Rusty

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There were days back when I was young, and my dad said terrible things to me. He told me I would never amount to anything because I was nothing but a stupid skinny kid, and I believed him. I would lie in bed and think of how I would grow old and lonely because I was worthless … a zero. When I left home, I didn’t care about loneliness or getting old anymore. The only thing I cared about was being away from that awful place. Then I knew my future was in my own hands and I could do whatever I wanted. But I was burdened with thoughts of wondering if I’d be the kind of man my dad was. Would I fly into rages and destroy the people I loved? Or would I end up in a relationship only to cause that person pain? Months of therapy helped me understand I had a choice … a choice to become the person I wanted to become. Standing here with Lee, I’m reminded of those thoughts. Will I be a good man? Will I break the chains of my upbringing and be the man she can be proud of, or will I allow the bastard that raised me to win? I know the answer when I see her … the way her eyes shine and sparkle … the way her hair looks as though it was spun from silk … the way her smile looks like it was made just for me. And the answer is never. Never would I allow him to be right. I will always be the better man. My insides clench with this knowledge, the knowledge that I would protect her without regard for my own life.

It was impossible not to touch her. My muscles bunched as I sought for control. Coming off as some lousy high school kid wasn’t my idea of how I wanted this to go. But she was so damn beautiful with the way her eyes dug into mine, and her lips slightly parted, it took much more strength than doing fifty pull-ups to keep my cool.

She stepped toward me and that’s when I lost it. I wrapped my hand around her tiny waist and pulled her into me.

“I’m going to try to rein it in, but no promises, Lilou Grace Marston.” The words came out ragged and hoarse. Then my mouth was on hers as I unbuttoned her shirt. Tugging the top of her bra down, I freed a nipple so I could pinch and tweak it. Her moans spurred me on, so I dropped my head to encase my lips around the tight and firm peak.

The intake of air told me all I needed to know. I inched her toward the bed, working the button and zipper on her jeans. Moving to the other nipple, I repeated my actions, flicking my tongue against the rock hard bud. She arched against me as I got her to the side of the bed. Pushing her backward with the palm of my hand, her ass landed on the mattress and I pulled her pants down, freeing her of them. Dropping to my knees, I spread her wide and tickled her pussy with my nose. Using my fingers to open her up, I slipped my tongue in deep. She tasted of salted honey and I hummed my pleasure. My dick was rock hard, ready for her, but I needed her to feel the pleasure first.

My fingers replaced my tongue while it zeroed in on her clit. She writhed against me, arching her back.

“Yesss,” she hissed as her fingers sunk into my hair.

I hooked my finger and pressed down on her G-spot, still keeping up the tongue action. She was dripping by now, and my dick throbbed, causing my balls to ache with the pressure.

“I’m going to come, Rusty,” she told me.

I put my mouth over her clit and sucked.

“Oh, God,” she cried as her pussy clamped down on my finger. The little pulsing motions ensued during her orgasm. When they eased, I pulled out and wiped my face on the sheet.

She lifted up her head, saying, “That was epic.”

“Glad you liked it, but there’s more to come.”

“Come. I like that.” She laughed.

I stripped, grabbed some condoms, and stepped back to the bed.

“I want to taste you,” she said.

“Oh, Lee, I don’t know.”

Her crinkled brow told me I’d hurt her. “No, it’s not what you think. If you wrap that gorgeous mouth of yours around me, I won’t last a minute.”

“Would that be so bad?”

“No, it would be great. But I want you to feel pleasure too.”

“I just did.”

“I know but …”

“I want to, Rusty.”

When I didn’t say anything, she added, “I never thought I’d have to beg you to give you a blow job.”

“Christ, when you put it like that.”

She flicked her hand. “Come to the edge of the bed.” So I sat where she’d indicated. Then she dropped down between my knees.

I tipped her chin up. “Are you comfortable down there?”

“Yeah. I still have my leg on but yeah.”

“Okay, but if you’re not, you tell me.”

“I will.”

She swiped her tongue from base to tip and then repeated it, swirling around the head of my cock, concentrating on the most sensitive part. Then she pushed the whole thing into her mouth, all the way to the base, and started sucking me off. Holy fucking blow job. She was damn good. One of her hands pumped my dick while the other grabbed my sack, squeezing it to perfection.

“Uh, yeah,” I said.

She had the right amount of pressure with each stroke and it wasn’t long before I said, “I’m gonna come. Like right away.”

She sank all the way down, sucked hard, and did this thing with her tongue in the slit and then on the tip.

“Oh, fuck, oh, fuck, oh, fuck.” That was my new mantra.

I must’ve shot the biggest wad down her throat, yet she didn’t seem to mind at all. She swallowed every last drop, sucking me dry, and then licking me clean.

“Lee, Lee, Lee, what have you done?”

“I just gave you head.”

I could only laugh at that. “You’re crazy. You know that, don’t you?”

“Uh huh.”

“Get up here so I can kiss you.”

She climbed on the bed and I grabbed and kissed her, pulling her on top of me. “Now I’m worthless for you.”

“I can take a raincheck.” Then she bolted up, saying, “Crap, what time is it?”

