CHAPTER ONE
JAXSON
I STARE DOWN INTO HER light blue eyes, knowing I’ve never seen someone look as beautiful as she does. As she clenches around my cock while I slowly thrust inside her, I try to convey my thoughts and feelings through my gaze. Seeing the ecstasy burning back at me has my balls tightening, and the electric tingles tell me I’m not going to last. I have maybe five more minutes, tops.
“Fuck, Lil. You feel so good, baby. I need you to come because I can’t hold off much longer.” I lean down toward her ear. “Come on, Lil, squeeze that pussy around me. I want you to come on my cock and take me to heaven with you.”
Leaning my head back, I examine her face and know I’ll never experience anything this amazing again. The need to do everything in my power to keep her runs through me. My hand travels down her side before reaching her clit. My thumb makes two full circles around it, and that’s all she needs to come all over me.
“KC…oh…my…God!” She arches as it fully consumes her.
Fuck, she’s so tight. I pound into her harder. The lightning I felt earlier is starting to travel down my spine. Fuck, this is going to be the best orgasm of my life.
BEEP BEEP BEEP
What the fuck is that noise? Whatever it is, it’s killing the orgasm that was only seconds away.
BEEP BEEP BEEP
Searching around me trying to find the noise, it slowly registers that my alarm is going off. Why did I set my alarm? And when did we come to my house? Weren’t we in a hotel a moment ago?
BEEP BEEP BEEP
“Fuck...” I slam my hand down, effectively silencing the offending noise. I’ve been having this same damn dream off and on for the past two years. It always happens right after I sleep with one of my clients, which honestly, doesn’t happen often. Ever since that one night, I’ve been really picky about who I fuck.
As my mind and body slowly start to wake up, I think back to last night and cringe knowing the client I had will be on the never fucking again list. I’m sure all the boys will agree after I tell them what happened. Everything was good up until the point she wanted round two and demanded I use one of her condoms instead of mine. Red flags went off quickly. Upon closer inspection, the condom she handed me had holes poked in it. I couldn’t get out of that hotel fast enough. I’m now happy I never bring women back to my house.
Being a male escort can be a pain in the ass at times, and I’m beginning to wonder if it’s time to hang up my hat. The only reason I started in this line of work was to help save our family butcher shop. Luckily, things took a turn for the better, and it’s now doing amazing. I think about Grandpa and wonder how he would feel knowing what my brother and I did to keep the doors open.
The pain of losing him hits my chest hard, and I swallow the knot that forms in my throat. He was the only father figure I’d ever known and the only one my brother, Jason, would ever claim. We were raised by our mother who did everything in her power to make sure we never wanted for anything. Our grandparents would then step in and help when Mom couldn’t do it on her own. Our sperm donor of a father was in and out of Jason’s life for twelve years until Mom told him she was pregnant with me; he finally ran, never to return.
My grandfather was one of the best men I’ve ever known. He taught me what a man is really supposed to be like, and seeing the love he had for Grandma…it made me want the same one day. When we lost him ten years ago, it crushed us all. Jason came home from New York and took over the butcher shop, which has been in our family since the early nineteen hundreds.
Two years ago, Jason called me and said the shop was in so much debt, we were close to losing it. We put our heads together, trying to figure out how to keep the business afloat since neither one of us wanted to lose the memories we had of being in the shop with our grandfather.
After overhearing a couple of women talking about me, he said he had an idea. He asked me to get a couple of buddies who would be interested in making some extra cash. We got together at The Brown Bottle and discovered exactly what he had in mind. Come to find out, big brother dearest was an escort in college, and his plan was to set up something similar. At the beginning, we were taken aback a little by the idea. But a week later, we all decided we wanted to be a part of the other side of The Meat Market. We each picked the cut of meat to be used when the women called and made their order with Jason. We eventually came up with the What is your favorite one hundred percent prime cut of meat? menu that described each pick of meat and what we offered. A day later, I was set up with my first client.
She was the one who got away and now haunts my dreams and fucks with my mind.
Groaning as the memories of my dream filter into my mind again, I decide it’s time for a shower. I need to get my head together before going to the shop.
“Order for four sirloin steaks and two pounds of stew cuts,” I yell out, walking toward the register.
“That would be me, handsome.” Looking up, my gaze falls on a beautiful brunette standing in front of me with a shy smile on her face.
“Is there anything else we can help you with today?” I ask her, pasting on the smile that women say makes their toes curl and praying she’ll just say no and walk away. I normally am not this pissy, but after the talk I just had with Jason telling me that my date tomorrow wants to meet at The Bottle…well, it put me in a foul mood because I began thinking of her again. It was the first place I met Lil, and I don’t want to tarnish the memory of when I first saw her with another client.
