Deceived - The Complete Series (29 page)

“Don’t you have your own place?”

“I sure do,” she said. Then she looked at Angela and said, “Maybe if Thomas doesn’t want you to have your friends over, you should come and stay with me until your place is ready.”

“No!” Thomas said, before Angela said a word. He realized as soon as it was out, how desperate it sounded. The girls could tell by the look on his face. “I mean, I don’t care if you have friends over. Jeez, Joanne, stop trying to make trouble already.”

“Both of you stop, please.” Angela gave Joanne a look that said,
“I asked you not to antagonize him,”
before going on to say, “I’m starving. Let’s eat. Thomas, join us okay?” Thomas and Joanne were still having a stare-off. Angela stepped between them and took the box out of Jo’s hand, giving her one last desperate look. Joanne gave her an almost imperceptible nod as if to say,
“Okay,”
but Angela got a gut feeling that Joanne wasn’t finished with Thomas yet.

Dinner was a quiet affair. Thomas didn’t seem to be hungry at all. He fixed himself a plate more or less to spite Joanne, Angela figured and then he picked at it while the girls ate. He didn’t seem interested in being there, yet, he wouldn’t leave. Joanne started off trying to be good after Angela’s warning look, but the longer he sat there, the more annoyed she was becoming. Angela was afraid things were about to blow up so she said, “Aren’t the Country Music Awards on tonight?”

Joanne looked at her watch and said, “Yeah, I think they just came on.”

“Why don’t we take our Chinese Food and move into the living room and watch it?” Thomas still didn’t say a word. He gathered his plate and picked up the bottle of wine he just opened and followed Angela into the living room. She was drinking a bottle of water and he looked at it and said,

“Do you want some of this wine?” Angela thought about the baby in her belly.

“No thanks, I’m feeling a little dehydrated tonight. I think I’ll stick with water.”

“I could use some wine,” Joanne said, holding out her glass. Thomas completely ignored her and then took a swig straight out of the bottle. A few seconds passed and he looked at her and said, “Oh, sorry Jo. Did you want some of this?”

She made a face and said, “Not after your lips have been all over it like a caveman.”

He smiled and shrugged. “I was just thinking that since this wine...and everything else around here is mine, there was no sense in wasting a glass.”

“You’re disgusting,” she said.

“And you’re a...”

“Thomas, Joanne, please...” Angela said in a desperate voice. “You two are acting like children.”

Properly chastised, they both let it go. After Thomas finished his dinner he put his plate away and went into his room. Joanne breathed out a long breath and said, “Finally, I thought he was never going to leave.”

Shaking her head at her friend she said, “Great job not antagonizing him.”

Joanne made a face. “I’m sorry, but he just pushes my buttons. Did you hear him say “everything here is mine?” maybe, he is including you in all that.”

“We have to bide our time though Jo. I have to figure out how to get in that room.” Angela had lowered her voice to an almost inaudible whisper.

“I still say you should tell Steve at least. Let him find the room. He’ll know what to do, and Thomas is a punk, he won’t fight Steve.”

“I don’t want anyone fighting, Jo. I don’t want anyone getting hurt. I want this to be over and I want to move on with my life. I just need some answers first and as soon as I have those, I’m gone...and everyone is safe.”

Joanne curled her lip and said, “I hope so.”

––––––––

C
hapter 4

For five days straight Joanne showed up for coffee in the morning, lunch in the afternoon and dinner at night. She didn’t leave most of the time until Thomas was already passed out. Two nights she didn’t leave at all because he seemed to be trying to wait her out. Finally, on Friday Thomas stormed into Angela’s office and said,

“What the fuck is the deal with Joanne?”

Angela had been in the middle of reviewing a layout for a magazine. Marg was in the office with her. Marg looked at Angela and said, “Would you like me to stay?” The older woman even seemed to get a bad vibe from him. Once again, Angela had to wonder what had taken her so long.

“It’s okay Marg,” she said gently with a smile. Marg gave Thomas a hard look and said,

“Okay honey, but I’ll be right outside if you need me.” She left and closed the door. When she was gone Angela said,

“Do not barrel into my office using that kind of language when I’m working. What is your problem?”

“My problem is that I’m sick of seeing Joanne’s face first thing in the morning and last thing at night. Why the hell is she there all the time?”

