The Words

by Ashley Jade

“Come on, sweet pea. Grab yourself a plate. Let’s put some meat back on those bones.” Never thought I would hear that. I’m happily loading up my plate when I hear, “She doesn’t need more meat on her bones.” Seven pairs of eyes swivel to George. Grams pops a hand on her hip. “Care to explain what you mean by that, young man?” George looks like he’s going to shit his pants. But I don’t feel the need to come to his defense like I usually do. “Well, you know.” He visibly gulps. “She’s not that skinny.” When several jaws drop, he quickly adds, “But it’s not like she’s fat or anything.” I put my plate down. Memphis points his fork at George. “Dude, you really need to quit talking.” Dismissing that excellent advice, George looks at me. “I didn’t mean you were fat. You’re not. You’re perf—” Phoenix pounds his fist against the table so hard the dishes rattle. “Shut the fuck up. Now.” Cocking his head, he zeros in on me. “Eat your breakfast.”

“Does your little boyfriend know he doesn’t stand a chance yet?” Just when I think his resolve can’t get any worse. “I don’t belong to you. And unlike my song, I’m not something you can steal.” “You’re right.” I hold my breath. Is he finally admitting it? My bubble of hope pops when his lips curve into a pompous sneer. “I can’t steal something that’s already mine.”

“Do you get this wet when he touches you or is this only for me?”

“That’s what I thought.”

Looking out over the balcony, I scan the crowd. My lips twitch when I spot George who’s still sitting alone. No doubt waiting for my girl to come back. I press my lips to the sensitive spot just under her ear. “Do you think he knows I’m inside you?”

Lennon’s head lolls to the side, and she hisses as she clenches around me, milking my dick as she orgasms. It triggers my own release, summoning a low groan from me as my balls draw tight. As if sensing I’m about to pull out, she peers over her shoulder. “Inside me.” Fuck.

George isn’t her boyfriend and deep down, she knows she was never into him. If she was, her pussy wouldn’t be leaking my cum.

And the next time he even so much as glances in Lennon’s direction with a hint of hostility, I’ll make him swallow his goddamn teeth.

“I want you in my bed when I wake up.”

The first swipe of his tongue is a slow, languid tease along the length of my slit that makes me choke. Groaning, he spreads me with two of his fingers. “Fuck. That’s good.”

“You’ll come when I decide.”

“Have you showered since the last time I fucked you?”

“There was no time—” “Good. Then your pussy is still full of my cum.”

“Do you like feeling my cum drip out of you after I fuck you?”

He slips his fingers out of my mouth and shoves them inside me. “Do you like how messy it makes your panties?”

“Fuck.” Exhaling sharply, Phoenix scrubs a hand down his face. “Look, I’ll make sure the police take this seriously and don’t bring you back there, okay?” “You don’t understand,” Quinn whispers, her voice quaky. “He is the police.” Phoenix rears back like he’s been sucker punched and the dread in my chest turns to full-blown horror. “It will be bad enough when he finds me, because he always finds me. But if you call the police, they’ll tell my father—who’s a fucking sheriff—and he’s gonna lose his shit entirely.” Curling her arms around herself, she studies her shoes. “He hates when I run away, but he hates it even more when I embarrass him. Not only will he make it brutal, he’ll…” She swallows thickly. “He’ll—” “Hurt Mom,” Phoenix interjects. “Because that’s the worst punishment.”

But to me, Phoenix has always been the epitome of perfection. Well, physically. And the fact that I literally cannot find one single thing less than flawless on his face or body is a little—okay, a lot—intimidating when I know the same can’t be said when it comes to me.

Halting her steps, Quinn spins around to face him. “Castles and ponies are basic bitch shit. And for the record? The only thing I want from my brother is for him to be a part of my life, you anal pore.”

Chandler claps his hands sardonically. “Bravo. You can add fake pregnant teen and impostor sister to your résumé.” Her hands find her hips and she swivels her head. “At least I’ll be making money off my own talents instead of being a minion who has to earn a living profiting off others.”

“It’s funny. You claim you want to protect your kids, but you never do.” The truth is a visceral punch to the gut, as the image I’ve always had of her shatters. “You don’t want to leave your precious Chad? Fine. Stay and let him beat the shit out of you. But for once in your fucking life, be a mom and do what’s right for your kid.”

“Whenever my mom would tuck me into bed at night, she’d kiss me on the forehead.” Phoenix looks away, withdrawing into himself. “No matter how shitty the day was, she always ended it with, ‘I love you, my rara avis’ and then a forehead kiss…until she left.” He exhales heavily. “I held on to those memories, though because it’s the only time I ever felt loved. But that love eroded into pain. And the longer she was gone, the more it hurt.” His eyes find mine. “I didn’t want to get attached to another woman, because the one woman who was never supposed to break my heart smashed it into a thousand fucking pieces.”

