His cock immediately juts forward, it’s long and thick like the rest of him. Biting the corner of my lip, I wonder how he’s going to feel stretching me. If it’s going to sting and hurt. If he’ll take his time, or be too impatient. I can’t decide which I want from him. Do I want him to keep complete control, or lose it and be wild?
We watch one another, the only sound in the room, our panting breaths. I want his touch all over my body. I want his mouth all over me too. I want his mischievous eyes staring into mine. For the first time in my life, I feel like this man could love me one day. That I could be loved, truly loved by another person. Not manipulated and used—but loved.
“Rylan?” I ask.
He smiles. “Sweetheart,” he rasps, wrapping his hand around his cock and gently stroking. “Scoot back on the bed a little, let me in.”
Sitting up slightly, I reach behind me, unhooking my bra before I tug it down my arms and toss it over the end of the bed, onto the floor. Then, I scoot back, keeping my legs open and ready for him. He crawls between my thighs, leaning over me, he’s careful not to press against my stomach, keeping his forearms and elbows on the bed, hovering above me.
His length presses against my center, and silently we stare into one another’s eyes. “The arrangement we once discussed changes the second I slide inside of you, Channing,” he announces.
I lift my hips, moaning at the feel of his cock against my still wet center. He grunts, his jaw clenched tightly, his eyes flaring as he looks down at me.
“I think, with you, I welcome a change. I can’t promise this will be perfect. I’m going through a lot, but I want to try, with you I want to try,” I admit.
RYLAN
Without another word, I slowly slide inside of Channing’s body. This is absolutely the wrong thing to do, I know that she isn’t in the right frame of mind. I’m taking advantage of her. I know that I am. Yet, I can’t stop myself. Her taste was amazing, her pussy, out of this goddamn world. The farther I sink into her, the more guilty I feel.
I shake my head, trying to shake that guilt off of and out of me.
“Yes,” she hisses once I’m completely seated inside of her to the root.
Lifting my knees closer to her ass, I look down between us. She’s stretched so goddamn tight around me, she looks amazingly full. Her hands fly to my chest, her nails digging into my skin slightly. I let out my own hiss, flexing my hips so that my pelvis grinds against her sensitive clit.
“Amazing,” I rasp.
Pulling out of her slowly, I sink back inside, my head tipped and watching every move. It’s gorgeous, her thighs tremble with each stroke of my cock. Her breath hitches and I know that she won’t be able to take the slow pace much longer, and frankly, neither will I.
“More, please, more,” she begs, just when I’m about to lose my fucking control.
Shifting, I slip one of my hands beneath her head, tangling my fingers in the back of her hair. My other hand I move between us, my thumb touching her clit. Lowering my face, I brush my lips across hers.
“Hold on, sweetheart,” I warn. She nods her head twice.
Only then, only when I’ve prepared her for what is next do I pull back, then slam into her wet heat. I fuck her, I don’t hold back, I don’t take it easy. The only thing I’m careful not to do is apply weight to her stomach.
“It’s too much,” she cries out as she lifts her hips to meet my thumb and my thrusts.
I grunt. “It’s not. Take it, Channing. Relax your body and take what I give you.”
She nods, her eyes wide. I fuck her harder, but not faster. I slam into her waiting, warm body. She feels amazing, and if I could last all fucking night, I wouldn’t ever leave her sweet cunt. I hear her growl, looking down at her, I watch as her jaw clenches. She’s so fucking close, it’s so goddamn beautiful.
“Fight it off, sweetheart. Fuck, it’s going to be so big when you let go,” I murmur breathlessly.
I feel the tingling sensation in my lower back, warning me that I, myself, am about to blow. My balls draw up, but I don’t change my speed or strength. I keep pounding into her, my thumb rubbing firm circles against her clit continuously. I’m taking a second orgasm. I want to feel her squeeze my cock, not just my fingers.
She gasps, her body stiffening and that’s when I know she’s on the verge and toppling over. I feel her pussy squeeze my cock as her entire body vibrates beneath me. Only then do I let go, I thrust inside of her three more times before I still and fill her body with my release.
