Finding Willow

CHAPTER 9

Tuesday morning, I wake to my phone ringing in a strange place. I look around the room, taking in the light blue walls, and the comfort of the king size bed. I remember where I am. Chrome’s bed. Apparently the guest room wasn’t good enough to sleep in for two nights before his highness got back from whatever top secret operation he was running. River argued on the phone with him about it, but in the end Chrome won out. It’s beginning to seem like a pattern. I want to laugh, but I know there is nothing fucking funny about what he is doing.

Looking at the caller ID on my phone, I see Katy’s name pop up. We emailed a couple times yesterday about the house. She tried to talk me out of it, but she soon realized I’m set on buying the house. After contacting the small real estate agent located a couple towns away with a cash offer, she told me they immediately accepted. I never thought buying a house could be so easy, but apparently when you don’t have to deal with mortgage companies, it is a walk in the park.

“What’s up, Katy?”

She gives me all the details about the last bit of paperwork needed to complete the purchase. Once the details are all set, the dreaded conversation of my career rears its ugly head. I knew I would have to face it at some point in time. I just didn’t think it would be this soon. I’d hoped for a good month of peace from porn.

“So, you’re done?” she asks, her mood sour. I can tell without even seeing her face. She probably has her glasses off, massaging her temples, trying her best not to lunge through the phone and rip my head off. She’s a friend, but she is a business woman. I make her a lot of money.

“I am done, really done this time. I just can’t go back to that life, Katy. It’s toxic for me.”

She knows better than I do. All the times I tried rehab and walked away thinking I was magically cured of my addiction, like that was possible. Only to end up on set of a flick called Long Dong Silver snorting lines of blow off an extra’s tits. It just wasn’t an environment I could control myself in.

“I understand, Star. I really do, and I wish you the best of luck in whatever you take on. But you know I can’t work with you anymore if this is the case, right?” I knew, but I was hoping she would stay with me and manage all my shit. It was a nice idea, just not a very business savvy one.

“Yeah, I knew it would come to that. I don’t want to lose you, but I know you are a professional, Katy.” I hate goodbyes. I really do. I would never ask her to take such a pay cut to stay with me as nothing more than a personal assistant.

“You have me ‘til the first of the year.”

I’m thankful for the next few months, so I can get my own shit together and start handling my own affairs. Maybe I can hire Journey or Paisley to be my personal assistant. I am sure Paisley would love it. If I could ever coax her back from her newest love nest in Florida. I will work on her come Friday, after I see whatever bomb my parents drop on us.

A soft knock sounds on the door, and River peeks into the room.

“Got a minute?” I nod in his direction while I finish up my call with Katy. She mentions overnighting a couple documents, and then we should be all set with the house by Monday at the latest. A lot quicker than I anticipated, but I know it needs so much work that it will be longer before it’s actually safe to live in.

“What’s up, River?”

He looks tired, and I am pretty sure he should be at work already.

“I’m late to take over my shift at the motel, and Scarlett is sick at school. The school nurse just called, and I have no one else to go pick her up. Can you grab her for me, and just bring her back here?”

Me? Handle a sick kid? My mind spins in a million different directions. I’m nervous, but I am not going to leave them all high and dry when they have gone above and beyond for me.

This is what family does for each other, right? We may not be blood, or marriage, but they are slowly becoming the only family I have besides my distant sisters. If they will accept me, I will do my best to accept them.

“Yeah, just tell me where to go and what I have to do.”

He passes me a note with directions scribbled on the paper. Her school isn’t far from the house, easy to find. I should know where schools are in this little podunk town, but my shit-tastic parents thought homeschooling was a fantastic idea. They taught us all a bunch of nothing.

“I’ll call the school ahead of time and let them know you’re picking her up. You will have to show them your ID in the office.” Jesus, do they want a fucking DNA sample, too? I guess you can never be too careful these days, but seriously? It seems like overkill.

“You’re a lifesaver, Star!” He wraps his arms around me, plants a kiss on my cheek, and runs out of the house. The moderately sized house they all share. It is four bedrooms, but they are all pretty small. River has the smallest, then Scarlett. Of course the man of the house needs the giant master bedroom. It fits their little family perfectly.

When I walk into the office at the school, poor Scarlett is sitting in a chair with her knees pulled up to her chest. Her face looks almost white. Aren’t kids supposed to look green when they’re sick? Her eyes are soft as they meet mine, and she manages a pathetic smile.