“She broke up with the guy she was seeing and she’s needed my support, that’s all.”

Thomas didn’t look like he was buying it even a little bit. “I can’t take it. She’s turned into a rude, sarcastic bitch. I don’t want her in my home constantly.”

“Fine, I’ll tell her. I’ll hang with her at her place if she needs me...”

“No! Shit...I don’t want to kick you out of your home. I just can’t stand her.”

“I’m afraid the feeling is mutual. I’m not sure what happened, you two seemed close before I got here. Is there something the two of you aren’t telling me?”

“What? Like you think I fucked that cunt?”

Truly shocked, Angela said, “Thomas!”

“That’s what you think, isn’t it? Trust me; I’m a lot pickier than that. The sluts you saw on those escort cards are probably more disease free than her.”

“I can’t believe you’re talking like this.” The look on his face was seething hate. Angela was suddenly worried sick about her friend.

“She just needs to stay out of my way. I’m really sick of her.”

“Fine, like I said...”

“No! Shit!” He seemed more agitated than she’d ever seen him. He was going back and forth, wanting her to say she’ll just not see Jo. That wasn’t going to happen.

“You can’t have it both ways, Thomas. She’s my friend.”

“Then tell her to just watch her nasty mouth when she’s in my home.”

“Okay, but can you do the same please? I don’t appreciate the name calling.”

He looked at her for a long time with those green eyes she used to find so attractive. Now they were either scary, or empty. “Fine, I’m sorry.” He didn’t sound sorry, but for now, she’d take it. She was going to make damned sure that Joanne was never alone with him though. He was about to say something else when there was a sharp knock on the door and it opened. Steve stuck his head in and when he saw Thomas, the smile fell from his face.

“Sorry, Marg wasn’t at her desk. Are you busy?”

“Yes!” Thomas said at the same time she said,

“No!” Thomas narrowed his eyes at her as she said, “Weren’t we finished, Thomas?” He didn’t answer her, but he turned and left the office, shoving by Steve in the doorway as he did. Steve watched him go and then turned back to Angela and said,

“Baby, I really wish you’d get away from that guy.”

“I know,” she said, going over and folding herself into his arms. “Soon.”

He kissed the side of her face and said, “Not soon enough. I have to go to Chicago for a few days. I don’t like you alone with him.”

“I’m moving out in a week. In the meantime, Joanne has appointed herself my bodyguard. It’s driving Thomas crazy,” she said with a smile. She was being more light-hearted about it than she felt for Steve’s sake. “You go take care of your business. I’ll be fine. Soon I’ll have my own place and things will be a lot better.”

He pulled her in tight and said, “I have my own place...do you want to spend a few hours there with me before I leave tonight?”

She grinned. “I’d love to. Let me just wrap this up and let Marg know I’m going. I’ll meet you downstairs in about ten minutes.”

He kissed the side of her face again and said, “Hurry.”

*****

A
ngela was relaxing on the massive back patio of Steve’s Long Beach mansion an hour later with an iced tea in her hand. He had questioned why she turned down the wine and she had used the same excuse she gave Thomas...she felt “dehydrated.” Steve furrowed his brow like that worried him, but brought her an iced tea out instead. While she relaxed, he barbecued steaks. It was the first time since the day they spent together and took the bike ride that she didn’t feel on edge. It was Friday night too and that meant she didn’t have to rush in the morning. She’d called Jo earlier and given her the night off. Her silly friend had breathed a sigh of relief and told her, “Good, I’m gonna ride me a cowboy tonight.” Angela had laughed and told her she loved her and then she’d gone home to Steve...a safe haven. At that moment in time, life was good.

They ate the steaks he made with baked potatoes and vegetables that magically appeared from the staff kitchen. After dinner they took a walk along the private beach. They stopped to look up at the starry sky and Steve pulled her into him and gave her a long, deep kiss. She was already breathing heavy by the time he let her go. She smiled and when she recovered her breath she said,

“Thank you for tonight. You have no idea how much I needed this.”

He grinned too and said, “It’s not over yet, baby.” He took her hand and led her back to the house. Once they were in the big bedroom with the door closed behind them, he kissed her again, this time letting his hands run across the smooth contours of her body. “You feel so good,” he whispered against her ear.

