(One Month Later)
I had my last appointment with Dr. Maxwell today. It feels beyond liberating to know that I have not only hit rock bottom, but have also fought to overcome. Even with all the struggles along the way, I’m finally in control of my own happiness. No, I haven’t just overcome… I’m flying higher than I ever thought possible. I’ve embraced the love I never thought existed, and I’ve conquered each and every roadblock that has held me back.
Things with Izzy and Greg didn’t immediately go back to normal. They both held some guilt about everything that happened to me. I kept telling them that they shouldn’t feel guilty about something they didn’t know about. I didn’t want them to know, so I played the part to make sure that they didn’t.
Things lately have been perfect. We’re back to the friendship that we had from day one.
Not everything is perfect, though. Chelcie has finally agreed to tell Asher. Since Asher started looking into Dominic Murphy, he’s been channeling all of his pain over losing Coop into a new unhealthy obsession. We all want the people that are responsible for Coop’s death to be dealt with, but Asher isn’t able to do anything else. He eats, sleeps, and breathes vengeance, and I know I’m not the only one that’s worried about how he’s coping with things. Or not coping. So, after a long talk with Chelcie she has decided that maybe if he knows about her pregnancy, he will be able to focus on the positive things left from Coop. It’s a stretch, but at this point, it’s all we have.
They’ve grown closer over the last few weeks. Since selling the North Carolina branch, I’ve had a lot of my time freed up. I have a few more people here, and taken a step back to a less active roll. Chelcie, having her time cut in half as well, has taken to helping Asher whenever possible. I’ve promised Beck that I won’t stick my nose in their business, so I can only hope she knows what she’s doing, and pray she doesn’t get hurt in the end.
Coop being gone is something that we notice more and more every day. It’s hard to fill the void that a personality as strong as his used to fill. I know for a fact, that as long as I live, there will never be another person like Zeke Cooper. The guys have had a photo of Coop in all his big grinning glory framed and it is one of the main focal points when you walk into Corps Security. It’s pure Coop… big, smiling, and the twinkle of mischief shining from his beautiful blue eyes. Underneath the picture, a simple quote is engraved into the frame. ‘Tomorrow is never a guarantee; live life to the fullest and never stop smiling.’ He was taken from us before we were ready, but he lived his life unapologetically full, and I know somewhere up there, he’s flirting with angels and watching over each one of us.
The only part of the last six weeks that’s unsettled is Emmy. God, Emmy. She’s hurting, and she’s hurting bad, but she’s also running. I remember Beck sitting me down after all that Nico garbage went down, and he explained to me why he wasn’t home.
He said that Emmy had left a letter resigning from her position at Corps Security, effective immediately. She didn’t leave details on where she was going, but did say that it was just too hard to stay, knowing that Coop was dead because he took a bullet meant for her. She didn’t need to be here, but he did. The guilt and blame that she was carrying was unimaginable. Beck had gone to the office to send Maddox the location her GPS was picking up. Much to my shock, Maddox had placed a tracking device on her car almost a year ago, along with one in her purse, and he keeps her phone tracked. After explaining all of that to me, he dropped the bomb that Maddox was taking a leave of absence to ‘get my girl and bring her home.’ Yeah, I was beyond shocked that Maddox openly claimed Emmy. Between Coop’s death and Emmy’s running, something was awakened inside of Maddox. The last call Beck got from him was three nights ago, and he was no closer to getting her home.
My heart broke for Emmy, but I had a feeling that, regardless of what happens, they have a climb ahead of them. After what I saw at Cohen’s party a few months ago, I have no doubt that the demons he’s fighting are all-consuming. Even if he manages to get her home, there is a lot of healing needed. Not saying that Emmy isn’t less important than Maddox, but something tells me that the scars he has are far deeper than anyone could imagine.
****
I pull into the parking lot of the complex where my office, Corps Security, and Sway’s salon are all located. My door is a good four businesses down from the boys, but theirs sits right next to Sway’s.
After Coop’s funeral, I helped Sway extend the sidewalk of gold glitter, to extend all the way down to my door. I wanted a piece of that when I went to work. It’s silly, gaudy, and sometimes obnoxious, but it’s our thing. The other business owners love it, but then again, it’s really hard not to love anything that Sway does.
