The weathered pick-up eased to a stop next to the curb with a pointed squeal, reminding me of the desperate need for new breaks.

Retracting her feet from the dash, Vinnie peeked out from the passenger seat to get a survey of the land. Staff members and children littered the grounds like a frenzied ant hill.

"Stay here, I'll only be a minute."

Something to the effect of 'Roger Dodger' murmured passed the slamming door. I jogged from asphalt to concrete and into the chilled air conditioned hall.

I swallowed my anger long enough to nod a short thank you to the office receptionist and collect my sulking niece. Who had the nerve to grumble all the way back to the truck, as if she was the one who had been verbally attacked. Instantly Mary's shoulders sagged when she saw the pointed look on Vinnie's face, who was now out and reclined against the truck cab. Arms crossed and waiting, lollipop volleying between each cheek.

We were almost home free when a voice called out against our backs.

"Excuse me?-Hi!"

Mary and I both jarred to a stop on the sidewalk, turning to meet the voice that bellowed from a dark haired jogger.

"Oh look it's my teacher. Maybe she wants to remind me what one plus one is." I gave Mary's shoulder a scolded squeeze.

"Go to the car, okay? Try not to piss Vinnie off even more, please. Remember, we have to ride home with her."

I watched Mary's stomping venture to the truck. The little blonde spitfire glared at the blackened asphalt until Vinnie stooped to her level. They conversed quietly until finally Mary slowly nodded and threw her arms around Vinnie's neck in a tight embrace.

"Hi." The voice from behind piped again, pulling my attention from the girls climbing into the truck.

"Hi." I simply mirrored, already noticing the woman's nervous demeanor.

"Sorry to chase you down." She fidgeted with her laced fingers.

"It's okay, Mary's teacher?"

One of those nervous hands was extended with an introduction. "Yes, Bonnie Stevenson."

We shook a moment.

"I'm Frank. How are you? Sorry about today. She got a little over excited. First day jitters and everything." I pulled back my hand and caught a subtle reluctance in her grip.

Mary's teacher-Bonnie, nodded in agreement with my apologized explanation. Her eyes met mine with a certain lingering smile. A muffled giggle from the truck cab caught my ear.

"We are actually running a bit late, so we gotta get going." I motioned to step off the curb when Bonnie caught my arm.

As if burned by my skin, Bonnie quickly dropped her hand. "Okay, it's just..I actually don't even want to talk about that."

My brow furrowed and I looked at her expectantly.

"I think your daughter..I think Mary is gifted." Bonnie stopped and started as if to pick the right words before she continued.

"Today in math she answered some really advanc-"

Damn it.

How did I know this was going to happen?

I stopped the notion quickly, covering my budded paranoia with a quick explanation.

"No that's-she's not gifted. It's Trachtenberg."

It was Bonnie's turn to look confused.

"Spent seven years in a concentration camp and developed this system to rapidly solve problems."

"But..she's."

I read the teacher's growing hesitation to believe my excuse.

"It's the Trachtenberg method." I repeated, stepping off the curb and away from the polite interrogation.

I could feel Vinnie's eyes on my back.

"I mean..but she's seven. If you and your wife are interested, we could have a conference."

The ill-informed woman standing before me gestured towards the truck, exchanging a glance between Vin and myself.

My wife…huh..why didn't that make me as uncomfortable as I thought it would?

Actually, it felt..good. Felt right. Certainly not like the anxiety this conversation was giving me.

"My wife and I..right, well actually I learned that method when I was eight. Do I look gifted to you?" Hands spanned to my disheveled appearance.

"It's lost its touch since the invention of the calculator but can still win me a drink at the bar." I kept talking, distracting Bonnie from my retreated movements.

"Sorry again about today! Won't happen again." I pulled open the driver door and extended a wave before she could reel me back in.

"Nice to meet you…"

My brain scrounged for her name.

"Bonnie!" She finished, still standing idle on the curb.

"Frank."

And with a quick farewell nod we were out of there.

Mary begged to change her clothes before we headed back to the shop. It appeared on this particular day I'd have quite the company.

"You sure you don't wanna go home, catch some sleep? You look beat." I shifted my gaze from the gapped front door of our bungalow to Vinnie at my right, as we waited for Mary to collect her things.

"Why thank you, that's just what every lady wants to hear." A sarcastic smile stretched to meet me.

"You're surviving on like, a 15 minute power nap and toast. That can't be good."

Vinnie hooked her attention back to me, abandoning the inspection of her nail beds.

