Page 7 of The Right Woman

“Fuck!” Reams of jizz splash over my hand and up my chest, some landing on my neck.Damn. Haven’t come that hard in a while.

As I scrub my skin in the shower, I shake my head with disappointment. That girl reeked of deep-seated issues and looked way too young for me. Definitely acted like it.

I can’t stand brats. They’re not my thing. It annoys me when subs want to play games that only shorten the good time we could have together.

Rosy didn’t look like a regular at the club, and I shirk the thought of seeing her again for good. One and done. Gladthat’sover.

Although…

A tickle in my brain reminds me that I didn’t reallyhaveher. We didn’t copulate. SoifI come across her again, I could tie her to a bed and take her. Maybe I’d put a leash on her for the night and make her crawl around as my personal pet.

“Damn it!” Hard again.

After another masturbation session, I dress for the city gym. When I get to my kitchen, I freeze as my heart stops for a moment. “Christ! You scared the shit out of me.”

My brother, Rhodes, turns around from the fridge with a wry smile. “Sorry. I ran out of beer and just got done with my shift at the hospital. Stores are closed this early.” Heavy blue bags line his worn-out eyes, which check the clock on the oven as I take a deep breath to calm my nerves. “You slept in. It’s almost nine. Late night?”

With a wag of my finger at the hissing can of the ale he opens, I shake my head and warn him. “Don’t drink those around Eli. I don’t want them at your house.”

He chuckles around the rim and squints. “Okay, Adon. We’re both in our thirties. I don’t think you get to tell me what to do in my own home anymore.”

My teeth grit as I grab my keys. “Do youwantour brother to fail?”

His throat constricts as he swallows, his grin vanishing. “You know I don’t. But I think he needs to learn to be around normal life. Learn what it’s like to be free again.”

Sometimes my middle brother is right. Thismaybe one of those times, but we can’t give Eli too much room to make a mistake. I need to keep a close eye on him before he fucks up again.

Rhodes sets the can on the counter, a sheepish look overtaking his serious expression. “He’s got a girlfriend now. Seems pretty serious.”

My chest feels like it’s going to cave in. Has he already gone to the strip club? Where would he get a girlfriend? “That could be a problem. She been coming over to your place?”

“No, but he’s been staying with her most nights.” His olive cheeks turn red as he shrugs, like his next words aren’t that big of a deal. “And, uh…I think she’s quite a bit younger.”

Snapping my face to his, his chocolate brown eyes widen. Part of me feels like I have no business judging my youngest brother after what I did last night at the club. But hecan’tget into trouble with the law. If he gets himself entangled in something illegal, he’ll get sent to prison for life. And he just spent seven years there.

I almost choke on the reflux rising in my esophagus. Should have stuck with one whiskey. “How young?” I squeak out the question, my body frozen.

“I-I’m not sure. Eli wouldn’t do somethingthatdumb. Let him have fun. Come on, Adon.”

Flashes of our youth pour through my brain. Late nights I spent awake, waiting for Eli to come through the door. When he did, stumbling, high and gaunt, I’d try everything I could think of to scare him sober. Rhodes would come behind me with the soft approach, placing him in the shower and making him something he would eat.

Maybe if I’d been stricter, he’d have stayed out of prison. I don’t think I’m good for anybody. My brother thinkshe’sthe screwup, but his mistakes are my fault. I should have been there for him. Mom and Dad would have wanted that.

“Well, I’m heading to the gym. I guess he’ll be there. I’ll try to ask him about her.”

Rhodes’s shoulders relax, and he smiles while chugging the rest of the beer. “Keep me updated. I’m heading home to get some sleep.”

He follows me out the door, and as I lock up, I nod at him. “Hey! Watch him. Make sure hedoesn’tdo something stupid. He needs us both.”

As he slides into his car, he calls out, “I will. I am.” He gives me a mock two-finger salute, and I watch him drive off before getting into my driver’s seat.

This urge and longing to correct my failures makes me think of my kids. I hit the button to call Avery’s phone on my navigation system, but she doesn’t answer. Visions of her sneaking out to be with Liam make me grip the steering wheel tighter. Teenage pregnancy, alcohol,drugs…I can see the path now. She’ll tell her future parole officer that her dad’s the one to blame. That I didn’t love her enough or because her mom left. Because I couldn’t fucking open up to anyone.

Frustrated, I dial Emily, who picks up on the second ring. “Hey! Need something?”

As I pull into the gym parking lot, my breaths grow shallow. I can’t relax until I hear their voices. “Just missed the kids. Where’s Avery?”

Some irritation rings in her voice as she answers, “She’s sleeping in, Adon. Teenage girls do that on the weekends.”

---