as I shifted to straddle him. His hand slid between my legs, shifting the lace of my panties aside and pressing his fingers into me. I ground down against him as he held me anchored to his body.

  Breaking our kiss, he sucked a nipple into his mouth, then blew on the wetness before doing the same to the other one. I arched against his mouth as he fucked me with his fingers, his thumb connecting with my clit as I continued to grind on him.

  His fingers swept against my walls, one whispering over my G-spot and I dropped my head back with a moan. “Don’t move,” I ordered, shifting to take him deeper.

  I felt my climax building, but when he bit down gently on my nipple, I exploded around him, gripping the back of the chair for balance. “Oh my god,” I rasped, and he slid his hand out from between my legs.

  “Love how your body responds, baby,” he said, and kissed me.

  “Love how you work my body into a frenzy.”

  He grinned, standing as he kept me in his arms and dropping me gently onto the bed. “Gonna do that again.”

  “That’d be appreciated, honey.”

  After stripping off his clothes, he slid my panties down my legs and threw them in the corner, kneeling between my legs and kissing the inside of my thighs. “On your knees, Remi.”

  I rolled over and repositioned myself onto all-fours, hearing the quiet tear of foil before Merrick’s dick teased the opening of my pussy. I pushed back to try and get relief, but Merrick’s hand on my ass gave me an indication that was not going to happen.

  “Tweety,” I rasped.

  His hand slipped between my legs and I ground down against it. “You need to be patient.”

  “Fuck patience,” I growled. He slapped his palm against my pussy and I cried out with need. “Honey, please.”

  “You like that?”

  Another slap.

  “God, yes,” I whispered.

  “You want more?”

  “No, I want your cock.”

  He removed his hand and pushed into me and I almost came right then and there, but then he moved, and I was once again swept away.

  “Merr,” I panted out as he slammed into me harder and harder with each pass.

  “Now, baby,” he ordered, and I came.

  Hard.

  We fell together onto the mattress and he pulled me close, kissing the back of my neck. “You still like it rough, I see.”

  I grinned. “Guilty.”

  “It’s one of my favorite things about you.”

  “Oh, really?”

  “Among others.” He kissed my neck again and slid out of me, heading to the bathroom, but returning quickly to pull me back into his arms.

  “What others?” I asked, rolling to face him.

  He grinned, stroking my cheek as he studied me. “Your fierceness, for one.”

  “You think I’m fierce?”

  “The fiercest,” he said, and kissed me. “Love your sass, but you know that already.”

  “You can say it again, it’s okay.”

  He chuckled. “I love your body, but I think I’ve proven that quite a few times lately.”

  “I kinda love your body, too.”

  “I’m picking up on that.”

  “I love you, Rem.”

  “You do?”

  “Yeah. Knew it the second you jumped into your super fancy karate stance.”

  I bit my lip and closed my eyes. “Say it again,” I whispered.

  “I love your super fancy karate stance.”

  I smacked his chest gently and frowned at him. “In case you haven’t noticed, I’m feeling insecure and needy, and since I’ve never done a day of any kind of martial arts, there’s no way I have a ‘super fancy karate stance.’”

  He kissed my nose. “Wish I’d had my camera out. Woulda loved to have videoed it.”

  I rolled my eyes and tried to shift away from him, but his arm snaked around my waist. “Where are you going?”

  “Back to the Dojo so I can learn how to wax on...or sweep the leg...or whatever.”

  He let out a bellow of a laugh and held me tighter. “Fuck me, baby, you’re so fucking funny.”

  “Yeah? Happy you think so,” I retorted. “Can I go pee now?”

  “In a second.”

  “Tweety,” I warned.

  “Look at me, Rem.”

  I met his eyes with a huff.

  “I love you. You’re funny, you’re beautiful, you’re kind, and you’re fucking sexy as hell. I’m pretty sure I fell in love with you the second I saw you laughing with your friends, but it was solidified when you gave me all of you our first night together.”

  “I didn’t give you all of me,” I lied.

  “Bullshit.”

  “I’m just a friendly person.”

  “Not that friendly.”

  “You don’t know me.”

  “I know you,” he argued.

  I snuggled closer. “I want you to know me.”

  “I already know you.”

  “Merrick.”

  “Yeah, baby.”

  “You’re being ornery.”

  He rolled me onto my back and kissed me. “You love it.”

  “Do I?”

  “Trust me, baby. I know you.”

  I rolled my eyes. “Oh my god.”

  “My name’s Finch, baby. Not God.”

  “Jebus.”

  He kissed me again. “Nope, still Finch.”

  “Tweety.”

  “Or Tweety. But only to you.”

  I bit back a laugh. “You are ridiculous.”

  “You think?” he asked, kissing his way down my body.

  When he reached my pussy, he ran h
is tongue over my clit. “Still think I’m ridiculous?”

  I stared at him and raised an eyebrow. “That depends on whether or not you’re gonna dial it up a notch or stop.” His tongue flicked out and I groaned. “Tweety.”

  “Yeah, baby? Do you need something?”

  I squirmed and tried to shove down my need. “Nope. I’m good.”

  He slid a finger inside of me. “You sure?”

  I swallowed convulsively, but managed to nod. “Yep.”

  Adding another finger, he sucked my clit again, running his tongue along my folds.

  “Merr—”

  “Yeah, baby?”

  I licked my lips. “Nothing. Never mind.”

  He shifted so he was kneeling between my legs and rolled on a condom. “You gonna tell me what you want?”

  “You know me so well, you tell me.”

  He chuckled, hovering above me and pressing the tip of his cock against my entrance. “Challenge accepted,” he retorted and pushed into me.

  I bit my lip and forced myself not to react. God, I loved every second of what he was currently doing to me.

  “Nothing, huh?” he taunted.

  “No, it feels good, honey. Keep going. You’ll get it,” I condescended in my best teacher voice.

  “Jesus Christ, woman, you make me laugh right now, we’re gonna have a problem.”

  “Oh, no,” I deadpanned. “You can’t keep it up and laugh at the same time? Do I need to hide some Viagra in an edible to help give you the giggles and a boner?”

  “I’ve got a big ol’ blunt for you...,” he thrust into me, “...right here.”

  I gasped as his girth filled me. “We could market it as the “‘Bone-a-laugh.’”

  “Or ‘Funnyboner.’” He pushed in further.

  I mewed as I gripped his arms and forced myself not to chuckle.

  “You gonna let me fuck you now?” he challenged, raising an eyebrow.

  “Are you gonna do it hard?”

  “You wanna be on your knees, Remi?”

  I nodded, and he slid out of me, so I could readjust. Once I was on my knees, he pushed into me again and I spread to take him deeper. He gripped my hips and slammed into me faster and faster and I whimpered as my orgasm built. He slapped my ass once...then twice and I exploded around him as he continued to bury himself deep.

  “Fuck, Rem,” he growled as he thrust in again, building another orgasm in me and I pushed back against him to take him deeper.