FIFTEEN

CASEN

It was an interesting weekend, to say the least. My surprise visit to Embyr in New York for a few days was extended until Tuesday so we could spend some time seeing the sites. Not to mention a little public sex in Central Park. I have an insatiable appetite for her. I don’t know why I dropped six hundred dollars for a last minute flight but if I’m going to go all in, I want to be all in.

I was pissed to find out her boss kissed her. I wanted to break his door down and beat the shit out of him, but what would that do? It would prove nothing. So I fucked Embyr seven ways from Sunday and made sure the next morning he knew she was mine, if he didn’t know already.

He kept his hands to himself and even joined Embyr and me for dinner on Sunday night. As much as my fists were clenched in his presence, I couldn’t blame the guy for wanting her. He also didn’t know she had a boyfriend, but we fixed that.

Every day it gets easier and easier to see Embyr for the woman she is becoming lately and not the one who tried to ruin me. Things are starting to feel normal for us. Most nights are spent at my house, and in my bed, with the exception of when I have to work. Reece and I recently took our Lieutenant test and should hear the results any day. He and I are on speaking terms now, and he apologized when Embyr brought us dinner to the station a few nights ago. I still feel distant from him but I know that will pass in time. He and Trinity have been getting closer as well. It seems as though we are falling back into normal life – if you want to call it that.

Embyr left for work an hour ago and I’m about to head to the gym when my phone rings. It’s my mom calling and I pick up right away.

“Hey, Ma!”

“Hi, Casen. This is your mom,” she tells me.

I laugh. “I know, Ma. That’s why I said ‘Hi, Ma’. I have caller ID.”

“Pish posh.” She chastises. “I wanted to make sure you knew it was me and not one of those girls you date.”

“Girl.” I correct. “Just one. Embyr.”

“Ah, Embyr. Are we back together? I thought you didn’t sound like much of a pissant today.” She laughs.

“We are. I took your advice and we are working through it all.”

“That’s good to hear, Casen. Are you working today?”

I take a sip from my water bottle. “I’m not.”

She sighs. “Okay, be here at six-thirty tonight, with Embyr. The Smith’s are coming over and I’m making enough for the neighborhood.”

I let the door close behind me as I leave my place. “I need to ask Embyr if she’s free.”

I know she is free. She’s coming here after work again, but I don’t want to put her into a situation she doesn’t want to be in.

“Six thirty, Casen Grant Parker.” She lays down the hammer using my full name.

I hit the button on the elevator, rolling my eyes. “Yes, ma’am.”

***

Embyr is fidgeting from the passenger side of my truck. Her hands are wound tightly into one another, and her right leg is bouncing at a rapid pace.

I burrow my hand between hers, snagging the left one. “Baby, you need to calm down. Do you need me to stop and get you off before we get there?” I joke, but to be honest, I’d do it in a fucking heartbeat.

She side eyes me, and I wink, causing her to laugh. “No, I’m just nervous. I know you told your mom who I am but I’m a wreck knowing Ian’s parents will be there as well. I’m not sure I want to tell them.”

Squeezing her hand I reassure her. “We don’t have to tell them, okay?”

Not looking my way, she agrees. “Okay.”

I think every light in the lower level of my parent’s house is on when we arrive. The front door is open to the two story brick house on the corner. I can smell my mom’s meatloaf as soon as I step out of the truck.

Walking over to Embyr’s side, I open her door. She slips out, adjusting her jeans and light pink sweater. “It’s a beautiful house, Casen.” She compliments.

I take her hand in mine and lead her up the stone sidewalk. “Thank you. It was nice growing up here and have all this room in the yard to goof off in.”

I live in the housing development across the street from Lake Arlington where Embyr grew up. I was within walking distance and sometimes I would ride my bike over to her side and just sit. I wasn’t a stalker. At first, I was just waiting to see if she ever came out and maybe get a chance to talk to her. After what we did, I would ride over just to make sure she was okay. Before the bet her house seemed full of life, afterward all the shades would always be closed.

I point across the street. “Ian lived there in that green house, and Reece lived down the street.”

Her head dips a little. “I know where they lived.”

Stopping just before the stoop to the entryway, I pull her face into my hands. “Embyr, I’m sorry. I wasn’t thinking. Sometimes I forget.”

Her face shakes up and down in my hands. “I know. I do too. It’s okay. Sometimes it’s good to forget.”

I give her the briefest of kisses before my mom throws the glass door open. “Casen! Embyr! Come in! Stop trying to make babies out here.”

We both laugh. “Mom, stop!” I tell her.

