Erase (The Expiration Duet Book 2) Page 20

  Hang on a minute. I lean in toward her. “What’s going on?” I whisper into her ear. She immediately stiffens at my question, looking like a deer caught in headlights.

  “Nothing …” She drags out the word. She’s guilty of something; I just don’t know what.

  “Liv, you don’t know how to lie, not to me. Tell me,” I say before moving my hand up her leg. I move in closer and creep my other hand up her shirt. “Fess up, or it’s going to get real ugly.”

  When she still won’t spill, I start to tickle her. She tries to hold back the laughter but fails, until finally, she pants, “Okay, I surrender. I surrender.”

  “Tell me,” I prompt. Millie and Beau are looking on, also waiting for Liv to spill the beans.

  She shoots Millie an apologetic look.

  “When we were younger, Grandpa used to take us to the bowling alley all the time. I sucked at it, but Mil was really freakin’ good, so she played league bowling for a year or two.”

  Unbelievable.

  I glance over at Beau, who scrubs a hand over his jaw in obvious disbelief.

  “Did we just get Punk’d?” I wonder.

  Millie starts laughing and points at us. “You should’ve seen your faces! You thought I was a complete moron. But yeah, you just got played, suckers.” She does a little jig behind the computer stand.

  “Hot damn, Millicent.” Beau grins. “Well, let’s see what you got then, pro.”

  She struts to the lane. “No, I believe it’s your turn, sweetheart,” she mocks, holding her hand out in the direction of the bowling balls.

  Beau eyes her suspiciously. “Pro or no, you won’t win against me, Millipede.’’

  She looks seriously hurt. “Seriously? You promised in sixth grade that you wouldn’t call me that anymore.”

  Beau chuckles, walking over to wrap an arm around her shoulders and kiss her head. “Well, Principal Newman isn’t around, is he? Besides, you’ve always been my Millipede.”

  She frowns then shoves him away. “Oh, it’s on now.”

  Liv and I watch as the two send ball after ball down the lane, forgetting all about the fact that Liv and I were meant to join in.

  I tug her hand to my lips, kissing it and murmuring, “Wanna get some lunch?”

  She nods. “Hell, yes.”

  We leave the two behind and go grab some hot dogs. Liv excuses herself to use the bathroom, and I stay seated, aimlessly twirling the sauce jar in the palm of my hands while watching Beau and Millie argue over something again. I get up to go use the men’s room and clean this sticky shit off my hands, but Liv finds me in the hallway, grinning mischievously before wrapping her hands around my neck to kiss me.

  “Liv.” I pull away. “I’ve got sauce on my hands, and you’re wearing a cream dress. Let me just clean it off real quick.”

  She yanks on said hand as I try to walk away. “Fuck the dress.”

  I stare down at her, my brows pulling in until I register her “fuck me now” eyes.

  Holy shit. Here?

  I glance around, not knowing what to do. Can’t say I’ve ever done it at a bowling alley before. My dick hardens instantly, making my mind up for me.

  I grin down at her. “What exactly are you thinking, beautiful?”

  Her teeth sink into her bottom lip then she’s all but dragging me into the ladies’ restroom and locking the door behind her.

  She lets go of my hand then grabs my face, pulling it down to meet her soft lips.

  My cock twitches with the first slide of her tongue against mine.

  I bite her lip, dragging my teeth along it while I back her up to the sink.

  “If we’re doing this,” I breathe, “bend over.”

  Her eyes flash with desire, and fuck if I don’t feel like I’m gonna come in my pants just thinking about bending her over.

  She does as she’s told. Lifting her dress and holding the hem between her teeth as she lowers her panties to her feet and bends over to grip the sink.

  Her green eyes watch me in the mirror and holy fucking God. I’ve never been so turned on in my entire fucking life.

  “You know,” she says, letting the hem of her dress fall from her teeth. “This is the first time I’ve ever done something like this in a public place.”

  My hands are palming the sweet curves of her ass in an instant. “Yeah?” I can only think to say as my blood starts racing through my veins, straight to my already engorged cock. She moans quietly and nods. It physically hurts to release her when she’s in this state, but I do because it hurts more having to wait to sink my aching cock inside her. I quickly unzip my fly and shove my pants down to my knees. Reaching down between her legs, I find her exactly as I want her.

