Page 25

Charlie

Unlike two nights ago, Bailey waits for me before leaving work. I find her in the back courtyard, messing with the broken locket, but it’s no use. The clasp won’t hold any longer. After more than a decade of being around her neck, I’m surprised it’s lasted this long.

“I’ll see if I can fix it later,” I say, holding out my palm to help her up.

She looks up at me, her eyes narrowed, at first, like she’s going to snap at me, but then the look vanishes, being replaced with something that goes straight to my chest.

Without a word, she places her hand in mine and lets me pull her to her feet and lead her to the exit. The door opens behind us, Lionel and Marybeth coming out to leave for the night and Bailey quickly drops my hand, crossing her arms over her chest.

As much as I like keeping her to myself, I also feel the need to stake my claim. Remembering her rules, though, I resist and let her walk past me out the gate.

“I guess it’s probably time to let it go,” Bailey grumbles as we walk through the throngs of people on the sidewalk. The Quarter is starting to die down for the night, the only remaining people going to either bars or strip clubs. None of them pay us any attention as we pass, one group of young men even almost running into Bailey before I pull her back against my chest and knock one’s shoulder with my own.

He turns back to say something, but catches the look on my face and keeps walking.

Smart man .

“If it’s something that reminds you of him, you shouldn’t have to give it up.”

Bailey shrugs, wiping a tear from the corner of her eye. “It’s probably stupid to cry about. It’s been twelve years. You’d think I would have gotten over it by now.”

We fall into step beside each other, each of us falling quiet. I don’t know what to say to her. Mom’s death has never gotten any easier. I can’t lie and tell her it will get better.

“You don’t stop grieving someone that dies, Bailey. You just learn to live with it.”

She sucks in a breath and nods. “I believe that.”

After another moment of silence, she nudges me in the ribs. “See,” she points out. “You aren’t always an asshole.”

Oh, really.

In a flash, I grab her hand and tug her to me, wiping that smirk off her face when she clambers into my chest, her hand gripping the front of my shirt to steady herself. I lower my face down, hovering my lips inches from hers. Her breathing grows uneven and her tongue darts out to lick her lips.

I’ll make her regret keeping her mouth from me, even if I have to play dirty .

Bailey inches closer, like she’s going to kiss me and just before she does, I pull back, releasing her.

Her chest heaves a heavy sigh and I can’t hold back the chuckle.

“Mostly an asshole,” she murmurs.

“Charlie.”

Both of us snap to look for the source of the voice at the same time. If you know my luck, you can probably guess who’s fucking standing there.

Priscilla hugs her arms to her chest, shivering in a dress that’s too short and a pair of stilettos. Her makeup runs down her face and I can tell she’s been crying, but strangely, it doesn’t cut me the way it used to.

“Goodnight, Charlie,” Bailey says, giving me a sad, half-smile, before slipping in the back gate to our conjoined place and disappearing.

I watch after, a sinking feeling in my gut that pisses me off.

“What are you doing here, Priscilla?” I asked, mildly annoyed that she just keeps showing up where I am.

Priscilla reaches for me, but I grip her wrists to stop her.

“Can I come inside? I’m freezing.”

I shake my head.

“That’s not going to happen.”

“Why not?” she asks, fresh tears streaming down her face.

“Because I’m not doing this anymore, Priscilla.”

She narrows her eyes, jerking her hands from me. “It’s because of her, isn’t it?”

“Jesus fucking Christ,” I murmur, rubbing the bridge of my nose between my thumb and forefinger .

“It is ,” she snaps, angrily. “I knew something was going on between you two.”

“No. It’s got nothing to do with her.” I take a step back when Priscilla tries to reach for me again. “I said no.”

“Charlie,” Priscilla whines, stomping her foot. I guess, in a way I feel guilty. I’ve allowed her to use me whenever she wants for this long, pulling the plug now seems like a dick move. But Bailey’s right. After the way I saw her act with her friends, the fucking shit she tried to pull knowing damn well what food we have, I don’t want any part of it anymore. She was fun, for a little bit. I maybe even loved her for a while, but I won’t let her walk all over my family anymore.

“I think you need to leave,” I say, nodding to the BMW her dad bought her at the curb, behind my truck. “I don’t want to see you hanging around here or the restaurant.” I need a clean break. If I don’t make it known she’s not welcome, she’ll continue to show up unannounced. “If you show up, you’ll be escorted out.”

I leave her standing on the sidewalk, even after she screams my name. She’s not my responsibility anymore. No this isn’t about Bailey, but she helped me fucking see that Priscilla isn’t good for me.

I go to Bailey’s, because Priscilla isn’t going to ruin our night. I slip inside and make my way into her room where I can hear the shower running.

Perfect .

I toe off my boots and then toss my shirt on the floor next to hers outside the shower before unbuttoning my jeans. Through the steamed glass, I can see her, rinsing the shampoo out of her hair. When it’s gone, she meets my gaze.

“What are you doing?” she asks, watching as I slip my jeans down my legs.

“Showering.”

“With me?” she asks, surprised when I step into the shower with her.

“Yes,” I murmur, sighing as the warm water encapsulates us. My shoulders are tense, my back and feet sore from the long day behind the bar. I grab her soap, some fruity shit that smells like her and wash myself.

“Are you okay?” she asks, her voice sounding small.

“Never better,” I murmur, taking her waist in my hands. She’s so soft, her skin slippery from the water. All I want to do is fall into bed with her and not fucking think about anything for the next couple hours. Then I’m reminded that this is just sex and even what I’m doing right now isn’t that.

