10. Elle
10
ELLE
The Next Morning…
I woke up to my phone ringing on my nightstand. I blinked slowly, looking at the clock across the room that read 9:05 A.M. I pressed my head into the pillow, sighing, because I knew I’d checked, then doubled, and tripled checked my appointment book to know that I didn’t have any clients this morning. I closed my eyes, hoping that I’d be able to fall back asleep, but I knew the chances were slim to none. When my phone rang again, I snatched it off the nightstand, and saw one of my barber’s name on the screen.
“Pete,” I answered.
“Boss Lady, I got the two big mirrors and three chairs on my truck. Is there anything else you need me to grab before I head to the fairground?”
I gasped and palmed my forehead.
He laughed. “You forgot about the fest?”
“Hell yeah. Oh my Lord. Let me get up. Um…”
I tapped the phone against my forehead trying to think, but everything was jumbled. Even if Pete knew everything to get out of my suite, the door was locked, so he wouldn’t be able to get in.
“Nevermind. I’ll see you there.”
“Bet,” he said, and ended the call.
I sighed before throwing the covers back and getting out of bed. I should have known my schedule was to empty in the middle of the week for a reason. That was my fault for letting Declan Danger take my focus off everything. The Elle Thomas from last week would have never been frolicking out late last night if I’d remembered the back-to-school festival today. I walked in the bathroom and started the shower before sitting on the toilet. After I finished, I stood and felt every damn ache from dealing with that man over the last few days. The ache in my pussy from when I impaled myself on his dick last night felt as if I just did it thirty minutes ago. When I looked in the mirror, his bites were still sitting very pretty on my neck. I had to flex my jaws before I started brushing my teeth because they’d been gaped open, gobbling up Declan’s big ass dick. That man really had the whole package and it’s all I’d been able to think about.
After I finished brushing my teeth, I put on my shower cap and stepped in the shower. On top of my body feeling like I’d ran an untrained four-hundred-meter sprint, I’d just fell asleep a few hours ago. Hours after Declan left, I couldn’t fall asleep. I tossed, turned, counted sheep, chickens, and oranges, and I still couldn’t fall sleep. I was still on such a high from performing for Declan that my adrenaline wouldn’t taper off for shit. It wasn’t until I remembered that Declan left half a blunt on my patio, so I ended up finishing that off, and fell into the deepest sleep.
When my brain caught up with my body being fully awake, I gathered some of my citrus burst scrub and started exfoliating my skin. My mind went to seeing Declan at the festival and how he’d react to seeing me, especially after last night. I knew he said he didn’t care and could watch perform like that often, but I feared that it could have been because he was in the heat of the moment. I’d had a man switch up on me like that, so I wasn’t a stranger to it, but it all led back to us being on a time constraint, regardless of him indirectly calling me his girl. Thinking about how open and vulnerable I’d been with him over the last few days, had me glad that we were semi able to get on the same page about us possibly catching feelings for each other.
After I finished showering, I got out and finished my facial routine, before walking into the room to my phone ringing. Approaching the phone, Greysen’s picture was on the screen, FaceTiming me, so I answered, and propped the phone up.
Her camera connected. “Grey, Grey.”
She huffed and poked her lip out. She was sitting up against the head of her bed, pumping milk.
“Uh-oh.”
“Yeah, uh-oh. You’re getting ready for the fest?”
“Yeah, girl. And tell me why I almost forgot about it. I was up late…” I trailed off, hoping that Greysen heard that as a complete sentence.
I grabbed some of my favorite body butter and started greasing up.
“I was just about to say that you are about to be late. What were you up doing?”
“Catching up on those medicine wives, girl.”
That wasn’t a lie, I did watch an old episode or two, hoping I could fall asleep, but that didn’t work. I could have told her that I was with Benny, but that would still open myself to be questioned because I did tell her that I was done with him as well.
“I have a sad.”
We both poked our lips out at the same time, making us laugh.
“What’s the sad?”
“This is my first back to school festival I’m missing and I’m sad about it. I told Daddy I would be fine to come for a few hours, and you know he gave me that stupid one eyebrow raised look.” She said and poked her lip out again.
“I meann, you kinda did just have a ten-pound baby, Grey. Big Daddy might be right about this one.
“You’re my moral support, not his,” she whined.
“Well…”
I finished greasing up and went into my closet and propping my phone up to find something to wear. When my first thought went to what would I want Declan to see me in, I rolled my eyes at myself for thinking about him.
“Oh, bitch! I knew I wasn’t fucking seeing things at the hospital. Those are bite marks on your neck.”
I moved out of the camera view and dropped my towel, so I could put on my bra and panties.
“Don’t move out the camera now, I already saw them. Who did that?”
“Girll, unless you want to see my tits…”
“Nothing I haven’t seen before. Girl, you are deflecting. Is this the reason why I haven’t seen you since I came home, because you’re out getting bit on?”
“Greyy, I been texting you constantly, and I know that D2 took a lot out of you, so I just wanted you to get as much—”
“Blah, blah, blah. You just don’t want to tell me who it is, and that’s fine. Now, I have two sads.”
I burst out laughing. “Nah, it’s just a new sub I’m trying out, for real.”
“A new sub you let bite you?”
I was so glad I wasn’t in the camera because she would have used that teacher brain to read my face and know I’d been caught in a lie. I stared at my clothes, trying to figure out what to say.
“Baby girl, I’m about to–you on the phone,” Diesel said in the background.
I took a deep breath and moved back in the camera. “Sorry, girl. I walked out the closet for a second. Did you say something?”
She looked at the camera. “Come over for dinner. That was not a suggestion,” she said and hung up the phone, making me laugh.
I immediately sent her a text.
Me: Bossy Grey is my fav. Yum, yum.
She sent back some laughing emojis.
I looked around the closet, still undecided on what to wear until Kimmy’s name popped up on my screen.
I answered. “Hey, Kimmy. I’m about to be on my way.”
“Okay, but question, we only doing like natural styles, right?”
“Yeah. And only styles you think you can do in an hour or less. You don’t want to be out there all day.”
“Ah, okay, okay. See you out there.”
I ended the call and realized I needed to put more pep in my step. I glanced around my closet and finally settled on my cropped and ripped old Citrus Grove City Day T-shirt, and a pair of jean shorts. After I got dressed, I went to the bathroom to spruce up my twist-out before pulling it up into a ponytail because it was going to get hot out there. When I was done, I packed up my recording equipment and left the house. I didn’t have to worry about breakfast because there would be a lot of food at the festival.
The sounds of kids screaming and laughing made me smile as I walked through the entrance of the festival. Citrus Grove had been having back-to-school festivals since I was younger. It was where children were able to have a fun day the week before school started. Our town gave out free backpacks, school supplies, and anything else a family might’ve needed. Different types of vendors advertised their businesses. Colleges and military recruiters come and hand out pamphlets to the seniors. Me and a few people from my shop cut and styled the children hair for free. Over the last few years, it had grown much bigger and we could thank Quinci and Greysen for using the shit out of the Danger’s coins and connections.
Walking to my booth, I noticed the Danger Incorporated symbol on a retractable banner. My heart thumped when I saw Declan and Donovan setting up their table. They both had on white sleeveless shirts and matching black Nike shorts. I was thankful my shades covered half my face because I couldn’t stop smiling at how handsome they looked. I’d almost made it by the table when Donovan looked up.