  Soaking fucking wet.

  I slide my fingers through her folds, reveling in the way her arms shake and her eyes close at the feel of my touch.

  “How long have you needed me, beautiful?”

  “Since you licked some sauce of your fingers while we were eating our hot dogs,” she whispers, breathlessly.

  I grin. “Poor baby, why didn’t you say something?”

  She almost growls, her brows pulling in to glare at me in the mirror. I continue to slowly trail my finger through her pussy, waiting.

  “Because I …” I insert a finger, and she whimpers and starts rocking on it. “Oh God, just fuck me, please.”

  “My pleasure.” I remove my finger, lifting it to my mouth to suck her wetness from it. Her eyes widen, and her lips slowly part as she continues to stare at me.

  I line myself up at her entrance, and knowing she’s more than ready for me, I don’t waste a second longer. I slam home in one thrust, shoving my hand over her mouth at the same time to stifle her startled yelp.

  She moans loudly into my hand as I still, seated fully inside her warm, tight heat.

  Fuck me; I could stay like this forever if my balls weren’t tightening to the point of pain with the urge to find release.

  “Seb …” she mumbles into my hand.

  I remove my hand, grabbing her hip with one hand and using the other to arch her back, giving me the best fucking view in the world as I start to slowly thrust in and out of her.

  “Holy shit.” She hisses.

  “I know.” I rub my hand up and down her back as I start to thrust harder, faster. My head rolls back with how fucking good it feels. But my need to watch her is stronger. I pull my eyes back to the mirror and grab her ass cheeks roughly with both hands, just the way she likes, as I pound into her relentlessly. I see and feel the exact moment she starts to lose herself. Her chest heaves up and down, her eyes haze over with her building climax until finally, her walls clamp down on my cock so damn tight, I come right along with her. I hold her hips as her legs stop shaking, emptying myself inside her.

  Her grip on the sink loosens as she scrambles for breath.

  I pull her up to me, wrapping my arms around her chest from behind, my hand grips the side of her face, fingers scrunching into her hair as I kiss her long and hard. A shiver rakes its way down my spine with the intensity of what I feel whenever I’m with her. She’s more than an addiction—she’s my fucking obsession.

  And I’m willing to die a madman.

  “Oh, look who it is? A pair of freaking magicians.”

  I sit down, and Liv slides in next to me. We’re having an early dinner and drink at Dusty’s to wrap up Millie’s birthday before we have to pick up Rose from Zeke’s.

  Yeah, he and I will never be buddies, and I couldn’t give two shits. He’s being civil, and so am I. But even if he wasn’t, I’m not leaving my girls again for anything or anyone.

  “What?” Liv asks distractedly, fluffing her hair and tugging her dress down over her amazing legs.

  I glance over at Millie as she says, “Don’t think we don’t know what the two of you were up to; you’re not as sneaky as you think.” She winks at Liv.

  Damn it. When we came out, the two of them were wrapping up their game as if they hadn’t even n
oticed we’d left.

  Millie scoffs. “And come on; you had your dress caught in your panties.” She shakes her head, and we turn to the waitress to order.

  She did; I tugged it down on the way out to my truck.

  Beau grins over at me, waggling his brows comically until Millie scowls at him and punches him in the arm.

  “Ow!” he groans. “What the hell, Mil?”

  “Shut it, toad breath.”

  “Naw, you’re still mad about my win, are you?”

  She doesn’t answer, just glances over at Liv while taking a sip of some girly drink.

  “Anyway”—she places her drink down—“good for you. My girl is finally stepping outside her comfort zone.”

  I turn to Liv in time to see her look down at her lap and turn bright red.

  I loop my arm around her waist and drag her further into my side.

  “Yeah, good for you, Liv.” Beau winks.

  “Do I even want to know what she’s done this time?” A spitting image of Millie shows up at our booth.

  “Mom? What the hell? What are you doing here?”

  Her mom rolls her eyes, placing a hand on her hip. “You haven’t been returning my calls. And I’d like to see my daughter for her birthday, so here I am.”

  She glares at Beau. “Move over, Mr. Daniels.”

