by Nova Rain
Loading process over, Bryan dropped me off outside the grocery store in my neighborhood. I planned to stay in and cook something quick. This was one of the upsides of working for Maltese. Having time to myself and avoiding takeout. I liked pizza and burgers, but eating that crap all the time demanded more and more workout. I’d have to work twice as hard in the gym to get rid of all that fat.
With two bags in my clutches, I strode along the sidewalk. A white cat jumped off the garbage can in front of me as I approached it. When I left it behind me, the view of the parked car outside my building brought back last night’s frustration. It was Ava’s silver BMW.
I walked parallel to it, deciding to give her an earful. She couldn’t just drop by anytime she wanted. But, as I closed in, the sound in the air caused me to think twice: a low, almost inaudible weep, followed by sniffles. Ava’s head was resting on the steering wheel, her back shivering and flexing.
“Did somebody die or something?” I asked, setting the bags down on the ground.
“Michelle fired me this morning,” she said, amid another series of sniffles.
“Shit…” I whispered, before gripping the door handle. “Come on out.”
Despite my request, she stayed put. I reached in and eased her wrist away from the steering wheel. Luckily for me, she took the hint and exited the car on her own.
“It’s the coke, isn’t it?” I presumed, picking the bags back up. “The reason you were fired.”
“Yeah,” she uttered in a faint tone, using a tissue to wipe the tears off her face. “I’m sorry, Donny. I didn’t mean to bother you. I just had nowhere else to go.”
“Save that for inside,” I suggested, heading for the elevator.
Damn drugs… It didn’t matter if you used them or not. Even being around them was enough to ruin your life. Ava had done more than just be around them. She sold them to strippers for some extra cash. Was that money worth this disaster? Only she could answer that question.
Unlocking my front door, I led her to my couch and went to the kitchen. “Make yourself at home. How about a drink?”
“Just some water, thanks,” she requested, seating herself.
“You look like you could use something stronger,” I told her, pouring water into a glass.
“If I start drinking now, I’ll probably drink everything in your liquor cabinet,” Ava stated, propping her elbows on her thighs. “Don’t get me wrong. I’m not an alcoholic. It’s just one of those nights where you…”
“Try to numb the pain,” I finished her sentence, offering her the glass. “I know the feeling. So, why me? Why didn’t you go to Helena’s place? North Haven is too far for you?”
“That and the fact she’s at work,” she replied, leaving the empty glass on the table. “Look, I don’t want to be an inconvenience. I should go.”
“Don’t,” I requested, sitting down beside her. “It’s not like you’re ruining my plans for a crazy night out or anything.”
“You must think I’m a terrible person,” Ava assumed in a wobbly voice, staring into the void.
“I was never your biggest fan,” I confessed, leaning my side against the back of the couch. “You’ve disappointed me lately, but who am I to judge? Desperate people do desperate things. I’ve been there, too.”
“I wasn’t just desperate, Donny,” she disagreed, crossing her arms over her chest. “I was stupid. God, I was so stupid…”
“For what it’s worth, I don’t think Michelle should have fired you,” I spoke my mind, my tone mellower. “You guys are supposed to be friends. You don’t kick a friend when they’re down. Is there rehab for gambling?”
She heaved a sigh and then lay back. “Yeah, there are treatment centers.”
“Then she should have taken you to one,” I pointed out. “Laying you off is just too cruel.”
“I don’t blame her,” Ava assumed a softer tone. “I’ve been trying to quit since late 2014. Michelle just ran out of patience.”
“Maybe, but she shouldn’t have treated you like that,” I added, noticing trails of tears down her cheek. “Are you hungry?”
“Yeah, why?”
“Then let’s cook,” I suggested, rising up to my feet. “I’ve got beans and pasta. Which one do you prefer?”
“Either would do just fine,” she said, her voice returning to its normal registers.
I opened the cabinet over the counter and pulled out a white bowl, reaching into the bag for the tomato sauce. But, before I could do anything else, I felt her big breasts pressing up against my back. She snaked her arms around my waist, her hands filling my view.
