Page 33 of Accepted Precedent (Love & Politics #3)

Andrew

“ F uck, baby, you just came. How are you already hard for me?” Mick murmurs beside my ear with a chuckle.

The truth is, I’ve missed him. Missed being the center of his whole world. He loves Evelyn more than me—I don’t blame him—but it feels like this past year has pulled us apart. Still, his heart has always had space for me, and tonight I can’t help basking in the glow of his attention.

Mickey rolls me onto my back, pausing for a moment as his bright green eyes search mine before kissing me. I let him lead me like he used to, owning my body and my pleasure. He reaches between us and fists my cock, moaning, “Show me who you still belong to.”

There’s a hint of jealousy in his tone, and I assure him, “I’m still yours,” even if it isn’t entirely true. I can’t bring myself to admit that I’m not only his.

He pins my arms above my head and demands, “These stay here until I’m done with you.”

“Yes, Daddy.”

A small, satisfied smirk tilts his lips.

Moving down my body, he keeps his eyes locked with mine and leaves a trail of bites and hickeys in his wake.

I’ve always loved being marked by him, but something about this is different—I just can’t put my finger on it.

The moment he wraps his mouth around my cock, all the anxious thoughts melt away as I enjoy the flicks and swirls of his tongue on my crown and his strong hand stroking me.

“Fuck,” I groan, “that feels so fucking good.”

Mick chuckles darkly, the extra sensation of the vibration making my cock thicken in his hand.

He retrieves the bottle of lube he tossed haphazardly aside earlier and squeezes it into his hand, then massages my cock in long, slow strokes.

I grip the pillowcase for dear life, afraid I’m going to come too soon.

“You’re going to wait for me, baby.”

Mick throws my legs over his shoulders, then adds lube to his thick cock and lines himself up with my ass.

He slides in, just an inch, letting me adjust to him.

I’m still a little sore from earlier, but welcome the stretch.

Slowly picking up speed, he rocks in and out of me, a little deeper each time.

I tilt my hips to meet his rhythm, loving how it makes him feral.

He strokes my cock at the same pace, and it’s nearly enough to make me come.

“What did I say?” he growls. “Your body is mine to play with tonight. You come when I say you can.” I steady my heart rate with deep breaths in, filling my lungs each time before blowing them out. My body relaxes, and he praises, “Just like that. You’re fuckin’ perfect.”

“Fuck, Mick, you can’t say stuff like that or I’m going to come.”

“It’s the truth.” He thrusts harder as he grits out, “You’ve been so fuckin’ good for me, taking my cock like this while you wait ‘til I let you come.” Fucking me harder, deeper—but not faster—he struggles to hang on, so do I. His jaw is tight as he grits out a few swears.

“I’m close,” I breathe, unable to stop the inevitable.

Mickey pulls out of my ass and slinks further down the bed, then takes all of me in his mouth. It feels too fucking good; I nearly black out. I can’t take it a moment longer as he coaxes my orgasm from me. He continues licking and sucking until he’s swallowed every last drop.

I’m flipped onto my stomach, and my vision still isn’t clear. As he slides back into my ass, he grunts, “You’re going to be my good boy and come again for me.”

It feels unachievable, but I’ve always accepted his challenges—even if I fail. I’m still in my post-orgasm haze, and while I don’t think I could come again this soon, each thrust prolongs my euphoria. It doesn’t take long before he finds his own release.

A bit dazed as he shifts me onto my back, Mick kisses me.

It’s a little sloppy, but I couldn’t care less, smiling against his lips.

Finally moving my hands, I grip his back and pull him impossibly closer.

We both know I’m not his forever-person—Evelyn is—but it doesn’t change the fact that a part of me will always be his.

He’s… home.

The lights shut off, and Mick groans, “Fuckin’ hell. Worst possible timing.”

“It’s probably just a power outage. I’m sure there are generators, and it’ll be back on soon.”

He collapses beside me and pulls me to him, our legs tangling. “Not for a while.” It’s an odd thing to say, but I shrug it off as him being sex-drunk. “I need to get you cleaned up, but I don’t want to risk you slipping in the dark shower.”

“We should check on Evelyn.”