  Liv turns stiff. I’m guessing this is the infamous Estelle Shepherd.

  Millie lets out a sigh that seems to resonate through the whole bar.

  “Guys, this is my mom, Estelle. Mom, you know everyone. And that’s Sebastian, Liv’s boyfriend.”

  Estelle eyes me up and down, apparently not finding me too lacking as a slow smile curves the corner of her bright red lips.

  She holds her hand out for me. “Sebastian, was it?”

  I reach out to shake it before Millie hisses. “Don’t. She’ll make you kiss the damn thing.”

  Estelle drops her hand and narrows her eyes at her daughter. “Really?”

  Millie just shrugs.

  Our orders arrive, and we all eat our burgers in silence as Estelle watches us with her intense blue gaze.

  “So …” Beau’s first to break it. “How’s the, ah, the, how’s life … going, Estelle?”

  He scratches at his chest, wincing at his lame attempt at conversation.

  Estelle merely laughs. “Beau, small talk and me—we don’t mix. Save it.”

  She takes a drink of her martini. “Darling girl, when are you seeing Jefferson again? He was a sweet boy.”

  Millie guffaws. “Stop, would you? And the poor guy’s name is Anderson, and I’m not seeing him. I never did. He’s gay. That guy, right there, he’s apparently my boyfriend. Even if I do want to strangle him most days.”

  Estelle turns to Beau. “You’re still doing that electricity thing?”

  Beau nods. “Ah, yep. I’m still an electrician.”

  She hums, turning her gaze to Liv. Shit.

  “And your baby, he’s doing well?”

  I frown. “Rose, she’s a girl. And she’s fantastic, thanks for asking.”

  Liv squeezes my thigh. Okay, so I might’ve gotten a little defensive. Fucked if I care, though. No one purposely talks crap about my girls, especially in front of me.

  “And Zeke? I must give Linda a call; it appears I’ve missed out on some juicy tidbits.”

  Liv simply smiles. “He seems to be doing well and great idea. I’m sure she’d love that.” She returns to picking at her fries, snubbing the shit out of her.

  After another awkward thirty minutes of Estelle interrogating us, she finally leaves. And we soon have to as well.

  “I’m sorry she showed up to piss all over your day.” Liv rubs Millie’s back as we say goodbye.

  “Psh, don’t even. I’m so used to her crap; it goes in one ear and out the other. Thanks for the present, guys.”

  She hugs us both, and we walk out onto the street just as darkness blankets the town. I grab Liv’s hand, entwining my fingers with hers as we slowly stroll down the lamp-lit street in the town square.

  “I wonder if Rose will love small towns or want to grow up and escape, explore everything else there is to see,” Liv muses aloud.

  “I think maybe she’s going to want to do both. Travel but always return home.”

  Liv’s eyes are on me as we near the crossing. I look both ways, and we walk across.

  “And what about you? Do you consider this place your home now?”

  I stop walking, pulling her under the awning of the last shop on the street.

  I kiss her nose, watching her eyes flutter as I slide some of her hair behind her ear.

  “Most definitely. But then again, no matter where we end up, wherever you are, I’m always going to feel like I’m home.”

  Her eyes gloss over with unshed tears. “Are you still moving in?”

  I chuckle. “You’re worried? Liv, not even you could stop me. I’m counting down the days.”

  She laughs then frowns. “Wait, you’ve set a date? Shouldn’t I be privy to this sort of information?”

  “You going to say no?” I drop my forehead down to rest on hers.

  She shakes her head.

  “Then what does it matter?” I joke and pull her tighter to me.

  She frowns again, and I chuckle.

  “Okay, well, I’ve got two days off next week. I was going to do it then, and you know surprise you, seeing as you love surprises so much.” I watch as she rolls her eyes.

  “Liv.” My tone gets firmer. “I’d move in tomorrow, I’d marry you next week, and I’d put a baby in you next month. When are you going to realize that I’m in this forever?” Christ, she’s gotta realize how insane I am when it comes to her.

  She sniffs and reaches up to kiss me softly. “In this life and the next?” she whispers against my lips.

  I stare deep into her eyes, my heart stampeding in my chest. “And every one after that.” Her lips crush themselves against mine.