I have just stepped out of the car when I notice Sway through the window of his salon. He’s waving like he normally does, loudly. I laugh to myself and walk his way. By the time I get to the sidewalk, he’s already thrown the door to the salon open and is bouncing on his purple four-inch heels in anticipation. I love this man.
“Dee! My sweet, beautiful Dee! When are you going to let me have at your marvelous shoe collection! I must have those two-toned Chanel knot-shaped pumps! Don’t think I didn’t notice them, you sneaky little devil! You went shopping without Sway, and oh, my little diva, that is just not okay!” He pauses, I’m sure for dramatic effect, before continuing. “And that outfit! Spin, spin!” He brings one of his large hands off his hips long enough to spin his finger in a circle. “You have the perfect outfit. Oh Darlin’, it is to die for! I could just take a bite out of your booty. You must tell me your secrets.”
He’s right. I look damn good, but then again, I chose this outfit for my man today. I’ve got on one of my favorite dresses. The light pink color looks amazing against my tan, and the hemline hits mid-thigh, covering just enough leg that Beck won’t flip his shit, but leaving the rest of my long legs bare. I know he has a weakness for my legs; he’s never shy about reminding me… usually when they are wrapped around his waist. The bandage style dress is as skintight as possible without looking trashy, hugs my figure, and pushes my breasts up. The bust is a weave of black and pink lines that make my already generous chest look even bigger. Two straps hug my shoulders and wrap around the top of my biceps. I’ve finished the look with my five-inch black heels.
I laugh, and twirl until Sway stops moving his finger. He’s got the biggest grin on his face. “You are something else! I know what you’re up to. You’re going to seduce that fine hunk of yours. Don’t think I don’t know this. Good Lord was he looking edible today. Walking sex, I’m telling you. That man is a walking, talking orgasm.”
I throw my head back and laugh because he isn’t wrong. Beck is that good-looking. “Sway, what did I tell you about fantasizing about my man?”
He cocks his hip to the side, tosses his blond hair over his shoulder, and rolls his eyes. “Then you should put a bag over his head.” He pauses and seems to space out for a second. I don’t even bother opening my mouth because I know he isn’t done. “Better yet, you’re going to need to start stuffing his clothes… making him look good and thick, so no one will look at him.” He laughs before pulling me into a hug. I wrap my arms around his thick waist and hug him back.
“You’re a mess, Sway, but I love you.” I press my cheek against his silk blouse and enjoy the moment. Sway can be a bit much for anyone, but his heart is pure gold.
He pulls back and his face gets serious for a second. He looks both ways before motioning me to lean closer. “Have you seen him yet?”
“Have I seen who? Beck?” I honestly have no clue who he is talking about. I know Axel, Greg, and Beck are in today. Asher is at the house working from Beck’s office, and Maddox is still… well, Maddox isn’t here. I take a second to really look at Sway and notice the excitement written all over his face. Good Lord, he looks like he’s about to pop.
He leans in, moves my long brown hair off my shoulder, and whispers in my ear, “The new one. Oh my gawd! My senses tell me there is finally hope for one of those boys. My team, Dee. Do you hear me? This one is all over team rainbow, I can tell!” By the time he finishes ‘whispering’, he might as well have just yelled that out loud.
I pull back and look at him. I had no idea there was a new guy. Last I heard from Beck, they were just going to hire a temp to take Emmy’s spot until she came back.
“You’ve got me, Sway. I have no idea, but I guess I’ll find out soon.”
He doesn’t even give me a chance. He opens the door to his Salon and yells to Brandy, the adorable pixie like receptionist, that he’s going next door to ogle the hunks. She laughs, clearly used to this from Sway, and waves him off.
“Does this mean you’re coming with me?”
He doesn’t answer, laces our hands together, and all but pulls me to the door of Corps Security. The glass is tinted so we can’t see in, but that doesn’t stop Sway from vibrating his excitement.
“Would you calm down? You’re going to jerk my arm right off my body.”
He doesn’t respond, but the second I open the door, he rushes in, pulling me with him.
