Chapter 14
Lilly
I look down at the sudsy water I’m washing dishes in, enjoying doing something so normal. I missed being home the last week. Jail is scary and lonely, and I never want to go back to that place. The second I was free, I ran to Cash and cried into his chest. I missed his smell and the way I felt when he held me. I missed our kids too, and couldn’t wait to be home with them. On the way home, Cash explained to me about Jules and what happened with her. No one has been able to find her yet, but I hope they catch her soon. I need to know why she did it. I look up from the soapy water and out the window. The kids had been playing in the tree house, but have now disappeared. I don’t think much about it until twenty minutes later when I realize I haven’t heard anything from them for a while. Since I got home, they have been coming in to check if I’m still here every ten minutes or so. I step out the backdoor into the yard. It’s completely quiet out here, not even the sound of leaves moving with the wind.
I walk around the side of the house to see if maybe the kids are there playing…but nothing. I get a bad feeling in the pit of my stomach, and that’s when I take off running. I look everywhere and I can’t find them. I run back towards the house, trying to catch my breath. “Where are the kids?” I run into the house screaming. “I can’t find the kids anywhere! They were out back playing in the tree house. I had been watching them through the window above the kitchen sink. Then they disappeared. I thought that they had decided to play along the side of the house, but I wanted to check on them to make sure they were okay when I didn’t hear anything for a few minutes.” I know I’m rambling, but I feel sick, and I know I’m going to have a break down.
“They’re outside honey,” my mom says, and I start shaking my head, clutching at my throat, trying to rip the words out but I can’t speak.
“Breathe, baby,” Cash says, concerned. His arms are around me, but I push him away; he needs to go look for the kids.
“Th-they’re not there!” I take a huge gulp of air. “I can’t find them anywhere!” My dad is the first to move. He is up off the couch and heading out the backdoor. Cash looks me over before handing me off to my mom, and then he follows my dad.
“It’s going to be okay. They’re kids, honey. I used to lose you all the time,” Mom tells me, trying to lighten the mood. Any other time I would have laughed, but not now. I get up and head towards the bedrooms, checking each one, but they are nowhere to be found. A few minutes later, I hear police sirens and my stomach drops. My worst nightmare is becoming a reality. When I get outside, Cash and my dad are talking to James. A few minutes pass and the whole yard is full of people. My mom holds me next to her as we listen to the guys plan out a search party. No one knows where they are, so they all split up.
*~*~*
Jax
I always wanted a little brother, but got stuck with a little sister. We are playing hide-and-seek, and when I’m getting ready to find her like I always do, I see someone pulling her into a truck. I’m scared, but my dad always says that it’s my job to keep her safe because I’m her big brother. So I climb into the back of it and lay down, hiding under a tarp.
*~*~*
Cash
This cannot be f*cking happening. Someone is going to die. I’m not saying that as a threat—I mean it all the way to my soul. As soon as I find out who has done this, I’m going to kill them.
“All right, man, I want you to hear me out, okay?” Nico says. I lift my chin in response. I’m too angry to answer him right now. We have searched everywhere for the kids, and come up with nothing. They wouldn’t have wondered off. Someone has to have taken them, I just don’t know who.
“Who do you think would do this?” he asks.
“I don’t know.” I rack my brain, trying to come up with someone who would do this. I can’t think over the pain in my chest. My kids are missing; someone has them and I have no idea who it is.
“I want you to think for a second. Who would do this?” I pause, coming up with nothing, then for some reason a name comes out of my mouth without thinking.
“Jules.”
“Jules,” he nods, “you know she has been missing. Kenton is running her cards to see if he can latch onto her.”
“She’s not that crazy,” I say, knowing it’s a lie.
“She is that crazy.” He pauses, looking like he is weighing his words. “Look, I know you feel bad for her, and I understand that she is Jax’s mother, but the bitch is f*cking crazy and needs some major help—and not the kind that she can receive from a therapist.”
“You’re right.”
“All right, now I need you to tell me anything you know about her and her family,” he says, and for the next thirty minutes, I tell him everything that I know. When I’m done, I realize how very little there was. “We’re gonna find the kids; don’t worry.” He pats my back, walking away and putting the phone to his ear. My phone buzzes in my pocket, and I answer right away.
“Yo?”
“We’re still looking,” Trevor says; he and Asher took off not long after my dad did. “Any idea of which way we should head?”
“Look for Jules,” I tell him.
“What?”
“I talked to Nico and I think he may be right; we need to be looking for Jules.”
“You’re f*cking shitting me.”
“Dude, I don’t know what the f*ck to think right now, but something in my gut is saying Nico is right and that Jules is behind this.”
“All right, we will look for her. Keep us up-to-date if you find out anything,” Trevor says, and I can hear the anger in his words.
“Will do,” I say and then hang up. I head back into the house. Lilly and her mom are inside waiting to see if the kids will show back up. As soon as I walk inside, Lilly is in my arms, her eyes red from crying.
“Did they find them?”
“No, baby.” She starts to cry again, and my heart is breaking. “I will find them and bring them home. You stay here with your mom in case they show back up.”
“Okay, but maybe I should be out looking too.”
“No, I want you to stay here in case they come back.”
“But—”
“No buts. Stay here with your mom. Keep your phone on you and I will call you.”
“Okay, just bring them home.” I can hear the strain in her words as she wraps her arms around my waist, burying her face in my chest. I want to comfort her, but I need to be out looking. I pull her away from me, kissing her once before turning and heading out the door. I see Nico still on his phone, so I motion him towards the truck and climb inside. Once he’s in, I take off. I have no destination in mind, but I do know Jules had been sleeping with a guy in town, so that’s my first stop. When we arrive at his place, there is an old truck in the driveway. The yard is littered with garbage. We get out and head up to the front porch; the dogs behind the door go crazy when I knock. I hear rustling, then the door opens and a guy my age is standing there rubbing his face, the smell of alcohol wafting off him.
“What do you want?”
“Have you seen Jules?” I ask, and his eyes narrow. He looks between Nico and me then smirks.
