Chapter Twenty-One

**Tempest**
I discover as we’re walking through the streets of LA, having decided to go here instead of Malibu, that it’s Sargent’s birthday soon. In precisely four days.

Maddox told me while we were discussing things, window shopping. I can see that it makes him uncomfortable so I’ll not approach the subject at all. Though I kind of want to discuss the whole “marriage when older” thing because I felt a bit blindsided by that. I also feel awful.

I’m not going to talk about it. It’ll just open an awkward conversation that neither of us will enjoy.

Maddox looks good, tanned and clean. His hair is lighter which means he has spent a lot of time in the sun.

“So where have you been?” I ask him carefully, not wanting to trigger any kind of ill feelings.

He smiles in reply. “Just at an old friend’s place along the beach. I was jogging when I came across you. I was going to approach you but then Dad appeared.” I don’t say anything because I promised him I wouldn’t. “You’re falling for him, aren’t you? Not surprising if he’s like that with you.”

“Like what?”

“Happy and playful, smiling like somebody half his age…”

I snort. “You like pointing out the age gap don’t you?”

“Yep, just like you will in a few years when you want kids and a marriage and he’s fucking a different woman every weekend because he’s bored but he feels indebted to you because you made him feel shit he hasn’t felt before and because you’re my closest friend. It’s such a fucking TV drama.”

“Wow, Maddox, say what you really feel…”

“I’m not trying to be an ass. I’m your friend so I’m being real. I don’t want you to get hurt but he will hurt you,” he states, taking my arm and pulling me into a trinket store. “I need some more incense sticks.”

“I need to get high,” I murmur, and he hums his agreement. “He can only promise me what every other guy can promise me…”

“No, he can’t. Because he can’t give you kids or any of that other shit. He won’t want babies at his age.”

“Maddox, he’s not old. He’s just older than me.”

“That’s what he said to Cassius.” He runs his fingers over long, narrow boxes until he finds the scent he wants. I love stepping into stores like this, the different flavors in the air combined is so beautiful. “He said you’ll leave him soon anyway because he’ll never give you what you want.”

“You’ve been talking to Cassius about my relationship?”

He taps me on the head with the narrow box and smiles mischievously. “I’ve been kept up-to-date with the development of you fucking my dad. I was ready to swoop in and take you away if he fucked you over.”

“How chivalrous…”

“I’m here for you when he fucks it up and he will. He can’t be faithful. He cheated on my mom, did he tell you that?”

I blink at him. “We haven’t approached the subject but I trust him. I’d like it if you didn’t put shit in my head that doesn’t need to be there.”

“And what about the no-kids thing? Doesn’t that bother you?”

“No, I’m not sure I want kids anyway and if I ever do I’ll cross that bridge when it comes to it. Can’t I just enjoy the amazing sex and fun we have without all of this?”

He makes a dramatic puking sound when I say the word sex.

“You brought it up. Which I don’t appreciate,” I grumble, grabbing the box from him and marching it to the checkout where a woman takes his money and puts the incense sticks into a paper bag.

His phone starts to ring so he steps to the side and I notice a sign on the counter for an herbal, liquid penis enhancer. Like Viagra but you rub it onto the dick, or so it says.

I press my lips together to stop myself from laughing and say to the woman, “Can I get some of that, please?”

She raises a brow at Maddox who looks at me with his jaw on the floor.

“He has performance issues,” I add loudly, pointing at Maddox who hangs up the phone as I pay for the liquid and tuck it into my pocket. It’s in a little brown bottle with a tiny little cap. Surely this small amount can’t be enough. I should have asked for more.

“You’re a bitch, you know that?” He shoves me but catches my arm before I stumble and just like that, everything is kind of okay.

Little does he know the gift is for Sargent, as a joke for his birthday. Now, what can I get him as a real present? The man has everything.

Then it hits me. I don’t need to buy him something.

I scroll through the images on my phone until I find the one I need. I grin.

“Let’s go home, I feel like drawing,” I say.

“Drawing what?”

“Never you mind.”

“You sounded so British then.” He smiles down at me, showing his perfect teeth as he bumps his arm with mine.

I bump him back. “Thank you for giving me another chance, Mad.”

“I could say the same to you,” he replies, slinging his arm around my shoulder. “Just… don’t let me hear it, or see it. Let me pretend you aren’t together.”

I laugh at that and blow out a breath. “I’m making plans to go to Africa next year with Cassius. He sent me the details last week.”

“He said.”

“What do you think?”

“I think I want to come with you but I have obligations now. Big ones.”

“Why? What’s going on?”

