Page 99 of Rut Bar

Anthony slams on the brake and the old van jerks to a stop.

“I left my medication in the kitchen. I’ll just be a minute.” I unlock my door and get out, then close it and run back inside through the still open garage.

Jamie and Veronica are still at the kitchen table, but they’re not where we left them. She’s sitting on the glass table, her borrowed shirt shoved up her belly while Jamie kneels between her spread thighs and laps at her pussy. Her hand fists in his long blond hair while she grinds herself against his face.

I stand there and watch, unable to look away. Veronica stares me down as she rides his face and comes, her mouth dropping open with her whimpers and moans. She’s beautiful.

Jamie surfaces for air and turns to see what’s distracting her. He raises a hand to wipe her fluids from his mouth and chin and licks his fingers clean. “Did you change your mind about going home?”

His question spurs me into motion while I study the lined up bottles of pills and vitamins on the counter and pull mine from the row. “No, I forgot my meds.” I meet Veronica’s gaze and hold it. “I’ll see you tomorrow.”

“See you tomorrow.”

Before I’m tempted to sayfuck itand spend the night again, then end up with absolutely nothing to wear when I go back to work tomorrow. Will anyone at Rut notice or care? Hesitating, I deliberate in my head before deciding to do the adult thing. I shove the pill bottle into my pocket and force my feet to walk through the garage.

Veronica follows and stops me at the van door before I can grab the handle.

“Did you need somet—” I start to ask.

In the driveway, she grabs my face and pulls me down for a kiss that steals the rest of my sentence and leaves my head spinning. I kiss her back, wrapping my arms around her waist, and then I lift her so I can get a deeper angle. She’s tiny, and this is a good day for my knee, so it’s doable.

Her tongue slides against mine like she’s invading my mouth. Conquering it. And I’m happy to let her because she’s so perfect in my arms.

When my cock strains against my pants, a damp spot darkening the gray sweats material, I realize that I have to let her go unless I want to carry her inside and fuck her instead.

Setting her down is the hardest decision I’ve ever had to make. But one of us has to be the responsible adult here. Otherwise we’ll all end up fucking all day and then it’ll be two in the morning and far too late for them to drive me home. All of my clothes smell like sex and pheromones. It’s not an unpleasant scent at all. The heady blend of Jamie, Anthony, and Veronica is unlike anything I’ve ever smelled before. But it’s not a combination I want to broadcast to the entire world.

It’s our little secret. For now, anyway.

I set Veronica on her feet and break the kiss. Part of me still can’t accept this is real. That this isn’t the best dream I’ve ever had, and tomorrow I’ll wake up and go back to my quiet, boring life. The concept is unfathomable. My entire life is now separated into before and after Veronica.

“I’m really glad you came,” she says, her voice breathy and her expression unguarded. She looks younger, more vulnerable, and I’m happy she’s letting us in. I love her strength and confidence, but she doesn’t need to be alone to be strong. Not when we’re all happy to be there and support her.

“Me too.” My heart beats faster.Should I ask what we all want to know?I’m not sure that I have the right to speak for all of us. I joined them last. But with Veronica, if we give her an inch of space, she’ll talk herself out of a good thing.

Before I lose my nerve, I ask what we all want to know. “You never really answered me last night. Can we officially court you, Veronica?”

Her eyes widen. “I…” She takes a deep breath, then drops her eyes. “I wasn’t sure if you’d still want to after this was… you know… over.”

I give her waist a squeeze. “I’m all in.”

She nibbles on her lower lip, still not meeting my eyes. “You hardly know me. This was all so sudden. I can be a real bitch sometimes.”

I shrug. “I’m really difficult to ruffle. And if you need it, I’m sure Anthony will volunteer to spank you.” When she blushes, then shoots me an unamused expression, I can’t help but grin. “I like you, Veronica. I like how passionate you are. How much you care about your people. How hard you work. Not only for Rut, but for the other stuff too. The good work you’re doing for your dynamic. The community. You can pretend to have a hard shell, but I know your secret.”

“My secret?” Her eyebrows rise.

I lay one hand flat against her chest. Find her heartbeat. “You’re soft on the inside for the people you care about, and I’d like to be one of them.”

“Oh.” Her lips round with an exhale.

Drawing up straighter, I pull my hands back to my sides. “You didn’t say no, so I’ll take that as a yes and start working on your present.”

She cocks her head. “What is it?”

“That would ruin the surprise, sweetheart. I have to go,” I tell her.

“Do you?”

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