Mercy's Angels Box Set (24 page)

              Two things happened over the next week that made me slip from a domineering asshat to a completely irrational dictating bastard. In my defense, all I wanted was to keep Ella safe, but when Tom Brennan up and vanished my senses kicked into overdrive and when Braiden reported from Dunston that Marcus Fairmont had taken a short leave of absence from the advertising firm he owns, I kind of began having a meltdown. Thankfully Dillon was hanging around to help me compile all the evidence we had on Fairmont into something we could present to the police. If he hadn’t of been here to help me keep my sanity I’m fairly sure I would have locked Ella up in my home, chained her to the bed if necessary and probably screwed any chance at a real future with her. Between Dillon and I we were able to make sure Ella was safely escorted to work and home again, but after a week she was starting to get irritable and restless with all the fussing. When she pleaded to have a night with the girls I would have easily said no, but Dillon was once again the voice of reason, suggesting that it would be safe enough to drop her to the girls and pick her up again later that night. They weren’t allowed to go out though and it was agreed that Rebecca’s was close enough to Andy’s Office and secure enough for the girls to let loose for a few hours while the boys had a couple of quiet beers down the road. So on Saturday night instead of chaining her to my bed, I was delivering her to Rebecca’s where Annie and Mercy were already waiting with drinks in hand. I couldn’t remember the last time my mother had a carefree night out with the girls, so it was good to see her there. It was also good to see her so easily embrace Ella, no awkwardness about our relationship that had quite literally snuck up on all of us.

              “You can’t come in,” growled Rebecca from the doorway as I stood in front of her holding Ella’s hand tightly. Rebecca was dressed in her usual crazy old school clothes, her white blonde hair pinned back to one side with a flower. I didn’t know anyone else that dressed or looked quite like her. Although it was a little overstated for me, the look really did seem to work for her. She had the confidence to pull it off.

              “Really, why, what’s going on in there? You all stripping down to your underwear for a pillow fight?” I asked and Rebecca’s eyes sparkled with mischief.

              “You like to think of your momma in her underwear?” Well, there went my sexy all female pajama party fantasy I had often entertained. Mercy laughed from beside Rebecca.

              “I think it’s safe to say that my son believes I sleep in full flannelette pajama’s every night rather than the silk negligee I actually wear and I’m sure he has also convinced himself that I never have sex, which I do, regularly. Dave is a wizard in the sack.” My mouth dropped open and I have no doubt I went several shades of red. Rebecca grinned at my stunned and uncomfortable response to my mother’s declaration.

              “Fuck Mercy. That imagery was really not necessary. You’ve most likely scarred me for life.” I grumbled and complied with Ella’s silent demand for me to lean closer as she kissed my cheek. Rebecca winked.

              “Don’t worry Jax, by the end of this evening my little tiger here will have spilled her guts about you too.” I was officially worried as Rebecca dragged a giggling Ella through her door.

              “Don’t worry, it will all be good,” my angel winked. I reluctantly left to join Charlie and Dillon at Andy’s Office for a quiet drink while we waited for the girls to thoroughly emasculate us.

Ella

              “How you holding up honey?” Mercy asked. I shrugged. Marcus apparently hadn’t left Dunston and I honestly didn’t think Tom Brennan was up to anything other than perhaps running off in an attempt to save his own hide. I was truthfully beginning to feel a little trapped in the guise of security that Jax and Dillon had created. I popped the top off a fruity cocktail mix Jax had picked up for me on the way over and took a long drink.

              “There really isn’t much I can do right now. I’m getting tired of jumping at every little bump my nerves feel a bit frayed. It will be nice to finally relax tonight.” Rebecca swung her arm around my neck.

              “Of course it will. Come sit down I have a gift for you.” I let Rebecca lead me into her cozy living room and sat down obediently, Mercy to my left and Annie to my right. Rebecca disappeared and soon came back with a large potted cacti with a big red bow wrapped around it. She placed it on the coffee table and smiled at me expectantly.

              “A cactus, thank you,” I smiled back at her with confusion.

              “Ahhhh, not just any cactus though. This is the variegated form of the Echinopsis lageniformis, otherwise known as the penis cacti.” I took a closer look at the cactus and started laughing when I realized that the upper parts of the stems were spine free and smooth and did in fact resemble a penis. Mercy carefully ran a finger over one of the penis shaped bulbous stems and Annie laughed so hard she snorted.