"When did I do that?"

I puffed a laugh and tried hard not to roll my eyes, knowing what would follow if she caught me.

"At the shop, shortly after we got there. You don't remember? I was explaining the difference between the two gaskets I ordered. Turned around and you were snoozing right there on the workbench." My thumb spanned the length from temple to cheek along her face, swiping away the remnants of grease.

"See, earned yourself a souvenir."

Vinnie just smirked at the sight of my blackened thumb pad before she lathered that sarcasm on thick.

"Oh no, and you mean to tell me I missed out on that great gasket seminar?"

I retaliated with a quick smack on the bill of her hat that sent it over her eyes and we both broke out in a fit of laughter.

But then the moment stilled and so did she.

"I've survived on much less, Adler." Vinnie breathed to the wind, eyes locked on the front of the house.

She did that often, spoke without really saying anything. I could tell it was a skill Vinnie had mastered long ago. Covering up for a past she was so desperate to leave behind. It planted a seed of anger in me, just a small one. Because this woman, who knew my past and present like the back of her hand, divulged little of herself besides what I picked up myself.

"No wonder that woman was looking at me funny, you didn't tell me I looked like a grease monkey!" Vinnie recovered, a playful swat finding my arm.

"What woman?"

"The one you were talking to, was that the principal?"

Bonnie.

I didn't dare tell Vin the real reason she was staring. Not really sure how that would have sounded.

'Oh no, she didn't think you were a grease monkey..just my wife.'

"Oh, yeah..actually that was Mary's teacher."

I brought my focus back to the topic at hand and far, far away from what I pictured life would be like if we were married. Not that there would be many changes, we were already raising Mary together and took care of each other. It's just this one big change, monumental after all this time. A certain act that usually followed marriage. One that involved the absence of clothes….

I gritted my jaw to halt the sideways glance over Vinnie's curvy body.

"Oh really? What did she say?" Vinnie implored, shifting in the seat to face me better, she stretched those silky smooth legs across my lap and I damn near jumped.

"She..um, she thinks Mary is gifted."

I white-knuckled the steering wheel just to fight the urge to touch her.

Though she didn't make it an entire day and she would probably pop out of the house at any moment, Mary's presence around us was dwindling. Soon Mary would be at school full time, barring no other outbursts, which would leave Vin and I alone together more often.

That thought excited, tempted and scared me all at the same time. Those feelings I was talking about dared to resurrect if I wasn't careful.

"Damn it, one day and she's already drawn the attention of the teachers." Vinnie rolled a circle with her neck. "If we aren't careful, there's gonna be a feedin' frenzy and they'll be pushin' special programs down her throat."

Somehow my hand had snaked from its post on the wheel and dangled in a whisper over Vinnie's ankle.

"Yup, exactly what we were trying to avoid." My mouth on autopilot, urges taking center stage. I held my breath and brushed her skin with mine.

The warmth radiating from Vinnie acted as a silent invitation, beckoning me to venture further, daring me to lean across the already tiny space of the truck cab.

Vinnie caught my eye and I watched her lips part ever so slightly. Pouty and stained red. And so damn irresistible.

I swallowed a thick gulp, waiting. Searching those expanding whiskey pools that fluttered with dark lashes, for any sign of resignation.

But Vinnie simply extended her long leg, prompting my hand to slide from ankle to thigh and minimize our distance. She then arched forward, shoulder brushing mine. Breath kissing my cheek. The skin under hand sent a shock through my system the longer I lingered. My heart pounded in my ears as I massaged a path up the tender flesh, flirting with the frayed hem of her cut-offs. I felt myself internally shiver at the sight of Vin's nimble tongue darting out to wet those heavenly lips. Surely my heart would explode at the sheer anticipation.

"Frank I.."

Vinnie started in a whisper of a voice that panted with need.

You what? Oh, God please say it. Please say those words I've been dying to hear. That simple sentence that was currently choking me.

In the distance, a screen door slapped hard against weathered wood. "Can I bring Fred?!"

We both jolted apart like we were on fire.

I cleared my throat roughly and could only muster an approving wave through the window to the little girl who struggled to hold the squirming tabby. Vinnie wouldn't look at me, instead jumped from the cab and jogged across the lawn to help Mary.

I rubbed the exhaustion from my face and started the truck back up.

God I needed a shower, a cold, ice cold shower.

-0-

I threw myself into the installation of the boat's new hose and valve, geared my focus on the intricate fittings and not the tempting brunette asleep in my truck.