  I walk in through the front entrance of Dusty’s, weaving my way through the small crowd to find Beau sitting at the bar. Taking a seat, Tim, the bartender asks, “The usual?” I flick my chin up at him in confirmation and turn to Beau. The fucking prick is texting away on his phone, thumbs flying faster than a teenage boy who’s discovered sexting for the very first time.

  “You gonna drink that beer, you pussy-whipped fucker?”

  He hits send then turns to me. “Shut the fuck up.”

  I smirk and thank Tim when my Jack is slid across to park itself right in front me. I take a long pull from the bottle before putting it down with a sigh, feeling some of the tension leave my shoulders already.

  “You doing okay?”

  I just look at him, my brows raised as if to say, “What the hell do you think?”

  He nods, taking a pull from his beer before he starts in again.

  “She’s happy, man. She deserves that and more after the shit you put her through.”

  I catch myself mid-eye roll. Because fuck it all to hell, he’s right. I know it, too. Doesn’t mean I’m gonna admit it to him, though. That would mean admitting defeat. And I’m not going anywhere. I may be willing to let her be and accept her decision, but I have to if I want to be a part of my daughter’s life. The absolute last thing I want is to cause any upset for the baby girl responsible for lighting up my life after I thought darkness would forever keep me in its chains. But I’ll be watching, waiting, and hoping.

  “Z?”

  “I heard you, man.”

  He scrubs his hand over his chin. “So why do I get the feeling you’re not going to let her be?”

  I scoff. “Oh, I’ll let her be, all right. But I’m also not going anywhere, Beau; I’ll still be right here.”

  He frowns. “The fuck do you mean by that?”

  “Exactly what I said. I’ll be right here, watching and waiting for that shithead to fuck up again. I mean, he’s a guy. It’s what we do best.” I shrug and take another healthy pull from my drink. “Th
en I’ll swoop right on in and take back what’s fucking mine. What’s always been mine.”

  Beau just stares at me for a minute. “You’re legit fucking serious, aren’t you?”

  “Deadly.”

  He laughs and shakes his head. “Riiight.” He gets up and claps me on the shoulder, throwing a twenty down on the bar. “Good luck with that, bro.” Then he’s stalking back through the crowd to the door.

  Whatever. I guess we’ll see who’s laughing in the end. I’m not a complete shithead; I know all the luck in the world might not give me my girl back. But good things come to those who wait, right? My stomach churns. I block out the unwanted doubts and turn back to my drink, finishing it just as a pretty redhead sidles up next to me.

  Yeah, well, I never said that I wouldn’t have some fun in the meantime.

  “Pass me the gravy, dear,” Grace says to Greg.

  I turn to Seb. “Where’s Rose?”

  He looks down at his side, where the almost two-year-old was just moments ago.

  “Jesus Christ, we need a GPS tracker or some shit,” he says as he scoots his chair back.

  “Language, Sebastian,” his mother scolds.

  He winces then stalks off, looking around for our sassy little girl. We both know where she’ll be or, rather, who she’ll be with.

  “So Liv …” Sienna’s eyes light up at me from across the table. “You guys are planning to come to Graysfield over Christmas?”

  I nod with a smile, taking a sip of water before responding. “Yeah, Seb managed to get the week off.” I sigh. “I love it here, I really do, but I’m so excited to get out of this town again. Just for a little bit, anyway.” I laugh then shovel some more turkey in my mouth.

  She nods. “What are your plans with Zeke and Rose?” She then takes a bite of her bread roll.

  I don’t even cringe. The past eighteen months have really proven that if you want something bad enough, you’ll find a way to make it work. And that’s exactly what we’ve done.

  Zeke seems to be dating or, rather, having fun. I don’t know, but even though he’s backed off, he never misses his day with Rose every Saturday. He also has her on his rostered day off each month, which is great for when I need to get into the office and Seb is working.

  I shrug. “He said to just let him know.” I cut up more of my turkey, dunking it in the gravy and letting the fork hang over my plate. “I know he’d love to see her over Christmas, but his mom’s arriving home the week before, so we’re planning on having a little dinner before Seb and I leave to come see you all.” I shove the food in my mouth and take another sip of water, realizing Seb isn’t back yet.