Chain Reaction 3.62: A Bit Cold

Mildly NSFW

A/N: These next few chapters will overlap one another, and I use Christmas as an indicator of what happens when for each segment of the bigger picture.
-------------------------------------------------

Drake

     Emily has been institutionalized in her own house. She's so used to Dad's crap that she doesn't see it for what it is now. She won't listen to me. She won't even listen to her own brother either! Both of us want her out of there.

    It's very interesting how she said she just wanted to hear the sound of my voice. No, not interesting. Encouraging. Maybe she's not completely gone like I feared. I can still chip away at the walls of her prison. She needs me, even if it's in a small way, I'll take it. I'll get in.

    After I hang up with her, I call a certain contact of mine. He has connections with the police, and I want to call in a favor.

    That finished, I get up to go get a cup of coffee, and Morgan ambushes me in the kitchen.

     "Happy birthday!"

     "You... You know today's my birthday?" Usually, Mom is the only one to remember. It doesn't bother me. I'd honestly rather not be reminded.

     "Of course, silly!" She giggles. She's caught me completely off guard. Not even Emily remembered my birthday. "Open your present!"

     I take it from her and do as commanded. It's a camera.

     "It's top of the line. The whole kit," Morgan rattles away. "Three lenses, some filter thingy, oh of course the instruction manual, a little cloth doodad to clean the lenses, and a case!"

     This makes one of the few times in my life that I am completely speechless. I'm not really much of a photographer per se, but that doesn't mean I don't appreciate the gift. Morgan must've spent nearly every penny she had. When I consider that, I can't explain the emotion I get. It's a kind of achy feeling that makes my eyes want to water.

     "Do you like it?" Her voice is eager as she lightly bounces up and down like a child.

     My voice cracks. "Yes." I clear my throat. "Yes."

     "Oh! I knew you would!"

     "I made you a cake," she tells me after kissing my cheek like we've been married for several years.

     "You didn't have to do that."

     "Hush. Yes, I did. I can't believe you don't tell people it's your birthday. If I thought I could get away with it, I'd have thrown you a party."

     "No, no. Don't do that. I don't want a fuss." I don't want to be reminded I'm just getting older.

     "That's what I thought. I can't understand why you don't want a party. I love my birthdays."

     "When is your birthday?" Crap. Did I screw up?

      She giggles at my expression. "Don't worry. It's during the summer." She worked for me over the summer. "Valentino and I went out for ice cream."

      "Oh," I say lamely.

      "I've got candles!" She pulls candles out of a box and starts squashing them into the cake one by one.

     I age up, and I wonder what the plum I'm doing. Morgan isn't right for me, and she's been getting more and more pushy about setting a date (I'd used the excuse of Pops getting arrested to put it off). She's always acting the part of the dutiful fiancée. And although I like the part of that which occurs in my bed, the rest of it makes me uncomfortable.

     Morgan finally finishes singing, and I turn to her happy expression.

     I take her hand. "This is all really wonderful of you. It's more than I deserve."

     "Don't be silly. You deserve more, but I didn't think you'd like it."

     I get an idea. Summer. "It's a bit overwhelming." I have to put this just right or she will throw a tantrum. "My life, this big mess with the media, is overwhelming."

     She takes a step closer. "Well, I hope I'm helping to relieve some of your... stress."

     I smile. "Oh, believe me. You are." To my way of thinking, that's her primary job now.

     "Do you need a little... stress relief... right now?" Her free hand moves to start stroking me through my pants.

     Whoa. Holy plum. She's really started surprising me how risqué she's gotten. I moan and fight to keep my eyes facing front and not rolling to the back of my head. "First we need to talk." Plum, Drake. No. Woohoo then talk. That way you get some and THEN hurt her feelings. I can't help it if I can't think straight. I just know I need to get this out. Maybe I can use woohoo to soften the blow.

     "What is it?" Her voice carries a worried tone.

     "It's about the summer." I clear my throat again. "Next summer."

      "What about it?"

      "Let's combine your birthday and the wedding. It'll be the biggest party Eden's ever seen. But that's going to take some time to plan." Of course, this is all bullplum. I don't intend to marry her at all. This will just give me more time.