“You feel me so good,” she whispered back, breathlessly, “Don’t stop.”

Angela was trembling with desire. It had been too long since they’d had time together. Thomas was sucking up so much of her energy. That was her one and only thought about him. She pushed him to the furthest recesses of her mind and concentrated on her here and now. That was Steve, and what a here and now it was. His dominating hands were igniting a fire in the pit of her belly as he caressed her legs all the way up, stopping short of the black lace thong she wore. When he was standing upright again, he reached back and unhooked her bra. At the same time he let his lips meet the side of her neck. The feeling of her hard nipples against his chest through his shirt and the feeling of his lips caused a violent shudder to rip through her.

She tugged on his shirt until he took a small step back and pulled it off. He put one of his big, warm hands on her back and pulled her into him. She felt like she was burning up as her breasts crushed up against him. She reached down and hurriedly unzipped the front of his pants. She slithered down him as she pushed them to his feet, pausing to cup the massive bulge in the front of his shorts. He gasped and she smiled. He stepped out of the pants and pulled her back up to his lips.

“You are the most beautiful thing I’ve ever seen,” he told her as he wrapped one arm around her waist and the other around her back. He tangled his fingers into her hair and held her head in place while he kissed her. Meanwhile he was using his body to urge her towards the bed. His throbbing erection pressed through his shorts and into her hip. She was soaking wet and hot between her legs and she ached to feel him explore the rest of her body. When the backs of her knees hit the bed, she sat down and he pushed her thighs apart. As he knelt between them she put her hands on his head, tangling her fingers in his hair and pulled his mouth to her chest. He didn’t hesitate. He began licking and sucking on them until they were as wet as her pussy and as hard as rocks. She moaned and her body trembled as she felt his hand working its way down between her legs. With a breast still in his mouth, he let his fingers play along the elastic that hugged her thigh. He slid his warm fingers against the outside of her lips and she groaned out loud. He pulled them off of her then, tossing them in the direction of her other clothes. Pushing her back gently, but keeping her legs splayed off the side of the bed, he lowered his face to her pussy.

She whimpered as he used his tongue to separate her lips and then plunged it deep inside of her. Her clit was throbbing, begging for his attention and he didn’t disappoint. She felt him shift his attention and then suddenly he was sucking and nibbling on her clit. He let one of his fingers enter her as he did, and then another. While he continued to drive her wild with his lips and tongue, he moved his fingers in and out of her, exploring...tickling...tantalizing...and driving her to the edge of a massive orgasm.

Her breaths were ragged and her heart was pounding so hard it felt like it would explode right out of her chest.

“Wait, stop...please,” she begged him. 

He stopped and looked up at her with concern on his face. “Are you okay baby? Am I hurting you?”

“So the opposite,” she said in a strangled tone. “I just don’t want to come yet. Not without tasting you first.”

He grinned and said, “I can’t argue with that logic.”  

“Good.” She sat up and grabbed the top of his shorts. He knew what she wanted. He stood up and let her pull them down. The evidence of how badly he wanted her was now throbbing less than an inch away from her lips. She reached up and ran her hands across his flat abs and then let them slide down and wrap around his cock. He sucked in a breath when she touched him. She loved that. She loved knowing she was making him feel good. She stroked him gently for a few seconds, grazing the tip of him with her tongue. She smiled up at him before dropping off the bed onto her knees. She used her hands to caress his inner thighs and then she slid her fingers along the shaft of his cock. As she explored deeper between his legs with her hands, she let his cock slid in between her lips. His body shook and she tipped her head all the way back so the head of his hard cock pressed against the back of her throat. Then she let him slide out, licking the underside of his cock the entire way. She swirled the head with her lips and tongue before letting him plunge back into her mouth. She did this over and over again, each time changing either the angle of her head or the position of her tongue. He had his hands in her hair again and he grunted and groaned and moved his hips in and out. She sucked hard and slow and then soft and fast. He watched her the entire time, never closing his eyes. He looked mesmerized by the sight of her and the pleasure on his face spurred her on. She slid her hands up the backs of his thighs and rested them on his ass, squeezing and kneading as she licked and sucked and listened to him being driven into sexual ecstasy.