I smile at Coop’s portrait before my eyes sweep over to Emmy’s desk. I’ve been so used to hearing her sweet voice over the years that the very masculine voice echoing through the room takes me off guard. When I look over and see just what has Sway in knots, I can almost understand his ridiculous behavior.
“See what I mean? Gorgeous.” He doesn’t even try to keep his voice down, and the object of his eyes looks right at him with a large smile.
What the hell am I watching right now? This man is most definitely gorgeous. His blond hair is perfectly styled, not a single piece out of place. His face is almost too perfect… high cheekbones, strong jaw, big smile and perfectly white teeth. I can’t tell from where I’m standing, but his eyes almost look violet. His body is partially hidden by the desk, but from what I can tell, the rest is just as good as his face… strong shoulders, and trim, muscular chest.
And the best part, he hasn’t even taken his eyes off Sway once. Hell, I might as well not even be in the room. Oh my God! I want to jump up and clap my hands like a mad person. I feel like I’m watching that matchmaker show play out right in front of me.
He finishes up his call, and places the receiver down lightly, and turns his eyes back to Sway with a smile. “Dilbert. It’s great to see you again.”
Dilbert?! There are only three people I know that call him that. His mother, Greg when he’s annoyed, and Cohen… constantly.
“Davey.”
I stand here with my jaw dropped and watch as Sway walks over to Davey. Neither one of them have stopped smiling. Who knows how long I’m here just taking it all in. When a warm arm wraps around me. I jump, but when Beck’s delicious scent washes over me, I smile just as big as the two love birds at the front desk.
I turn, wrap my arms around his neck, and press my lips to his for a quick, but no less toe-curling kiss. When I fall back on my heels and look into his eyes, so full of love, my smile grows so large it hurts.
“Hey,” I whisper against his lips.
“Hey, back.” His smile is just as panty melting as it was the first time I saw him and I can’t help but think how lucky I am that this perfect man never gave up on me.
“I’ve got a present for you.”
His smile grows wicked and his eyes darken. He knows exactly what it means when I surprise him at work with a present.
I run my hands down the thick-corded muscles in his arm, and grab one of his hands, spinning on my heels I start to walk. I hear him groan and turn around to see his eyes on my ass. “Eyes up, John Beckett. You don’t want to scare the children.” I laugh and point over to Sway and Davey. They don’t even notice us, but Beck narrows his eyes when he sees Sway.
“Sway! I told you to stop coming over here and getting your drool all over the counter! Let David do his job.”
Sway laughs and waves him off, and Davey/David blushes. Oh wow, Sway so called it. I can’t wait to see how that plays out.
Beck takes the lead and starts stomping down the hall. Whether he’s impatient to get me in his office, or he’s frustrated with Sway’s normal antics, who cares? He’s taking me where I want to be, and I could care less how fast I have to run to keep up with him.
When we walk into his office, he slams the door and clicks the lock with a loud pop. His body crushes against mine before I even have a chance to turn completely. His hands go right to my ass, and his fingers dig in. I open my mouth when I feel his tongue lick across my bottom lip, begging for access.
“God, I missed you,” I moan against his lips before crushing my mouth back to his. Our tongues slide and curl together in a kiss so demanding our teeth knock together, and our breathing becomes rapid in seconds.
“Only been two hours…” He doesn’t finish, just digs his fingers in deeper, and lifts me off the floor. I wrap my legs around his waist, run my hand up his neck until I can push my fingers through his soft hair, and palm his cheek with my other hand.
We continue to kiss until he puts my ass down on his desk, forcing my legs and arms to fall from his body when he steps back.
“Tease,” I whine when he doesn’t make a move to come back to me.
“Oh, hell, no. There is no way you’re going to call me a tease when you come in here looking like that. Good God, Dee. I almost tore that dress from your body and took you right there in front of Sway and David.” He adjusts his pants that are doing a poor job of hiding his large bulge.
“Well, aren’t you lucky your willpower is stronger than mine.” I jump off the desk, grab the package I need out of my purse, and push him back until he falls onto the couch against the wall. “Sit and shut up.” I undo his belt, unbutton his slacks, and slowly pull the zipper down. When his rock-hard cock springs out, I raise my brow in question.