              “This fascination you have with plants that resemble genitals is a little worrying,” I teased Rebecca. She shrugged and threw herself back into a big cozy recliner.

              “Well, I’m not getting any so maybe I’m taking out my frustration on plants.” Annie choked back a laugh.

              “You do realize there are other ways to take out your frustrations that are far more pleasant than buying unusual plants?”

              “Yes, but I refuse to lower myself to inanimate or plastic objects for self-gratification,” Rebecca said stubbornly.

              “There not all plastic, some are silicon,” admitted Mercy. Rebecca threw a cushion at Mercy and she caught it easily laughing.

              “You’re supposed to be the responsible one here Mercy,” Rebecca chuckled.

              “What about Charlie?” I innocently asked. Rebecca shook her head and looked away, blushing which made me wonder if her feelings for Charlie were more than she had previously let on.

              “Charlie is Charlie,” she groaned.

              “Yes, he is,” admitted Annie confused. “He’s handsome and seems like a nice guy, he’s great with kids, he’s even looking after Eli tonight and apparently you have seen each other naked, so what’s the problem?”

              “You’ve seen Charlie naked?” Mercy yelled and Rebecca blushed again.

              “Louder Mercy, my neighbor’s might not have heard you,” said Rebecca sarcastically.

              “Charlie and I had one glorious night and I’m telling you, it was A-mazing! That man’s body has been cut straight from granite, I’m sure of it. And what he can do with his tongue, one word, wicked! But two nights later, in fact the night before you came knocking on Bouquets door Ella, I saw him having a cozy dinner with Caitlyn Brown at Luigi’s, so apparently the night was what it was, a night, nothing more. We didn’t talk about what the night meant and Charlie made me no promises. Anyway, that was forever ago, I’m over it now.” I had seen the way Charlie looked at Rebecca and there was definitely interest in his eyes. Rebecca grabbed us fresh drinks and deftly changed the topic of conversation.

              “I have a great idea Ella, how about you draw me a sketch of Dillon. Now that is one fine piece of soldier, I think I could be persuaded to self-indulge if I had that fine face to look at. In fact, you could sketch me a picture of Dillon, Jax and Charlie. All three are very swoon worthy!” I laughed at Rebecca’s swooning impression.

              “Eye’s off number two weird genital flower lady, he is bagged and tagged,” I complained with a mocking pout.

              “Alright alright settle down tiger. You can just draw me his chest, or ass cause that man has one fine ass. Seriously Mercy, thank you for the addition to the sexy man gene pool!” It was Mercy’s turn to laugh.

              “Why thank you Rebecca, but I’m pretty sure my son’s behind is for one lady’s eyes only,” Mercy winked my way. Annie sighed beside me, sipping on a glass of champagne.

              “I wouldn’t mind a sketch of Dillon’s rear end, but to be honest, it’s been so long since I was intimate I’m pretty sure Barnie the Dinosaur would do it for me these days.” We all laughed loudly at Annie’s solemn declaration.

“Seriously, he’s all cuddly, has a great smile, good teeth and he’s purple, I do love the color purple,” Annie continued dreamily.

“Well, Dillon has a great smile and great teeth.” I said helpfully, enjoying this little game that seemed to be developing into match maker. Annie shook her head.

“I don’t think I’m ready for another man just now, especially after having Phillip beating down my door a week ago.” Just like that the mood grew somber.

“What if he has a purple cock?” Rebecca murmured. Our horrified looks of surprise quickly turned into unstoppable laughter. It seemed we could always trust in Rebecca to turn a serious moment into something that we could laugh at and god knows we all needed that.

              I was on Rebecca’s doorstep at exactly 11pm as promised and seeing Ella safe and sound brought me no end of comfort, though seeing her intoxicated sway as she approached me at the doorway made me cast Rebecca an annoyed glance.

              “What?” She said innocently. “She had four drinks and as promised none of it was vodka!” Rebecca held her fingers up clearly showing me the number five. “She’s a light weight,” she grinned. Annie followed Ella and she wasn’t in much better form. Dave had picked up Mercy an hour ago and he had given me a quick text telling me the girls were well on their way to being inebriated.

