Another One Bites the Dust (29 page)

Then the man he’d seen tonight shows up and tells him that the baby was his own flesh and blood.  My only guess was that that man was his father, and then it went on to realize that the man we’d seen getting CPR had to be his brother, or the woman who died had to be his sister.  Either way, it wasn’t looking good.  Someone’s life was lost, and another hung in the balance.

I needed Max.  I needed a goddamn hug.  This night could suck it.

Chapter 15

Never mistake my silence for weakness.  No one plans a murder out loud.

-T-shirt

Max

I watched her walk inside.  Her head hung miserably, and I felt lower than low.  I’d heard what had gone down two days ago, and I knew that she needed me.  Sadly, for this plan to work, I had to stay away.  Her dejectedness played into our plans well. 

Alas, I couldn’t do it.  I couldn’t leave her like this.

James came and told me what had happened.  He also told me the shit that went down with Sam’s father.  This was not good.  The man was a killer.  He had no remorse for anyone or anything when it came to protecting his own.

It took me a day, but I was able to get out with the Chief’s help, and here I stood, watching her get out of the car and walk towards the front door.  She opened it quietly and waved to Jack as he left.

I was sitting in my recliner in the dark watching her through the front window.  Alpha came right up to me and rubbed his head against my jean-clad thigh.  I gave him an ear scratch and waited for her to notice me.

She left the room, leaving the lights off as she went.  That was unusual for her; normally every light in the house was on if she was in it.  Tonight was different though.  She walked to the bedroom and stripped out of her clothes as she went.  Her shirt and shoes were in the living room.  Her pants and bra dropped in the hallway, and finally her panties in the doorway. 

Then I saw here there, on the bed, on her hands and knees, waiting for me.  My cock sprang to life, and I found myself stripped out of my clothes and behind her in an instant.

“How’d you know I was here?”  I asked quietly.

I walked up behind her and ran my rough palms over the silky skin of her backside.  My thumbs touched the inside of her thigh where it met the lips of her sex, but it didn’t stray any further.

“You left the porch light on for me.”  She whispered and then wiggled her hips at me.

I dropped to my knees, and studied her.  Placing my hands on either side of her thighs, I let my thumbs drag over the lips of her sex so I could expose her to my gaze.  She was wet and glistening.  Her clit was visible, and my mouth watered.  I wanted nothing more than to suck on the little nub until she begged me to stop.

Next time would have to do, because I was about out of control.  I hadn’t seen her in two whole days.  Hadn’t spoken to her.  Hadn’t felt her breathing against me as she slept.  Hadn’t felt the silkiness of her skin.  The tinkling laugh that escaped her as she did something funny.

That and I hadn’t shaved in nearly a week.  Some beard growth was okay, but any more and I’d give her rug burn.

“I need you.”  I said to her desperately.

“What do you think I’m waiting here for?  To air out my vagina?”  She laughed.

I didn’t say a word.  I wasn’t touching that one with a ten-foot pole.  That was a touchy subject with women, and I’ll be damned if I say something to offend her.  With those pregnant hormones coursing through her veins, she’d probably take it the wrong way and try to chop my dick off.

Lining my cock up with her slick entrance, I filled her with one slow slick thrust.

“You know, I’ve heard tantric sex is hot.”  I said teasingly.

“We could never do tantric sex.  Don’t you have to sit still for that?”  She asked wiggling back on me, trying to get me to move.

I smacked her ass lightly and she laughed.  “You left me high and dry for three days!”  She moaned.

“Wouldn’t that be wet and empty?”  I provoked.

“Well, I guess that would be a better explanation.  Now fuck me already.”

I did. 

Long and deep strokes.  My pace never altered from the one I set.  This was going to last a while, and my goal was to make up for those three days that I’d cheated her out of her orgasms.

Payton on the other hand, had different ideas.  With each thrust forward, she started slamming herself back against me.  It wasn’t long and I was ready to blow.  Anchoring my hands at her shoulders, I started slamming into her harder and harder.  Each hard thrust had me butting up against her cervix with the head of my cock.

“Fuck.”  Payton said as she lowered herself down so that her chest was touching the mattress. 