“Fuck,” I curse, her pussy pulsing around me, milking every drop from my dick.
I want to collapse against her, but I don’t. My arm shakes, my fingers tugging her hair even tighter as we lay in silence. Before I squish her, I roll onto my back. Wrapping my arms around her, I pull her so that she’s on top of me, straddling me.
She loses my dick in the process, but at least her tits are pressed against my chest. I use my fingertips and slowly caress her back and ass over and over until her body completely melts against my own.
“Changes everything,” I rasp.
She shifts her head, her eyes looking down into mine through her lashes. “Yeah?” she asks.
I nod. “I’m going to fucking suck at this shit. Never had a woman, and now I got more than just a woman, I got a baby coming. I don’t give a fuck though, you’re mine, both of you.”
“Rylan,” she whispers.
Shaking my head, I move my hands up her spine, wrapping one around the back of her neck, the other cupping her cheek.
“You are. I believe everything that happens is for a reason, Channing. You both need me, and trust me when I tell you, that I need you both just as much, if not more.”
She stares at me, opening her mouth a few times before she slams her lips closed and presses them together. She nods, instead of saying whatever is on her mind. It doesn’t matter, if it’s a protest, it won’t work. She’s mine—they’re mine.
“You want your ice cream?” I ask with a smirk.
Her eyes darken at the mention of her snack. She bites the corner of her bottom lip which only makes me chuckle. “I don’t have much in there, but whatever I have, you’re free to eat it,” she whispers.
My fingers flex against her, my lips twitching. “You already fed me,” I grin.
It takes her a second, but she gasps when she understands my meaning.
“Rylan,” she squeals, her face turning deep red.
Lifting my head slightly, I press my mouth against hers. “Sweetheart, I could live off of your pussy alone. Best thing I tasted all goddamn day,” I grunt.
Without giving her a chance to deny my statement. I roll her onto her back, then climb off of the bed. Leaving her alone in her room, I walk into the kitchen and grab her ice cream from the freezer. My stomach rumbles, but I ignore the hunger.
I’ll get breakfast tomorrow with Wyatt. Then Friday, I’ll fill this house fucking full of food. Me and Channing may not have much now, and maybe we never will, but she will never go hungry—not ever. The baby won’t either. Not the way I did as a kid. Channing and this baby will have everything I never had, plus more.
Chapter Ten
CHANNING
“Called it,” Lulamae shouts as soon as I walk into the diner.
I freeze, my eyes meeting hers and I smile. “You did,” I admit with a shrug.
“And you look like you don’t even care that I called it. Which means it was good?” she asks.
Shaking my head, I shrug. “Possibly. I’ll never tell.” I wink.
Lula rolls her eyes, turning back to the coffee pot and continues to brew up a pot for the morning rush. “It was good,” she mutters to herself.
I giggle, for the first time in years, I giggle. I feel like a giddy teenager. Rylan has done that to me. He’s amazing. I don’t know how it happened, especially so quickly, but I don’t care. I’m happy. Truly happy.
Placing my hand on my belly, I let out a sigh before I gather my notepad and
pencil for the day. Nothing could possibly get me down, not today, and maybe not ever. I know my thoughts are famous last words, but I truly believe them today.
Last night, Rylan brought me my ice cream and I ate it in bed curled up next to him. I’ve never spent the night with a man, and I was a little nervous. I chattered a million miles an hour, but he didn’t stop me or tell me I was annoying. He listened, or at least I assumed he listened, he didn’t really say much.
The entire time he played with the ends of my hair, it was sensual and sexy, loving and beautiful. It was like a dream. Had he not woken me with his mouth between my legs, I think that I would still want to be asleep, too afraid to wake up.
“You’re a mess. Wake up, girl, we need to work,” Lulamae chuckles as she walks past me, bumping her hip with mine.