              “Oh, don’t forget you’re penis cacti Ella!” Shouted Rebecca disappearing into the house and reappearing a moment later with a cactus with stems that were shamelessly formed into the shape of a penis.

              “I’m not carrying that,” I balked. Ella took it from Rebecca.

              “What, this plant unmans you?” Rebecca giggled.

              “The cactus has nothing on Jax,” Ella hiccupped from beside me and I grinned at my girl’s sharp defense at my honor.

              “No bragging about the fact you’re getting laid and I’m not,” Rebecca pouted.

              “Right, I’ve once again heard more than I needed too. Goodnight Rebecca.” I got the girls into my truck and dropped Annie home where Eli was tucked into his warm bed and Charlie was uncomfortably sprawled on the couch snoring like a trooper. Ella didn’t stop talking the entire way home. Apparently she was far too fascinated with her girl’s night to even contemplate sleeping. Seems she fancied herself quite the matchmaker and was planning on coercing Dillon and Annie into some sort of relationship as well as Rebecca and Charlie.

              “I got the impression Charlie and Rebecca already had something going?” I asked as I waited for the garage door to draw open. The lights were on inside, which meant Dillon was still up.

              “He’s your best friend, how can you not know these things?” She asked indignantly.

              “It’s all part of the guy code angel. We don’t talk about our feelings or relationships, unless it’s to brag and apparently Charlie doesn’t want to brag about Rebecca which I guess means she was unbragworthy, or he actually like likes her.” Ella looked a little horrified.

              “Did you brag about me?”

              I grinned and winked at her as I pulled her into my arms from the front seat of my pickup. “Not in the way you think. I like like you remember? So bragging is all above board and completely sex free.” She bit down on her lip considering that for a moment.

              “But am I bragworthy, you know, if you didn’t like like me?” She asked.

              I pulled her close and kissed her senseless. “Angel, you are so bragworthy it almost drives me crazy that I can’t bring myself to share every damn sordid detail.”

              She smiled as I pushed open the door from the garage to the house.

              “Well apparently Charlie and Rebecca had one A-mazing night, but then the ass and by ass I mean Charlie went and took Caitlyn Brown out for dinner two nights later. I think Rebecca was pretty hurt and jealous, so things didn’t go any further. But I’ve seen the way Charlie looks at her and he is completely into her. So what gives?” The irritation in her expression made me laugh.

              “Caitlyn Brown is a client who wants some renovations done. Charlie isn’t interested in her at all, in fact, I’m pretty sure Caitlyn has a girlfriend.”

              “Really?” Ella gasped. I nodded as I strode into the kitchen with Ella in my arms. Dillon looked up from the table.

              “It’s always a good sign when you have to be carried in from a girl’s night out,” he laughed.

              “Dillon, how do you feel about children?” Ella started. Poor Dillon, he was in for it now. He looked at me confused and I shrugged as I deposited Ella on the kitchen bench by the fridge and quickly poured her a tall glass of water.

              “They serve their purpose,” he joked. “Are you asking me to help you produce one? Because I am pretty sure Sarge there knows all the basics, but if he’s not getting it right I will give him a talking to.” Ella blushed and quickly drank down the entire glass of water.

              “No, Sarge has it covered. But Annie has a little boy, Eli, he’s six.” Dillon stretched back in his chair and laced his fingers behind his head with an amused look on his face.

              “Sure, I remember him, cute kid totally into Transformers. And?” He urged Ella on to whatever she was hopefully getting to sometime soon.

              “Just wondering what you thought of them, Annie and Eli.” Dillon nodded and looked at me with a knowing smile.

              “Annie’s pretty and she’s a good mother, Eli is a breath of fresh air.” Ella beamed, seemingly satisfied with herself. Then her mood suddenly changed. Not sad, or angry, but pensive.

              “Was my mother cremated or buried?” Dillon’s smile became sincere.

              “She was buried, in the same cemetery as your father though not together.” Ella nodded.

              “It’s been a long time since I was there. Maybe one day I will go back and visit.” Her words were not filled with sorrow but quiet deliberation. She smiled at me. “I don’t mean to be a buzz kill, let’s go upstairs and practice making babies.”

              “Right, bed!” I scooped her off the bench with enthusiasm and made for the stairs as Dillon coughed from behind us, hiding his laughter.

