Infuriating, page 13
“So, where are you from, Dayton?” Bev asked, placing her napkin in her lap.
“I was born in a small town in Idaho, but I moved to LA when I was fourteen.”
Everybody helped themselves to barbecued chicken, cornbread, and macaroni and cheese, but Day put just a little of each on his plate, far too nervous to eat. Bev smiled warmly at him. “That must have been a bit of a culture shock. Are your parents still here in the city?”
Day shook his head. “I moved here with a friend. I never knew my dad, and my mom took off when I was three or four. I can’t remember now. My grandmother raised me until she OD’d behind the tire shop. Then I came here.”
Day had imagined that his answer would infuriate Jackson, but he was looking at Day like he had earlier when he’d figured out that Day couldn’t read. It was a look Day couldn’t quite place. Pity? Sorrow? Confusion? Maybe he thought Day was making the whole thing up.
“How did you take care of yourself at fourteen? I’m thirty-six and my husband and I can barely afford to feed all my damn kids,” Della said.
“Della!” Jackson said, voice low.
Day shrugged, ignoring Jackson. “Let’s just say I found a landlord who was willing to let me work off the rent in trade.” He made the crude hand signal for a blowjob. Ruby gasped, Della stared, and Jackson looked like he was going to be sick. Bev, however, didn’t bat an eyelash.
Bev gave a tight smile. “So, Day. Ruby tells me you’re one of Jackson’s clients?”
“Yes.”
When he didn’t offer any more information, Bev prompted. “Are you an actor or a musician? One of those dot com billionaires Jackson babysits all the time.”
“Nope, I’m just a camboy,” Day said before stuffing a bite of macaroni into his mouth and chewing it while he watched his answer hit his targets.
Della and Ruby gaped at him, but Bev just took a sip of her white wine. “That’s one of those boys who gets naked over the computer, right?”
“Mama,” Della said before giving a shocked laugh.
“What? I think it’s clever. Back in my day, if we were gonna try to bring in some extra cash with our bodies, we had the street corner or the pole. Day’s way seems much safer.”
Day scoffed. “Tell that to the guy who got his throat slit in front of me.”
“No way,” Della gasped. “You saw it happen? Like, were you there?”
“Day,” Jackson said quietly, his warning clear.
Day ignored him again, leaning in, like he was dishing the hottest of fresh gossip to his new friends. “I saw it happen on camera. I didn’t know he was some fancy assistant district attorney until I called the cops.”
“No shit?” Ruby said. “You were cyber-banging that ADA who got taken out? They said it was, like, gang related or something. His wife is in my yoga class. No wonder she always looks so miserable. Probably wasn’t getting any from her hubby if he was getting it with you.”
“Ruby Jean,” Bev snapped, exasperated. “Watch your mouth.”
“Sorry, Mama,” she said, not sounding sorry at all.
When Day looked her way, she winked at him, and he dropped his gaze to his plate. What the fuck did it take to freak these people out? An idea came to him in that moment, and Day opened his mouth before he chickened out and changed his mind. They couldn’t ignore this.
“They thought it had something to do with one of his cases, but after I put up a video of me and Jackson, one of my regulars went completely nuclear and took credit for the murder. That’s why Jackson’s stuck with me. Detective Jimmy thinks this guy is going to try to kill me or kidnap me.”
They all gaped at him.
“Jackson made a sex tape?” Ruby said at the same time Della said, “Dad’s Detective Jimmy?”
Jackson was glaring daggers at Day now, but he continued to eat his dinner like he’d done nothing wrong, even though embarrassment was eating a hole in his belly. Jackson hadn’t deserved this. Nobody’s family should know about their sex life. Hopefully, Jackson understood now. Day wasn’t good enough for him.
“No, I didn’t make a sex tape. It was just a decoy to make Day’s potential stalker make a mistake,” Jackson said.
Bev looked relieved, but Della narrowed her gaze in confusion. “How did you even know Day had a potential stalker if he didn’t flip out until after you loaded the sex tape?”
“Drop it, Della. I’m serious,” Jackson said.
“Fine. You’re the one who said to make Day feel welcome,” she muttered, taking a bite of her cornbread and chewing angrily.