“With you around, do you really think I bother anymore with any unnecessary restrictions?”
His smartass tone dies when I wrap one of my hands around his thick length. I stroke him a few times, rubbing my thumb through the drop of come beaded at the top, enjoying the velvety softness of his dick. My mouth waters, and I can tell by the expression on his face that he is more than ready for my mouth.
I pull my hand away and want to laugh when he groans. When I bring the package from my purse into his line of sight, he tries to jump up. I push down on his hips and give him one wet lick across his swollen head. His head drops back and bangs against the wall. I rip open the package and tip a small amount in my mouth, enjoying the strawberry flavor and the sizzle against my tongue. I wait until he picks his head up and locks eyes with mine before I lower my mouth to his dick and open wide. I use my tongue and saliva to move the Pop Rocks around in my mouth, making sure that the soft pops bounce off his sensitive skin. The first one that sizzles and pops in my mouth causes his body to stiffen before his fingers push into my hair almost painfully. I pause, waiting to see if he’s going to pull me off, but when his hips start to rock slightly, that’s all the encouragement I need.
Slowly and carefully, I keep taking his dick in my mouth, pausing a few times to put more Pop Rocks in my mouth. With each sizzle and pop against his shaft, he moans loudly, and his fingers constrict in my hair.
“Fuck, Dee.” He breathes. “God… damn…”
I bring my hand up and circle my fist around him, pumping in turn with my mouth. My tongue swirls around his thick head every time I bring my head up, and wraps it around his shaft with every slide down. I can tell he’s getting closer, so I drop the candy on the floor, and bring my other hand up to caress his balls. He doesn’t miss a beat. His hips rock with my mouth, and my hums of excitement dance with his grunts and groans.
“Dee, if you don’t want me to come in your mouth, then back off. Now, Baby.”
I take him deeper, until I have to relax my throat to pull him even deeper. I swallow with my lips open wide, and the tip of his dick as deep as I can get it. When he feels my throat close around him, he goes solid and breathes my name.
“Deeeee…”
I keep milking him until the last tremble quivers through his body, and then unlatch my mouth with a pop. I lean back, rest my ass on my heels, and smile up at his flushed face.
“Sorry, Baby, I didn’t think to bring you lunch, but now that I got mine, I can run out and get you something.” I smile as innocently as I can before he pushes his body off the couch and knocks me to the floor in a fit of laughter.
“You, my wildcat, are crazy. Where in the hell did you hear about that?”
I’m not sure if he even cares about my answer because he’s too busy pushing my dress up my legs.
“No, Beck… that was for you.”
His hands still and he looks at me clearly confused.
“You’ve been working hard, long hours, and I know you’re stressed. I just wanted to do something to ease some of that tension you seem to be stuck with.”
His forehead falls to mine, and his eyes close.
I run my hands through his hair and wait for him to control himself before lifting my lips, asking for him to let me up. He finally stands and tucks himself back in his pants.
“You better hurry out of that door before I change my mind. I don’t like being the only one who gets something out of our lovemaking.”
“You perfect man.” I shake my head and cup his cheek. “I got plenty out of that, and tonight when you get home, you can return the favor.” I lean up and press a soft kiss against his lips, fix my dress, and walk out the door.
Sway is still standing at the front desk when I walk out. I offer him a smile and wave, but he doesn’t even turn his head. I just keep going and make my way to the car. I drive all the way home with a big smile on my face.
How the hell I made it through the rest of the day after Dee left was beyond me. When she walked out the door, I snatched up the package of candy she left on the floor and tucked them in my desk. Hey, you never know.
I make a mental note to find out whoever told her about that little trick so I can thank them. Holy shit, when the first pop bounced against my dick, I didn’t know what to think, but that was without a doubt the best blowjob I had ever gotten. Fuck, I came so hard I’m pretty sure I blacked out for a second.
I manage to get about three hours of work done before I can’t take it anymore. She had drained me dry, but I’m craving her body now. I say a quick goodbye to Axel and Greg before heading out to the front. I know that Sway left about thirty minutes after Dee did, so at least I won’t have to drag him out so poor David can get some work done.
