Blank Canvas

by Coopmans, Kathy

  Zeke and I went back to the museum, so I could thank him properly for what he did, and he knew the inner geek in me yearned to admire all the art. There have been several visits back there with our Starbucks in hand. I’m not sure my new addiction to the vanilla flavor is healthy or not, but when Zeke’s coffee-flavored lips attack mine, I know it’s extremely healthy. After all, he’s a doctor.

  How he got the staff at the art museum to put up our collage of artwork, I’ll never know. He told me they owed him a favor for all the money he donated. The simple fact is, it doesn’t matter. Nothing does. Except for the memory I have embedded in my brain forever of him getting the goofy picture he wanted with me standing next to it with my finger pointing at my name. And yes, he set it as his contact picture for me on his phone and every social media site he’s on, including his damn work picture on the hospital’s site. Not professional in the least, but who am I to argue? The man loves me. He tells me several times. Daily.

  “So, are you ready for your congratulations gift?” He stands, grabs my hand, and hauls me out the front door. He gives his junk an extra squeeze really trying to get out the final punch line to his corny joke.

  “You didn’t have to get me anything. We’ve been down this road before. I told you all I want is you, blah, blah, and freaking blah.” I roll my eyes knowing it will drive him crazy.

  “Little shit.”

  In one swift movement, he has me over his shoulder, slapping my ass while I grip his prized globes. The man’s ass would win awards and trophies if there were an ass contest.

  “Put me down, Zeke.”

  “You might land on a joystick.”

  “Enough with the lame jokes.”

  We are zipping down the road, flying down the highway of life, with the breeze waltzing in our hair. I still to this day run my fingers over his watch. It’s my solace and ground for life. I don’t have to ask where we are going; the sights and scenes are familiar. Zeke pulls over, hops from the car, and has my door open before I can blink.

  He’s hauling my ass out of the passenger seat and placing me behind the wheel. He doesn’t walk around the front of the car like any other man would. Nope, he crawls over me then pauses once he’s straddling my lap.

  “Doctor?” I ask.

  No response. He gyrates in my lap, giving me the most erotic entertainment of my life. I’m beginning to wonder which one of us is twenty-one and which one is thirty-seven with the way he’s acting.

  Zeke grips the side of my face while thrusting his hips into me, reminding me of an idea from many days ago. One that needs to filled but will be pulled up in the near future. The man has needs, and I have the breasts to fulfill his desires. My, how the cards have been dealt, and I’m perfectly fine with how they lie on the green felt table.

  “Bluebird, you’re going to drive the shit out of this car.” Another hip thrust starts lighting me on fire. “If you can get us back to the house, then I’ll give you your gift.”

  There’s a glint in his eyes letting me know it’s more than sex. He has something up his sleeve.

  “But we’re almost to the beach. I thought flying the kite was my gift. I want to fly my kite,” I ask confusingly. The colorful kite is always in his trunk waiting for us.

  “Our kite,” he corrects me. “Drive us the rest of the way to the beach, and we can fly our kite, Bluebird.”

  Always flying up. Further. Never. Stopping.

  No destination in sight besides Zeke Hartley. This man will take me to heights I never knew possible. Always.

  * * *

  “Wake up, lazy.” I jolt up out of my seat in the car to see Zeke hovering over top of me.

  “Sorry. I guess the excitement from today wore me out.” I stretch, lean up to give him a kiss.

  “Who’s here?” I ask. Thinking maybe it’s Brick. He hasn’t been around much lately. Club business, whatever the hell that means. I haven’t asked Zeke much about this club or what Brick does. He’s given off the impression he really doesn’t want to talk about it. I have a feeling it’s illegal, but I keep it to myself.

  “No one. That’s your gift.” My mouth drops open, and my eyeballs pop out of my head.

  “It better not be.” I look from him to the white BMW SUV sitting in the driveway.

  “Well, it is, and if you ruin this by spouting off about paying me back, then swallow the words, Amelia. Money doesn’t mean shit to me if I can’t share it with the woman I love. So here, go check it out.” He dangles a set of keys in front my face.