“Auntie Elle!”
Declan cut his eyes to me sharply before watching his son hop over the table, run to me, and wrap his arms around me.
“Hey, Lil’ D. Your dad got you working already?”
“Kinda, sorta, but I like it.”
“Good morning, Elle. You good?” Declan greeted.
I looked up at him. “Hey, Declan. I’m okay. You?”
“I’m good.”
He looked me up and down quick, wetting his bottom lip at the same time. I cleared my throat, trying to find anything to say to Donovan before it got weird.
Declan shoved his hands in his pockets. “Hey, Don. Let’s let Aunt Elle get to her booth. She already got a line down there.”
“I’ll see you later,” I said to Donovan, then looked at his dad. “Maybe, I could learn a little something about hospitality.” I smiled, trying to make genuine conversation.
“Then I am your man for that. I know all about hospitality.”
I immediately bit the inside of my cheek, trying not cheese like a Cheshire cat, especially because his dad was approaching the booth.
“Good morning, Elle,” his dad spoke.
“Morning, Mr. Danger,” I spoke, then used that as an opportunity to walk away from them.
I could breathe easier knowing that Declan wasn’t staring at me walk away. That immediately changed when I approached my booth and noticed Quinci, Mrs. Vivian, and Winter were working in the booth right across from mine. I threw my hand up at them while I walked in my booth. Pete and Kimmy already had two little ones in their chairs.
“Sorry for my tardiness, y’all,” I said to my stylist and barber. “Also, thank y’all for helping me out again this year.”
“No problem,” Pete responded.
“Thank you for asking me,” Kimmy said.
My station was halfway set up for me, so I unpacked my materials and set up my recording equipment. After calling up the first kid, I put my ear buds in and zoned out. After a few hours, I’d cut several heads and was about to take my first break of the day when Donovan ran into the tent and hopped in my chair.
“Auntie Elle!” He turned himself toward the mirror.
“Hey, Lil’ D. What’s up?”
“I want to surprise my dad and uncles and get my hair cut like theirs.”
His hair was cut into a low fade with a design on the side that his uncle Dymon had already cut.
“Lil’ D, your hair is already cut so beautifully that I wouldn’t want to ruin those beautiful waves, but we can go ask. Come on.”
He groaned as I wrapped my arm around his shoulders and walked out of the tent. My first instinct was to look across at Winter’s tent, but she wasn’t there. When I approached their tent, I saw Declan handing out some pamphlets to a pair of starry-eyed broads. I could tell they didn’t want to know anything about running a hotel. They wanted dick and the way I could tell that he was none the wiser was so funny. His brothers had shown up and were helping him and their dad out.
“Hey, y’all,” I said.
Declan looked at me while thanking the girls for stopping by. It took everything in me not to size them up, so I smiled instead.
“What’s up, Elle?” Dymon returned while Diesel threw his head back.
“So, this young man wants his hair cut like his dad and his uncles, and I had to explain to him that I didn’t want to mess up his perfectly good waves. And, that his dad and uncles are balding and that’s why they have to get bald fades.”
I nudged Donovan, making him laugh. Mr. Danger chuckled and shook his head.
“Balding? Please.” Dymon said, waving me off.
“And also, you can’t cut. That’s the start of it,” Diesel added. “We’ve seen the little kids walking around here with gashes in their head.”
Before I could respond, Declan asked, “Donovan, do you want Aunt Elle to cut your hair?”
We all stared at Declan like he had two heads on his shoulders. I came down here with the expectation that he would say no because that wasn’t the first time Donovan told me he wanted a cut like his dad.
“Yes, Dad. If I don’t like it, I can just grow it back out, right?”
“That’s true. Okay, come on,” Declan said and came around the table.
“Uh, excuse me? Where are you going? I don’t like to be micromanaged.”
“Okay,” he said and kept walking like he hadn’t comprehended anything I said to him.
We turned quickly and started after him. If I had of looked at his brothers and dad, they would have seen me blushing and would have a lot of questions for him. Walking back toward my tent, I saw that Winter was back at their booth.
“Mom! Mom!” Donovan jumped up and down, waving and trying to get her attention.
She had a small crowd around her, so she hadn’t heard him. I looked ahead and Declan wasn’t paying any attention to her.
“Winter!” Donovan shouted, causing her to look around before her eyes landed on us.
She smiled and waved until she looked ahead and saw Declan walking under my tent. When her eyebrows knitted, I looked ahead like I didn’t see her expression change. I walked in the tent as Declan pulled a chair close to the station where I worked. Even with his son here, I was starting to get butterflies.
“Umm, Mom didn’t look so happy to see y’all coming in here. Do I need to call her over and ask her?” I asked. Donovan tried to discreetly shake his head.
“My son is old enough to make his own decisions.”
“Oh… well…” I flicked my eyes toward her tent to make sure she wasn’t storming over. “And what did I tell you about being micromanaged. You’re close enough to inhale particles of hair.”
He chuckled. “Girl, just cut my son’s hair.”
I turned Donovan toward the mirror, and he looked excited to be getting his hair cut.
“I tell you what, Lil’ D. I don’t want to ruin the waves too much, so what if I left a little bit more on the top and gave you a medium taper where I start right here.” I showed him where I’d cut his hair.
“Okay. Let’s do that,” he said.
I looked at Declan. “Is it okay if I record his hair cut.”
He nodded. “Do whatever you want to do.”
I set up my phone, and when I turned the camera on, it was on Declan. The way he sat had me rubbing my lips together so I wouldn’t smirk. He knew it too because I didn’t miss his slight wink. I took a deep breath before I pressed record. I put on my gloves before putting a cape around Donovan.
“Per my policy, Declan Danger, micromanaging parents will be put out,” I said, only halfway joking.
“You will never have to worry about me micromanaging you, Elle.”
The way he said that sent chills down my spine. The short no blinking challenge we shared told me that it was a double entendre and that he’d meant what he said to me last night. Shaking away the thoughts of last night, I turned Donovan around and started cutting his hair. Although Declan was watching me like a hawk, I still cut his hair to perfection. After I finished, I turned him around toward the mirror and he smiled big before looking at his dad.
“I really look like you now, Dad. What you think?”
“Son, you look good. I like it. You don’t look like my little man no more.”
Donovan jumped up and hugged me. “Thank you, Auntie Elle.”
“You’re welcome, Kiddo.”
When Declan stood and went in his pocket, I looked at his bulging veins. It didn’t help that his arms were covered in a light sheen of sweat from the heat. He came out of his pocket with a wad of cash.
“You know it’s free, but there is a tip jar behind you.”
“You know, Dad, you could use a little line up.”
Declan eyes nearly popped out of his head.
I looked down at Donovan. “He doesn’t trust me the way you do,” I said, then looked at Declan and smiled.
“A’ight. Refresh my line and my taper,” Declan said.
My mouth opened and closed because I couldn’t think of anything to say.
“I was joking, Declan.”
“Oh, you punking out?”
“No, but—”
“A’ight then.”
He sat down in my chair, leaving me speechless.
“I’m about to go and show my uncles my new haircut,” Donovan said, then ran out of the tent.
