Текст книги "Mechanic"
Автор книги: Alexa Riley
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Текущая страница: 5 (всего у книги 10 страниц)
Nine
Penelope
I wake to kisses traveling down my spine, before they move to my butt cheeks. The whiskers of his beard make me giggle and try to wriggle away. I still feel the wetness of his cum inside me and on my thighs, and I get a soft bite on my ass to halt my movements.
“You passed out on me,” he mumbles against my skin, then takes another soft bite of the opposite ass cheek, like he is trying to give them equal attention.
“It’s all your fault. I passed out from exhaustion, and you didn’t even feed me.” I look over my shoulder at him to give my best pout.
“I’m sorry, Duchess. It slipped my mind. I filled up on your sweet cunt.” He kisses the same spots where he bit me, pulling himself from the bed and taking me with him up and over his shoulder, strolling through the house like I weigh nothing. I don’t even struggle with being carried around like I’m a doll. I have a nice view of his ass from this angle, but too bad he slipped on his boxer briefs. I watch his powerful leg muscles move us with ease down the hall, reminding me of how big he really is.
I’ve never had this closeness with someone before, and I’m going to suck up every second of it. I’m sick of fighting this. The last few hours of my life have been the best I can remember.
I’m through with everything, and it’s all going to change today. This is something I’ve never done. I’ve always done what my father’s wanted and that’s gotten me nowhere. Everything from the classes I took, to the activities I participated in, he had laid out for me.
It feels freeing to let go. I thought I would’ve had this freedom when I left college, but instead I came back to have control ripped away from me once again. It seems playing by my father’s rules got me nowhere, and no matter what I did, he would just make up new ones. It was an endless cycle of holding me down.
I’m still a little worried about my grandma. Maybe I can just tell her what’s going on. I’m so worried that it might stress her out, and that’s something she doesn’t need right now. She seems to be so weak lately that she doesn’t need all this laid at her feet. I hate that I didn’t realize how sick she’s really been. I should’ve been coming home more, but every time I called she always said she was fine. It wasn’t until recently that I found out things haven’t really been all that fine after all. And now my father really has some leverage over me—the one thing he can use to control me.
I’m starting to wonder what he has over Law. Law and I have never been super close, both going off to different boarding schools and him being eight years older than me. His life was busy when he worked up in Chicago, and even when I could make it out to see him, he always had his head buried deep into whatever case he was working on.
I haven’t gotten much time to talk to him since I’ve gotten back. I was being pulled in so many directions, we didn’t have time to catch up. We’re going to have to sit down and work some stuff out because there’s no way I’m going to let Dad keep me from Grandma, and more than likely I’ll need Law’s help.
Paine sits me on the counter, making me squirm on the cold granite top. “Sorry, Duchess.” He reaches for a shirt hanging off the bar stool at the breakfast bar, sliding it over my head. “I love seeing you naked, but I don’t want you to be cold either.” Leaning in, he takes my mouth in a soft kiss. “You sore?” His eyes go soft, and I can see the concern in his face. “I took you hard.”
“I’ve never been more perfect.” I smile when I say the words because they’re true. I feel so happy with him. Like I’m home. “And thanks,” I say, looking down at the worn shirt with an old car on it. I love it more than any piece of clothing I have. It’s completely Paine, complete with what looks like an old grease stain. Even better, it smells like him.
“You never have to thank me. Taking care of you is what I’m supposed to do.” He runs his thumb across my lip before pulling away.
“What do you fancy, Duchess?” he asks, pulling open the refrigerator door.
“You cook?” I can’t picture him working his way around a kitchen. A car, sure, but making spaghetti? Not so much.
“When I’ve got food I can, but I’ve been too busy to get to the store. Someone has had me chasing them all over town.” He turns to smile at me as he pulls eggs and cheese from the fridge.
It’s crazy how easy this feels. Like we’ve been doing it forever. Maybe when it’s right, that’s just how it is. I don’t have experience with men, but my grandma told me when you find the right man, you just know.
I kept getting worried that she’s going to ask me if Scott was the one, but she hasn’t. Maybe she just thinks he is. Why else would I agree to marry him?
“Hope you like egg-and-cheese sandwiches. We can run to the store and stock up tomorrow on some stuff. I plan on keeping you in our bed for the next few days.”
Butterflies take flight in my stomach at the word ‘our.’ He’s acting like I’m never leaving. Maybe I’m not. I don’t think I’ll be able to go home when my dad finds out I’m not marrying Scott.
It’s all so simple here. I glance around, taking in Paine’s home. It’s warm and cozy. Hardwood floors run throughout, with deep gray-blue walls. The floor plan is open with the kitchen off to the side of the living room, and a big dining room to the other side of the kitchen. A giant fireplace takes up one wall, with silver tiles surrounding it.
