Beautiful Misery (The Beautiful Series) (20 page)

Trying not to let my frustration show, I pushed myself up onto my arms. “Just a few minutes ago you were all for it.”

She shook her head and palmed my erection. “This. I don’t think it will work. Like, fit. Inside me. You know what I mean?”

Not that I look at other guys junk or compare sizes, but I was happy with what I had. There had never been any complaints. Just hearing Annie’s true concern had my cock twitching. Fighting my laughter, I said, “It will fit. Trust me.”

Letting out a sigh, she slowly nodded in agreement. Standing, I pulled her shorts and thong off. I let them fall to the floor before taking my shorts and boxers off, dropping them next to her discarded clothes. Pulling my shirt over my head I stopped when I saw her mouth wide open, one eyebrow arched. “What?” I asked, dropping my shirt.

She snapped her mouth shut and swallowed. “I’ve just um…I’ve never seen so many muscles on one person. Not that I really check out a lot of guys but to go from nothing to”- she motioned up and down my body- “that. Shit!”

Grinning, I crawled over her until we were face to face. “And I plan to use every one of these muscles.” Not waiting for her reply I kissed her hard. Using my tongue to explore her mouth. Using my legs I pushed hers open. With one hand I rubbed over her swollen bud. She raised herself up and released my mouth just long enough to pull her shirt, which just so happened to be my jersey, over her head. Crashing my lips back to hers I quickly unsnapped her bra and with my free hand and tossed it the floor.

Running kisses
down her neck, I stopped to inhale her soft vanilla scent. Continuing down her neck I made my way to her taut, pink nipple. I sucked it into my mouth and lightly nibbled on it. She let out a soft moan and shoved her hands into my hair. Using her fingers she massaged my scalp as I used my fingers to massage her warm, wet pussy.

I pulled my hand away from her. I grabbed my throbbing cock and placed it at her opening. Slowly, I started pushing into her
slick heat. She squeezed her eyes shut and bit down on her bottom lip, hard.

“Too much?”

She shook her head. Pulling in a deep breath, she said, “No. Oh God. Don’t stop.”

“Hurt.” I meant it as a question but it was more of a statement.

“No. More uncomfortable. I’ll be okay.”

I slid to the hilt. Not moving I kissed the tip of her nose. “I’m going to move.”
I started pulling out when she was grabbing the sheets around us, her body arching off the bed.

“Oh my God! Holy fuck!” She yanked the pillow from beside her head and covered her face. Drowning out her cries.

That didn’t take long. I guess that old saying is true. No pain, no gain. I pulled the pillow from her face. Her cheeks were flushed. Her pupils dilated. Her breathing heavy. “Why did you cover your face?”

“Gabe. I didn’t want to wake him. I don’t know how well he would ta
ke to walking in here seeing his mommy impaled by your unhumanly large penis.” 

Laughing, I said, “
He’s at the opposite side of the suite. No way will he hear you. I want to see your face when you get off.”

“Next time?” She coughed out.

“Yep. This isn’t a one night thing, Annie. Obviously we don’t want anything serious, but that doesn’t mean we can’t be special friends.”

“You want me to be your fuck buddy?”

Lifting my eyebrows I searched her face. “For lack of better words, yeah, you could call it that.”

She shifted under me, my cock sliding back into her. Her breath caught. “Deal.”

Gorilla by Bruno Mars filled the room. How apt. Not letting my dick fully slide into her, I pulled out and quickly slammed into her. I repeated the process a few more times before Annie’s eyes grew dark, her breathing labored. And that’s how I found out she was mutli orgasmic. Seeing her face twist with pleasure and hearing her saying my name had me losing it. My body went jagged, jerking at its own accord.

I rolled to my side and let out a wary breath. Pulling the blanket over our naked bodies, I stared at the ceiling. “I have a question.”

Annie lifted herself, resting her head on her hand. “What?”

“What does your tattoo mean?” I ran my hand along her lower hip and back where the ink was.

“She flies with her own wings. I got it when I was sixteen. One of Derek’s friends that was in the band with him is a tattoo artist. Not that I was a stoner like the other guys, but one night we were all smoking and Kamp decided he was going to give me a tattoo. I found the quote and Kamp permanently put it on my skin. Little did I know just how much meaning those three words were going to hold.”