  I open my mouth to tell him there is no way I can accept this. Then his words hit me. Love and share and everything those two words really mean. They mean everything.

  I grab the keys. Excitement filling my veins. Zeke steps back to allow me to step out, and I run. Swinging the doors open and sitting on the cool gray leather.

  “Thank you.” I run my hands over the steering wheel. Every single emotion I’ve ever felt zaps through me. My life is so complete that there are some days I wake up and stare at the man next to me while he’s sleeping. I’ve come so far, and so has he. My nightmares are gone. My memories are fading. I’ll never forget them. My mind won’t allow it.

  I crook my head to the side. “But why an SUV and not something tiny and sporty? Not complaining.”

  “Two guesses and your first one doesn’t count.” Zeke leans in with his arms resting on the top of the car. God, he’s sexy.

  I roll my eyes knowing it will piss him off. “Safety.”

  “Bingo.” He leans in kissing the tip of my nose. “That’s one reason. Can you guess the second one?

  I swivel to wrap my legs around him, hooking them at my heels. I truly have no clue where he’s going with this, so I go with being a smartass. “Plenty of room to bang in the backseat.”

  “Nope, but adding that to my list right now. Hot bang session in Amelia’s new car.”

  “So, what’s the second reason?” I reach down and grab his hard dick, giving it a gentle squeeze. “The faster you answer, the quicker we can really test out this backseat.”

  His lips brush against mine and the second reason comes out as a whisper. “Babies. I want babies with your bright blue eyes and zest for life. I want a whole fucking basketball team, Amelia.”

  I smile remembering the night Zeke told me I wasn’t sterile and there’s still hope for us to have a baby. A month ago, this statement would’ve sent me straight into a spiraling panic attack. But today, hope begins to float inside of me.

  I’m finally flying.

  24

  Zeke

  Today was perfect. Both of us still riding a high from a few days ago when Amelia got her official license. Everything about the past month has been. I’ve watched her bloom to her fullest, and she’s still going strong. There have been some hard days when she’s either called Ronan or me. Her mind twirling. Her skin itching, and the need for her to get high is so strong that she’s locked herself in her old bedroom until one of us can get there to talk her down. It’s usually Ronan, and I’m perfectly okay with that.

  The days when I’m home and she has a breakdown are absolute hell. I can’t stand seeing her break out in a sweat that wasn’t by my doing. But we’re getting through it.

  “Jesus. Fuck, Amelia.” I never in my wildest dreams would expect to walk into our bedroom and see the vision laid out before me. Well, that shit isn’t true. I have some very vivid and dirty dreams when it comes to the woman lying on our bed naked with a dark, wicked gleam in her eyes.

  “Well, you said earlier not to complain about my gift, so I thought of one way I could pay you back,” she says, pushes your fucking perfect tits together, taunting me as she slithers further down the bed. I don’t know if I want to take her hands off those tits and stick my cock in between them or fuck her sweet, glistening pussy.

  “Motherfucker. If the Gods haven’t blessed me with the woman of my dreams. Hands off those breasts, Bluebird.” I drop my gym shorts. I’m sweaty as all hell from my run. Don’
t care. I’m going for those tits. She can ride my cock in the shower when we're done.

  I’m fucking rock hard with a pulsing cock ready to play. I crawl up the length of her body, never more thankful for a thank you gift. I’ll buy the woman the Goddamn world if this is how she shows her appreciation. My dick glides up her body. Growing harder the closer he gets to those breast. Goose bumps prickle all over her creamy skin.

  I take each nipple in my hand, rolling and pinching them until I have her writhing and moaning underneath me. I swear I can make her come by playing with her tits alone.

  “Here.” I take her hand from where it’s now stroking my cock and place them back on her tits. “Push them together, baby.”

  She listens with those lust-filled eyes she gets every time I touch her. Amelia is just as turned on as I am. I groan throwing my head back with the first slide of my dick in between her tits.

