32. Jimmy
Jimmy
I stood beneath the hot spray, eyes closed, my entire body tingling from Sutton loving on me all night long.
I’d had countless orgasms, the first time coming while draped over his lap, my backside littered with handprints I was quite proud of.
Squeezing my ass cheeks while showering gave me another zinging sting from the lingering marks, but I didn’t stroke my dick to the memory of how he’d taken me slow and sweet then hard and desperate.
Sutton knew how to use his cock to satisfy every craving he woke inside me on a daily basis.
“Delicious man,” I murmured to myself, breathing in the scent of bacon and coffee he was making for me downstairs since it was Saturday and he had off work. “I’m one lucky boy.”
Grinning and still flying high, I climbed out of the shower after having paid special attention to all my bits—insides too—since we had a stay-in day planned. I expected to be snuggled, pampered, and fucked at least twice before the sun sank behind the mountains.
My hard dick took issue with being tucked into lace panties, but sneaking down the stairs and putting myself on display in the kitchen entryway and catching my lover off guard would land me sprawled over the island for sure.
Breakfast could wait.
The doorbell rang, and I moved aside the bedroom blind to see who would dare intrude on us without an invite. Probably Jamie, but maybe Dex?—
An old, beat-up car in worse shape than my old Chevy sat along the street, one I hadn’t seen around town before. I pressed my nose to the cool glass to check who stood on the stoop directly beneath me.
A blonde woman huddled in on herself, arms around her stomach, bruises marring her cheek and temple?—
“Fuck,” I whispered as the blood drained from my face. I swallowed against the sudden dryness in my throat.
Fucking Darla Forrester—or whatever name she went by these days—had shown up on Sutton’s doorstep.
What was she doing back in town, and even more importantly, what the fuck did she want?
Another question whispered through my head, causing me to still, every muscle in my body tensing, dick deflating.
Had Sutton been aware she would be stopping by and hadn’t told me? He knew I would flip out. I’d made it clear I was jealous of him and his time.
From what he’d claimed, he hadn’t seen her since she’d fled Pippen Creek over a decade ago. I’d believed him about that…no way he would have hidden an upcoming visit from me.
Right?
My insides knotted, I spun to take in the king-sized bed that needed its sheets changed. The two pillows tossed on the floor, the comforter hanging half-off the foot. Evidence of our love fest and the promise of more gluttonous acts to come.
Those plans had flatlined.
What the actual fuck was she doing here?
With the bedroom door open, I could hear Sutton let Darla intrude into our peace.
I strained to listen but could barely make out their murmured voices.
Shouldn’t Sutton have been shouting or at least raising his tone?
He’d claimed to not ever having loved his ex-wife, but he’d been hurt and angered over what she’d done.
Had he forgiven her?
Considering his nature, I wouldn’t have been surprised. Even worse was the fact she looked beat to hell. Sutton would never turn her away.
I rushed to tug some clothes on over my damp skin, my heart thundering in my ears and making it hard to listen. Panting through parted lips and adrenaline crashing through my system, I crept down the stairs, straining to hear whatever the fuck was being said.
A rustle of clothing—a quiet sob of my lover’s name.
“Come here.” Sutton’s voice held tenderness, stating words he’d said to me countless times when wanting to offer comfort. And now he’d said that same thing to her?
Oh no he didn’t!
Heat slammed into me, causing my face to flame and insides to tremble. Thank fuck for the firm hardwood flooring beneath me that kept my feet from creating noise. I peeked into the entryway, and a stab of pain knifed me in the chest at my worst fear coming true.
Sutton pulled Darla to his chest, one hand around her waist, the other cradling her head.
No annoyed furrow lined his brow as he clutched her tight.
His eyes were closed as though he basked in having her back in his arms, soaked up the feel of her soft flesh when he’d had nothing but my trim, taut body in the previous too-short weeks.
“It’s going to be okay—I promise,” he murmured, because of course he did. Sutton saw someone in need and couldn’t help but run to the rescue.