In my head, I pleaded for him not to go because I didn’t want to be alone with his father with his girlfriend able to see directly into the tent. It also didn’t help that Pete and Kimmy were not around either.
“Looks like it’s just you and me now, Ella. You better not fuck me up, either.”
“Or what?”
“I don’t know yet. I’ll probably give you a daily spanking until whatever you fucked up grows back in.”
“If you promise to make my ass purple, I’ll fuck you up on purpose.”
I draped a cape around him and spun him around.
“Hey now, I don’t think I want my mother to see me turning this cape into a tent.”
“And your girlfriend?” I wondered.
He kissed his teeth.
“Uh-oh. Daddy must’ve gotten in trouble when he walked in the house last night.”
“Nah. Nothing like that.”
I turned my clippers on but pressed the bottom of them against his head and made a fake buzzing sound, prompting him to jump up and look in the mirror to see if I’d fucked him up.
I burst out laughing. “Sorry. I had to.”
“See. See, how niggas be playing.”
I doubled over laughing. “I’m sorry, Dec. Sit down. It was a joke. Come on.”
He sat down slowly. “And get your lil’ laughs out before you start on my head.”
I was getting ready to start… until I laughed again.
“Della,” he called my name sternly.
“Oop! See, now, what we not about to do is that, because I’ll part you like the Red Sea.”
He chortled. “A’ight. I’m ready.”
We laughed again before I finally started on his cut. Every time he wet his bottom lip, I wished I could kiss him.
“Your camera still going?”
“Yeah, but I edit it, talk over it, or play music.”
“Okay. So, I can tell you that I’m glad you wore those shorts today.”
I swallowed. “Ironically, I thought about you when I was trying to pick out an outfit for here. Still wanted to be respectful and not have to deal with the looks from the grannies.”
“That’s funny. Well, I appreciate those thighs.”
“And what else,” I inquired.
He bit his bottom lip. “How your neck looks right now, but they look like they need to be refreshed?”
“Mhm. What else?”
“Plenty. The main thing is your ability to wield a flogger. That was so beautiful.”
My cheeks started to warm.
“That fucking tight ass leather jumpsuit, and those fucking fish net stockings…” His right leg rocked slightly. His eyes were closed as if he was reminiscing on the moment. “The shoes. The way he worshipped you. The way you—”
“Hey, Elle,” Mr. Duncan greeted and walked inside the tent. “Hey, son. I need the keys to your car, so we can get some more materials.”
“Diesel has my spare on his key ring.”
“He left his keys in his truck.”
His eyebrows went together, but he reached into his pocket and handed him his keys. I watched him walk out of the tent before looking at Winter, who was staring at us.
“Thank God for your dad, because you were about to have a hard dick, and those shorts wouldn’t have hidden anything.”
He smirked.
“And speaking of pamphlets, I should wear yo’ ass out, talking about some thank you for coming to our table. Please. Them hoes wanted a big black bone.”
He chuckled. “A bone. You think so?”
“Say you think so to me again regarding hoes wanting you. Their eyes were as big as the sun staring up at your big fine ass. Stop playing before I push this line back.”
He opened one of his eyes, staring at me and making me grin.
“I don’t be paying attention to shit like that for real. You know that. I gave them those papers and sent them on their way. I only want to look at your big bright eyes, looking up at me while—”
Kemba walked in the tent holding plates of food. “Shaking my damn head. Quinci told me to bring you this, Elle. Where you want me to put it?”
“Put it next to the tip jar.”
He set the plates down and walked over to us.
“Could you two calm down? Both of y’all are oozing we just fucked,” he spoke lowly.
Declan cut his eyes to him while I kept cutting his hair.
“What the hell are you talking about, Kemba?” I asked.
“This nigga does not laugh, smile, none of that, and you got him over here bussing a gut laughing. Yo’ ass ain’t that mothafuckin’ funny. Lastly, neither of y’all are denying it, which means I am right.” Kemba’s lips curved into a smirk.
“Kemba…” Declan murmured.
“Don’t worry, Big Dog. Yo’ lil’ secret is safe with me.” Kemba reached out to dap Declan up.
“Declan, you can put your hand down, because why is Kemba trying to dap you up like you just won some type of contest or something for hitting me?”
Kemba laughed.
“And you just said my girl not funny.”
“Exactly.”
He cut his eyes to me, smirking.
“And let me hurry up and finish you off, so you can leave with your friend. Do not leave Kemba.”
He looked me up and down. “You can’t tell me what to do, Elle. You know I still owe you an ass whooping, on God.”
It was my turn to laugh. “Don’t start that shit, Kemba. It’s not my fault yo’ lil friend is a liar.”
He looked me up and down, nodding because he couldn’t say anything.
“I don’t like y’all talking over my head about something I don’t know anything about.”
“The very short of it is, his lil’ friend Johnny wanted his cake and eat it, too. We’d linked up at an underground club after he saw me perform for the first time. Then, he wanted me to only perform with him because he didn’t want people to know about us. So, it didn’t look too good when his pregnant girlfriend, who I didn’t know about by the way, waddled in and caught me—”
“Nah, Elle…” Kemba said, shaking his head.
“You wanted to know, and now you know the real. Even after his girlfriend gave him an ultimatum, he was still trying to hit me up. The first and last straw to me was lying about his girlfriend, but what pissed me off was when he ran up on Benny and got his clock turned counterclockwise. There are some men who like what they like… but they are still men, and Johnny found that out. Soo, that’s why he ended up leaving, because he was forced to. I wasn’t ruining his family or picking with his fiancée. None of that.”
Kemba walked away in disbelief with his hands on his head like he’d just gotten told some new information. That probably was new information to him, especially since Johnny told everybody he was leaving because I was ruining his family. Everybody who was important to me knew the truth, so I didn’t worry about trying to clear up the rumors. After that situation, I required my subs to tell me if they were in relationships and if their partner knew. Of course, some of them lied, but now it was easy for me to pick it up. Benny slipped Leah not knowing in on me because I used to be in his house while she was there.
“Done.” I spun him toward the mirror and took his cape off. “What do you think? Honestly.”
He stood and looked in the mirror, turning his head from side to side.
“Looking for a critique is not going to make it bad, hater.”
Kemba walked up to the mirror and started looking, too.
“Where one hater gathers, another one will follow,” I mumbled.
They both looked at me at the same time, making me laugh.
“Damn. You got me right, Babygirl.”
“I know. I do this.”
“Shaking my damn head,” Kemba said.
“Kem, when we walk out of here, put your arm around my shoulder and I’m going to knock it off.”
“What?”
“I’ll explain it to you later.”
“A’ight, man.”
I knew he did that because Kemba had picked up on us fucking and he assumed other people would pick up on it, too. We’d noticed Winter looking over at us a few times, and he could play hard all he wanted, but I knew he didn’t want her to know.
“Thank you again, Babygirl. If I could kiss you, I would, so I’ll blow you one instead.”
I smiled and subtly caught his kiss. He winked at me before he and Kemba left out of the tent. Just like Declan asked, Kemba wrapped his arm around his shoulder, and he did as he said he would do and knocked it off. To me, someone who just wanted to start a gay rumor would have thought something of it, but I didn’t think anyone else would buy it. I didn’t have the bandwidth to look and gauge Winter’s reaction because my stomach was touching my back and I needed to eat before I passed out. I’d cleaned my station before grabbing my plates and plopping down in my chair.