“I’m here for Scarlett Grant. Star Bloom.” I hand my license to the woman behind the desk and sign some early dismissal form. I carry Scarlett’s backpack to the car once we’re free to go; I would carry her if I thought I was strong enough.

“Want me to stop at Maggie’s and get you some soup?” Soup makes everything better, right?

“Yes, please.” She’s quiet. Not her normally talkative self. I feel bad, but if I was in her position, I probably wouldn’t want to be chatting it up, either.

“What’s wrong, Scarlett?”

“I barfed all over my teacher. Must be a stomach thing.”

I slowly lean toward the driver’s side window, trying to get as far away from her vomit germs as I can get. I can almost feel them hopping across the car and resting all over my body. It is probably hysterical to watch from the outside, though. I know way too many people who would be taking pleasure in this scene right now.

The phone rings and rings. I don’t answer it, because this isn’t my fucking house. I don’t live here, and it isn’t my business. I don’t want it to wake up Scarlett, though, since she is finally fast asleep, so I take it off the hook. Before I know it, my cell phone rings.

I pick it up on the second ring, cautious that it may be someone I really don’t want to talk to. I always assume unknown numbers are going to be reporters, or Blue. He’s always pretty good at finding out where I was; phone calls just tip me off that he’s on my trail. This time around, I already know he’s on the prowl.

“Hello?” I almost whisper. My tone is no match for the pissed off voice on the other end of the line.

“You could have answered the damn phone. I’ve been fucking worried sick.” Chrome isn’t yelling, but he certainly isn’t happy, either. I feel bad. I should have called him, but the simple realization that I don’t know his damn phone number stopped me. Something so simple we forgot in our short time together.

“Calm down. She’s okay. I got her some soup, and she seems to be sleeping it off. I’ve checked on her a couple times. She just wants to lie on the couch and watch Good Luck Charlie.”

“Thank you.”

“Nothing to thank me for.”

He growls at me through the phone line. I want to laugh at his frustration, but I don’t. He would only take it out on me. I can tell that already. The sound of him does something else to me, though. The deep rumble. The sexy suave melody has me wanting him between my legs. I don’t want to act like a lovesick girlfriend, but I can’t help it.

“I miss you,” I admit to him in a sultry voice. Sex oozes off my words, and I pray I make his nether-regions feel the same way mine do. Desperate for relief.

“You don’t even know, baby girl.”

A chill runs through my body and lands square in my stomach. His words spark things inside me I have never felt. If I don’t hang up now, shit is going to get out of hand. I will probably say something I’ll regret.

“I’ll see you tomorrow, Chrome.”

I see Scarlett moving. She smiles.

“He likes you.”

I collapse against the black leather recliner and kick my feet up. I don’t want to acknowledge her words, but it would be rude if I didn’t.

“I like him, too.” I don’t want to have this heart-to-heart with a ten-year-old, but I don’t think there’s any avoiding it. She climbs back under the giant motorcycle blanket on the couch and pulls it up to her chin.

“Are you still going to leave when you’re done here?” I don’t know how to answer her question. Because I don’t know what I’m going to do tomorrow, let alone months from now. I can’t make promises and I won’t lead her on.

“I don’t know, Scarlett. What I can tell you, that no one else knows, is I bought a house here. I don’t want to leave. I don’t want to lie to you, either, or break promises.” She nods, and tries to hide the hint of a smile pulling at her lips.

“Get some rest.” I stand up and venture to Chrome’s bedroom with my laptop to try and find a contractor to fix up my house.

River sits across the table from me in Maggie’s. Scarlett is still dead to the world on the living room couch back at Chrome’s house. The little old lady who lives next door was kind enough to hobble over and sit with her so we could both grab something to eat.

The sun’s gone down and the tiny town of Woodstock is coming to a halt for the night. As soon as the street lights come on, most places close.

I pick at the cheeseburger and fries, and he downs the spaghetti and meatballs like he hasn’t eaten a damn thing all day. Boys his age have never ending hunger; it never ceases to amaze me.

The bell on the front door alerts the staff to a newcomer. Nobody bothers to look but me. I am instantly fucking glad I did, because there’s Blue, twenty feet away from me, walking toward the counter. He hasn’t noticed me yet. But there is no way I am making it out of here without him seeing me.

“You okay?” River asks. I’m sure I look scared shitless. I am not okay but I try to lie about it. I don’t want to clue him in on everything, even though Blue is already on his radar from the motel.

“Someone I don’t care to see walked in. That’s all.”

