Deep, Deep Trouble

 

 

“So, suit? When are you free?” asks Dixon, but suit fitting is the last thing on my mind, because at this rate, I will be dead before the night ends.

Mary has been avoiding me all evening, and although this is stock standard behavior, I get the sense this isn’t for show.

I know we agreed to act “normal,” but this is something else. The moment she laid eyes on me, I instinctually wanted to protect my balls and ask her what’s wrong. Earlier today I threw her a freaking bone, hoping and praying she would put me out of my misery and confirm that this is something “more.”

But once again I got carried away with a HEA because she’s made her feelings clear on more than one occasion. But when she met my mom, she was nervous, that much is sure, and although she claimed it was because she didn’t want to let the cat out of the bag, I don’t believe her.

This morning, waking up to her was a feeling unlike any other. I expected she would bail like a thief in the night, so you can imagine my surprise when I woke to find myself clinging to her like the desperate man that I am.

All day I wanted to call her, tell her how I felt, because I’m done being a little bitch. I know Mary is happy with what we’ve got going, but if I don’t tell her how I feel, or at least hint that this isn’t just a casual fling to me, I’ll fucking lose my mind.

“It’s okay, Hunter, if it’s easier, you can wear something you already own.” Maddy’s sweet voice reminds me that I’m sitting at a table with my nearest and dearest.

“No, he cannot,” Dixon pipes up, nudging me with his thigh to wake me the fuck up. “He will wear that electric blue velvet suit with pride.”

“What the fuck?” I recoil, curling my lip. When Maddy conceals a smile behind her hand, I know that he’s thankfully joking.

“How about you, Lamb? I know you’re busy with school, but think you can squeeze me in for some dress shopping?”

Mary peers up from slurping on her second fishbowl, appearing as lost in thought as me. “Sure, Maddy, anything you want.” We both sound as unexcited as the other, giving off the impression that this wedding is as painful as pulling teeth.

Maddy slouches in her seat, no doubt ready to call an intervention because her two best friends are apathetic jerks. Dixon is awfully huffy, and I know the minute we’re alone, he’s going to drill me for information. But for the first time in my life, I can’t tell him jackshit, because I don’t even know what to say.

“So, how’s the makeover going?” Dixon asks Mary. The question may seem innocent enough, but I know what this sly snake is doing.

“Almost done.” She keeps it simple, but I can see she’s nervous as her fingers tremble when clasping the straw.

“And how have you survived dealing with this big guy?” He bumps into me, while I play it cool.

Mary shrugs, finally meeting my eyes. I wish I was better at facial charades, as I would convey some sort of message to reassure her that she’s doing good. But I know if I make one wrong move, Dixon will see straight through me and he won’t be shy in using my innards as a brand spanking new tie.

So I reach for my beer and casually take a sip, allowing her the floor. “I think it’s fair to say once I’m done, I’ll need to pay you a visit or two.” But her response is weak.

“Yes, my son has the ability to drive one crazy,” my mom says with a smile. I’ve never seen her so happy to be in the company of a woman who I clearly like, or any woman, for that matter. I may have Mary fooled, but my mom’s eyes are wide open, and she likes what she sees. “But it appears that’s his way to show someone he cares.”

Oh, for fuck’s sake. She may as well have skywritten that I’m a pussywhipped little wimp.

Dixon taps his pointer over his lip, furrowed brow lines reveal he’s deep in thought. I need to rein this in, and I need to do so now. It’s fairly obvious something is going on between Mary and I, and as much as I want to divulge our dirty little secret because I don’t want it to be that anymore, that’s not what Mary wants. I promised her I would act “normal” and our normal is to throw down and show no mercy.

God save my soul. “Have you been reading your Nicholas Sparks books again? You know the only person I care about is yours truly.” I jab my thumb into my chest. “Gets less messy that way. It also saves me from having to deal with meddlesome, bossy women. I already have one of those.” I pointedly look at my mom, who pales. “Like the Polish proverb says—a bachelor and a dog can do anything.”

“You don’t own a dog,” Dixon says, raising his eyes to the ceiling and ruining my words of wisdom.

Raising my finger in defiance, I’m about to detail my plan to adopt all the Bali street dogs, but when Mary turns a shade of green, before kicking back her chair, I seal my lips shut. “If you’ll excuse me.”

