White Knighting

"What was that for?" he asked.

"Fun," she said. "Don't worry, I know when not to use teeth."

She licked his lips lightly and lowered her mouth again. Hester felt a wave roll over her as Jamie moved his hands along her body. He brought his knees up behind her, pushing her forward and cradling her smaller body into his larger one. When he moved his hands to cup her breasts, she felt herself stiffen.

He can feel me against him, she thought, but any momentary worry was washed away in the continued crush of their lips. But I can feel him too.

Hester broke the kiss.

"No," Jamie said.

"Trust me." She gave him another quick peck and then started to move her hips against his, using her ass to tease his cock. Hester kissed his jaw and his neck as she reached her hand down, through her legs, to his jeans. She traced the outline of his cock through the denim. "That can't be comfortable."

"Will you?"

"Will I what?"

"Will you put my dick in your mouth?"

Hester sat up and moved between his legs. She stared into his eyes as she undid his belt and zipper, and plunged her hand into his tight boxer briefs. She felt a weight lift off her shoulders she didn't know she'd been carrying. Finally, she thought, pushing his pants down a bit more and releasing the new friend she'd been daydreaming about for weeks.

"Of course I will."

Hester was prepared for something big, but she wasn't expecting her favorite cock she'd ever seen. The seven inches stood up from Jamie's big frame in perfect proportion. When she wrapped her fingers around the shaft, it fit perfectly in the ring of her thumb and middle finger. The head turned up slightly at the end. I'm excited to see you too.

She made gentle pulling motions down the entire length, alternating one hand after the other. With her thumb, she smeared Jamie's slick precum around the head and down the frenulum. He threw his head back, moaning with each pass.

"Jamie, look at me."

He did as she said. They locked eyes. Hester smiled and dipped her head. She didn't blink as she tendered her first kiss on the lip, nor as she opened her lips and swirled her tongue around it. Hester grabbed the base of his cock and continued her smooth motions as she slipped her mouth down around him.

She began bobbing lightly, savoring the warmth. Her free hand went to Jamie's stomach, and she pressed down for leverage. His body bucked in response, pushing his cock farther into her eager mouth.

Hester took as much as she could but choked briefly when his cock reached her throat. She let him slip out with a slurp.

Jamie sat up and pulled her into his arms. He ran his fingers through her hair and kissed her with hunger.

"Are you okay?" he asked, speaking almost into her mouth.

"Yes," she said. "Just getting warmed up. Now grab my fucking hair and put me back to work."

Her hand never stopped moving on his cock, and her saliva mixed with his precum, getting it wet and ready for more. She felt his hands grab tight and push her head back down. Jamie held one hand behind her head and the other clutched her hair to the side. She thrilled when she felt him pull her onto his cock.

"Mmmmmffffuck," she moaned around him as he started thrusting firmly into her mouth. With each thrust, she sucked in around his cock, creating a vacuum to urge him farther. When he pulled out, Hester used her tongue to bathe the underside of the shaft and head, making him shudder

"Fuck Hes, you're incredible at that," Jamie said, deep into a thrust. She moaned around him since she didn't have an option for language. "The way you suck dick is enough to make a guy reconsider leaving town."

She looked up at his roguish grin and felt her cock twitch and strain against her lingerie. Her heart strained, hearing his dirty talk and wishing it was the case. Give him something to stay for.

Hester took a breath through her nose, relaxed as much as she could, and opened her throat. She watched the look of surprise on his face when on his next thrust he sank farther, nearly to the hilt.

"Ohhhhhhhhhh fucking god, Hes," he said. He let go of her hair and ran his hand along her head, patting it lightly. "Good fucking girl."

Cliche but I'll allow--

Hester didn't finish the thought. Jamie decided it was time to take charge and he began to fuck her face. He wasn't violent or fast. He was all about control. Hester let go and let him move her head up and down, alternating between letting her worship the top with her tongue and letting her squeeze it with her throat.

Her moans were getting wilder, more base. She was gagging with every thrust, but each time her saliva made it that much wetter, that much slicker. Jamie was breathing heavily, and when his thrusting became erratic she knew it was time. He pulled out nearly all the way, but she grabbed his hips and forced him back in. With one more suck and flick of the tongue, she felt his explosion. His cum flooded her mouth and she sealed her lips right to catch it all.

Hester sucked for a while longer, trying to get every drop. Jamie pushed her away soon though.