"For the record, I didn't wanna go to the stupid school in the first place. And the boy in the front row acts inappropriately for someone who's a child." An excuse voiced from atop the cooler.

"Oh, sorry I'm still passive aggressively ignoring you." I advised the grumbling seven year old, shifting my attention from the motor to her perched seat on the dock.

"Other kids didn't get in trouble for answering questions."

"You didn't get in trouble for answering questions. You yelled at the principle."

Mary's defense promptly fell at the sound of my quick correction. I wiped the grease from my hands and adjusted the borrowed aviators that slipped down my nose.

"Hey, I did a little research after the call with your school. You'll be interested in the percentage of first graders that yell at their principles. I bet you'll never guess how many do it."

"How many?"

"None." I answered sternly, turning my back to check the boat's gadges.

A scuffle of tired sneakers against warped boards pulled my profile to the side.

"I'm sorry, Frank. I'm really, really sorry." Adolescent urgency begged through the slapping of the current's dips and swells.

"Yeah, right." I collected a forgotten wrench off the dash "You can't show off like that in school."

Mary's head dipped "I know."

"You promised Vinnie and I. And then on the first day.." The reminder of Vinnie seemed to pluck something within the little girl. Her face screwed into a downward glance towards the boat's edge.

"I know, I screwed up. I told Ninnie I was really sorry though."

A silent truce formed between us, as if the fact that she apologized to Vinnie dissolved any punishment. And it just might have. At this point I was just trying to get through the day with a level head and without another outburst from my niece.

I felt Mary's eyes on me as I packed up my gear and scrubbed away any remnants of grease from the boat's creamy color.

"Hey, do you think this boat could use a test drive?"

The mischievous grin that stared across our distance reminded me of someone I was trying very hard not to think about.

With little protest I gave in, "Go get Vinnie and Fred."

Hopeful eyes beamed to excitement at the sound of my caved sigh. Mary then bolted up from the cooler and began a sprint down the uneven boards. I called after her to walk, which she did for approximately five steps before breaking out into an arm pumping run again.

The sight that followed shortly after, greeting me as I warmed up the boat, had my chest rumbling with laughter. Vinnie carried Mary, who in turn carried Fred, looking a little bewildered at the presence of the surrounding water. All three piled on top of each other like a living, breathing set of Russian nesting dolls.

"Good afternoon, Captain. Your crew reportin' for duty." Vinnie offered me a dramatic salute, which Mary copied in a fit of giggles.

Gracefully she lowered both Fred and Mary into the boat before climbing in after, cooler in hand. I waited until everyone was situated. Cat secured, Mary wearing her life jacket.

"Everyone ready for take off?" I called over my eclectic group of passengers.

"Rodger Dodger, Sailor boy" Vinnie playfully bumped me with her hip as she passed.

I reminded myself to channel my focus on steering, or the chopping waves and dipping gulls, not the wild mane of chestnut curls that whipped beside me. Intoxicating me further with each gust of air that brought her scent to my nose.

Vinnie looked so effortlessly cool. So relaxed.

Reclined against the boat's side just diagonal of me, like she belonged there. She smiled over at the giggling little girl, clad in a puffy life vest and clutching tightly onto Fred.

I felt my heart flutter when Vinnie turned her gaze ever so slightly in my direction, sliding me a quick wink. Then graced the wetlands on either side of the boat with her attention.

It wasn't long after we docked along the sandy ribbon of forgotten beach that I thanked the universe of Vinnie's lack of a bathing suit.

Not that she couldn't rock a two piece, I'd seen it on plenty of occasions. The first time actually, years ago, I nearly choked on my beer. The sight of her nestled in that kiddie pool with Mary, red cuts of material barely containing her curves had the fizzy carbonation of alcohol burning my nose. Meanwhile the baby in her lap, oblivious and not helping the situation, splashed chubby arms and landed beads of water perfectly over the swell of Vinnie's breasts.

So I knew, after what happened in the truck, with my emotions still raw from another almost I wouldn't be able to handle even a glimpse of that red bikini.

We staked claim to a small patch of sand. Marking our territory with two chairs, an umbrella and cooler. After a thorough layer of sunscreen Mary sped off. Bucket in hand, cat on her heels, in search of hidden treasures.

I watched her movements, dancing uninhibited around the deserted area, until a pair of eyes found my profile.