My feet falter beneath me and I straighten, rolling my eyes. She’s not wrong, but I’ve never felt like I’ve been floating on a cloud before, like I do right now. It’s amazing and exhilarating all at the same time. As soon as the doors open and people start filtering into the restaurant, there isn’t a dull moment. We’re busy immediately, and it doesn’t slow down the rest of the day.
There is usually a lull between breakfast and lunch, but for whatever reason, that doesn’t happen today. I’m pouring glasses of water at one of my tables when I feel a cold chill across my neck. The people at my table start to whisper and that’s when I know something is happening.
I should have realized it. This town is microscopic. Avery already saw me at the maternity store. No wonder so many people have been here today. They’re curious. They want to know who the daddy is, and I’m sure they have suspicions.
Turning around, my pitcher in hand I don’t know what I expect, but it isn’t James and his brother Jacob standing there. They have their arms crossed across their chests and their eyes narrowed on me. Well if the whole town didn’t know who the father was, they do now—assuredly.
“Table for two?” I ask, trying to sound unaffected.
James lifts his chin. I don’t even have to look over at Lulamae’s side to know she’s full up. There are only two empty tables in my section as it is. “Either table is fine, something to drink?” I chance asking, trying to sound as nonchalant as possible by their presence.
They ignore me, breezing past me to one of the empty tables, and taking a seat. Something ugly slithers down my spine. It’s angry and bitter, for the first time I look at James and I feel nothing but disgust and hatred toward him. I don’t want to feel anything at all about him, and yet, there it is.
No longer am I sad, upset, or even concerned with him. I’ve moved past those emotions, I’m now pissed off. Completely and totally fucking pissed off. At him, and the way he treated me for two years. I’ll never get my senior year of high school back. He forever changed the path of my life, and although I know it takes two to tango, he was an adult. I wasn’t. Not really. Then there’s his brother. He’s just as bad, if not worse than James himself, if those rumors about him are true.
“Are you ready to order?” I ask after taking a deep breath and counting to ten.
“Burgers, fries, Cokes for both of us,” James orders. I nod, writing it down, acting as if I truly have to concentrate on the task when I could make the order out in my sleep.
“Anything else?” I ask.
“An abortion too much to ask for?” Jacob sneers.
I let his question roll off of my back, at least I try to. “It is, actually. Human decency too much to ask?” I retort.
He snorts, he opens his mouth, then decides to snap it closed. I wish he wouldn’t. I wish he would just say whatever it is, rip it off like a band-aid. I can take it—kind of, and if I can’t, I’ll just go into the bathroom and cry for a moment or two.
“Enough,” James growls. “I need to know you’ll keep your mouth shut, Channing,” he demands.
Looking over to him, I lift a brow. “You’re in here, at my job. You showed up to my place to have it out on the front lawn. Your wife hit me with a cart at the grocery store. Notice a pattern? If you want the town to talk, keep it up, James. They’re talking because you keep airing your business out to them. I haven’t said a word to anyone.”
James’ eyes narrow as he looks over at me. However, I do not have time to wait for some kind of half-assed bullshit response. I turn from him and walk back into the kitchen to place his and Jacob’s order. I’m half tempted to make them special spit-burgers, but I keep control over myself, even if it is just barely.
I ignore the two of them and their angry glares until their food is ready. Once their plates are finished, I deliver their food.
“Is there anything else I can get you?”
“Just leave town, Channing. Make it easier on yourself and go,” James mutters.
Arching a brow, I glance around. There are about twenty sets of eyes on us, watching and waiting to get all of the dirt. The thing is, I don’t care, James is the one who cares so damn much. I’m the daughter of a drugged out alcoholic. I’m twenty-years-old and work at a local greasy spoon and I’m pregnant with no baby daddy to care. It’s James who has a reputation to uphold, who has a career that could be jeopardized if the truth comes out—not me.
“You mean make it easier on you? No, I don’t think that I will. This is my hometown. This is where I am going to raise my baby,” I state.
