22. Cherry Blossom

CHAPTER 22

CHERRY BLOSSOM

? LANA DEL RAY

"Your tongue is magical," I slur as if I'm six shots in at one of Dani's parties. I've totally lost track of how many times I've orgasmed in this all night sex marathon we've been having, but I definitely am going to need another nap soon. He chuckles against me as he kisses up and down my torso. I want him between my legs again, but I'm pretty sure if he even blew on my clit right now, I'd come again.

"Don't ever shave your beard."

"Longer hair, keep the beard, anything other requests, my cherry blossom?"

I finally have the strength to crack my eyes and see his beautiful face. The scruff on his chin glistens, and I'm not sure why that doesn't embarrass me. Instead, I'm extremely turned on at the sight.

"Why do you call me that?" My voice is sleepy, like I'm in a dream, which I very well could be with how amazing I feel. "Cherry blossom?"

His hand comes up, and he twirls some of my hair between his fingers. For a second, I wonder if those were the fingers that damn near made me black out. "Your hair is the right color, and your body wash is cherry blossoms. I smelled it when you walked away at the cafe that day and I haven't been able to get that scent out of my mind since."

"What if I change the color?"

"You'll always be my Cherry Blossom, no matter what you do to your hair."

"Is it crazy that we haven't even known each other for 72 hours yet?"

"I think it's more crazy that I went thirty-three years without you."

"Are you always this smooth-talking when you're in bed?"

"Absolutely not." He slides in behind me, wrapping me in his arms as we drift off to sleep again until the next round. It's been like this since we got home—sex, talk, nap, and the cycle repeats. "There's just something about you. I think you're my muse, Alexis."

I wake up sometime later, still tired, but with a dull ache between my legs. There's an arm around my waist and a hard chest at my back. Luckily, the memories of everything Jamie did to me last night come flooding back when I recognize the tattoo below his thumb. Giddy butterflies are dancing like it's a nineties rave in my stomach, and I've never smiled this much in my life. I check the clock, carefully move his arm, and try to slip away slowly, but he grumbles something and pulls me closer. It takes three more tries before I manage to escape. I duck into the bathroom, and a few minutes later, I slip out the front door in a pair of sweatpants and his shirt. I figured it was the easiest way to keep him from sneaking out before I could get back.

I drive a few blocks, knowing I'm early enough that I should be able to find a spot and only have to wait fifteen minutes or so in line. I love it when I'm right. I find a spot that's about as close as you can legally get, and, thanks to it being a drizzly Saturday morning, I'm through the line and headed back to the car in almost no time.

I sneak back in the front door and tiptoe into the bedroom, listening to him softly breathing. I'm inches from his face, watching him sleep, when he sighs.

"You smell delicious," he mumbles before one of his eyes opens just enough for me to make out the sparkling grey, "but I'm betting you also look delicious in my clothes."

"So you noticed I snuck out? Shit, I was trying not to wake you. I brought breakfast!" I place the two coffees and paper bag of food on the nightstand, and as I go to stand, he grabs me around the waist and pulls me into the bed. He's showering my neck with kisses, and I can't stop giggling. I think this is my new favorite way to wake up.

Second favorite. When he woke me up with his head between my legs after I gave him permission to, that was my new favorite way to wake up.

He rolls me onto my side and kisses all over my shoulders. "God, you have a beautiful laugh. It's like that perfect first ray of light that manages to break through a cloudy morning."

"I think I sound like a hyena."

"Well, I guess you're one sexy hyena, and I'm happily tone deaf."

I sit up, straddling his hard abs, and stare at him. I run my finger over his lips, and he kisses it. "You have the prettiest lips for a guy. Breakfast is getting cold."

He pulls me down and attaches to my neck again. My hips grind against him with a mind of their own as he sucks on my pulse point lazily. His hands slide under my shirt as he lifts it over my head. He tosses it across the room before his mouth travels up my jaw and all over my face until we're both laughing. "Wait, did you say breakfast? I was planning on having more of you."

"You are bonkers. I ran out and got Eggslut," I say, swatting his hand away from my boobs. "I figured we should probably eat before we start working again."