His lips curve. “My first kiss was great, actually…until I fucked it up.” Safe to say he’s piqued my curiosity. “What happened?” Those blue eyes hold me captive. “Well, she was my tutor, but we had a strong connection and ended up forming a friendship.” My stomach coils because this story sounds awfully familiar. “She helped me pass an English final so I could graduate high school. I met her in the band room to tell her the good news, but the moment I saw her sitting at the piano…it felt like someone hit me over the head with a steel pipe.” I can’t speak. Can’t breathe. Can’t move. He takes the breath I’m unable to and his fingers find my hair, drawing me closer. “I thought about all the hours she spent helping me, the reading pen she bought me…her unwavering belief in me.” His gaze drops to my mouth, and he leans in. “When I told her I passed, she ran over and hugged me, but it wasn’t enough. I wanted more.” Oh god. His lips ghost mine. “With her…I wanted more.” An array of emotions tangle in my chest as his mouth slides over mine. I was his first kiss.

After Vic cut us our first big check, Josh bought a Ferrari and whisked Skylar away to Paris on a shopping trip. Memphis bought himself a new guitar. Storm took a trip back home to see Grams. And I bought myself groceries and stocked my fridge for the very first time.

“Let me get this straight. You’ll let me fuck you six ways from Sunday, and suck my dick like it’s your new favorite pastime, but you won’t have a conversation with me? What kind of shit is that?” I jump at the sound of glass shattering behind me. Mrs. Palma grabs the broom. “Darn teacup just slipped out of my hand.”

“You know who he is?” Frowning, he gets off the bed. “A father never forgets the man who broke his daughter’s heart.”

“Don’t let your insecurities overpower that which makes your soul come alive. Otherwise, you’ll walk this earth never feeling whole…and that’s no way to live.”

He pulls my panties to the side with his free hand and shoves two fingers inside me. The invasion robs me of air, and I clamp down, my need overriding any other emotions.

“Please,” I croak out. His teeth graze my ear. “Nah. You want to come, you’re gonna do it on my fucking cock.”

“Fuck.” Those blue eyes grow dark, and his fingers grip my jaw as he pulses inside me. “I’m getting my ten days.” “Ten days,” I breathe as liquid heat fills me. “But that’s it—” A sharp bite to my throat makes me cry out, and then he’s sucking my skin, soothing the sting and leaving his mark.

I’ve always been an ass guy, and Lennon by far has the best one I’ve ever seen. Big, plump, and curvy. Fucking perfect. She yelps when I sink my teeth into it. I slap her ass in warning. My dick twitches as it ripples under my palm. “Shut up.”

“You wanted all the control tonight.” I push my sweatpants down and my cock springs out. “Now ride it until we both come.”

I spank her ass, urging her to hurry the fuck up. “Sorry. I’m just…I need a second.” A tiny shudder rolls through her. “You feel so good.” Any hope I had of making this session last all night is long gone with those words.

“Good.” My lips rise. “Now shut up and cream my dick.”

The girl I ruined saved me.

—Sheeesh. She’s thicc AF and hella cute. —Some of y’all need to stop hating. I think she’s beautiful. —Phoenix knows wassup. Curves in all the right places. —Slay girl. —Thick thighs save lives. —She can ride me any day of the week. No cap. —Yaasss. We stan a curvy queen. —It’s nice to see someone like him with a regular girl. Gives the rest of us some hope. —Dayum. That ass is valid. Phoenix understood the assignment. —He’s obviously into her and that’s all that matters. People need to quit being jealous.

“No one is perfect, Lennon. But what you think are flaws aren’t to those who love you. So, be one of those people who love you, okay?

Oh god. I’m pretty positive I told him that his dick wasn’t big enough for his attitude.

I must still be drunk because Phoenix doesn’t do brunch, plan, or date.

Bringing the hot dog to my lips, I take a bite. Phoenix stills, watching me. His eyes are obstructed by his shades, but I’d be willing to bet all the money I’m going to make from this tour that they’re clouded with lust because he’s picturing me blowing him. “You’re such a perv.” He gives me a knowing grin. “Not my fault you give great head.”

“I want to fuck you against this window.”

“It ends with you hopping on a plane tomorrow morning with no intention of ever seeing me again.” He drops his head. “I just want a few hours where I’m not the villain in it.”

The fucking irony. I have everything I’ve ever wanted…except you. Fuck the memories I’ll

Fuck you, Lennon. I stole your words, but you stole my heart.

Guess it’s time I move on, too. This is the last letter I’ll write. The last letter I won’t mail. The last night I’ll let myself think about you.

Hands curled around my hips, his lips trace the wet spot on my panties before he buries his nose between my thighs and inhales me…like he’s breathing my scent into his lungs and memory, so he’ll never forget.

“Every part of you is perfect.” The tendons in his neck flex and his Adam’s apple dips. “I know whenever you think about me, all the bad shit will be at the forefront…but promise me you’ll remember that.” My heart pangs and emotion clogs my throat. I can’t speak. Can’t breathe. All I can manage is a soft nod.

I look down to find him watching me. He sticks his tongue out—intentionally taunting me with the explicit visual of him flicking my glistening pink flesh—before sinking between my lips.

His cock nudges my entrance, and he rubs himself against my slit, coating his shaft with my slickness.

Lennon’s been asleep for the last three hours…and I’ve been watching her for the last two. The wet spot she left on my pillow is dry now and I can’t decide if knowing she was in here crying while I was trying not to destroy everything in my fucking house makes me feel better or worse.

Five minutes later, the word beautiful is etched on her skin…right where it belongs.