I say it loud enough for the people trying to listen in on our conversation. I know they’ve heard me when I hear some gasps. James shrinks in his chair, trying to make himself seem smaller. I don’t care how he feels, he brought all of this on himself.
Placing their ticket down, I turn and leave the two assholes. I walk into the kitchen, inhaling deeply when the door closes behind me. My head falls against the wall and I take a moment to just breathe.
“Maybe you should move to a different town. Not that I think he’s right, or that I think he should be able to get away with his reputation intact. I just want you and that bundle you got to be safe,” Clarence, the cook, announces.
He usually doesn’t say much, so I jump when he speaks. My eyes pop open and find his. He smiles sadly, his gaze traveling down to my belly, then back up to meet my own. “Protect that little one. Growing up in a town with a man and his whole family who harbors that much hate isn’t healthy, for any of you.”
Gulping, I nod once. “I have someone to help me,” I admit.
Clarence grins, winking, he flips his burger, then looks back at me. “Rylan will need protecting too, Channing. His background is similar to yours, but somewhere along the way, it came out twisted and ugly. Going to one of the other small towns in this area wouldn’t be such a bad thing. Why don’t you move to Burnet? Maybe Lampasas? Think on it, darlin’.”
Nodding, I turn away from him and head back out to the floor. Stopping before I walk out, I look back at him. “Thanks, Clarence. I’ll talk to Rylan tonight,” I say, giving him a shaky smile.
He nods once, then shifts his gaze down to his food. Walking out of the kitchen, I’m glad to see the diner a little emptier. Lulamae lifts her hand to me, in an attempt to ask me if I’m okay. I wave back, plastering on a fake smile for her. She shakes her head, a smirk on her lips. She knows I’m full of shit, and I’m sure she’ll counsel me later, but not right now, thank goodness.
The rest of the day is quiet, and I’m thankful and even grateful for it. I’m cleaning up my last table of the day when I suddenly can’t contain my smile. Tomorrow is my first doctor’s appointment. The thought passes through my head and causes me to sigh.
I’m so excited. I hope I’ll be able to have an ultrasound, like the ones I see girls on television have in the beginning. A picture of a little blob that I can’t really understand or read. I want that. I want to see this little life inside of my body.
“Here, you haven’t eaten all day,” Lulamae says, dropping a plate with a burger, side salad, and fruit in front of my face.
“Lula...” I start to protest.
�
�Don’t give me any lip.”
She turns and walks away from me. Sitting down with a groan, I have no shame, because I pick up the burger and within five minutes my plate is empty. I was starving, hungrier than I thought. Once I’m finished, I go through my tips and count them out.
After doing some quick math, I decide that I can possibly get something for dinner for both Rylan and me tonight. It’s going to have to be something cheap and easy, but at least we’ll be fed. Luckily, tomorrow is Friday and not only do I get paid but so does he.
Making my way to the grocery store, I think about what I could make him. I’m not an extremely skilled cook, but I’m sure I can throw something edible together for the two of us. The thought alone has me smiling, making something for the two of us. Even with James and Jacob’s visit today, they couldn’t get me down. Not when I have thoughts of Rylan swimming in my head all day long.
RYLAN
Wyatt pulls up to the front of Channing’s place and shifts his truck into park. We were busy today and haven’t really had a chance to talk. I can tell though that he definitely has something to say to me. I don’t make a move to exit, instead I lean back in the seat and wait.
It’s normal for Wyatt to take a few moments to gather his thoughts. He’s never been one to just blurt anything out, not even when we were kids. “You sticking with this, with her? You know you can’t just up and leave her, don’t you?” he asks.
I know he’s been thinking about Sammi, especially with her visit then departure. He’s been thinking about what happened between them all those years ago.
“Thirty-years-old, I’m not a kid, Wy. I know what this means. She’s having a baby, and maybe one day that baby will have my last name. I’m in this for the long haul,” I shrug.
“How can you say that when you don’t even know her. You been out of the pen for a total of three weeks, cousin,” he says, pointing at me.
CONVICT: An Unfit Hero Novel Page 8
