“It’s more than that.” He proceeded to tell them about the whole thing, the four evenings with Marcus that ate up a chunk of his self-esteem, along with most of his trust, for several years. The first night when Marcus took Tyler to a BDSM club and introduced him to the Dominance and submission dynamic.
Everything. He even told them about his short-lived interlude with Ray and Oot, how they helped him realize more about himself, only in a positive way.
At the end of Tyler’s story, Tom looked stunned. Nevvie seemed close to tears. Tyler rested his head on Tom’s shoulder. “You have no idea how well you healed my soul, love,” he whispered as he laced his fingers through Tom’s. “You were everything he wasn’t, and even more, you were all that I needed. You loved me for myself, allowed me to take care of you, and in return, you took care of me, too.”
He kissed Tom before he turned to Nevvie. “And you, my darling pet, you were the most angelic of blessings to ever grace our lives. You completed me in ways you could never possibly comprehend. And you’ve made Thomas happy in a way I never could have, even though he would have been content to live only with me for the rest of his life.”
She snuggled tightly against Tyler’s side, reached across him, and found Tom’s other hand. “So we’re basically three…what are they called? Switches?”
Tyler laughed. “Yes, love, it would seem so.” He nuzzled Tom’s head. “How have you put up with me for so long?”
Tom sat up and draped an arm around Tyler’s shoulders. “Because you’ve put up with me, sugar. I got the better end of the bargain. You just haven’t woke up and realized it yet.”
Nevvie cleared out the remnants of their dinner and they snuggled together again.
“Would you mind if I made a request, loves?” Tyler started.
“What’s that?” Tom asked.
Tyler looked at Tom, then at Nevvie. “How about I put myself into both of your hands for the evening? Perhaps it’s far past time I took my turn at being the little slave boy.”
Nevvie pouted. “You said I’d always be your little slave and you’d always be my Master.” They both looked at Tom.
He grinned. “Cool. I get the driver’s seat tonight!”
* * * *
Before they did anything, Nevvie went next door to check on the boys. She stayed with them while Andrew took Harley downstairs for a walk. When she returned to their room, she found Tom had pinned Tyler down on the bed, his body stretched out over him, kissing him.
“Mmm. You started without me. That’s not fair.” She quickly stripped and joined them.
“No,” Tom said, “we were waiting on you. I haven’t started fucking him yet.” From the way his rigid cock stuck out from his body, she knew it’d happen sooner rather than later. “Baby girl, get up there at the head of the bed and spread ’em. Ty, you roll over and show our girl a good time.”
He got up off Tyler. As Tyler rolled over to do it, Tom smacked him on the ass. “You’re going to be the filling in the sandwich tonight buddy.”
Tyler wore a grin as he climbed up the bed and kissed her. Then he dropped down between her spread legs and used his thumbs to spread her labia apart.
“Mmm, you’re already wet, love.”
“Yeah, well, coming back to two handsome guys getting it on in bed’ll do that to me, ya know.”
She couldn’t say anything else because Tyler buried his face between her legs and started licking her clit.
Tom left the bed and returned a moment later with some supplies. He pulled Tyler up onto his knees. Nevvie had buried her hands in Tyler’s soft hair, barely able to keep her eyes open over the delicious things Tyler was doing to her pussy, and wanting to watch Tom sink his beautiful cock into Tyler’s ass.
Tyler’s eyes dropped closed, however, and he moaned into Nevvie’s pussy. Tom reached under Tyler and fisted his cock. “Ooh, Nev, he’s rock hard,” Tom joked.
Nevvie’s breath caught in her throat as Tom’s sweet brown gaze met and held hers. She watched as, with his other hand, he drizzled lube down the seam of Tyler’s ass and started working a finger into his rim.
Tyler moaned again, even louder, and fucked his tongue deeply inside Nevvie’s cunt.
That tripped her button. She dug her nails into his scalp and held on, pulling his face hard into her mound and rocking her hips in time with his tongue. Only when she was gasping for breath did she relax her grip on him.
Tom let go of Tyler’s cock and smacked his ass again. “Did I tell you to stop sucking her clit?”
