Page 74 of Love Lies Bleeding

“What’s that?”

I glance at Cherry, who’s watching me thoughtfully and with much less malice than she has for the last month or so. “It’s a charity to raise funding for scholarships for children who show academic promise but don’t have the funds or the opportunity.” It was something I’d taken over from Hank and I truly believed in it. It changed my life and gave me a future I could never have imagined. Having Hank and Vivian practically adopt me hadn’t hurt either.

“Wow, that’s amazing.”

Her praise makes me sit up straighter, makes me proud of what we’d done and how many kids we’d helped in the last nine years since I took over.

“We have another one that’s similar but geared towards kids with less academic success. It focuses on trades, like construction, plumbing, electrics, etcetera, but that’s a different event.”

“I think it’s great that you’re helping kids that need a hand up. Nobody chooses the life they are born into, and money shouldn’t be the reason kids fail.”

Cherry is stunning when she’s passionate about something. I’d witnessed it in the past when she talked about architecture, and again today when she was touring the house.

“Oh my God, I have the best idea. You should take Cherry as your date for the gala. She could see firsthand how it works. We could even offer an internship with us at the shop if that’s allowed.”

I could lean over and kiss Lexi for handing me this opportunity but knew I’d get a punch in the teeth from Mac.

“No, no. I’m sure Jake has a date already.”

Twisting to face Blossom head on, I grin at her, loving the discomfort she’s feeling, and watching her try and squirm her way out of this will be fun, especially as I have no intention of letting her off the hook. “No. No date and I’d love to show you what we do and see if it’s something you’d be interested in for the future.”

Cherry grinds her jaw and glares at her friend who just smiles.

“I think I might be busy that night.”

Her sentence is said through clenched teeth and I feel my lips pull into a soft smile before hiding it. “I haven’t told you the date yet, Blossom.”

“I have plans to work every night next week. Especially as we just landed a huge new project today. I’d hate to have to turn that down.”

“We did? You didn’t tell me.”

Cherry glances over at Lexi, who wears a slightly hurt expression.

“Honey, no.” Cherry reaches for her friend and I see the bond these two women have up close and personal once more. Cherry would go to war for Lexi and I believed Lexi would do the same in her own way.

“Why didn’t you tell me?”

“Honestly, it’s been a day but seeing as the client is right here in the room, maybe he can tell you.”

I felt a hand on my thigh and almost smile as my dick responds to her unexpected touch, until she pinches the inside of my leg, and makes me jump and almost knock my glass of wine over.

Little minx.

Entirely unaware of our position, Lexi looks at me with wide eyes and a huge smile. “You’re the client, Jake?”

“I sure am.”

Sliding my hand under the table, I grip Cherry’s wrist as she tries to remove her hand and hold it against my thigh. As I explain in detail to Lexi about the house and what I want, I skate her hand up and over the erection she’s caused. My dick pulses under her touch and I swear I hear her breathing change as her hand begins a slow exploration of my cock.

My ability to focus on two things at once is severely tested as I let my hand skim over her soft thigh, and up the pant leg of the play suit she’s wearing. Her thighs tighten and she goes to close them, but I give her a squeeze and she relaxes.

She’s still my good girl.

Sliding my fingers higher, I expect to find panties but instead find hot, wet flesh. My dick jumps and I glance sideways as Cherry coughs to cover the snort she’d made at my reaction to her bare form.

My index finger skims her slit, gathering her juices on the tip before I begin to rub firm, slow circles on her clit. Her breathing picks up as I work her until she’s fighting to stay still under my touch. My cock is throbbing with the need to feel her hands on me, but this isn’t about me. Pulling away, I inch my finger down, and push my middle finger inside her tight cunt. I almost groan at how good she feels. Her pussy is home to me, it’s where my cock, my tongue, and my fingers belong. My mouth floods with saliva and the memory of her taste in the shop a few days ago.

Her hand wraps around my covered cock and inches toward my zip but I stop her with a firm hand on her wrist. If she touches me, I know I won’t be able to hold back, and hauling her out of my best friend’s home halfway through dinner so I can fuck her, won’t go over well with Cherry.

---