"Ehwhat?" His brow raises as he looks up at me with sleepy eyes.

"Eggslut, oh my god, how do you not know them?" I climb off him and sit cross-legged while I pull out the food. "They're super popular. I got bacon, egg, and cheese sandwiches with chipotle ketchup, truffle hash browns, orange juice. Oh, and a thing called the Slut that is to die for. It's eggs and some kind of potato thing in a little jar."

"Jesus, you're perfect." He leans over and kisses me twice, deepening the kiss slowly while his hand squeezes my thigh.

Leaning on his elbow, he holds the food to my lips and feeds me. After a piece of bacon, I stop his hand and turn it over, tracing the tattoo on this thumb. "What is that? It looks so damn familiar."

"Lord of the Rings. I was obsessed with the books as a kid, and the movies too. I was absolutely sure I wanted to grow up to be a Ranger of Ithilien."

I expect him to be looking at his tattoo, but he's staring into my eyes.

"You know, when you stare at me like that, I'm pretty convinced you're like that serial killer from Silence of the Lambs. Trying to get me to the right size before you slit my throat and wear my skin like a dress." He starts laughing uncontrollably until I shove a hash brown in his mouth. "Oh, or maybe you want to eat me!" I scream and cover my face when I realize what I said, and he smacks his lips.

"Cherry Blossom, you have the mind of a true creative. A dash of paranoia and a heavy dollop of very dark humor. You caught me though, because I definitely plan to eat you right after breakfast."

"After last night, you still want more?"

"Oh Angel, I do. As a matter of fact, I think this morning I'd like to have dessert before I finish breakfast." He winks and throws the covers off as I try to grab for the food. He hooks his fingers into my sweatpants and starts yanking them down to my ankles as I go between laughter and trying to yell his name sternly.

His strong hands pulling my thighs apart and the cool air slips between my legs as he moves my panties to the side. "Shouldn't have even bothered with these things, Angel." There's pressure, the snap of material, and I see my panties tossed across the room from the end of the bed.

"You owe me new—OHMYGOD!" His tongue and fingers dive deep inside of me without warning, and my back is arching high off the bed. I slap a hand over my mouth when I realized how loud that came out. I'm right back where I was last night. Floating in a galaxy of bliss. He reaches up and pulls my hands away from my face.

"I wanna hear you call me god while I worship you." He stops, his hot breath sending sparks up my spine. He raises his head from between my legs again, adding, "Besides, I think I like your hands in my hair way more than over that pretty mouth of yours."

His mouth destroys me not once but three times before his kisses and soft touches pull me back together again. He calls me angel, beautiful, and sweetheart, and for the first time in my life I'm not immediately turned off by the words because they sound real. I say, scream, and moan his name so much that I'm sure the entire neighborhood knows it by now.

When he's had his fill of me, he curls back into the mattress and pulls my naked body to his bare chest. We share more gentle kisses and sweet words as we lay there. His arms are warm and safe. I don't worry about work, my mother, or what anyone thinks of me. Not a single intrusive thought can penetrate the barrier he builds around me as he feeds me breakfast and whispers poetry in my ear.

Until the knock on the door.

"Nooo, but I'm so comfy!"

"I take it you're not expecting company?" I shake my head, and he moves me over before he slips out of the bed. "If it's okay with you, I'd like to answer. I figure I'm about due for another round with your mother."

"That's a terrible idea, and she doesn't knock that lightly. It's probably a neighbor here to complain about the noise. "

"Even better reason for me to answer instead of you. Especially since you're still naked." I giggle, realizing he's right as he pulls his pants on and heads out of the room. I jump up and start gathering some clothes, listening in case I'm needed. I've got Jamie's shirt half on and freeze when the slight southern drawl hits my ears.

Oh, no. Oh no no no.

"Well, by the sounds of it, that's a lovely service you're holding for the lord in there. Was it James? I believe that's what she said—or screamed."

"And you are?"

"Oh, she's expecting me." He speaks loud enough to make sure I can hear him from where I hide in the bedroom. "Her lovely mother asked me to come check in on her. Name's Ronnie."

I step out as he's offer Jamie his hand, glad to see James doesn't take it.