Checking my watch, I said, “Four. Why?”

“That doesn’t give us much time for the library. We need to get Glenn at five.”

“We’d better get a move on then.”

We laughed our way to the library, with me teasing her about how she gave me dead head—in both heads. “My brain and dick are worthless now.”

Once in the library, we had to go to the archives where the old newspapers were kept. Everything was on microfiche, so we began with the time her great-grandfather came home, which was December 1944. We didn’t begin to see anything until right before we had to leave. There was one article about him on April 5, 1945, and it included a small photo of him in his army uniform.

“Rusty, we have to leave.”

“At least we know where to start when we come back.”

“And maybe Mom will find some pictures too.”

Since we’d taken my truck, Lee directed me to her brother’s friend’s house. We both went to the door to get him. He opened the door and eyed me, then his gaze bounced to Lee.

“Glenn, this is my friend Rusty.”

I held my hand out for him to shake, which he did. He was a lanky kid of about Lee’s height with darker hair than hers, but his eyes were the same shape and color. “Pleased to meet you, Glenn. I’ve heard all sorts of cool things about you from your sister.”

“You have?”

“Well yeah.”

“Like what?”

“Like you’re a marketing genius and you’re going to change the dynamics of the cafe.”

He preened. “Oh, that. It was nothing.”

“No, that was ingenious and will really help out Jackson. You should be proud of that.”

“Okay. How come I’ve never seen you before?” he asked.

“Good question. That’s because I live in Virginia Beach.”

“Cool. What do you do over there?”

“I’m in the Navy.”

“The Navy?”

“Ever heard of it?” I asked. Lee was biting down on her lip trying not to laugh. By this time we’d gotten to my truck.

“Yeah. I’ve heard of it. Cool truck. Is it yours?”

“Yeah. Glad you approve.”

After we all climbed in and buckled up, Glenn continued his interrogation. “So what do you do in the Navy? Are you on a submarine?” His eyes grew to the size of golf balls.

“Nah. I have a boring job.”

“Like what.”

“I’m a Navy Seal.”

His mouth silently formed the words. “You mean you’re one of those guys that goes in somewhere in the middle of the night and kills people?”

“Not exactly, but we do go into places in the middle of the night sometimes.”

“Do you kill people?”

Jeez, he was relentless.

“Uh, Glenn, I think you might be asking questions Rusty isn’t allowed to answer.”

Glenn nodded. “I get it. Top secret stuff and all that.”

“Yep. If I tell you, then I’d have to kill you.”

Swear to God, the kid’s eyes nearly popped out of his head. “No kidding?”

“Nah, I’m just pulling your leg. I’d never tell you so there wouldn’t be an issue of me killing you.”

“Got it.”

Lee gave me the final directive and we pulled into her parents’ driveway.

“You staying to eat dinner with us?” Glenn asked.

“Not tonight, Scutt,” Lee said.

“I thought you weren’t gonna call me that anymore.”

“Old habits, you know.”

“Why can’t you stay?”

“We’re staying long enough for Rusty to meet Dad.”

“Oh, okay. But you should stay for dinner too.”

“We have plans.”

“What kind of plans? Kissy face plans?” He puckered up his lips and kissed the air. It was impossible not to chuckle.

Lee swatted at him. “Maybe,” she said. “Actually, nosy head, Jackson and I are going to talk about the interview tomorrow.”

He put his hand on top of her head. “You have my blessing, young grasshopper.”

“Get out of here you little goober.”

He bolted away and I said, “That kid has personality.”

“And is a pain in the neck.”

“You love it.”

“I admit it. Come on. Let’s meet Dad.” She took my hand and led me into the kitchen. Her parents were chatting when we interrupted them

“Dad, I want you to meet Rusty Garrett. Rusty, this is my dad.”

“Mr. Marston, a pleasure, sir.”

“My wife has been singing your praises. It’s glad I am to meet you. She’s a handful, that one,” he said, lifting his thumb in the direction of Lee.

“Dad! I’m not that bad.”

“Sure you’re not. Have I got some stories for you,” he said.

“I was in high school then. Jeez, can a girl catch a break?”

“Lee, you know better than to ask that.” He laughed.

“I’d be interested in hearing all about those stories, sir,” I said.

We hung out for a while and then headed out to meet Jackson. On the way to the car, I asked, “Are we really meeting Jackson, or did you just make that up?”

“We really are, and I don’t lie, Rusty.”

“Good, because I confess, that worried me a little.”

Lee and Jackson talked about what they wanted to cover and how they’d squeeze it into the interview if Mr. Ammons didn’t directly ask them the right questions. Jackson left, and we went to grab some dinner. We decided to get a pizza and eat it in the room.

We were stretched out on the sofa, eating and watching TV when Lee asked me what day I was going home.

“I have to leave the day after tomorrow, but let’s not think about it.”

“Good idea. That’s too soon.”

There’d been something I’d wanted to mention to her. I set my paper plate on the coffee table and leaned forward. Then I took her hand and said, “I’ve been thinking. Why don’t you come back to Virginia Beach with me?