Brick

by S. Nelson

  I’d tried to push him away, my trust issues crippling the life I truly wanted for myself, but Ace never wavered, his strength forcing me to accept that I deserved to be happy.

  And he graciously took on the role of my friend, my lover, my confidant, my sparring partner on occasion and one day… my husband and the father of our babies.

  I didn’t have time to stop and talk to anyone who greeted us when we walked inside, hell-bent on getting my fix of Chels, and I knew the perfect spot. Rushing down the steps to the finished basement, I saw the space was empty, forcing my steps to quicken before anyone else had the same idea.

  “Where are you taking me?” she asked, slamming into the back of me when I skidded to a stop because the bathroom was locked.

  “Hello?” I knocked; my hand raised in the air to pound away again when the door swung open, and the man staring back at me didn’t look pleased.

  Kaden growled at me, Riley laughing behind him, pulling down on the bottom of her skirt. My eyes traveled the length of him, noticing he hadn’t started getting down to business yet. And he wasn’t gonna either. I needed this room more than they did. Okay, maybe not more, but just as much.

  “Ya know, the last time you were caught in here with her didn’t turn out too well for you.” I remembered the time Stone first found out about these two like it was yesterday, going after Kaden as soon as Riley opened this very same door.

  “Funny.” There was nothing about his expression that matched his response. In fact, he looked downright put out.

  He stepped toward me. Or should I say he was shoved toward me? Riley pushed him out of the bathroom and he reluctantly let her. “Come on, babe. Let’s get something to eat.”

  “I was about to do that until he showed up,” he grumped, and I couldn’t help but laugh.

  “Better luck next time,” I shouted after him, escorting Chelsea inside and locking the door. No way was I coming out of here until I was finished with her.

  “He didn’t look happy at all,” she said. “I can imagine you’d feel the same way if someone interrupted us beforehand.”

  “I wouldn’t have opened the door.” A coy smile changed my expression, the heat of my gaze telling her everything without a single word. Tugging on the button of her shorts, I popped it open and yanked on the zipper. I couldn’t get her bottoms off fast enough, kicking them to the side when I finally wriggled them over her plump ass and down her legs. I allowed her to keep her top on, but I pushed the material up and over her breasts, hiking her bra up right along with it.

  She reached for my buckle, but I grabbed her hands in midair, and turned her around. “Brace yourself, Chels. I wouldn’t want you to fall.” I leaned down and nipped her lobe. “I’m gonna be rough and fast, but I don’t want you to scream. Understand?”

  “Yes,” she whispered, watching me in the reflection of the mirror, her breath hitching when I cupped her pussy.

  “You’re drenched,” I rumbled low in her ear, plunging a finger inside. “You want me?” I withdrew and spread the wetness over her clit before she answered, surging forward again with two fingers. She rocked her hips but stilled when I pulled out again.

  “Stop teasing me.” Her gorgeous lips kicked up into a sinful smile when she heard my zipper being dragged through its teeth, licking her lips when she felt the head of my cock at her entrance.

  “Remember, no screaming.”

  “I can’t promise anything.” Her mouth dropped open as I worked myself in with slow measured thrusts until her body accepted my girth.

  “You were made for me.” I nipped her shoulder, throwing my head back on a groan when I started to move. “Fuck, you feel good.”

  “Go faster,” she cried, barely managing to keep quiet like I’d demanded.

  “Don’t make me gag you, woman.” She tried to scowl at my reprimand but failed.

  We found our rhythm quickly, as we both realized we couldn’t stay locked in this room all day. Running my tongue up the side of her neck, her salty skin making me hungry for more, I reached around and pinched her nipple with one hand while my other toyed with her clit. Quick strokes had her panting my name. Pressure had her stifling the screams resting her throat.

  “I love you,” I groaned, turning her head toward me and slamming my mouth over hers, continuing to work her over. Our tongues danced together wildly, giving her my breath when hers had frozen. “I love you so much, baby.”

  Her hand moved to cover mine, pressing down and jerking her hips. “Just like that,” she said. “Don’t stop.”

