Page 44 of After Care

“And?” he barked, pressing at the back of my knee so I’d lift my leg, positioning it on the corner of the sink, so he could do deeper, when I already thought he’d gone as deep as he could.

“You and me,” I groaned, feeling him hit something that was bringing stars to my eyes. The orgasm built, and it was going to be messy, but feel oh-so-good.

“That’s right. You and me. Us. Only us. That’s all there is.” I watched as he pressed forward with a grunt, and my eyes rolled back as I came big, so big it seeped out of me as he stilled his hammering and pulsed deep within my channel. I clutched at the faucet, legs too shaky to hold me, as I silently begged for the sensation to never end.

He pulled out of me abruptly, and a rush of moisture slipped down my leg. He waded toilet paper and caught the drips the best he could before pulling up his jeans. I hadn’t moved; I didn’t trust my legs to support me. Slowly, I raised my head to meet my own eyes in the mirror, dazed and wide, and a smile too bright, my lips seeming to glow in the fluorescent lighting.

I still gripped the sink to steady myself as I turned to face him. He worked at putting my dress back in place as my knees trembled.

“Give me back my underwear,” I said in a voice equally quaking.

“Nope, it’s staying in my back pocket.” He patted his ass. “Like your jealousy, tucked away for safe keeping.”

My eyes narrowed at him as he backed out of the room so I couldn’t reach his pockets. Then he held out a hand for me and led me back to the party.

+ + +

Masie was drunk.

Despite the orange underage wristband, someone had gotten her drinks that looked innocent enough, like a rum and Coke, or a vodka and Sprite. I don’t know what all she had, but just after midnight and the start of a new year, I had to get her out of the bar.

“I’ll take her,” West said stepping forward as Masie leaned on me.

“You will not,” Tommy commanded, his voice harsh and direct. “You can’t leave with her.”

“He doesn’t like me anyway,” Masie slurred, weakly waving a dismissive hand at West and answering for him.

West’s mouth opened but Tommy held up a hand. “You know why you can’t leave with her,” he said as he narrowed his gaze on West. Even I think I knew the reason—Masie was drinking underage, but more importantly, she was still in high school. The paparazzi were here in full force, snapping a few sanctioned pictures and stalking the front door for anything else.

“I’ll call you an Uber. You’ll have to go out through the back.” Tommy took care of everything, kissing me quickly as I followed my daughter into the car, begging her not to get sick in the short ride to the resort.

“Why won’t he kiss me?” she sobbed, breaking into full-blown tears as she fell against me. I stroked her hair, not having an answer other than West saw the truth of their situation. Masie was still a kid in high school. As much as he might be attracted to her, he was doing the right thing by keeping her at a distance.

I didn’t answer her, knowing anything I said would either turn into an argument or bring on more tears, so I just held her close, praying again that she didn’t puke on me. I got her to the condo before she rushed for the bathroom. Collapsing over the toilet, she vomited, and it took all my strength to hold back her hair as my own gag reflect kicked in.

Shit.

I released her long enough to find a hair tie and wrap her hair at the nape of her neck. There wasn’t much I could do for her. This wasn’t a sick six-year-old child. This was a girl with the body of an adult who was going to have a wicked hangover the next day.

“The room is spinning,” she said, and lowered herself to the tile floor. I’d been in that position once or twice. I’d dealt with David numerous times like this. The best solution was a towel for a pillow and the cool tile beneath her. The toilet in close proximity was the smartest thing.

Exiting the bathroom when it looked like she’d rest a moment, I entered my room and sat in a wicker chair near the window. The moon was full. It was a new year, a fresh start, another cycle. Only I didn’t want to circle back. I couldn’t return to who I had been, when I returned home. Tommy had changed so many things in what I did and how I felt, and I didn’t want to give him up. I sighed, stroking my neck, remembering the nearness of his nose, his breath, and the teasing of his lips. When it was time to let him go, I didn’t want to lose this feeling.

Deciding to text him, I reached for my phone and returned to the chair.

Made it back. Masie puking.

The dots appeared, and he replied, Sounds awful.

I waited a beat, wondering if I could ask the next question on my mind, as insecurity returned, recalling all those other women at the bar.

Still have my underwear?

The message returned almost instantly. How does that make you feel?

I told him to never lie to me again, so that meant I had to give him the truth.

Painful.