Vice

by L. M. Pruitt

  “Yeah, I do.” He stroked a hand down my back, pressing his face to the side of my neck. “And because I do, I know those kids love you and you love them, clear down to the bone.”

  “It just hit me all of a sudden.” I forced out a laugh, wrapping my arms around his torso and squeezing tight. “Took me by surprise, is all. I really am having problems with this photo spread, though.”

  “Well, I don’t have any experience designing magazines but I have some looking at them so I’ll give you the consumer opinion.” He nipped my earlobe with his teeth, chuckling when I shivered. “I won’t even ask for the $10 the people in the mall normally give you for doing those marketing surveys.”

  “Something tell me you’ll come up with a different way of getting paid.”

  IT WAS CLOSE to midnight before I crawled in to bed, groaning as I stretched out on my stomach. “Tell me it’s not always going to be this difficult.”

  “In theory, it won’t, but I don’t want to say for sure and wind up being a liar.” Abraham reached over and patted my naked ass, his attention still focused on his book. I’d been shocked when he pulled out a set of reading glasses and even more shocked when I realized they somehow managed to make him look even sexier than he already did. “It’s first day of school jitters. Don’t you remember being nervous before school started?”

  “Only about how many people were going to point and whisper about my hand-me-down clothes and mention my parents or my sister.” I rolled to my side, pillowing my cheek on my arm. “Don’t tell me you were nervous.”

  “I’m not a smart man, Jeannie.”

  “I’m sorry, are you quoting Forrest Gump?” I giggled. “Really?”

  “No, you dork.” He smacked my ass, snickering when I squealed. “I’m just saying, I’m not smart. Not like you. So I was always worried because I knew I had to get good grades or my father would punish me but the teachers kept sticking me in the hard classes even when I didn’t know the basics.”

  “Abraham.” I sat up, shifting over and straddling him, waiting until he marked his place in his book and set it on the nightstand before cupping his face in my hands. “There’s smart and then there’s smart and you can have the brains to solve trigonometry in your sleep and not have a damn clue how to parse a sentence. Or how to run a bar.”

  “If you think being nice to me is going to get you out of settling your debt from earlier, you’re very, very wrong.” He streaked his hands up my torso, cupping my breasts and flicking his thumbs over my nipples. “I thought you were exaggerating about going blind from those photos but if anything you underplayed how horrible they were.”

  “I’m always serious about photo spreads.” I took his mouth with mine, pulling back only when breathing became a necessity. My voice was low and hoarse when I said, “We should lock the door.”

  “The kids are asleep, remember?” He scraped his nails over my nipples, gently at first and then harder, his breaths turning harsh and ragged when I started to squirm. “I figured out how I want you to repay me.”

  “Great.” The instant he’d touched me, my fatigue had disappeared, replaced with a stomach clenching hunger that would only get worse until I’d had an orgasm. Or two. Or several. I attacked his mouth again, sliding my hands over his shoulders only to lace them through his hair, holding him tight against me. Drawing back, I whispered, “How can I repay all your hard work, Mr. Hansom?”

  “Fuck.” He dragged his hands down over my stomach before curving them around my hips, his fingertips barely grazing my ass. “Keep that up and I’m not going to have the patience for what I really want.”

  “I think I know what you want.” Which was the reason I’d taken an extra-long—and extra thorough—shower after I’d finally put the kids to bed. “Look in the top drawer of the nightstand.”

  “What I had in mind didn’t really involve toys but....” He trailed off as he apparently found what I’d put there yesterday. He dug the fingers of one hand in to my ass and whispered, “You’re amazing. Phenomenal. They should build monuments to you.”

  “For some reason I don’t think that’s going to happen.” I slid off him, settling myself on my knees and elbows, resting my cheek on the pillow. “You do, however, get to fuck my ass, which—and I’m not bragging—is a better thing for you than commissioning a monument.”

  “Jesus, yes.” He moved behind me and I heard the distinctive pop as he uncapped the bottle of lube. “I know you said you’ve done this before but we’re still going to go slow.”

