Hence the bank, my sweating armpits, and the abject terror I feel as I walk into the manager’s office and shake his hand.
It takes me just under an hour of him reading my business plan and looking through my pre-orders for him to declare me a good bet and put things through.
I am very confused, like what the hell do I know about all this stuff, but I swear this was all just a little too easy and suspiciously simple for my liking.
“That’s it?”
The manager smiles and nods as he starts personally setting up my account and making twenty grand available while I just sit and stare with narrowed eyes.
“You don’t by any chance know Jack Levin, Freddie Cage, or Woody Jones, do you?” I ask suspiciously, watching him like a hawk.
“No. I freaking wish, lady.” He laughs, making my heart settle a little at the news.
If any of those three had in any way interfered I would have cracked skulls, no kidding.
“Why?”
“Why?”
“Why was it so easy? Are all bank loans this easy? I thought you had to do a whole bunch of checks and stuff to get these sorts of things approved. This seems too fast.”
Don’t have a nervous breakdown, Percy. You wanted this, remember.
Yeah, but now that it’s here and I have to actually go for it I feel like I might fall and it’s terrifying.
“Miss Leighton, let me be frank with you. This business plan is excellent. Everything we need is here, I have no reason to believe that this business would not be a success what with the pile of orders you already have, and your projections are spot on.”
Oh, Freddie, I so owe you for this, you beautiful man.
“Freddie helped me.”
He smiles at that and nods, handing me everything I need as he explains it all to me step by step.
“Good luck.”
I don’t believe in luck, I think as I exit the bank and stop in front of the girls, my face expressionless.
“Well?”
“If they refused I will set Freddie on their asses.”
“Jack will kill them.”
“Oh calm down. I got it!” I yell, screaming and dancing on the spot like the ass I am.
Not that they’re any better since Indie stops just short of flashing people as she starts moon walking. Poorly.
“You gorgeous asshole! I was so scared you’d go in there and they’d say no and then I was going to cry and call Freddie.” Luci laughs, crying a little as I link arms with them and pull them along with me, wanting Gruffy, a glass of wine, and a good long talk with the girls before Luci has to go to work and drag Indie along with her while Callie is on maternity leave.
***
Marks
“You did a good thing, man. Callie called and said she hasn’t seen Percy this happy since you left, Marks.”
I’m currently sitting in Jack’s office and enjoying a celebratory drink as Freddie grins at me and Woody just narrows his eyes, contemplating me with suspicion.
“Are you telling me that you sold your dream home, your business, and the chance to become a leading producer of organic produce to come back and live in the city even though you hate it?”
“No. I’m telling you I sold it all and came home because I don’t want to live in Tennessee and grow fucking tomatoes when my family and my woman are here without me,” I mutter, leaning my head back to eye the other man.
Honestly? While the place was great and peaceful and I really loved that house, it was empty and lonely without the ones I love. I sold it for a freaking song and an encore and now have so much money of my own, without even counting my inheritance which I haven’t touched so far, that I’m a little terrified of thinking about what is next. Definitely a business, that’s for sure, I just have to figure out what I want to do.
I will, though. After I get Percy back and start building that house on the bay in replica of the one I just left. For now I am content to sit around and shoot the breeze with Jack and the boys while I micromanage Percy’s business and ensure that she’s doing okay.
I totally agree with Jack and his wife that I need to stay away and give her time to build her dreams before I sweep in and whammie her with a few facts.
Fact one, we belong together.
Fact two, I’m not giving up and just letting her go. I’m not saying without a fight because that would suggest that I’d give up if I lost the fight, and that is not happening. I’m just going to keep going till she buckles and accepts what I want.
Fact three, I will marry that woman in the next month whether she’s ready or not because I have big plans for her and I know just how to tie her to me. See Jack and Freddie are inspirational.
This last one is purely a guy thing and I am not proud of it, but hell, I need sex. With her. Soon.
So yeah, I’m basically set in my plans. All I have to do now is wait and try to ensure the woman doesn’t kill herself by diving into work like a madwoman.
“God, she’s going to be so huge you’ll be wondering what possessed you to start this when fashion week gives her a call.”
“I’ve already thought of that and I am not above killing people to keep my woman by my side,” I say, smiling drolly.
I mean it, though. What do you think happens to a man who walks away and spends two months alone with nothing but time and regrets? Yeah. That’s right, I woke the hell up and realized that I am an asshole who does not deserve her, but will have her anyway because I’m selfish and I don’t give a shit who knows it.
Also…Jack called and let me know she cut the Days loose so I’m feeling hopeful that I at least have a shot in hell of getting her back.
Step one was getting my good pal at the bank to convince her that they were giving her the capital she applied for, when in reality it’s just me transferring money into her account.
I wanted to start with much more, but according to Jack the woman is vicious when riled so I went lower and made it more believable.
“Her mom still bugging her?” I ask Jack as Freddie checks on Jackie where she’s napping in a porta crib before throwing me a beer instead of pouring another round.
“Nope. I had Freddie and Luci take that one,” he says, smiling darkly as Freddie laughs and pats his own back.