I moved my hands to her hips, and held on so tight that she’d probably have bruises in the morning.  Five perfect finger marks.  Payton’s heat tightened so hard on my cock that I saw stars, and then her channel started pulsing with her orgasm.  It felt like a-fucking-mazing.

Knowing that I no longer needed to hold off, I let myself go.  I watched as my glistening cock tunneled in and out of her slick heat.  My cock was glistening with her copious juices.  Pulling out far enough each time that my cock kissed the entrance to her channel.  Then I thrust forward so hard that I bottomed out, and then repeated it.  My control splintered, and I shot off inside of her. 

Three days’ worth of pent up frustration poured out of me and coated her insides. Pulling out my softening cock, I watched as my come dribbled out of her and fell to the sheets between her thighs.  It was such a sight that my spent cock was brought back to life as if  it had been shocked.

Smiling, I slammed back inside of her again, and repeated what we’d just got done doing.

“Fuck.  You’re a monster,” She laughed.

I did notice, however, that she didn’t complain.  This second time lasted much longer, and it was how I’d envisioned the first time as being.  It was long, slow, and sweaty.  By the time we were both spent nearly forty minutes later, we didn’t even have the energy to wash ourselves clean.

“Not it.”  I said.

“Rock, paper, scissors.”  She demanded.

We did the ritual, and I won with rock over paper.  “Best two out of three.”  She demanded.

I won again, with paper over her rock.  Even though I won, we both got up and cleaned each other in the shower. 

“Can you tell me what’s going on yet?”  She asked as she rinsed the shampoo out of her hair.

The smell of some fruity shit wafted up to my nose, and it instantly reminded me of what I’d been yearning to smell over the past three days.  Her fruity shampoo, the cotton candy lotion she used, even the smell of the cinnamon gum that she was constantly chewing on.  She just smelled like home.

“Not yet.”  I said as I kissed her nose.

She sighed in frustration.  “I need to go to my parents.  Bennett got the test results today.” 

I focused on her face, trying to read it, but she was shut down tight.  “So?”

Her head hit my sternum with a thump.  “It’s his.  I was praying it wasn’t his, but it is.”

I said the only thing I could think of to say.  It wasn’t eloquent, but it fit the situation.  “Well fuck.” 

 “My thoughts exactly.” 

ɸ

“You okay, man?”  I asked Bennett as I sat down on the rocking chair beside him.

“Yeah.  It’s a shock, but it’s good to finally know.  That’s all I’ve been able to think about for the past five months.”  He explained.

I imagined it was.  Payton and I were twenty-five and twenty-six years old.  We both had well established jobs.  We both were well off financially.  Fuck, we were graduated from high school.  Bennett had none of those things.  What he did have, however, was an excellent support system.

“What are you going to do?”  I asked him.

His gaze caught on a slow moving car that was trying to avoid hitting a deer.  “Mom and Dad are taking me to a lawyer on Monday to see about what rights I have.  I think that Corinne wants to give the baby up for adoption.  I don’t want to.” 

It felt like déjà vu.  Everything he was explaining happened with James when Janie was born.  Although James was at least graduated and had a career at the time.  This would be one hell of a bumpy road for Bennett.  It would be a struggle for him to even graduate.  He would though, if I had to attend every class with him and watch his kid while he did it.

The front storm door swished open and Tony stepped out.  He handed us all beers, and sat down on the step above Bennett.  He stayed silent for a full ten minutes before breaking it.

“If you go in to the Marines, I won’t be mad at you.”  He said blandly.

The tension that was building burst with his statement.

“Uh, no dad.  I’ve already made my decision.”  He laughed.

“This is going to be tough.  You have a long road ahead of you.”  He said concern evident in his voice.

I decided now was the time to leave them along for a bit.  That and my beer was empty.  I needed beer to deal with this shit.  Standing, I clapped Bennett on the shoulder, and made my way into the house.  I followed the sound of arguing voices, and found Payton and her mom in what I guessed was Tony and Jessie’s bedroom.  They were both laying down on the bed listening to a song.

“He’s totally saying, “wrapped up like a douche.”  There is no way he’s saying anything else.”  Payton said.

“Payton.  He’s saying deuce, not douche.  Go look up the lyrics.”  She laughed.