  “Considering how big your cock is, that’s probably for the best.” I bit the inside of my cheek to keep from squealing when the first drop of lube splashed over my skin. “Christ, that’s cold.”

  “It won’t be in a few minutes.” He laid one hand on the small of my back, pressing until I shifted in to his preferred position. “One finger.”

  I sucked in a quick breath and then exhaled, forcing myself to relax and go limp as he eased a single finger inside me. I hadn’t lied about having some experience with anal sex but it had been more than a few years and if I was being honest I’d been too drunk to remember specifics. All I could say was thank God for the Internet.

  It wasn’t unpleasant and it didn’t hurt but it was... odd. That seemed to be the best word I could think to describe the feeling, especially when he started a gentle thrusting motion, working his finger in a small circle at the same time. After a few minutes, he slipped his finger out and said, “You ready for two?”

  “Yeah.” I had to pause and clear my throat, my voice thick and raspy. “Yeah, I think so.”

  He added more lube before pushing two fingers in, slower this time, my breath catching in my lungs for a moment before I remembered to relax. I closed my eyes, flicking my tongue over my lips and turning my face in to the pillow. There was the tiniest bit of pain, more the promise of pain than the actual sensation, but it didn’t make me want to tell him to stop. After a few minutes, even that went away and I sighed, pushing back gently. “It’s okay. I’m okay.”

  He didn’t answer, instead going through the same thrust and stretch motions from before. The only indication he was even marginally affected by anything was the ragged nature of his breathing and the jagged edge of his voice when he spoke. “Three?”

  “Yes, please.” For a split second I was tempted to call him ‘Mr. Hansom’, just to see what he would do, but I decided he was already teetering on the metaphorical tightrope. ‘Mr. Hansom’ would probably push him over an edge neither of us were prepared to deal with yet. My breath came out on a shaky exhale when he slipped his fingers out and I had to remind myself yet again to not tense up. Still, when he started to work three of his long fingers inside me, I stiffened, murmuring, “Abraham—.”

  “Take a deep breath.” The mattress shifted under me and second later he pressed his lips to the nape of my neck. “You have no idea how fucking amazing you look like this, on your hands and knees, my fingers barely in your ass.” He dragged his teeth over my shoulder, both of us shivering from the action. “My cock is so hard right now it actually hurts. I don’t think I’ve been this hard in my entire life, not even the night you walked in to my bar.”

  Gradually, in movement so slow it seemed almost glacial, he eased all three fingers in, until his palm rested flat against my ass. Kissing the side of my throat where my pulse hammered in double time, he whispered, “How do you feel?”

  “Full.” I had to swallow to get enough spit before I could continue. “I never appreciated how big your hands are until now.”

  “On the plus side, there won’t be too much of an adjustment between three fingers and my cock.” He eased his other hand under me, both of us sucking in quick breaths when he brushed his fingers over the wet folds of my cunt before separating them, touching a single finger to my clit. “Jesus, Jeannie.”

  “If you don’t stop that, I’m going to come and that’s going to be it.” I shifted my weight to one hand, using the other to grab his wrist and yank h
is hand away, nearly toppling us in the process. “I’m serious, Abraham. I can’t take any more sensation right now.”

  “Fuck.” He straightened, pulling his fingers free at the same time. There was a wet, sluicing sound as he slathered lube over his cock and then a brief flash of cold as he applied more to my ass before he gripped my hip with one hand. “Slow and steady?”

  “Slow and steady.” And even though I was ready, even though I wanted it, I still found myself biting down on the pillow as he started working the head of his cock inside. I pushed back, my entire body shaking as I strained to relax, to open up, the pain sharper this time, brighter, although still not unbearable. When the head slipped inside, we both let out shuddering breaths and I whispered, “Christ, you’re big.”

  “Not to state the obvious but you’re tight.” He eased forward another half inch, hissing out a breath. “I’m not ashamed to say I’m not going to last very long.”