One thing I’ve always disliked about my family home is that it is too big. I love the idea of being able to cook in the kitchen and still be able to talk to someone lying on the couch. I can easily picture a family here.
Me in the kitchen cooking dinner, Paine lying on the couch watching a baseball game and talking to me while I cook. The kids at the dining-room table, doing their homework before dinner. It makes me miss something I never knew I wanted. Being here with Paine, it’s all so clear.
“What makes you have that look on your face?” I turn back from my domestic fantasies and study him. If he meant half of what he said when he took me to bed hours ago, then maybe we’re on the same page.
“How many?”
“How many what?” I ask.
“Kids.”
I run my hands down his tatted-up arms, pulling him closer. He sets a plate down on the counter next to me and wraps his arms around my waist.
“Three.”
“Only three?” he teases, and I’m relieved that the fairy tale I just dreamed up moments ago is so close. I can almost reach out and touch it, or maybe it’s already in my grasp.
“Let’s start there. We still have an uphill battle,” I remind him.
“It’s time to start talking.” He jumps up on the counter with me, handing me one of the sandwiches he just made, and I lay it all out for him while we eat.
“I’ll figure it out. He can’t keep you from seeing your grandma.”
“I’m not so sure. Scott’s the family lawyer, and I have no idea who controls what. I’ve never had to worry about it before, and I know my father has some powerful friends, Paine. I just—”
“Baby, calm down.” He jumps back off the counter, grabbing my face between his hands. “I promise you. I won’t let him keep her from you. I told you, I’ll give you everything you’ve ever wanted, and if you want to see your grandma, you’ll see your grandma.”
I believe him, and I don’t know why. I’ve only known him for such a short time, but I can tell by the look in his eyes he means it. And it’s quite clear Paine gets what he wants.
“Trust me, Duchess.”
“I do.” He pulls me to his chest and holds me tight, that feeling of being home warming me again.
A knock at the door pulls us from our embrace.
“Who the fuck…” Paine glances over his shoulder to look at the clock on the stove. “It’s almost midnight.”
“Booty call?” I half-tease. Who else would show up at his house so late?
Paine gives me a stern look. “I told you I never invited a woman back here. Don’t push your luck or I’ll spank your ass.”
I wiggle at his words, thinking about him spanking me as he takes me from behind. The image makes everything in my core clench.
“My dirty Duchess. You like getting your ass spanked? I’ll have to remember that.”
I go to lie and tell him I don’t, but another knock sounds on the door.
“I’m fucking coming,” he shouts. “Don’t move.” He shoots me a look, and I stay rooted.
I watch as he makes his way to the door, wearing just his underwear. It better not be a woman out there, because I don’t want someone else seeing his boxer briefs hugging his thighs tightly. It’s then I notice all of his tattoos across his arms and chest are on display. I didn’t realize he had so many. He was wearing long sleeves when I first met him, and only a few of the tattoos peeked out at his wrist. I don’t know what it is about his hard side that draws me to him. I’ve never met someone like him before, and men like him don’t run in the same circles as I have all my life. Maybe that’s why I never knew what attraction was until I met him.
When the door opens, I hear Paine sounding pissed at whoever it is. “This is private fucking property.” I can’t see around him, his big body filling the door and blocking the view, but I know who it is when a familiar voice speaks.
“Where’s my daughter?”
“Where she’s supposed to be,” Paine fire backs. I get down off the counter and try to get past him to face my father, not wanting them to go to blows.
“I know for a fact she isn’t with her fiancé,” my father says, but it’s clear Scott told him who I was with. There’s no other way my father could possibly know I was here with Paine.
“Then you thought wrong because you’re looking at her fucking fiancé.” There’s no missing the possessive tone in Paine’s voice.
“Stop it. Both of you.” I finally make it past Paine, ducking under his arm in a quick move, but I don’t get far. He wraps an arm around my waist, pulling me back to his front.
The cold night air hits my legs, reminding me I’m only wear Paine’s shirt. Lucky for me, he’s a freaking giant and the thing comes almost to my knees.
My dad looks at me in disgust. Like he has room to talk. Not only is he married to a woman five years older than me, but everyone knows he sleeps around on her. I have a feeling she does, too, with the looks she shoots my brother at Thanksgiving dinner.
“Put some clothes on. We’re leaving.”
“She’s not going anywhere,” Paine answers for me. I don’t know why I’m so intimidated by my father, but I am, and I’m glad to have Paine standing behind me.
“Your grandmother got hurt. We had to call the doctor to come out. She’s asking for you, Penny,” my father says, using the nickname for me I haven’t heard in years.
“Let me get my things.” I try to break from Paine’s arms, wanting to get to her as soon as possible, but he’s holding tight.
“Give us five and we’ll be ready,” Paine says, finally letting me go.
