Page 9

Chapter

Nine

ADON

Short hairs prevent me from tugging on the ends of my fresh cut. I’m filled with pent-up frustration, with no way to get rid of it. Beating off doesn’t help. Every ounce of ire is directed at the little pink haired library attendant I fucked a few days ago. Rosy couldn’t be bothered to use her safe word, but she sure could use her mouth to make vile threats against me.

This is why I need to stay away. She’s too young and immature. Trouble if I ever saw it. And the very reason why my rules exist. I just need to be strong and not think with my strangled dick.

“So are you coming?” Rhodes shifts his feet while slapping his lanyard keychain repeatedly in his hand. Dark stains coat his scrub pants, and I can’t help the disgusted sneer on my upper lip as I look at them. My finger wags at his outfit.

“What is that and why haven’t you changed?”

His head drops back as he sighs, giving me a glance at his neck muscles tightening on a swallow. “I just finished a rough shift at the hospital. Putting on new clothes is the least of my concerns. Celine wants to know how many guests we should expect for the Halloween party. Quit your bitching and just show up.”

Friday night is going to be filled with nothingness. I already decided this after my last hurrah in the stacks. Jazz music, some Scotch, maybe a good book on World War I sound much better than a loud party. I’ll be comfortable, cozy…and, sure, I’ll probably end up jerking myself to sleep, thinking about being inside Piper at the library. That part of the evening is hidden away in some of my brain.

“I don’t think so.”

Eli kicks his feet up on the desk with a thud and leans back while the seat groans in response under his heavy weight. “Essa really needs family. I think she’s pretty excited about tonight, and I want her to have a good time. Can we show her what it’s like?”

The corners of his eyes wince as he says the words, and I wonder what it will be like for my younger brother to be around all the drinking while staying sober. Maybe I should go so I can watch over him.

“You’re dressing up?” A partial chuckle escapes my lips as I picture him wearing some ridiculous costume.

Eli shrugs and nods. “Yeah. She got us some outfits. Something Piper cooked up, I think.”

At the mention of Rosy girl, my stomach flips with anticipation, knuckles turning white as they grip the edge of the office chair. Clearing my throat, I manage to sound completely nonchalant. “Piper’s going to be there?”

Neither of my brothers look at me, so I must have pulled off the casual tone. Eli sits up and leans across the desk. “Yeah, and we need more food, too.” His eyes flash to Rhodes’s for a moment, as if he’s already regretting his next sentence. “Celine wants only vegan stuff, but not anything from a, uh, a root vegetable, I think.”

Rhodes’s shoulders stiffen at the mention of his on-again, off-again girlfriend. I gave up trying to get the bitch out of the picture. Rhodes is on his own with that one.

“Fine. I’ll stop by and bring some pizzas or something.” Already, my fingers find the store app to order some as I wonder what Rosy will wear…

“Thanks, big bro.” Eli’s grin spreads across his face. I haven’t seen him this happy in a long while. Even Rhodes looks relieved. So glad I could help my family out and be there for them. Which is the only reason I’m going. That’s it.

Unless Piper needs another fucking spanking.

My eyes catch on a newspaper headline covering the front page of Northview News : “Rainy Day Could Disguise Foul Play.” With sweaty palms, I snag it and shake the pages open.

Under the bold words, the article explains that the victim, Meghan Martinez, had an autopsy performed after her sudden demise at the coffee shop. Cause of death was asphyxiation. She had a trace amount of cyanide in her system, but the pathologist explains this was not unusual or the likely reason for her suffocation.

The cafe is quarantined until further tests of their equipment and served items are performed by the health department. A pleading, yet professional, quote from the owner, states he is cooperating with guidelines and willing to do whatever it takes to re-open and gain the public’s trust.

My pulse races at the image of the deceased woman standing with her husband on the steps of Northview University. As I rub my forehead, I try to will the guilt away. If only… Maybe if I’d tried harder, I could have saved her. She had a loving husband and a career as manager of the Northview Community Bank. No kids, but she had a stepson from her husband’s former marriage.