“I know you,” he says when his eyes come back to me.
“Yeah?” I ask him, crossing my arms over my chest.
“Yeah, you’re Jules’s ex. She’s always talking about you.”
“Is that so?”
“Yeah,” he slurs, and until that point, I didn’t even notice that he is drunk. “She was always carrying on about you and how she was never important to you, and that you only wanted her because of the kid.”
“She told you that?”
“She told me everything. The bitch never shut the f*ck up.” He runs a hand through his hair. “You know, she is hot as f*ck, and not bad in bed, but she is nuts—and I mean really f*cking nuts.”
“Why do you say that?” Nico asks, leaning on the side of the house. His stance is casual, but I can tell that he is up to something.
“The last time she was here I thought I was going to get some, but she carried on about your daughter and wife—who, by the way, is a hot piece.” I want to punch him in the face, but don’t let it show.
“She is hot, right?” Nico asks, and I swing my head to him. What the f*ck?
“F*ck yeah, she is. I mean, Jules is good looking, but that bitch is smoking.”
“I agree,” Nico says, and the guy smiles at him. “So what else did Jules want?”
“I don’t know. I wasn’t really listening; I was trying to get laid, you know?” Nico nods and he shifts, his head going back like he’s thinking. “All I remember is her saying that the girl was a mistake on her part, and that she should have been smarter—whatever the f*ck that means.” He digs his hand into his front pocket, pulling out a pack of smokes, offering one to Nico, then to me. We both shake our heads no. He puts one in his mouth, lighting it and taking a drag. “I really don’t remember anything else.” He shrugs, taking another drag before tossing the still-lit cigarette into the yard. My brain is in overdrive; she told him Ashlyn was a mistake on her part. I know deep down she is the reason Lilly got pregnant, but there is no way to prove it. I know that if confronted, she would deny it.
“Do you know where she might be?” Nico asks him.
“Jules?” he asks, and Nico nods. “I don’t know, at her house? Or with her f*cked up aunt maybe?”
“Why are you here?” he finally asks the question he should have asked a long time ago.
“My son and daughter are missing,” I tell him honestly. He looks between Nico and me, then backs up.
“Hey, I have nothing to do with that.”
“We didn’t say you did, but we need to know if you have any idea where Jules might be,” Nico says, and the guy looks nervous.
“You think that Jules has something to do with it?” he asks.
“We’re not sure right now; the only thing we know for sure is that Jules has disappeared, and so have my kids.”
“Dude, that’s f*cked up.” He shakes his head. My phone rings and I pull it out of my pocket, looking at the caller ID. I have no clue who it is.
“Hello?”
“Hello, sir,” an older woman says.
“Can I help you?” I ask impatiently. I don’t have time for this shit right now.
“Yes, I’m calling you because a little boy showed up on my property about five minutes ago. He says that his sister was taken by his mom, and that I needed to call his dad.” My hand that’s not holding the phone goes to my chest where my necklace lays. I put pressure on it, the metal against my skin reminding me that my family will be back together soon.
“Where are you?” I ask, jumping off the porch and heading to my truck. I get in and slam my door at the same time as Nico. She quickly rattles off her address. “Let me talk to my son, please.”
“Dad!” Jax cries. “Mom took Ashlyn. I had to go with her to keep her safe, but she took her into a house, and there was a lot of shouting, Dad. So I ran as fast as I could until I found somewhere to call you.”
“You did good, dude. I’m so proud of you. But I need you to be brave for a little while longer, okay?”
“Okay, Dad.” I hear him sniffle, and I fight not to crack my phone.
“I love you, Jax, and I will be there soon,” I tell him, clenching my teeth. A drive that would normally take forty-five minutes takes twenty. My dad gets ahead of us on the highway in his squad car, leading a long line of cars and trucks. The old lady Jax is with explains that he had ran through a cornfield that is on the back of her property, and that no one else lives close enough to her that would know we are on their trail. When we arrive at the location where Jax is, we all get out of our vehicles just as Jax comes flying out of the house, right into my arms.
“I got you,” I tell him, picking him up. He wraps himself around me, his body shaking. “You’re safe, bud, but I need you to tell me where your sister is.” He nods into my shoulder then starts talking, his body shaking so hard that I have to sit down with him. He tells me that he and Ashlyn were playing hide-and-seek and that he knew where she was hiding because she always hides in the same place. He says he went around the side of the house, seeing someone dressed in black carrying Ashlyn away. He was going to go into the house to get me, but they were almost to the truck by the time he thought about it. Then he says when the person placed Ashlyn in the truck, he climbed into the back and laid down to hide. When the truck finally stopped, he peeked over the edge, seeing his mom carrying Ashlyn into a house. He didn’t know what to do when he heard yelling coming from the house, so he ran to try to find someone to call me. I hold him close, rocking him back-and-forth the same way I used to when he was a baby. My dad, brothers, and a couple other officers listen. It only takes him a couple of minutes to tell us what had happened, but I know that it’s a couple minutes too long. “Listen, little dude, you’re going to stay here and I’m going to go with Grandpa so that I can get your sister and we can go home,” I tell him. I stand and carry him over to my truck. Asher takes him from me, talking gently to him as I head over to my dad.
“Look, I shouldn’t even let you come with us, but I know that I won’t be able to stop you, and Ashlyn is going to need you when we get her out of there.” My jaw clenches, but I hold my tongue. Right now, he isn’t my dad, he is a cop, and I know the difference. “We’re going to head across the field the same way Jax came. When we get there, I need you to stay out of sight with Nico until I give you the go-ahead.”
