Game Saver - BJ Harvey Page 0,62
partner and hires a fucking investigator to look into them? That shit is not right.”
“It’s not, but I gather this isn’t the first time something like this has happened?” she says, raising a brow.
“Dad made overtures that it wouldn’t take a reporter long to look into you and your past.”
“God, he’s a fucking dick.”
“Say what you really mean, Spitfire,” I say wryly, struggling to hide back a grin while discussing something so far from funny.
“Can I ask you something?” she says, pressing her breasts into my bare chest, sending my thoughts in a different—definitely more enjoyable—direction.
“Anything.”
“Why did you think I’d take money from your parents?”
I don’t hesitate with my answer. “Because it wouldn’t be the first or the last time my parents have offered payment to make a problem go away.”
“A problem or a person?”
“Both.”
“She did offer me money to stop stripping when she cornered me at the homeless shelter. Wouldn’t let me get a word in edgewise. Said that her husband and sons liked things that were bad for them, effectively saying I was no different.”
I bark out an empty laugh, and she frowns. “Funny that it came from a woman who—together with my dad—is a prime example of people who are ‘bad for me,’ and she was saying it to you, the best thing I’ve ever had, bar none.”
Her breath catches and she melts into me, leaning her full weight against me while she runs her hands through my hair and down to rest on my jaw. “The best?” she whispers softly.
“Bar none,” I repeat.
“Cade . . .”
“Is my Spitfire losing her spark?” That gets me a bite.
“Does the good doctor want my oral apology around his cock?” she asks. “Because you don’t seem pissed off enough.”
“Reneging on a promised blow job would piss any man off.”
“Maybe I should withhold my talented mouth until an apology is warranted.”
“I think it’s me . . .” I kiss her, touching my tongue to her lips but not breaching them. “ . . . who should be apologizing to you. I’m sorry for thinking you’d even consider taking their money.”
Her breath catches, her mouth opening, and I don’t hesitate in sweeping my tongue inside.
I shift my hands to her hips and move her up and over so my hardening cock presses between her legs. “But maybe I’ll work you up long and hard until you’re desperate to wrap your mouth around me.”
“Deal.”
There have been many times over the years—my childhood included—when I’ve been angry with my parents. Their actions, their behavior, and especially the expectations they pushed onto Callie, Cam, and myself were the primary causes.
Lying in bed last night, Abi told me everything—my mother’s offer and disparaging comments at the shelter, and her ex’s visit to the club. As soon as she mentioned the P.I., I knew my parents—which one I can’t be sure—had been doing what they do best—trying to control anything and everything connected to me.
Even sleeping on it, my anger has not waned. Once everything was laid out between us last night, the conflict I’d seen in her eyes during the last few days disappeared. She was back, all tension, nerves, and uncertainty gone. What I hadn’t realized was how out of sorts I’d been knowing something was wrong with her but not having the first clue how to fix it.
Last night, though, we let everything out, and it was exactly what needed to happen for her, for me, and for us.
Abi reluctantly left me in her bed this morning, having been called into work by her boss for a meeting, whispering in my ear dirty promises she intends to deliver on when she gets home tonight. Which brings me to now, video calling the one person who I know can help me navigate the anger threatening to eat me alive.
“Hey,” Cam says when the video feed connects.
“Hey. How’s Baghdad?”
“Hot and dirty, and not in a good way,” he replies, making me chuckle.
“Bet you’re itching to get back Stateside.”
“You better believe it. Three weeks and four days, I’ll be home.”
“And I’ll get to see your ugly mug in person,” I muse.
“Considering we’re identical, it doesn’t take much to look in a mirror.”
“It’ll be good to have you back. Safe . . .” I reply and he gets my meaning, a curt nod his only response.
“So what have Cade and Annabel done now?”
“Fucked with Abi.”
“Shit,” he spits out, shaking his head. “How bad?” Cam knows the lengths my parents have gone to in the past to get their