  I prayed she was close because my restraint slipped further and further away from me. “Oh, fuck!” I punished her body as the first wave of my orgasm rippled through me, my eyes flying back to hers as she finally contracted around me.

  Once the raging pulses subsided, I slowly circled my hips, easing us both back down. After I fell from her body, I tucked myself back into my boxer briefs and zipped up my pants.

  Giving her a smack on her bare ass, I laughed when she shot me a look.

  “Like I said before, you’re lucky you’re cute.”

  “Don’t forget about an animal in the sack.”

  “Ehh… you’re all right.” She shrieked when I dug my fingers into the ticklish spot by her hip bone. “Okay, okay,” she wheezed, “you’re an animal, a god.” I released her and she smacked my chest. “You know I can’t take that.”

  She quickly redressed, bumping me to the side so she could fix her hair, strands of blue peeking through the blonde. I heard voices in the other room and hoped they hadn’t been there long. Even though I wanted us to be quiet, there was no way this door was soundproof.

  “You ready?”

  “Yeah.” She smoothed down her top and blew out a breath, gifting me with a satisfied smile.

  As soon as I opened the door, I came face to face with Zander, Stone’s youngest. I swore he looked more and more like our VP every time I saw him but thankfully, he didn’t have his temper.

  “Not at a one-year-old’s birthday party, man,” he teased, looking from me to Chelsea and back again, grinning like he stumbled upon a mystery solved.

  “Whenever, wherever,” I responded, guiding Chelsea toward the steps.

  “I can’t use this bathroom now.”

  “They have two other ones. Use one of them.” He grumbled something else, but we were halfway up the stairs, so I didn’t hear him.

  “I’m hungry.” She tucked herself into my side as we walked toward the patio doors. The aroma of the grill filled the air, even inside the house, my stomach rumbling now that my other need had been sated.

  “Then let’s feed you.” Maddie opened the door as we walked out, smiling when she saw us. “Hi.” I leaned down and kissed her cheek. Looking over her head, which wasn’t hard to do seeing as how tiny she was, I searched for my boy. “Where’s Linc?”

  “He’s not here yet.” She looked behind her and pointed to Brick’s cousin, who sat at one of the tables with Braylen, Kena, Zoe, and of course, the little man of the hour, Silas, his dark-haired curls going every which way. “I came with Morgan. We did a walk-through making sure everything was in place for Saturday.” Maddie had been developing her interest in photography, and as luck would have it, she had showed Morgan some of her pictures. She’d been so impressed she talked her boss into giving Maddie her very own show at the gallery she helped to open here.

  “Oh yeah. Congratulations. I’m so happy for you.”

  “Me, too, Maddie. What a wonderful opportunity,” Chelsea added, giving her a quick hug before looking back at me. “I’m gonna make a plate.”

  “I’m right behind you,” I shouted after her as she walked away. She’d been gone for five seconds and already I missed her.

  Linc’s woman had come a long way since first coming to stay with us, even though it hadn’t been her choice at first. She was extremely timid, until she got a few drinks in her. Brick, Trigger, and I formed a protectiveness over her in those early days, even giving Linc
shit about messing around with her. But it turned out he caught real feelings for her, as she did for him. And while Maddie still strayed toward the shy side, she had come out of her shell, and I couldn’t be happier for her. For them both.

  “Did you call him? See where he’s at?”

  “He said he had to run an errand. I think he went with Tag. I’m not sure when…. Oh, there they are.” She smiled up at me, brushing a strand of her chocolate hair away from her face, her eyes peering past me, then back to me.

  “Go,” I finally said, chuckling because she didn’t want to be rude and leave me standing here. After another flash of her pearly whites, she ran off toward my friend.

  “She really likes you.” Chelsea beamed up at me, her forkful of potato salad halfway to her mouth. There was a time she thought I was interested in Maddie, but after she found out about what happened to her and how she came to be with us, she understood I was only looking out for her, even though I didn’t need to because Linc was all the protection she needed.