I’d always wondered about the song myself, but not enough to look the lyrics up as Payton was currently doing.  “You were right!” 

I leaned against the doorframe and waited for them to notice me.  After a couple minutes, I realized that both women were really good at not paying attention. 

“Pitch Perfect is on!”  Payton squealed.

“Aw, come on.  We just watched that last night!”  I said exasperated.

They both screeched like banshees, and popcorn, cokes, and cookies went flying.  A bowl sailed through the air, which I caught just before it slammed into my face.  “Mother fucker, Max!”  Payton yelled.  “What have I told you about sneaking up on me?”

“Which time?”  I asked innocently.

Payton’s mom let out a deep belly laugh.  “Oh, honey.  These men of ours can’t help it.  Your daddy has told me some stories, and after hearing those, I don’t care if he sneaks up on me anymore.  I’m just glad he had that skill when he needed them.”

I smiled, but it didn’t reach my eyes.  She was right about that.  At times during my deployment and subsequent missions, if I wasn’t quiet, I was dead.  Payton didn’t need to hear about that though.

“So, I think we need to make a wager.”  I said as I crawled in between mother and daughter, put my back to the headboard, and pulled them both into my sides.

“What’s that?”  Payton laughed and scooted as close as she could.  Her belly seemed to have grown over the past three days.  She was all belly, all the way.  The baby squirmed at the contact, and I couldn’t help the surge of elation I felt every time I felt the baby move.

“The first wager I’d like to propose is if ours is a boy or a girl.  The second is whose baby will be born first.  There is only a week separating the due dates from what I’ve been told.”  I said

I was trying to put something positive into this big ‘ol mess.  Jessie and Tony were concentrating on the impact this would have on Bennett’s life.  They weren’t looking at the positive in this.  That a new life would be here, and they would be able to spoil another grand baby.

“Mine will be first.”  Payton declared.

“You’re a week behind, dear.  You’ll probably go two weeks over your due date, and even then have to be induced.”  Jessie said with a look that said she thought her daughter was delusional.

Payton buried her face into the crook of my arm and groaned.  “You’re probably right.  Im so over being pregnant.” 

This was new to me.  I didn’t realize the pregnancy was bothering her.  “Why?”

“Everything hurts at the end of a shift.  And I feel like a fat heifer.” 

I think this was one of those times I was supposed to say, “Oh, you’re not fat.” Or something to that effect.  But I sensed a trap, and I hesitated too long trying to figure out the best response.

She wrenched herself from my arms and ran to her mother’s bathroom.

 I threw the pillow I was laying on over my face and groaned.  “Motherfucker.” 

Jessie was giggling, and that is when Tony found us.  “What the fuck?”

“Oh, my God.  What have I done to deserve this?”  I asked the pillow that was still covering my face.

Jessie got up from the bed and went to her husband, but I still kept the pillow over my face as I listened to her soothe the big bear.  “He upset your daughter.  He was contemplating suicide.”

Oh, Jesus.  Just what I needed was for him to be pissed that I upset his daughter, too.  The man outweighed my 210-pound body by a good fifty pounds.  And that wasn’t fat either.  It was pure muscle.  He also towered over me by six inches.  I would surely die.

Payton’s heaving from the bathroom propelled me out of bed and to her side in the next instant.  Hunching down behind her, I gathered her hair off the side of her face and rubbed her back.  “I swear to God, I don’t think you’re fat.  I think you’re sexy, and your body turns me on.”

Gagging sounds from behind me made me tense, but I didn’t let her go. 

“I know that, I just had to puke, and didn’t want to do it all over my parents bed.”

Thank you, Jesus.  I hated when she went into harpy mode.  She was damn good at it, too.  She finished heaving up her insides, popped up as if none of it happened, and washed her face in the sink.

“Okay, I think we need to order Chinese.  I’m craving some sweet and sour chicken like nobody’s business.”  She declared to me, and then to her parents that were sitting on the bed watching us.

I rolled my eyes.  I swear to God she could eat anything.  Anytime.  So we ordered Chinese, and had a great time.  Bets were placed, and we had a great time.  Having this family take me in as one of their own did something to fix that broken part inside of me.