  “Fucking heaven, Bluebird, that’s what you are.”

  I reach behind me, dragging a finger through her wetness while fucking her tits at a fast pace. Goddamn, her pink nipples are hard and stiff. If I don’t slow down, this little game is going to be over before it’s even started.

  She lets out a moan of protest when I pull my finger from her pussy, bring it to my mouth, and suck. Fuck, I’ll never get enough of her taste.

  “Zeke,” she whimpers.

  “What, baby?” I tilt my head, staring down at her while continuing to pump my hips slowly, watching my dick nearly tap her chin on each stroke.

  “You know.”

  “Tell me,” I demand. “Need word, baby.”

  “Fuck me with your fingers now, Zeke.”

  I groan feeling the tingles build at the base of my spine.

  I smile loving hearing her speak dirty to me. Two fingers work in and out of her with my thumb applying pressure to her clit. It’s a real fucking struggle with her moans and my dick right where he’s been dying to be. My balls are aching. My spine is burning, and I feel my release in the pit of my gut. Sweat drips down my face; my cock is in a rage. But this girl, this incredible woman underneath me has me holding it in. For her. No way in hell am I losing being this close to her and not watching her come undone. I hold it in until I feel her sweet pussy squeeze my fingers.

  She screams out my name over and over again as her eyes stay sealed to mine and her tongue darts out to lick her lips. I sink my teeth down on my bottom lip, drawing blood when the first shot of my come coats her tits. I grab my cock, pump my hands, and mark her. Hot spurts all over her upper body. It’s a Goddamn masterpiece.

  Amelia shocks me when she sits up taking my cock in her mouth, sucking the rest of me dry. She flops back on the bed sedated and flushed.

  “God, I’ve been dying to drink you in, Zeke.”

  And just like that, I’m fucking hard as a rock again.

  “Shower now.” I scoop her up from the bed. “I need to fuck my girl properly.”

  * * *

  My temporary secretary ended up working perfectly even though I’d rather have Amelia here with me at the hospital. Selfish on my part, because my girl is soaring now teaching art lessons at the center and adding her eye for art with the finishing detail for the charity ball.

  I could never have accomplished all the things she’s done. Honestly, I don’t think anyone could. After telling her about my sister, it’s as if Amelia and I connected on a whole other level. This foundation. Her heart and soul is completely on the project, and she’s doing everything she can to make it a success. The options are endless to where the two of us could someday take this foundation. I honestly don’t think I have seen anyone dedicate themselves entirely to anything the way Amelia has with this. I’m so proud of her.

  My door opens and slams shut with no warning. I turn around in my chair guessing it’s probably Marissa back to play some more head games. But it’s not. Two towering men waltz in like they own the damn place. It’s their typical stance. Curtis and Katch. Curtis isn’t wearing his cut. Which means this visit isn’t club business. If my gut is right, which most of the time it is, then this visit has everything to do with Amelia’s family.

  “Did you find them?”

  Katch tosses a file folder down on my desk. Curtis only grunts, taking a seat across from me. Every bad sensor I have crawls up my spine. Tightens my muscles and fucks over my mind.

  “We found the fuckers,” Katch growls, taking a seat of his own.

  I don’t ask any further questions before opening the file and falling back in my chair. Finally, faces to the monsters. Never thought this day would come. There, staring back at me, is the smug bastard looking all professional in his doctor’s coat. Fake smile. Squinty eyes. And a sick and twisted mind. I want them gone. Him and his no-good wife. Fucking cunt. An evil laugh threatens to escape as I take him in. This piece of shit rotten fucker who heals hearts as a career shattered one inside a little girl.

  Little does he know his is about to stop beating.

  Time and time again, I wondered what this scum looked like. I mean, I kind of knew but never really paid him much attention. I bit back every urge I had not to look them up. I knew if I did, I would want them dead before the timing was right. But now, after seeing them, it’s time.