She doesn’t wait for anyone to ask if she’s okay, because she’s out the door faster than The Flash. Without a second thought, I too stand, frantic to see if she is all right. However, Maddy has the same thoughts as me and shoots up also.

“Let him go,” Dixon calmly says, interlacing his fingers through Maddy’s. The simple gesture has me realizing what a fucking idiot I’ve been for not telling Mary how I feel sooner. Maddy’s concern is clear, but she eventually nods, trusting Dixon.

As I make a move, Dixon latches onto my wrist, stopping me. I’m about to ask what in the holy hell he’s doing, but a look alone can convey a thousand words, and this look is Dixon’s most infamous one. With a puckered brow, he cocks his head to the side, a silent warning that I’m to fix whatever mess I’ve made.

I was stupid to think I could fool him. Not only is he Dr. Phil on steroids, more importantly, he’s my best friend. I nod once, promising to make things right. I owe that to everybody, especially Mary.

My mom knows what I have to do and smiles. Regardless of how many times I’ve fucked up in my life, she’s always stood by my side, and now is no exception. I quickly dash toward the exit, hoping to god Mary hasn’t caught a cab to Antarctica by now.

Shouldering open the door, I frantically search from left to right, my heart dropping when Mary isn’t anywhere to be seen. There is no way she could have fled too far, so I go with my gut and bolt left. The sidewalk is bustling with happy New Yorkers obscuring my view, so I not so gently jostle them out of the way because they’re wasting precious time.

I don’t have a plan. My whole intent is to find Mary and then take it from there. She will probably hate what I have to say because this is going against everything we agreed on, but I can’t lie to her, or myself a second longer.

When a burst of red catches my eye, I lead with my feet and heart, and take off in a dead sprint, calling out to Mary. I know she’s heard me because everyone in a hundred-mile radius turns to see what the fuss is about.

I’m not an idiot. I know she won’t make this easy for me, but the thrill of the chase, of finally telling her how I feel spurs me on, and I quicken the pace. I excuse myself as I elbow past people, each step becoming more frantic than the one before it.

“Mary! Stop!” But she doesn’t. My voice only seems to inspire her to run faster, and before long we’re both running the streets of Manhattan, but I don’t plan to ever let her go. The lights turn green, but that doesn’t stop Mary, who seems to pick up speed, obviously preferring to get trampled by traffic than talk to me.

The thought of her hurting herself has me racing forward, not caring who I bowl over in the process, because all that matters is her. Just as she steps out onto the road, I lunge forward and latch onto her forearm.

I’m far from gentle as I yank her back onto the sidewalk. A horn blares as a driver waves his fist in the air, eyeballing Mary as she almost ended up like a squashed bug on his windshield. The thought of her being hurt makes me crazy and that passion leads me.

“What the fuck, Shortcake? You eager to be roadkill? You could have gotten yourself killed!” She attempts to break free from my hold, but I hold on tight. “Answer me!”

She violently turns to face me, ready to answer me with her fists, but I’ve come to read her so well. I weave from the strike zone, which infuriates her further. “Let me go!”

“No!” I shout just as loudly as her. “What in the hell is wrong?”

She scoffs, the sound flipping me off. “What’s wrong is that I’m a fucking idiot, that’s what. I can’t believe I—”

But she abruptly pauses, averting her eyes. Her response has me tightening my hold and forcing her to look at me. “You what?” I offer, so lost in translation. She levels me with a blazing glare, still attempting to break free.

We’re standing in the middle of the sidewalk, a complete obstacle to passersby, but I’m not moving an inch until she tells me what’s going on. The anger is radiating off of her in waves, and before long, I know she’ll buckle and submerge us both.

When she finally looks at me, a startled gasp leaves me because she looks like she’s going to cry. “I’m disgusted at myself for letting this get so far,” she confesses, swallowing down her revulsion. “I thought I could do this, but at every corner, there seems to be a line of women waiting their turn. How can I compete with them when you’ve got half of America ready to take my place?”

“What?” I manage to choke out, because I’m certain I’m hearing things.