“I| threatened to have their son arrested for drug possession if they so much as went near her again. Indie said they kept calling and it was just a matter of time before they got her back on the leash, so I had to convince them about the disadvantages of messing with our Percy.”
“Does the son even do drugs?” I laugh.
“Nope, but I know a guy from school and that can still be arranged.” He shrugs, seeming unconcerned by the fact that he threatened to have an innocent man thrown in prison unless they leave my girl alone.
Does it bug me that there are three other men willing and ready to mess peoples shit up if they mess with her? Hell no. I don’t give a dam as long as she’s happy and eventually ready to marry me.
I’ll go slow. I will.
Chapter Fourteen
Oops I Did It…
Percy
Something is wrong, something is most definitely wrong I think as I feel my body respond to the pleasure that hits me when I swim up from my fuzzy sleep and feel myself grind back into the erection filling me.
I must be dreaming again, and oh God please do not let me wake up, I plead as Marks presses closer to my back and licks at my neck, his hands plucking and plumping my breasts as he thrusts into me over and over again, the pace varying between slow and sensual to hard and deep.
“Oh, harder, Marks.”
I can’t hold back my cries of pleasure as he obeys and starts pushing in harder, deeper, the veins and ridges running along his shaft throbbing as they hit every nerve deep inside my sheath.
I’m so close to the pinnacle as I bump my ass back and grind closer that I’m desperate for this dream not to end. I keep my eyes shut and squeeze them tight as I get closer and closer, racin
g, rushing, reaching for that peak with everything that I am.
When it hits me it’s almost painful the way my body goes tense and tries to hold on to the blissful pleasure.
In this dream I come while screaming Marks’s name as usual, but unlike all the other dreams I feel his lips press against the fleshy part of my shoulder as he groans and shouts out his love for me.
Sheesh, I think as everything goes languid and I feel myself start drifting again. That was great. All I have to do now is drink more beer before bed and maybe I can have this on a regular basis until I go after my boo.
***
Twenty minutes later
Something is wrong, something is definitely wrong I think as I stretch awake and open my eyes to see a very colorful sheet pressed beneath my cheek and feel a mattress that is massively big and comfortable beneath my body.
My very naked and unclothed body!
Oh God, think. What do you remember? How did you get here, Percy?
I’m panicked and on the verge of one of Dot’s famous meltdowns when I jump to my feet and look down to see…oh yeah, I definitely had sex.
Oh no, Percy, you slut! What have you done?
“It’s okay. It is okay. So you and Indie went out to celebrate finishing off that order and went a little overboard.”
Overboard? I have freaking…stuff on my thighs and I’m in a strange place and I don’t remember how I got here and, and I cheated on Marks, I wail, flopping onto the bed as my shoulders start shaking and tears fill my eyes.
Oh stop that! You were drunk and out of your right mind and it’s going to be okay, Percy. No one ever needs to know that you pulled a Callie.
I need to get out of here.
Jumping back up and wincing at the state of my vagina and hair, I run for the bathroom and dive into the shower, my heart racing with fear as I do a two-minute scrub, dry off, and wrap the towel around me.
Now to get out of here. I can’t find my clothes. Hell what was I wearing last night? That little red dress? Oh yeah because I remember those very sexy heels that Indie got me and the—
Would you shut up and move! You have exactly two seconds to get your ass moving or I will completely lose it. You cheater. You need to leave and pretend this never happened and go find your Marks and live happily ever after.
I’m freaking out as I search the room and find nothing but my red thong and what looks like it may be the remnants of my bra. That’s okay. I can run wearing a thong and a towel.
If Callie could do it, so can I. I mean, really, how bad could it be, I snort, laughing a little hysterically as I step into them and crack open the door that most definitely leads to a very posh and expensive-looking hotel room.
Jesus, if you’re listening, I swear I will never ever, ever hit on a priest again if you just help me out and save me from whatever STD could have been swimming in me last night.
The place is empty and I tiptoe out of the room and sneak to the door, my breaths shallow and loud as I slowly open the door and peek out. What I see is another long-assed corridor.
I’m assuming that it’s a hotel. I mean, where else would I have ended up, right? And I almost start running before I realize that I need my purse with money and my ID before I can make a dash for it.
Another search, this time of the little sitting room, reveals my purse beneath the sofa.
“Oh thank you, Jesus. Thank you so much,” I breathe, holding my breath as a sound from a door to my left reaches my ears.
Ah hell nah, I am so not sticking around for this. I do not want to see what I did last night.
The corridor is empty, praise God, and I make it out of the room just as the elevator dings and the doors stop opening. I try to run but all that happens is I realize the fucking towel is caught in the door that locked behind me and by the time I realize my mistake all I’m wearing as a very crowded elevator opens is a transparent red thong and the boobs God gave me.
“Oh my God.”
“Oh my God!” Jack roars when my momentary brain freeze has me frozen before I wake up and try in vain to cover my boobs.
“A little help?” I squeak, my face fiery hot as Freddie, Woody, and Paul all walk out behind him and freeze.