My limbs went weak to see evidence that he still cared for the woman who had scorned his faithfulness and had attempted to ruin his name.
And he hugged her.
She clung to him like he was the rock she was desperate for—and he fucking let her.
Sweat broke out over my forehead, and I gritted my teeth to stop myself from screaming. Sobbing.
Spinning on trembling legs, I hurried toward the stairs. Up to the bedroom. Numb fingers tugged on socks while I attempted to swallow the pain from the back of my throat.
My shoes were in the entryway along with my coat, and no fucking way would I make an appearance, vulnerabilities on display for that bitch to gloat over.
Sutton would be full of excuses for his actions, shit I did not want to hear.
“Goddammit!” I grumbled to myself, my voice as unsteady as my eyes were watery.
Chewing on a fingernail, I examined the bedroom window.
Could I climb out and drop to the ground a floor below without killing myself?
Probably not the smartest choice. I could end up with two broken legs and be unable to escape this nightmare.
Sutton would see me at my worst, attempting to crawl away from the pain like a worthless worm?—
“Fuck.” I choked on the word, blinking my eyes rapidly to keep the tears contained. Nothing could be done about the agony ripping through me, and I clutched at my chest as my heart slowly rent from top to bottom.
Could I possibly sneak into the kitchen and get out the slider before either of them caught sight of me? A quick sprint across the lawn to my car wouldn’t be too cold?—
The BMW’s keys hung beside the front door.
More curses spilled from my trembling lips as I fisted my hands at my sides so they wouldn’t shake.
Inaction would only heighten my already thrumming pulse, my inability to draw a full breath.
I wouldn’t freeze this time and prove what a coward I was. I had to move. Protect myself for a fucking change.
One hesitant foot in front of the other, I made it to the landing.
I almost slipped down the stairs in my socks, which sent another burst of adrenaline through my already shaking body. The entryway sat empty, and I could hear the low murmur of voices in the living room. A peek around the corner showed them on the couch—sitting too goddamned fucking close.
Heat flushed through me again, and I clenched my jaw, ready to crawl on hands and knees by the opening to reach the entryway and everything I needed to get away from the sight of them together.
Worm.
Eyes closing, I swallowed hard. I wouldn’t crawl—for any one , for any reason . No matter how badly I wanted to crumple in on myself and disappear beneath the earth’s crust, where hiding would be ten times easier than living.
I stepped forward without a whisper of noise, eyes straight ahead as I stumbled past the living room entrance, praying like fuck they would be too wrapped up in each other to notice my presence.
Sutton didn’t see me, and if he did, he chose to ignore me because he didn’t call out to stop me from leaving.
My lower lip felt raw and chewed to bits before I got my shoes and coat on.
The keys made a quiet clinking noise as I lifted them off the hook where they hung beside Sutton’s all cozy, like they’d found a new home.
A fresh wave of pain slammed into my chest, and I bit on my tongue to keep my sobs contained.
A silent turn of the knob, a gentle tug inward, and the door opened without sound.
I stepped onto the stoop, my ragged breaths a puff of white, my lungs instantly chilled by the early morning temperature.
Jamie’s SUV flew around the corner, and I only made it halfway down the walkway before he pulled into the driveway beside my car. He hopped out, jeans and flannel unbuttoned, hurrying around the front of his vehicle.
Sutton must have known Darla was in town. He’d invited his son over for fuck’s sake—and Jamie rushed forward as though desperate to see his mom again. I’d thought he hated her—he’d spoken of what she’d done with anger and hurt.
But like father, like son.
Again.
My throat went tight as hell, and I swallowed hard, a whine building in my chest.
Jamie stumbled in his haste when his gaze landed on me. “Jimmy?”
I pushed past him, hitting the unlock and yanking open the driver door of my car.
“Jimmy!”
Tears slid down my cheeks as I backed out of the driveway like my ass was on fire. I took off up the road without a destination in mind. I could drive to Canada and never return. Head west and never look back. Hop a plane in Boston, jet across the pond, and never think about Sutton again.