What does a person say to that response? She had been through so much. Something inside me wanted to protect her and keep her safe. I wanted to find her mom and shake the shit outta her. Who could ever leave their children, choosing drugs over them? I didn’t want Annie to experience any more hurt. Too bad I knew that’s exactly what I would do. I would hurt her. I should walk away. But, I couldn’t. I wouldn’t.

20

Annie

Gage: Do you have little man?

Me: No. He’s with Leigha. Why?

Gage: I have a surprise. Tell her 2 be at ur house in 15 min. I’ll pick u up

Me: Ummm k?

Me: Can u and Gabe be at my house in 15 min?

Leigha: Sure. Everything ok?

Me: Yeah. I think. Gage said he has a surprise.

Leigha: I don’t think u want ur son seeing that!

Me: Ew! No. He said he would pick us up.

Leigha: Hmm. K. be there in a few.

“Mommy, I’m home! Aunt Leigha said Gage had a surprise,” Gabe yelled, walking through the door.

Drying my hands from the dishes, I sat the towel on the counter. “Hey, baby. I missed you.”

Gabe gave me his watery smile. “I missed you too mommy. What’s my surprise?”

“I don’t know. Gage said he would be here in a few minutes to pick us up.”

“You two certainly have been spending a lot of time together since New Orleans.” Leigha winked. I stuck my tongue out.

Gabe took off into the living room to play. No interest in adult conversation. “We are just friends, Leigha.”

“Yeah, and the Pope is Catholic.”

Cocking my head at my gorgeous
, but not too smart friend, I said, “Um, Leigha, the Pope is Catholic.”

She shook her hands in the air. “Oh. Huh. Well then the two of you are just friends like the Pope is Jewish.”

I rolled my eyes. “Whatever. It’s been weeks since New Orleans. For all I know he could be screwing thirty different girls.” And, I would not admit how bad that stung saying that. We agreed. Just friends. Fuck buddies.

It was Leigha’s turn to roll her eyes. “Girl, you’re not an idiot. Every chance he gets he spends with you. You, Gabe, Gage, and Londyn look like the perfect little family.”

“Stop. I’m not getting ahead of myself. I don’t even know if I want that perfect little family. Gabe and I are our own perfect little bubble. I don’t want to bust that and him get hurt.”

Leigha pursed her lips, “Hate to burst your bubble, but, oh no wait, you already did. Do you not see how Gabe and Gage get along? It’s like the two of them were made for each other.
Same with you and Londyn. I know the two of you agreed to be”- Leigha held her hands up, air quoting- “fuck buddies”- “But, it has turned into more than that.”

Leaning against the kitchen counter, I picked at my nails. Deep down I knew she was right. I just didn’t want to admit it. I knew the day Gage introduced me to his friend, Trent that my feeling
s were changing. Gage had told Trent who I was and Trent had a huge smile cover his face when he said, “Ah, so you’re the hottie he won’t stop talking about.” Hearing that Gage talked about me had my heart skipping a beat and my head spinning. My heart was telling me to jump, go all in. My head was telling me to tread lightly, nothing was this good.

“Knock, knock,” Gage said as he walked in.

“You know, normally a person stays on the other side of the door and actually does the verb of knock. They don’t just say the word as they walk into the person’s house, uninvited.”

Feigning hurt, Gage said, “I was invited. I told you I would be here in fifteen minutes. You said okay. I took that as my invitation.”

Gabe took off running towards Gage. “Gage! I missed you!”

Gage scooped my son into his arms, “I missed you, too, buddy.”

Jenna poked her head around my front door. I smiled and waved. “Come in.”

She walked in carrying Evie. Trent was behind her carrying a sleeping Londyn. He was followed by a guy carrying Knox
and Nash. The little boys were struggling to get down. Jenna looked at Gage and Gabe who were already on the floor racing cars across the carpet. Her eyes got glossy. She sat Evie down and said, “Be nice to the boys, and don’t beat them too bad.” Evie took off in the direction of Gage and my little boy.

Turning her attention to me, she said, “Annie, this is my husband, Larkin.
Sorry you haven’t got to meet sooner. We got lucky and his bye week is the same as the boys first birthday.”

Larkin looked me over. His eyes were intense. I felt like I was being scrutinized. After a moment a smile formed on his very handsome face and he held his hand out. “Annie, it’s nice to meet you. I have heard a lot about you from these three.” He motioned to Jenna, Gage, and Trent.

