Sullivan forgot that the skylight was open and the entireShe-Pack rugby team (fifteen players plus alternates) was nearby, and cried out in pleasure. Then she laughed and gasped and stifled another cry as Kia drew Sullivan’s clit into her mouth so gently Sullivan felt like the pleasure and the tenderness might break her. Kia continued, asking Sullivan what she liked and where it felt best. How hard? How fast?
A few times, Sullivan lifted herself onto her elbows to look at Kia because she couldn’t believe this was real. Kia was making love to her. Kia, the brilliant kid from school, who Sullivan had tried so hard to beat, whose company she’d enjoyed so much Kia defined her culinary education. Kia Gourmazing with hundreds of thousands of followers. Kia, who showed up on her lawn to ask the most outrageous favor. Kia, whose presence made Sullivan’s house feel like home. Kia was kissing her and massaging the tight cords of muscle in her legs and sucking and—
The first orgasm washed over Sullivan like a shallow wave. Kia hesitated, then resumed, pressing her thumb against Sullivan’s hip flexor while she slid two fingers inside her. Sullivan didn’t know if she luxuriated for seconds or minutes or hours. Time vanished. Then pleasure claimed her, and exploded like a piñata cake full of Pop Rocks.
chapter 30
Sullivan wished theycould stay at the campsite forever, but too quickly it was time to head home. Kia took an exit off Highway 26 and wound her way through the busier northwest streets into the hills that cradled the Oakwood Heights neighborhood. The rhododendrons were in bloom. Daffodils popped out of mossy rock gardens. But something wasn’t right.
Construction equipment, two semitrucks, and three shipping containers—all in Mega Eats–brand orange—lined the street that ran alongside the Bois. On the other side of the street, a man stood in front of his house watering his lawn with a handheld sprinkler, looking shell-shocked.
Kia parked, lining Old Girl and her truck up against the curb behind the semi.
“What’s going on,” she called to the man with the sprinkler.
“They just appeared,” he said. “I didn’t realize the sale went through.”
“It hasn’t,” Sullivan said.
Mega Eats slogans covered every piece of equipment.MEGA EATS: CHOOSE FLAVORand on the back of the semis Mega Eats franchises were listed in bubbly red font:MEGA MEXICAN,MEGA BURGER,MEGAPOLITZ,MEGA PIZZA,MEGA SOUTHRN COOK’N.
“This is unbelievable,” Kia muttered, scanning the street. “It’s like they’ve moved in overnight.”
A woman with a brown ponytail and an orange Mega Eats windbreaker hurried up to them, a flyer and a handful of coupons extended. When she saw Sullivan, she stopped.
“Sorry about the other day.”
Sullivan’s jaw tightened.
“You served me.”
“It’s not personal. I work for Mega Eats. We’re excited to work together to build a happier, healthier Oakwood Heights.”
“Healthier?” Sullivan’s voice soared an octave.
“The off-ramp will cut an average of four to seven minutes off commute times. If you factor that over years…”
“That’s health? An arm of freeway chopping through our neighborhood so we can eat pink slime?”
The woman shrugged as if to say,If that’s what you want to call it, I don’t care. She turned to Kia, who cut her off before she could speak.
“There is a court case to decide who buys this land. You do not get to build on the Bois just because you want to.”
“Standard operating procedure. We want to be ready to go as soon as the verdict comes in.”
“You better go!” Kia shoved her hands in her pockets.
“I mean ready to get building. You must be Kiana Jackson.” The woman held out her hand.
Sullivan was glad she’d never pissed Kia off, because an angry Kia looked like an avenging goddess.
“I don’t want to know you,” Kia hissed.
“Well, my company is suing you, Ms. Jackson, so we’re acquainted, but this isn’t personal. Mega Eats is a multibillion-dollar company. You’re not going to win. I’ve overseen a dozen projects like this. Mega Eats moves their equipment in so they can break ground the minute the judge signs the papers, and he willrule in favor of Mega Eats. You can pour a bunch of resources into fighting them and then lose, or you can get your lawyers to strike a deal. Mega Eats is actually pretty reasonable.” She looked at Sullivan with fake sympathy. “They’ll buy your house and your restaurant at more than fair market value.” To Kia she added, “They’ll probably pay to relocate your food pod. I could negotiate something. Would twenty thousand make it right?”
“You falling off a cliff would make it right,” Kia shot back, then stopped herself. “Not you personally. I’m sure you’re a decent person when you’re not hawking pink slime for the devil.”
“That’s the nicest thing anyone’s said to me this week,” the woman said dryly. “Mega Eats just wants to provide delicious, economical food options to make hungry Americans, happy Americans.” The woman winced as she quoted the slogan. “They’re not out to fuck with you, but they will if you don’t back down. It costs a lot of money to bring in this kind of equipment, to have blueprints drawn up, workers hired. They wouldn’t invest that money if they didn’t know they’d win. Go to them with an offer, but if you don’t do that, when they come to you, whatever they offer you, say yes. You seem like nice people, and I don’t want to see you ruined.”
