by Nicki Rowe
“On your knees.”
I obliged, sinking to my knees in front of him. I looked up into his half-mast eyes and licked my lips. His left hand roamed over his cock while the other pulled lightly on my hair. He knew how much I loved when he pulled my hair, so he did it every chance he could.
“Remove my pants,” he demanded in that low sexy voice that I loved.
I unbottoned his slacks, and slid the zipper down slowly. My free hand skimming over his hairy thighs. His cock sprung free: long, slender and perfect. I licked the underside, earning a small grunt from Caleb.
“Open your mouth.”
I opened my mouth, and he inserted his cock in one swift thrust. He hit the back of my throat, and I made a low gutteral moan, holding him to me by placing my hands on his naked ass and pushing him even farther into my mouth. I buried my face in his curls and inhaled his musk. God, he smelled so good.
He fucked my face slowly—too slowly. I wanted more. I looked up to his face to see his head tipped back to the ceiling. I kneaded the muscles in his ass as he slowly entered and exited my mouth.
On a whim I moved my fingers to the center of his ass, sliding one up and down his crease; if he punished me for my daring move than so be it. He looked at me with wide brown eyes, challanging me to finish what I started. I slid my hand further down and cupped his balls, tugging lightly. Then I slid my fingers back up his crease, and circled his pert hole with the tip of my index finger. His hips jerked, causing his cock to go even deeper into my mouth to the point where I almost gagged.
I looked up at him again as I felt his fingers circle my wrist and then insert one of my fingers and one of his inside of him. He slid his finger out, and slid two more of mine in. We inserted them in and out, while his hips moved in a erratic, slow rhythm. His breaths were coming out shallow and quick, he was moaning so low and deep it was rattling through my body.
“Bed,” he demanded. The word coming out clipped.
He withdrew my fingers from his ass, and his cock from my mouth. He kicked his pants off and over the floor. He pulled me up by my wrist. I followed him to my room, and he kicked the door closed behind us. He turned to me, and stripped me from my shirt and pants. He laid back on the bed, his hands behind his head. His shirt was hanging loose, exposing his left pec. He held a hand out to me.
“Come.”
I crawled over him, placing a kiss over his exposed nipple, flicking my tongue over the nub. He pulled my head away and placed a kiss to my temple. He slid his hands up and down my back.
“I love you,” he said. “I want to show you how much.”
I nodded, unable to answer verbally.
He rolled me over, and positioned me so that my ass was in the air, and my head rested on my folded arms. He slid his hands up the back of my thighs and back down again. One hand slid down my spine to my head. He cupped the back of my neck, kneading the muscles there. He was being slow, tender, and I loved every second of his light touch on my skin, heating it even further.
I heard the shick of the cap, and then slick fingers were probing me slowly. One entered, sliding in and out with a leisurely determination. Another entered, quickly followed by another. I met his fingers thrust for thrust, moaning when he brushed my prostate. His fingers withdrew, leaving me feeling empty, but it wasn't long until I felt his sheathed cock head pushing at the tight ring around my hole. He pushed past the ring, illiciting a sharp gasp from me; I bit down on my forearm to keep from crying out.
He slid in and out of me at a slow pace, his hands roaming all over my body, kneading the muscles in my legs and sides. His fingers flexed with the need to lose control, and I wanted him to lose control, but I also knew he needed this. He needed to show me how much he loved me by taking things slow and gentle.
I mewed and moaned every time he slid so far out only his cock head remained inside, and then he would enter again so agonizingly slow.
“Please,” I begged him. “More.”
He remained silent, palming my ass as he entered me. He exited me completely, and I opened my mouth to protest when he flipped me over and placed my legs on his shoulders. He slowly entered me again, inch by inch by inch.
I liked this position more. I could see his face, his brown eyes probing mine, looking for something, but all he would see is love. That's all I had for him. His left hand cupped my calf, and he reached down with his right to cup my cheek. I turned my head and kissed his palm.
