Hush 2: Slow Burn (18 page)

chapter Thirty-one

Surprise

Shannon

My body is all types of sore this morning. Places I have never felt before are sore. My thighs ache in a way that makes me proud. After catching our breath, Luca was ready to go again and I was so not denying him.

When he rolled onto his back and reached for me, I had the bright idea to ride him reverse cowgirl style like I had seen on the movies I watched. Luca went absolutely crazy as I rode his cock like a pro. I rocked and swirled my hips in ways that would make all the ladies proud.

All the women are always trading tips and stories and I have always sat and listened, blushing at some of the things they offered up. Last night I made sure to have a story of my own that would be worth telling. I wanted to fist pump when Luca started talking nonsense and his toes curled.

He was giving as good as he was getting. Thrusting up into me, while pulling my hips down onto him each time I used my thighs to push up off of him. I loved watching his powerful thighs counter my ride. I was so turned on at one point that each time his leg muscles flexed my pussy clenched around him.

When he sat up and cupped both my breasts from behind, latching on to my neck with his lips I gushed all over him. My body went limp against his chest, but it didn’t stop Luca.

Moving one of his hands between my legs his cupped my sex around his fat dick and started rubbing circles around my clit. It didn’t take long for multiple orgasms to rock my body while Luca whispered dirty things in my ear.

“You feel so good, Baby, I don’t ever want to stop,”
just thinking of those words whispered roughly against the shell of my ear sends a shiver through me.

“I know that smile,” Pam teases as she walks in the kitchen with a sleepy looking Tiffany and Tracey following. She has a sleeping Jr. in her arms as well. “Girl, he put it on you something fierce. You were just in space.”

My face flames, but I can’t wipe the goofy grin off. Pam should be the last person I want to gush to, but I need to get this out. I have been sitting in the kitchen for a half hour waiting for someone to talk to. Luca had to leave out early this morning. I felt bad for him after he spent most the night making love to me. Well, fucking me then making love to me.

I shake my clustered thoughts from my head and smile at Pam. “Is he always so….so…I don’t know how to say it,” I shake my head feeling silly.

“Girl, my husband is the best I ever had, make no mistakes about that. But, yeah Luca puts it down. I bet it was even better since he is in love with you,” Pam beams at me.

I bite my lip and think for a second. “But he was in love with you,” I say actually feeling uncomfortable now.

“Not the same thing in the least Shannon,” Pam comes to stand by me. She looks me in the eyes. “I can be honest with myself now. I cared for Luca and I think he cared for me, but we were never in love. I loved him, yes. But not like I love Nate and Luca didn’t love me the way he loves you.

“Girl, he was a mess the whole time you were out in the hospital, he never left your side. Not unless he had to. I don’t think I have ever seen him like that and I have known him for a very long time.

“Stop selling your love short. You two may not have started the way you would have liked to, but the end results are shaping up to be just right,” Pam snorts. “Lord knows Nate and I didn’t start out like a so-called normal couple. Look at us now. These little rugrats mean the world to us both and I love that man with my soul. Every day he makes sure to show me he loves me the same. I think if you give it time Luca will show you the same.”

“Thanks, Pam, you have been so great to me. You have never made this whole situation awkward for me. I appreciate that,” I say with a genuine smile.

“Good morning ladies,” Olivia walks into the kitchen looking stunning as usual. She reminds me of a princess. She is always so timeless and regal in her appearance, but when you get to know her she is so down to earth.

“Hey Olivia,” I chime.

“You look refreshed,” Olivia says with a knowing smile on her full lips. Pam bursts out laughing as she pours cereal into bowls for the girls.

“Good morning,” Camille sings as she walks into the room.

“And what are you all happy and smiling about,” Pam teases.

“Um, let me see. I get to work from home, or, at least, the place I am calling home for the moment. My kids are surrounded by so many other children they haven’t had time to stop and ask me about their no good, piece a crap father. Oh, and my room is smack in the middle of that hot ass Wyatt and Nellie as well as our little freak here, Shannon and her lover Luca.