Before I could get three bites in, Ms. Sherry’s picture popped up on the screen. I picked up one of my earbuds and put it in my ear, waiting for it to connect.
“Ms. Sherry, I been looking for y’all all afternoon. Where y’all?”
“Hey, baby. Me and your dad are in the emergency room waiting for him to be admitted into the hospital.”
“What! What happened?” I jumped up and set my food in my chair.
“We went to his doctor’s appointment, and they say they want to observe him—”
“Tell the baby don’t be running down here, I’m fine.” My dad said in the background.
Suddenly, what little I’d just put in my stomach threatened to come up. My chest started to burn all the way through my throat. The inside of my ears sounded like a freight train was moving through them. Ms. Sherry’s words started to become choppy. I grabbed onto my station and closed my eyes as tight as I could.
Breathe.
Breathe.
Breathe.
I took three deep breaths before opening my eyes. I could hear Pete and Kimmy calling my name, but it was muffled.
“Elle, you there?” Ms. Sherry said, but her voice sounded miles away.
I cleared my throat. “Yes. I’m here. And I’m coming,” I said, ending the call before either of them protested.
I caught my breath before I tried packing my things as quickly and carefully as I could.
“Boss Lady?”
I blinked slowly before looking at Pete. “Yes.”
“You straight? I mean, it sounds like you need to leave. We can take your stuff back.”
I looked at him with pleading eyes. “Thank you.”
After grabbing my keys and phone, I rushed out of the tent, but not fast enough to catch anyone’s attention. My eyes burned with tears by the time I’d made it by the Danger Incorporated table. I’d managed to hold my tears until I’d made it to my truck and out of the parking lot of the fairground. The whole way to the emergency room, tears flowed from my eyes. Every time I’d seen him over the last few weeks crossed my mind, and nothing had been out of the ordinary. He walked, talked, and breathed just fine. Still sucking on his pipe. Still driving. Still cooking. Still eating.
Siri buzzed in my ear. “Message from Dec: Are you okay? You didn’t look like yourself? Would you like to reply?”
When I didn’t respond, Declan called, and I ignored his phone call. He called back-to-back three times and I ignored each one.
Siri buzzed in my ear. “Message from Dec: Ella, I’m going to worry. Please call or text.”
I ignored him as I pulled into the emergency room parking lot and hopped out of the truck. I called Ms. Sherry as I walked inside.
“Hey, Elle. I’ll tell the nurse you’re here, so she can let you back,” she said, then hung up.
As soon as I walked by the waiting area, the double doors came open, and I rushed inside, peeking through each curtain until I found my dad.
“Dad!” I rushed to his side, grabbed his hand, and immediately fell into a ball of tears.
I’d never seen him in a hospital gown before. All my life he’d been as healthy as an ox. The thought of anything being wrong with him or losing him had my chest on fire.
“Here this girl go. Stop that crying. Baby, I am fine, okay. I told Sherry not to even bother you. I feel good. I just went for my check-up this morning, and you know how these young doctors always like to poke and prod on the elderly. He said that he just wants to run some tests and observe me. He didn’t need to observe me. You know when they run tests, and do all that observing, they find stuff they ain’t even supposed to find.”
A nurse and two other men came through the curtain.
“Mr. Thomas, we got you a room,” the nurse said. “These young gentlemen are going to escort you and your wife up.”
“Dad, what exactly did the doctor say?”
“He said he wants to observe and run some tests, and I told them, whatever they find, they just going to leave in there because I’m good.”
“Bill, be quiet,” Ms. Sherry scolded him.
The nurse started unhooking him.
“Baby, I’ll be fine. Wipe your eyes. I’ll have Sherry call you later. I’ll see you tomorrow.”
“Dad, I… I love you.”
He grabbed my hand and kissed it. “I know. Stop all that crying, now.”
I didn’t release his hand until they rolled him away.
“It’ll be all right, hon,” Ms. Sherry said and hugged me. “I’ll call you later on.”
“Okay, thank you,” I whispered.
I followed them out of the room, watching as they rolled him through the set of double doors toward the hospital. Suddenly, my stomach churned, and my mouth started watering. I covered my mouth as I rushed outside, hoping I got to the grass in time. When I doubled over and opened my mouth, nothing came out but the gulps of water I’d drank. I coughed and my stomach churned again, the few bites of food coming up after.
A hand on my back forced me upright. I turned to see Declan standing there with a concerned look on his face.
“What’s going on, Ella?”
“What are you…” I coughed and doubled over again, but nothing came out.
He pulled a water bottle out of his pocket and handed it to me. I opened it and drank some down.
“How did you…” I stared at him in confusion.
He shoved his hands in his pockets. “I… uh, walked by the drone booth that was doing the aerial view of the town a couple times and saw your truck turn in here.”
My body trembled, trying to keep it together. “And how…” I looked out into the parking lot, needing to look anywhere but up into his concerned gaze. “How did you get here?”
“Stole Diesel’s truck. Asking me question after question isn’t going to stop me from being concerned, Ella? What’s going on.”
I took a deep breath. “It’s my dad. They say they just wanna…” I paused, constantly trying to keep myself together. “Just wanna keep him overnight for observations and…” I blinked and tears flowed down my cheeks. “Declan, I don’t know what I’m gonna do without him. I simply can’t… I just simply can’t…” My breaths became labored.
Declan grabbed my hands. “Relax, Ella. Relax. Take a deep breath or you’re going to throw yourself into a panic attack.”
I tried to take a couple deep breaths, but it made my chest burn even more. My lungs seemed as if they were starting to crumple.
“I can’t… I’m…” I cleared my throat.
I tried to snatch away from him, but he only held my hands tighter.
“Look at me, Ella. Focus on me. You’re just having one moment. Keep taking big breaths. You’re fine, I promise. I’m right here every step of the way.”
At first, the deep breaths seemed like I was standing on my tiptoes, trying to keep my mouth and nose above the water. My heart thumped in my ears. Declan’s voice moved farther and farther away, but I read his lips, keep breathing, Ella. I closed my eyes and kept breathing. The more I inhaled, the easier it got.
“Oh, yeah, see. You’re coming back to me,” he coached. Declan’s voice returned much clearer. “Open your eyes and look at me.”
When I opened my eyes, big tears slipped down my face, but I was much calmer.
“Thank you, Dec. That felt…” I looked around at the people walking by and pulled my hands from his.
He looked around and chuckled. “Intense, huh?”
I nodded.
“It’s the slowest, most agonizing sixty seconds you’ll ever experience, I promise. Was that your first one?”
I nodded. “It just… hearing that my dad, who’s never been unhealthy, is spending the night in the hospital…” I shook my head as those feelings started to rise again.
“For observation and to run some tests, right?”
I nodded.
“So, right now, all we can do is trust he’s going to pass every test and every observation is going to come back good. The way he shook my hand, with all that strength, I can assure you that he’s fine.”
I chuckled. “Don’t make me laugh.”
“Yeah, that’s what I like to see. May I walk you to your truck?”
“Yeah, sure.”