His frown returns and his eyes look so troubled. “Nothing to worry about, not yet anyway.”

I don’t believe him but I don’t press. If he wanted to talk about it, he would. So instead of prying, I hug his arm and let him know I’m here if he changes his mind.

**Sargent**
Work has been tough today seeing as I’ve been neglecting it to spend time with a certain little fiery brunette. I need to do what Cassius has done and hire somebody to handle the mundane shit so I can stay away even more. The business is running smoothly, there are teams of people for all the different areas, but there are some things that are better left to me.

When I’m done, I head to the grocery store and pick up a few things for dinner.

I decide on lamb, I’ve never made Tempest lamb and if she’s already eaten, I’ll just make it for myself.

When I arrive home, Maddox is sitting on the sofa, drinking beer and the place stinks of weed.

I sigh and look at his easy smile as he brings a large glass, blue and green striped bong to his lips.

“What is this, a frat house? It stinks in here.”

“It was all Pest’s idea.” He grins and I decide not to chastise him for it. It isn’t illegal and it’s not like he’s choosing this over work. I just wish he’d done it outside. The door is open but I’m still going to get an unwanted secondhand high.

“Where is she?” I ask, looking around the room for her, expecting to find her within the vicinity.

“She’s outside painting,” he replies and I take off running. “What? What’s wrong?”

“Tempest?” I yell, my heart hammering as I round the corner, skidding on the wet tiles from the pool.

“Here,” she calls and I find her in her art corner, painting on a large canvas. “STOP!”

I immediately do so and raise a brow when she turns the easel away and picks up a half-smoked joint out of a bowl on the ground.

“What’s wrong?” I ask, scanning her with my eyes.

“You’re not allowed to see my paintings until they’re done. You know that.”

“I do know that but are you forgetting about the knife-wielding maniac? You shouldn’t be out here alone.”

“I have mace spray and a Taser… where did I put them?” She starts looking under sheets of paper and piles of paint trays for the objects. Then she gives up, shrugs and lights the joint.

I’m not a fan of smoking but I have to admit she looks so sexy as she lets it out through her lips, making tiny Os in the smoke.

“Want some?” She holds the joint out to me but I don’t take it. “Relax a little, Sarge.”

“I don’t do that shit and you shouldn’t either.”

“When I smoke it, I can deep throat,” she singsongs, walking toward me, the lit joint still in her hand. She takes one last inhale before dropping it onto the ground.

Her words got my dick hard. Shit. I want to test her theory so badly.

I gasp when she crushes her lips to mine, her eyes still open. Wagging her eyebrows, she breathes out and I breathe in, feeling my throat tighten and tingle as I inhale the smoke from her lungs.

It’s only a small amount so it doesn’t do much, but it does allow her the opportunity to grip my arms and pull me around the side of the gym, out of sight of my son.

I hardly get the chance to think or protest when she drops to her knees, pulls me free of my clothing and sucks me into her mouth.

“Jees…” I murmur, placing my hand on her head as she goes to fucking town on my cock. Her warm, wet, willing mouth is so soft and perfect. I lean forward and push gently into her mouth. She sucks, licks, grips, and rolls in all of the right places and then she swallows the head of me and I am so glad I came home when I did.

I’m so close, my balls are so fucking tight it’s painful. I want to hold out and fuck her right here, but I also want her to swallow me, not just my dick but everything I give her when I come.

“Tempest,” I warn, letting her know I’m nearly there. She keeps going, keeps forcing me deeper and deeper, until I cry out. A burn spreads through my body and the most intense orgasm I have ever felt hits me, wave after wave of pure bliss. I force myself to watch her as I shoot into her open mouth and she pumps my cock with her hand, ensuring every last drop is gone before swallowing and hell… I almost come again just watching that.

“God, I fucking love you,” I blurt breathlessly and yank her up to me.

She smiles languidly, her lips swollen and red, her hair messy and wild, her eyes relaxed and happy. Then I realize what I said and all I can think is… well shit.

“I love you too,” she replies before I can take it back and explain that I meant I love what she does to me, not that I love love her. It’s far too soon for that… or at least it is for me. “I’m hungry.”

She kisses my jaw and starts to walk away.

I just fucked up. I just fucked up so bad.

It’s too late now anyway. Even if I do take back what I said, I can’t take back what she said and it’ll just hurt her if I do. Perhaps one day I’ll say it and mean it. I just beg that I haven’t given her false hope and tomorrow isn’t the day I wake up and decide I’m done. The thought pains me.

Maybe I do love her in my own way?

Whatever I feel, I don’t want it to end, not yet.