River turns to look and he recognizes him.

“That is the dick-face from the motel.” I just nod and finish up whatever I’m going to actually eat so we can get out of here. I look up and notice Blue is gone from the counter. While River and I were discussing him, he started making his way to our table. Soon, he is standing right next to me.

“Star, I’ve been trying to get in touch with you.” If my eyes could shoot actual daggers, he would be dead in a bloody mess on the floor of Maggie’s. I start thinking about ways to kill him. Running him over with my car, stabbing him in the eye with a fork, the list goes on and on.

“That’s nice. I don’t have anything to say to you, though, so you can be on your way.” I wave my hand in the opposite direction, shooing him off, and his face starts to turn red. He’s pissed. For the first time in my life, I am not scared. I am not intimidated. I couldn’t give two shits if he is mad.

“We have things to discuss.” He grits his dirty teeth together and starts to eye River.

“We have nothing to discuss, Blue. In fact, I was just on my way out.”

I stand from the table and shoot my gaze to River, who immediately joins me. Normally by now, my body would be freaking out, my heart beating far too rapidly, and craving something, anything to numb the feeling. But he has no impact on me.

“Don’t you dare fucking walk away from me, Princess.”

I want to stop, to turn around and tell him off. More than anything. But he wants my attention. He wants me to turn around and acknowledge that he has some kind of power over me.

I walk out of the diner with River by my side, and we drive back to Chrome’s house in silence. I try to sort through all my fucked up thoughts, but I don’t know what to make of them. No matter what I do, or say, I am never going to be rid of Blue unless I finally go to the police about what he has done. I should have listened to Seven and immediately filed charges against him. I was stupid, yet again. Could’ve, should’ve, would’ve. It is too late now.

Light spills through the curtains of Chrome’s bedroom window. I slowly blink my eyes open to examine the clock. It is just before eight in the morning, on Wednesday. Chrome will be back today. I don’t know what time he will be rolling into town, but I can tell you I feel much safer with him in Woodstock now that Blue is lurking around.

I let out a yawn and start to stretch when I notice something move in the corner of the bedroom. The old wooden rocking chair in the corner moves; someone is sitting in it. My eyes can’t focus and I scream bloody murder. I probably could have woken the dead with my shriek. It isn’t until the person moves that I realize it isn’t an intruder. It’s Chrome.

“Jesus, fuck, woman!”

His chest heaves, and I know I scared him just as much as he just scared the piss out of me. I throw a pillow across the room, beaning him upside the head with it.

“What the fuck, Chrome? Seriously, you scared the shit out of me!” My heart is still racing, and my hands are shaking from the sheer amount of adrenaline running through my body.

“I got back real early this morning. Since Scarlett is still out on the couch, I snuck in here. You looked too peaceful to wake, so I just sat down here. Didn’t think I would fall asleep.” He rubs his eyes with the heel of his hands. He is exhausted; I can see the circles around his eyes. It looks like he hasn’t slept in days.

“Come climb into bed. You clearly need some rest.” I pat the bed next to me, and he stands and stretches. I gawk at him as he stretches. His tight, white undershirt rises up, exposing his unbuttoned jeans laying low on his hips. His lightly tanned v cut makes me drool. I realize I am virtually fucking him with my eyes, so I lie back down, pulling the covers up and snuggling into the comfort of the bed.

“You know, you are on my side of the bed,” he teases me as he strips down to his boxer-briefs. I try not to ogle anymore, but it is so damn hard.

“I could move, but I didn’t think you would mind. I mean coming home to me in your bed and all.” I wink at him. I’m sure neither of us expected him to come home and find all this. I pictured him rolling back into my motel room again. Spending our time together fucking like animals up against the wall inside the door.

“You’re right, but right now, I don’t want you anywhere else.” I want to smile at his honesty. My heart skips a beat, or twelve.

“I gotta tell you something.”

He grimaces, and I am almost positive he is waiting for me to dish some bad news. He sits on the edge of the bed and pulls the covers back. He looks at me, nods, and waits for me to start talking. I can’t help it. A stupid smile spreads across my face.

“I bought a house.”

His eyes darken as his lips press together in a straight line. He seems mad. Why would he be mad? “Before you get your boxers in a fucking twist, it is here, in Woodstock.” Relief washes over his face, and the corner of his lip turns up just slightly. He doesn’t want to give away that he is actually happy.

“I bought the old rental off of Jupiter Lane.”

His eyebrow raises in question.