  “After all that buildup, you better last long enough.” I wiggled back a half inch at the same time he pushed forward, my head swimming for a moment from the combination. “You’re not even halfway in, are you?”

  “No.” He let out a hoarse laugh. “Has to be the only time in my life I’ve wished my cock was smaller.”

  “You and me both.” I took a deep breath. “Just... all in one go. Don’t stop.”

  “Are you sure?”

  “It doesn’t hurt now.” Or not really, anyway. The worst part had been the first few inches but, thankfully, the shaft was slightly narrower than the head. And once again, that little barbell was doing wonders on the innermost parts of my anatomy. “And if you’re really that close to coming, I’d rather have all of your cock inside me when you do.”

  “For fuck’s sake, Jeannie.” Taking me at my word, he pushed forward, not stopping until his hips were pressed against my ass. Draping himself over me, he brushed a kiss over my sweat dampened shoulder and whispered, “You say things like that and it takes all of willpower to not fuck you until we’re both senseless.”

  “Abraham.” I spread my knees wider, biting the inside of my cheek to keep from groaning at the sudden flash of pleasure caused by the change in position. “I need you to touch me.”

  “How? Like this?” He rubbed the palm of his hand over my practically dripping folds, chuckling when I whimpered. “Or like this?” He pressed the pad of his thumb to my aching clit, nipping at my earlobe when I started to squirm. “Or maybe like this?”

  He eased two fingers in my cunt, pressing firmly on my G-spot.

  The orgasm hit me like a freight train, my entire body going taut before I simply went limp, practically melting in to the mattress. I was still struggling to remember how to breathe when he started moving, more of a roll of his hips than a thrust, his fingers still deep inside me. Between the two sensations, it took less than a minute to push me over the edge again, although this time I took Abraham with me. He collapsed on top of me, his body shuddering in time with mine, his skin hot and slick with sweat.

  After a few minutes, I cleared my throat and whispered, “Abraham?”

  “Yeah?” He sounded as lazy and drugged as I felt. “Jeannie?”

  “I need to get up and take a shower.”

  “Yeah, me too.”

  Neither one of us moved.

  After another five minutes or so, I managed a weak chuckle. “Seriously, Abraham. We need to get up.”

  “I’m not sure my legs work.”

  It took some maneuvering but I managed to jam my heel in to his shin, chuckling again when he yelped. “They work.”

  “Was that really fucking necessary?” He shifted off me, both of us hissing when his cock slipped free. Pulling me to my knees and turning me to face him, he brushed my hair back from my forehead and said, “How are you feeling?”

  “Exhausted.” That was one of the problems about having sex with Abraham. I always felt as if I’d run a trio of marathons, one right after the other.

  The other problem was the struggle to not blurt out words brought on by endorphins—words he’d hold me to when I wasn’t entirely certain I was ready to give up that much control to anybody.

  “I’ll hold you up in the shower if you do the same for me.” He kissed the tip of my nose. “No hanky-panky, I promise.”

  I snorted. “I’ll believe that when I see it.”

  CHAPTER TWENTY FIVE

  I killed the engine, flexing my fingers on the steering wheel a few times before turning around to look at Tammy. “You ready?”

  “Of course.” She didn’t snort but she did roll her eyes, glancing over at Kitty. “Did you remember to bring the note from the doctor about letting you leave to use the restroom whenever it’s necessary?”

  “Oh, yes.” The day of literal rest had done Kitty a world of good, putting color back in her cheeks and chasing away the shadows under her eyes. She was bright and chipper and entirely too happy for someone who was not only headed to school but also eight months pregnant. She patted the messenger bag I’d given her to use in lieu of a backpack and said, “I’ve got it right here, along with my vitamins and some granola bars and orange juice, in case my blood sugar gets low.”