              “What the fuck is this?” Dillon had finally noticed the cactus.

              “Oh, that’s my penis cacti. It needs warmth so maybe it should go by the fireplace. OH and not much water! It usually lives in the desert,” Ella called out over my shoulder as I made my way up to the loft. I caught Dillon’s astonished look as he took in the unusually shaped cactus before he shook his head and turned away.

              I lowered Ella to the floor of the bathroom and started up the shower. I helped her undress then held her hand as she stepped into the stall.

              “You should join me,” she said seductively and I hesitated. I knew if I did one thing for sure would happen, but she had been drinking and it would feel as though I would be taking advantage of her if I allowed it.

              “Jax,” she sang my name. “If you don’t get in here with me, I will have to take care of things myself. After all the sex talk tonight I’m feeling a little, hot.” She looked so cute leaning against the wall of the shower her hands rubbing lazy circles over her stomach and slowly moving higher. I couldn’t refuse her. I stripped like my life depended on it and joined her in the large double shower. “Why do you have a double shower stall?” She asked as I began soaping up a washer.

              “Have you seen the size of me?”

              “You don’t need two shower heads though.” I could tell she was irritated, her mood tonight swinging so quickly from one extreme to another, obviously brought on by the alcohol.

              I washed her back then leant over and whispered in her ear.

              “Baby, you are the only woman who has ever stepped foot in this shower. I had two shower heads installed because I was waiting to find you and bring you home with me, so we could do this.” My hands lathered the soap against her stomach and eventually found her perfect breasts.

              “Really?” She breathed, enjoying the soft massage as much as I was.

              “I promise you.” She turned in my arms and began washing my chest and arms, finally her hands slid down my abdomen and brushed my quickly growing dick.

              “I love your body,” she sighed. I leant forward and kissed her neck, licking the water that ran in rivulets down her front.

              “Are you just using me for my body?” I laughed at her as she gripped my dick harder and began to stroke. I groaned.

              “No, I really do love this shower too, especially knowing I’m the only woman that’s been in it,” she teased. My hands lowered and slipped into her core, which was wet and hot. Her body responded to my touch and I absorbed her moan with a kiss. I had quickly past the point of no return as I carefully lifted her, resting her back against the wall and gently lowered her onto me. We both groaned at the sensation, of me filling her and her walls squeezing me, it was perfect. With demanding strokes I began to pump into her body before abruptly realizing my mistake, I forgot the condom. I slowed, trying desperately to get control.

              “Fuck angel, I need to grab a condom.” Her eyes, glazed with desire locked onto mine.

              “I had Rebecca take me to her doctor last week in our lunch break, I’m on the pill and I’ve had health checks over the years, I’m safe.” Her grin was breathtaking. “It was meant to be a surprise, so I guess this is it, surprise.” As I absorbed her words her smile fell. “Unless you don’t want to, we can stop.” I thrust forwards into her leisurely and grinned.

              “Not a chance. I have yearly checkups along with all the staff at Mercy’s and I’ve never gone without a condom, I’m as STD free as a boy scout. And we’ll talk later about you leaving Bouquets to go to the doctor.” She smiled again as my pace quickened. I kissed her passionately, fiercely, appreciating the feel of a woman without the barrier of a condom for the first time ever. I was glad it was with Ella. It was a perfect representation of the trust and love we felt for each other. When I felt Ella tense and shudder with her orgasm, whispering my name into my ear, my body could do nothing but willingly join her.

              “I love you Jaxon James Carter,” she breathed. I chuckled.

              “You’ve been talking to my mother,” I growled playfully, kissing and nipping the sensitive spot under her ear.

              “Uh-huh, I know all your secrets now,” she shivered and that was the truth. Over the last few weeks we had talked about war, Sarah, the little I knew about my father. Ella knew everything about me, more than any other person could ever claim and I knew everything there was to know about her. It was almost as if our love for each other washed away the bullshit and left nothing but perfection. Ella owned me, my heart, my soul and all my secrets. I lowered her carefully to the floor as the water was quickly growing cold. Once we were tucked under the thick warm blankets of my bed, I pulled her back against my chest.

              “I love you Ella Mai Munroe.” I kissed her cheek and felt her smile, before sinking into a deep sleep.