“That old dive?”

I want to hit him for talking about my house like that, but to the everyday person, it is a fucking dive. Not everyone can see the beauty behind it.

“Yup, it was my favorite house in Woodstock when I was a girl. I took a drive up there to check it out. I should have the keys on Monday. Know any good contractors?” I talk as quickly as Scarlett does when she is excited about something.

“Honey, I own a contracting company. Whatever you want, we will do.” He kisses the top of my head and pulls me into his arms. Well, isn’t that just fucking convenient? I melt into his body, while I bask in his strong embrace.

I shouldn’t feel this way; I shouldn’t want to feel this way, but I do. He has taken a piece of my heart, as much as I should shield it from him.

His face nuzzles into my neck, and he places a kiss on my cheek. I want so bad to pull at the remaining clothes we have on, but the sick child only a couple yards away in the living room stops me. However, she doesn’t stop him one bit. He pulls me over his body, so that I’m straddling his lap in the bed, and I can feel him pulling at the hem of my giant loose t-shirt. In the blink of an eye, it is over my head, and I am in nothing but a pair of simple cotton panties.

“Your daughter,” I whisper into his ear, as I lick down his neck with my tongue. I want to stop, but I am losing my willpower. His dick is rock hard against my moist cunt, and he continues to nudge my wetness through the last pieces of clothing we have on.

“She won’t come in here,” he replies as he sucks on my earlobe. That spot, that fucking spot, drives me wild.

His mouth covers mine and his tongue doesn’t stop licking my bottom lip until I finally open and let him in. I can feel his hands running all over my body, squeezing my full breasts before settling on my ass. His hips buck off the bed, pushing his hardness against me again, harder this time. His force is enough to get me off on the spot. I am hanging on by a single thread, while we’re dry humping like we are fucking kids again.

His big hands leave my ass, finding their way in between our entwined bodies. His ass lifts again, and he’s naked. His legs push his missing boxer-briefs to the end of the bed, and his hands move to grip my waist. I pull my mouth from his, licking and sucking up his neck until I can whisper in his ear once again.

“You need a condom, baby.”

He lets out a long sigh. I know he’s annoyed. I feel like the safe sex police. He doesn’t make a move; instead, I feel him tugging my panties to the side, running his rough fingertip along my clit. I try to buck my hips in response to the tender touch, but his other hand is still firmly gripping my hip.

“Just for a minute, baby,” he coos into my ear. I can’t help but melt. I should say no, but I don’t. It has been so long since I have had the feeling of good raw sex. Not meaningless on set bullshit, but real fucking. So, against my better judgment, I don’t stop him.

“Just a minute,” I repeat as he pushes my panties further to the side, and he slides his big cock right inside my wet pussy. Inch-by-inch, it slides in with ease, and I throw my head back with ecstasy. I can feel every delicious piece of his impressive dick, piercing and all. The metal balls run along the inner walls of my cunt, teasing and touching places I never even fucking knew existed. As he pulls out, it rubs along my clit and he pushes right back in. As he bottoms out within my tight pussy, I can feel the piercing caressing my g spot. God, there is no way I am going to be able to stop him from going raw again. It just feels too fucking mind-blowing. God damn it! Fuck condoms.

I want to scream, but I can’t. I let out a strangled moan, and his hand flies up to my mouth, covering it forcefully as he slams his dick inside of me. I meet each thrust and then some. He slows his pace, lying on the bed and letting me be the one to work up and down his length. And boy, do I.

I slowly slide up and down at first, appreciating every inch. His hands move above his head, watching every move I make. He only breaks eye contact on occasion to look down to where our slick bodies are joined. His lazy gaze rakes up my body, watching my tits bounce as my pace quickens.

With every movement, I can feel the build of my own orgasm. I grind my hips and my swollen clit begs for release. Chrome finally moves his hands from his lounging position, running them over my tits as I continue to ride his cock. His fingers roughly pinch my nipples and I just can’t hold back anymore.

“Fuck!” I scream, realizing his hands are leaving my tits and heading for my mouth. His palm covers my lips tightly just as I start to come. I scream against his hand, as he continues pumping his thick erection into me. My body falls onto his chest, and I quietly try to catch my breath, still slowly riding him. I’m fucking exhausted and, as much as I want to keep going, my body has given up on me.