She shakes her head, ripping from my hold. I’m too shell-shocked to stop her. “Tonight was a perfect example of how you’ll never change. The moment I turn my back, some bimbo is ready to throw morals to the wind just for one night with you! My ex-boyfriend, my high school sweetheart, he made a fool of me, but I’ll be damned if I ever get treated that way again!” The pain is palpable beneath her anger. This asshole is the person who broke Mary’s heart. He’s the reason she can’t seem to open up. But at least she has a reason. Me…I’m just a fucking coward who never allowed anyone in, too afraid to get hurt.

Her tiny hands dig into my chest as she pushes me, her anger burning all the way to my toes. I stumble, too stunned to even move. Is she talking about the flirty blonde I met at the bar? The same one who yes, offered to blow me in the bathroom, but the one I politely thanked and escaped from because her forwardness had me missing Mary more than I thought humanly possible. And just who is this ex-boyfriend? I will find him and skin him alive.

“Shortcake…” She doesn’t let me continue. Now that she’s started, it seems she can’t stop.

“No, fuck you, Hunter! I’m not interested in hearing about your manwhore escapades.” She stands on tippy toes, trying her best to level me with her fiery eyes. All it does is leave me breathless with the need to consume her, like now.

“The thought of sharing you, of having another woman touch you…” Her words are filled with possession, and laced with warning, and they leave me harder than a fucking rock. “Has me wanting to commit unspeakable acts of violence with a smile. I don’t want to share because I’m greedy and I want you. All of you. Every single, annoying inch of you. I don’t even like you on most days, but on the days when I do, I like you…a lot, and I’m fucking crazy, because you don’t feel the same way and I…”

My body takes over and I do the only thing I can—I smash my lips to hers, and I don’t look back. I never will.

The moment my mind plays catch up, I freeze, because I’ve forgotten what it feels like to embrace another so closely. But this is Mary, the woman I’ve wanted from the very first moment we locked eyes and she stirred this longing within. Nothing has felt more natural and it feels like I’ve finally found my home.

Without further thought, I nudge her quivering lips open with my tongue, silently seeking permission. She allows me entry and lets me stay for a very long time. A small gasp escapes her, but when she finally opens up, it’s the best fucking feeling in the world.

We kiss like starved animals, pawing at one another, uncaring that we’re making out in public for all to see. Her lips taste unbelievable, and I doubt I’ll be able to remove myself of my own accord any time soon. But the way she threads her fingers through my hair and tugs fiercely, I think the sentiment is more than mutual.

Tiny mewls fill my lungs as she gasps and sighs into me, her exhalations breathing life into me over and over again. I suckle her bottom lip before sealing my mouth over hers and possessing every piece of her.

Our tongues duel, a perfect union of push and pull, because the moment I surrender, she takes control. She fists my hair, angling her strawberry-coated lips for her pleasure as she seeks out every curve of my mouth with her lips and tongue.

Needing to get as close to her as I can, I unite our chests, rubbing my massive erection against her. She moans and sucks my tongue. I’m not above dragging her down an alley and fucking her senseless because I need to be inside of her while our lips continue this dance I never want to end. But this…this is way past a physical union, this is fucking epic.

Slipping a hand around her waist, I venture lower, squeezing her ass as she licks the seam of my mouth, languidly slow. Now that the urgency has simmered, we both sip and taste the other, relishing in the delicacy that has me angling my head to deepen the union.

Our tongues sluggishly battle in an erotic dance, while our bodies follow suit, and before long, I don’t know where mine ends and hers starts. Her kiss is pure sex, and the thought of fucking her while locked this way almost has me coming right here and now.

She fastens both arms around my nape, her fingernails digging into my flesh. The sting only adds to the heightened sensation of what I’m feeling and I growl into her mouth before circling her tongue with mine.

I can feel her pearled nipples through the thin cotton of my t-shirt and visions of her slick pussy have me pressing my hard on deeper and harder into her.

“Oh, fuck,” she whimpers into my mouth. If I don’t stop in the next five seconds, I’m going to come in my pants and it won’t be pretty.

Even though I’d rather cut off a limb than detangle my body from hers, I lay tiny kisses over her mouth and suckle her bottom lip, before severing our unity. She stumbles forward, almost in a drunken state as her eyes open and she slowly focuses on where we are and what we just did.

