Chapter 18 Mae
Cody: I can still taste you on my fingers
Mae: I’m in a meeting with a client.
Cody: A man?
Mae: Yes, Cody, most of my clients are male athletes.
Cody: Fuck, I’m jealous.
Mae: Don’t be. I can still feel you between my legs.
Cody: Good. I’ll see you tonight. Plan on having you leaking me from that sweet pussy all week.
Mae: You’re crazy.
Cody: For you, yeah, I think I always have been.
***
The next night…
Cody: I’ll be to your house in a few minutes. Just wrapping up at the studio.
Mae: No rush.
Cody: No. There’s definitely a fucking rush. I’m starving and not for food. I need your pussy all over my face.
Mae: You’re insatiable.
Cody: And you’re not? I think I remember you last night begging me for more after I fucked you in the shower, thrice.
Mae: Thrice? Really?
Cody: Am I wrong?
Mae: I’m shaking my head at your use of thrice, but no, you’re not wrong.
Cody: Good. See you in an hour. I’ll bring dinner. You bring the pussy.
Mae: Okay.
***
And the next day…
Mae: I swear I can’t walk straight.
Cody: In a good way?
Mae: Yes, in the best way. I can… I can literally feel your cock between me. I swear you have the biggest one I’ve ever had.
Cody: *Beats chest* Tell me more about my cock.
Mae: I love taking it down my throat.
Cody: I love hearing that, baby. I love when you do. Your mouth is like velvet.
Mae: Okay, I’m about to go into a client meeting and need to focus.
Cody: I fucking love putting it in your pussy, too. I love putting it everywhere.
Mae: Cody.
Cody: Will you let me try your ass? I think you’d like it.
Mae: Have you done that before?
Cody: One time.
Mae: Maybe… I think I might like it.
Cody: I think you’d love it. I’ll see you tonight. I’m making dinner for you this time. Got the ingredients.
Mae: What are you trying to do to me?
Cody: Isn’t it obvious? Fucking win you back. Show you why we should have never broken up as kids.
Mae: See you soon.
***
Two weeks later...
“Cody…” I groan as I rake my nails through his hair and tug gently.
He stops for a moment and looks up at me smiling, “you’re so beautiful when I’m eating you,” he speaks before diving back between my legs with his wet, sloppy tongue.
I rest my head back on the desk and brace myself, feeling my orgasm start to build deep within my pelvis.
“This was… this was a nice lunch surprise,” I say while he continues to suck and lick between my legs. He adds two fingers, pumping firmly while his lips fan around my clit, tongue flicking firmly.
He laughs and hums against me causing another jolt of electricity to spread through my body that sends me over the edge.
“Cody,” I cry on a sigh that I try to stifle because I’m in my office at work, and the last thing I need is Sienna grilling me about this afterwards.
“Oh… yes…” I moan, my core clenching and my pussy throbbing as I come on his tongue.
He stands up when I come down, adjusts my pencil skirt over my hips and kisses my lips gently. “You’re so fucking sexy. I swear I’ll come by here every day at lunch to eat you if I can. Will I see you tonight?”
I smile. “I don’t think so. Elsie and I are having a night together. She just got back from her two-week vacation with my parents today.”
My eyes feel heavy with exhaustion, the weight of the day settling into my bones.
All I want is to close the office, go home with him, and curl up in his arms for a while—just the two of us, warm and quiet.
But at the same time, the thought of finally seeing Elsie again has my heart squeezing with anticipation. I’ve missed her.
I tried calling a few times while she was away, but every time my mom picked up, Elsie was off in the background—laughing, splashing in the water, completely wrapped up in the adventure of it all. And I didn’t want to interrupt that.
She sounded so damn happy. And really, that’s all that matters.
“Okay, sounds good. But, Mae, I’d love to meet Elsie at some point. You know, whenever you’re comfortable with it, of course.”
I hesitate because I knew this was coming but I’m not sure when that should be. As if he senses my unease he smiles, and kisses my lips gently.