“I was thinking about something a little bit hotter,” she whispered, her index finger bumping into the button of my jeans.
“Oh for fuck’s sake…” I groaned, whirling around to face her. “Why the hell are you doing this? Do you even remember what happened the other night?”
“Donny, I’m falling apart here,” her wobbly voice came back, along with the tremor on her lips. “Just this morning, I lost my job and my best friend. Please, make me feel good. One night; that’s all I’m asking.”
I didn’t need to hear anything else. She had been teasing me for days, and I’d been struggling not to pounce on her. I leaned in, determined to satisfy her request. This time, my lips joined hers in a soft, tender kiss. Ava glued her body onto mine, her hands cupping my face with eagerness. I pulled her blouse out of her pants, the thought of touching that silky skin causing my cock to twitch in protest. With a firm grip on her hips, I spun her around, until her body made contact with the counter.
“Make me feel good,” she repeated with a whisper as I unbuttoned her blouse. The lace of her white bra peeking out, I reached forward.
“You’ll feel amazing,” I whispered, the feel of her skin in my hands raising goosebumps all over my body. Ava peeled off her top, our kiss filling with heat and hunger with each passing second. I squeezed her midsection and let my fingers move up, her arms flying around my waist. A deep whimper escaped her, the moment my crotch bumped against hers. I pulled down the cup over her left breast, causing it to hang heavily.
“Touch me…” she urged in a husky voice as I cupped the underside of her breast. I pushed it up and then stroked that juicy flesh, a pain in my cock beginning to annoy me. It was stiff and ready to burst out of my pants, but I wasn’t going to bother with it just yet. Besides, I was too busy to take off my pants. I traced the area around her nipple, feeling the tiny wrinkles of her skin. Ava tilted her head back, pushing my head down. She let out a hiss and led me to her chest. I opened my eyes to slits for a split second. The view of her exposed breast turned the discomfort into sheer agony.
“I’m all yours tonight, you knockout,” I grunted, before my mouth landed on her soft breast. Her quick laugh indicated how much she liked my comment. I kissed my way up and reached down, her fingers diving up and into my hair. I pulled the zipper down and unbuttoned my jeans, my upper lip touching her hardened nipple.
“That’s it, kiss me,” she encouraged, squeezing her eyes shut. I wasn’t going to let her down. I planted a firm kiss over her nipple before sucking it into my mouth. My cock finally free of its bounds, I stroked her stomach. My tongue danced around her sensitive area, flicking her nipple up and down while I savored the sensation of her skin on my lips. Ava let go of my head and reached down to her pants. I caught the faint sound of a button being undone, before she wiggled her hips. Sliding her pants down to her knees, she then hopped onto the counter.
I felt her fingers on either side of my jaw, easing me up to her level. Just when she raised her legs, I cupped the back of her heel and pulled it off her foot. I repeated that to her other foot, my mouth crashing into hers once more. I yanked her pants down her calves and off her legs, the tip of my tongue brushing the top of her mouth. My fingers mapping out the skin of her inner thigh, I pressed myself into her.
“I love how hard you are,” her sexy voice sent sparks down my spine yet again. I moved he
r thong to the side, feeling a hint of moisture on my knuckle. She let out another whimper in my mouth as I glided my fingers down her slit. Ava leaned back, and I spread her glistening pussy lips.
“Oh, baby...” she moaned, the tip of my middle finger dipping into her. Reaching back, she hit her hand against the wall. I laid short kisses along her jawline, feeling her wetness coating my finger. I withdrew and pushed it back in, her thigh muscles flexing. Kissing my way down the side of her neck, I lifted my hand up to her mouth. She plucked it out of mid-air and guided my wet finger to her lips. I stole a glance up at her, stopping just before her breasts. With her eyes shut, she licked the tip first and then let my finger slip into her mouth. Ava sucked it all the way down to the knuckle, edging me further.
“Dirty girl,” I grunted, straightening myself up. Her eyes snapped open, giving me a glimpse of her hunger. She ran her tongue along her upper lip as I gripped the base of my shaft. The swollen head of my cock nudged her clit for a moment, before stopping at her entrance.