“Excuse me. I’m not feeling very well,” Day said, bolting from his chair back into the living room. He didn’t know where to go, so he just headed out the front door. He stopped short on the welcome mat, realizing he had no idea where he was and that his phone was locked in Jackson’s car. He couldn’t even call an Uber. Without any other options, he took a seat on the front porch swing and buried his face in his hands, praying he didn’t do something even more embarrassing like start crying again.
When the front door opened, Day didn’t look up. “Look, Jackson. I’m sorry—”
“It’s me you should be apologizing to, young man.”
Day’s head snapped up at the sound of Bev’s voice. She walked towards him, her cane clicking on the wooden planks below as she moved. She took a seat beside him on the swing, using her good leg to set it swaying gently.
“I’m sorry,” Day muttered. “That in there…that wasn’t about you. Any of you. I was just… I was just trying to prove a point to Jackson.”
Bev made a noncommittal sound. “I believe you. To tell you the truth, I’m surprised you managed to get the words out at all. The whole time you were talking, you looked like you were gonna be sick all over my great grandmother’s lace tablecloth.”
“That’s why I came out here. Thought it might be better to throw up on your azaleas instead,” Day said, face hot with embarrassment.
Day jumped as Bev’s hand came to rest on his back. “No need for that, but if you do throw up, do it on the gardenia bushes. They like acidic soil.” Day couldn’t help but laugh. “You got my boy fit to be tied in there, you know.”
Day stared at his hands. “I know.”
“He texted me earlier that you were probably going to come here and act as outrageous as you could. Said you were just scared and I should ignore it.”
Day’s gaze shot to hers. “He did?”
“Yep. He didn’t want us thinking you were always this…outspoken.”
Day shook his head, frustration leaching into his voice. “I am, though. Maybe not as bad as I was in there, but I pop off on people all the time, and everything I said in there was true. My mom was a stripper who left me when I was four. My grandmother was a raging addict who hated me. I don’t tell that to everybody but it doesn’t make it any less real.”
Bev rubbed soothing circles on his back. “I know. Nobody can make up that kind of story off the cuff and sound believable.”
“I keep telling Jackson I’m not worth all this effort. We don’t even know each other. I don’t understand why he can’t see that.”
Bev smiled. “My boy is a romantic, just like me. I knew I was gonna marry his daddy the moment I laid eyes on him. I just…had a feeling. His daddy always said the same about me. He just knew. My Jackson’s been waiting almost thirty-eight years to feel that feeling, and he clearly felt it with you. He’s never brought anybody home to meet us before. Ever. You might not think you’re worth all this effort, but my boy does, and he’s rarely wrong. Don’t let fear cheat you out of something amazing.”
“Why are you being so nice to me?” Day asked, bewildered.
“Because we are all more than our past mistakes, and if my boy wants you, there’s clearly a reason why.”
Day dropped his head in his hands once more. “I can’t believe I mimed a blowjob in front of you.”
She laughed, pulling Day close in a side hug. She smelled like roses. She smelled like a mom. “Let me tell you a story. When I was young like you, I met Jackson’s daddy. I was a hot little number back then with my fancy beehive hair and my perfect figure and this down to there and up to here gorgeous green dress that would have made Jennifer Lopez blush. Jackson’s daddy was up for a promotion, so we’re having dinner with his lieutenant and his wife at this fancy supper club that has entertainment. Right up front by the stage. Now, I’ve had more than a few drinks because this is an important dinner and I’m nervous about us being the only brown people in the room. Then here comes this belly dancer out on the stage, and well, she’s just not very good. She’s sweaty and heavy footed and stinks of cheap vodka...so I tell her so. Loudly. In front of everybody. She tells me if I think I can do better, I should show her. Day, honey, I did. I crawled up onto that stage in my gorgeous green gown and I proceeded to belly dance in front of my husband’s boss. Not well. The next morning, I was mortified. But my husband got the promotion.”
Day stared at her, wide-eyed. “Really?”
She laughed, delighted. “Yes, sir. If you help me do the dishes, I’ll tell you about the time I accidentally ended up in the men’s room by mistake and how Jackson’s daddy thought I’d ditched him.”
