One More Night (Vegas After Dark Book 3), page 9
“Okay, let’s see how this weekend goes, and if I feel like we’re still on solid footing, we can tell Von together.” The tips of his fingers graze my chin, lifting it up until he captures my eyes with his. “Okay?”
“More than okay. Thank you, Mace, for knowing exactly what I needed without me dragging it out.” Clearly, I need to work on some of my own faults, talking being one of them. You know, before the rage builds up inside and you breathe fire because you’re that pissed off. That’s exactly what happened the day I gave Mace the divorce papers. Not one of my finer moments, yet I had enough and couldn’t take it anymore.
“You’re welcome. I learned my lesson in the past. I’m not going to let history repeat itself.” I close my eyes, giving Mace more of my weight, not really needing to respond. The only thing I need more than ever is him. He’s taking care of me in a way that’s hard to explain to a stranger. It works for us, and that’s all that matters.
TWENTY-THREE
Mace
“We can’t go out tonight.” Confusion is written on her face. I took Von to her parents’ house before she got off work. We didn’t go to the pool this morning mostly because he was still waterlogged from last night after staying out there until the yawning got to be too much. Plus, Tyra had to be at work early this morning, so there was no way we were going to keep her out later than necessary even if I was enjoying her presence. I didn’t want her to feel like shit today by not getting enough sleep. Not that Von and I did too much till almost midday anyways. Von was worn slap out, didn’t even move an inch when I got out of bed, grabbed my laptop, made a pot of coffee, and since the house was quiet, I took care of a few emails that were piling up. When Von graced me with a “Good morning,” it was with bedhead, dragon breath, and morning hugs. Kids are resilient and forgiving, way too forgiving for all the shit I’ve put him through. I took the gift he freely gave me by sitting on my lap, head on my shoulder, the original Bear in his hand, and we watched television for a good hour until he was ready to eat. Von isn’t big on cartoons; he’s more into animal documentaries of any kind. Works better for me. I’ve heard stories about some parents getting stuck watching the same cartoon over and over again, ready to throw the television in the trash because of it. We ate breakfast of the sugary variety, went to the park, and then I dropped him off at Tyra’s parents’ seeing how mine had him the last time. Before the divorce, that’s what we did, to make things equal and to not depend on just one set of grandparents versus the other
“What? Why can’t we go out? Is it work?” Tyra’s wearing another one of her dresses, this one short, unlike last one, with another slit up to her Goddamn waist. My hand is already itching to feel her smooth skin, to see if the tips of my fingers will meet some form string-like fabric or if she’s bare beneath. I’m not so secretly hoping it’s the latter.
“Fuck no, it’s not work. Tonight is for you and me, nothing and nobody else. You asked for time with just the two of us.” The words come out harsher than I was aiming for, and the way she takes a step back lets me know I’ve fucked up. I soften my tone as I walk towards her, until her back meets the wall. My hand closes the door, locking the deadbolt, and then I’m on the prowl. “Christ, look at you, siren. If I take you out, there’s no way I’ll be able to keep my hands off you. Every man will be eye-fucking you.” I move one hand to the side of her neck, sweeping the hair away so I can hold her there, the other goes to her waist, moving the fabric out of my way. The need to feel as much of her body as I can is my only thought, and there is zero hesitation in her eyes now that I’ve explained my reasoning.
“Mace, I’m pretty sure you’re wrong about other guys looking at me.” When I find nothing beneath her dress, a low groan escapes me. The need to drop to my knees, hike her thigh on my shoulder, and taste her takes ahold of me.
“Siren, you have no idea how sexy you are or what other men are capable of thinking.” The backs of my fingers slide along the skin of her thigh. I’m going to find out what exactly she’s wearing underneath her dress.
“Mace.” Her eyes were on mine until she realized where my hand was moving. Her left hand circles my wrist, holding on to it like a lifeline. Seeing her ring finger bare without her wedding ring is a kick in the gut, and I promise myself that no matter how long it takes, one day soon, she’ll have a ring back on her finger. Something new, not one that will make her think of the past and the wrongs I’ve done to her.
“Make a choice, Tyra. We go out, or I’ll get on my knees and bury my head between your thighs.” I push two fingers inside her tight, wet heat after realizing there is no a scrap of fabric to stop me. Tyra’s eyes close, and her is chest heaving, practically offering me to rip the strings of her dress and suck on her pink nipples. “Eyes. I want your eyes on me as you come on my fingers.” I make the decision for her, at least for right now. There’s no way I’m going to leave her hanging after feeling her pussy spasm when I mentioned getting on my knees.
“It’s too much. I’m going to come.” I take in everything surrounding the beauty before me—her dark hair, her hooded eyes, her moistened lips, realizing I’ve yet to kiss her today.
“Come for me, siren,” I demand right before I take her mouth with mine. She tastes sultry and sweet, a fucking contradiction all wrapped in one dynamite package. Tyra’s pussy ripples around my fingers, and I know another sweep of my thumb on her clit will have her falling apart.
“Mace!” Her head tips back, lips pulling away from my own, I watch as she comes with total abandonment, not holding back, and I keep pumping my fingers in and out of her tightness, dragging her orgasm out until her legs can barely hold her up.