“Got it,” I tell him. All of us head across the cornfield. Once we reach the other side, there is an old, rundown, two-story white house; the place looks like it’s ready to fall apart, but parked outside is Jules’s old car, along with a small pickup. My dad waves me back and tells me to stay put as he and three other officers head towards the house. I fight myself, wanting to go in and get my girl, but I know my dad will handle it. Two of the officers head around each side of the house. My dad and the other policeman walk up the front porch. My dad knocks with his gun trained on the door. He yells out it’s the police, and when the door is opened, a man with a gun holstered on his shoulder answers the door. The guy nods to my dad, they talk for a second, and the guy pulls a shiny badge out from under his shirt. They talk a second more, and my dad waves Nico and me in. When I get to the porch, the guy looks me over, introduces himself as Jim, then heads inside. The house is a mess, the living room right off the front entrance has the ceiling falling in. We walk down a narrow hall into what used to be a kitchen. That’s where I see Jules handcuffed and sitting in a chair, along with another man. “Where the f*ck is my daughter?” I ask, and her eyes widen in surprise.
“I did this for us,” Jules says in a whisper, and if I had a gun right then I would have put a bullet in her.
“Whatever the f*ck you did, you did it for yourself,” I growl. “Now where the f*ck is she?”
“Come on, man, your daughter is in here,” Jim says. He takes me into a pantry off the kitchen. When he opens the door, he shines a flashlight into the small space, and there is my baby girl asleep on the floor. I rush over, picking her up. She is out cold, her body completely limp.
“What’s wrong with her?” I ask in a panic, lifting her higher up on my chest.
“They roofied her. I checked her over already. All of her vitals are okay; she is just asleep,” he tells me. I swear I can feel my body expand with rage.
“I’m going to f*cking kill her.”
“You’re going to have to wait in line. Where she is going, they don’t take too kindly to people hurting kids, and I’m telling you that everyone in the prison will know what she did. I will make it my personal goal to let everyone she has contact with know her history.” His face is devoid of any emotion, and I don’t give a f*ck what they do to her. I don’t care if that makes me an insensitive prick, but I hope she gets what’s coming to her.
“What exactly was her plan?” I ask him, looking down at the sweet face of my baby girl.
“She was going to sell her to me.”
“What?”
“We have been working this case for a while. The man in the other room is part of a child trafficking network. I have been undercover for a while now. He told me he had a piece of property for me to pick up and to meet him here. I did, and when I got here, the woman and child were here with him.
“You’re f*cking with me.”
“No, man. I wish I was, but this shit is a lot more common than you think, and the sad thing is that normally the kids don’t have people out looking for them,” he says, and I hear sirens off in the distance. I say a prayer for all the kids who don’t have anyone searching for them. I would be lost without my kids.
“Thank you,” I tell him, my voice gruff with emotion. He pats my shoulder before giving it a squeeze. We walk back out to the kitchen; my ex and the guy with her are still sitting at the table. I don’t even look at them. My dad is there with a couple of his officers, but I walk past them all, heading outside. Once I clear the door, I see there are three black SUVs filling the driveway. Jim, who comes outside as well, goes to talk to some of the men exiting the vehicles. I sit on the steps of the porch holding Ashlyn. I don’t know what I would have done if something had happened to her, or if I had lost her permanently. I would be devastated. I look up to see Nico holding out a phone to me, and when I put it to my ear, I know exactly who is on the line. “Baby, I got our baby girl. She’s okay,” I tell her.
“Jax?” she questions.
“He is with Asher and Trevor.” I can hear a loud thud and I know that she has fallen. Tears start to fill my eyes. I hold Ashlyn a little tighter, closing my eyes.
“Please bring them home soon,” she cries. I can hear her mom talking to her, and I know that she is comforting her, which makes this a little easier.
“I will. Love you, baby,” I tell her. An officer comes over, telling me that an ambulance is coming and that we should wait in one of the SUVs. I look through the front window of the SUV, seeing that Nico is standing with our dad on the front porch. His phone is to his ear, and I hope that he called Trevor and Asher. I need my son, but I don’t want him to see what’s going on. I watch as they escort Jules and the man out of the house and into the back of one of the vehicles. The vehicles carrying them takes off and an ambulance pulls up, along with Asher’s truck. I hop out, taking Ashlyn to the ambulance. When I get her inside, they start looking her over. All of her vitals are fine, her O2 level normal. They hook her up on fluids and get her comfortable. I get out and take Jax from Trevor, who tells me that he had fallen asleep crying.
“You gonna take him with you in the ambulance to the hospital?” Trevor asks.
“Yeah. Can you call Lil’s dad and ask him to bring the girls to meet us at the hospital?”
“You got it. Do you want one of us to ride with you?”
“Nah,” I tell them, walking away. I get back into the ambulance holding my son and looking at my daughter. They are both so small and defenseless. When we get to the hospital, there is a blur of activity. We’re escorted into a room, and the doctors run more tests on Ashlyn, who still hasn’t woken up.
“Cash!” I hear yelled, and I stand with Jax still in my arms. He still hasn’t woken up either. I had the doctor look him over and they said that he is fine, probably just crashed from having an adrenalin rush. When I clear the doorway, Lilly is running towards me still yelling out my name. When she sees Jax and me, her eyes close and she stops in the middle of the hall. I go to her, needing to touch her.
“Baby, they are both okay,” I tell her, holding her with one arm. Her arms wrap around Jax and me, and we stand there for a few minutes before I kiss her forehead and grab her hand, leading her to Ashlyn. Once in the room, she goes right to her bedside, looking down at our daughter who looks so fragile.
“Why isn’t she awake?” she asks.
“They don’t know, but they said she is fine. Her vitals are all normal and she doesn’t have any injuries; it just looks like she doesn’t want to wake up yet. Neither of them wants to wake up yet.” We wait for what seems like forever in silence for Ashlyn to wake up, and when she does, she doesn’t even know what happened to her. She has no recollection of Jules at all. The police and everyone believe she was drugged while in the yard. My brave son, who had the courage to follow his sister, woke up not long after her. I can tell he’s still upset about what happened, but he’s happy to have his sister back, and us all together. That night, when we finally get home, and after getting everyone tucked into our bed, I thank God for keeping my family safe and together. None of us are going to be out of each other’s sight for a while. I think Lil and I both need to be able to see the kids at all times for about the next six months.
Ironically, that happens to be around the time that Jules gets sentenced to twenty years in jail without the possibility of parole. The crimes against her are numerous, and she is proven guilty with each and every one of them. I sit down on the couch, and Lilly cuddles into my side while Jax and Ashlyn argue over which movie we are going to watch. I don’t care what I do with my family; as long as we are together, I’m a happy man.