"Well that takes care of baby bear. You're next Papa Bear." A cheeky grin peeked from behind the Coppertone bottle.

My breath hitched when suddenly Vinnie was on her knees in front of me, nestled between my open thighs.

Yeah, this definitely wasn't pouring water on that simmering fire of desire which burned in the back of my mind. This was bathing it in Vinnie laced lighter fluid. And at this very moment, I was happy to be engulfed in it's flames.

A delicate touch found the bridge of my nose, spreading white lotion in its tracks. I studied her face, honey colored eyes focused on the task at hand. Making sure to sweep the protective layer over my neck and I caged the sigh that built in my throat as she massaged the tense muscles.

Did she even know what she was doing to me? Did she know I hung on her every word?

"If I'm Papa Bear, what does that make you?"

The words blurted out and I barely recognized that I actually said them aloud. The only evidence was etched across Vinnie's face.

She blinked, more rapidly than normal, thoughts zooming but her face never faltered.

An excellent poker face.

"I'm neighbor bear, there whenever you need her." Vinnie grinned, squeezing more lotion to dust my cheeks and side stepped the subject entirely.

I let my emotions surface again, unable to keep the hard wrangle on them another second.

I caught Vin's wrist loosely, halting her flush against me.

"Is that all you are?" My voice stayed low, as to not draw attention from anyone but the brunette between my legs.

I registered the smallest amount of panic in Vinnie's expression, as if scared her mask might crack.

"Is that all you want to be?" I implored again, keeping my light grasp on her wrist.

I fought to read the emotions behind those brown eyes, to sort out if she felt what I felt. Were they mutual? Those white knuckling feelings that made my heart pound and my focus blurry.

Vinnie never moved, never struggled from my grip. She stayed frozen, like a deer in headlights.

A beautiful, doe eyed deer.

And then I recognized it, that look from the truck. Buried need brimming just to the edge and pouty, unspeaking lips.

"Ninnie, come help me look for shells!"

Saved by the bell.

"Comin' baby!" Vinnie called to Mary though her eyes never left me.

They poured out to me, drowned me in their bourbon color until her gaze fell to our hands. Mine followed and I swallowed the realization.

Despite our fighting minds our bodies reacted with each other so naturally, lacing fingers together in a fleshy knit.

A simple act that felt earthquaking.

I had stared too long at our enclosed hands because I missed Vinnie's movements closer until she reared up and her lips found the shell of my ear.

"I think you already know the answer, Frank."

And like all our other moments, they were fleeting and she was gone. Charging the beach after a quick footed blonde, scooping her up in a playful grasp.

The emptiness seemed to grow every time we were forced to let go of one another, carving a hole in my chest. A Vinnie sized whole, right there in my heart.

I was glad to have some time to myself. In hopes of unscrambling the events of today with nature's help. Some distance away, the rest of my family enjoyed the clear weather of the day. Fred deeply interested in the movements of a fly ignored the females beside him, who shrieked laughter to gulls above. They scrounged for abandoned shells, and chased each other through the feet-sinking mud. It wasn't too long before Vinnie lay motionless on the sun baked sand, Mary packing gritty mounds of the beach's sediment on top of her.

A picturesque end to a not so perfect day.

The orange sphere sank lower in the sky, dwindling the light and the allotted time we had. Soon I would need to get the boat back, start dinner and Vinnie was due in for a shift.

The two had retraced their steps toward me, Mary on my lap and Vinnie sprawled out in the adjacent chair, no doubt fading in and out of fatigued consciousness.

"Would my mom have wanted me to go to this school?"

"I can only guess." I shifted her weight on my knee. "But I know she'd want you to have friends."

"Idiot friends?" Mary asked though she kept a determined gaze towards the water that lapped against the shore.

"And she'd want you to have compassion for others, like a cat can have for a sandpiper." Little fingers toyed with mine in great thought.

"Like Vin has for those not-so-nice people she helps."

Simultaneously Mary and I shifted a lazy glance towards the paramedic, hat returned and masking her peaceful expression. Mary giggled at the light snore that hiccuped from behind that tattered bill.

"But what if they don't like me?"

I caught Mary's profile, "Then they're idiots."

A sheepish grin lit up her face and soon she was reclined back against me.

The day was coming to a close and I reluctantly had to be the reminder, earning myself a groan from the genius in my lap.

"I know but it's time." I played a beat softly on her stomach. "You collect your shells and Fred. I'll collect sleeping beauty here and meet you at the boat."

Mary sprung up with a new found list of duties.