She ignores me, dragging Embyr in for a hug, before pulling back and taking her in. “I mean, I want grandbabies, and you two would make beautiful ones but not yet. Make him put a ring on it if he likes it.”

Embyr bursts into a fit of giggles. “Oh my God, I love your mom,” she tells me after we walk inside. “She’s so funny.”

I slap her ass out of view of everyone. “Yeah, she’s hilarious!”

I feel a small amount of weight lifted that was on my shoulders now that my mom has broken the ice a little bit.

We meet my mom in the kitchen. She’s pulling the meatloaf out of the oven. “I hope you like it, Embyr. This is Casen’s favorite.” She slams the steel door shut and looks at Embyr. “Remind me to give you the recipe before you leave.”

“I’d love that.”

My mom leans on the counter and stares at the two of us, not saying a word. I’m about to say something when Mom breaks the awkward silence. “Embyr. Casen has told me everything.”

Embyr’s eyes grow wide. I don’t think she was expecting a chat about this tonight. “I know. He told me you two spoke.”

“Mom.” I step toward her. “I’m not sure…”

“Casen, hush it.” She waves a ladle at me. “This isn’t your business.”

I scoff, crossing my arms over my chest.

“Now.” She continues. “What my son did and didn’t do back in high school was disappointing. For him to stand by and not help you, well, I just thought I raised him better than that. I will say that I’m glad you came after my son.”

“MOM!”

She shakes her head as Embyr continues to just stare in disbelief. “No, no, hear me out. I’ve seen a shift in him, and even if your intention was to hurt him, I’m glad you two saw the light and fell for one another. The whole situation is shitty, but I’m thankful it’s turning out the way that it is.”

“Me too, Mrs. Parker.” Embyr smiles shyly. “Me too.”

“Well, you two skedaddle for a bit. I need to finish up,” she tells us, pulling out some pans from the bottom cabinet.

“Do you need any help?” Embyr offers.

My mom shakes her head. “No, thank you. Everyone should be here in the next thirty minutes.”

“Come on,” I grab Embyr’s hand, “I’ll show you my room.”

As we hit the bottom of the stairs, my mom yells from the kitchen. “No making babies up there!”

Embyr and I both laugh.

My room hasn’t changed much since I left for college. I wasn’t the typical college graduate who lived at home for a long time after graduation. I was here maybe a month before I got a job and moved out with Ian and Reece so there was no need to change anything in my room. I’m surprised my parents haven’t turned it into an office or some shit like that.

“Wow!” Embyr exclaims stepping into my room. “Well, isn’t this a throwback to high school.”

I have nineties posters all over the wall and pictures of high school friends, football games, race nights, and trophies everywhere. I grab a hold of Embyr around her waist as she runs her fingers along my yearbooks on my desk. I pull her hair back and kiss her neck. “You smell amazing.”

“Thank you.” She picks up a trophy and sets it back down. “I always wondered what your room looked like.”

Her ass pushes back into me, waking up my cock. “I always wondered what you’d look like in my room.”

Embyr cranes her neck to the side, her soft lips searching for mine. “Did you fantasize about me in here?”

Taking that as my cue, I pop open the button of her jeans and slowly lower the zipper. “I did.”

Her hand stops mine. “Didn’t your mom say no making babies?” She laughs.

Twisting my hand, I release myself from hers and dip it into her panties. A calm comes over me as I feel how wet she is. “I’m not going to stick my dick in you, Embyr. I’m going to just release a little of your tension.”

She leans onto the desk, her palms taking the brunt of her weight, as I find her clit and circle around it between my thumb and pointer finger. She moans, so I wrap my free hand around her mouth and whisper harshly, “Be quiet.”

Her teeth bite my finger and it amps me up. I’d love nothing more than to fuck her right now but I know my fingers can have her there in under a minute. Putting that theory to the test, I pinch her sensitive nub and clamp onto her shoulder with my teeth. My fingers start to rub at a hurried pace. Her muffled moans get louder. Her ass pushes back into my cock. Faster and faster I work her over and in no time she’s screaming into my hand and pulsing underneath my touch.

“That’s my girl,” I speak softly into her ear. “I love how I know your body so well. I knew I could get you to come in less than a minute.”

She reaches back, grabbing my stiff dick. “Your turn?”

Just as I’m about to command her onto her knees the doorbell rings. I secure the button and zipper of her jeans before turning her around, grabbing her jaw. “Not now, but later, this mouth will be swallowing my come. Plan on it.”

I walk to the adjoining bathroom and start to wash my hands. When I’m finished drying them, the room becomes crowded as Embyr closes the door behind her.

Seductively, she lowers herself to her knees and unzips my pants. “I bet I can get you off in under a minute as well.”