“I love you,” he said. “I love you.”
His hand circled my hard cock, pumping me in the slow, unhurried pace in which he fucked me.
Too soon, I felt the tingling at the base of my spine and my balls drew up tight. I came with a low moan of his name, painting my stomach and his hand in white. He gave two unsteady jerks into me before he released with another whispered, “I love you.”
I pulled him up to me. My lips searching for his, I smiled when he kissed me.
“I love you too,” I told him, holding his forehead to mine.
March
Chapter Eight
Caleb
“I think this is a new record,” Edward said, patting his still flat stomach. I don't know how it was still flat after he ate an entire stack of pancakes and downed three cups of coffee. Watching Cody and Edward gorge on pancakes was my favorite part of every Saturday. Edward and I had been living in almost domestic bliss for five months. I had even taken Cody on a few outings to lunch, to the park and even joined him for a book club meeting. I loved Cody almost as if he were my own brother.
We met Carter and Diego for dinner every few weeks, and even invited Viola and Gigi over for dinner a handful of times. Greta invited both Cody and Edward to lunch the week before, and Edward loved her almost as much as I loved her.
“We meet again,” Mason said, wagging his eyebrows as he sat down next to Cody who was practically licking syrup from the plate. He was sporting another wrist brace, this one from spraining his wrist while trying to ride Diego's skateboard. “Pancake Saturday?”
“Always!” Cody said excitedly. Great, now he was going to be on a sugar high. I chuckled as I noticed Edward's expression mirroring my thoughts.
“You guys are coming to the lunch thing tomorrow, right?” Mason asked, draining the contents of my coffee cup. “Cart and Diego have been planning it for like a month.”
“We'll be there,” Edward answered, curling his fingers around the back of my neck. I leaned back into his touch. “We need to bring anything?”
“Just your gorgeous selves,” Mason said with another wag of his eyebrows.
Betty-Anne brought out Mason's breakfast and he disappeared without another word.
“Are you sure you will be okay watching Cody?” Edward asked, leaning his head on my shoulder. “Annie promised I will only be at Raven's Moon for a few hours.”
I looked at Cody, and he smiled brightly at me. “We'll be fine. I hear Arthur got in some new books yesterday.”
Cody was practically bouncing in his seat at the prospect of finding a new book.
“Sorry to dine and ditch, baby. I gotta go relieve Viola.”
“Bye, baby,” I replied, earning a smile from Edward. I placed a kiss to his lips. “I got the check. Tell Viola I said hi.”
He slid from the booth and was gone in the blink of an eye. Betty-Anne brought the check, and I slapped a twenty and a ten on the table before she could hurry away. She beamed at me when she noticed the extra big tip. Cody and I slid out from the booth. I nodded at Logan as I passed by him. He looked to be grading, so I didn't want to interrupt him.
“Edward says that I'm growing too fast,” Cody said, standing on his tip-toes. “What do you think, Caleb?”
I chuckled. “You are a few inches taller than when I first saw you.”
“Are you and Caleb going to get married? People who are in love get married, right?”
I tried not to show how much the prospect of marrying Edward excited me. “One day. Do you want me to marry Edward?”
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Cody stopped and curled his small hand in mine. He pulled me to a stop, and looked up at me with so much open innocence and a wide smile, I felt my heart squeeze with emotion. “Yeah. I think Edward was sad before he met you.”
“Why do you say that?”
Cody shrugged and continued walking toward Arthur's Used books and Antiques.
“He doesn't know, but I would wake up in the middle of the night and I could hear him crying. I think he missed Mom and Dad. He doesn't cry when you spend the night though.”
I knew that Edward woke up crying in the middle of the night. It was one of the things he had confessed to me when we were up late cuddling in bed. I had held him close as he told me that he woke up, thinking his Mom and Dad were still alive, and he felt like a kid again until reality came crashing down on him. He had told me he never realized how lonely he had been until he met me. I told him that I had felt the same way. I had been so alone before I met him. I used to wake up shivering in the mornings, but when I slept with Edward I didn't wake up cold; I woke up surrounded in warmth with his limbs draped over me. I wanted to wake up like that every day.