“Thank you for giving me this,” I whisper into Lilly’s ear. Her head turns towards me, her eyes searching my face.
“You know that you give us everything, right? You are the like the moon to our family ocean. You’re magnetic; we will always follow you and try to give you back what you give to us.” She leans up and kisses me before laying her head back against my chest. I don’t know what I did to deserve her or my children, but I will always do everything within my power to keep them safe and happy.
Epilogue
Sophie
“Mom, Dad, can you guys stop being so gross? No one wants to see their parents making out,” Ashlyn says walking into the living room.
“Yeah that’s some sick shit,” Jax says, following behind his sister and ruffling her hair. She punches him in the arm in response.
“Hey, mouth,” I scold.
“Sorry, but really, why don’t you guys try acting like normal parents?” Jax complains flopping down onto the couch.
“If you don’t like it, you got a room,” Cash says and Jax rolls his eyes shaking his head.
“I had to come in here, I need some extra money. I’m taking Becky to homecoming.” Jax says, his eyes lighting up and I inwardly growl. I hate that Jax is grown up. I was putting is his laundry away the other day and found a half a box of condoms. Condoms, I didn’t even want to think about him having a penis let alone him using it on anyone.
“Chris asked me to go with him,” Ashlyn says jumping up making Cash’s eyes narrow. I know exactly what’s coming so I sit back on the couch.
“You are not going,” Cash says.
“Good luck with that, sis,” Jax laughs, getting off the couch and leaving the room.
“Dad, if Jax can date, then I should be allowed to date too,” Ashlyn says, her eyes narrowing on her father. I try not to laugh, but it’s funny watching Cash try to come up with an excuse for why his sixteen-year-old son can date, but his sixteen-year-old daughter can’t. His eyes meet mine and narrow. I give him my best ‘I’m innocent’ smile, making his jaw tic. After everything that happened, we agreed to not have any more kids. We both just wanted to enjoy Ashlyn and Jax without adding another baby to the bunch. Besides, everyone had gone baby-crazy, and there were plenty of Mayson children to occupy everyone.
“I have told you before that you’re a girl.”
“I know I’m a girl, Dad, but I really wanted to go to homecoming with Chris. It’s not fair that Jax gets to go and I don’t.”
“You want to help me out here?” He looks at me, and I shake my head no. He mouths the word ‘spanking’ and I tighten my thighs in response. I don’t know how it is for other married couples, but for us, our sex life has only improved with time. He knows exactly how and where to touch me, or what to say to have me craving him all day, so that when we finally connect, I jump him. I think it’s why he does what he does.
“Dad, this is not fair,” she whines, then looks at me. “Mom, tell him that it’s not fair.” She stomps her foot.
“Cash, this is not fair,” I tell him, trying not to smile.
“See, Dad? Mom agrees that it’s not fair.” Cash looks at me over her head, and I know that whatever punishment I get tonight is going to be good.
“Honey, you have to agree that it’s not fair for Jax to go when she can’t,” I tell him honestly. I try not to get involved with things like this, but it’s ridiculous that he lets Jax do whatever he wants, while Ashlyn is supposed to be locked away in her room.
“She is younger than him. They are only the same age for a few months, so I do think it’s fair,” he growls at me, and I hold up my hands.
“I never get to do anything!” she cries, and that is a total crock. She gets her way, just like now. The only thing she has to do is wait it out, and her Dad will crack and agree to let her go.
“I’ll think about it,” Cash says, and just like that, Ashlyn won another round and she knows it. She makes it obvious by throwing herself at Cash.
“You’re the best dad ever!” she cries. He wraps his arms around her, kissing her forehead, and then she’s gone, bouncing to her room.
“You know that your daughter is a f*cking handful,” he grumbles, his hand coming down on either side of me.
“She is your daughter too,” I tell him.
“She is all you, baby, so sweet when she needs to be, but a dog with a bone when the time calls for it.”
“I think those are your traits.”
“You know that you’re getting punished for going against me in front of her, right?”
“Cash.”
“No, don’t you Cash me, baby. You earned this shit.” I don’t know why he always says it like a threat, when in reality, it’s a reward and makes me want to be bad and go against him all the time.
“Did you talk to Jax about the condoms?” I ask him.
“I had the bird and the bees talk with him. And I know that you don’t like it, and you still think of him as your baby, but he is growing up; he will be seventeen soon.” I do still think of him as my baby, because he is. Jules has been in jail since she kidnapped Ashlyn. I was afraid at first, but my boy is so strong that he pushed through everything and ended up shining even brighter because of it. Jules is still in jail and has never once tried to contact him or Cash, or if she did, I don’t know about it. Cash nuzzling my neck brings me back to reality.
“Hey, what are you doing?” I try pushing him away. “And what the hell do you mean that he’s all grown up? I still buy his underwear, so until I stop doing that and he starts doing it for himself, he is not grown up.” Cash starts laughing, his whole body shaking mine, and his face goes into my neck. I roll my eyes, running my hands through his hair.
“I love you, baby,” he says once he gets control of himself. He lifts his head, looking at me. He still looks at me like I’m the most important thing in his life. Yes, he feels the same way about his kids, but each of us gets a different look from him.
“I love you, too,” I whisper, looking into his handsome face. He was even more handsome than he was a few years ago. Age has made him even sexier, and I think having a happy home life makes his soul happy enough to shine through.