"There she is. You should think about joining the choir, Alexis. You've got a beautiful singing voice."

"It's not what you think." I bolt into the room, standing between the door and James.

"Darlin, I am sixty-six years old, and I'm not dumb. Your mother said you might have had some unsavory company loitering nearby." My stepfather looks me up and down, pausing at my bare legs and again at my chest. I quickly cross my arms, instantly regretting not putting pants and a bra on before coming out here. "Guess I can tell her all I found was you being brought to your knees and worshiping in God's name." He nods to James. "And also his."

"What? No, I?—"

"I told her she was riding you too hard; all I see here is this upstanding young man whose shirt you appear to be wearing. I take it today is laundry day?" He reaches out with a grin, touching the sleeve. I cringe, feeling his finger slide along my arm. I'm certain James can't see it from where he is, so I stay still and say nothing. I don't need James getting in trouble, and Ronnie is clearly trying to bait him. "I do wish your mother sang as pretty as you do."

"Lex?" James's hand is on my lower back, and I lean against it.

"James, this, uhm, this is my stepfather, Ronnie."

"James, the coworker? Ah, yes. You met my lovely wife the other night. She told me about you, but I can't blame a man for working so hard on the weekend. Especially when the work dress code is so…distracting."

"Ronnie, I don't?—"

"You joining us this afternoon, darlin'?" I cringe at the name. From James, it's soft and sweet. Ronnie's voice is like old motor oil. He makes it clear he wasn't planning on listening to anything I had to say. "The board sure is looking forward to seeing what you've made for us. They told me to ask real nice since they know I can make you come."

"The fuck did you say?" James tries to move past me, but I block him, shaking my head.

"Oh, he's a bit jumpy, isn't he?" Ronnie winks at James before leering at me. "You should join us later today. There's someone very special I'd like you to meet."

James tenses even more, and I know he's ready to snap.

"I told Mother I would be there like we planned. I've already emailed her all the designs, and I'm sure she's shown you." I stare at the floor, avoiding looking at him. "I will be there when the meeting starts, but why are you here?"

"Well, I'm here to protect my precious little girl, of course. And introduce myself like a proper gentleman to the man who's brought you to your knees and put a bit more than prayer in that pretty little mouth of yours."

"What the fuck is your problem?" James tries to step toward him again, but I stand firm and thread my hand into his, squeezing hard.

"Calm down, son. Complimenting your technique is all. Perhaps next Sunday you could give us a live demonstration? Get her to sing like that in front of the whole church?"

"Daddy," I wince as I spit the word out. I hate calling him that, but I know it will make him happy, and he'll leave us alone if I do. He'll think I'm giving in to him, which is exactly what he wants. In a way, I am. "Please, go home. I'll be at the meeting later."

His grin is as wicked as he is, and his eyes have gone dark like his soul. "That's my good girl; all sugar and no spice. You're going to love the surprise I have for you tonight. I promise."

"Goodbye."

I close the door and breathe a sigh of relief as I turn the deadbolt, letting my head fall to the cool wood.

"Shit. I thought your mom was bad." James is enveloping me in his arms and pressing his lips to my temple. "Angel, are you okay?"

"Yeah," the response is weak, and I'm not really listening to what he's asking. I'm too busy shaking. I think I'm going to be sick.

"Alexis, I don't only mean right now, at this minute." He lets me go and turns me around to caress my face, tipping my head back so I meet his gaze. "Angel, has he touched you? Ever."

"No!" I answer too quickly, dropping my head back down. "Well, not…it's complicated. He makes passes all the time when my Mother isn't around—sometimes when she is—he holds my hand too long, stares, things he can easily pass off as innocent gestures. He hasn't tried anything beyond that in a while. He's never talked to me like that when someone else was around, though. No one but Mother." I'm biting back tears at this point. I hate lying. I should be used to this one by now.

"Your mother knows he talks to you like that?"

"She tells me it's my fault," I shrug, trying to shake it off. "I'm a temptress and a whore sent here to ruin a worthy man of god. I mean, I'm answering the door in your shirt and nothing else. Who does that?"