“Thanks. Nice to meet you too.”

Gage looked up from his spot on the floor. “Are y’all ready?”

“Where are we going?” Gabe asked, excitedly.

Shaking his head, Gage said, “It’s a surprise. If everyone is ready we can go. Annie and
Gabe can ride with Londyn and me. Leigha, I have my Mercedes, so you can squeeze in with the kids or you can ride with Trent.”

Looking at my best friend, I found her mouth open. She had been unusually quiet since Jenna had arrived. Her eyes were fixated on Trent. I couldn’t really blame her. He was nice to look at. “Ugh, Leigha? Who you riding with?”

Leigha blinked a few times, her cheeks turning red. “Um. I…I don’t care,” she stuttered.

Trent turned his head and let his eyes soak in my best friend. “I’ve got her, G. She’s with me.”

Leigha’s cheeks reddened even more. “Oh. Well, um, ok thanks.”

Pulling my brows together I stared at her. She slightly shook her head and took a few steps away from Trent. “Let’s go. I want to see what the hell is going on.” I grabbed my purse off the small table by the front door and walked out.

After getting all the tiny humans into their car seats, Gage and I buckled up. “Will you give me an idea as to where we are going?”

Gage raised an eyebrow and pulled his bottom lip into his mouth. “Nope.”

“How far away is it?”

“Ten minutes.”

“What can we do there?”

Gage glanced at me and a smirked covered his face. “Anything you want.”

“You’re really not going to tell me anything?”

Slowly he shook his head. “Nope.”

“You’re just mean.”

“Not what you were saying last night. I do believe last night you were calling me God and telling me just how good I was.”

My eyes were bulging out of my head. I snapped my head to the backseat to make sure Gabe hadn’t heard what Gage just said. “He’s not paying attention to us. He’s watching Despicable Me. Chill.”

“I don’t care. Don’t say that in front of him. I don’t want him getting the wrong idea.” I fiddled with my seat belt.

Gage shook his head and sighed. He didn’t say anything. After a few minutes he turned the radio up.
Hail to the King by Avenged Sevenfold was playing. Drumming his fingers on the steering wheel as he drove Gage sang along. Sitting at a stop light he turned to me and smiled. Synyster Gates was in the middle of a guitar riff when Gage joked, “Hail to the king, baby.”

Pointing to the light, I said
, “Shut up and drive, ball boy.”

When the song ended Gage was pulling into a long
brick driveway, guarded by a gate. Rolling his window down he typed in a passcode and the gate slowly rolled open. Lining the driveway was mature pine trees and a few weeping willows here and there. Gage grabbed my hand and kissed my knuckles. “For future reference the passcode is one-three-seven-eight.”

I flashed my eyes to the backseat. Gabe was wrapped up in his movie. I don’t know what Gage is getting at today. The stuff he’s saying and doing is a real mind fuck. Studying Gage, I asked, “Where are we?”

He kept his gaze fixed on something in front us, he said, “Home.”

“Huh?” I asked in confusion. I turned my head to look out the windshield. Ahead of us was a huge plantation style house. The trees lining the driveway ended and short, well-trimmed hedges lined the drive up to the oversized wrought iron steps leading to the wraparound porch. The house was a classic white with black shutters and deep burgundy door. There was a balcony above the welcoming front porch. The place looked like something straight out of Steel Magnolias.

Gage pulled to a stop just in front of the beautiful home and shut his car off. “Home. I figured it was time I get a house down here. I have my apartment in New Orleans but I want Londyn to grow up here.” Gage shrugged. “My mom and I walked through it two weeks ago and I knew it was the right place for Londyn and me.”

“Wow. Gage, it is, wow. Beautiful. Most beautiful thing I have ever seen,” I said, still taking in just how beautiful it was.

“I’ve seen something more beautiful.”

I glanced at Gage. He was watching me. Dammit. He was doing it again. My heart was skipping all over. “Um…can I see the inside?”

One side of his mouth lifted. “Of course. I didn’t bring you out here just to see the trees and front door. Let’s go.” Gage grabbed his keys and got out. He unfastened Londyn and carried her up the steps. “Daddy is going to have to put up a baby gate on these stairs, huh Londyn Lou?”

