Chapter 14

Apparently, the mountains on Colorado’s Western slope are beautiful. But I wouldn’t know. Busy teaching Laura a lesson, I saw very little of them while at that remote bed-and-breakfast. However, with the place to ourselves, we did however manage to fuck in almost every room, though. It was her choice to remain buck naked the entire time.

Oh, and the thick leather choker? Yeah, she’d selected it on purpose. It was her idea to lash a bootlace to it so I could lead my filthy slut around. For a while she’d crawled, but the hardwood floors were hell on her knees. At night she’d loop her little leash to my root, so she “can find it in the dark.” Not that there’d been much challenge for her before, but the twinkles in her eyes as she’d explained. Yeah, she went far out of her way, proving ever more points.

Come time for her to depart, each step she took led to a wince. Oh, but the smile she wore between those grimaces. Yeah, she’d earned me back. To be honest, I ached all over as well.

Yet, despite the throbbing of every muscle, I wore a grin all the way home. Except it wasn’t home anymore. Not with Laura still away. Plus, with Irina flying, not even another casual dinner date was in my future. Although two last-minute, local appointments kept my cock drained, that’s all they accomplished. Quick fucks, simple cash. My workouts grew ever longer and more grueling as time slithered through chilly molasses.

No longer texting, Bea had started calling. At least one voice message a day. However, they weren’t pleas. Nope, simply saying “hi” and describing her daily activities. Never once said she missed me, but God did it ever echo in her tone.

Marge from Chicago also called. Unrestrained, she pleaded amid sniffles, and that hurt as much as Bea’s non-pleading.

A week after Colorado, my fingers made small circles on the app controlling Laura’s new toy. Only midday, and boredom was strangling my mind. But when her text appeared, I chuckled.

Baby, I just came in the middle of a videoconference. I’m so naughty.

Yes, you are. Miss me?

Oh, fuck, you know it. My poor, wrecked pussy is still so sore, but I miss you something awful, Deke.

How’s your pretty little ass?

Sore as well. Fuck, did we really do that?

Yep. Right out in that field. In a thunderstorm. Living dangerously, slut. ;-)

Filthy slut. I’ve still got dried mud jammed under my fingernails. God, you make me crazy, sweetheart.

She’d said it again. Well, texted. The whole time we’d been together, she hadn’t yet called me that to my face. But my grin widened anyway as I typed my response.

When are you back here, dear?

End of the week, maybe? Got some party business. Republican, not your kind of party. Lol.

Get together?

Yes, I think so. Irina?

I’ll ask.

Okay. Gotta run. Heading to a neighborhood backyard barbecue. The boys want to get burgers.

With a chuckle, I sped my fingertips on the app. Yeah, it was a while before she replied.

Fuck, Deke. I had to dash into the bathroom. I came all over my hands. So naughty.

Yes, you are. Think of me, sweetheart.

Boom, I’d gotten her back. Like a couple of lovesick kids, we were playing with words. When her response arrived, I laughed.

Yes, dear.

Well, that had been fun. But as I wandered my quiet apartment, sipping a halfway-decent bourbon, my grin faded. The funk slipped once more into my cooling core. Oh, and I had another severe case of very blue balls.

Hurray for my complicated life.

It was about to spiral out of control.

Later that evening, while flicking through channels, I debated whether to play with Laura’s toy, phone Irina to chat, or surrender and text Bea. Or even, as a low grunt left me, give Marge a call. But just as fast, excuses arrived. Laura was with her family. After texting earlier from Suriname, Irina was God knows where on the planet.

And Bea? She’d be a problem. For both of us. Well, all of us, by that point. Ditto for sweet Marge. Rich, vibrant, a great baker, and lonely since the death of her third husband, she really needed to find a fourth. One who did not look like me.

Right as I downed the last of the drink, the phone rang. It was Laura. My brows knitted as I rechecked the number. While out west, she’d never called before. After a quick cough to clear my throat, I took the call. But before I could say a word, her voice, much higher-pitched than normal, erupted.

“I fucked up.” She gulped. “James was there. At the barbecue. He wasn’t supposed to be there. And was really drunk.”

“What, um, did you do?” My turn to gulp. “You didn’t—”

“Fuck him? No! I didn’t let him fuck me, baby.” Her breathing sped. “Not anymore. Not with you in my life.”

“So, what’s the problem?”

“Um...” Silence, but for rapid, heavy breaths stretched for a long while. At last, the phone shifted in her hand as a heavy breath filled the receiver. “I, uh, may have flashed him. I was tipsy, and I missed you. A lot. And, um, I had no panties. He, uh, caught me. Thought it was him I was thinking about. Told him ‘no’ but he believes you and I broke up. I fucked up. And I’m so sorry.”

“That’s it? You flashed him? He’s seen that pretty pussy before, I’m sure.” Although I started to chuckle, it died at her hitching sob.

“He kissed me, Deke. It was so fast. And it was so hot out there. You know, with the sun beating down on us.” She sniffled. “And, um, I’d been drinking, too.”

“Did you, uh, kiss him back?”

With my heart hammering, I had no clue what response to expect. But at her sudden inhale, the room started a slow spiral around me.

“I missed you so much, baby. Only a little kiss. No tongue. Not from me, anyway.”

The apartment flipped. Then flipped again. As heat roared up my face, my tightening fist squelched on the phone.

“Fuck, Laura!” I growled. “How could—”

“I’m so sorry, sweetie. It’s just that since I met you, I’ve been different. N-Not an excuse.” Her rapid, heavy breathing filled the receiver. “And I yelled at him. Then shoved him away. That’s all that happened, I swear.”

“Uh, huh,” I replied. Was she telling the truth? Laura Bendix, Psychopath?

“No, really. I promise, Deke.”

With a snarl, I cut the call.

And made another. Beeps announced Laura calling back while the line was busy. Once I’d hung up, she tried once more. But after silencing the phone, I stretched out along the couch in the darkness. In the morning, two voicemails waited. The first, from Laura, I ignored. The other one brought a grin to my face. It shouldn’t have, but it did.

As she relayed the details for our next meeting, Bea’s voice was shaky. Oh, but the need dripping from her words had my chest tightening. Right then, my own need flared. Perhaps for different things, but among many other talents, that hot little redhead excelled at calming me. Yeah, that excuse was good enough to fly out and meet her. At least that’s what I told myself.

With a scowl, I texted Laura.

I called Bea. She wants to meet.

Good. You should go.