We started walking toward my truck, and I was trying my best to make us seem like two friends who were just talking.
“Will you be coming back to the fest?”
“No, Pete is going to get my things for me. I’m going to go home and get some extra rest.”
“May I come spend time with you tonight? I don’t want you to be alone.”
“Can’t. Greysen summoned me for dinner.”
“Oh yeah, she summoned everybody. After?”
I looked up at him. “You’re already doing a lot today, letting me give you and your son a cut, chasing after me when I leave, and now walking me to my truck. I don’t know if that stunt with Kemba worked or whatever, but…” I shrugged.
He opened the door to my truck for me, but I continued staring at him, waiting for a response.
“I don’t know if it worked either, but Kemba sensed my frustration when you wouldn’t pick up or text back, so he told me to leave about five minutes after he did, and yeah… I realized we were doing a whole damn lot for someone who’s not doing anything wrong, for real.”
“Yeah, but we can play the black and white game all we want, Declan, but we know the unspoken grey area is to not do an open relationship with people who are basically in the family.”
“Yeah, but I want you in my life, this way, for as long as I can possibly have you. Selfish, probably, but this is what I want.”
I looked at him, speechless, but I couldn’t stop blushing.
“And for dinner tonight, wear something bright. You really look like you’re glowing when you’re in bright colors.”
“And if I don’t?” I smirked.
“I really don’t have a single thought past you doing what I asked of you.”
My mouth dropped.
“See you tonight, Ella. Get in.”
Still speechless, I got in my truck and let him close me inside. I started the engine and let the window down.
“You really think you can tell me what to do, don’t you?”
“I don’t know.” He shrugged. “I guess we’ll see, won’t we?”
“I guess we will.”
He pulled his phone out of his pocket. “That’s Kemba. I gotta get back. See you later, and later, later too.”
He winked, smiled, and walked away before I could respond. I sat in disbelief as he walked to his brother’s truck, got in, and drove off. I still couldn’t believe he’d showed up like that for me. That was how people like us got ourselves into situationships that led to nothing but trouble.
That Evening…
I’d managed to make it through Greysen’s dinner without bursting into tears about the thought of my father being laid up in the hospital, partially because Ms. Sherry kept me updated by texting me every time someone came in the room and the other part was because I was at the end of the dinner table sandwiched between Denim and Kemba, who were both talking my head off about multiple things. Looking between them also helped me to not get lost in Declan’s one second stares because he sat across from us. I was sure my orange top, showing a very tasteful amount of cleavage, didn’t help any. Luckily, Winter was on the other side of Donovan and was in her phone most of the time.
Metri walked in the dining room with a cake in her hands and set it in front of Declan, who looked up at her with wide eyes.
Metri picked up her wine glass and plucked it a few times, getting everyone’s attention.
“Ahem. Ahem.” She fake cleared her throat. “Can I have everyone’s attention please? I would like to take this moment to congratulate my big brother on securing a very big multi-million-dollar deal between the grove and a chain of grocery stores in EastRose.”
I looked at him, smiling, and clapping as everyone else did. I couldn’t help but notice Winter’s shocked expression while barely clapping.
“That’s what’s up bro. Why haven’t you said anything?” Dymon asked.
He shrugged. “I don’t know. Didn’t think it was that big of a deal.”
Dymon looked down the table. “Don’t start that shit, Declan,” Dymon hissed.
He looked down at Dymon. “Start what?”
“Dymon,” his parents called his name at the same time.
I could see Declan’s jaws clench and he’d started to discreetly take deep breaths. I stretched my leg out and drug my foot up the inside of his leg, making him tense up. We eyed each other for half a second, but it seemed like minutes had passed. I had to look away or we’d be wearing matching smirks. Looking down the table, Mr. Duncan and I locked eyes. I immediately looked away from him.
“Hey!” Metri said and clapped her hands. “Don’t y’all start that!”
“See, y’all be calling my name, making it bigger than it what it is. I just asked him why he hasn’t been said something about it, just for him to say it’s not a big deal when it is. At least, I think it’s a big deal.”
“Okay, yes. It’s a big deal,” Metri said, easing the tension in the room.
“Then he’ll be saying we don’t care about him,” Dymon mumbled.
Quinci grabbed his lips. “Enough,” she hissed lowly.
I grinned. I knew why he kept that information from his family, but it only confirmed what I already knew about half of his issues with his family—most of his feelings were self-inflicted.
Kemba picked up his glass and tapped it, getting everybody’s attention. “A toast. To my bro. Who’s been making my life easier at the grove since he started working there. He came in and learned the culture of working around a bunch of southerners, as a city boy, and made it work. So, a toast to the big dog, Declan, and one of many multi-million-dollar deals. More raises. All that.”
“To Declan,” Kemba led, and everybody repeated after him.
I picked my glass up, tapping his before sipping the rest of my wine down. When Declan’s glass went up, I caught his slight wink. I was so thankful my giddy ass smile was concealed by the wine glass, or I would have been caught.
“Thank you, everybody. I appreciate it, really,” Declan said.
“Elle,” Grey called my name, pulling my attention away from Declan.
“Yeah, Grey?”
“Come help me in the nursery, please.”
My chest nearly hit my ass. I wondered if she’d caught me staring at Declan too many times. I got up and followed her to the nursery, and soon as I closed the door, she pulled me into a tight hug—as tight as she could without squishing the baby strapped to her chest.
“My dad just texted and told me your dad was in the hospital. I’m so sorry, Elle. Why didn’t you say anything? Is he okay? What’s going on?”
“He’s fine. They just wanted to run some tests or something, he said. Ms. Sherry has been keeping me updated every other hour.”
“You came over here and didn’t say anything. Why?”
I stood at the door while she crossed the room and laid the baby down on the changing table.
“I don’t know, Grey. I didn’t want to ruin anything with sad news.”
She looked at me. “Why would that ruin this?”
I shrugged. “Well, I mean… this was a happy dinner. That news would have brought the mood down, and I didn’t want to do that.”
Her eyes darted around the room before they filled with tears.
“Elle, did I do something? Did I miss something of yours or something? I mean, I know I was busy with school in New York for the last—”
“No, no, Greysen.” I walked across the room and pulled her into a hug. “No. I’m fine.”
“Elle, I feel like we are not on the same page, or something is missing. If I did something, I want to know so I can fix it. I know I’m married with kids now, and…” She paused, shaking her head.
I grabbed her shoulders. “Grey, we are okay. We cannot get anymore ‘okay’er than we are right now. I really just be wanting to give you and your husband space, especially when he’s here.”
She huffed. “I don’t want space. I want my bestie.”
“Okay, fine.”
She dabbed at her eyes with the back of her hand. “These stupid hormones got me going crazy, still.”
I nodded. “I agree. I can’t think of a world where we are not friends, Greysen Danger.”
She poked her lip out before smiling. “Do you want to stay over here tonight? I mean, I don’t want you to be alone.”
“No, I’m fine. I promise. I’m going to get going anyway. I’m doing braids in the morning.”
“Oh, okay. Well, text me when you get home. For real, this time.”
I held up my fingers. “Scouts Honor.”