I’d be nothing without Avery and Odin. God, tonight would be lonely without the party. Standing, I shake off the sadness still lingering from the woman’s dark eyes. The same that stared up at me as I pounded her chest, trying to get her heart beating again. The ones that clouded over until they were devoid of life.

“I’ll see you all tonight.”

By the time evening rolls around, I regret the decision to attend. But ten cardboard boxes of pizza steam up my truck from the passenger seat, so I have to go inside. What would I do with all of them at home? Probably eat three and get sick.

Stepping out of the vehicle, I grab the stack and head to the front door. One of Rhodes’s friend throws it open, and I greet him with a nod as he helps me carry some of the boxes. As we meander to the kitchen, my eyes immediately get caught on the pixie wearing a costume that makes my steps stutter. Unfortunately, the sight of her little body in her short corset dress makes my jeans tight around the crotch as my cock thickens in my boxer briefs. She’s almost unrecognizable with a long, black wig and vampire teeth, but I’d know her figure anywhere. Probably could pick out the scent of her pussy in a lineup by now.

Muscles in the back of my jaw get tired of clenching as I try to think about anything other than the feel of her cunt all over me. Sliding the pizza onto the side counter, I turn around quickly. Eli’s greeting smile lights up my world as he holds his girlfriend in front of him. The two sway in sync, looking cozy together.

“Hey, bro. Where are the kids?”

I shove the sleeves of my Henley up my forearms. The party is crowded and noisy. Definitely not my scene.

“Emily has them this weekend.”

Little Rosy’s spring green eyes peek around my brother and roll heavily, like she can’t stand seeing me here. Involuntarily, my brow lowers with frustration. I can’t let her know how much she’s getting to me.

“Too good to dress up for Halloween?” She snorts a sarcastic laugh through her cute nose.

“Dressing up for Halloween is for children.”

Eli laughs. “Hey! I’m dressed up!”

I snag a cold beer from the fridge and tip the top toward his outfit. “That’s my point.” With a smirk, I screw off the cap as Eli tosses a napkin in my face. As I chug back some of the suds, Piper grabs Essa’s hand and flashes her eyes over at me.

“Come on. Us kids are going to dance and let the old men rest.” Her hips sway as her black cape flutters with her hurry into the living room, where the music blares a deafening beat.

My brother leans his thick arms over the kitchen island and gives me a look . One I don’t want to see. I can already feel my cheeks flaring with color. “You like her.”

The ceiling seems especially interesting, and I study the patterns of plaster stamped in it, tipping back the rest of the beer. But even when I finish it, Eli’s warm eyes still find me. Deadpan, I ask, “Who?”

Instead of answering, he smiles, shoves back off the counter, and wanders toward his girlfriend. After forced mingling with some of Rhodes’s friends, I find Tate hanging out in the back talking to Heather, who he’s tried to get for years . She gives him a pity laugh and walks away as he spots me.

“No luck?” I hand him another open beer and loosen the top of my own.

His eyes follow her as he shrugs. “Someday. Just gotta be patient.” I watch where he’s looking and catch Piper, who looks filled with joy, tossing her arms in the air. Something about the image makes my heart ache in a way I can’t understand. To feel that free and devoid of responsibility must be refreshing. It’s how I felt in the alley and in the library. In the club as Daddy Don. As him, I could create an image, be in control, and only worry about my sub’s needs alone.

Tate and I avoid talking about work for almost an entire hour before I’m too bored to stay at the party and my extroversion has been exhausted. I stretch my neck and glance around for a polite way to leave, but I can’t stop staring into the living room in front of me.

My balls ache at the sight of Piper dancing seductively on my brother’s girlfriend. She flips her torso forward and gyrates up while flashing her ass to a woman behind her, who’s definitely noticing her moves.