“I had so much audio and mental visual to work with for my own fantasies, it made my time with my B.O.B. priceless,” Camille sighs.

“You are just nasty,” Paige giggles as she and Bobby enter the kitchen, each holding one of their little girls.

“Whatever,” Camille rolls her eyes. “Where are the boys?”

“James and Minnie grabbed them as we were walking out the door,” Paige laughs.

“Speaking of which, I need to head back to the house, Baby,” Bobby says to Paige but hands Sydney over to Camille before kissing the top of Paige’s head. “You guys need to be ready at six o’clock.”

“Who needs to be ready at six o’clock and for what,” Pam asks as she munches on some bacon that I had started for everyone while daydreaming.

A huge grin spreads across Bobby’s face. “You are all to be ready. The private concert starts at six o’clock,” Bobby says smugly.

“What private concert,” Rita asks as she stumbles into the kitchen.

“You mean no one said anything to any of you,” Bobby says with a sparkle in his eyes.

“Oh spit it out Bobby, my stomach can’t handle the suspense,” Marie croaks at the table with her face down.

The space is starting to get crowded with all my family and friends. I look around and once again I feel my face splitting with a smile.
This is what real love feels like.
Bobby drives that thought home with his next words.

“Turns out that the band you guys were so upset about last night are related to the Blacks. Wyatt put a call in and asked his cousins for a favor. True Life is coming here tonight to have dinner with you all and give you a private concert,” Bobby says proudly.

I squeal my freaking head off causing Marie to groan and take off running. I believe morning sickness has gotten the better of her. Sydney and Nate Jr. start to cry and everyone else is either laughing or squealing with me.

“Why didn’t you tell me about this last night,” Paige chirps.

“Because I have seen how you drool over that band. I will not have my wife thinking of anyone but me in my bed,” Bobby chuckles.

“Oh please, Bobby. Rage and Crush are very nice to look at, but you I can touch,” Paige purrs and runs a hand up Bobby’s chest.

“Don’t you forget it,” Bobby winks and pecks Paige on the lips. “See you later ladies have a good day.”

“See you, Bobby,” we all call in unison.

“Who do I have to sleep with to get a cup of coffee,” Cassidy sings as she walks into the kitchen with Nora in her arms.

We all burst out laughing as Pam pours Cassidy a cup before starting a fresh brew. I have a feeling it is going to get a whole lot more crowded in here soon. Thank God this place is huge.

chapter Thirty-two

Lost

Julissa
aka Vanessa

Dubai

I started out in Greece in a covenant of all places. When Nate handed me over to his cousin, I was a bit skeptical about whether or not I would be safe. Don’t get me wrong Kelly was very nice and, in the end, she seemed to know what she was doing, it’s just I knew what I was up against.

Kelly took me to Greece where her aunt, one of the nuns in the covenant took me in. At first, I felt like it was punishment for my sins. Most of what I told Nate and the others was the truth.

Patrick did everything I told them he did. What I left out is that he had told me to specifically get pregnant by Bobby Mairettie. He lost it when he found out that I had disobeyed and gotten pregnant by Nathaniel Briggs instead.

That was why he almost killed me. He was frantic. Called me stupid, said I couldn’t do anything right and now I would get us both killed. I hadn’t known then that the man I thought of as a friend, Dale, Patrick’s accountant, had set me up all along.

Patrick had put him up to getting me into Club Desire. Dale later told me he didn’t know why Patrick wanted me to join the club so badly. Dale confessed to me that he thought it would be a final breaking point for me to leave or find someone to make happy me.

In the end, it was all a part of some scheme Patrick and his partner were cooking up. I never knew who Patrick’s partner was. At least, I don’t think I do and that is what scares me the most, what if playing Nate against Patrick and his boogie man partner comes back for me?

I needed out and I know Nate could do that for me. When his father turned up at the Covenant, I was sure he was there to let me know the jig was up. I’d done everything right to conceal the little details I left out, but I just knew someone had figured it out, or maybe Patrick himself ratted me out.

Only, Thomas Briggs had been nothing but nice as he transported me here to Dubai. He has continued to be so on each of his visits to come and check on me. I know he must think I am crazy. I get the jitters every time he shows up.