“There’s no rush. I’ll see you soon or just stop by the office so I can get my fix of this sweet cunt,” he murmurs. Then before he can move to the doorway to leave, a knock interrupts us.
"Who is it?” I call out, panicking only a little bit.
“Hey Mae, it’s your dad and mom,” My mother’s shrill voice calls through the door.
“What the hell?” I whisper to Cody who instantly looks as nervous as I do.
“Were you expecting them to stop by today?”
“No, they were supposed to drop Elsie off at school then fly back to San Angelo.” I rake a hand through my rumpled hair, wondering just how disheveled I look right now.
Suddenly, I feel like I’m eighteen years old again, an adult with my independence yet feeling wholly controlled by my parents’ money and judgment.
I straighten up taller, determined not to let this happen again.
“Guess it’s as good of a time as any to tell them we’re back together.”
Cody’s hand rests on my arms to stop me. “Are you sure you’re ready to do that?” he asks gently. “Sure, I’d love to tell them that, give them a big ole’ fuck you, you couldn’t keep us apart for forever, but not unless you’re ready.”
I nod and smile. “We aren’t eighteen years old anymore. And they don’t control me. I want them to know that I'm in love and happy.”
He lowers his face, cups my cheek and kisses me again more passionately this time before another, more urgent knock comes through the door.
“Open up, Mae!” my mother’s voice screeches as I tilt my head back with a loud sigh before moving to the door and flinging it open. Time to face them.
“Hi Dad. Hello Mom.”
My mom peeks around me into my office, her eyes landing on Cody instantly who’s standing by my desk waiting. At least he was able to adjust himself enough not to look turned on. That and the sound of my parent’s voice is enough to kill the mood instantly.
“What the hell is he doing here?” my mother demands, pointing a shaky finger directly at Cody.
“Mom…” my voice is measured as I try to contain my anger and diffuse the situation. This isn’t the greeting I was hoping for. “Cody Cameron is a client of mine.”
“A client? What trouble is he in now?” she says rolling her eyes.
I can feel Cody’s uncomfortableness as he shifts on his feet, probably wondering how much I want him to step in versus me handle it.
That’s the thing, I can handle this now.
I don’t need anyone else to save me. She doesn’t control me anymore.
"He's not here as my client. He's here as my boyfriend," I stress the last word intentionally.
My mother's mouth drops open and for the first time in her life, I think she's at a loss for words.
“Now, Brooke, settle down. You don’t want to cause a scene in the middle of Mae’s office, do you?” my father cautions as Cody takes a step closer to me.
“Hey Cody, why don’t I call you later?” I ask with a sweet smile. “I’m just going to catch up with my parents.”
“You sure you want me to leave?” his eyes search mine for any hesitation or fear, but he won’t find any. I’m stronger now. I don’t need their approval even if it’d be nice to have it at times.
I force a smile, “I’m fine. Thanks.”
He nods his head and then turns to leave before gripping my hips and giving me a kiss that’s more claiming than anything. I smile at him and say goodbye as he closes the door behind him.
Once I’m sure he’s out of earshot I whip around, my hands flying to my hips.
“What the hell is your problem with him? You’ve had an issue with me dating him since I was eighteen years old, and he’s never done anything to you.
I’m happy with him. I’m happy that we’ve reconnected.
I’m the happiest that I’ve ever been in years. ”
“He doesn’t deserve you,” my mom snaps.
I throw my hands up, frustration boiling over. “Oh, but I bet you’d just love it if I got back together with Vance, huh? Even though he put his hands on me. Even though he put me—and your granddaughter, the one you claim to love—in danger with his drug use.”
My mom’s eyes widen, her face paling as my words hit their mark. For a split second, I think maybe—maybe—there’s a heart buried somewhere inside her after all. I always assumed she knew and that she just chose to look the other way. But now, seeing the shock on her face, I wonder if I was wrong.
Maybe my own memories have blurred, tangled up in the chaos of surviving it all. Maybe I never actually told them what really happened.
Maybe she never really knew.