  I flip to the photo of her mom. The bitch makes me just as fucking sick. Possibly worse. As expected, she’s an older version of her daughter. On the outside, that is.

  “They’re in Florida. Getting ready to fly over to Russia to adopt a thirteen-year-old girl.”

  It takes me long moments to realize Curtis is talking. even longer to process the fucking words.

  “Come again?” Fuck, no. They can’t adopt a kid. They’ll destroy her the same way they did Amelia. I mean, what in the ever-loving hell is wrong with these people? Jesus.

  “You heard me right, doc. I ain’t fucking around with this shit anymore. Not after learning this. No Goddamn way. All we need is the go-ahead, and we are gone. We have a club down there tailing them. Ball’s in your court, doc. What’s the plan?”

  I finally look up at the two men. I’ll never be able to pay them back for this. I’d had it set in my mind for weeks now that I’d be the one killing this disease in Amelia’s life. It would be my finger pulling the cold metal of the trigger solving the problem. No prescription needed. But now, with it right here on my desk, there’s no way in hell I want to miss one single day with Amelia. It’s not worth it. Nothing is. These guys live to kill. They know what the fuck they're doing.

  “Dead. I want them dead.”

  “Both of them?” Katch asks.

  I slowly nod. Not giving a fuck if everyone in this entire country is questioned over the disappearance of these two sick people. And here Amelia thought she was sick. These two are the definition of it.

  Katch goes to protest, but Curtis stops him. “Consider it done, but there’s one more thing we need to discuss. The stepbrother is here in LA. Brick went apeshit crazy, ready to blow his head off. Told him it wasn’t his call nor his business. It’s yours.”

  “Amelia.” I hop up onto my feet, ready to sprint across town to get her.

  “Sit your ass down. We have two brothers tailing him. They have orders to take action if he even fucking looks at Amelia.”

  I nod still not really fucking thrilled about the idea of any of them living in the same town as Amelia. No wonder she hid on the streets and lived in alleyways. She knew they wouldn’t come find her.

  “He needs to die as well.”

  Curtis stands up, cracking his neck from side to side. “Like I said, consider it done. You’ll get the call when they’re dead.”

  “Take this with you. Burn it. Burn them. Shoot them in the skull for all I care.” I stuff the photos back into the file. Hand it back and smile when they walk right back out the door. Slamming it shut. Savages. Fuck, I love them.

  Not even five minutes later, I hear hushed voices right outside my office.

  “Is Dr. Hartley in?”

  I’d recogniz
e that sweet voice on my deathbed. It’s my Bluebird. I’m up and moving to the door until I hear another voice that sends chills up my spine.

  “He might be in the on-call room with a nurse,” Marissa lies. Stupid fucking bitch. And where the hell is my secretary?

  I’m about ready to burst right through this fucking door when I hear Amelia stand her ground

  “I don't’ think so, honey.”

  “Are you sure, sweetie? We used to spend a lot, and I mean a lot of time in there.”

  Marissa is in full bitch mode, but Amelia is a strong woman. I have no doubt she can handle herself.

  “Keywords used to, bitch. He told me about you and your nasty snatch. Jealousy suits you, though, I’ll give you that. Now, if you’ll kindly leave my boyfriend's office. I’ll make sure to tell him you were sitting out here waiting for him. You were waiting for him, right? Pitiful.”

  “It will never last with you two. Zeke needs women in his life, and lots of them.”

  “Trust me. I know exactly what Zeke needs. I’d also be a bit concerned if my boyfriend didn’t have an active sex life before me. But where you’re wrong is, all he will ever need is me.”

  “Keep telling yourself that,” Marissa spits.

  “I don’t need to tell myself or you anything. Don’t you have a job to be doing? I sure as hell don’t think the hospital pays you to stand around and busy yourself with other people’s business. Get on with your desperate self.”

  Marissa huffs, then the sound of her clogs hitting the tile floor echoes around.

  “Marissa, before you go, just remember Zeke calling my name out every night. It might help you sleep better.”