Londyn giggled. The rest of us following Gage and Londyn. When he opened the front door I was expecting butlers and maids to be waiting. Instead, there was a pretty, older lady in a paint stained shirt and jean shorts.

“Meme!” Londyn squealed and held her hands out.

“I didn’t know you were coming by today. Your brother and
I wanted to get all the painting finished before you brought Londyn. She shouldn’t be around the fumes, honey.” The older lady wiped her hands on her shirt before taking Londyn and kissing her cheeks.

“Mom,
its fine. Jenna and Larkin are leaving Sunday after the boys’ party. I wanted them to see my place before they left.”

Jenna hugged the lady that I
now knew was Gage’s mom. Gabe was holding Evie’s hand. He was craning his neck around to take everything in. We were standing in the large, open foyer. “Mommy, this place is fuckin’ huge!”

“Shh! Gabriel, we don’t say that word,” I chastised.

Gabe looked at me innocently and said, “Fine. This place is freakin’ huge.”

Gage heard him that time and looked down at Gabe. I could see he was biting the inside of his cheek to stop himself from laughing. Too bad no one else followed his example. Everyone, including Gage’s mom was cracking up.

Was there was a gun from the civil war around here anywhere? Just shoot me now. My son and his mouth would be the death of me.

Gage wrapped one arm around my waist. “Mom this is
Annie.
Annie this is my mom, Tamra Tucker.”

The way he said my name had my toes tingling and the hairs on the back of my neck standing up. I had the feeling she knew a lot more about me than I knew about her.

Tamra held her hand out, smiling sweetly. “So nice to meet you, Annie”

Taking her hand, I replied, “Nice to meet you too, Mrs. Tucker.”

She dropped my hand and shook both hers in the air. “Oh, please call me Tamra. Mrs. Tucker is my mother in law. She is old and senile. I am much too young to be anything that proper.”

Gage looked at his mom for a moment before asking, “How did you get here? Your car isn’t out front.”

“Dylan. He ran into town to pick up a few more drop cloths and paint brushes. He should be back soon. Why don’t you show everyone around while I entertain the kids?”

It was like Evie took that moment to notice Gage’s mom standing a few feet away from her. She let go of Gabe’s hand and ran to Tamra. “Aunt Ra Ra! Dis my fweind, Gabe.” Evie smiled brightly at my little boy.

Tamra shifted Londyn to her hip and looked at my handsome little guy. Gabe actually looked a little shy. Hmm. I didn’t know my son, the loud mouth, dirty talking little boy had a shy bone in his body. Holding her hand out, Tamra said, “Hello, Gabe. It is so nice to meet you. Evie talks about you all the time.” Tamra looked to Jenna and Larkin and winked.

Little Evie had her first crush. And, it was my little man. How sweet.

Shaking Tamra’s hand, Gabe said, “Yeah, she likes me.” He sighed and lifted one shoulder. “All the ladies do.”

Tamra giggled. “I can see why. Would you like to help me unpack t
oys in the playroom while Gage shows your mommy his new house?”

Gabe smiled. “Yes! Mommy, I’m going with Tamra to play.”

She took all the kids and started down the hall. I have no idea how she did it. Gabe and Evie were holding hands again and she was carrying Londyn, Nash, and Knox. Brave woman.

Gage grabbed my hand and walked us into the sunken living room. “Obviously we all know what room this is. What I really want to show y’all is upstairs.
But, to be the nice host, I’ll tell you everything that’s down here on our way upstairs. Everything down here is covered in boxes anyway.” Leading us up the ‘Gone with the Wind’ staircase, Gage said, “There is the obvious living room, kitchen, dining room, family room, office, two half bathrooms, and a theater room. There is also a sunroom off the kitchen that leads to the back deck and the pool. I also have a pool house and a bungalow style guest house out back.”

He
walked to the double French doors at the end of the hall. Shoving them opened I could see into what I assumed was his master bedroom. There was a large four post bed in dark wood in the center of the room. Beside each side of the bed was a nightstand in matching wood. There was an armoire in the corner with a large dresser to the left. In the opposite corner was a black leather couch and chair facing the flat screen television hanging on the wall. Glancing around I noticed a large picture hanging above the couch. It was in black and white. It was the kids and I on the beach. I had Londyn and Gabe in my arms, my head was back and I was laughing, both kids smiling. We looked happy.