Day nodded. “Yeah, okay.”
Jackson didn’t speak the whole way home, and the more the silence grew, the more nervous Day became. Part of him hoped it would be like their dinner the other night when Jackson kissed him silly in the elevator, but after Day’s performance, that was hard to imagine.
On the elevator, Jackson stood beside Day, hands in his pockets, staring straight ahead as Day tried to make himself as small as possible. While his sabotage had seemed like a good idea hours ago, having to face the real possibility that Jackson was done with him, that he’d kick Day out and leave him alone to not only face a potential murderer but also a broken heart, caused a panic Day hadn’t felt in a long time.
All he could do was try to triage the situation, stop the bleeding and hope Jackson would give him another chance to at least say he was sorry. As soon as the door to the apartment closed, Day turned on him. “Jackson, I know you’re mad—”
“Day,” Jackson said, cutting him off, voice a barely-there rumble. “Go upstairs to my bedroom, take off your clothes, and wait for me.”
Day’s stomach did that swooping thing once more, but, this time, for an entirely different reason. “What?”
“You heard me.”
Day licked his lips, swallowing hard. “Jackson—”
“Go. Now.”
Day shivered at the lack of emotion in Jackson’s voice, but he was already half-hard before he made it to the staircase. The trek to Jackson’s room seemed to take forever, like he was trudging through quicksand. What was Jackson going to do to him?
Day undressed, but then he wasn’t sure what to do. Did Jackson want him on the bed? On his knees? Both? Neither? He paced the room, wondering if he should fold the clothes he’d left on the floor or just leave them. The not knowing was causing a giant knot behind his diaphragm, which Day suspected was part of Jackson’s plan.
Day was facing the bed when he heard the door push open. He turned to look at Jackson, who gave Day a long thorough once over as he undid his belt and tossed it on the bed, sitting on the mattress beside the leather strap.
“Jackson, I know you’re mad…” Day tried once more.
“I’m not mad,” Jackson said, tugging Day closer. “But you’ve been begging for this punishment for a very long time.”
Jackson pulled Day over his knees, and the reality of Day’s situation hit home. “You can’t be serious,” Day said, his words passing his lips in a breathless rush. Jackson didn’t answer, but his hand cracked over Day’s ass cheek hard enough to drive the air from his lungs. “Jackson, I’m sorry.”
“I know,” Jackson said, voice resigned. “I know you’re sorry, but the only way you’re getting out of this is if you use your safeword.”
Day didn’t want to use his safe word. The truth was, he was rock hard just from Jackson’s first blow, and there was no way Jackson didn’t feel Day’s erection pressing against his thigh, even through his jeans.
“I’m sorry, Daddy,” Day murmured, forcing himself to relax.
The next blow landed on Day’s thighs, pulling a pained hiss from him. Jackson didn’t react. He didn’t speak. He brought his hand down three times in rapid succession, leaving a trail of fire in his wake. Day bit down on his bottom lip to try to keep from crying out, but it was almost impossible. Jackson was brutal and thorough, spanking Day until there was no part of his thighs and ass that weren’t burning. Day squirmed, tears filling his eyes and dripping to the floor, but Jackson didn’t stop. Day was so hard, his cock throbbed, leaking precum through Jackson’s jeans, but Day didn’t care. He was too far gone to care.
After two more hard slaps, Jackson’s big hand rubbed over Day’s bruised flesh, teasing his legs apart to skim his fingers across Day’s balls and the cleft of his ass. His shoulders sagged in relief, certain the punishment was over. When Jackson’s hand came down once more, Day’s whole body bowed upward, his hands flying behind him to cover his abused backside. “Please, Daddy. I’m sorry. I’m so sorry. No more. I promise, I’ll be good. I’ll do anything. It hurts.”
Jackson tipped Day upright and he slid to his knees, too weak to hold himself up at the moment. Jackson’s thumb rubbed across Day’s bottom lip, dark brown eyes almost black in the dim bedroom lighting. Day sucked his thumb into his mouth.
“Anything?” Jackson asked, rubbing his spit slick finger over Day’s tongue before removing it.