“Fuck, yeah, we’re staying in tonight. I want to watch you do that three more times,” I state. Our reservation is a distant thought. The cancellation fee is worth it to have Tyra like this all through the night.
“Please.” She wraps her legs around my waist while my fingers are still inside her, and I walk us towards her bedroom.
TWENTY-FOUR
Tyra
The moment Mace places me on my feet, I attack, my mouth latching on to his while I pull at his shirt. “Hurry, get this off,” I mutter against his lips, only backing off when he pulls it over his head, dropping it to the ground.
“Dress, siren.” He reminds me that I’m still dressed as well. I tug at the zipper on the side until it’s down, wiggling my arms to drop the straps. Gotta love a built-in bra, and because I was going out with Mace tonight, I didn’t worry about wearing panties either. The reward I’ve already reaped was well worth it. I gather the skirt of my dress in my hands, bunching the fabric so I can yank it over my head, the need to taste Mace on my tongue, making me all the more desperate.
My eyes don’t leave his, watching him take off his clothes, item by item, waiting for him to get to the undershirt he always wears when a long-sleeve dress shirt is involved. Tonight, said shirt slips over his head easily since the top two buttons are undone at his throat and he folded the sleeves back to show off the tattoos on his forearms. Mace isn’t what you’d call a gym rat, more inclined to run or swim on the days he can’t make it his usual three days a week. The benefits are that his strength allows him to pick me up and carry me anytime he pleases, which seems to happen more and more lately.
“Mace.” I hear the clink of his belt, the whoosh of his pants as they drop to the floor at the same time I rip my dress over my head, not wanting to lose sight of the striptease he’s giving me. New ink has been added on the inside of his left arm, a simple elegant script, and I’m just now noticing it. “What did you do?” It’s red around the edges.
“I have Von on me. Only fair that I have the other piece of my heart permanently etched onto my body, too.” Von’s name is on his left pec near his heart.
“It’s beautiful and an interesting place to get a tattoo. I’m sure it hurt as well,” I respond, fishing for why it’s in that spot instead of coming out and asking like any normal person would. I step forward. We’re both naked. His cock is hard, practically sitting at his navel with a slight curve that, believe me, feels fucking incredible when he’s using it deep inside me.
“I’ll do you one better and show you.” He raises his arm, hand going to his shoulder, and that’s when it clicks into place.
“Mace.” I’m stunned silent. He sleeps with an arm over his heart, always has, even from the very beginning.
“I think about you all day, no question about it, but this way, you’ll always know, even when I’m sleeping, I’m carrying you in my heart.” Jesus, he’s taking my breath away yet breathing air into my lungs all at the same time.
“Well, then it’s only fair I show you how appreciative I am of you.” I drop to my knees, which puts me at eye level with his length. My tongue darts out, licking a path from the base where his balls hang heavy, cupping them with one hand, my other moving around the back of his leg for purchase. The thick vein that runs his length is calling my name. My tongue traces it until I reach the head, thick and ready. There’s already a bead of pre-cum glistening.
“Jesus Christ, siren.” Mace’s hand touches the crown of my head, fingers clenching my hair. He wants me to take his length all the way to the back of my throat. I’ve only done this once since we’ve been back together, and I’ve been craving his taste. I don’t give him exactly what he wants, though. I lick around the tip, even if I’m only making myself yearn to take what Mace is so willingly offering. It isn’t until he rocks his hips that my mouth engulfs the head of his cock, sucking hard, knowing there’s a shit ton more of his cum to give.
I make a humming noise as I move my fingers on his balls, cupping them how I know he likes until they’re pressing against the base of his thick and heavy girth, fingers barely touching the others when I wrap it around his length. That’s when I start using my mouth in earnest, sliding back and forth, hallowing my cheeks, not going deep enough to appease him, though. See, Mace likes to quite literally fuck my throat, and I’m not at that point yet, not after all of the teasing he’s done to me lately. Turnabout is fair play and all that jazz.
“Tyra.” It’s deep and guttural grunt. I take him all at once, moving my hand out of the way, using the back of his thick thighs as I breathe through my nose and take him to the back of my mouth, and I swear his tip engorges further at this moment in time. “Enough!” He moves me off his cock, hands using my hair as leverage to pull me away even though my mouth is wide open, begging to suck him again.
“That’s not fair, Mace. It’s my turn to make you come.” A throbbing between my legs builds at the thought of what could have happened if he let me continue sucking his dick.
“My cum down your throat won’t get you pregnant, siren.” He helps me up until I’m standing, turning us around until my body is facing the bed. “Get on the bed, Tyra.” My eyes flutter closed at his command, and I do as he says because my body is starved and there’s only one person who can satiate my hunger. And he’s coming right at me.
“Please,” I beg right as the outside of his thighs spread mine. He has his cock in hand, and the moment he places the head at my entrance, he slams inside, giving me exactly what I didn’t know I needed or wanted.
