Tracing my thumb over the second skin of the barbed wire cherry she had tattooed on her forearm, I bring both of my hands to her ribs again and skate them downwards toward her hips. Her breathing becomes heavier as she tilts herself over my cock, and I suck a sharp breath of air between my teeth when her lips brush mine like a feather, just as I feel the warmth of her cunt on my torso.
“Touch me, Harlen.”
I groan, grabbing her chin gently and pushing two fingers into her mouth. Her bright blue orbs don’t leave mine when she wraps her tongue around my fingers. Sliding them out of her mouth with a pop, I push the now wet digits to her bundle of nerves and start to roll delicate circles, and within only a matter of seconds, she’s matching my rhythm, grinding herself down onto me.
“Take it, Cherry,” I growl, and her small hand quickly moves beneath my waistband, pulling my pulsing length out and stroking me from base to tip. Her body trembles with need when she rises only slightly, holding herself over me and placing my cock right at her entrance. She doesn’t wait longer than a second before she’s sinking herself down,completely, her warmth encasing every fucking inch of me like a clamp.
Fuck!
Her head reclines through the wave of pleasure that floods her body, her mouth popping open as she moans freely. I grab her throat, seeing the barbed cherry I had tattooed on the back of my hand when I whisper the only two words that have occupied my mind since the moment I saw her across the clubhouse on that pole.
“My Cherry.”
It’s like old times as Cam and I work our way around the large kitchen, preparing a late breakfast.
The boys are outside grilling the honey soy chicken Tyler had marinated earlier, while I mandolin the last of the purple cabbage.
Harmony sits across the marbled island, slicing lemons for our Hugo Spritzes. She drops them into each wide glass, along with ice, before slapping a generous amount of mint between her palms and adding that too. Snatching up the chilled bottle of prosecco, she asks, “Wait, how much do I add?”
Cam laughs with a shrug, adjusting the thin black crop top on her shoulders. “Who fucking cares.”
I chuckle, bending over to grab another bowl from beneath the countertop. “The more the better.” I raise my voice, speaking into the cupboard, and it echoes back at me.
The boys are loud, their chatter and melodies of laughter heard throughout the space as I stand up and place the bowl down, shoveling the cabbage into it with my hands. Ty emerges from outside, carrying the tray of grilled food, and Harlen isn’t far behind him, already chewing on a piece of chicken and licking his fingers while Chase does the same.
Asher rubs his palms together in excitement when he slips behind Harmony, who is still sitting on the black stool, pouring out our drinks. He nibbles his teeth into the side of her neck, and she giggles, grabbing onto the tattooed arm he has wrapped around her waist. He reaches out and clasps one of the drinks, bringing it to his mouth and swallowing the contents in two easy gulps. The glass clinks as he places it back to the bench and is instantly shoved away by an offended Harmony.
“That was mine,” Harmony scolds him, though she does it with a smile on her pretty face.
He bites his tongue, sticking it out playfully. “Whoops.” He turns his shoulder to shield himself when she tries to throw a punch to his abdomen.
“Alright, help yourselves,” Cameryn announces, placing the last of the baked sweet potato in a bowl before following it with a clap of finality. Everyone forms a disheveled line, working their way through each bowl and filling their own with their favorite combinations. There’s a mixture of brown rice and quinoa, grilled chicken, some baked tofu, shredded cabbage, carrots, and cucumber, along with grilled corn, edamame, baked sweet potatoes, and a creamy avocado dressing to finish.
“This looks so fucking good,” Harlen growls, stepping up beside me and grabbing my loaded bowl from my hands. I clasp a glass of the prepared Hugo Spritz Harmony made and follow behind him toward the large table outside that sits beneath a big timber canopy. It has been painted black and it’s lined with strings of fairy lights.
The sun is warm today and it bites at the skin beneath the arches of my feet. I start to hop a little, avoiding placing my full weight on the fake grass. I think Cameryn does the same because I hear her curse behind me, matching the hop in my stride.
When we are all seated at the large oval concrete table, Chase raises his beer and holds it toward the group. He closes his darkeyes for a moment before he swallows hard, and I don’t miss the invisible pain that furrows its way across his brow before he shoves his fingers through his long locks like he always does. He clears his throat, then pries his eyes open with a little more spark this time. “Here’s tosomeof the strongest women I know.”
I attempt to hold back the tears welling in my eyes, only I’ve never been as good at that as Cameryn, because one instantly escapes my clutches. When I turn to look at Harmony, I see a rivulet rolling down her cheek as well.
I don’t know her story, but I’ve read her lyrics, and it’s evident that she harbors a certain pain and suffering too. Shifting my gaze to Cameryn, I watch her, and she doesn’t blink an eye, just takes a sip of her drink and swallows roughly.
It’s at this moment that I realize, even with the support of a found family, pain doesn’t simply disappear. Trauma remains, its talons deeply etched in your flesh, but through the love of the people who care about you, you find a little slice of peace to grasp onto.
Even only for fleeting moments.
Harlen’s hand extends outwards, and he taps Chase’s back before squeezing his shoulder in recognition and, for some reason, it makes me shiver.
What happened to you, Chase?
It’s the only question spiraling in my mind, though it quickly dissipates when Chase shrugs off the emotion with a laugh and says, “And here’s to me, the last lonely prick of the four of us.”
Everyone chuckles, but I kind of feel sorry for him. His heart is big. Any girl would be lucky to have it.
Cameryn pulls him into her and places a kiss on his temple before rasping out, “Your time is coming. Patience, Chasey.”
Those two together are something else. They share a unique kind of bond. I’ve never seen Cameryn so hands on with someone before.