Not that it matters, because there’s no way I’m standing in the way of that. David is a nice guy and clearly, he doesn’t mind Sway’s attention.
“See you later, David.” I call over my shoulder. I hear him say something, but my mind is too focused on getting home.
When I pull in the driveway and notice that Asher’s truck is gone, my anticipation jumps through the roof. A night alone with Dee? There isn’t much that would make me happier.
I sit in my truck for a second and think back to the night before, and my dinner with Dee.
“Do you want to tell me why we had to come all the way into Atlanta? I figured we could just stay home tonight?”
I smiled and shook my head.
“Nope. As much as I love sharing our nights with Asher, I needed some time alone with my girl.”
She smiled and took my hand as we walked into the restaurant.
We continued to make small talk and just enjoy each other. These were the times I cherished the most. For so long, we didn’t have this, the connection and companionship. The all-consuming love was always there, but now that it’s recognized and returned, just being with her made all the stress and worry from work fall from my shoulders.
After paying the check, she smiled and took a bite of her chocolate cake, making me smile when I thought back to the early days that we knew each other, and her ridiculous theory that chocolate was better than sex.
“I love you, you know that?”
She looked up from her plate and smiled.
“Yeah, I know that. And I love you.”
Before she could take another bite, I took her fork from her hand and moved her plate out of the way, placing the box I’d had tucked into my jacket in its place.
“What’s this? I didn’t forget something, did I?” God, she was adorable when she crinkled her brows in confusion.
“Nope, you didn’t forget anything. I picked this up about two weeks ago when Izzy came to the office.”
Her confusion grew and I reached forward to rub my finger over the wrinkles between her brows.
She opened the long box, and I saw a smile form and the confusion vanished. “How did you know I wanted one of these?” She pulled the necklace out of the box and took a second to take it all in.
Izzy had come into the office almost a month ago, selling some silly locket things. She kept calling them living lockets or some weird shit like that, but when I started looking through it all, the idea popped in my head and I couldn’t resist. It was just pure luck that Dee mentioned wanting one of these Origami Owl things.
I watched her face taking in all the charms that I ordered to go inside the locket. She moved the little key attachment I included and looked deeply at the locket. I sat back and ran the checklist over in my mind. The key attached to the necklace was to symbolize her holding the key to my heart, yeah about as corny as it got, but it’s the truth. There were the two word charms: faith and love, which she shouldn’t need any help figuring out. Then the house charm that represented her making her home with me. The high heel shoe because… well, it’s Dee. My smile grew when I thought about the chocolate bar. I knew the exact moment when she hit the last charm in there, a little diamond ring. Her eyes shot up and locked with mine. I took note of her quivering lip and unshed tears before I stood up, and pushed my chair back, and knelt in front of her seat.
I gently tugged the necklace from her grip, brought it around her neck, and latched it. I ran my finger down the chain, around the locket, and flicked the key clipped to the top. When I looked up and met her eyes with a smile, she tried to return it. Pulling her left hand forward with one hand, I pushed the other into my pants pocket and brought the ring out. I’d been carrying this sucker around for the last six weeks, just waiting for the perfect time.
“Since the day I met you, I knew you would be someone worth fighting for. We’ve been through so much together, and it still feels like our love is brand new. There isn’t anything in this world that would make me happier than making you my wife. Dee, Baby, will you marry me?”
Her tears spilled over and her beautiful smile shone through. Her head nodded and through her soft hiccups I heard the best words in the world.
“God, yes!”
I slid the ring on her finger and stood up, pulling her from her chair at the same time, and took her lips in a bruising kiss.
With the other patrons clapping in the background, I kissed my girl, and showed her just how much I love her with one single kiss.
When we finally came up for air, I framed her face in my hands and swiped the tears away with my thumbs. She just stood there, smiling the smile that never failed to bring me to my knees. The smile that was gone for so long, but every day since it’d been back, I thanked my lucky stars.
She thinks I saved her but the truth is, she saved me.
Her love gave me a purpose, a reason, and the strength to stand by her side and fight any war that is thrown our way.
With a smile on my face, I make my way into the house that I share with the woman I love, with every intention of dragging her up to our room and making her mine. All. Night. Long.