“I had no idea that he’d hit you, Mae, but that doesn’t change the fact that Cody Cameron and you do not belong together.”
“Why? Why is it so hard to think that despite you two meddling in my relationship as a kid, we’ve grown and experienced life separately and have now found our way back together?”
She’s silent as she shakes her head and steps towards me again. “Just trust me. You’ll understand some day when Elsie is older. You'll only want the best for your daughter and the man who she ends up being with.”
“I think you mean you just wanted me to marry the man who got me pregnant to salvage your reputation.
And the fact that he happened to be connected to a very affluent family involved in Texan politics, didn't hurt. I, however, could care less about that for Elsie. I want Elsie to marry for love and not money, power, or position. I want her to marry someone who cares for her, protects her, and gives her the space to be herself.”
She shakes her head again like she can’t agree with my words despite know they are right.
“What do we have to do to make this little relationship end? Commit to paying for Elsie’s college tuition?
Pay for her to go to that fancy private school in Nashville that I've been telling you about? What about paying off the business loan I know that you took out to start Sterling Sports PR?”
“Are you fucking kidding me?” I yell, not even caring any longer that my employees and the entire office can likely hear me yelling at my mom.
I know this is unprofessional, and I’m sure I’ll pay for it when I issue an apology to all the people who work for me, but I can only see red now.
“I don’t want your money. I don’t need your money.
You made it clear when you cut Elsie and I off five years ago and left us to struggle to put food on the table and purchase necessities.
I only allowed you back in my life so that you could have a relationship with Elsie for her sake but don’t mistake my generosity as wanting a relationship with you.
And don’t mistake my kindness for weakness.
If I ever see you lord money over Elsie or try to control her or her decisions in any way, I will cut you back out of our lives instantly.
This relationship between Cody and I is happening,” I demand firmly.
My mom’s eyes narrow as she quickly turns on her heel and storms out of my office before slamming the door closed behind her.
My father stands next to my desk and taps his knuckles gently on the wood like he isn’t sure what to do.
“Sorry about that, Mae. We had a fun time with Elsie these past two weeks. She’s bright, kind, and all the goodness in her is from you.
We can see how much you’ve poured into her and the way she shines.
I’d hate for us to lose our place in Elsie’s life because of your mother’s…
inability to look beyond the past.” He steps towards me.
“I know it doesn’t seem this way, but your mother has always wanted only the best for you.
She didn’t want to cut you off financial five years ago. It broke both of us to do that.”
I sigh heavily. “I’ve heard that enough times to believe it, but yet I don’t. I think she wants what’s best for herself and I understand that she loves Elsie and treats her differently, but I don’t get it. What’s her problem with Cody, anyways?”
He sighs. “I always thought it was about reputation and power, but two years ago I found out something that provided me with some deeper insight. Apparently, your mom and Nash Cameron, Cody’s father, dated when they both went to college in Houston years ago.
Cody’s father must have broken up with her and she’s held that against him ever since. ”
Are you kidding me?
I want to scream.
My pulse races, heart thunders in my chest with nowhere to go.
My mom dated Cody’s dad when they were younger.
I wonder why she’d never mentioned that before though now it makes sense. If he’d been the one to end things, her pride was likely bruised. It must have been a bad break up for her to carry a grudge through almost thirty years of her life.
How sad that she’s taken that out on her daughter.
“That change nothing for me,” I state firmly. “Cody Cameron and I are together now.”
My father nods his head and smiles. “I’m happy for you, Mae. You’re doing an incredible job building this business on your own and taking care of Elsie. If you need anything at any time, reach out to me. I’m here to help. Financially, emotionally, whatever you need.”
He pulls me into a tight hug, and I let myself sink into it, feeling the weight of a decade’s worth of confusion slowly unravel.
For the first time in years, it doesn’t feel so heavy.
But even as I soak in the comfort, I know the truth—no matter how kind his offer is, I won’t need anything from them.
I’ve built my life without them. I’ve stood on my own for this long, and I’ll keep standing.