Tyler glanced up at her with a wicked expression. Then he grabbed her hips with his hands and held on tight, redoubling his efforts and soon sending her over the edge again. There were few feelings more delicious than Tyler’s hot, skilled tongue sliding up and down her clit.
“That’s better,” Tom said. “Get her nice and wet and if you’re a good boy, I’ll let you fuck her when I’m done with your sweet ass.”
Tyler’s eyes dropped closed again. He let out another moan and wiggled his hips at Tom.
How had I missed this before? There wasn’t much different in their dynamic tonight, but any time Tyler was in the middle of them, he always seemed to mentally go to this sublime place. Even his body language screamed how happy he was.
She stroked his hair. Okay, so she could play along. “That’s right, Ty. Suck my clit really good, and maybe we’ll reward you.”
He let out an even louder moan. His fingers dug into her hips harder, holding her firmly in place as he relentlessly flicked at her clit.
She closed her eyes and tried to stifle her moan as the next climax hit her, but she’d lost control of her muscles.
It took every ounce of her will to force an eye open just in time to see Tom sheath himself in a condom before sliding into Tyler’s ass.
Tyler let out a happy groan, the vibrations settling deep inside her drenched cunt and triggering another orgasm.
“Oh, yeah,” Tom said as he started fucking Tyler. “I’m going to fuck you good, Ty.”
Every thrust bumped Tyler’s eager mouth onto her clit and kept Nevvie spinning through a series of releases she didn’t know if she would survive.
“Look at me, Nevvie,” Tom said.
She peeled her eyes open and met his gaze.
“Come one more time for me, baby.”
Tyler nipped her clit and she dug her nails into his scalp again as the orgasm robbed her of conscious will.
Tom reached down and pulled Tyler up off her. His eyes had a pleasant, glazed look to them, and her juices coated his lips and chin. “Scoot down, Nevvie,” Tom ordered.
She did.
“Okay, Ty. Fuck our girl’s brains out.”
He easily slid home, and she held on for dear life as Tyler and Tom finally found a seesaw rhythm between them.
She heard Tom smack Ty’s ass again. “Come for me, buddy. If you don’t come before I do, you won’t get to come.”
Tyler grunted and fucked her harder and faster. She felt one last climax, smaller than the rest but still just as sweet, ripple through her.
Tyler let out a cry as his cock exploded inside her. Tom took that as his cue. He pushed Tyler down on top of Nevvie and she enjoyed feeling the entire bed shake as Tom fucked him, hard and fast. Normally, Tom was gentle with Ty and it was her he played wild bronco with. Then Tom moaned and fell still, holding his weight off both of them.
She felt Tom move. “You okay, Ty?” he asked, his voice sounding nervous.
Tyler laughed, finally opening his eyes to look at Nevvie. “Loves, I’m the best I’ve ever been in my life.”
Chapter Seventeen
The next morning after breakfast, they packed their things and made their way back to the RV.
“I never thought I’d ever say this,” Nevvie said, “but you have no idea how glad I am to get back here.”
“Yeah, it is sort of like home now, isn’t it?” Tom said.
She glanced at him. “Not exactly what I meant, but su
re. Let’s go with that.”
“I know what you meant, baby girl.” He took the key and unlocked the door. As he opened it, he dropped his voice. Tyler was out of earshot, helping Andrew get the kids out of the car. “I’m sorry I lost my temper last night.”
“So much for letting go of stuff, huh, Zen master?” She smiled and gently poked him in the ribs. “Hey, you did good. I’m proud of you.”
“Yeah?”
“Yeah.” She stood on tiptoe to kiss him. “Just think, now we can head for home.” She lowered her voice, too. “Dad said something really cute in Mitchell.”
“Yeah?”
She leaned in closer. “He wants to ask Mom out on a date when we get back.”
A slow grin filled Tom’s face. “No shit?”
“No shit.”
He took a quick look to where Andrew was lifting Mikey out of the car. “Aw, that would be fantastic, wouldn’t it?”
“I thought you were the one telling me not to play matchmaker,” she teased.