  “Seriously, Kitty, if you start feeling faint or sick or just not well, you eat something. If one of the teachers has a problem, they can contact me.” Kitty’s visit to the doctor the previous Thursday had turned out to be her first—apparently her parents didn’t believe in prenatal care anymore than they believed in being decent human beings. The only reason the doctor hadn’t flipped out about the lack of medical attention was Kitty mentioning she’d been taking all-in-one vitamins and drinking extra milk and eating lots of green vegetables and red meat. He’d put her through a battery of tests and the only thing which seemed a little off was her blood sugar, hence the snacks and the note. Shifting my gaze to Dolly, I said, “What about you? Are you ready?”

  “Yep.” She beamed at me, as perfect ad put together as her older sister, something I knew wouldn’t be the case by the end of the day. “I want Abraham to take me.”

  “Well, then, I would suggest you ask him.” I looked at him, suppressing a snicker as the color drained out of his face. He’d insisted on going with me to take the kids to school, even though I’d told him I was pretty sure I could handle it by myself. I’d wait until we were alone to say I’d told him so. “Dolly?”

  “Abraham, would you take me to my classroom, please?” She leaned forward, resting her chin on the top of the seat, fluttering her lashes dramatically. “Pretty please?”

  “Sure.” His smile was a shade on the sickly side but he managed to pull it off. “Uh, do you know who you have this year?”

  “Mrs. Sheriff Pete.” She leaned over further, pressing a big, smacking kiss to his cheek. “Thank you, Abraham.”

  “So that’s all squared away.” I ruffled Conway’s hair, laughing when he scowled up at me. “Look like you’re stuck with me, kid.” Which was probably for the best. I had a feeling I was going to have to spend more than a few minutes speaking with his teacher and I’d rather not have to worry about Dolly at the same time. I unbuckled my seatbelt and opened my door. “Let’s go kick Monday’s ass.”

  “Aunt Jeannie—.”

  “I swear to Jesus, Tammy, if you say something about my language, I’m changing my mind about that sleepover on Friday.” I waited for Conway to scramble out after me, taking the backpack he handed me and slinging it over one shoulder before lifting him up and settling him on the opposite hip. Slamming the door shut, I marched across the parking lot, trusting the others were following me. When we reached the front door, I paused, glancing back at Abraham. “So I’ll meet you here when everybody is settled—sound good?”

  “Uh, yeah.” Even with his face tinged a pale, seaweed green, he was still attractive enough to have three quarters of the women, teenagers and parents alike, ogling him as they moved past him in to the building. He took Dolly’s hand, looking down at her and saying, “Lead the way, ma’am.�
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  “I have practice after school so I won’t be home until between four-thirty and five.” Tammy linked arms with Kitty, stopping long enough to kiss my cheek and, to both his and my surprise, Abraham’s before all but skipping inside the main building.

  “Maybe I’m wrong but I get the feelings she’s excited about education.” I squared my shoulders and set my face in mock stern lines, leaning in and pressing my nose to Conway’s. “Let’s do this.”

  Like the majority of everything else in Cotton Creek, the school may have had some improvement but overall it had seen better days. The school district may have painted the walls since I’d graduated but judging by the way my shoes stuck to the linoleum, the same couldn’t be said for the floor. The administration and teacher’s areas were still smack dab in the center, with the three school—elementary, junior high, and senior high—each branching off to their own wing. All in all, it was a neat and tidy setup, although the main building was something of a zoo first thing in the morning.

  Yanking open the office door, I shoved my way inside just as what looked like the junior high pep squad started a ‘welcome back to school’ routine, practically stumbling headfirst in to the counter. I shook my hair out of my face, my smile freezing in place when I realized who was apparently running student check-in. “Dana?”

  “Jeannie.” My one consolation was she looked as unhappy to see me as I was to see her. Her gaze drifted to Conway for all of five seconds before snapping back to me, widening her eyes slightly. “First day of kindergarten?”

  “Uh, yeah, I didn’t know about the whole ‘meet the teacher’ thing so here we are.” Even to my own ears I sounded lame and scattered and I straightened my shoulders, smiling brighter in an effort to appear more like a put-together adult than I felt in the moment. “The two older girls already know the routine and Dolly claimed Abraham so it’s me and Conway.”