Chapter 19
“I can’t believe her!” It was too loud on Priest’s bike to vent my frustration, so I had plenty of time for my thoughts to swirl around, building and building until I felt like a volcano ready to erupt.
It was enough that Priest actually adjusted where my fingers were digging into him like tiny little daggers.
Even Clarke must’ve sensed it wasn’t a good moment to chat, because he opened the door for us and just shot Priest a slightly concerned look.
Once inside the apartment, there isn’t even anything good to smash.
I grab an empty water bottle and throw it as hard as I can at the wall. It hits with an unsatisfying thunk before bouncing on the carpet.
Priest scoops it up and tosses it into the sad grocery bag I’ve been using for recycling. “Feel better?”
“No! She can never leave well enough alone. Never! You don’t understand.
Every single time I succeed at something, she just sees it as a way to unlock some next, hidden level.
I’m nothing but a way for her to live out her own dreams. I should’ve known when she didn’t care about me until I could do something for her.
She’s going to keep using me until there’s nothing left, and what am I supposed to do then? ”
“Tell her to fuck off and live her own life. You’re an adult, Q.”
“Where do I even start? This is the first time I’ve even lived on my own and look how great that’s going.”
He sits on the couch, one leg folded underneath him. “She controls your finances, baby. You—”
“No, don’t make excuses for me. I’ve spent years making myself smaller.
Forcing myself to be happy with the little sips of freedom I got in college, or when I’m working on set.
It was enough as long as I could kiss a boy, or buy a coffee and share a sandwich with Erika while pretending we’re real friends.
” I have years of pent-up resentment to burn off.
Once the valve opens, it all comes spewing out.
“But who would really want to be friends with me when I’m only half a person.
I stopped dating when I was in college because she started getting paranoid that I was going to get knocked up or that I’d end up with someone who only wanted me because I was going to be famous someday.
And I don’t even want to be famous!” My pacing leaves me in front of Priest. I’m flushed and panting, like a wild animal trapped in a tiny cage and raging against the bars.
He reaches out and hooks his pinky with mine, squeezing. Giving me space but letting me know he’s there. “Then why? Why do any of this?”
“Because I love acting. Because Roger, my agent, is an angel.” I fall to my knees and look up at Priest. “Because last time I quit we ended up living in her car. She… you haven’t seen it.
You’ve only seen this place. We live in a trailer park.
A nice one, but still. That’s why she signed this lease.
She didn’t want anyone to take pictures of me coming and going.
I… I screwed everything up, didn’t I? If this gets out, nobody is going to want to hire me. ”
“What? Fuck no. You did nothing wrong. We’ll figure a way through this. Call your agent or something. Sinner’s sister is a reporter, maybe she can help.”
“Really?”
He nods and holds out a hand, pulling me up and into his lap. I resist for a second, but the anger burned me to a crisp, and all I can do now is let him settle me against his chest and press a kiss into my hair.
“I messed around with Colt,” I mumble into his shirt.
Priest chuckles. “Yeah, I didn’t get the details but I figured. Was it good?”
I nod.
“Maybe you haven’t noticed, but we’re all fucked up, Q.
None of us are going to judge you for doing the best you could.
I’ve made a lot of bad decisions in my life.
It makes you human, and you’re so fucking young still.
You’ve got time, baby. Shit, it’s no secret that I hate your mom, but just because you need to take some space to figure yourself out doesn’t mean it’ll be forever.
She’s a grown-ass woman and she might need to fall before she figures out how to stand up on her own.
It’s not your responsibility to fall with her. ”
Tears slide down my cheeks, soaking into his shirt. I almost feel like I could stay here forever and all the crap in my life would just wash away. “Even after everything, I’m still really glad you came to the club that night.”
“So am I,” he says softly. “Want to not think about it for a while?”
I worry my lip with my teeth, building courage. “What’s your suggestion?”
We both know what he’s saying, but I want to hear the words. I want to feel chosen tonight.
Priest’s tongue flicks out and glides over the edge of my ear. “We had to be quiet last time. This time I want to make you come so hard we get a fucking noise complaint.”
“Bedroom?”
“Too far away.” He drops to the floor next to the couch, and the next thing I know, my jeans are somewhere near the breakfast bar and my panties are on the table by the TV.
I’m left wearing nothing but my bra and the glittery black tank-top I had on under my loaned motorcycle jacket.
“Fuck that’s a nice view,” he growls as he hitches my legs over his shoulders. “I want to swallow you whole.”
I watch in dazed wonder as Priest gets his jeans open and frees his cock while he tongues my clit. The sound of him fisting his cock is so freaking hot. We were in the dark last time, and I was facing away part of the time. Watching and hearing him is a whole new experience.
“Heath…” I whisper, forgetting myself, but the way he groans and flexes his back when I say it makes me think he might not mind it. At least occasionally.
He presses the flat of his tongue over my clit and pulses as his thumb strokes over my hole, dipping just inside every few seconds to tease me.
I reach out and pull the tie out of his hair, watching the black strands fall around his shoulders.
It feels like a silky curtain, sliding through my fingers.
Adrenaline is a hell of a drug. All that anger had to go somewhere, and it’s mostly pooling between my legs. “Oh! Shit…” I throw my head back and pant. “I’m gonna come,” I gasp.
My climax starts as a soft whimpering thing, building until I’m screaming his name.
He drops his cock to grab my hips with both hands and split me open like a watermelon, licking up the juice until there’s nothing left of me but an exhausted puddle.
After, I collapse back into the couch, his hair sliding through my grip until the ends fall from my hands.
No thoughts.
“Jesus Christ,” I say, but it comes out mostly as word-shaped air because I have no energy to put into speech.
“Babe, he had nothing to do with it. That was all me.” Priest looks downright smug. He slides a finger through my folds before bringing it to his mouth. “I’m ready for round two if you are.”
“How about round one and a half?” I glance down. His cock is still at full mast, straining for a taste of the relief I just experienced. “Maybe I can help you with that.”
Priest peels his shirt off and throws it aside. “Let me see all of you. It’s a crime to hide a pair that perfect from me.”
Blushing, I strip the rest of the way. I would be more self-conscious, but we’re both naked now, and there isn’t even a hint of judgment in the hungry way he looks at me.
He crooks his finger, urging me to scoot forward to the edge of the cushion.
It puts my head right on level with his erection when he stands.
I look up at him through my lashes and reach out.
He’s hot and velvety, a pleasure to stroke.
“I’m not… I haven’t done this much,” I admit. “If I’m doing something wrong, let me know, okay?”
“Fuck, Quinn. It’s your mouth and your hands. You can do no wrong, trust me.”
“Oh, okay.” I never break eye contact as I lean closer and part my lips. With a small, experimental lick, I taste him. It’s different but not bad. A little salty, a little bitter, but mostly just tastes like skin, and the flavor pulls at me in an instinctive way.
His hands thread into my hair as I open my lips and test how it feels to take him into my mouth. I can sense the way he’s holding himself still and struggling to let me take things at my own rate. It makes me feel powerful, especially when I go a little deeper and hear his guttural moan.
Maybe I’m not the most experienced, but Priest has no complaints as I start to bob and suck, experimenting with using my hands and tongue. I draw a deep breath, ready to see how far I can take him.
And that’s when the front door opens.