“Yeah, well, if nature takes its course, I’m damn sure not going to stand in the way.”
* * * *
They made several stops on their trip east through Washington, Idaho, and Montana. They spent almost two days at Little Big Horn, where Tyler got an idea for yet another book and wanted to take in as much of the place as he could.
The closer they drew to Sheridan, the more Nevvie found herself wanting to stall for time, stop at every tourist trap along the way, and browse through every souvenir store.
Yet when they reached Sheridan six days after leaving Seattle, Nevvie knew she needed to do it. With Andrew in tow, they set out in search of the address.
Nevvie turned off the ignition and sat behind the wheel, staring through the windshield at the apartment complex. Rundown didn’t begin to describe it. It looked worse than the Chalmette apartment she’d lost in Katrina, and even worse than the apartment she’d shared in Tampa with Alex before the boys rescued her.
It was a shame, because Sheridan was, overall, a pretty town. But every town, no matter how beautiful, has its seedier sections. Somehow, Mary had managed to end up in the sweaty, lint-filled ass crack of it.
Andrew reached over and patted her hand, gently squeezing and leaving it there for comfort. He was so good about that. It wasn’t hard to see where Tyler had inherited his compassionate nature.
“Are you all right, Nev?”
She nodded. “Yeah.” She glanced at the slip of paper where she’d written the address Bob gave them. “It’s just now that I’m here, I’m not so sure I want to do this.”
“It’s up to you.”
She stared for another moment. Rust-colored paint peeled from some parts of the buildings, exposing a blah-colored tan beneath. Scattered weeds grew in the parking lot, where cars, none of them less than five years old, most of them at least three times older than that, sat parked askew over faded lines.
A few ragtag kids played in a nearby vacant lot. If Tyler was writing a stereotypical western small-town slum, this would fit the bill perfectly.
Maybe I should take some pictures for him.
She wanted to laugh, but couldn’t. The truth was too sad. No doubt Bob’s information was accurate. They paid him to be accurate and he was good at his job.
She wasn’t sure how to process the sudden relief she felt that she hadn’t been raised in a place like this. Relief that she had been left behind.
“I just need a moment to take it all in,” she said.
He nodded and looked around. He had that distinct air about him, patiently waiting. No doubt if she wanted to sit there for six hours or longer, he wouldn’t disturb her until his bladder or bowels were about to explode. Then it would be a polite comment wondering if there was a nearby bathroom.
He wouldn’t prod or poke, although he wanted to.
“Please,” she softly said, “just say what’s on your mind.”
He took a deep breath and then let it out. “Well, one might wonder, if one were of a charitable mindset—which I’m not saying you’re not—how someone could have sunk to this level in their life at their age and still be related.” He looked at her. “Possibly.”
She smiled, then started giggling, until it broke out as a full-on laugh that made her feel better for reasons she couldn’t fathom just yet. “You’re as spooky as your son, you know that, Dad?”
He smiled. “I try, love.”
Nevvie looked at the complex again. It looked like a regular film set for Cops. Or maybe, Meth Labs-R-Us. “I did love her,” she quietly admitted. “She was my mom. Well, I thought she was my mom.”
“Of course she was. She adopted you.”
“She threw me away.”
“I’m sure it’s not as simple as that.” He let out a sad sigh. “Unfortunately, I am rather familiar with that end of the spectrum. Of having to make unpalatable decisions that I know are the lesser of two evils.”
Of course he did. Tyler’s mother, Dolores, had forced Andrew to leave when he asked her for a divorce and admitted he was attracted to a man.
They sat there in silence for a few more minutes before Nevvie unfastened her seat belt. “I guess if I want to get this over with, I’d better do it.”
“And who knows, love. She might not even be there.”
She looked at him. “Then I can run like a chicken.” She smiled, getting a laugh out of him.
“Did you want me to wait here for you?”
She shook her head. “Oh, no you don’t, Dad. You’re coming with me.”
“Are you sure?”
