Page 48 of Cash
“Play something,” she said, glancing over her shoulder at me.
I set down my glass and crossed to where she stood, reaching past her to pull out a worn Johnny Cash album.Our fingers brushed as I handed it to her, a small touch spreading warmth up my arm.
“The Man in Black,” she said, smiling as she studied the cover.“Is that where your name came from?”
I nodded, taking the record and carefully slipping it from its sleeve.“Club tradition.Road names usually come from something obvious.I was always singing his songs.And my first name is Johnny.”
The needle scratched gently before settling into the groove, the familiar opening notes ofI Walk the Linefilling the apartment.I returned to the couch, refilling our crystal tumblers with another finger of whiskey.
We sipped in comfortable silence for a moment, the music washing over us.The stress of the day had slowly melted away, replaced by a quiet celebration that felt more meaningful than any loud party could have been.
“Thank you for today, Cash.”She sat beside me on the couch.I put my arm around her and kissed her temple.“For the support.For making it a special day for Lily.For being my rock.”
“I’ll always be your rock, honey.I’ll be whatever you need me to be.”I reached for her then, drawing her onto my lap.I cupped her cheek, holding her gently as our lips met.
I hadn’t meant to do more than reassure her of my feelings or to give her whatever comfort she needed.But my gentleness didn’t last long.Mostly because Eliza knew exactly how to drive me crazy and the woman wielded her power mercilessly.
She made a small sound in the back of her throat, her fingers tightening around mine before releasing to tangle in my hair.She pulled me closer, deepening the kiss with a hunger matching my own.I gripped her waist, lifting her onto my lap in one smooth motion.Her dress rode up as she straddled me, revealing the creamy skin of her thighs.
“I want you,” she whispered against my mouth, her breath hot and sweet with whiskey.“Fuck me, Cash.”
“You have me,” I growled, my hands finding the zipper at the back of her dress.“And fuckin’ you will be my sincerest pleasure.”
The fabric slid down her shoulders, revealing simple black lace beneath.My mouth followed the path of the dress, trailing kisses across her collarbone, down to the swell of her breasts.She arched against me, her hands fumbling with the buttons of my shirt, her fingers trembling slightly with urgency rather than fear.
I stood, lifting her with me.Her legs wrapped around my waist as I carried her to our bedroom, our mouths never separating.I laid her on the bed, her dress already bunched around her waist, her hair fanned across the pillows.The sight of her there, wanting me, choosing me, sent blood rushing straight with dizzying speed.
“Take this off,” she demanded, tugging at my undershirt with impatient hands.
I complied, stripping it over my head before moving to cover her body with mine.The feel of her skin against mine pulled a groan from deep in my chest.Her hands traveled over my shoulders, down my back before she dug her fingers into my ass pulling me closer.
“These too,” she said, her hands finding the button of my jeans.“Everything off.Now.”
The commanding tone in her voice sent a fresh jolt of desire through me.I stood just long enough to shed my remaining clothes, watching as she wriggled out of her dress and underwear.When I returned to her, we were skin to skin, nothing between us but heat and want.
I kissed my way down her body, taking my time despite her writhing beneath me.When I finally tasted her sweet pussy, her back arched off the bed, the cry escaping her lips made me throb with need.I gripped her thighs, holding her open to my mouth as I worked her with my tongue.
“Cash,” she gasped, her legs trembling.“Please.I want you inside me.”She reached up to cup my face in her hands before kissing me again.“I want you inside me bare.Then, when you’re inside my pussy, I want you to come inside me.”
“Christ, woman!”Sweat erupted over my skin, her words igniting a firestorm in my blood.
I rose above her, positioning myself between her thighs.Our eyes locked as I pushed inside her with a hard shove.Eliza gave a sharp scream I quickly smothered by fastening my mouth on hers.She felt perfect around me, tight and slick and so Goddamn right.
The rhythm I set had her crying out with each thrust, her nails scoring lines down my back I knew would leave marks.The slight pain only spurred me on, each thrust deeper, harder than the last.Her legs wrapped around me, heels digging into my lower back as she met me movement for movement.
“Mine,” I growled against her neck, the word slipping out unbidden as pleasure built at the base of my spine.“You’re fuckin’ mine, Eliza.”
“Yours,” she agreed, her voice breaking on the word as she tightened around me.“Oh God, Cash, I’m --”
Her cunt gripped my cock rhythmically, triggering my own release.Pleasure crashed over me in waves as I buried myself deep inside her, her name a prayer on my lips.I collapsed with a grunt.She sighed beneath me, seeming content to hold my weight.She stroked my back with her hand in lazy strokes up and down.Finally, I rolled us over with a groan.
Later, we lay tangled in the sheets, her head on my chest.The record had long since stopped playing, leaving us in comfortable silence broken only by our gradually slowing breaths.
“I love you, Cash.And I think Lily does as well.”
Something bloomed in my chest, warm and expansive.For so long, I’d believed the best parts of my life were behind me.Prison had stripped away my music career, my freedom, my belief in second chances.But lying here with Eliza in my arms, planning a future that included a little girl who’d somehow claimed a piece of my heart, I finally allowed myself to believe in happily ever after.
Epilogue