I don’t know. Something in my head keeps telling me that the phantom lurking out there will follow Thomas right to me. So even though I am free, I feel like a caged bird, afraid of my own shadow.

I don’t want to live like this anymore. I don’t want to be alone in a strange place where I know no one and have nothing but possessions that mean nothing to me. I want what I saw my last night in New York.

The love that Nate has for Pam and what I saw with Bobby and Paige is awe inspiring. I am sure they have two beautiful growing families now. I look out beyond my balcony and sigh. I burned all my bridges to happiness.

Love, friendship, and true freedom want nothing to do with me.

chapter Thirty-three

True Life

Shannon

“I am seriously your biggest fan,” I gush as I look between the True life band members.

“You do know that is like the third time you have told them that,” Luca grumbles.

He is so jealous. It’s cute. He has been sulking since I jumped into Crush’s arms and squeezed the life out of him before doing the same to Rage and Kitty. Mitch went to hug me as well, but Luca growled at him. I mean true to life growled at him.

I stood with my mouth open. Thank goodness Mitch and Sleep took it good-naturedly. Sleep slapped him on the back with a hearty laugh and said. “I don’t blame you. She is gorgeous, dude.”

Luca hasn’t left my side since. Like I said before, I know Luca will fight for me and can be possessive. But come on, Rage is married to Kitty and Chris has a cute girlfriend along with him. Or at least, I think she is his girlfriend, he has been by her side since they arrived and when she isn’t near him his eyes follow her every move.

Everyone at our table bursts into laughter. Luca flips them all the bird causing more laughter. Our table is pretty packed so the laughter sounds like a roar inside the training gym. The gym is behind the house and is more like a warehouse than a gym you would find at someone’s home.

Rita once told me they train here. That makes sense with the state of the art design and equipment I see around. I have to get Rita and Valentina to teach me some stuff while we are all staying here.

Nolan, as Rage told me to call him pushes his hair out of his eyes before leaning to kiss Kitty’s shoulder. He whispers something in her ear and she beams back at him. They are even cuter in person. I was actually there when he proposed to Kitty. It was one of the rear times when Valentina let me tag along with her for one of her trips.

Valentina had gone off to do God knows what and I was bored. The text came in announcing a flash concert for a surprise proposal. I was total goo on the spot. I thought it was the sweetest thing ever. I jumped in a cab to sneak off to be there. It was so worth it.

I can’t believe that was seven years ago. God, I was like fifteen. I smile at the memory. Valentina and I had a lot of fun on that trip. I always wondered how she found me at that concert. Now I know my big sister is a badass assassin. She is capable of a lot more than finding a silly fifteen-year-old.

She wasn’t even that mad at me. She was only twenty at the time and loved the band as much as I did. I look at Valentina with a goofy smile as the memory makes me feel all warm inside. The look on her face tells me she remembers the same thing.

“I think we better get on stage before your husband tries to hurt one of my band members,” Kitty laughs. “I have to protect my investment.”

“Oh, he’s not my husband,” I giggle.

“I will be soon enough,” Luca says.

I look at him and he is scowling back at me. I laugh and shake my head at him leaning to press a kiss to his lips. He cups my head and deepens the kiss. I am breathless when he releases me.

“You two make a cute couple,” Kitty says as she stands and gives me a conspiratory wink.

I smile back and start to bounce my leg under the table. My friends are all trouble makers. I can’t believe Kitty got Rage to agree with what they all have planned. I think I am more shocked that Minnie and Cassidy wanted in on it. Luca is going to kill me.

“You smell great,” Luca breathes in my ear after he nuzzles my neck.

“Thank you,” I say as I blush.

“I need to go see my father in a few weeks, I want you to come with me,” he says making me turn to face him.

“In Italy,” I ask in shock. “Is that going to be safe? I thought you said I have to stay here.”

Luca places his finger beneath my chin and pulls my face close to him. “If I am with you, you are safe. Yes, I want you to come with me to Italy. Uri and Tina may come along, but I want you with me either way.”

“Okay,” I beam at him.