"Hold on, too sensitive." He fell back on his arms. "That was...you are something else."

Hester beamed. She felt that warm feeling she'd first had at the concert, and then at the bar. She was feeling playful so she opened her mouth to show him how much he'd cum and then closed it to swallow it down.

"I'm yours is what I am," she said. She moved up his body and gave him a light kiss before resting her head on his chest and her hand on his messy, resting cock. "I'm yours until you don't want me or you leave town, whichever comes first."

"Mine, huh?"

"Mmm, and I'm very fun."

"I have a hunch that leaving town will come first."

"Let's not think about that." Hester's hand was lazily teasing Jamie's cock. Blood was rushing back and it began hardening under her attention. "Or that."

"No? I'm interested in that."

"Rookie mistake on my part. If you give a boy a blowjob he's going to want a fuck. And, sorry, I'm yours and all, but it's nearly 4 a.m. and all we've done for the past 12 hours is eat Chinese and drink light beer. Ye Old Hester Shoppe is closed until she's had the chance to detox a bit."

Jamie laughed. He leaned down and kissed her head.

"I better be going then."

"No, wrong again," she said, nuzzling his chest. "You're going to sleep over. No funny business, but I reserve the right to put on a cute nightie with which to tease you."

"You turned into a brat very quickly."

"Mmm, you should get to know someone better before you let them deepthroat you next time."

***

She floated back to consciousness slowly, feeling the little clues that it was a new day: sun peeking through curtains, noise from the back courtyard, and stirring in the apartment. That one was rare. Her eyes fluttered and she saw the other half of the bed was empty.

A pouty whine escaped her, but seconds later came a knock on the door.

"Good, you're up," Jamie said. He was dressed and he'd taken a shower. He crossed to the edge of the bed. Hester stretched and yawned, feeling her satin nightgown shift across her skin.

"No, I don't wanna," she said, grabbing her pillow and biting her lip. "Come back to bed."

"It'a noon, Hes." He put a hand on her face, and stroked her hair gently. "Your phone has been going non-stop for the past half hour. I think Sandy is looking for you."

"I was supposed to meet him for brunch," she said, sitting up. She put her arms out. Jamie opened his and pulled her over to his lap. He had one arm around her back and the other around her waist. The feeling of his hands on her hips, massing the luxe fabric of the slip into her skin, made her cock wake up as well. She gently put her head against his. "You have to go?"

"I have a lot of packing left, and I'm meeting someone about taking over my lease. When can I see you again?"

"I'm volunteering at the parade tomorrow, handing out water at a booth at Broadway & Irving Park. You don't have to stop by, but if you were in the neighborhood..."

"I'll see if I can make it," he said. "If not, let's get dinner this week."

Jamie kissed Hester. She pulled away.

"Don't kiss me when I haven't brushed my teeth yet."

He laughed and kissed her again.

"Kiss you, as much as possible, while I can." Jamie pushed Hester back into bed and handed her the phone from her nightstand. "Tell Sandy you're alive and then get some more sleep."

Jamie kissed her head once more. Hester saw him bend to pick something up before he left the room. He placed Alan the bulldog near her, and she reached out to snuggle the plush.

"Mmm, so nice to me," she said to the dog when he'd left. She texted an apology to Sandy and told him she was sleeping off a hangover. Hester rolled over back under her covers, clutching her stuffed animal. "He's a nice boy, Alan."

***

Sunday, June 25, 2017

Pride.

Hester had so much of it, and she knew she was fortunate. She thought of her mom, who got knocked down again and again when she was young but fought her way to personal agency and self-respect. She was proud that she had a woman like that for her mother.

She was proud of herself for being honest about who she was, for finding a career she loved, and for refusing to wait to see whatever she wanted to see in the world.

Hester was proud of her friends. It seemed simple enough to stand under a pop-up tent and give out water to passersby, but Sandy and his coworkers were doing so much more. When people needed first aid, they walked them to the nearest firehouse. When people needed directions around the parade detour, they drew little maps. When people needed new pasties or a little oil on a tight harness, well, they were prepared. She was proud to be part of a community that took care of its own.

She was proud of each and every person lining the streets to watch the beautiful celebration of all the shades of the rainbow.

She was also shivering.

"Does this town ever get warm," she asked Sandy in a lull between revels.

"Baby, it's 70 degrees. It's beautiful out right now."

