Chapter 23
Jonny’s revelation rocked her, and the pain in his voice made Cheryl tighten her grip around his waist and hold on tight. Being strong for so long had taken its toll on him, and she wanted to be the person that relieved that pain.
Her fingertips trailed down to the fine hairs that disappeared beneath his sweatpants. His muscles retracted and reacted to her touch, and when she arched her back and pressed against him, he cupped her ass and nudged her to him.
“I don’t know what you did to me.” He mumbled against her sensitive flesh of her breast. “But this thing simmering between us is real.”
“I know but . . .” She peeked up at him through her lashes and prayed he would understand. “I have a hard time trusting.”
“I get it, but from now on no more secrets. Even if it’s bad, real bad, I wanna know.”
He walked her backward until her legs hit the bed. He nudged her down and pierced her with those dark eyes. “Understand?”
She nodded then raised to her knees. Her hands tugged down his pants and the strong roped muscles of his thighs clenched when his dick twitched under her soft caress.
“How about I take care of you for a change?”
A groan rumbled from the back of his throat. “You’re killing me, baby.”
“No, I’m going to make it all better.”
She brushed her lips against his abs, inching closer to the prize. She kept her movements careful and deliberate, licking her way down and around his thick shaft. She played there a few minutes before taking him whole, sucking him hard and deep. She pumped him with her mouth, and when she cupped his balls, he drew in a sharp breath. She pulled off slightly and made a show of her tongue taking him from bottom to tip.
His head hit the headboard with a thud, his eyes hazy slits, his face a sexy mix of desire and absolute submission. With him sprawled out beneath her, she braced her hands against his rock-hard thighs and sucked him in a little deeper each time. He swelled in her mouth, and his breathing quicken to raspy gasps.
He gently pushed at her shoulder. “I’m gonna blow, baby.”
The warning encouraged her. She craved all of him. And when he quenched her thirst, she drank him in. Happy to give him pleasure after all he’d done for her.
He caught her under the arms and hauled her over his taut abs. She placed gentle butterfly kisses over his swollen jaw, then nestled into his shoulder and drank in the scent of their sex.
“How would you like to go down to Miami with me?”
“Miami?”
“We have another club in South Beach, and there’re some people I want to see down there. People that can help me break away from Frank.”
“I still have more questions about you getting beat up.”
“Laying on the beach all day.” His mouth moved lower, past her collarbone, as he pulled at the hem of her shirt. “You and me in my beachfront condo?”
“Sounds nice but . . .”
“Ever been to South Beach?”
“The farthest south I’ve ever been is Seaside Heights.”
One of Mama’s boyfriends took her and Dylan to the Jersey Shore when they were kids. They hit the bars while she and Dylan got sunburned, and around midnight, they got thrown out of the motel because they were fighting so loud.
“To answer your question, no. I’ve never been to South Beach.”
“It’s nothing like ‘Sleazeside.”
She laughed at the old joke.
“You’ll love it.” He moaned when the doorbell rang.
“Who could it be?” Panic overwhelmed her with all the possibilities.
“Whoever is on the other side of that door is majorly fucked.” He stood in all his naked perfection, then leaned down, bracing his hands on either side of her head. “Don’t move.”
Jonny yanked his sweatpants over his hips as the doorbell rang again.
She blew out a heavy sigh, waited until he left the room, pulled on her clothes, then cracked the bedroom door to listen. Way too much was going on in their lives, and if Jonny was in trouble, she wanted to help if she could.
~ ~ ~
Jonny stalked to the door and scowled into the peephole.
He flipped the lock and opened the door. “What’s up?”
“I got somebody I want you to meet.” Max dipped his chin toward a wiry guy hovering by the elevators, covered in gang tats and decked out in a wife-beater hanging over low baggy jeans. “He’s Spanish. You’ll like him.”
“Cheryl’s here.”
“Forget about her for a minute.”
Jonny cocked his head unsure of Max’s game.
Max waved his hand, and the thug bounced over, rolling with attitude.
“Jonny, this is Angel.” Max shifted his hand between the two of them.
“Hey, man.” Angel pounded Jonny on the back, followed it with a street hug, stepped away, and said in Spanish, “Max says you got some heavy-duty shit going down.”
“Nothing I can’t handle, mejo.” Jonny shot a sideways glance at Max.
“Looks like somebody busted up that Hollywood face,” Angel said, again in Spanish.
“Not your concern,” Jonny answered in Spanish. “Now cut the homeboy shit and speak English.”
Angel shifted his gaze to Max, then to Jonny. “Sure boss, sure.”
“You could use a little extra protection.” Max moved them into the foyer. The stench of stale cigarette smoke and weed surrounded Angel.
“Nice place, man.” Angel strolled around like he was casing the joint. “You must be all about the paper. Fuckin’ rolling in it.”
“Angel’s got the fire power and the backup we need.” Max sounded like he was revealing some big secret.
“Yeah, yeah. I got it all.” Angel lifted his T-shirt, revealing a .38 stuck into the waistband of his jeans. “Motherfuckers don’t mess with me or my crew.”
“I figure he can shadow you,” Max added. “Keep you safe in case Frank tries to do anything else.”
“Better to have a gun and not need it, then need a gun and not have it.” Angel’s grin revealed a gold front tooth. “I fuckin’ take care of you. You feelin’ me, bro?”
“Can I talk to you for a minute?” Jonny’s eyes bore into Max.
“Jonny?” Cheryl entered the living room, stared at Angel then Jonny.
“I told you to stay in the bedroom.” He heard the edge in his voice.
“Damn, that one fine looking bitch.” Angel swaggered forward.
“That’s it.” Jonny stepped in Angel’s path and shoved him toward the door.
“Wait outside,” Max yelled at Angel.
“Sorry,” Jonny said to Cheryl. “Give Max and me a minute.”
She furrowed her brow, then retreated to the bedroom. Jonny didn’t even want to think about the questions she’d have now.
“What the fuck are you thinking?” Jonny spat after she left the room.
“I’m looking out for you,” Max defended.
“I’m trying to get out of this life, and you bring a guy to my apartment who looks like he belongs in a fuckin’ rap video?”
“With everything going on—”
“That what? I’d want some thug hanging around, bringing his shit down on me.” Jonny threw his hands up and flinched. “Or around Cheryl?”
“If you’d forget about her for a minute, you’d see I’m right.”
“Does Eddie know about this?”
“Kinda. I told him you needed more protection, and he agreed.”
“I don’t think this is what he had in mind.” Jonny heaved out a frustrated sigh. “Anyway, I’m going to Miami tomorrow.”
“Miami?”
“I’m gonna meet with Carlos, firm up our connections down there. We’re leaving tomorrow night.”
“You and Eddie?” Max asked.
“Me and Cheryl.”
“Right, and how are you gonna concentrate on business with her there?”
Jonny closed the gap between them until they were only inches apart. “I gave you a pass before, but you better knock this shit off.” He splayed his hands. “Bringing some gangbanger here? Telling him my business? I think you’re spending too much time with those strippers. They’re starting to fuck with your brain. Now get outta here and try to keep things together until I get back.”
Max stormed off and flung the door so hard it bounced on its hinges. Jonny stood behind the door, squinted through the crack, and listened.
“What the fuck, man?” Angel said, as he bopped by the elevators. “How’s it gonna play out now?”
“Shut up,” Max growled. “I’ll think of something else.” Max jostled Angel onto the elevator and stabbed at the buttons until the door whooshed close.