“Good,” he says before kissing me soundly on the lips.

The sound of drums rings out through the space and I squeal turning from Luca. I hear him snort as my focus is drawn away from him. He has no clue how long I have loved this band. They are so good. For the next hour, I get lost in the band playing before me.

~B
~

Luca

I have been jealous and possessive before, but not like with Shannon. This shit is driving me crazy. I don’t know whether it is the fact that she and all the other women are so crazy over these guys or if it is because she looks so gorgeous tonight.

Her dark hair is straightened, pushed off her face and flowing down her back. She is not wearing much makeup and her lips are tinted a lavender color. The bass player and keyboardist were eye fucking her from the time she entered the gym.

The skin tight jeans and thin purple tank top don’t help much. Finish that with a pair of fuck me heels and can you really blame me. I was hard the moment I saw her myself.

I wanted to come out of my skin when she said that I’m not her husband. She’s my fucking fiancée. My mother was right we have put this wedding off long enough. Some things have to change around here and fast.

I can’t take my eyes off of her as she bounces in her seat. It is finally dawning on me how much younger than me she is. I have never listened to the band before. Not that they aren’t really good. They are awesome.

Kitty has a great voice and the chemistry between her and Rage makes you feel like you are watching something hot and dirty that you shouldn’t have access to. They are great together on and off stage. I tear my eyes from Shannon to look on stage.

Yeah, that is just wrong. The man is staring at Kitty like a piece of meat as she sings about the world coming to an end, but her heart is still beating for the man she loves. I listen to the lyrics and realize she is begging him to make love to her until the end. The song is hot and sweet at the same time.

I look back at Shannon and she is staring at Nolan all dreamy eyed. My jaw clenches and I ball my fists. I know he is a happily married man, but it doesn’t irritate me any less.

Well into the set Bean comes over and taps Shannon on the shoulder leaning to whisper something in her ear. Shannon gets up, but turns to me and pecks me on the lips. I reach for her arm to ask where she is going, but Bean is faster and is dragging her off before I get a hold of her.

I look around and notice that while I was focused on Shannon, most the women in the room disappeared. I find that odd as they were the ones that wanted to see the band.

Thomas outdid himself for this little concert, renting out a stage, lights, curtains and all. True Life ends the song they were performing and the stage lights go out. You can barely see the movement going on, on stage now.

I look around my table at the guys sitting with me. They all look just as confused as I feel. I take the time to really look at these men. Wyatt is sitting to my right, Braxton is on the other side of where Nellie had been sitting, Nate, Bobby, Sam, and Marcus are to Braxton’s right. On my left is Uri, Noah, Toby, and Johnathan.

I’m not sure where Felix and Ryan got off to. That brings me back to the women. Most of them are not in their seats. Even Cassidy and Minnie are gone. I take note that Caitronia Briggs is still sitting with her husband, as are Faith Lockhart and Jennifer Lockhart.

Annabelle is still seated as well, but her eyes are glued to her lap. The young woman that Crush has been watching all night is still in her seat next to Mandy. Other than that the females are MIA.

I turn to Wyatt. “Why do I feel like those women are up to something,” I grumble.

“Because they are,” Wyatt chuckles. “Relax Donati, sit back and relax. I am sure whatever they are up to will be rather amusing. Nine times out of ten Heather has talked them into some shit that will piss you and Braxton off.”

Braxton grunts. “She’ll stop pushing me one of these days,” he mutters as he taps away at his phone.

“You created that monster,” Noah chuckles. “Now you don’t know how to put her back in her box.”

“Nope, the problem is I want her out of the box and she keeps trying to hide in it,” Braxton winks at his brother. “I’m a Black, I got this shit.”

“Braxton, dude when you get back to LA you better answer my calls,” Crush says as he walks over and puts Braxton in a head lock kissing the top of his cousin’s head.

“I’ve been busy, but I’ve got you,” Braxton nods and reaches to slap Crush on the back.

“Where is the rest of the band,” I ask curiously.

Crush smiles wide. “Keep your eyes on the stage,” Crush laughs.

