My mother never does anything that doesn’t benefit her in some way. She is the most selfish person I know. I try to shield my brothers from her crap as much as possible, but some things are out of my hands.
I hear Logan beg her to read another book. I’m sure Dean is out cold, but she’s done her part. She’s not going to do more than she needs to. I venture back toward the kitchen, not willing to have this fight with her outside the boys’ bedroom. She appears a few minutes later, going straight to the freezer to pull out a bottle of vodka to make herself a drink.
“What did you say to him?” I ask. I know she must have said something to Tyson earlier. He tried to hide that he was pissed off, but I’ve become good at reading him. Sometimes I think I watch him as much as he watches me. The only difference is that I hide that I’m doing it.
“I told him the truth.”
“He’s not a meal ticket or someone you can use. He’s a friend, and the boys really like him.” I want to say so much more, but I don’t. I know I need to tread carefully with her. Especially now that she’s started drinking.
“Because he makes stupid Christmas decorations with them?” She rolls her eyes. I want to scream at her, but I hold it back, knowing it’s pointless. That saying anything would only cause her to yell back and wake the boys.
“He helps me keep an eye on them too. He’s good with them.” I push that point at least.
It shouldn’t be worrying me that she might be scaring Tyson off, but it is for some reason. Isn’t that what I want?
“He wants to get laid.”
“Tyson Carter can get laid whenever the hell he wants,” I say dryly. I might not like that truth, but it’s reality. He doesn’t, though. He spends his free time making videos, watching me, or doing something for his family.
“Men enjoy the chase.” Again, I bite back a retort.
I have no clue how she would know that. She never makes any of the men she dates chase her. She’s all in from the first moment, whether they’re good or bad for her. She’s the last person I would take dating advice from. To be honest, I wouldn’t take any sort of advice from her.
“I’m going to get ready for bed. I have work in the morning.”
“No more girl talk? I think you could use a bit if you’re only scoring some groceries from your new boyfriend.” I ignore her as I head toward my bedroom, not giving her what she wants. “You’re not better than me, Rory,” she calls after me. I lock my door behind me.
I lean up against it, closing my eyes. I’m wearing down. I don’t mean physically, either, but from the emotional toll she has on me. Now, she’s trying to push the one thing away that to a degree is mine. If I let myself have it.
Why can’t I? Even if only for a few nights. I’m quickly realizing I already have a fear of Tyson moving on with his life. Why can’t I enjoy this for as long as it lasts or before my mother somehow has it taken from me?
I head over to my window and look outside. In the distance, I can see the outline of Tyson’s truck. I smile, popping open the window. I’ve never snuck out in my whole life. Not that I need to at my age, but I don’t want Sheila knowing what I’m doing or that Tyson came back.
The second my feet hit the ground I take off on a dead run. Tyson opens the door to his truck, stepping out.
“Something wrong?”
“No.” I throw myself at him. He catches me easily. Without thinking, I kiss him. He groans against my mouth as I press my tongue past his lips. His hold on me tightens. I cling to him. Damn does it feel good to have someone hold me close. To want me the way he does. Even with all the crap that is going on in my life.
“Rory, babe.”
“What?” I keep kissing him, moving my mouth down his jaw and to his neck. He tastes good. His fingers dig into my hair.
“Am I dreaming again?”
“You dream of me?”
“Night and day.” I lift my head to look him in the eyes.
“You always come back.”
“Why does that keep surprising you?”
“No one ever stays,” I admit. “They get out of here as soon as they get what they want. Hell, I even want to take the boys and get out of here.”
“One day we will if that’s what you want.”
“Right now I want to keep on kissing you. Can we make out in your truck? Never got to do that.” I missed out on a whole lot in high school. I think Tyson might have always been waiting around for me. He didn’t even go to his prom. I hadn’t either. Not because I didn’t want to but because I couldn’t afford to.
“All right.” He keeps me in his arms as he walks around to the passenger side of his truck, getting in. I straddle him.
“Tell me your last dream.” He starts to blush, but the overhead light in the truck goes out, hiding it from me. He’s even more handsome when he blushes. “Tell me,” I push.
“You were about to….” He trails off. His cock jerks through his sweatpants. It presses right against my sex. I can feel every hard inch of him. I can’t help but to press myself down onto him. His hands grip my hips. I swear I feel them tremble.
“Say it. Maybe I’ll do it.” I wiggle against his cock. Since that first kiss, my body has come roaring to life with so many desires. I’ve been able to keep them at bay before now, but not anymore. “I dreamt about you too. Tell me yours and I’ll tell you mine. You’ve waited long enough, Tyson. Let's make a few of these dreams come true.”
CHAPTER 13
TYSON
Her words make me dizzy. It’s a good thing I’m sitting down. “Fantasies? I’ve got a thousand of them.”
“Name one.” She puts both hands behind her neck and flips the ends of her hair over her shoulders. It shouldn’t be so damn sexy, but it is.
“You sitting on my face.” My tongue nearly vibrates with want.
She coughs. “Going to the end of the catalog right away?”
“Nah, that’s in the front. First page, actually. The end has things that involve costumes and whips.”
“On you, right? A little French maid costume would look cute on you,” she teases, leaning forward. Her hair falls like a curtain around my face. My hands squeeze her hips.
“I’ll wear a cow costume and moo like a horny steer if that’s what turns you on.” I’m not even kidding.
“I think you’ve hung around Sterling Justice too much.”
Her mouth is like an inch away. “Yes. He’s a bad influence. Thank you for saving me. Now it’s your turn. What’s your fantasy?”
“A spa day.” She nips at my mouth.
“With me? I like that idea. We can do fun things in the mud bath.”
She freezes. “Mud in my coochie? I don’t think I’m up for that.”
“Scratching that off my fantasy list. We’re down to 18,999 things now.”
The laugh comes from her belly, and it lights her up so that even in the dark I can see her true happiness. I can feel the delight coursing through her frame. Driven by lust and love, I rise up and kiss her, capturing her joy in my mouth, swallowing it until her light fills me, and then I give it in return.