He presses soft kisses to my shoulder as he insists, “Our girl is fine. Probably asleep.”

“She’s not mine, Mick,” I remind him. “She’s yours.”

“You’re both mine, but she’s also your”—he hums as he considers his wording—“platonic soulmate.”

“I suppose she is,” I chuckle, closing my eyes to savor his lips on me.

“You’re so tense. You need to relax, baby. Do you need me to check on her?”

“Yeah,” I admit softly. I’m sure he’s right, and Evie’s asleep, but I’ll feel better once I know she’s safe. “We should also call Kristin.” He freezes, and I quickly add, “And Finn. We should make sure they’re all okay.”

“Right,” he grunts, and guilt seeps in.

If Mickey knows how I feel about Kristin, is that why things are changing between us? He has to suspect something, and even if he doesn’t, I should be honest with him. But we should talk about it when we’re not naked and in need of a shower.

He rolls over and reaches for his phone—it’s dead. I do the same, but come up with the same result, a little battery icon glowing on the screen. “We forgot to charge them last night.”

“Kristin should’ve called by now, and I missed her call,” he says gruffly to himself, and I hate that he’s now on edge. Why the hell would he be expecting a call from her? He tries the room he booked for her, but there’s no answer, then tries again. “Pick up the phone, Proctor.”

Something’s not right; I can feel it in my gut.

I sit up and make my way to the bathroom. Mick normally insists on helping clean up, but I don’t have time for it. If something happened to Evie or Kristin, I’d hate myself forever.

Grabbing a wash cloth, I soak it in warm water. “That’s my job,” he snaps, startling me.

My vision hasn’t adjusted fully to the darkness, but I can still make out his large frame in the doorway. “What did you mean by Kristin should have called you? It’s two in the morning.”

Stepping behind me, he takes the wet cloth from me and replies, “The less you know, the better. I just tried to reach Evie in my suite, but she’s also not picking up.

” He gently swipes the washcloth between my ass cheeks and rubs his hand up and down my back.

“I need you to stay here while I check on them.”

I turn to face him. “No. Something’s wrong. I know you hide things from Evelyn and me, but now isn’t the time for secrets. I don’t need all of the details, but are they in danger?”

“They could be.” Mickey firmly grips the back of my neck. “Nothing will happen to them, I promise, but please stay here.”

“Our phones are dead.” I swallow thickly. “What if something happens to you?”

He pulls me closer, resting his forehead on mine. “I’m practically immortal, but if anything happened to you, burning in hell for eternity wouldn’t be enough punishment for me.”

“You said it yourself: she’s my platonic soulmate. If anything happened to her, and I didn’t at least try to help or stop it, I’d be joining you in the eternal hellfire.”

“Fair enough,” he huffs. “I’ll look for a portable battery charger while you get dressed.”

I close the distance and kiss him, grateful he’s taking this seriously. Oftentimes I wonder if he forgets he is not in fact immortal, and has enemies who would happily kill me or Evelyn just to hurt him.

Mickey cleans us up as best we can in the dark, then rummages through a bag for a battery pack. I quickly dress in boxer briefs, sweatpants, and a tee, then try calling both rooms with no luck.

Once Mick is dressed and my phone is charged enough to turn on, we head to his room where Evie is staying. He swipes the keycard and calls into the room, “Angel? Wake up, love.”

I click the flashlight icon, shining it into the room. The bed is empty.

Fuck .

“Can I get the light over here?” Mickey’s crouched near the closet, and I focus the light on the safe. He types in the code, and as it opens, he growls, “Where the fuck is my gun?”

“Does she know the safe code?”

“Aye, but I told her it was for emergencies only.”

The buzz of electricity zings through the room as the lights turn on and various miniature appliances come back to life.

The flashlight dims and my phone shuts off.

“Shit! Cheap battery pack.” He springs into action, opening and closing drawers, checking the suitcase, and fluffing the comforter. “What are you looking for?”

“Any sign of struggle, missing items… I don’t know.” Worry mars his features, and I can’t remember the last time I’ve seen him like this—if ever. “I’m only going to tell you this once: you need to stay here while I find Evelyn.”

“Then I’m only going to tell you this once: no. If there’s even a one-percent chance she’s in danger, I’m coming with you.”