  “I like you.” I pulled her into me and opened my mouth. She scooped up some more of her salad and slid it between my lips.

  “I thought you loved me.” Her fake pouty face wasn’t fooling anyone. She was fully aware of my feelings for her, but I reminded her every day, in case she ever forgot.

  “I cherish you, woman, and you know it.” Slinging my arm over her shoulder, I tugged her into me and kissed the top of her head.

  I loved everything about this woman, from her sass to her bursts of fits when I annoyed the hell out of her, to her compassion and wit. She certainly did a great job of keeping me on my toes, but I wouldn’t want it any other way.

  I made a mental note to have a chat with my buddy Kaden, setting a plan in motion to seal the deal within the next year and propose to Chelsea.

  I’d give her the time she thought she needed, and in turn, she’d give me the family I always wanted.

  “Sorry it took me so long, babe.” Linc grabbed me and picked me off my feet, planting a wet one on me before nuzzling into my neck and making me squirm.

  His bright smile made my heart soar, and every day when I woke up next to him, I said a prayer in thanks to the forces that brought us together, even though how I came to be with Linc wasn’t under good circumstances, and that was putting it mildly.

  “That’s okay. I’m happy you’re here now.” I didn’t want to ask my next question, but my curiosity got the better of me. “Did you have to go there?” He pulled back and finally put me back on my feet, a combination of unease and guilt washing over his handsome features.

  “I did. Ace was already on his way here and I was closer. We were in and out in no time.” He tucked a strand of my hair behind my ear, his fingers lingering in assurance. “I love you. No one will ever take me from you. I promise.”

  “I know. I’m being stupid.”

  “No, you’re not, Maddie. I just don’t want you to hide anything from me. Okay?”

  “Okay.”

  Him doing things for his club, I understood, even when he had to visit one of the strip joints, but that didn’t mean insecurity didn’t swallow me up every time. Over the past year, I’d filled out more, my appetite coming back in full force once I was with Linc and allowed to eat whenever I wanted. I had curves but I was still considered on the thin side.

  One time, he made the mistake of taking me with him, I supposed to show me there was nothing for me to worry about, but his plan backfired. Every woman in there had huge boobs and curves for days. Whatever confidence I had in myself waned when I saw them strutting around. Thankfully, no one approached Linc, but when he saw the fallen look on my face, he finished up whatever he had to do, and we left.

  He apologized for days when I fell into a brief funk. But I couldn’t help it. After everything that happened, I didn’t believe I deserved Linc or his love. I’d gotten better with time, but every now and again, a wave of uncertainty creeped up on me.

  “Do you think I wasn’t crazy jealous when you were photographing those guys? Because I was. I wanted to rip their eyes out for even looking at you.” His muscles bristled with remembrance.

  Morgan had originally been impressed with the nature shots I took but more so with the one I shot of Linc when he was sleeping, skipping over the one of him in the nude. And because of that, she asked how I would feel shooting other people. Half of them were male, the half that turned Linc into a green-eyed monster for a while.

  “None of them caught my interest. You’re the only one I want.”

  “I know.” The upturn of his mouth put me more at ease. “We both get jealous and insecure, babe. We just have to remind each other sometimes. No biggie.” He gave me a flirty wink. When some men did it, they came off cocky and arrogant, but when Linc did it, he was sexier than normal. A flush washed over my skin, but I tamped down my libido because we were surrounded by his friends and I didn’t want to get myself all worked up. We’d be here for a few hours at least and I didn’t want to torture myself. Besides, I hadn’t been feeling all that great this morning. I hoped it was simply nerves for Saturday’s showing and not a stomach bug.

  Clutching my hand, he pulled me toward the table that was set up along the outside bar, never letting go as he made our plates with his free hand.

  “I can help.” I tried to tug my hand free, but he wouldn’t let go.

  “I can do it.”

  “You can do it faster with both hands.” I laughed, attempting one more time to get him to release me, but he held firm.