“Oooh, yeah!” Ava moaned, my thick inches sliding through her wet folds. I wrapped my arms around her thighs, grunting with pleasure. She grabbed me by the shoulders and squeezed my skin through my shirt. Finding myself deep inside of her, I leaned forward. That lust in her eyes was too much for me to resist. They were half-open, staring into mine, darting down at her body and then back up. All of a sudden, her hands were no longer on my shoulders. Ava put them on my chest and yanked, ripping the buttons of my shirt in impatience. They bounced off the counter, a sexy smile bursting upon her lips.
“Fucking wild…” I groaned, my hard thrusts causing her breasts to bounce up and down.
“These are so good,” she moaned, squeezing my muscled chest, her breath caressing my chin. She exhaled hard, a moment before I claimed that hot mouth of hers. I could hear our bodies smashing into each other, the feel of her thick juices all over my shaft making my insides burn with desire. Ava placed her hands on either hip and pushed me onto her, trying to control my pace. Her long fingernails left marks on my skin, our kiss muffling her moans. Just moments later, she threw her head back, the sounds of her pleasure joining the sound of pounding. Ripples were going up and down her thighs with every thrust. Her inner muscles clenched around me as a louder, deeper moan rang in my ears. Even more delicious warmth surrounded my shaft, her powerful orgasm filling my chest with pride. Three, final thrusts sent me over the edge. I jerked back, my juices spurting out of my cock and over the cabinet underneath.
Deep grunts were still leaving my mouth when Ava leaned forward. With a sweet whimper, she planted another kiss on my mouth and eased back.
“Now we can cook,” she laughed, her eyes sparkling with mischief.
“You’re one, crazy girl.” I chuckled, pulling my pants back up. “I like it that you’re smiling, though.”
Ava burst out laughing and hopped off the counter. This time, she didn’t try to seduce me. Instead, we did cook some beans and potatoes. Much to my relief, she didn’t mention her mishaps for the rest of the night. We discussed what we had been up to in our worlds and had some fun. And when we ran out of stories, we went to my bedroom for a special kind of fun. The brunette and I enjoyed each other until the early morning. She didn’t have any more surprises in store for me. She just had an insatiable appetite for more craziness in bed.
Chapter Ten
Ava
Another ugly feeling came over me when I woke up.
Anger.
I wasn’t mad at Donny. Even sixteen-year old girls know that men are animals when it comes to sex. If a beautiful woman beckons? Sure, why not? To them, it’s just an instinct. No emotions need to be involved.
In truth, I was mad at myself, because I had made such a mess of everything. Working for Michelle would have earned me a hundred-and-thirty thousand dollars a year. With that handsome reward, would have come something I hadn’t had in all my life: Respect. At last, I would be in a line of work where I wouldn’t have to strip off my clothes. The job was stressful, I’d had to put in many hours every day, but it wasn’t so difficult. I just had to provide my input to Michelle about venues for fundraisers and organize press conferences and interviews. Handling the press was no picnic, but, in time, I would have learned to do that.
There was another reason for me to be angry, one that had stunned me. I felt an unprecedented need the previous night with Donny, a need that had puzzled me so much that I couldn’t wait to get it out of my system. Unfortunately for me, there was only person I could turn to. It was none other than Helena Wall. After her night shift, she was back at her house in North Haven.
The eighty miles between us didn’t deter me. I didn’t appreciate the distance, but Helena’s cool head would be valuable in this situation. Her cold approach could sometimes drive me crazy, because she didn’t demonstrate any emotion, but I needed it. Michelle and I often argued about this or that. Helena’s calm mindset was the antidote to our hot tempers and our selfishness. I was a little too smug, and Michelle was a little self-centered. The bottom line, however, was that our overinflated egos prevented us from seeing some simple truths.
North Haven… I always thought that Helena was too good to live there. She just didn’t belong in the “filthy-rich suburbia” as Michelle used to call it. A down-to-earth doctor, living amongst spoiled brats who preoccupied their minds with ways of spending daddy’s money? She was like a house cat among rabid dogs. She couldn’t tell if—or maybe when—one of them was going to bite her. And by that, I meant someone mistreating her in some way.