His eyes darken. “I can’t lose both of you!”

“You won’t,” I assure him. “Her phone is gone. Maybe she’s with Kristin?”

“I fuckin’ hope not,” he grumbles under his breath, then uses the room phone.

He rakes a hand through his hair and sucks in a breath as they answer.

“I need your help locating someone… Yes, and her sister…” Whoever he’s talking to speaks for a while.

Eyes wide, he roars, “Call her back right fuckin’ now! ”

“What’s going on?”

He holds up a finger as he listens. The longer he does, the more his body relaxes. “Okay. Do whatever you have to, to protect her—both of them”

Mickey slams the phone down and stalks out of the room. I follow, still unsure where he’s going or what’s happening. As he opens the door, he pauses, the bright hall lights illuminating his pained scowl. “They’re both safe. They have to be.”

We exit and take the stairwell down two floors. Knocking on Kristin’s door, he commands, “Open the door, Ms. Proctor.”

Mick glances to the room across the hall. “So help me…”

“What?” I whisper-shout, following his gaze.

He crosses the space and raps his knuckles on the door. “Stand behind me.”

I do as he asks, and there’s a faint rustling coming from inside. The door flings open to Evelyn and Kristin in their pajamas, covered in blood. Mickey doesn’t hesitate a millisecond, grabbing Evie and pulling her to him.

My eyes dart between all of them. “What the fuck is going on?”

“Are you hurt, angel?”

“No,” she squeaks, “but if you squeeze me any tighter, I will be.”

“We need to get out of here,” Kristin insists, pushing past us.

I grip her arm to stop her. “What the fuck is going on?” I repeat a little more forcefully.

She pulls out a keycard and drags me with her across the hall. “I’ll explain once we’re inside.” Calling over her shoulder, she hisses, “Come on. We don’t have much time.”

We file into her room. The moment the door shuts behind us, Mickey has Evelyn’s face in his hands, roughly kissing her. It would be a sweet moment if her arms weren’t painted red.

“Who was that guy in there? Did you kill him?”

Kristin takes my hand and leads me to her bed, sitting at the edge of it. “I don’t know how much I can share, but Evelyn and I are okay.”

My arms fly wide. “What about any of this is okay? My best friend and the woman I love are?—”

“Don’t,” she warns.

“Don’t what?”

“Just… don’t.”

I sit beside her and take her hand in mine. “I do though.”

“No, you love Mickey.”

I glance over to Evie and Mick. He checks her over, despite her insistence that she’s fine. She hands him a surgical glove and whispers something to him, entirely too proud of herself.

“I can love more than one person,” I admit, pulling my attention back to her. “I love Mickey; he makes me feel safe and secure. I love Evelyn; she’s like family, and we lean on each other. But you?” I squeeze her hand tighter. “You make me want to be the best version of myself.”

“So, you love people because of how they make you feel, not because of who they are?”

“How do I make you feel?”

She watches the interaction between her sister and Mick, and sighs, “Inadequate.”

I’m about to ask why when Mick announces, “I’m going to take Evie back to my room to get her cleaned up.”

“No,” Evie protests but offers Kristin a small smile. “I promised I would stay with her tonight.”

“Then she can come with us,” Mick chuckles.

“No offense, Mr. Gallagher, but I am not sharing a bed with you.”

He lets out a full laugh. “I have a two-room suite, love. The hotel always upgrades me, even if I insist one bed is enough. Come stay with us.”

“And listen to you hump like rabbits? I’ll pass, thanks.”

“We’ll all go,” I offer. Keeping her hand firmly in mine, I then whisper to her, “I’ll sleep on the ground if you want, but we need to talk.”

Mick’s eyes narrow on our joined hands, but Evelyn wraps her arms around him, making his expression soften. With a curt nod, he interlaces his fingers with Evie’s and insists, “Help her pack and meet me in my room. Also, Ms. Proctor, please call Ned and let him know he can begin cleanup.”

“Of course, Mr. Gallagher.”

“Mickey,” he corrects. “Thank you for taking care of our girl.”

“It was the other way around, sir.”

A proud grin dances on his face but he quickly hides it. “I’m just glad you’re both okay.”