  Shifting on his feet, his mouth was against my ear, his warm breath eliciting a wave of goose bumps to pop up all over my skin. “I can do it faster with both hands.” All he did was echo my words back to me and I was a puddle at his feet. “Wanna see?”

  “We can’t.”

  He glanced around quick before his eyes landed on mine. “Why not?”

  “Because we’re not at home,” I reminded him, laughing when he bunched the material of my dress in his hand and kissed my neck.

  “So?”

  “Lincoln.” I said his name in warning but failed to stop laughing.

  “Oh, it’s Lincoln now, is it?” He smothered me in kisses, not a care in the world his family and friends were gawking at us.

  “Get a room.” Ace walked by us. “We did,” he revealed, his arm swung around Chelsea’s waist. I was so happy the two of them worked things out. I loved them as a couple and Ace deserved every bit of happiness.

  I didn’t see Ryder walk up behind us at first, but I heard him loud and clear. “You better not have,” he shouted to Ace’s retreating back, but the only thing he did was turn around and laugh.

  “Hey, the only people having sex in this house are me and my wife. If I catch anyone else, there’s gonna be hell to pay.” Ryder’s expression was stern, and it was exactly why I didn’t give in to Linc’s hint of getting down and dirty in someone else’s house.

  “Gross, Dad.” Roman was sitting at a nearby table, his face scrunching in horror at his father’s outburst.

  “Yeah, Dad. No one wants to hear about that.” Zoe at least smiled when she teased him. Brick walked up behind her and whispered something in her ear, and from the way her cheeks blushed, I could imagine it was something like what Linc hinted at with me.

  Straightening my clothing, I stopped when I caught the look Linc shot me. He was still thinking something naughty and even the adamant shake of my head wouldn’t deter him.

  “Did I tell you how much I like your dress?”

  “Yes.”

  “Do you know why?”

  “Because it has blue and white stripes?”

  “Sure, but why else?”

  “Because it looks good on me?”

  “That’s obvious. Why else?” His voice dipped, the gravel in his tone hitting me straight between the legs.

  I looked down at myself, then back up into his face. “Because it’s easy access?” I only knew this because he said that same thing about any dress I wore
.

  “Yup.”

  “I’m hungry.” I changed the subject in a hurry, not wanting to get under Ryder’s skin with any additional suspicions.

  Linc sighed. “Okay. Let’s get you some food.”

  After loading two plates, this time him using both hands, we found two empty seats at the table where Braylen sat with Silas. The little boy was too darn cute, with his crazy dark head of curls and chubby cheeks. He looked like Roman, his older brother, and I had no doubts he was gonna be a heartbreaker when he grew up.

  We enjoyed our food, but I had to stop eating every couple minutes and push Linc’s hand away because he kept trailing his fingers along the inside of my thigh. No one could see anything because I was hidden under the table, but I still couldn’t let him touch me like that with everyone around. He, on the other hand, didn’t seem to have any qualms about feeling me up in public.

  After I’d finished, Braylen stood up and walked over to us. “Can you hold him for a couple minutes while I go change?” Silas had made a mess and stained her pink blouse.

  “Sure.” I held my hands out and he came right to me, his fingers wrapping around the necklace Linc gave me for our one-year anniversary. “No, no, sweetie.” I tried to pry his hand away, but the little bugger was strong. “Don’t pull on it.”

  Warm breath fanned over my cheek, and when I turned my head, our lips mushed together. Linc smiled into the kiss before breaking apart. “Hey, buddy,” he tutted. “You tryin’ to steal my woman?” Silas ignored me and reached for Linc. “You want to come to me?” It was sweet to hear him baby talk, showing me another side of him, another side to love.

  We’d talked about kids a few times, but I didn’t want to start a family anytime soon. I was only nineteen, too young in my opinion to have a baby. But seeing him with Silas, blowing raspberries on his belly and bouncing him on his knee made me think that maybe I’d like to have one sooner than I thought.

  “Keep doing that and he might throw up on you,” Braylen warned, sitting down next to him. She changed into a cream and tan summer dress, her ash blonde hair pulled back into a high ponytail. She looked stunning, as always.