"Did he come back for you?"
She nods. "He did. I would've died otherwise. I guess the ambulance and fire truck showed up shortly after and took us both to the hospital. He was unharmed except for a few cuts. I was in intensive care for a few days, due to internal injuries, before I was transferred to the burn unit. I spent weeks there. Lots of surgeries, skin grafts. My dad went to jail: DUI and child endangerment. Social services stepped in and my aunt and uncle stepped up. The rest is history. I went home with them and they were my new family after that."
She's strong. She's so damn strong. I can't imagine the pain and suffering she went through. "Do you ever see your dad?"
"I see him or hear from him about once a year, but it's never planned, always out of the blue. He feels guilty, I know he does. I think it's hard for him to look at me," she points to the scars on her face and neck, and raises her eyebrows. The self-loathing and embarrassment is trying to take hold of her.
I cup her cheek in my hand and turn her head to face me, to look me in the eye. "You're fucking beautiful. Don't let anyone ever make you feel otherwise. And if they do, you tell me and I'll kick their ass."
She smiles and the embarrassment fades. "Thanks, tough guy."
I kiss her forehead before I drop my hand from her cheek. "Anytime, badass. So you and Pax grew up together then?"
Her smile grows when she talks about Pax. "We did. He was one of the only people who never made me feel like a freak. He never mentioned my scars and he always looked me in the eye when he talked to me. I changed schools when I went to live with my aunt and uncle and I never really made any friends. We lived in Manhattan. Most of the kids came from money. They could be cruel. They teased. Called me names. And as we got older, they just ignored me, which was kind of a relief. I'd much rather be ignored than made fun of. By the time I went to college, I was really good at blending into the background and not being seen. I kept to myself and took as many online classes as I could." She shrugs again, but it's almost like an apology. "It worked for me."
I smile at her because I can't dwell on her past, not when she's finally growing into the person she's supposed to be. "You work for me."
She smiles back and raises her eyebrows in question. She's flirting with me now. "Is that so?"
I nod and remove the bag of cookies from the bed between us and set it on the dresser next to the bed. She's half sitting, half lying against a couple of pillows. I pull the pillows out from under her so she's lying flat on the bed. "We're not going to need those." I help her slip her dress off. "Or that." I remove my shorts and underwear. "Or those."
"Gus, I need to go soon. I have to work today." It's just after midnight.
"I know. Just let me make you feel good, one more time before you go."
I settle in between her legs and taste her. And goddamn she tastes amazing.
She trembles once from the pressure of my tongue, and again minutes later when I fill her. Everyone's thoroughly satisfied. Again.
I don't want her to leave, but I know she needs to. I slide into my boxer-briefs as I watch her pull her dress over her head and slip on the panties that were in her purse. I know different things are turn-ons for different people, but watching her take panties out of her purse and put them on? Yeah, that's sexy. "Scout?"
"Yeah?" She answers as she fixes the waist of her lace panties in place and drops the skirt portion of her dress to cover her.
"Can you just start carrying your panties around in your purse?"
She laughs. "Why?"
"I don't think watching you take them out and put them on would ever get old for me. It's fucking hot."
She winks. "I'll remember that."
"You better. Fantasies fulfilled are the best kind of fantasies."
"You're so right. That's what tonight was all about." Her smile is full of mischief.
We're walking to the front door now. "Why didn't you tell me you had a naughty side? I like it."
"I never did until I met you. You're a bad influence." She's walking in front of me and doesn't turn around when she says it, but I can hear her smirking.
I wrap my arms around her waist and kiss her on the back of the head. "I'm the best kind of bad."
She turns when we reach the door and agrees. "The best." And then she kisses me. There's heat behind it, but it's short lived, and too quickly she's turning away and opening the door.
"You sure you're awake enough to drive home?"
When she smiles, I get two answers in one. "I don't think I've ever been more awake. Thank you for tonight." She's talking about more than the sex.
I nod. "Thank you for trusting me with all of you."
She smiles and hugs me one more time.
"Call or text me when you get home so I know you made it."
"I will. Kick ass tomorrow in the studio."
I smile. "That's the plan. Kick ass tomorrow at work."
She laughs as she walks away. "That's the plan. Good night."
"Good night."
I stand at the door and watch her get in her car and drive away before I close it. I decide I need another glass of milk and some more cookies before I go to bed. As I'm walking out of the kitchen the guys walk through the front door. They're laughing. I like seeing them all happy.