I dusted off the gritty earth from my feet before replacing my socks and shoes. Erecting from my own chair, I stretched dramatically before turning towards my delegated task.

Silently I kneeled down, sand shifting under me and slowly peeled back her hat.

She was flawless.

Dark eyelashes kissed the apples of her tanned cheeks and those plump lips were relaxed in the smallest smile, as if dreaming of something pleasant.

"Ready to go, Wonder Woman?" I asked in a gentle voice, not truly wanting to wake her.

Her breaths were even and content. Low hanging sun painted her body in a hue of splotchy yellow.

I stared just a little longer, thumbing back a thick curl from her brow. Vinnie stirred lightly and I was sure I'd woken her but those brown eyes stayed hidden and she simply twitched a smile and moved into my touch.

Vinnie's emotions were contagious, never had I been so in tune with another person. She infected me, every second of my life and Mary's, and I wasn't looking for a cure. Just like a junkie on the street, I was looking for more.

I whispered a kiss against her temple before scooping Vinnie up in my arms. Again she stirred, nestling closer into me and I swore my pounding heart would no doubt wake her. Determined not to jostle the sleeping beauty too much, I padded across the uneven terrain with steady feet. Salt water roared in my left ear and late afternoon gulls screeched in my right.

Idley I began to hum one of the Beach Boy classics as we moved further down the coast line.

Vinnie inched closer, collapsing completely around me. Curls tickled my neck, lips moved against my pulse and I barely registered her words.

"I want.."

My neck craned back, trying to find Vinnie's face in that forest of brown hair.

"What was that?"

It may have just been sleep drunken garble but I wanted to hear it. I shifted Vinnie closer to my ear, squinting to decipher.

"I..want you.."

Her head lulled to the side slightly and I caught the remnants of consciousness filtering in.

"Want me to what, Gorgeous?" I grasped for one more chance to pull that fatigued truth from her.

"To stop singing that gall dang song, 'fore it gets stuck in my head."

The wind was knocked from my emotional sails.

Vinnie was awake. Awake and raring to go. We'd just reached the dock, Mary peeking out from the helm of the boat.

"What this one?" I buried my defeat deeper and spread a wide grin "Ooo I wanna take you to Bermuda, Bahama, come on pretty mama!"

Soon Mary joined in, Fred reluctantly following in a forced jig.

"Francis Adler you put me down this instance!"

Vinnie crowed in feigned anger, squirming against my chest with stifled laughter.

"Oh no you don't! Can't get rid of me that easy." I insisted, just as Vinnie touched one foot to the planked ground, swiftly I had her over my shoulder and jogging towards the boat. Averting my eyes to the heavens instead of the little slice I had perched over my shoulder.

"FRANK!" Her voice and hands beat against my back. "You better put me down or we're gonna see that sandwich again! And it ain't gone be pretty!"

Mary and I mirrored a cringed shiver at the mention of vomit. So before that pretty little mouth could voice anymore unsavory threats I had Vinnie right side up in the confines of the boat.

"Jerk!"

A flip flop whizzed passed my head as I retreated back down the dock for the rest of the supplies and I couldn't contain my laughter.

I exchanged a knowing grin to the silhouette perched on the boat's edge. Vinnie was even cuter when she mad.

Cheeks flushed, eyes inflamed like molten gold, wild curls tossing with every movement.

It was hard not to just stare at her but that would get you into even more trouble. She'd catch you not listening and that would be just another mark against your name. I wasn't helping my cause though, feeding the flame with a snarky smirk and a shrug of dramatic innocence.

I scrounged up the rest of our things and headed back to the boat, but not without picking up my rage goddess's weapon of choice.

She never bothered to get up, to lift a finger to help me stow the chairs, umbrella or cooler. Simply glared at the wind bent grass, donning only one flip flop.

I sent Mary a wink and dared to rattle the tigress's cage again.

"Milady." I greeted on bended knee, "I believe this is yours."

Vinnie eyed me suspiciously through hooded lashes. I tried hard to keep my best honest, all American boy smile in tacked while offering the rubber soled shoe to her bare foot.

"You are correct, sir. I lost it during an awful struggle with a brutish bear." She played along, earning a giggle from the peanut gallery.

I focused on the return of the flip flop to its owner. "Oh no, I am so sorry to hear that. Those beach bears can get out of control." My fingers whispered along the skin of Vinnie's toes to rest upon her ankle.