"Yeah, but nobody told the lake breeze it was June. It's supposed to be hot for Pride so all this bloody nonsense makes sense." She gestured to her outfit. If she said so herself, she looked crazy hot in her blue crop top, pink denim booty shorts, and white mesh button-down. Sexy? Sure. Fun? Absolutely. Trans as fuck? All day long. Warm? Not so much. "Should've worn jeans and a hoodie."

"Did Brawny Man think it was cute?" Sandy handed her a bottle of water and sat in one of the folding chairs. "Here, drink, stay hydrated."

"Thanks, mum." She took a sip and peered atthe crowd. "I haven't seen Jamie today."

"Okay, so you didn't immediately text him a little boudoir photo of your little number when you got dressed. Remember, silence is an admission of guilt."

"Hate you." She flicked water at him. He stuck his tongue out. "He said he was excited for the shop to open."

"What's that mean?"

"Inside joke." Hester pulled out her phone and opened up her messages app. She pulled up a photo of Jamie in an "Ally" tee with two little stick-on rainbows on either cheek. "He sent this. God, he just tries so hard. I can't take It how cute this boy is."

Sandy rolled his eyes.

"So where is he?"

"He said he'd head up this way for the start of the parade, but I guess he couldn't make it. Maybe he texted."

Hester was keeping her phone in her bag under the table while she worked. She didn't trust herself not to be checking it constantly instead of actually helping revelers. She crouched down to her bag and fished around for it.

When she opened the lock screen, she gasped at the 16 texts and three phone calls, all from Quinn.

773-932-xxxx: jamie got arrested

773-932-xxxx: hesterrrrr

773-932-xxxx: please respond please.

773-932-xxxx: we're at the addison precinct, the one near wrigley

773-932-xxxx: WHERE ARE YOU ASSHOLE?

Hester nearly dropped the phone. Her heart was beating so fast that she thought she was having some sort of cardiac incident. She reached out to steady herself, fearful she might faint and tip over. The shock passed, and she was able to show Sandy the texts.

"Go ahead, that's only like eight blocks from here," he said. "Be careful though. Cops can get weird on Pride."

"Thank you, my love," she said, hugging Sandy. She grabbed a bottle of water for the road and stuck it in her bag. Hester turned and started fighting through the crowds.

***

Hester burst through the door of the precinct, nearly dropping the assorted dozen donuts she got from the Dunkin' under the Addison L station. The dozen or so people in the public waiting area looked at her in confusion, mostly of the drunk kind. More of them were wearing rainbows than not.

She approached the desk and set the donuts down.

"How can I help you?" said the woman officer who came to meet her.

"I'm looking for Jamie Byrd."

"Ah yes, the hero. Are you Esther, by any chance?"

"Hester."

"Oh, right," the woman said. "Sorry, slip of the tongue. I'm Officer O'Hara. I'll take you back there."

The hair on Hester's neck stood up as she walked through the security door to the precinct bullpen. Sandy's vigilant voice was in the back of her mind. She realized how conspicuous she looked in her outfit, and how ridiculously offensive it probably seemed to be carrying donuts through the station. There were a ton of cops on duty and the place seemed incredibly busy. Based on what she knew about CPD, she suspected there was a lot of overtime to be had on parade days. O'Hara took her right past the hustle to a side hallway explaining what happened as they went.

"Your friend stepped into an altercation to break it up, and one of the other parties took a few swings at him. He swung back and knocked the guy out cold. EMTs say that guy will be fine, however, so it's a pretty clear-cut self-defense thing."

"Why won't you let him leave?"

"See for yourself." O'Hara opened the door to a small, barebones meeting room. Jamie was sitting in one of the chairs tapping his thumbs against the table. He had a small mark forming under his right eye. Leah was in his lap, arms wrapped tightly around his neck. Quinn sat at the head of the table, head tossed back, napping. "She made it, folks."

"Hey, Hes."

"Don't 'Hey, Hes' me. I just ran all the way here because I was worried out of my mind."

"I'm sorry, I am, and I appreciate you coming," he said. "I'll explain everything once we're outside."

"Once you figure out how to get Ms. Melnick off Mr. Byrd you're all free to go," O'Hara said.

"Sorry, staying forever," Leah said, her voice muffled by Jamie's chest.

O'Hara shook her head and then pointed to the donuts.

"What are those about?"