“How about your number?” Her smile grows as she does that shit women do with their eyes when they flirt with you. Honestly, it isn’t attractive, but nobody ever tells them that. Don’t get me wrong, most men love a confident woman, but the ones who overly try…yeah, it’s a turn off.
“I wish I could, sweetheart, but my boss might get his boxers in a twist if I give things away for free.” I lay it on thick, hoping she will take the hint and walk away. But it seems like fate is hating me today, because she leans into the counter as she reaches for the package I just finished ringing up for her. From this angle, I can see right down her shirt. The coy look in her eye reveals she knows damn well that lacy pink bra covering her breasts is on full display.
“I was hoping to get a piece of the KC Strip I’ve heard so much about. Did anyone ever tell you that you have the sexiest pair of blue bedroom eyes?”
Fucking figures.
“Never by someone as beautiful as you. As for KC Strip, you have to go through the boss man. Call Jason, sweetheart, and I’ll see if I can get you that taste you’re desperately wanting.” I give my signature smirk again and wink before I turn and walk toward the rear of the store, praying once more I can get away from her. Again, fate fucks me over. Right before I enter the back to get some more orders, I hear her voice.
“You can bet your ass I will, and just wait, you won’t ever want to get rid of me.” Her footsteps signal her departure, and I let out a long, drawn-out sigh while running my fingers through my short hair.
“What was that about, Somers?” Damian, our other butcher, asks with a smirk while wrapping up some chops. After two years of working for us, he knows I hate it when he calls me by just my last name. I flip him off before walking back to my station, causing his laughter to fill the room at my loving gesture to him.
“Ugh…someone wanting to catch and keep KC Strip. Dude, I’m glad it’s Monday because I’m beat. Last night, I didn’t get in until three in the morning.” I’m sure the look on my face shows just how sick I am of this work. I don’t know how many more nights I can take. I know men would kill to be in my shoes, but it gets old quick.
Shaking his head with a grin on his face, he turns back to his job.
I meant what I said. Mondays are my favorite time of the week. Every Monday is meeting day for The Meat Market boys, and the ten of us get together at The Bottle. We talk about business along with life in general. It’s our men time. And with a week full of dealing with women…we desperately need that time together. It also helps that Dylan, one of the men in our group, not only owns it, but also buys his meat from our shop.
The Brown Bottle Bar and Restaurant is a five-star establishment that Jason stumbled upon with his buddies after he returned from New York a decade ago. We took to calling it The Bottle, and even though it’s known for its gourmet burgers and wings, it has the perfect dive bar atmosphere that most men love. It’s perfect for our group.
“Finally, closing time. Jax and Damian, let’s get the fuck out of here,” Jason yells out as he walks by.
Shit…lost in my thoughts, I didn’t realize I just went through the motions these past fifteen minutes.
“You good, man? You were pretty deep in thought,” Damian asks while he cleans up his station.
“Like I said earlier, I’m just ready for a beer and some wings. Let’s hurry up and get this place scrubbed down so we can get the fuck out of here.”
LILLY
Jesus, it’s hot, and my feet are killing me.
Thoughts of dropping in my bed race through my mind, but I’m not sure what waits for me behind the door of my two-bedroom apartment. Glancing down at the watch on my wrist, I notice it’s a quarter to ten. I lean my forehead on the door and say a quick prayer that he isn’t awake because the past sixteen hours were busy for the emergency room. Again, for the hundredth time tonight, I curse the full moon that always seems to bring out the craziness who end up filling the ER.
The door opens, and I start to tumble forward, but hands grab and help steady me before I fall face first on the floor.
“Shit, Lillian Marie Knight, what are you doing leaning on the door?”
“Please, not the three names,” I groan out as I start to right myself. “Es, thanks for saving me from having a swollen face.” I glance up at one of my dearest friends and I give her my tired smile. After standing up as straight as my exhausted body will let me, I move through the door. “Please tell me he’s asleep and I can go and crawl into bed.” The groan that leaves me at the thought of my bed is something that has been happening lately. I’ve been working too much.
“Yeah, he knocked out about two hours ago, which you know, means he’ll be up early. Do you still need me to watch him tomorrow night?”
I nod and give her a brief hug before heading down the hallway, tugging my long hair out of its ponytail. “I’ll see you tomorrow, Es, I need sleep.”
“I’ll lock up. Maybe you should jump in the shower first, babe. You smell like piss and puke.” The chuckle that follows my growl at her comment makes me shake my head. She’s right, though, I really need to shower first. However, instead of immediately taking her advice, I poke my head into the bedroom that’s right next to mine.