I hugged her and pinched the baby’s cheek before I left the nursery. Peeking around the corner, most of the people had navigated outside on the patio, so I left the house without telling anyone goodbye. When I eased the front door closed, I jumped at the sound of someone clearing their throat from the corner of the porch.
“Jesus, you scared me. Goodnight, Mr. Duncan.”
“Off so soon?”
“Uh, yeah. I got some braids to do in the morning.”
“Oh, I see. Can I have just one moment of your time?” he asked before pulling a chair closer to him.
I knew it wasn’t a question, so I walked over to him and sat down. Duncan Danger, even in his mid-sixties, was a man who anyone with a lot of confidence would be afraid to sit in front of. Looking at him, I could tell why Mrs. Vivian was still crazy about him. As intimidating as he was, he was just as sexy, which was dangerous as fuck. I could see exactly where his sons got it from.
“I don’t know how to say this kindly, but whatever you’re doing with my son, I don’t care to know what it is, it just needs to stop. I say this with the utmost respect for you, but he…” he paused, and I assumed he wanted to choose his words carefully. “He doesn’t do well with change. His normal is waking up with Winter and his son. I don’t want or need this to interrupt our family dynamic. When he’s settled, our family is settled. Do you understand where I’m coming from?”
“I-I-sure, yeah,” I said and stood up.
Before I walked away, he caught onto my wrist.
“And look, please keep this between us, as he can be very impulsive… and what I mean by that… is, if he found out about this conversation, it would lead to him forcing himself to want whatever is going on between you two, just to spite me, though he doesn’t really want it. Do you understand?”
I nodded. “Yes. I think so. Your son doesn’t really want me, but if I told him about this, he would force himself to want me out of spite. Is that correct?”
“You’re offended. My apologies, if you are. I just have to protect my son. I know him better than he knows himself.”
“Of course.”
I walked away from him just as the door opened. I’d bolted to my truck as Declan stepped outside. I didn’t know if they said anything to each other, but they did stare each other down as Declan followed him to the house. My heart was in my ass the whole way to my house, but I couldn’t be mad at him for wanting to protect his son. I’d only known him intimately for a very short time and I could tell he was a little fragile. It came out harsh, but everything Mr. Duncan said was the truth. He was used to waking up with Winter and his son, and it would mess up the family dynamics if anyone found out about it. He knew his son better than I ever would, and I had to believe that his dad had his best interest at heart.
A Couple Hours Later…
I sat in my living room flipping through the channels while sipping on a glass of wine. Ms. Sherry FaceTimed me before my dad went to sleep, and he was still complaining and assuring me he was in good spirits. Since he was still ‘feeling good’ I figured I’d be able to sleep a little better, even though I wasn’t in the mood to sleep, especially since I’d texted Declan and told him that maybe he shouldn’t come over tonight. With no response, although he’d read it, I tossed and turned for nearly an hour before I came back to the living room and found something to watch on TV.
My phone vibrating pulled my attention away from the TV. Declan’s name flashed across the screen, and I stared at it until the screen went dark. Almost immediately, his named popped up on the screen again. This time, I rejected his call and went to our text thread to send him another text. I couldn’t type out a single word because his name popped back up on the screen again. Knowing I couldn’t avoid him forever, I answered the call.
“Hello.”
“Hi, Ella. Did I wake you?”
“No.”
“Okay, I’ll see you in a few minutes.
There was a long pause.
“Um, I sent you a text, Declan.”
“You did? What did it say?” He sounded surprised and I couldn’t tell it was real or fake.
I heard the engine to his over-size go kart start.
“It says you read it,” I said.
“That’s not the question I asked.”
“But you read it though, right?”
“Uh-huh. I did.”
There was another long pause.
“So, where are you going then?”
“Um, I sent you a text, Ella.”
I was trying so hard not to laugh. Declan knew how to turn things around on me, effortlessly. It worked every time.
“What did your text say, Declan?”
“That I was on the way. I’ll see you in a couple of minutes,” he said and ended the call.
Oh my God.
I took a deep breath, trying not to panic. I’d been thinking about everything I would say to him because I knew I wouldn’t be able to avoid him forever, but I didn’t think I would have to throw something together that quick. My heart skipped a beat when I heard him pulling up in the backyard. He was at the door before my brain could tell my feet to get up and go to the back. Though I knew he was at the door, the knocks on my glass startled me. I took another sip of my wine before I got up and walked to the door. I opened the door, but kept the screen locked. He’d changed out his dinner clothes and was in his signature white tee and Nike tech pants.
We stared at each other for a few moments.
“I had to ask you this face to face. What did my dad say to you?”
“Nothing. You didn’t have to come here tonight, Declan. I told you I was fine.”
“So, he did say something to you?”
“No, he didn’t.”
“Then what was that text about?”
“I told you—”
“Yeah, but I told you earlier I wasn’t going to let you be alone tonight, and I fully intend to stand by that.”
“But…” I noticed his bag hanging off his shoulder, then looked back at him.
“But what, Ella?”
I bit the inside of my cheek.
“You’re running… again? Is that what this is?”
Since I’d left dinner, everything his dad said to me had been on my mind. I could have defended our relationship because he didn’t know the whole story. But then I thought, what if he was right? Declan hadn’t said anything about leaving Winter. He’d been with that girl for twenty years, and there was no way he would leave her to be with me. Even if he did, I’d be the rebound. Even if he did, it would still mess up the dynamic of his family, especially his son—his most important relationship.
“Della. If my father didn’t say anything to you, unlock the door, and let me in.”
I’d quickly realized his father had squished me into a rock and a hard place, and I would come out the bad guy, no matter what.
I unlocked and slid the screen back, letting him in. He stood over me for a moment, eyes searching my face, as I assumed he was trying to read if I was lying.
“You know… I find it so funny how you’ve been running from me ever since you told me you were a safe space. We take one tiny step forward just for you to sling us back ten feet. Now, explain to me what happened today between the hospital, given my father didn’t say anything to you, to the dinner, and to you sending that text. First, you said something about me and Winter looking so happy, okay, whatever. Second, you said you were worried about us catching feelings for each other...eh, valid. What’s the one for today? This is the umpteenth time.”
The fake annoyed look on his face had my jaws filling with air from trying to hold back my laughter. He was right, and I hated it.
“You can take some of the ‘teenths’ out of that ump, because it has not been that many times,” I joked.
He held his right hand out, palm facing upwards. “How long it’s been since the Juke Box?” He asked and held out his other hand, leveled with the other. “And how many times have you tried to back out of this?” He raised that hand while dropping the other one. “I’d say, you were batting a thousand.”
“You’re not funny, Declan,” I said, trying not to laugh.
“Good. Because I’m not joking.”
He kicked his slides off and walked in the living room, leaving me standing at the patio door. I was about to blush my cheeks off. I couldn’t stand how much I liked him.
He picked up my remote. “What were you about to watch?”
He looked at me, then did a double take at me still standing by the door.
“You waiting on someone else?”
I scoffed playfully and sat on the other end of the couch. He looked at me and shook his head, smirking.
“So.” He huffed. “I don’t care that you sitting way over there. You smiling.”
“No, I’m not.”
“Your jaws going to be hurting from how hard you’re blushing, but okay. Have you checked on your dad?”
I nodded. “Ms. Sherry FaceTimed me a couple hours ago, and he was still being himself, so I believe he’s good.”