"I brought them in case I needed, uh, to convince--"

"You can't bribe officers of the law, and we're not all donut lovers," O'Hara said. She took the box from Hester. "But I see you brought us a considerate and thoughtful gift to show your appreciation for what we do. That was so nice of you."

Jamie's laugh woke up Quinn.

"Man, you've got a loud laugh."

"Sorry, bud. Hester just nailed it with one of my favorite PR tactics."

"Oh, which one is that," Hester asked, hands on her hips and foot tapping.

"Bring them food so they like you."

Once they convinced Leah to let go, O'Hara walked them out of the precinct. For lack of a better plan, the group took Addison to Sheffield and started the walk back towards Hester's place. Quinn walked with their arm around Leah's waist, the pair in perfect lockstep. Hester walked near Jamie, but for the first time since meeting kept a bit of distance.

"What happened?" The concern in her voice must've hit Jamie hard. He seemed to lock up his good humor about the situation tight and began telling his version of the story.

"The L was so crowded I got off early," he said, "at Addison instead of Sheridan. I figured I could walk up to you and watch the parade coming by at the same time. I'm off the train for like two seconds when I see them." He gestured to Quinn and Leah, now walking a few paces ahead. "So I said hi."

"He was very happy to see us and appropriately excited to see you," Leah called back.

"Yeah, well, we've been through some stuff together at this point," Jamie continued. "Anyway, we're standing there and the parade is coming by and a pack of drunk guys passes us. Near as I can gather, they were Cubs fans, trying to find a place to watch the away game in Wrigleyville. They weren't happy Pride was getting in the way, I think, and they started heckling folks."

"And you just leaped in to get involved," Hester said. "Savior complex much?"

"Hester, it wasn't like that," Quinn said. "These guys were vile. Westboro Baptist-style. Jamie didn't start anything until they got agro on people. Peanut here was dancing and not paying any attention." Quinn squeezed Leah tight. "One guy grabbed her ass and told her he'd turn her straight."

"And then Jamie protected me."

"I just put myself between them," he said. "That was all I was going to do. But then the guy slapped my phone out of my hand and swung at me."

"And Jamie swung back on instinct and fucking dropped the guy," Quinn finished. "But he came round right away. He and his friends went to get the cops, but about 50 people offered to back up Jamie's story and five business owners offered their CCTV feeds."

"He was like Sir Hawk come to life!" Leah added brightly.

The three of them told the story so quickly, and so in sync, that Hester had no trouble believing it. Harder to swallow was that Jamie kept finding himself in these situations, and consistently found the right way out. Hester was worried his luck would run out and he'd start rolling some ones, but mostly she felt relief.

"And you couldn't text because?"

"The guy broke my phone," Jamie said. "But isn't there an AT&T store up by Target? Easy enough to replace that."

"Well, it's been an exhausting day for me," Hester said. "I can only imagine you three are feeling it too. Let's stop at Jewel and get some groceries and we can eat our feelings."

"I think you look really cute in your outfit, but the way."

"Yes, thank you, Jamie, you said that this morning." Hester closed the distance she'd been keeping and grabbed his hand. "New game: you need to be just the normal level of charming for the next five minutes instead of the whole 'Jamie' thing."

She smiled up at him and leaned her head against his shoulder while they walked.

Monday, June 26, 2017

703-996-xxxx: How's the office?

626-780-xxxx: Same as it ever was. A few people are still talking about why two sales guys getting fired triggered new sensitivity training, but it's not fresh gossip anymore.

703-996-xxxx: Miss me?

626-780-xxxx: I never knew you here. I have no conception of Work Jamie. But, yes, I miss you. It's annoying. I saw you 12 hours ago.

626-780-xxxx: I am deep in some frustrating code. Let's talk after I get home.

703-996-xxxx: Can't wait.

626-780-xxxx: I'll be here late tonight. Would you like to have dinner at my place tomorrow?

703-996-xxxx: Absolutely. What time? I've got nothing else going on.

703-996-xxxx: Should I bring anything?

626-780-xxxx: Just bring yourself. Come round for 7.

Wednesday, June 28, 2017

Bzzzz.

Hester felt relief when she heard the buzzer, the knots in her stomach unclenching now that he was here. She stopped pacing in the living room and went to the door. The clack of her heels on the hardwood reminded her of why she was nervous in the first place and her unknotted stomach turned over. She swallowed the butterflies and pressed the intercom button.