My cock slips into her wet mouth and she proves she can do just that.

Everyone is staring at us when we reach the bottom step. I don’t have to look to know that Embyr’s face is red. That woman’s mouth feels like heaven. Not as much as her pussy but I can make comparisons later tonight.

“Nice of you to join us, son.” My dad, in his over six foot glory, comments extending a hand.

“I was showing Embyr around.”

“Mr. Parker.” Embyr shakes his hand. “Nice to meet you.”

My dad’s head tilts to the side. “My wife has filled me in. I think we may have met a long time ago, but it’s nice to see you again.”

“Likewise,” she responds.

It’s funny to see the polite side to Embyr. One minute she’s sucking me off and the next she is being shy. I have so much more to learn about her.

Ian’s parents are sitting in the living room. Even though it’s been quite a while since Ian has passed, they still look dejected. I don’t know how long it takes to get over the death of a child. I assume you never do. I can’t imagine their pain and on top of losing him, the killer is still out there – free. They stand when we walk over and Mrs. Smith pulls Embyr into an embrace. When she releases her, Ian’s mom has tears streaming down her face.

“Annie, I’m so sorry.” She cries.

Embyr flinches as do I. It’s awkward to hear her called by her birth name. It’s not that I try to separate the two anymore but I still have a hard time relating the two, and I’m not sure Embyr is going to take it well.

“Mrs. Smith.” She starts to tear up. “Please call me Embyr and why are you apologizing?”

Ian’s dad just stands back, looking more confused by the second. “Why are you calling her Annie?” he asks.

She’s looking at Embyr but answering her husband. “This is Annie Barnes. The one our Ian…” She doesn’t finish that sentence. I don’t know if anyone wants to hear it anyway. My hackles rise. I don’t want Embyr to get upset. “I’m just so sorry all that happened to you. I can’t tell you how thankful I am that you’ve turned out to be such a beautiful, successful woman…from what I hear from Kate anyway.”

Ah, Kate. I don’t know how I could have thought she wouldn’t have told her mom. Mr. Smith still looks confused but changes the subject immediately. Looking to me, he extends a hand toward the dining room. “Shall we eat?”

Dinner is awkward, to say the least. My mom keeps commenting on how much of a cute couple we make. Ian’s mom won’t stop staring at Embyr like at any moment she will burst into tears. My dad and Mr. Smith talk about golf and football. I’m on the other side of the table than them, leaving me to keep the estrogen to a minimal level.

When dinner and dessert are done, and the kitchen is clean, I decide to get Embyr the hell out of there. If she has to hear how adorable our kids will look anymore I’m sure she will run from the house screaming. We almost make it to the door after our goodbyes when Mrs. Smith grabs a hold of Embyr’s arm.

“I know I’ve been acting weird tonight. It’s just been an off day, but when I heard that you were coming to dinner I wanted to make sure I talked to you. What Ian did, that was wrong. I want you to know that I had spoken to him on more than one occasion about what happened. He told me everything. The bet Reece started and how he didn’t know it was being taped. I just pray he was telling me the truth when he said he didn’t release that video of you.”

Embyr grabs both of her hands. “Mrs. Smith, what happened in the past is in the past. You’re correct, it was so very wrong, but I’m letting it all go. Ian wasn’t lying to you when he said he didn’t send that video out. It wasn’t him, and even if it had been, I’m done letting all of that lead my life. I’m making my parents proud.”

“I was sorry to hear about them,” she sadly tells Embyr.

“Thank you. I know you are still grieving, and my showing up again may have brought back some things you weren’t exactly proud of your son doing, but if you could focus on all the good he did do. The stuff that made you smile. His success. His job. His beautiful place. His love for you all and his sister. That’s what you should be holding onto.”

She hugs Embyr before we leave.

Halfway down the street I look over at Embyr and see tears streaming down her face. I pull over and unlatch her seatbelt. She slides over into my lap, and I hold her until she’s ready to talk.

The windows start to steam up, but I could care less. I just need to comfort her.

“Casen.” She finally starts. “That was rough. I never thought I would have to comfort someone for the shitty things their child did to me, but it was a turning point for me. It was easy for me to tell her to think of all the good of Ian. He may have done some shitty things to me but I would never want my parents to have to apologize for all the crap I did when I was younger. When I sit down and look back, I should have fought. I should have said ‘fuck it’ and stood up for myself.”

“Listen.” I pull her off my chest and look her square in the face. “Don’t you ever apologize for not being stronger back then. What happened was not your fault.”

“It feels that way sometimes. I shouldn’t have slept with Ian. I shouldn’t have let him do that.”

I hold her close because I feel like I don’t have the words to fix this now.