“That’s good, and he’s going to get good results tomorrow too, so don’t worry about that either. I don’t know if I should ask this, but are you going to call your other peoples?”
“My sperm donor?”
He nodded.
“Call them for what?”
“I don’t know. Do you think he would want to know his dad is in the hospital?”
I shrugged. “My dad doesn’t talk to him, so I don’t know.”
“And you don’t talk to him or them?”
“Yeah, but not really, for real. They live in Vegas. I’m friends with them on Facebook and they comment on my stuff from time to time. Like for me, it’s no beef or nothing, but I will never in life acknowledge them as my parents. You feel me?”
“Yeah, yeah, I understand that. Do you know what happened between them?”
“This is secondhand information, because like I said before, my dad doesn’t talk about him. All he’s ever told me was that he wasn’t fit to be a dad, and him and my mother took off and left me. Della Mae’s sister told me that Bill Jr. was a troublemaker around here when he was coming up, and no types of punishments was working. He got arrested a few times too many and my dad wanted to leave him in jail, but my granny always went and got him out. Now, this is like before I was born. They were also young. He moved away, came back with my mom pregnant, and he’d gotten hooked on drugs. One conflicting story I got was he stole and sold my granny’s cancer meds and my dad beat him within an inch of his life and sent him away. Another one, and how my dad ended up with me, was that Bill Jr. owed some people some money and they dropped me off and kept right on rolling. This story was nice; I’m really, really my dad’s child, and Bill Jr cut him off. I could go on and on. I guess I was meant to be a little off.”
Declan’s eyes nearly popped out of his head. “Hold up. So, your family has one of those small-town mysterious secrets that everybody thinks they know, but don’t really know.”
I nodded.
“That’s crazy. Do you ever think that one day you’ll ask your dad for the truth? Or ask Bill Jr?”
I thought about it for a moment.
“I never felt left out or had any underlying trauma because my parents weren’t around. I still had what other kids had. We never struggled. My belly was never empty. Father, daughter dances never went missed. I didn’t feel a way when I saw on Facebook they’d taken in my mom’s sister’s kids. Granted, the period and sex talks were hard and weird, but we made it through. So, nah. I won’t go searching, but if I came across the reason in a letter or something, I wouldn’t not read it, if that makes sense.”
“Yeah, I get it. Don’t disrupt your life if you don’t have to.”
“Exactly…”
He raised his eyebrows, smirking. “Say it.”
“No, and you and this little smirk is going to get us caught. How you want me in your life like this but were doing all those secret winks and smirks you were in front of everyone? Are you purposely trying to get us caught?”
He looked at me, licking his lips, as he did a quick swoop of me in my very thin-strapped two-piece, orange sleep set. I even put on an orange bonnet to match.
“No. I just love watching you blush.”
“Okay, but at what cost?”
“The very beautiful and priceless look on your face. Come here.”
I scooted closer to him, and he pulled me into his lap. His eyes roamed from my chest to my thighs. The very thin material barely hid anything, and it was chosen with him in mind, even though I’d contemplated not letting him in my house. My nipples were already poking through the material, but they hardened even more, the way he stared at me, biting his lip. I felt his dick starting to get hard under me.
“Where did you tell her you were going?”
“Whyyy does that matter, Ella? I’m here.”
“And what time are you going to leave?”
“In the morning, when it’s time for me to go to work.”
“Wait, really?”
I tried not to sound and look too thirsty that he was spending the night with me.
“Yes. Why are you choosing this moment to talk about this?”
“Because, Declan, you’re lying.” I scooped his bag off the floor and opened it to see a pair of work clothes and a toiletry bag. “Declan, this is so…”
“What? Reckless? Impulsive? Which word did he use, Ella?”
“What are you…” I paused when he tilted his head to the side, as if he was waiting for me to lie.
“You can say he didn’t say anything to you, but when I opened the door, you looked mortified and only Duncan Danger can make a woman as pretty as you look mortified. You don’t have to tell me, but I am going to ask him tomorrow.”
I inhaled sharply. “No.”
“Why not?” I climbed off his lap and started pacing in front of him. “See, this is not what I wanted, Declan.”
He laid back against the couch, clasping his fingers behind his head. “And what is it that you wanted, Ella?”
I shrugged. “Not this.”
“So, let me get this straight, you don’t know what you want, but I know what I want, and that’s what you seem to be taking issue with.”
“Declan.”
“The conversation yesterday wasn’t a forewarning then. You actually like me.”
I squinted at him, not being able to tell if that was a question or a statement.
“I’m just saying, Declan.”
“No, you’re not. In fact, you haven’t said anything.”
“This is what I was talking about with trying to navigate us catching feelings for each other, and you were all Rico Suave about it, talking about let’s cross that bridge when we get to it. We here now and look.”
He chuckled. “Look at what?”
I rolled my eyes, left the living room, and went to my bathroom, kind of hoping he would follow me, but he didn’t. When I calmed down, I realized I was being a bit childish in my response, especially since we talked about him being avoidant. After waiting a few moments, I walked back out in the living room. Declan was still there and had turned the T.V to Sportscenter.
He looked at me and smiled. “Well, there you are. A ten-minute tantrum is very impressive.”
“I didn’t expect you to still be here.”
“Why is that? Because you turned into a brat and stormed out? That doesn’t bother me. Your conflictions about us are what bothers me the most. You got spooked when I told you I was staying here with you tonight. Either you don’t believe me…” He stood and pulled his shirt over his head and dropped it on the arm of the couch.
My heart started pounding in my chest.
“Or you believe whatever my father said to you,” he said, pushing his pants down and kicking them off.
“It’s… it’s not that,” I mumbled, watching the bulge in his crotch as he walked toward me.
“Then, what is it? Up.” He commanded.
I jumped into his arms and wrapped my legs around his waist as he walked us to my bedroom. In my room, he turned the overhead light off, walked us over to the lamp, and switched it on.
“I’m waiting for an answer,” he said, as he laid me on the edge of the bed.
He unhooked his watch and set it on my nightstand.
“Dec, what I’m feeling for you is very intense, not because I’m thirsty, but because coming across a man where I can be 100% myself does not happen for me, and I just feel like, it’s easier to keep running from you…”
I paused when he pressed his knee in the bed beside my thigh.
“Keep talking.”
My body stiffened as he grabbed the bottom of my shirt and pulled it over my head. I inhaled sharply when the cold air hardened my nipples even more.
“Hmm. My girls,” he whispered and licked his lips. “Finish your sentence.”
“It’s um… It’s uh, easier to keep running from yo, than to admit—ooh, Dec…” He wrapped his lips around my right nipple and sucked on it. I sighed. “I don’t want to admit I’m having these feelings… so I can protect myself.”
“Yeah? Is that it,” He murmured.
He peppered kisses across my chest and flicked his tongue against my left nipple, still tugging at the right one.
“Yess, oh my gosh. Shit.” I sighed. “That feels so, so good. Can you bite it, please?”
He tugged my nipple in between his lips, shaking his head.
“Please,” I whimpered. “More.”
“No, Ella.”
When he released my nipple, I inhaled, already missing the sensation.