* * *
Cash
“Drop the towel and get on the bed,” I tell Lilly as soon as I walk into the room. She doesn’t even hesitate; her eyes darken and she walks right to the bed, lying down. “Good girl, now spread,” I command her, and she does as I say, her breath increasing. “You know, I should spank you for not agreeing with me about Ashlyn this morning, but since I know that you like that shit so much, I’m just going to give you a different kind of punishment,” I tell her, stripping off my clothes. I walk to the edge of the bed, my hand on my dick working myself in smooth strokes. Her eyes are watching, and I know she loves to see me touch myself. She always thinks she can get away with everything, and most of the time that is the truth, but not this time. This time she is going to pay. I’m not ready for my daughter to date, and I need Lil onboard with me. I get up off the bed, kneeling near her head. “Open,” I tell her, and she does what I say, her mouth opening eagerly. I feed her my cock inch-by-inch; her eyes light up when my hand goes to her breast and I pull on one nipple, then the other, getting them hard. Her body is writhing, wanting more contact. I move my hips, f*cking her mouth. “F*ck, yes, just like that,” I encourage her. “Now lift your hips so I can play with your p-ssy, baby.” She does, and my fingers make contact with her * before sliding two inside. “You’re soaked,” I growl and she nods, grinding her p-ssy against my hand. I play with her some more, then pull away when I feel her body tell me she’s close. She whines, but she doesn’t stop sucking me off. I pull her nipples again before going back to her p-ssy. She is in a frenzy; I can see it in her eyes. I pull my dick out of her mouth and position my head between her legs, propping her feet on my shoulders. My mouth latches onto her; my whole face is soaked with her arousal. I add a finger, and when I know she’s close, I sit up. I want so badly to f*ck her, but not yet; she needs to learn.
“Cash!” she cries.
“You gonna side with Ashlyn again?”
“What?” Her whole face is flushed, her lips swollen. Jesus, she is beautiful.
“You sided with Ashlyn. You gonna do that shit again?”
“If I say no, will you make me orgasm?” she snaps.
“Only if you say it and mean it, Lil.”
“Fine, I will only side with you.” And that’s all I need to bury my face in her p-ssy. My arm wraps around her thigh and I slide two fingers inside her. She comes, and her orgasm is so powerful I’m surprised she doesn’t buck me off her and the bed. Once she’s settled, I flip her to her stomach, lift her ass, and slide home. I pound hard, her ass moving with every stroke.
“Lift your ass, Lil,” I growl, my cock balls deep inside her. I love her ass; I love the way it moves when I f*ck her from behind, and I definitely love this position. “Higher.” I slap her ass hard, watching my handprint appear on her creamy skin. I still love when she wears my mark. I don’t think she has gone one day without a hickey or some other mark from me somewhere on her body since we got back together.
“I can’t, Cash. I’m going to come,” she cries, shoving her face into the pillow.
“I know, baby. I feel you starting to squeeze the f*ck out of my cock.” I ram her harder, beginning to feel my balls pull up, and the tingling in my spine intensifies. Her hips start thrusting back against me harder. I wrap a hand around her waist, running it down her stomach and over her *. She cries out again, her wetness and the silkiness of her walls closing tightly around me from her orgasm, making me come hard inside her. I slow my strokes, drawing out each of our climaxes before falling to the side and bringing her with me. She turns around, crawling on top of my chest. I run my fingers through her now-blonde hair, trying to get my breathing to calm.
“You know you can punish me anytime, right?” she jokes, making me smile.
“Yeah, I know.” I give her a squeeze. “But I’m serious, Lil, against the kids, we are a unit. If you think I’m doing something wrong, we talk that shit out in private. I know that you and Ashlyn both think I’m not fair between her and Jax, and a lot of times I’m not, but I have my reasons. She is a girl, and she’s vulnerable in ways that Jax isn’t.”
“Okay,” she agrees, and I pull her hair so that she is forced to lift her head.
“Okay?” I ask.
“Yeah, since you put it like that, okay.” She shrugs and lays her head back down. “Love you,” she says, kissing my chest then snuggling closer.
“Love you too, baby,” I whisper, closing my eyes and following her off to sleep.
Stay tuned for Until Nico coming June 2014
Until Nico
Sophie
I jump when the desk phone starts going off, it never rings so I’m caught off guard by the shrill sound inside the quiet library.
“Middle school Library, Ms. Grates speaking, how can I help you?” I answer on the second ring.
“I found a phone and this is the number that came on the screen when I turn it on.” A deep male voice answers. His smooth southern draw making the hairs on my arms stand on end. I pull my handbag out from under my desk and dig through it looking for my phone. “Hello, did you hear me?” The guy on the phone says more impatiently. I forgot that he was even on the line during my search.
“Yes I’m here, sorry it’s my phone.” I tell him holding the phone between my shoulder and ear.
“Look, I gotta get out of town and I wont be back for a week so can you meet me somewhere?”
‘Um I’m not sure that’s a good idea.” I tell him worrying my bottom lip.
“Do you want your phone or not?”
“Yes of course I want my phone.” I say becoming annoyed. What kind of stupid question was that?
“Then you need to meet me so that I can give it to you.”
“I don’t get off work for another hour so can you meet me after that?” I crossed my fingers hoping he could. I didn’t know what I would do without my phone for a week. Not that I wanted to call or text anyone but I was kicking ass in candy crush and wanted to beat my last score.
“Jesus, where the f*ck do you wanna meet?” He grumbled and I smiled. I don’t know why but it kind of made me happy that I was annoying this person on the phone.
“Can you meet me out front of Jacks bar-b-q in an hour and a half?”
‘Sure, fine.” I can tell by his tone that he is completely annoyed and I smile bigger.
“Thanks a lot.”
“What are you wearing?” He asks
“What the hell does that mater?”
“Look,” He huffs out. “I have your phone, which means you don’t have a phone right?”
“Right.” I repeat like an idiot.
“So that means that I can’t call you and tell you when I get there, so I need to know what you’re wearing so I can spot you on the street, right?” I can hear the smile in his voice now.
“Oh… I guess that makes since.” I say and I can hear him laugh and the deepness of his laugh makes my belly flutter.
“So what are you wearing?”
“Oh.” I look down at myself feeling stupid about what I’m going to say to him. “Um.. A grey skirt, a white silk blouse oh! And I have brown hair.” I add the end part; I don’t know how many women may be wearing the same kind of thing as I am.
“Alright sweetheart I’ll see you in an hour and a half.” He says and the phone goes dead. I hang it up and toss my bag back under the desk and start putting back all the books that have been checked out by students away.