I smelled her before I realized the small gap between us. Vinnie had arched forward, casually leaning on her knee, and invading my every sense.

"Oh, I don't know. They aren't so bad." A nimble hand brushed flecks of gritty earth from the nape of my neck and I shivered, but there was no breeze.

"Thank you, My Noble Prince of the Bayou."

A bourbon iris winked playfully.

"Frank, bayou prince!" Mary announced, reminding me of her presence. I recovered with a throaty cough before erecting upward. Shortly I found my spot at the helm and not as far away from Vinnie as I should have been.

When we got back to the house, I was relieved to busy myself with unpacking, and dinner and completely avoiding Vinnie.

I was lucky enough that she'd gone across the lawn to shower and get ready for work, so it made ignoring those feelings that much easier.

I focused on the browning of our grilled cheeses and reminding Mary to collect everything she'd need for school again tomorrow. But just as those feelings subsided just a tinge I caught the whip of a chocolate mane and navy uniform bopping passed the window and soon jarred through the door.

Vin said her farewells as usual, giving Fred a scratch and Mary a kiss. But this time I wasn't given my normal salute or casual 'catch ya later, Adler'. No, this time I received a gentle hand against the small of my back and a kiss to the scruff of my cheek. Vinnie did it without skipping a beat, like she did it every day. Me on the other hand stood paralyzed in the lingering coconut sweetness that followed, and my eyes were the only thing that dared to make a move.

Through hooded lashes I watched Vinnie's profile take a bite of my sandwich that lay awaiting in all its golden toasted glory.

"Have a good night, my Bayou Prince."

And with a wink and another bite Vinnie was gone. Leaving me with a half eaten grilled cheese and a looming cloud of confusion.

A cloud that would find me again much later that night, after the house was dark and quiet. Everyone deep in their own dreams, except for me.

Sleep was the last thing on my mind as I locked the door of my bedroom and began to dig through the contents of my nightstand to find a book. But it wasn't the story I was interested in, rather what lay tucked into the words. Between the pages. A picture.

One taken five years earlier, but seemed like just yesterday. You could faintly see the waters edge from the cabin's porch, one we rented from a friend of Roberta's for the weekend. Though it was dusk at the time, I remembered the air was still thick with heat. Every light was off except for the outside lanterns which cast an artificial glow from each corner.

As lovely as it was, the scenery paled in comparison to the person who took center stage in the glossy photo. The one striking a model's pose with a drunken smile and unruly curls. The flash caught the face of her beer can with an aluminum glare.

I could practically hear Vinnie's laugh the longer I stared, hushed in a whisper to keep from waking the toddler that lay sprawled out on the couch just beyond the screen door.

The longer I stared the further south my blood began to travel. As I said before, that night had been hot and in an attempt to fend off the sticky climate Vinnie donned only a bikini top and her favorite cut-offs. And for the second time today I found myself incredibly jealous of fraying denim.

Unable to push away these growing thoughts any longer, I yielded and slipped a hand under the waistband of my boxers.

I let my head fall softly back against the wall, eyes fluttering closed the more I gave into the pumping motion.

"God, Vin."

The breath in my lungs grew ragged as my imagination brought her to life in my lap.

Her hair hit my face as she leaned back, bouncing those round hips up and down in such a manner that jiggled her chest with every thrust.

I caressed a perky nipple and watched her arc with a stimulated cry of pleasure.

She was warm and slick and inviting.

Each curve moving against me.

Up. Down. Up. Down.

Those pouty lips, the ones I craved every second of the day, were now swollen from rough, hungry kisses and hung open with heady moans. Moans that pushed me further and further towards the brink. I couldn't take my eyes off her, every nerve in my body was alive with need.

Faster. Harder.

I couldn't hold it any longer, I needed her closer. I needed more of her. Every bit.

With a forward jerk Vinnie was flush against me, stealing each breath I tried to catch.

"God, baby. I'm going to-." I gripped tighter.

Honey lips found my ear.

"Cum, my Bayou Prince."

Blurred senses frayed back to reality with each shudder that rocked my shoulders. Though it hadn't change, my room seemed bigger, emptier. A vacant stare back that reminded me of my true loneliness.

The pleasure I was so overwhelmed with just minutes ago turned on me and I was left with a knot in my stomach. A knot named Vinnie.

I unhinged my hand and fell back against the cool sheets with a heavy sigh.

"Nice, Adler. Real, nice." I mocked in Vinnie's absence.


Thanks for reading! let me know how it was xooxoxo