She reached across the seat and squeezed his hand. “I loved my dad. And I really thought my mom loved me. But once he died…” She didn’t want to think about that loss right now. “You are my dad. Just like Peggy is my mom. Maybe not by blood, but I’ve adopted you. I couldn’t love you any more if I tried. And I need you.”
“Thank you.”
Together, they found the right building and mounted the stairs to the second floor. She couldn’t help but reach for Andrew’s hand as they walked down to the second apartment from the end. Close up, the apartments appeared even more rundown than they had from the parking lot. The open breezeways looked out on a center courtyard filled with more weeds and parched clay dirt. A few broken and rusted pieces of playground equipment were scattered around like ancient dinosaur skeletons. Across the courtyard, a couple of people sat talking in old lawn chairs in the shade of a tattered awning outside what appeared to be a laundry room. The hot, sunbaked breeze wafted the smell of stale cigarette smoke and soured beer around like a disgruntled ghost.
The more she got a look at this place, the more it made her old Tampa apartment look like a five-star Hilton resort.
They stopped in front of apartment 234. Nothing remarkable about the door. Cracked and peeling shit-brown paint, and a peephole that looked corroded and so grungy on the outside that Nevvie wondered if you could even see anything through it. A dust-coated window next to the door was covered by an old curtain.
She took a deep breath. She’d spent years demonizing this woman. Mary—she couldn’t bear to call her Mom—had let Preacher Jim dump her at a cousin’s house, yet he’d doted on the two sons he’d had with her.
While Nevvie had hated the man, if she hadn’t been abandoned, maybe she wouldn’t have been raped when she was eighteen when her car broke down after work one night.
Maybe she wouldn’t have met Alex, who nearly killed her.
Then again, maybe she wouldn’t have met Tyler and Tom.
Andrew squeezed her hand. “We can leave, if you want,” he whispered.
She shook her head, pressed her lips tightly together, and with a trembling hand she reached out and knocked.
At first, Nevvie wasn’t sure anyone was home. She was trying to decide between knocking again and running like hell when she heard the sound of a chain rattling on the other side of the door.
“Crap,” she whispered. Then the door opened.
&
nbsp; Nevvie didn’t know for sure what she’d expected, but the frail, thin, hunched-over woman hadn’t been on the list of potential options.
Mary should be fifty-eight. This woman looked close to eighty, and that was being generous. She looked like she could be Peggy’s mother, even though Peggy was older.
“Yes?” The soft, hesitant voice sounded familiar. “Can I help you?”
“Mary Barton?” She refused to use her stepfather’s name. Nevvie’s dad was Michael Barton, and if Mary didn’t want to use that name, that was fine with her, but she wouldn’t speak that other man’s name.
The woman’s eyes widened as recognition dawned. A gnarled, frail hand flew to her mouth. Her eyes filled with tears. “Nevaeh?”
Nevvie nodded. She’d thought of several possible ways to start this conversation based on Mary’s reaction to her, and whether or not Preacher Jim was still alive and in the picture. Bob hadn’t been able to ascertain if her stepfather was still alive or not.
Every last one of Nevvie’s potential options disappeared from her brain as she faced the woman she’d wanted to give a piece of her mind to for over a decade.
The woman’s hand trembled as she gasped and covered her mouth, her shock evident.
Then the woman started crying. That was when Nevvie heard a man’s voice from inside the apartment. “Mom? Are you okay?”
A man who appeared to be younger than Nevvie—and the spitting image of the hated Preacher Jim—stepped into the doorway behind Mary.
Mary turned. “Kyle, it’s Nevvie!” This was the younger of her two half brothers. Kyle was eleven years younger than Nevvie. Jacob was ten years younger.
The man looked shocked, then widely smiled. “Nevvie!” He pushed past Mary and before Nevvie could react, she found herself enveloped in his arms. “Oh my gosh!”
Nevvie looked over Kyle’s shoulder at Andrew, who wore a bemused smile. She finally returned the hug. “Hi, Kyle.”
She noticed Mary still hadn’t moved from the doorway. Kyle stepped away from Nevvie, still smiling. “My gosh, it’s been a long time,” he said.
Nevvie nodded. “Yes, it has.” She looked at Mary.