Page 119 of The Holiday Fakers
She thrusts the tray back into my hands, then crosses herself like she’s in church.
“What you two did … Lord bless you and keep you. Judy said you were one slip away from plunging to your deaths at the bottom of that gorge! Grant went across that fallen tree on his hands and knees. I don’t know how?—”
Erica pulls a handkerchief from her pocket and dabs at the corners of her eyes.
She shakes her head. “You’re heroes, and I hope everyone knows it. You’ll be on the front page ofThe Almanacat the very least.”
She takes the tray back from me. “You just take your time coming downstairs, and I’ll let Judy know you’ll come by sometime today.”
As Piper closes the door behind her mom, I let out a long breath and run my hands through my hair. I’ve just spent the last eighteen or so hours of my life either lost in Piper or dead to the world asleep. There was no space to process the search and rescue of Billy and how fucking terrified I’d been for him.
Piper puts her arms around me and rests her head against my thudding heart.
I hold her close.Billy and Lucky are safe. We’re alive. All is okay.
“It certainly puts everything into perspective,” she says softly into my chest.
“Sure does.”
Thinking of Marisa now, all I feel is empathy. She’s not happy, but it’s not my problem. I relax into the warmth and softness of Piper in my arms.Thisis where I need to be.Thisis where I’m at peace.
“I think maybe I should turn my phone off for a few days,” she says.
“Good idea. And maybe the Google Alert with my name on it?”
Piper gazes up at me and grins. “I don’t need it anymore, now that I’ve got my news straight from the horse’s mouth.”
“You saying I’m a horse?”
She palms my cock and smirks. “Well, you are hung like one …”
I slowly shake my head and smile, then I have a thought that makes my good humor fade. “You feeling okay this morning? Not too sore?”
Her cute little nose wrinkles. “A little. To be honest, I’m surprised I can walk in a straight line after last night.”
“I’m sorry.”
“Don’t be! It was …” She blushes again but still keeps eye contact. “It was the most incredible experience of my life, and I can’t wait to do it again.”
My ego, as well as my dick, swells. “See how you feel later. I don’t want to put you under any pressure.”
“You’re not. And anyway, if we can’t have sex, I can always suck your cock?”
I take a breath as fireworks explode behind my eyes. When my vision clears, all I see is Piper’s cheeky grin.
“And if your pussy’s sore,” I rumble, “then I’m gonna kiss it better.”
She swallows.
“In fact,” I continue, reaching behind her to lock the door. “If your sweet pussy would like an appointment with my mouth, then the doctor is ready to see you now.”
Her nostrils flare as she nods.
“Good.” I undo the buttons of her pajama top, slip it off her shoulders, then palm her breasts, rolling the hardened peaks of her nipples between my fingers and thumbs.
“Now take off your pajama pants,” I growl, “and get back on that bed with your legs spread like the good girl I know you are …”
It’safternoon by the time Piper and I are ready to leave the house. Marv and Cara haven’t shown up, so I hope this means Cara’s on her way back to Milwaukee and Marv’s happy withwhatever publicity I’ve gotten so far. John’s out on mayoral duties, and Erica and Harper are looking at possible sites for Harper’s perfume store.