A beautiful pink overtakes her creamy skin and I barely resist the urge to kiss over every inch of her rose-hued flesh. “Y-you kissed me,” she states, blinking once.

I nod coolly, brushing the curls from her cheek. “Yes, I did.”

When I offer nothing more, she runs that wicked tongue along her top lip, tempting me once again. “But why? You said you don’t kiss.”

I can understand her confusion. “I don’t, but it was the only way I could shut you up.” My words are gentle, and she smirks.

“Just disregard whatever I said,” she quickly backtracks, but it’s too late.

Shaking my head, I place a hand to her cheek, ensuring she looks straight at me when I deliver her my soul. “No, I won’t, because I…” Her swollen, well-kissed lips part, but I silence her with my pointer. “I won’t, because I like you…a lot, too.”

Her lips grow slack beneath my finger. “You do?”

“Yes, I do. I wanted to kill that kangaroo hopping asshole.”

“You did?” she asks, eyes wide.

Tracing the ridge of her lips with my finger, I rein in the memory of him whispering into her ear before I seek him out and send him back to the land down under missing an appendage. “Yes, Shortcake. Contrary to your beliefs, I haven’t wanted another woman more than I do you. You didn’t just take my breath away…you breathed new life into me.” And just like that, I feel a thousand pounds lighter. Is it really that easy?

“Hunter…” she whispers, her lower lip trembling. “I don’t understand. I mean, you wanted a no strings relationship.”

“No, you did,” I counter, deciding to lay all my cards on the table and see what happens when I do.

She sighs, brushing a piece of hair behind her ear. “I only said that because I thought that’s what you wanted.”

Fuck…me…dead. Can this woman be any more incredible? “That’s not what I wanted. How could I want another woman when I have you, Mary?”

Tears prick her eyes. “But Keira?”

“What about her? She is no one, a mistake, one I never should have made. But I won’t make any more.”

She works her lip, pondering on this newfound honesty, which has D2 fist pumping in pride. “So, what happens now?”

And that’s the million-dollar question.

Cupping her cheek, I kiss over her trembling lips while she mewls. “What happens is that we don’t use labels. We just continue this, because this”—I sashay my mouth over hers— “feels fucking incredible. I may not be the Prince Charming type…”

Mary smiles, placing her palm over my heart. “Who said I want Prince Charming? Just smack me on the ass and tell me that ass is yours.” And just like that, I fall deeply, and eternally in love with Mary Mitts.

“I love it when you talk dirty.” She laughs, her fingers curling into a loose fist.

“I have baggage…like lots,” she confesses. “My ex-boyfriend, he broke me. He thought it was okay to cheat on me and then blame me for his infidelities because I wasn’t exciting enough for him. I have trust issues because of it, and seeing all these women fawn over you…it just makes me feel like an insecure crazy person most of the time.”

When she sniffs, the urge to find this asshole and hang him out to dry shoots to priority number one. “He’s clearly an idiot who lacks balls. We all have baggage, Shortcake. Mine is…” I search for the right word. “Complicated, because well…”

“What?” she asks, searching my face for clues.

Here goes nothing. “I’ve never really dated. Like ever, really. It’s not because I didn’t have options, it’s because well”—I rub the back of my neck—“I guess I just never really wanted to spend that much time with anyone and be tied to them in such a serious way. It wasn’t personal, it was just me. I just wasn’t wired that way. The thought of dating…it scared me, it still does.” Just because we’ve made progress doesn’t mean I’m ready for her to move in. “I have no fucking idea what dating involves and odds are, I will mess up. A lot.”

“I’m scared too. Sometimes I can be kind of crazy.”

I burst into a gruff laugh. “Then let us figure this…whatever this is, out together,” I say, hoping my confession doesn’t make me sound like Captain Needy.

“So you’ve never dated, and I’ve only ever dated one guy?” I nod. “I can’t believe you’ve never been in a serious relationship before. I just figured someone special broke your heart, hence the need to change partners every week.”

“Sorry to disappoint. I’m not Dix. And it wasn’t every week,” I state with a smile.

She folds her arms, full of spunk. “I’ve seen your black book.”