TWENTY-FIVE
Mace
One Month Later
“You’re sure about this? I don’t want to push you, and I want this to be on your terms.” It’s been a long-as-hell month, sneaking around once Von is asleep at Tyra’s place, seeing as she has a two-bedroom and taking my woman on a couch where our son could find us naked wasn’t a visual we wanted planted in his mind. Von already knows more about the birds and the bees as it is, only it’s with animals. Fucking documentaries make for some hard-ass questions to answer.
“I’m positive. I know it’s only been a few weeks, and I should probably make you work for it a lot longer since it took you over a year to get back to the real Mace.” Von is at school right now, the two of us both getting an afternoon off to hang out with one another, and now we’re in my Range Rover waiting in the pick-up line until it’s our turn at the gate. This is the part I dread when it’s my turn to grab him from school. It’s the slowest of the slow, five kids per gate opening, making it take twice as long to get through.
“I’m a lucky man and won’t ever take that for granted again.” I bring her hand to mouth, kissing it before returning it to the center console, where we continue holding one another’s hand.
“I’d say so. I know we still have some tough roads to navigate, but I think it’s time we let him in on our secret before we get caught. You know our boy as well as I do,” she states. Von doesn’t like when people lie or being kept in the dark. Yes, he’s a child, but he also has his own little nuances everyone is allowed to have.
“That I do.” I got lucky. Von responded as well as he did with me moving and seeing him more frequently, I think the only reason being because I made sure to stay consistent.
“Finally,” Tyra says. I chuckle, thinking I was the only one pissed about how long it takes. I mean, sure, we could be those types of parents who get to the car rider lane an hour early, to be the first one to pick up our child, but that’s a lot of sitting around and wasting gas as well as time. “What? You act like I’m the only one in this car who doesn’t like to sit around and wait.”
“You’re definitely not. The way you’re squirming in your seat tells me you’re nervous,” I reply. Tyra puts the bright orange name tag on the dash; his first and last name along with his grade are plastered on it. We both made a pact that if we’re not in this lane, neither one of us would drive around advertising where our boy goes to school. Some parents might do that, but to us it wasn’t a risk we were willing to take, not with the fucking loony-ass people who walk around these days.
“I am. I mean, we are kind of springing this on him. What if he doesn’t handle this well? What if he likes having us one on one?” Christ, Tyra’s not ready to tell him, and I’m not going to allow that to happen.
“Look at me, siren.” I disengage our hands knowing we only have seconds until Von is in the car with us. “We’re going to take him for ice cream, we’ll act like we have been for the past month and go from there, just the three of us getting along like usual. I am not pushing this on you or Von. So, for now, we’ll play it safe until you’re comfortable. I don’t have your forgiveness yet, and that’s okay. Time is what we need.”
“Okay, we’ll do it your way. God, I suck. I’m so sorry, Mace. I should be over this by now. It should be smooth sailing. It’s been a month. You’ve proven and shown me how much work you’re willing to put into our family. I’m just scared.” Her eyes are cast downwards. The weight of this she’s been carrying around, it’s enormous. Even I know a month isn’t long enough to make her see that I’m not going anywhere.
“Chin up, siren. We’ve got a little boy to pick up, and I am not upset, nor am I mad about this decision. It’s one we’re making together. I’ll keep trying and working until I have your forgiveness. Don’t doubt that, okay?” I tip her head up with two fingers beneath her chin, softly press a kiss against her lips, and then I pull away.
“Thank you, Mace,” Tyra responds as a teacher opens the door for Von to climb inside. His backpack is being flung off and thrown to the other side of the vehicle as he parks his butt in his seat.
“Wow, Mom and Dad! I hit the jackpot,” is Von’s way of greeting us. The heaviness that was surrounding us gives way to laughter, and one day soon, I know this will be our new normal.
TWENTY-SIX
Tyra
I ran. I hid and buried my head in the sand. I am the epitome of a coward. Mace has bent over backwards, all for what? For us to pretend everything was peachy keen to our son, going our separate ways, and for Von staying with Mace last night, not that it matters whose weekend is whose. That stopped mattering when Von asked to spend the night on a day that wasn’t usually Mace’s, and the look on both of their faces had me nodding as an answer.
I’m sure Mace could feel me pulling away. I assured him that everything was okay. He told me to stop lying to myself and to call Celeste. I should be annoyed that he knew what I needed when I didn’t myself. There are so many facets of Mace to love, and I do love him; I’m just a fucking idiot and gun shy about talking, my biggest hang-up yet.
I followed his advice, which is the reason all of us girls—Celeste, her sister-in-law, Journey, Hendrix, who is Journey’s personal assistant, and I—are currently sitting at the bar in Wylder’s casino. All of us dressed to the nines because why not.
“You need to forgive him, Ty. Not just for Mace and Von, but for yourself. Why do I feel like a broken record?” Celeste gives me the eye, probably because she’s told me this more times than I can count.
“Girl, you’re riding the D. He’s doing everything to make life easier after what? Fourteen months of hell? I say make him sweat some more,” Hendrix states. She’s the youngest in our group, coming in at twenty-four, chestnut brown, with a money piece highlight framing her face, hazel-colored eyes, and clearly a zest for life.