Chrome flips me over onto my back, his dick still deep within me. Lifting my leg and placing it on his shoulder, he begins to pound into me. He’s desperately searching for his own release. The pierced tip of his dick caresses my g spot over and over again, and I begin to feel another orgasm creeping up on me. His pumps become more forceful and his hand grabs at my neck. That is all I need to start coming all over again. I let out a low moan, as quiet as I can. He franticly pulls out just as his come shoots all over my stomach and cunt.

“Fuck,” he breathes out, stroking his dick through his own orgasm. It is officially the hottest thing I have ever fucking seen. Burst after burst of hot come drenches my body as his face contorts with pleasure.

He looks down and catches my gaze. I can’t help but watch him. You would think after all these years of porn, something this erotic would do nothing for me. But God, he is fucking beautiful in every way there is. His dick is still firmly in his palm when he blows out a long breath, and he finally speaks.

“God, I think I am in love with you.” The words slip so casually from his mouth, but all I can do is stare at him like a deer in headlights. His demeanor changes when he notices the shock on my face. I can feel the tears pricking at the corners of my eyes. I don’t want to cry. I don’t want to flip out, but I am pretty fucking sure I am about to. Damn it all to hell! Why did he have to go there?

“Shhh, relax, Star.” His fingers trail down the side of my face and I will myself to calm the fuck down somehow. I take a deep breath, trying to think of what comes next.

“No one has ever said that to me.” I am almost dazed thinking about it. It’s the truth. Not even Seven. All those years and those three words were never exchanged.

“I don’t want to fuck up whatever this is. I’m sorry; I let my emotions get the best of me. I am not good at keeping them under wraps.” He’s flustered. Upset. At himself, I think.

“It’s okay. Really,” I reassure him. Maybe getting out of the house and seeing exactly what needs to be done at my very own home would be the best plan for my day. “You should get some rest, Chrome.”

“What are your plans for the day?” he asks.

I’m still trapped under his body. I can’t make my break for it until he moves. His come is slowly starting to dry all over me, while we sit here and have this heart-to-heart. As if he can sense my anxiety over being trapped under his body, he shifts his weight while looking for something to clean up with. He tosses his discarded t-shirt to me, and I start to wipe up the mess. Definitely going to need a shower.

“I’m going to go over to my house and see what needs to be done. Make a list, so I can get the construction going once I have the keys.” The fact that I am waiting for keys is hysterical. The house is wide open. I am sure people have come and gone on their own for some time. Including the local wildlife. The door was cracked open and one of the large picture windows had no glass, so I figure it won’t be hard to get in.

“There is no way you are going over there on your own. I know that piece of shit has been following you. No fucking way, Star. It just isn’t safe.” His concern warms me. It’s completely founded, but I hate feeling like a victim. I vowed I wouldn’t live like that anymore. I don’t want Blue to rule my life anymore. No way.

“I’m fine. I’m not scared of him.” I say it with bravado. I’m trying to convince myself, even though the thought of being alone with him sends me into a panic.

Scarlett’s voice cries from the living room and catches Chrome’s attention.

“Daddy, please stay here with me, can I come sleep in your bed?” He can’t stay no to her. I can see him lose the battle, and I know I will be able to make my way out for the day without him acting like a bodyguard. He stands, takes a couple paces across the room, and pulls back the bottom of an old movie poster on the wall. There is a small safe built into the wall and he turns the knob a few times before it pops open. I try not to be nosy. I don’t want to know what is inside the safe. It isn’t my business.

“If you are going to be so fucking stubborn, I want you to take this with you.” When he turns around, I see it. He is holding a small, black handgun. I want to recoil away from him, but the simple idea of keeping that with me, even just in my purse, makes me feel so much safer with Blue creeping around. The more I think about it, the more I know I would never use it. Not in a million years. But it fucking empowers me in a way I have never been empowered before. It reaffirms the fact that I will never be a victim again.

“Chrome, I don’t even know how to use that,” which is the honest truth. I have never even held a gun in my life. He begins a little Gun 101 class right there in his bedroom, and I feel a little bit more comfortable. I know I don’t need the experience of shooting it to know how to keep myself safe and not shoot my own fucking foot off. It’s common sense. I carefully place the firearm into my purse and head for a much needed shower.

“Go to bed. I am going to freshen up and head out. I’m gonna stop at Maggie’s and get Scarlett some more soup, too. If you want anything before I get back, just call me.” I lock myself in the bathroom. His bathroom. I lock him out of his own damn bathroom. I laugh because I know if I don’t, there is no way I am ever going to get out of this house today.

God, I’ve missed him.