Busted. I don’t bother denying it. “I guess I was just waiting for the right woman…”

When a gasp escapes her and she pales, I know I’ve said too much. I need to hold off with the heartfelt confessions until we figure out what exactly it is we’re doing. But once again, Mary leaves me breathless.

“Take me back to your apartment?”

Oh god, I am gone. She owns every piece of me and I’ll wear that fact like a fucking badge of pride. “Oh, Shortcake, you’re in so much trouble.” My cock will soon kick itself if I don’t take this woman home and gorge on her until I’m stuffed full.

“Trouble is what I do best…so is sitting on your face,” she states, nonchalant, while I gag on air as the image is just too much.

Reaching for her hand, I interlace our fingers, smiling like a creep at such a simple union. She senses my happiness, and before long, we’re both smiling like depraved circus clowns. “Lamb?”

That shot of reality rattles the cage, and we both turn to see Madison and Dixon standing feet away. Dixon is standing behind Maddy with his arms crossed, not at all surprised by the fact we’re holding hands like we’re in the second grade.

Mary’s guilt is instant. She exhales. I gently squeeze her fingers, a silent promise I’ll never let her go. “Maddy…” She pauses when Madison looks down at our hands like we’ve just given birth to the antichrist.

“What the fuck is going on?” Dixon smirks, because whenever Maddy curses, it’s on like Donkey Kong.

Mary sniffs, her remorse for not telling Maddy what we were doing sooner is palpable, and my inner barbarian rises to the challenge, ready to defend my woman, because I can’t stand to see her cry. “Mary and I have called a truce because, well…” Jesus, this is a lot harder than I thought. Looking into those virtuous eyes, I feel like a thief stealing her innocence. Poor Dixon. He doesn’t stand a chance.

He nods, reading my thoughts loud and clear.

“Mary and I are…”

“We’ve been fucking,” Mary blurts out, while I’m tempted to holler a hell yeah, we have!

“Ha ha. Very funny,” Maddy says with a laugh. But that soon dies in a strangled heap when no one laughs with her. “Oh my god. You’re serious?”

Mary nods once. “I’m sorry I didn’t tell you. I just…I didn’t know how.”

Madison pales. Dixon places his hand on her shoulder. “Angelo, are you okay?”

She stares at Mary and I like we’re body-snatchers, holding her friend’s hostage. “Did you know?” she simply says.

I really hope the spare bed is comfortable, because I have a feeling that’s where Dixon will be spending many lonely nights from here on in. “Yes.”

Damn, that even hurt my cock.

“You told him?” Mary exclaims, tilting her chin to look up at me. There goes my hard on and the prospect of eating Mary out all night.

Just as I’m about to try this honesty shoe on for size, Dixon steps in. “No, Mary, he didn’t. I figured it out myself. Hunter is all beauty and no brains.”

“I’m offended. And so is Hugh,” I rebuke. That plan was supposed to be foolproof, but Dixon is no fool.

“We’ll talk about it later,” Maddy says, while Dixon sucks it up like the true champion that he is. “So, you’ve been…” She uses her hands as gesturing tools, because saying it aloud will mean she’ll need to accept it as truth.

Mary nods, letting my hand go and stepping toward Maddy. “Yes, but not for long. I know that doesn’t excuse the fact I didn’t tell you, but I didn’t even know what was happening until about five minutes ago.”

Madison waits for her to continue, but it’s now my turn, because I should have done this weeks ago. “I like Mary. A lot. That shouldn’t come as a surprise. But you can imagine my surprise when I discovered she liked me too. It’s not just sex, Cherry Pie.”

I want her to know that I would never treat this like some game. I know we’ve all got something to lose if this goes south.

Madison sighs, her compassion, which we all love about her, shining through. “Okay, good. I just…wow, this is just…wow.” Her cheeks puff as she blows out a heavy breath.

“I know. This is why I was trying to find the right time to tell you, but I should have just been honest. I’m so sorry. Can you forgive me?”

Madison is Mother Teresa incarnate, and in this moment, I think we all fall in love with her. “There’s nothing to forgive. We all need to deal with our demons in our own time. But if you hurt her, Debbie, I will fucking kill you.”

A laugh erupts from me. It seems she’s not so saintly after all. “Understood.”

Dixon smiles, attempting to wrap his arms around her slender waist. But it seems her understanding nature ends with us. “Don’t even think about it.”