"Hey, no. I answered the door, not you. It doesn't matter what the fuck you're wearing, he shouldn't talk to you like that. Ever. How long has?—"

"Only since I turned eighteen, thankfully. I mean, I don't know how much better it is that he waited, considering it was the day of my eighteenth birthday when he grabbed my ass, kissed me, and offered to turn me into a real woman in front of Jesus himself."

"Woah, what?" I can see the anger building again, but I know what comes next. Maybe it's for the best that he's met them both now, so we can end this before we get any further. "He's not going to touch you again, Angel. I won't let him. I'll do everything I can to keep you safe. From both of them." He kisses my forehead, lips lingering long enough to make sure I know he's telling the truth. "You're sure you're okay?"

"I don't understand. You're… you're still not leaving?"

"Lexi." His face drops and I can see the pity in his eyes. "Shit, those two should be poster children for why religion is bullshit." He brushed the side of my face with his finger. "Sorry, I don't mean?—"

"I'm not religious. Completely faking it to—hell—I don't even know. Keep in contact with my mother, who has spent the last fifteen years being a terrible human being, I guess. She wasn't always like this. She's…she's all I've got now that my sister is so far away."

He tilts my chin and his lips ghost mine. "You've got me now."

As we kiss, I push him backward until he hits the wall. "James, I want to forget again. I want it to be you and me and to forget about what he said, or that he was ever even here."

I kiss a trail from the center of his chest down to the top of his pants, which I pull down. He's not hard, but who would be after all of that?

"Lexi, you don't have to do t-this," he stutters a little as I kiss along his thighs before I tease his cock.

"I want to. I want this." I need him to understand. I need him to let me take back some control in my own way. He takes hold of my face and rubs his thumb over my bottom lip.

"Okay," he whispers, eyes locked onto mine. "I am so glad I don't have the Daddy kink."

His face contorts while I continue, leaving soft kisses along the shaft and watch him harden in my hands. I like the way he tastes as my tongue slides along the thick vein, making him groan loudly. As the first drops of pre-cum form, I lick at them like a lollipop, eyes focused on his.

He lets out a deep moan and I grip the base in response, squeezing it as I slide him down my throat as far as I can. I have to take it slowly. I've never been with anyone like James before, not even close. It's not like his cock needs to come with a warning label, but it's certainly not average, either.

He pulls the pins out of my hair, fluffing it softly before he wraps my hair around his fingers. He doesn't push, doesn't force me down, allowing me to take the lead.

"Fuck, Angel. Just like that. It's like you were meant for me, my beautiful muse." There's a high-pitched whine from him when he hits the back of my throat. I gag, choking a little, but I don't stop. "Atta girl, looking so fucking pretty on my cock."

I glance up, watching his head rock back and hit the wall as he rambles nonsense.

There's another knock at the door, and I try to pull back, but he stops me. "Keep going, Sweetheart. Let him hear what you do to me. What he can't ever fucking have."

I hum the most sinful moan I possibly can, and the strangled noise he makes falls somewhere between a keen and a whimper. I cup his balls gently, rolling them with my fingers. His shattered breaths are the signal that he's losing control, giving it over to me. It's my turn to take him apart and put him back together. It's my turn to claim him like he claimed me.

"Shit. I can't…you feel so good. Angel, I'm gonna…"

His grip on my hair tightens as he holds me there, fucking my mouth deep and hard. Saliva drips down my chin, and I'm struggling a little at the size of him, but I don't give up.

"I wish you could see how pretty you look on your knees. How beautifully and thoroughly ruined you look with that mouth on my cock. My perfect angel," he pants out, wiping the tears from my cheek. "Fuuuuuck," his body finally stills, and he fills my throat.

I swallow every drop, and when I release him with a soft pop, he falls to his knees in front of me and cups my face. His kiss is deeper and stronger than any before. Like I've sucked his soul out of his body, and he wants to see if he can get it back. It surprises me at first, but his hands are grabbing my ass and pulling me toward him before I can think too much about it. I wrap my legs around his waist and he stands, holding me, tongue still down my throat.

The knock comes again, followed by a different voice. "Are you assholes finished in there yet? It's been like three hours!"

"Dani?"

"No, it's the porn police. Put his pants back on and open the stupid door already."