As if.
I swiped the wetness from my cheeks, but the tears continued to roll, making it difficult for me to see the road. Sobs started to tear from my lungs, and I struggled to keep a tight grip on the wheel as my insides shredded, leaving my soul in tatters.
I needed to get off the road before I killed someone.
A parking lot on the left beckoned through my watery eyesight, so I pulled in and cut the engine, forehead dropping to the steering wheel.
I’d never cried so hard in my life. Not even when Dad had beaten the shit out of me and left me bleeding on my old bedroom floor the day I’d turned eighteen.
He’d called me countless names, blamed me for my mom’s death, and that agony didn’t compare to how my heart ached like a thousand pound weight sat atop it, slowly crushing its ability to beat.
Stuttered breaths barely allowed me to stay conscious as I sank in on myself and wallowed in my misery.
I’d let my guard down. Welcomed Sutton inside where he could root around and find a place to take up residence.
And the arms that should have been holding me had cradled her as though she still meant the world to him.
“Bitch!” I shrieked and slammed my fist on the steering wheel, grimacing as pain shot up to my elbow.
A knock on my window jerked my head to the left, and I scrubbed the tears from my face.
Sarah Kaufman stood on the other side of the glass, bent slightly to see me better. Concern lined her forehead and what I could make out of her eyes through the wetness coating mine.
Sniffing and breath hitching, I put my window down.
“Jimmy? You okay?” She sounded like a loving mom—and I started crying again because of course I couldn’t regulate myself and put on my facade today. “We just opened, so why don’t you come inside with me and I’ll make some tea, okay?”
She coaxed me from the car, and I realized I’d parked in front of her and Stefen’s Outdoor Shop.
Hunched in on myself, I managed to get a hold on the tears while following her through the glass door.
“Sarah?” Stefen called.
“Yeah?” She hollered to wherever he was. Sounded like he was down one of the aisles closer to the back of the store.
“Can you help me out for a second?”
“Be right there!” Sarah turned toward me while pulling off her coat. “Why don’t you go to the office,” she said, pointing at the door behind the counter.
I swallowed the last of my hiccupped attempts to catch my breath.
She squeezed my forearm. “I’ll only be a minute.”
Sarah hurried away, and I hung my head, feet unmoving, the deep earth calling.
I didn’t want to think about, let alone discuss, the mess in my head, what had caused it, or give anyone ammunition to start up the gossip factory. Couldn’t begin to imagine the shit that would be flying around town in the coming days.
Forgiveness at its finest from Pippen Creek’s most upstanding citizen.
The prodigal kicked out for the person who needed their chief the most.
Sutton had claimed he’d never truly loved Darla, but he and I hadn’t exchanged those words either.
Another whine rose from my chest, and my shoulders drooped lower, arms tight around my spilling guts.
Shouldn’t have let Sarah talk me into getting out of my car. Hell, I didn’t even like tea. And?—
The door kicked in behind me, and a large body lurched inside, damn near taking me out in the process.
“Stefen! You fucking prick!”
Kurt Wallace.
Drunk off his goddamned ass and waving…
A handgun.
I stumbled back a step and fell onto my backside, what was left of my heart speeding up from a rush of adrenaline. Dizziness swept through my head. My bladder went lax, and I barely managed to keep from pissing myself.
Blazing hazed-over eyes landed on me, but the sound of approaching footsteps lured his scowl off me before I sussed out his true feelings toward me.
Fag. Fairy.
The apology that had seemed so sincere?—
My brain shut off. Limbs rooted in place as Stefen appeared at the end of the aisle.
Kurt lifted his arm, shaking, and attempted to train his gun on the man’s chest. “I warned you, asshole,” he slurred while weaving on his feet. “Told you not to fucking touch her again!”
Sarah shrieked, and my lungs to seized along with the rest of my body.
I sat frozen.
A coward.
About to be the victim of drunken rage—again.