“Is Priscilla gone?” Bailey asks quietly, her voice sounding small. I lean my forehead against hers, allowing my hands to explore down the curve of her back, the swell of her breasts and over the sharp blades of her shoulders.

“She is.”

“Oh.”

“Whatever you’re thinking, Bailey, you’d better say it now because once I start fucking you, you won’t have time.”

“I just,” she starts, her voice falling away when I run my palms over her ass. “I just want to make sure you’re okay.”

I sigh, leaning into her and pressing her back into the tile shower wall.

“No. I’ve been thinking about this all day, and you’re thinking about another woman.”

I dip down, pressing my lips along her jawline. Her breath hitches, her eyes growing half-lidded and hazy when I nip at the spot below her ear.

“I couldn’t care less,” she breathes, her hand running down my front to rest just above my cock.

I hide my smile from the jealousness in her voice by pressing my face into her neck.

“So, what do you want to do?” I ask, leaving it open. I’ll give her the option. If she tells me to leave the shower right now, then I guess I’ll go, fucking rock-hard dick and all. If she wants me to fuck her, I’ll do so willingly, every time.

“I want . . .” she stops, her gaze following where her hand slips down and takes my cock. I hiss, the feel of her fingers wrapped around me like a lance of fire shooting through my veins. She licks her lips and I groan, wanting to kiss her. Instead, I lean down to suck at the pulse point in her neck.

Bailey places a hand on my chest and lightly pushes me back. Then. She drops to her knees.

“I want this,” she whispers, looking up at me through her lashes. Suddenly, I know. Those eyes are the windows to her soul. And as long as I live, I’ll never get them out of my mind.

“Say it, Bailey,” I prompt, brushing a stray lock of hair out of her face. I take her lip under my thumb and tug it from between her teeth. She starts stroking me gently, moving her palm slowly over my cock.

“I want your cock in my mouth.”

My balls tighten painfully and I almost fucking explode when she leans forward and laves the head of my cock with her tongue.

“ Fuck ,” I groan, tightening my grip in her hair. I feel like a teenager receiving his first blow job in the back of his dad’s car.

The first slide of my cock disappearing into Bailey’s mouth sends a lance of fire up the base of my spine. My hips jerk impatiently in response. I guess I’m a weak man. I don’t possess the strength to hide how much I fucking crave her.

“That’s right, baby,” I urge when she lets me slide down her throat. “Take my cock like a good girl.”

She moans, the sound sending vibrations down to my balls. I groan at the feeling of my cock being enveloped by the slick wet heat of her mouth and my head falls back. Bailey’s eyes glimmer, like she’s smiling, silently taunting me while my dick is buried in her throat.

“Are you laughing at me, princess?” My voice is thick with lust, the veins in my arm bulging with my struggle to regain my self-control.

Bailey’s eyes roll to the back of her head and she moans like my cock is the best thing she’s ever tasted.

“You’re being so . . . timid,” she says, pulling back and continuing to pump my cock with her hand.

“Timid. Is that what you think I’m doing?”

It’s not that she delivered a blow to my ego. It’s the insecurity in her eyes.

“I just want you to like it,” she whispers, her voice sounding small.

Fucking hell. I’m trying to hold onto my self-control yet Bailey is worried I’m not enjoying myself?

“What would you prefer I do? ”

Her cheeks turn a deep shade of pink, her bottom lip drawing between her teeth. I cock my head at her, testing her. “I want you to fuck my mouth,” she whispers.

Fuck . . .

“You want me to be rough with you?”

She nods, albeit, nervously.

“Put my cock back in your mouth,” I command. Steeling myself, I tighten my fingers in her hair.

Eagerly, she does, letting her tongue slip along the thick vein on the underside of my cock. I roll my hips, fucking into her mouth.

“Is this what you wanted?” I ask, repeating the motion, slipping into her throat just enough to make my balls draw up.

I jerk my hips harder, and moans slip free from Bailey’s throat. She nods around my cock, the motion disrupted when I continue to thrust my hips.

“You want more?” I rasp and she nods, again.

Tears stream from the corners of her eyes and I catch one with my thumb.

“These are the only tears I like,” I murmur, taking her face into my hands. I brush the hair back from her cheeks and guide her on my cock. She whimpers when I fist my fingers in her hair, holding her still and working myself further into her throat.

Her free hand slides up my stomach, her nails leaving a trail of fire in their wake. I take that hand in mine and pin it to my chest. Restraining myself, I guide her slowly over my cock, but when hums around my length, I just say fuck it. Something in me snaps .

“Deeper, baby,” I murmur, thrusting my hips into her mouth. The most torturous fucking feeling hits me when she rubs her thighs together, clearly enjoying this, and my head falls back on a groan. “Take me into your throat.”

She obliges, letting me slip just an inch before she’s gagging, pulling back to suck in a shallow breath.

“God, you’re so fucking sexy,” I grit, my heart pounding in my chest. “Your mouth is going to make me come so fucking hard.”

Greedily, she sucks me back down her throat, humming around me. A shudder racks through me, my control completely breaking. Fisting her hair in my hands and holding her head still, I fuck her mouth, staring into those soul-gripping eyes filled with tears from my cock until everything explodes. I come with a roar, stilling and shooting into her throat.

Intense pleasure radiates through every vein in my body until I can’t fucking breathe.

I forget my name, where I am. Everything.

“Come here,” I murmur when the orgasm subsides. I tug her up and hold her to me. I cut the water in the shower off and then carry her off to bed, so I can bury myself in her until morning.

Fucking nirvana.