“I won’t let him on the property.” My dad’s tone is final, and I know he won’t. He’ll call the police and have Paine thrown in jail.
“I don’t go, she doesn’t go.”
“I’ll tell your grandmother you couldn’t be bothered then.” My father turns to leave, and I feel so angry at how he always says ‘your’ grandmother, like she’s nothing to him. Like she’s not the mother of his late wife. Like she’s not his mother-in-law.
“No, wait!” I yell at him, making him turn to look at me. He has a smirk on his face, which makes the wrinkles around his mouth more prominent. Time hasn’t been good to Dad these past five years. Most of his hair would be gray now if he didn’t dye it. He’s even put on some weight.
“Duchess,” Paine says, holding on to my arm. His grip makes it clear he isn’t letting me go.
“You asked me to trust you, Paine. Can you trust me? I have to go. I’ll come back.” I look up into his eyes, wanting him to see what I saw moments ago when we were in the kitchen together, talking about the life we wanted.
“Don’t count on it,” I hear my father say from behind me, and I can see the tension rolling off Paine.
“She’ll be out in a minute.” Paine pulls me into the house, slamming the door behind us. “I don’t like this. I think he’s playing at something.”
“Let me check.” Breaking away, I head back to his bedroom where I find my purse, and I pull my phone out to call Law. Paine watches my every move like a hawk while I call my brother. He picks up on the second ring and I get straight to the point.
“Hey. Is Grandma okay? Dad just told me—”
“I haven’t gotten to see her yet. The doctor is still in there, checking her over,” Law says, cutting me off.
“Okay. I’m on my way.”
I hang up the phone, putting it back into my purse. “I have to go.”
“I know. I just don’t fucking like it.” Paine’s whole body looks like it’s filled with rage.
I walk over to him and reach up to grab his face. I pull it to mine so we’re only a breath apart. “I want what we talked about,” I tell him, letting him know I’ll come back to him.
He kisses me hard before reluctantly pulling away. “Don’t clean up. If you’re leaving this house without me, the cum on your thighs and pussy stays put.” I should be appalled, but I’m not. I like that I still smell of him. That when I leave, a part of him is coming with me. I nod, making my retreat into the bathroom.
I make quick work of putting my dress and shoes back on. I toss Paine’s shirt onto the bed. When I enter the bedroom, I see Paine is also dressed and is just pacing back and forth like a caged animal.
“Paine.” My voice makes him stop and turn to look at me.
I can’t read the look on his face, but I reach out, wanting him to come to me. He walks over, his big hand engulfing mine. I lead him down the hallway and to the front door. I open it and see my father still standing there.
Turning back to Paine, I squeeze his hand. “I’ll call you when I have news.”
“You’ll call me every hour,” Paine corrects, but he’s not looking at me. He’s in a staring match with my father.
“Okay, I’ll call you every hour.” Which I will if it will cool him down a little and put him at ease.
“I don’t know what the fuck your game is, Mayor, but I’ll figure it out. And when I do, I’ll burn you.”
“Stick to things you know, Paine. Like fixing cars. You don’t want to get tangled with me.” My dad looks down his nose at Paine. Something he does to a lot to people, and it makes me want to lash out. Now is not the time to get on his bad side when he’s standing between me and my grandma.
“We’re already tangled. You show up on my property, take my girl, and don’t think that’s all there is to it? Maybe you’re the one who’s not too bright.”
“Enough.” I break into the middle of their pissing match, which I know will just escalate. “Let’s go, I want to get there before the doctor leaves. I want to hear what he has to say.” I start to walk off the porch, but Paine pulls me back to him, kissing me hard and possessively.
“Take this.” He hands me his phone.
“I have mine.” I indicate to my purse under my arm.
“I want you to take this one.” I can tell by his tone that there is no arguing. He grabs my purse, taking my phone out of it, and hands the purse back. “I’m keeping yours. You can reach me on it.”
I don’t know what he’s doing, but I just go along with it. I take one last look at Paine as I get into my father’s car.
As the car pulls away, I expect him to lay into me about Paine and Scott, making threats and demanding I get back with Scott, but he doesn’t. He takes a different tactic.
“Paine will get you nowhere in life, Penny. I just want what’s best for you. I thought if I pushed you into marrying Scott, you’d see he was right for you. He’d be good for you. He’s going places.”
“He’s not.” My response is flat and without emotion. It’s right there in his words. Scott is going places, and I’m guessing my dad wants his hand in those places. I have no idea what he’s playing at with this soft, caring approach. This is nothing like how he was days ago when he was telling me what I would and wouldn’t be doing.
He sighs deeply, making me look over at him. I see him glancing at the cell phone Paine gave me, making me grip it tighter before I put it into my purse.
“We’ll discuss this later. Let’s just get back home and see how your grandmother is doing.”
