Hard Irish by Jennifer Saints Page A

love this child of mine
    Before facing heaven’s gallows
    I was part of the unforgivable
    Blood stains my hands
    Still I pray for the impossible
    That in the end mercy will stand.
     
    A knock at the door startled Rocky.  She set the book down and hurried to see who it was.  Jared was still asleep.  Peeking through the curtain, she saw Dessie and Pebbles.  She unlocked the door to let them both in.  Pebbles went on a sniffing-the-floor hunt and Dessie clutched her chest.  “God, Rocky.  I don’t know what I am going to do.”
    Rocky grabbed Dessie’s arm.  “What is it? What happened?”
    “His tongue sucked my ‘no’ right away in less than five seconds.  I was in my dressing room getting dressed for the show.  Someone knocked on the door and I answered.  After all, wearing a bra and panties is overdressed for the Golden Bunny.”
    “Uh, Dessie—”
    “No. Let me finish.  He was there.  He marched right in, fell to his knees and planted his mouth on me.  I came right there through the silk.  Best orgasm I’ve had in years, maybe ever.  He may go by the name of Saint, but that man is no saint.  What am I going to do?  What he did with his tongue should be—”
    “You must be the pink-house neighbor.” 
    At the sound of Jared’s voice, Rocky winced and Dessie grabbed her chest again, this time in true distress.
    “I tried to tell you—”she whispered then swung around to Jared.  He was sitting up on the couch looking a little woozy.  “How did you know that?”
    “Uh...I just guessed.  She’s got pink flamingos on her pants and there’re a slew of them planted in the yard.”
    “Woof.  Woof.”  Pebbles bounded across the room.
    “Watch out!”  Rocky ran for Jared, but saw she wasn’t going to make it before Pebbles pulled her flying lapdog routine.  “No, Pebbles.  Sit, Pebbles.  Hell, stand up, Jared!”
    Jared didn’t stand up but held out his hand.  “Hey, girl.  You’re a big one aren’t you?”
    Pebbles reached Jared and...sat, preening so he could pet her.  Rocky’s jaw dropped open.
    “ He might be a saint, though,” Dessie said, staring at Jared.  “That was a miracle if I’ve ever seen one.  I insist on knowing the name of men I share my orgasms with.  What’s yours?”
    Rocky felt as if her cheeks had incinerated.  She loved Dessie to no end and knew when the woman was boxed into a corner she’d come out fighting more outrageous than ever.
    “Jared Weldon.  And since we’re on intimate terms, what’s yours?”
    The man took both Dessie and Pebbles in stride and didn’t even blink an eye.
    Dessie walked closer, looking Jared over.  “Desmond Langford.  Were you at Sally’s Roadhouse last night?”
    “You heard about that?”  Jared lifted a brow.
    “I told her about the fight,” Rocky said.  “Dessie’s the neighbor I spent the night with.”
    Dessie crossed the room.  “Well, it is a pleasure to meet a man who can definitely perform miracles.”
    Jared levered to his feet and shook Dessie’s hand.
    “What happened to you?”
    Rocky hurried over. The last thing she needed was adding Dessie’s worry to the list of complications piling up on her.  “Just a mishap at the job site.  I’m looking after him...tonight.”
    “Then I’ll just mosey back home and won’t worry about you then.  Pebbles and I will go watch Lady and the Tramp , before I have to be back for the late night session.”
    “The dog watches TV?”
    “Every minute of a movie.  Even barks and whines depending on what’s happening.  And growls at Cruella De Vil every chance she gets.”
    “I’ll have to see that sometime.” Jared said.
    “Count on it.  I’ll have you and Rocky over for dinner.  Let’s go Pebbles.”  Dessie headed for the door and Rocky followed, feeling as if life had become a surreal odyssey.  Last night Jared had been a stranger and tonight, well, he was way beyond that status.
    Dessie was at the door when Jared spoke