Now, of course, the four jackals have to be here too and I am officially ready to die when they all stop dead, take in my dilemma, and burst out laughing.
You’d think that was the worst, and a split second ago I would have so agreed and been done with the humiliation, but just when I think I’m okay and going to survive this, Marks steps out and comes to a dead halt.
“Percy? What the hell?” he barks, striding towards me as the assholes behind him try and fail miserably to stem their laughter.
“A little help!” I yell, my humiliation complete when my automatic habit of talking with my hands results in the boobs being flung out again.
“What happened?” he asks as he rips off his shirt and shoves it over my head, the warm smell of his cologne enveloping me as I try to melt into the floor.
“Towel. Door.”
Take me now, please, God, I think as I hear footsteps and look up to see the gang all strolling closer, the men still chuckling with embarrassment while Indie tries to high five me and Dot starts chewing at her lip.
Lord. This is not fair. I was going to fly to Tennessee this morning to go make my case with Marks and now I am…I am…sullied! I wail silently as I think of the last four months and all the progress I’ve made.
I haven’t so much as innocently flirted with a man because I wanted him to know that I don’t want anyone else, just him.
***
Marks
I want to laugh. I mean, this is by far the most priceless thing that has ever happened to me in my life, but Percy looks ready to take herself out and I’m not at all impressed by the fact that four other men just saw her breasts and what her thong does not cover. Which is exactly everything she has to offer.
Plus, well…laughing at your own wife, hangover or not, is not a good idea. Freddie schooled me a little after I went down this morning to find out what happened after last night’s club experience and waking up this morning inside Percy.
The rundown?
We both got bombed. To be fair, I was well on my way to comatose after Freddie and Jack got through with me yesterday. Don’t judge me, I’m at loose ends and I haven’t seen Percy in four Goddamn months.
I was feeling a little raw there yesterday when it hit me that I may never have a chance with her and I went a little overboard. That was before Indie came over to see Finn and decided that a night on the town was in my future.
I vaguely remember a car ride, some loud music, and a few beers that pushed me past drunk and into knockout territory.
And then I woke up this morning inside Percy and on the verge of an orgasm that made my feet fold in half it was so intense. Despite how we got here and as sketchy as I am on the details, I can’t regret a moment of it as I wrap an arm around her waist, lift her into my body, and unlock the door before slamming it in their faces.
She’s so quiet I have the urge to shake her and demand to know what she’s thinking but I don’t because after what just happened I think it’s safe to say that she may just lose her shit and punch me in the face. Or kick me in the balls.
“That just happened. Of course it just happened, my life has been going too smooth lately,” she mutters, laughing a little maniacally as her eyes fill with tears and I catch her lip trembling before she has a chance to bite into it.
She still won’t meet my eyes and it makes my whole body shake with doubt as I lower her onto the sofa and take a step back, needing to be close but also needing distance so that I can say what I need to say.
“Percy.”
“Don’t talk to me right now,” she yells, grabbing a sofa cushion to hide herself from my gaze.
I can’t say I’m at all surprised by her anger or the fact that she keeps trying to scuttle farther and slip off the end of the sofa. She probably r
emembers last night and regrets it and wants to get as far away from me as humanly possible.
That hurts a lot, I won’t be all macho and lie about it, but I also can’t stand around here like some bumbling fool while she slips away again, maybe this time for good.
“Percy? Please don’t run away again, babe, we really need to talk.”
“I can’t talk right now, Marks. I need to find some clothes and go see someone really quick.”
See someone? After this morning and last night and—
“Oh fuck no! You are not leaving me again, and dammit, I won’t let you regret what happened last night either,” I yell, pinning her to the door as she tries to go for the towel still stuck half inside the room and half in the hall.
That has her freezing and stopping her struggles, though truth be told I’m regretting that a little when her breasts stop jiggling against the arm I have around her chest.
“Wait. You mean we slept together last night? Please tell me it was you who left me all messed up, because I can’t remember a freaking thing and I woke up with…with stuff all over me and I freaked out a little, Marks.” She wails, turning to bury her face in my chest, her hiccups making her babbling almost incoherent.
“That was so scary. And then I couldn’t find my dress and the door caught the towel!”
I’m not even tracking as I feel a smile tug at my lips and pull her closer to my naked chest, my only thought now focused on the part where she wants it to be me she slept with.
Hell yeah!
“Sh, babe, it’s okay. You’re fine,” I croon, taking complete advantage by running a palm over her ass.
Honestly, her butt looks fabulous in this thong.
“It isn’t, idiot! Did you see Indie out there? She almost took a video of this and I would have ended up on the Internet, and where have you been?! Where the hell have you been, Marks, huh? One fight and you just leave? Just like that, huh? You’re such an asshole, Marks, such a freaking asshole, and I saw pictures of your farm on the Internet and it was so nice and I just kept thinking that you were there and you were never coming back. So then I thought I’d get myself fixed and maybe go see one of those shitty shrinks and I bought a plane ticket to Tennessee and I was supposed to leave this morning!” she wails, making me grin into her hair as hope sparks in my chest.
THE NAUGHTY ONES: The Complete 5-Books Series Page 47