It’s silent the rest of the twenty minute drive home. I’m out of the car before it even comes to a full stop, rushing into the front door as fast as my heels will let me. I dash up the stairs and head for the east wing, and I’m out of breath when I reach her hallway.
When I get to the door, I see my brother sitting outside, still in uniform, his eyes coming to mine.
“The doctor just left. Grandma’s sleeping.”
I’m relieved and sad. I wanted to see her, but if the doctor left and isn’t having her transferred to the hospital then she must be okay.
“What happened?” I turn to see if my father followed me, but he didn’t. He hasn’t seemed too concerned about Grandma, but he doesn’t care about any of us unless he has a use for us. It’s clear from his not coming to check on her that she doesn’t have something he needs at the moment. Except maybe for her money.
“She had a dizzy spell, had a little fall, and hit her head. Thankfully, she didn’t break anything, and she’s just got a little bruise on her forehead.”
“Oh, thank God.’
Law pulls me into his arms, giving me a hug. “She’s fine. Why don’t you go lie down, and you can see her first thing in the morning.” I nod into his chest, but for some reason I feel like he’s trying to get rid of me. It’s not something I want to contemplate right now, so I let it go. This day has been long and filled with more emotions than I can handle. I need to crash, and my bed is calling me. I wish I could be in Paine’s bed, but this one is close to Grandma.
Letting go of Law, I say goodnight and head to the other side of the house. When I get to my room, I fall into my bed, flipping my shoes off and dumping my purse beside me, not caring that I’m still in my dress. I let my eyes fall closed until I hear a phone ringing. Absently, I reach for my purse, pulling Paine’s phone from it and put it to my ear.
“I’ve been so worried! You missed our sonogram appointment. Why haven’t you texted me back all day? Was the shop that busy?” The woman on the other end of the line explodes with questions as soon as I pick up.
“You must have the wrong number,” I tell her, thinking she’s way too wound up for nearly one in the morning.
She pauses for a second—checking the number she dialed, I’m guessing. “No, this is my boyfriend Paine’s number. The man whose baby I’m carrying. The baby appointment he missed today,” she screams each word louder than the last, and the urge to vomit makes me drop the phone. I run towards to bathroom, losing everything Paine made me eat earlier.
I lie on the cold tile floor and let the tears flow. I can hear the phone ringing over and over in my bedroom.
How could I have been so freaking stupid? All the things Paine said tonight rush through my head. Suddenly, I’m thinking of all the times I remember girls at my dorm crying about men they had dated who had filled them with lies to get into their pants.
Peeling myself off the floor, I turn on the shower, wanting the smell of him off me. It’s too much to bear. I scrub my body clean, washing away his scent, but the little love bites he left still show. Seeing them makes a sob escape from deep inside me. Turning off the shower, I grab my robe, making my way back into the bedroom. I see six missed calls all from my number, meaning it’s Paine. I pull up his contacts, but the only number programed is mine.
Paine calls again, but I just clear it and click into his text messages. I see a bunch from the number that called, claiming to be Paine’s girlfriend. I scroll a few and read them. One is a picture of a sonogram pic. The others talk about missing him, and another is about all the dirty things she’s going to do to him. I drop the phone, not able to look at it any more.
What if I’m pregnant? Paine didn’t use anything with me. Maybe it’s, like, his weird kink or something. He liked going bareback, and maybe that’s why he has a baby on the way.
The phone rings again. It’s Paine calling. I should just shut it off, but my anger gets the better of me. He couldn’t have faked everything with me tonight, and maybe he does feel something for me, but it’s clear he has someone else, too. What can he say? “No, Duchess, I want to be with you, not her.” Oh, sweet, just ditch your ex for the newest fling. What happens when someone else comes along that catches your attention? Thanks, but no thanks.
I pick up the phone, wanting to hurt him back. I don’t give him a chance to speak before I start in. “Paine, it’s over. Go back to your pregnant girlfriend and leave me alone. I’m marrying Scott.” I hang up before he can respond. I turn the phone on silent and put it back into my purse. I can’t bear to look at it because it’s something that will just remind me of him.
Tossing my purse on my nightstand, I knock over the ring box Scott gave me when he asked me to marry him. Well, I guess saying he asked isn’t correct. It was him and my father telling me how this was a great idea and how Scott and I were a great fit. I flip open the box and stare at the giant diamond. It’s nothing like the ring I thought I’d wear one day. The one my grandma gave me flashes through my mind, but I push the image away. If I’m not going to be with Paine, I might as well make things easier around here. I slide Scott’s ring onto my finger with no intention of marrying him, but maybe it will give me some time to figure things out. Get them off my back. I’m guessing Paine isn’t going to want to solve my problems now.
The tears start to flow again until exhaustion claims me.