I started working at the school library a year ago when I moved to Nashville from Seattle. I work here three days a week, the rest of the time I work from home as a medical insurance specialist. I like working here, its quiet and the pay is good. I finish out my day making sure to update the computer system and locking up. When I leave the building most of the staff has left for the day. The parking lot is mostly empty except for my red Audi. I get in my car and turn it on, flip the button for the top, it takes a second for the top to go back and lock in place. The sound of Addicted to love by Florence and the machines starts playing as I head out to down town. When I reach the area that I’m supposed to meet this guy I find parking about a block away. This part of town is always crazy around this time of day; by the time that I reach Jakes I’m about ten minutes later than I planned of being. I look around wondering what this guy might look like. There are so many people walking around that I feel like an idiot that I didn’t ask him what he was wearing. I stand next to the building with my arms crossed over my chest. I want to sit down so bad my feet are killing me.
I have a sick love for heels and the ones I wore today are paying me back for wearing them for more than a few hours. I see a guy looking at me he’s about my age not much taller than my 5’5, he’s cute and wearing a suit and tie. I start to wave to see if it’s that the guy, then a guy about 6’3 and huge I don’t just mean in height, his body looks like its chiseled from stone. He’s wearing washed-out blue jeans and a white t-shirt; every piece of skin exposed is covered with tattoos. He is beautiful in a way that is unusual but no less gorgeous. His ears have those gauges in them. His hair is cut low on the sides, the top in a fohawk. His jaw is strong with a few days of stubble. His eyes are blue that almost looks like contacts. His eyes come to me before looking away quickly then the next second they come back to me doing a head to toe sweep. I gulp at the look on his face. I look past him to the other guy or try to. When Mr. Tattoo starts towards me blocking my view. I want to take a step back but I can’t go anywhere. Then I see my phone in his hand.
“This yours?” He asks. I nod like an idiot. He shakes his head running his free hand down his face. Then his eyes sweep me again. “You have got to be f*cking kidding me.” He says looking upset. I look down at myself wondering how I could have offended him. I look normal or my working out of the house normal. When I’m at home working I wear baggie sweats, some I cut off into shorts just hanging off me, with tank tops or t-shirts. But the few days a week that I get out of the house I like to dress up or at least wear heels. “This cannot be f*cking happening.” He says and I wonder if he is completely crazy.
“What?” I ask, finally finding my voice. I have to look way back even in my four inch heels he is still towering over me.
“You.”
“Me what?” I ask confused.
“Never mind who’s this?” He presses the button on my phone the screen lights up and a picture of Jamie Dornan wearing nothing but a pair of jeans takes up the screen.
“Um… That’s Jamie.” I say wondering why he is asking but too afraid to ask, the look on his face isn’t very open for conversation.
“He your man?”
“I wish.” I mumble and I hear him growl. My head flies back and I search his face, his jaw is ticking and his hand holding my phone has his knuckles turning white.
“What does that mean?” he ask
“That’s Jamie Dornan he’s playing fifty I don’t know him.” I feel my cheeks heat up and I look down at my feet what the hell’s wrong with me? Why am I not afraid right now? I have been scared my whole life and now when I should be running for cover I’m not scared at all.
“I don’t have time for this.” He says and I don’t know what he is talking about but I really want my phone. When I look up and see that he is walking away my eyes come together and I wonder what he is doing. Then I realize that he still has my phone.
“Hey you can’t steal my phone.” I cry grabbing onto his arm. He looks down at me then stops short I’m completely caught off guard when he wraps an arm around my waist pulling me flush against him. His free hand goes into my hair pulling my head back and kisses me, no, not kisses, he consumes me. My body starts to buzz like someone just plugged me into an electrical outlet. I start to feel light headed when he pulls his mouth from mine. I gasped, my fingers going to my mouth. “What was that?” I whispered looking into his eyes.
“What’s your name?” He asks.
“Sophie.” I tell him my words spoken against my fingers. His body is hard as a rock against mine I can feel every muscle, every contour.
“Sophie.” He repeats, stands up to his full height pulling me with him. This is the first time in my life that I have ever felt small. I look around wondering if time stopped for anyone else. “My name is Nico.”
“Of course it is.” I say thinking that a guy that looks like him would have a name like that. Cool and hot something that rolls easy off your tongue but is hard to forget.
“I’ll see you when I get back into town Sophie.” He says making sure I’m steady on my feet.
“What?” I ask looking around again.
“Here’s your phone.” He hands me my phone and I’m still a little light headed. He starts to walk off again I watch in a daze then he turns around to face me from about twelve feet away. “Sophie.”
“Yeah?”
“Change the picture on your phone.” He says before he turns and disappears into the crowd. I stand there for a few minutes wondering what just happened. Eventually I pull myself together enough to make it to my car. When I get there I realize that I hadn’t even put the top up. I turn quickly looking in my back seat. Thank god my bag is still there.
I start my car and head home. I live in a small two-bedroom house, I bought the place cash when I moved, it’s not much but its home. I pull into my garage and hop out. I drag my bag with me. I need a beer or a shot of something. I unlock my door and kick my shoes off; they fly down the hall towards my room. Dropping my bag by the door and the infamous phone on the table I head to my kitchen open my freezer, pull out the bottle of vodka I keep there in case of emergency. I pull a coffee cup down from the cupboard fill it half full and shoot it back. Coughing up a lung and trying to catch my breath, I fill the glass up again. I shakily take another shot holding my breath as the burn fills my chest but this time I’m prepared for it. I put the stuff away feeling more relaxed already. I head to my room stripping off my clothes I put on a t-shirt. It’s early so I head to the living room grabbing my phone along the way. I plop down on my couch, put my feet up on the coffee table and turn the TV on and start up the DVR and press play on the big bang theory. I sit there for a few minutes in a daze. I look at my phone in my hand, clicking on the screen and look at the picture of Jamie. I don’t know why but I can’t help but to smile. Nico was hot slightly scary but defiantly interesting.