     "You're pushing it back again?!" Uh oh. Here it comes. Mt. St. Morgan is about to erupt.

     "What should a few months matter? We'll still be married this time next year."

     "Next YEAR, Drake? Do you want to marry me or not?!"

     "I do! It's just the timing right now is terrible for me."

     "Another delay. Another setback. It's always something with you. First it was the protests, now it's your dad. I'm starting to think... to think that..."

     "Morgan, baby..." I start towards her, intending to take her upstairs now.

     "...to think that you just want me for woohoo!"

      Crap. She's not that clueless after all.

      "You don't love me!"

      I have a slight problem here. Valentino likes her, and I like banging her, and right now, I'm horny thanks to her little ministration earlier. Plum.

      I lie. "Of course I do, Morgan! Why would you say something like that?" Because it's true. Dammit. I should've just taken her upstairs first.

      She feebly tries to back away and keep me from wrapping my arms around her. "No! I'm mad at you!"

     "Aw, don't be mad." I reach around and grab her ass. "How else can I prove I love you? Hm?" I chuckle when she stops and gets quiet. "Can I help it if you're sexy as plum?"

      "Drake, you are a scoundrel!"

      I laugh. "Yeah, but you like it." I pick her up, carry her upstairs, and satisfy my lust.

      My contact comes through for me. Certain members of the police are now mine to command. The concept makes me relax. I will win.

    Christmas arrives. Valentino has a blast with his new toys. I get Morgan some spa stuff and jewelry that looks expensive but isn't. She gets me a watch and several 'coupons' for me to spend as I wish on her body. She knows what I like.

    And I like what I see when I stop into the restroom in the middle of my workout.

     "Enjoying your bath salts?" I'M certainly enjoying my view, and my mind starts going into overdrive.

     "Mhm." She doesn't even flinch when I get on my knees to lean over the tub and taste her skin starting just below her collarbone. She does, however, gasp slightly when my hand dips into the water and between her legs.

     "The water's feeling a bit cold. You should get out. Or your skin will get all froggy."

     She sighs. "Okay. Would you get me a towel?"

     I stand up and act like I'm getting a towel. I'm not. I'm actually pulling out some lube I had stashed in the cabinet.

      She grunts a complaint when I attack. "Drake, I'm all wet."

      "Yeah. That's how I like you."

      She groans at my dirty humor, and I start pulling her to the counter. "I need a towel."

      "No you don't."

      My hands run all over her damp skin. "I thought I'd go ahead and use one of your coupons." I smile. I think the coupons are a joke, but I'm humoring her. Frankly, I'm going to do what I want when I want, and today, my Christmas present to me is getting something I've wanted for a long time.

     "Which one?"

     "The miscellaneous one."

     "I thought that'd be the first one you'd use."

     "It's my favorite." This is juvenile, but I'm playing along.

     "I ran out of ideas."

     "Don't worry. I have plenty." I turn her around.

      "In front of the mirror?" She guesses, but her guess is only halfway there.

      "Oh yeah." I drop my shorts and get the lube.

      "What is that?"

      "Lean up against the counter and bend over." I've been wanting this so long that I'm shaking from restraint even now. I've held off, strangely being nice and gentle since Morgan is so plumbing innocent. That definitely ends today.

     She does as I say. "Drake! Not there!"

     I breathe in quickly and let out a moan. "Oh yes, 'there,' Morgan. Be still."

     "No! It hurts!" She grabs hold of the sink, trying to pull away, but my hands hold her hips in place.

     "Of course it does--because you won't relax." More. Plum, I've needed this. 

     "Drake, stop! Ow!"

     I growl. "Shut up and take it. Your ass has been begging for this." I pin her against the counter and ignore her cries. She's being ridiculous. I used tons of lube. Just to prove my point, I'll even drive her over the edge.

     I do, and she can't help but shudder and respond to her own body. She'd gotten quiet, finally, but she lets out a little noise. I get what I need and collapse against her back.

     After I've caught my breath, I separate us, kiss her back, and say, "Thank you for the coupon." Then I smile and walk over to the shower, leaving her panting on the counter.