He raises his hands in surrender, unable to wipe his grin clean. “I’m at your mercy, Angelo.”

“You’ll be at your own mercy for the next few days,” she bites back, turning over her shoulder to look at him.

I’m pretty sure I just witnessed him coming in his pants. She drives a hard bargain—hard being the operative word.

Mary throws her arms around Maddy, and it appears she’ll never let her go. But that’s okay, because now that our secret is no longer that, we won’t have stolen moments, but rather memories which are ready to be made.

Dixon meets my gaze and nods. If I don’t know better, I’d say the son of a gun was proud of me for finally stepping into the land of the adults and embracing it with both hands. “Don’t fuck this up,” he mouths.

And he’s right. I can’t, and I won’t.

Crossing my heart with my middle finger, I play it off, but I mean every word, because I would rather break my own heart then break Mary’s.

Celine Dion sounding from my back pocket reminds me that before I decided to join the hopeless romantics of this world, I was having dinner with my friends and parents, who are still back at the restaurant.

Dixon bursts into husky laughter when he hears my ringtone. “I still think it’s you who likes that song and not your mom.”

I scoff, wrapping my arm around Mary’s shoulders as she nestles into my side. The gesture is so natural, but both Maddy and Dixon almost fall over their feet. Just wait until they see me take her pretty lips and indecently make out with them.

We walk back to the restaurant, couples embracing how normal couples do because that’s what Mary and I are—I think. The thought has me wanting to clarify something. “So…I know I said we weren’t going to use any labels…”

Mary’s head snaps up, worry reflected in her eyes. I soothe her concerns, kissing the tip of her nose. “But just so we’re clear, you’re my girl, and fucking anyone except me is off the table. However, fucking me on a table or wherever you please is completely acceptable.”

She smirks. “I thought that was pretty self-explanatory. Why would you think otherwise?”

“Keira said she overheard you talking to someone about fucking them like an animal.” My teeth clench at the memory, so I envision Mary riding a unicorn, naked.

Mary stiffens in my arms. “Why would she tell you that?”

By her rigid response, I don’t want to sully something amazing with talk of Keira. Delivering the basics, I reveal, “She just said she’d overheard you. Is it true?”

When she nods, I breathe steadily, attempting to calm down. “Yes, it’s true, but…”

Covering my ears, I sing Katy Perry loudly, not at all interested in the details. When she removes my hands, I wonder if she’ll see me in the same light if I broke down and cried. “But I was talking to Maddy.”

“What now?” I shout, unable to contain my excitement. Dixon looks over her shoulder at me, while I wiggle my eyebrows. He turns back around, not at all entertained by my enthusiasm.

She laughs, slapping my arm. “No, you pervert, I meant she was telling me she hadn’t seen Dixon all week cause of work, and she was…” She pauses, leaving the rest to my very vivid imagination which has no problems filling in the blanks.

“So what Keira thought she heard was actually not true, which doesn’t surprise me, because she’s a gigantic liar.”

There’s no reason to continue this conversation because all that matters is that Mary hasn’t been fucking anyone but me, and I plan on keeping it that way. “If it makes you feel any better, I can engrave your name in my underwear. Like they did in the 50s.”

“You don’t wear any,” she giggles. She does have a point.

Leaning in close, I whisper, “I’ll get your name tattooed on my cock then.” I suck the shell of her ear into my mouth while she groans.

The sound is too hot for words. But when she purrs, “You’d have to ink my middle name and surname too, otherwise there will be a lot of room left to play with,” I almost lose it right then and there in the street.

“Okay, deal, what’s your middle name?” I’m surprised I can construct a coherent sentence right now. I lose the ability soon after however.

With a slanted grin, she replies, “Annabelle.”

My cock struts his shit cause that’s a whole lotta words. “That’s quite a mouthful.”

Subtly reaching forward, she rubs over my hard on and cups me firmly. “So are you.”

Holy fucking balls.

If this is what being in a relationship entails, sign me up.

“You’re in so much trouble,” I repeat, humming when she continues rubbing my dick just how she knows I like it.

However, when she rears upward and bites over my racing pulse, I know I’m the one who’s in trouble—deep, deep trouble.