“Yes, anything. Anything, I swear.”
“Stand up.”
Day righted himself, his legs wobbling like he was a baby deer. Jackson went to the nightstand and tossed Day the lube.
“I want you to get yourself ready for me,” he told Day before going to sit in the chair in the corner.
Day flushed. It wasn’t like Jackson was asking for anything new. Day had been fingering himself in front of a camera for almost three years, but he’d never done it with somebody in the room.
Jackson opened his pants and pushed his jeans and underwear out of the way, stroking his cock. “Don’t make me wait. You’re already in enough trouble.”
Day crawled onto the bed, putting his ass in the air, his chest on the bed. He lubed his fingers and slid them between his legs, turning his head so he could see Jackson’s reaction as he slipped one lubed finger inside. Day moaned. The feeling of being penetrated combining with the way his bottom throbbed and the knowledge that Jackson was watching him had Day’s thoughts feeling pleasantly fuzzy, the outside world fading away as he fucked his finger as deep as he could in his current position.
“Another,” Jackson said.
Jackson was already hard, his thick cock jutting up from a nest of curls. Day sank another finger inside himself, rocking back into them. “Oh, fuck, Daddy. Like this? Is this good? ”
“I think you need one more. I want my cock to slide right into that tight little hole.”
Day’s cock leaked as he pushed a third finger inside himself, hissing at the burn as his body attempted to take another finger.
“Are you nice and wet for me? I want your hole good and sloppy.”
Day whined at Jackson’s words. “Oh, fuck. Yes, Daddy.”
“Then come over here and show me.” Day pulled his fingers free, wiping them on the comforter, before crossing to Jackson, who looked at Day in a way that made his core melt. “Spread yourself open. Show me how ready you are for me.”
Day blushed to the roots of his hair and he was sure his heart stopped, but he did as Jackson asked, feeling both dirty and more turned on than he’d ever been before. Jackson pulled Day back until he was straddling Jackson’s thighs, still facing away from him. Day wasn’t sure how he felt about doing it this way. Without seeing Jackson’s face, it left Day feeling untethered. But this wasn’t about Day, it was about Jackson. Day lowered himself slowly until he felt Jackson’s cock snug against his entrance.
Day cried out as Jackson’s cock impaled him in one hard thrust, his hand coming up around Day’s throat, not cutting off his air but clamping down on the side of his neck until that woozy feeling intensified and Day felt like he was floating away. “You like that, baby? You like Daddy’s big cock stretching your hole?”
“Oh, God. Yes, Daddy,” Day said around a sob. “Please.”
Jackson snarled, biting at Day’s shoulder. “Then put your feet up on the chair and show me. Make me come. Show Daddy how much you love this cock.”
Day gripped the top of the chair, maneuvering his feet on either side of Jackson’s thighs using the back of the chair as leverage so he could work himself up and down on Jackson’s cock. The sounds he was making would be humiliating if Day had even one fuck left to give, but he didn’t because Jackson was filling him up and holding him tight, and Day felt like he was penetrating every cell in his body, fucking into the very core of him.
“Fuck, yeah. That’s it. You’re so fucking tight,” Jackson said against Day’s ear, his voice like gravel.
Day sobbed. Jackson’s fingers were playing with Day’s nipples, and his thighs were burning from the effort of working himself on Jackson’s dick. He was also so hard he might be able to come just from this, and he might have even said so out loud.
Day suddenly found himself upended. Jackson turned them both. “Knees on the chair, brat.”
Day did as Jackson commanded, his fingers trying to find purchase on the back of the chair as Jackson gripped Day’s hips and slammed back into him, ripping a cry of surprise from him. Jackson gripped Day’s hair in his hand, craning his head back for a sloppy kiss that had him fucking his tongue into Day’s mouth in time with his cock thrusting into Day’s slick hole. There was nothing soft about this. Jackson wasn’t worried about protecting Day, and he loved it. This was feral, animalistic, damn near a fucking felony, and Day never wanted Jackson to stop. He wanted to wake up with bruises on his hips and Jackson’s handprints on his ass and an ache inside that let him know Jackson had bred him hard and deep.