The tops of my ears flash with heat when the woman grips Piper by the waist and undulates with her. Biting my lower lip, I fight the urge to stomp in there and remind her of what I said in the library. That she should be available for me . Is she so irresponsible that she’d just have sex with anyone without protection?

I spin and face the counter to stop myself from doing something stupid. My arms spread wide on either side of the sink as I take a deep, steadying breath. Catching my reflection in the back window, I rub a hand over my face. “Adon, what the fuck were you thinking?” I ask myself aloud.

In the distorted image, I watch Eli hug his girlfriend and the love between them shows. They’re in their own world. Safe and comfortable together. Both of their faces are lit with happiness and serenity.

Something I’ll probably never have.

A shrill scream interrupts my moment as Celine flings champagne against the wall. Sparkles of glass shatter in the low lamplight of the hallway as Rhodes stomps after his girlfriend, the two in an intense argument in the middle of the crowded area. People part like the two have an infectious disease, then slowly mill out of the house, the drama like a loud last call.

My eyes drift toward Piper, who grips the hand of the woman she’d been sidled up to earlier. Part of me thinks I should just let this go. Toss the weird feeling in my gut aside, then bury it, and let the young girl be.

But then, she glances at me.

Rosy’s eyes lock onto mine, before she tosses a sly grin over her shoulder like she knows every fucking thing she’s doing to my dick right now. Calling me over to her like a siren song.

This brat is asking for it.

Do I let the jealous monster win?

Sure as fuck I do.

When she follows the woman out the door, I wade through people leaving to try to catch up. If she thinks she’s going home with someone else, she’s sorely mistaken. Not after what we’ve done and what I plan to continue doing. She needs to take care of this growing situation in my jeans.

Outside, the two women hop into a small white electric car, and I scurry toward my vehicle to follow. Once I finally get to my truck, I jump in and throw on a baseball hat sitting in my passenger seat as a cheap disguise. It’s too dark for them to really see who it is anyway.

I tail them to a bad part of town as the car drives up to a shitty apartment complex. As soon as they pull into the parking lot, I follow close behind. Like a deranged stalker. There’s no denying it. Is that what I am now? Look what she’s made me do.

When they stop, I block in the car and jump out just as Piper opens the passenger door with a giggle that stops short as she spies me strolling toward her side. I flip the ball cap around so she can see my face. I don’t want to scare her. Not completely.

“What in the actual fuck, Adon?!”

The woman who drove stands up on the other side of the car, her eyes wide and afraid. “Do you know him?”

Piper crosses her arms and sits back in the seat as I lay out my hand in front of her to take. “Let’s go.”

“What? No way. You’re crazy!”

Squatting to her level, my eyes pierce hers. “I told you to be ready for me any time. This isn’t ready for me.”

The driver scoffs as she bends over to give me a death stare. She opens her mouth to protest, but I cut her off.

“And you’re not going anywhere with someone else.”

Piper’s dusky bottom lip juts out until I want to bite it. Her chest heaves in her black corset, pushing her tiny breasts up as high as they can go. I can practically see her heart racing as she contemplates what to say. “You’re not my dad .”

It hits me then. Her desperation in the club, the vulnerability she showed me as a stranger…it’s all so real on her. That openness she tries to hide when she’s so desperate for someone to care for her. It’s there. And others will take advantage of it.

But not me.

“No, but I’m your daddy and you will obey me.” Snagging her tiny hand, I tug on it, but she doesn’t move.

She doesn’t drop my grip either.

So I reach in and gather her up in my arms as she flails while screaming. “Put me down now!” But with all her fight, her little legs snake around my waist willingly, until I know she feels what she’s done to me all night with her teasing.

“Tell the nice lady good night. You don’t want to miss your curfew.”

“Piper, you want me to call someone?” the woman calls out as I walk us toward my truck.

Part of me worries she’ll say yes, but Piper just yells over my shoulder, “I’ll talk to you soon!”

My palm rears back as I spank the shit out of her tiny ass. She yelps as I murmur in her ear, “No, you won’t.”