My BMW roared, turning left and into her neighborhood, and a bad memory rushed back to my mind. Joe’s ruined Camaro, hurtling down the road. He and Bryan carrying out a bloody Donny, with a piece of glass still lodged in his throat. That view alone brought me to the verge of passing out. On the other hand, Helena was as cool as a cucumber. She stitched him up like she was sewing buttons on a shirt.
I found the tall redhead out in her garden, her hands in yellow gloves while she pruned her rose bushes. I was twenty yards away, and their wonderful scent reached my nostrils with ease.
“Hey!” I waved, flashing her a bright smile. “That’s a pretty sight. That’s why you don’t want to move to the city,” I teased, crossing the narrow pathway in her lawn.
“We have been over this, dear.” She addressed me in her usual, calm voice. “I’m not moving to the city because a decent house would cost me a fortune. I would have to get a mortgage, and I do not like debt. What brings you over?”
“A lot,” I muttered. “Can we go inside, please?”
“Yes, of course,” she accepted, shoving dead leaves in a plastic bag. “I’ve made stew. There’s some of it left if you like.”
“Thanks, but I’m not hungry,” I maintained, as Helena pulled open the screen door.
“Something’s wrong,” she presumed, taking her gloves off. “You never pass on my stew.”
I sighed, striding into her kitchen. “You’re right. Michelle fired me yesterday.”
“Oh, I know about that. Michelle told me.” Her confession confused me. If anything, it negated her previous comment.
“Why didn’t you say anything outside? And why aren’t you upset?” I wondered, pitching my voice higher.
“I am upset,” Helena admitted in a firm tone. “You relapsed. Again. And instead of getting help, you chose to do a terrible, terrible thing. But…” she paused. “I’d be lying if I said I hadn’t seen this coming. You move in criminal circles, Ava. You’re surrounded by lowlifes and crooks. Perhaps you thought you could make some easy money like them.”
“If you’re going to lecture me, too, I’d rather leave,” I stated, annoyance deepening my voice. “I already got that from Michelle.”
“I wasn’t trying to lecture you,” Helena denied the accusation. “I was just trying to explain why you resorted to selling cocaine. Anyway, I’m not judging you. I don’t condone what you did, but I’m not judging you. You were driven by need,
not greed. If you’d gotten greedy, you’d come here in a Lamborghini. Still, this just goes to show how debt can affect people’s judgment. What are you going to do about it, now that you’re unemployed?”
“Actually, I took care of it,” I informed her, the thought of Donny’s gesture bringing a small smile to my face.
“How?”
“With the help of Donny Falcone,” I announced, my smile widening. “He gave me the money to pay it off. He even came with me to ensure nothing went wrong.”
“That’s quite unexpected if you ask me,” she commented, an expression of bewilderment taking over her face. “Correct me if I’m wrong, but he doesn’t like you very much, does he?”
“That’s true. At least, that’s what I thought,” I added, excitement speeding up my heart. “The official excuse was…” I drew quotation marks in the air. ‘I’m trying to protect Joe. The guys you owe money to could kill Michelle by mistake.’ Last night, I realized how wrong I was. He found me outside his building, crying my eyes out. He took me in, he listened to me, and, um…” I faltered. “We ended up having sex in his kitchen.”
“He took advantage of you?” Helena asked, furrowing her brow.
“No,” I shook my head sideways. “He turned me down at first. Then, I practically begged him. I was heartbroken, honey. You have to understand that.”
“I do, but that doesn’t change the fact that having sex with him was wrong,” she voiced her opinion, a touch of disapproval in her tone. “Haven’t you socialized enough with criminals already? You had to have sex with a henchman, too? Why? There are plenty of decent men out there.”
“Where?” I splayed my arms out to the side. “Show me a guy who’d stick around a woman that can’t stop crying. Show me someone willing to hear a girl out, without saying ‘let’s go somewhere more private’ every two minutes.”