Nico
I was happy to be home. I had been gone four days chasing a Skip. I thought it would take me a little longer to catch up with the guy but lucky for me he was half moron. I pull up in front of my town house shutting off my car and my phone rings. I look at the caller id, I know its not going to be sweet Sophie but that doesn’t mean I don’t want it to be. Kenton’s number flashes on the screen, I’m sure he has another case for me but right now that’s not happening. I’m going to have a beer go to bed then tomorrow I’m going over to the local Middle school.
“Yeah.” I answer, I pull my bag out of the backseat.
“Didn’t take you long to catch Johnson.’
“That’s because he is a moron.” I tell him. “He hid out at his mom’s house. You would think that he would have learned his lesson the last two times I went after him. Most of the time I was gone was spent on the road getting there then getting home. When are you going to get a private jet so I don’t have to put miles on my car?”
“Stop bitching, you made fifteen hundred dollars in two days.” He wasn’t wrong. I had a nice little nest egg going between selling my part of the construction business back to my brothers and chasing after skips, I was sitting on a nice stack of cash.
“So why are you calling?”
“What! I can’t call and see how my cousin is doing?”
“Do I sound stupid to you?”
“Alright, alright. The thing is that I need you to help me out with something.
“What?”
“Look a friend of mine from Vegas called. He has a girl that needs a place to crash for a little while.”
“And what does that have to do with me?”
“Can she stay with you until Cassie gets the rest of her shit out of my house?”
“Hell no!” I say as I shove my keys into the door. The second the door is open daisy starts going wild. I scoop her up in one hand as she begins licking my chin or any piece of me she can get to. “You still have that dog?” He laughs.
“Yes.” I growl. All the f*ckers in my life think it’s funny that I own a little fur ball for a dog. I rescued daisy from a flophouse. She was so small at the time that she could fit in the palm of my hand. I was going to give her to one of my family members but I couldn’t do it. After a week of having her with me I grew attached to her.
“Look man I just need your help this one time.”
“No, you should have put that bitches shit out months ago.”
“Don’t make it seem like I haven’t wanted to. She swore that she was coming this weekend to get all of her stuff but until then I don’t have room for this chick that’s coming.”
“Who is it that’s coming?” I ask curiously.
“A friend of mine works in Vegas as a bouncer at a strip club. This girl saw some shit go down. He called and asked me to keep an eye out for her until the right people can be contacted.”
“Wow your own personal stripper living with you.”
“She could live with you first.” He says.
“I’m seeing someone. So your gonna have to find something else to do with the chick or toss your ex’s shit outside or burn it behind your house for all I care.”
“You’re seeing someone?” I can hear the disbelief in his voice. I’m not surprised, I don’t date, I hook up and go home.
“I just got home I don’t have time for this right now. Call your ex tell her that she needs to come get her stuff tomorrow or you’re burning it. And honestly if she doesn’t show up I say burn that shit.”
“Look, you and I both know that she is not going to come get her shit she thinks if it’s here that she has a reason to come back.”
“So put it in your car and take it to her house and put it on her lawn.”
“I would have done that but I need a truck and I haven’t had time.”
“She has been out for almost a year, how the hell haven’t you had time?”
“Okay I’ve had time I just haven’t wanted to deal with all the crying that comes along with seeing her.”
“Aw you cry when you see her.” I laugh.
“Tears of joy that she’s out of my life f*cker.” I laugh along with him as I set Daisy on the ground and grab a beer out of the fridge popping the top and taking a swig.
“If she doesn’t come by this weekend to get her stuff let me know and I will go with you to take it to her we can borrow Cash’s truck.”
“Sound’s good. So who’s this chick you’re seeing? Is it the red head from the bar the other night?”
“No, and you don’t know her.” Shit I don’t even know her. All I know about her is that she smells like apples and cinnamon. Has the softest brown hair that I have ever seen or felt. Her brown eyes darken to almost black when she’s kissed and her skin is the color of milk and turns pink when she’s nervous or embarrassed.
“Did you hear me?”
“What?”
“I asked if you were up for another job this week?”
“I’m not sure right now.”
“Alright let me know.”
“Yeah, sure later.”
“Later.” I clicked off the phone while tossing it onto the counter. Daisy is sitting at my feet looking up at me. I open up her treat jar, her eyes following my every move. I hold it up and she dances around before I drop it to her.
I wonder from the kitchen into my room pulling off my shirt. Tossing it onto the floor followed by my jeans and boxers. Going into the bathroom I start up the shower letting the glass stall steam up before stepping inside. I let the hot water run over me, my head goes back thinking about Sophie and her big brown eyes looking up at me with nervousness and hunger, something that I have never seen on a woman’s face before but something that will forever be etched into my brain. I knew the minute that I saw her that she was it. How I knew? I don’t know but it was like my soul lit up, cheesy as f*ck but also true. I don’t really have time for her right now and she is not someone that looks like she would ever be interested in someone like me but that doesn’t mean I’m not going to try. She has a look of innocents about her. I guess that could be a front but something tells me that it’s not. I feel my self-getting hard thinking about those f*cking heels that she had on, they should be illegal. She looked like any man’s dirty librarian fantasy or maybe a naughty secretary. I palm my self-moving in long steady strokes. I wouldn’t mind seeing her on her knees in front of me, her skirt up around her waist legs spread showing off her p-ssy, her top open, breasts hang over the top of her bra, her nipples hard and dark pink from being sucked, licked and bitten. I would stand in front of her feeding her my dick. My hands in her hair, dictating her pace, I feel my balls draw up my strokes moving faster. Her hand would cup my balls gently, her other hand moving with her mouth as I f*cked her mouth. “Shit” I groan into the empty shower. Long jets of cum hitting the wall in front of me, I haven’t jacked off to the thought of a woman since I was thirteen and Margret Jenkins showed me her tits in the boy’s bathroom on a dare. I catch my breath before I wash up and head to bed. Tomorrow is going to be a busy day.
