Page 31 of Lady Sings the Blues

“But I do have something I’d like to talk with you about,” she says.

Good. A distraction. “I’m listenin’.”

“How do you feel about me talking with Beau Hollister?” I open my mouth to say something, what, I don’t know, but something. Although it wouldn’t matter what I say as she cuts me right off. “We both know he’s going to be at my father’s funeral. I haven’t talked to him in years. He’s avoiding me. We have a lot to discuss.”

The cab stays silent while I contemplate how I want to answer and she waits patiently.

“You’re right, darlin’. You will definitely be around Beau at your father’s funeral, and there is a lot to discuss. I just can’t tell you what it means that you’d consider my feelins’ with all this.”

“Well you seem to have a problem with the Hollisters, too. It’smydad’s funeral, but… It’s about respect, you know?”

“I’m goin’ back to Chicago with you. We’ll make it a vacation. Time alone. Just you and me, maybe hit the road for a couple weeks. How’s that sound?”

“Like heaven. So you’ve got ‘til the end of my father’s funeral to come clean.”

Her gaze moves from my face to out the window again. Seems wrong to not be touching her after everything we’ve just discussed, so I reach my hand over to squeeze her knee leaving my hand firmly to rest there. Her father’s funeral. Don’t give me much time. The woman doesn’t even glance down but drops hers on top of mine, lacing her fingers through mine.

When we get home I give her knee another quick squeeze. She turns to look this time and I give a slight nod so she knows to stay put. Then I walk around to open the door for her, helping her down.

“You going to kiss me?” she asks.

I think about answering something smart, but just go for it instead. Lips pressed to hers, arms around that hourglass waist, I’m lost completely to the woman of my dreams.

Dammit I forget where we are and that these assholes ain’t been clued in to what’s about to come their way if they don’t let up. A car speeds past us.

“Whore.” Someone shouts out. We both turn as water balloons are launched through the windows at our feet, splashing everywhere. Soakin’ our feet and my jeans.

Elise shrieks. Fuck this. I scoop her up bridal style and run her up to the house, setting her down only once I’ve kicked the door closed behind us.

“It’s never going to stop,” she says to her feet. “I bought the fantasy. But that’s all it is, Mark. A fantasy.”

“No. This is real, Elise. We’re real, and I’m not lettin’ you use some stupid teenage prank as an excuse because you’re scared.”

“Of course, I’m scared. What if we go the distance, you think I wantthat.” She points at the front door. “For your life? What about these hypothetical kids? You want them being bullied? I need to go. You need to find someone you won’t have to fight an entire town to be happy with.”

“So you tellin’ me you had the guts to apologize to a room full of bikers but are just gonna run from some punk-ass kids? That’s not the Elise I thought I knew.”

“Fuck you.”

“Plan on it.” And that’s all I give her, shovin’ her up against the wall my mouth connects with her neck. At the same time my fingers find the hem of her T-shirt, her fingers fumble to find mine.

It’s rough and hard and frenzied as she shoves her shorts and panties down her legs kicking them off once they’re past her knees, while I suck dutifully at her pink, pert nipple.

My mouth on her and she completely loses track that she was tryin’ to break up with me just minutes ago. Using my arm to keep her pinned up against the wall, I drop to my knees aligning that perfect pussy with my face and drape her leg over my shoulder to open her up wide for me. She’s so wet already. Smells of honey nectar. Tastes of it, too. Once my mouth connects with her center, teenagers, water balloons, everything disappears. Just me making the woman I love feel good.

I make her come twice with my tongue before I stand, still pinning her against the wall, and slide inside wrappin’ both legs around my waist and her arms around my neck so I take the brunt of her weight. That’s when we find our rhythm. While I pound into her she tilts to meet me thrust for thrust. One hand holds my neck, she moves the other up to tug out the hairband letting my locks spill down to graze the first hand. She grips and musses the thick strands between kisses and moaning my name.

I love the feel of her hand in my hair, but when she drops it, clawing talon marks over my back I loose myself completely.

“Baby…” I pant. “You got…another one… in you…oh fuck—now’s… the time.”

My words in her ear, she clamps down around my pulsating cock and I explode. Thrusting a few more times before droppin’ my forehead against hers, both of us panting hard. Fast.

We wait until both of our breathing has calmed before I pull out then she drops her feet to the floor. On shaky legs, I might add. It’s not exactly a hardship to have to keep her in my arms a while longer.

“Okay, so maybe we can still make this work,” she says to me, although totally avoiding my eyes as she says it.

“’Bout time you caught up,” I tell her. Then tip her chin up keeping her from lookin’ anywhere else. “So you’re not leavin’ me, are you darlin’?”

“What about the town, and Chicago?”

“I’ll take care of it. Tell me. Tell me what I need to hear.”

“I’m…we’ll make it work.”

“Why?” I prod.

“Because there’s no denying our connection. No matter it doesn’t make any sense. That I haven’t been in town long enough to feel this way, I do.”

“Good.” I smile quick and kiss the tip of her nose. “I’ll order us takeout, then we’re spendin’ the rest of the day loungin’ in bed talkin’ and watchin’ movies. And if at any point you want to take advantage of me again, I won’t put up a fight. That’s a promise.”

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