Just then the lights come back up and the drums start once again follow by the rolling chord of a guitar. I furrow my brows and look at Crush,
he’s the drummer,
I think to myself. I train my eyes back on the stage and find Kitty is the hard hitting drummer currently playing the drums.

Nolan is back on stage shirtless and dripping in sweat. His muscles are on display for everyone as he strums along to the beat. I press my lips and roll my eyes. I look around for Shannon, she is somewhere ogling this shit, I’m sure. I squint and snort.

“His nipples are pierced, what the fuck,” I snort out loud.

Wyatt turns to me with narrowed eyes and shrugs his shoulders before parting his lips and letting his piercing peek through. I lift a brow and look him up and down. Really wasn’t expecting to see that on either of the huge men. Their family has some serious big motherfucker genes.

“Really,” I laugh.

Wyatt twists his lips to the side then smirks, pausing as if giving a quick thought to his next words. He sits back lazily then says. “My cocks pierced too. I’ll still beat the shit out of any motherfucker that tries me,” Wyatt says smugly.

I lift a brow and frown.
He can’t be serious
. Honestly, that is too much information but now I am curious as to whether he is pulling my leg.

“You’re not serious,” I laugh.

“Yeah, he is,” Braxton chuckles, “Used to have the women chasing him down to try it out before he met Nellie. They go batshit for it. Hurts like a motherfucker, though.”

Braxton gives me a sly grin and I know his words are from experience. These big motherfuckers are crazy. I shake my head at them while the Mairetties and Nate laugh. Uri just listens on, amused.

I focus on the stage again as Kitty and Rage continue to playing. That’s when Kitty takes it up a notch as she starts the tune from the top. I know the beat. I just don’t put my finger on it until Nellie saunters to the front of the stage singing. I burst out laughing and look at Wyatt.

His expression turns hungry as his wife stands in front of us in a corset, pencil skirt, and red spiked heels, singing
I Kissed A Girl.
That is not what she was wearing earlier. A wolfish grin takes over Wyatt’s face and he licks his lips.

Yeah, his ass is a freak.
I shake my head and look back at the stage. My mouth falls open when the lights reveal Minnie Mairettie and Cassidy Black up on stage as well. They are flanking the center front, with riding whips in their palms. Minnie tapping hers to her other palm, Cass tapping hers to her thigh as she gives Joe Black a sultry look.

“That is your mother,” Noah roars with laughter.

“I can’t with this family,” Johnathan groans and shakes his head.

I turn to see Joe Black sitting back in his seat giving Cassidy a similar look to the one his son was just giving Nellie. James, on the other hand, is a grown ass blushing mess as he laughs good-naturedly at the scene before us.

Nellie can actually sing. She is a pretty little woman and is looking hot up there stomping her foot to the beat as she sings. I would never expect this from her. I got a sort of shy vibe from her earlier, but the fact that she has kept her eyes on her husband this entire time may be the source of her courage.

The surprises don’t stop coming. Paige and Pam come from behind the back curtain walking slow and sexy, dressed in outfits fit for Wonder Woman. Paige in Emerald and Pam in purple, their lips painted to match their outfits. On their feet are matching spikes heeled sandals.

Damn
, these women have small babies? Pam is looking better than I have ever seen her and her twin is a fucking carbon copy. I peek over at Nate to find him grinning from ear to ear. He mouths what looks like,
you’re mine,
and points a finger at his wife.

That’s when the chorus hits and Pam and Paige pick up speed walking to Nellie and crossing in front of her. Both whipping their ponytailed heads then rocking and gyrating their full hips. Doing a sexy turn, they walk back pass Nellie. Each woman kissing Nellie’s cheek before turning to take their places on the stage, one by Cass and the other by Minnie.

Olivia appears in a black number similar to Pam and Paige’s, with her own red spiked heels. She is a gorgeous woman in her own right. Her mocha chocolate flawless skin was one of the first things I noticed when I first met her. Her lips are painted a glossy black.

I have to take my hat off to the old man at the table over from mine. Olivia is hot and a hell of a lot younger than Thomas Briggs, but you wouldn’t be able to tell from looking at him.