When I walk into the middle school I’m not surprised when the security guard ask who I am, and what I’m doing here. I tell him that I’m looking for a librarian by the name of Sophie. He doesn’t know who she is so he sends me to the principal’s office for someone there to help me out. I’m used to being judged for my appearance. I’m covered in tattoos, have a fohawk, and gadgets. I basically look like a person you should run from. When I get to the office I look around.
“Can I help you?” I look down at an older woman with lite purple hair.
“I’m looking for Sophie.”
“Sophie that works in the library?” She questions with a smile.
“Yes, can you point me in her directions?”
“Oh! She’s not here today.”
“Why are you looking for Sophie?” A male voice asks and I turn my head over my shoulder.
“She’s a friend.” I tell him turning back around.
“Sophie doesn’t have friends.” He says in a way that makes it sound like he has tried to be her friend but she wasn’t interested. I turn to face him looking him over. He’s dressed like he works here most likely a teacher. His khaki pants and button down shirt give him away.
“She has me.” I tell him. His eyes look me over before speaking again.
“I find that hard to believe.”
“Is that so?” a raise a brow.
“Honey she will be here tomorrow.” The lady says and I look at her and smile. She smiles back.
“Thanks.” I tell her tapping on the top of her desk before walking past the guy, out the door down the hall and out to my car. I have to wait another day but that’s okay.
The next day when I get to the school I go directly to the office.
“You came back.” The same lady as the day before greets me.” I’m Sue by the way. Then leans forward like she is going to tell me a secret. “Mr. Rasmussen was not happy yesterday.” She wags her finger then smiles like the cat that got the canary before sitting back in her chair and claps once. “So I guess you need directions to the Library.
“That would be helpful.” I smile.
“You sure are pretty.” She laughs. “If I was a few years younger I would have been a jaguar for you.”
“A Jaguar?” I chuckle
“You know an older lady with a younger man?”
“A cougar.”
“Sure whatever you say honey all I know is that I would have given Ms. Grates a run for her money.”
“Sue if you want me you got me.” I tell her leaning in.”
“Oh no honey I wouldn’t even know what to do with you.” She smiles, her eyes sparkling. I shrug and she laughs. “Alright Mr. Go to the library. Take a right out the door walk until you get to the end of the hall and take a left it’s the last door on the left.
“Thanks doll.” I say smiling as I walk out of the office. I have to say that’s the first time I have ever been hit on by a woman my grandmother’s age. When I get to the library doors I look through the small window I spot Sophie right away. She is on her tippy toes putting away books. Today she is wearing navy blue slacks that have a wide leg and a high waist that ends under her breast that are covered in a bright red short sleeve button down top that matches her heels. Jesus her in heels looking like she does was going to be the death of me. I open the door and I’m bombarded by the smell of books. She turns her head to look at me and her eyes go wide her mouth opens and closes a couple of times.
“What are you doing here?” She finally asks before looking around like she is waiting for someone to jump out at her.
“I told you that I would see you when I got back to town. I’m back in town.” I state the obvious.
“Um… Okay but what are you doing here?” She repeats pointing to the ground.
“I don’t have your number. I wanted to take you out to dinner.”
“Dinner?”
“Yes, a meal that you eat at the end of the day.”
“I know what dinner is. I just don’t do that.” She mumbles.
“You don’t eat dinner?” I ask confused.
“No I don’t do dinner with other people.”
“You don’t do dinner with other people?”
“Like date, I don’t date.” She says crossing her arms over her chest accentuating it. My eyes are drawn there and she immediately lowers her arms.
“It’s not a date its dinner.”
“I know, you said that.”
“So what would you like to eat at our not date dinner?” I ask taking a step closer to her. The smell of apples and cinnamon getting stronger the closer I get.
“Nothing we’re not having dinner together.”
“What time do you get off work?”
“Six. I mean I don’t know.” She chews her lower lip, her cheeks turning a pretty shade of pink.
“Alright so no dinner then.” I shrug. “Can I get your number?” She shakes her head no, her cheeks getting even darker. F*ck me she’s cute.
“Sorry.” She whispers looking away. For some reason alarm bells start going off in my head.
“It’s all good.” I beat back the urge to hold her. My mind warring with my body, I watch her for a second then come up with a plan.
“I have to get back to work.” She tells me looking at the floor.
“Alright sweet Sophie I’ll see you around.”
“Bye Nico.” She says softly I turn giving her a chin lift, my chest feeling tight at my name leaving her mouth. I leave the school knowing that this wasn’t over not by a long shot.
Acknowledgements
First, I want to thank God.
Second, I need to thank my fans. You are all amazing! I couldn’t ask for any better; I love you all. Your messages, comments, and love of the Mayson boys has been mind-blowing! Thank you so much.
Next, I need to thank my husband for being my biggest fan and supporter. Your love and encouragement and daily inspiration means the world to me, and without you, I would not have followed my heart and started writing.
To my all of my friends and family I love you all and couldn’t be more grateful to you.
To my mom, I love you thank you for being such a great mom and fan.
To Mommy and Daddy, I'm grateful to god every day for giving you to me as inspiration on what love really is.
I need to give a special thanks to all my adoptive family your support means so much. I also need to thank Hot Tree Editing. You have been amazing to work with.
A GIANT, over-the-top, crazy-huge Thank You to Kayla Robichaux also known as the amazing Kayla the Bibliophile. You are crazy-awesome. (Sometimes just plain crazy but I wouldn’t have it any other way.) Thank you for not only being an amazing editor but an awesome friend.
To each and every blog, reader, and reviewer this wouldn’t be anything without you. Thank you for taking a chance on an unknown author. I wish I could name all of you but this would go on forever just know that I love you guys.
To Love between the Sheets, Thank you for working so hard. Last, but not least, to my Beta Readers Jessica, Carrie, Marta, Laura, Jenny, Rochelle and Midian, Natasha, Lesley. I love you ladies. I know I have the best betas in the world. Thank you, girls, for telling me what I need to hear, not what I want to. And thank YOU for loving the men who live in my head as much as I do.
And a special thanks to the ladies of S- IRACG you know who you are. You have all become amazing friends I'm so happy to share this journey with you all.
XOXOXOXOXO,
Aurora Rose Reynolds