“You would be my brother-in-law if you married Edward, right?”
“Right,” I replied, opening the door to the book store for him.
Arthur was behind the counter, scanning a pile of books into his system. Arthur was a thin man with glasses and threadbare sweaters that he wore even in the summer. He looked up when we entered, a small look of fear crossed Arthur's face before it was masked by a small smile. I knew that look well, Arthur was trying to mask his hurt and his fear. Someone had caused him pain, and he was trying to pretend that everything was okay. My heart went out to him, I wanted to talk to him and offer him my ear, but I knew he wouldn't go for the help. Not until he was ready.
“Cody! Just got in a new collection of Classics.”
Cody practically knocked over a book shelf as he ran to the counter. Arthur chuckled.
“Have you ever read Moby Dick?”
“No!”
Arthur held up a battered copy of Moby Dick, and Cody snatched it from his hands. He looked back to me, his eyes begging me to buy the book for him.
“I'm going to look around,” I said.
I gazed the shelves, running my fingers along the spines of the used books. Cody's words mulled over in my head. Did I want to marry Edward? I didn't even have to think about it: the answer was yes.
I wandered back the front of the store, and paid for Cody's book.
“You want to go with me to the jewelry store?” I asked.
“Are you going to get Edward a ring?”
I stopped and knelt in front of Cody. “Would you be okay with that?”
“Yeah!” Cody fist bumped the air. He took my hand and pulled me toward the jewelers. “Come on, Caleb! I know just the one Edward would like.”
Cody pulled me into the store, and barked a quick hello to the woman behind the counter. She was a pretty blond thing with a huge diamond on her ring finger.
“Do you remember when I came in with my brother last week?” Cody asked the woman.
“What?” My eyes went huge, and I felt a slow smile curl on my lips. Edward had thought about this? He thought about marrying me?
“Yes,” the lady smiled, and pulled a box from the glass case.
Cody pointed to the box and looked up at me. “These ones. These are the ones Edward was looking at. He asked me how I felt about you joining the family.”
I smiled, and looked up at the sales woman. “I'll take them.”
~ ~ ~
Carter and Diego's backyard was overflowing with people. It seemed like almost the entire town of Glensville had turned up for the lunch party. There was the entire police force, including the chief and his wife. Lucky and Declan were talking over by Carter's garden. Viola and Gigi were talking to Mason and Bryan Camp. The Marks brothers all came with their partners. I waved at Jayson as he led Billy over to where Olivia and Cody were talking. Even the guys from the tattoo shop had been invited as a way to welcome them to town. Their shop was finally opening soon, and Edward was already talking to the older man, Grizz, about his next tattoo. He wouldn't tell me what it was, but assured me it would be beautiful.
Carter was manning the grill with Diego at his side. I looked over to where Edward was now talking to Holly and Clyde. He looked over at me and gave me a smile.
“I'm proud of you, my boy,” Greta said from beside me.
I wrapped an arm around her thin shoulders. “It's been quite the year.”
Who would have known that accepting a job at Glensville Public School would lead to me finding friends, happiness and the person I knew I was meant to spend my life with. I was loved by my new family, and I fell in love—I couldn't ask for anything more. I looked over at Edward again. This was it; this was the moment to ask Edward to marry me. The box felt heavy in my pocket. I needed to get a ring on that man's finger. I needed to officially make him mine.
I had just cleared my throat to ask Edward in front of our friends, when Viola stepped into the middle of the empty backyard.
“Everybody!” she hollered, her black skirt swirled around her as she turned to make sure she had everyone's attention. “I have an announcement!”
Gigi came to her side, twirling the ring through her septum nervously. Viola wrapped an arm around her girlfriend.
“Gigi and I are getting married!”
The backyard erupted with applause. Everyone moved forward to offer their congratulations. Edward hugged both of them so fiercely I thought they were going to suffocate.