Moving into the room, I smile as I reach out and gently brush the blond hair back from his forehead. I didn’t think I could ever love someone as much as I love Kasey. My surprise, my love, my baby boy. He’s my miracle I wasn’t expecting, and I’m forever grateful I have him. I bend and give him a kiss, breathing in his baby scent before quietly walking back out of his bedroom. My next stop is the master bathroom to take a quick shower.
Two years ago, I lost the one family member I had left in my life. My Pee Paw was the best man I’ve ever known. He lost his daughter, son-in-law, and wife in a tragic accident, and almost lost his only grandchild. But I pulled through, and he took to raising me with open arms, never showing any of the grief he felt daily since losing them. He was diagnosed with prostate cancer four years ago, and my world crumbled. Since I’m a registered nurse, it was a no-brainer that I would be his in-home caretaker.
When he finally passed, I was a twenty-four-year-old virgin who just wanted to forget the crappy cards I’d been dealt in life. I ended up at The Bottle getting ready to drink my worries away when I overheard the table beside me talking about male escorts and what they would offer. Saying fuck it, I wrote down what I heard and made a date with KC Strip for the following week. Which is how I found myself with a little KC Strip of my own. The problem is, he has no idea, not one clue he has a son. However, tomorrow, I’ll be facing him and finally telling him what our night ended up creating. He doesn’t even know it’s me he’s escorting. It’s time to face the music, a decision I can’t go back on after what I did during my lunch break.
My hands are shaking as I look at my phone with my thumb hovering over the send button. I know I need to make this call, but the fear of the unknown is stopping me from doing it.
Flashbacks of the little boy dying on the table just a month ago overtake me, and it gives me the push I need to initiate the call.
“Meat Market,” the deep voice answers on the second ring.
“Yes, I need to speak to Jason, please.”
“Speaking. How can I help you?”
“I need to order a special cut of meat for tomorrow night, if he’s open.” I squeeze my eyes shut at the sound of my voice quivering.
The chuckling in my ear tells me he hears it, too. “Which cut would you like? I think there’s only two choices open for tomorrow. Tenderloin and KC Strip. If you’re wanting one of the others, it’ll have to be for a later time.”
Hearing that KC is still there, and has the night open, has my heart pounding. “KC is the one I was thinking,” I murmur quietly, hoping he can hear me.
“Okay, sweetheart. Let’s work out the details. First, what will you be wearing so he knows who you are? And what are you wanting? We need your contact info and a credit card to put on file in case of any changes that may arise.”
I think back to two years ago when I did this and don’t remember it being this invasive. I remember just walking in, placing the order, and paying KC at the end of the night with cash…well, I left it on the table in the hotel when I ran from it. Regret causes my gut to twist again at the thought of what I’ve done. The secret I’ve kept. Pushing it away, I give Jason the information he requested.
“Last, where do you want to meet?”
“The Bottle.”
“I’m sorry, but he doesn’t meet anyone at The Bottle. Can it be somewhere else?” Jason’s comment has me confused. It’s the place I met him last time.
Before I can stop myself, I blurt out, “No, it has to be the first place we met. It’s very important that it’s at The Bottle.” I cringe at the desperation I hear in my tone.
“Okay, I’ll tell you what…give me fifteen minutes to talk with him. I’ll text you a confirmation if he’s willing to do it. If not, I can hook you up with Tenderloin.”
“No!” Shit, I didn’t mean to yell that. “It has to be KC, please. It’s important to me, and I really need to speak with him.” The last part is whispered out.
After a few moments of silence, I think he’s going to deny my request. It almost sounds like I’m stalkerish. If this doesn’t work, then my next step is going to have to be going into the shop.
“Okay, sweetheart, I will make sure KC is there tomorrow.”
After dropping my head on the table, I take a deep breath and thank him before hanging up. Shit, the next twenty-four hours are going to be the slowest ever. The beeping on my watch tells me my break is over, and it’s time to get back on the floor.
“Lord, please don’t let him hate me,” is the prayer I whisper while I clean up from my lunch.
“Lillian, ambulance is coming in. Shooting. Patient in critical condition and had to be bagged. We’re getting triage two ready. ETA fifteen minutes.” I turn and nod at Sam and start heading out of the break room. This is just what I need to keep my mind from thinking of tomorrow night.
I slowly come back to the present as the hot water starts to cool off. After taking a deep breath, I quickly wash my body before it gets too cold. I say another quick prayer that KC won’t hate me and will want to have a part in Kasey’s life.