“Ella, I know you walked away from me because you wanted me to come snatch you up, but not tonight,” he mumbled, kissing down the center of my stomach.
He stopped at the rim of my shorts and raised up.
“Tonight…” He pulled my shorts over my ass, raised my legs in the air, and slid them up my legs slowly, then over my feet. “I want you to relax and let me take care of you. Can you do that?”
“Yes Sir. I-I can do that.”
“Good.”
He rested my left foot on his shoulder while he kissed and sucked all over my other. His tongue was warm and wet weaving through my toes, and it felt so good. His eyes were closed, in his own world, and that turned me on so fucking bad. It was hard to let him remain in control.
He rested his lips against my ankle. “Ella, I was happy to see you in that orange tonight. I’m glad you listened to me.”
“I’ll do anything you say, Daddy.”
He cut his eyes to me. “Anything?”
“Anything, Daddy.”
I moved my left foot toward his mouth and pushed my big toe in between his lips.
“You like that, daddy?” I purred.
Pulling my toe out of his mouth, he responded, “Yes, baby, I love that, but relax, please.”
The hairs on my body stood as he pressed warm and wet kisses up my leg until he’d gotten off the bed and kneeled between my legs, pushing my thighs apart. He took his index and middle fingers and glided them up and down my pussy. Every time he tugged on it, my body jolted.
“She’s so responsive, Ella.”
“Babyy,” I moaned.
“Yeah, Babygirl.”
“That feels so good. Oh my God.”
“Yeah? How about this right here?”
He replaced his fingers with his mouth, gently sucking my pussy in his lips.
“Oh… my…Goddd,” I moaned.
He let my pussy slip from my lips and spit on it before sucking on it again. It seemed like I was in a dream how Declan was taking his time sucking on my pussy.
“Oh my God, yes.”
I was about to clutch the comforter through my fingers as Declan spelled his name on my clit.
“Yes, baby,” I moaned.
While he licked on my clit, he ran his hand up my body, caressing my breasts, thumbing my hard nipples. He pushed his soaked fingers in my mouth, and just like he’d done my toes, I weaved my tongue in between his fingers. He pulled them from my mouth and inserted them into my pussy slowly and fingered me even slower.
“Oh, yes. That’s it, Daddy. God, that’s it,” I groaned.
With every flick of his tongue, and thrust of his fingers, my pussy started to swell. My back was arched off the bed, and my head was pressed hard into the mattress. Declan sensed what was about to happen and used his free hand to grab my thigh, keeping me in place.
“Declan!” I inhaled deep. “I’m going to…Declan!”
My juices squirted out of me in one long stream, and Declan tried to catch all of it before he covered my pussy with his mouth, still flicking his tongue against my hard and very sensitive clit. When he sensed I couldn’t take anymore, he pulled away and kissed my thigh.
“How you feel, Babygirl?”
“I feel so good, Daddy.”
My pussy juices were coating his mouth, and I was thirsty to taste myself off his lips. I pulled him to me and licked all over his lips before pushing my tongue in his mouth. The sounds our lips made as we tongued each other down had my pussy purring again. When I reached for his dick, he moved my hand. I pulled away, pouting.
“Wrap your arms and legs around me.”
I did as I was told, and he stood and walked us into the bathroom. He turned the water on before setting me on my feet. I looked at his crotch, and his dick was strained against his briefs.
“You’re really not…”
“No. I wasn’t even supposed to do that, but you were being a brat,” he said.
He reached into my linen closet and grabbed a couple wash cloths. I watched him in the mirror, reminiscing about the last time we were in the bathroom together when he pounded my pussy. Since he wasn’t going to give me the dick, I needed to change the subject.
“So, earlier, outside the hospital. That’s what you go through?”
“Yeah. Used to be multiples times daily, but then, occasionally. What happened to you outside the hospital… a few years ago. I had to be hospitalized. I thought my heart was going out. That’s when I finally got on medication. I’d lost control of myself.”
“Lost control? How?”
After he wet the towel, he moved in front of me, and kneed my legs apart. The warm towel felt so good on my swollen pussy. The way he looked at me, I could tell his mind was wondering.
“I thought I could handle running Danger, Inc after Dymon quit, and as it turns out, I couldn’t and managed to lose one of our biggest partners. Dymon sent me here, and that’s how I ended up living here before he officially moved here.”
“Oh, wow. So, the conversation at dinner now makes sense. You think because you couldn’t run the big Danger Inc, this small part of Danger Inc means nothing. That’s why you ain’t tell them about your big deal.”
“You got that from what I said?”
When he finished cleaning me, he wet his towel and ran it over his face and chest.
“And I think, you think, that they think, they are better than you. I mean, everybody is better at things than others. That’s how the ecosystem keeps running, right.”
I grabbed my toothbrush and put toothpaste on it. He folded his arms across his chest, and cocked his head to the side, waiting for me to finish.
“I mean… how would this world go around if everybody wanted to be the captain or the pilot or the president. There is room for co-captains, co-pilots, and vice presidents to thrive in their own way,” I said, then started brushing my teeth.
“I’m here to be your moral support tonight. However, I understand what you’re saying, Lil’ Bit. I like how you take the most complex situations and break them down so simple.”
He walked out the bathroom and came back with his toiletries bag. After I rinsed my mouth, I stared at him brushing his teeth.
“Knowing nothing else but what happened tonight, I feel like you could maybe meet your brothers halfway a little more. Dymon looked a little hurt finding out about your big deal that way. Can I tell you what I think?”
He raised an eyebrow.
“I think you and Dymon love each other, for sure, but both of you express your feelings differently. I think you two need to come to a common ground on y’all relationship.”
He rinsed his mouth. “Is that so?”
“Are you angry at me? Do you want me to shut up?”
“No, and no. I think you’re saying useful things. It’s just…”
“Men. Stubborn.”
“Yeah, that.” He laughed. “Let’s go to bed.”
“Ooh! That sounds good.”
I took his hand, and he led me to the bed and pulled the covers back. I slid in first, and he slid in after me.
“Do we cuddle?” I queried.
“If you want, Ella.”
I turned toward him and snuggled up against his chest. He wrapped his arms around me, pulling me tighter to him.
“This feels good. You’re warm.”
“I love feeling my girls against me like this. We’re going to have to have another conversation soon,” he said, laughing.
“Hell yeah. We gonna fuck around and in twenty years, Lil’ D gon’ run up on you like, “Dad, I know Aunt Elle is not my real aunt, but… and you are going to cut him off like, boy you can’t date your Aunt Elle’s daughter, regardless. She’s like your sister, while Ms. Winter ready to knock your head off for ever suggesting an open relationship.”
He burst out laughing. “You are so fucking stupid, Ella, I swear. We got some strong genes, Baby girl. Boy or girl, that Danger coming through some way.”
“We about to bring the sixties back around here. Yes, Big Daddy has two families, and neither one of us are coming up off him.”
“You are fucking nuts,” he said, crying laughing. “Girl, you need to go to sleep.” His lips lingered on my forehead before he kissed it.
“Goodnight, Declan. Thank you for tonight, seriously.”
“You’re more than welcome, Baby girl.”
For a while, we listened to each other breathe while Declan rubbed my back and I drew circles on his abs. We were joking, but at this rate, the truth could be sprinkled in there somewhere.