“You stole my thunder,” I quipped as I walked up to her. I made sure no one was paying attnetion and then I showed her the small box that had been resting in my jacket pocket. I wrapped my arms around her. “I'm happy for you.”
“Caleb!” she squealed, her eyes going wide. “Ask him! Ask him right now!”
“I don't want to steal the thunder back from you.”
Viola rolled her eyes. “Oh, pshaw, do it!”
I let go of Viola and made my way through the crowd until I found Edward picking at the cookies Declan and Lucky had brought.
“Hi, baby.”
He turned and gave me a smile. There was a crumb stuck to his lip, so I leaned forward and licked it off. When I pulled back he was looking at me with heat and love.
“You better behave. There is nowhere to sneak off to.”
“Well, that is a shame,” I joked. “I want to ask you something.”
Edward's head tilted to the side. Damn, I loved when he did that. I pulled him in for a kiss. “I want to ask you something,” he said when we pulled apart.
“What?”
“Move in with me?”
I laughed. I laughed so much it started to hurt.
“What's so funny?” Edward sounded hurt, and that made me laugh more. I doubled over and braced my hands on my knees. “If you don't want to just say so.”
“Baby,” I said when he turned to walk away. I held onto his sleeve until I sobered. “I was going to ask you to marry me.”
His eyes went round and one of his hands gripped the hand I had on his sleeve. “What? You're joking.”
I stood to my full height and took the box out of my pocket. I opened it, revealing two identical bands; the silver had been shaped into an intricate filigree. Tears formed in his eyes.
“Oh, my God.”
“You don't believe in God,” I replied.
He shot me a look. “Ask me properly.”
“Yes, sir.” I sank to my knees in front of him and took one of his hands in both of mine. I could feel everyone watching us curiously. “Edward Knight, you heal the scars on my soul. You look at me like I am the most beautiful thing you have ever seen. I don't want to wake up without you beside me, wrapped around me like you can't bear to let me go. I love that you would do anything for Cody, and I love how much you love him. I love how you tried to get me to use that organic salve to heal my papercut
last week, even though I was convinced it wasn't going to work. I love you. I want to wake up with you every day. I want to come home and make you and Cody dinner. I want to sit in front of the TV with you and Cody on our nights off. I think about you when you are not near me, and I will forever be yours. Edward, will you marry me?”
The tears were flowing freely now. I reached up and wiped away the ones on his left cheek. “Damn, all you had to say was 'will you marry me?' You took forever to spit all of that out.”
I snorted at him. “Answer the question.”
He just nodded.
“Say it. Tell me what you want,” I said, my voice going low in the way that made his pupils dilate and made him shiver.
“Yes, Sir, I want to marry you.”
I stood and hugged him to me. Behind us cheers erupted, and people clapped us on the back.
“I call dibs on getting married first,” Viola shouted over the voices of every one else.
I laughed and slid the ring on to Edward's finger. Cody ran up and gave us a hug.
I had never been so happy. My heart felt like it was going to burst.
“CALEB!”
The sound of my father's voice popped my little happy bubble. Everyone turned and looked at the tall, brown haired man standing by the gate. He was swaying on his feet, a bottle of whiskey dangled from his hand. And there it was—the other shoe had dropped.
“Caleb! You fucking little shit!” he roared, charging towards us like a bull on a rampage. “I fucking told you to get your ass back home!”
“How did you find me?”
I was shivering, rubbing my hands up and down my arms. Despite the warm day I was cold. My blood felt like ice. No, he couldn't be here. He didn't know where I was. How was he here?
“I figured this is where you would go. You followed your faggot friend to this shitty town,” Father sneered at Jayson. Billy was whimpering behind Jayson and August's legs. I realized the one time Billy had seen my father was when he was beating up on Jayson all those years ago. The fear in Billy's eyes seemed to unglue me from my spot. I strode forward until I was face to face with my father. I poked a finger into his chest.
