by Alexa Riley
Chapter 10
Van
Her thighs spread wider as I lap at her clit and hum against it. She wiggles her hips, but I’ve got her feet tied to the bed, so no matter how much she squirms she’s open for my pleasure.
Last night I was on my way to her cabin to tell her enough was enough and I saw Jack talking to her. My rage took over and I launched into him, knowing I’d protect her from any threat. And that’s what he was. But I knew in that moment that everything I felt for her needed to be said out loud, I just didn’t want the first time I told her I loved her to be on the back of that memory.
The sun is almost up and I’ve spent the night loving every inch of her body. She tastes like the two of us and she’s cum so many times I don’t know if she’s going to be able to walk. She deserves a day in bed and the counselors can fend for themselves if they’re hungry. I’ve already texted the guys at the stables and let them know I won’t be in today. I plan on being right here with my woman and enjoying every second of it.
“Tia,” I whisper against her pussy.
“You’re killing me slowly, aren’t you?” she cries out as I nibble on her clit and then smile against it.
“Never.” I flick my tongue over the hard bud and it’s enough to send her over the edge once again.
I taste the sweet release on my tongue and close my eyes to savor it. Each time is better than the last and I think I might be addicted to it.
When I’ve wrung all of her pleasure out of her, I move up her body and sheathe myself in her warm slippery heat. I grunt at the feel of her slick channel squeezing my shaft and I have to hold myself still so I don’t cum right then and there.
I look into her eyes and tuck a sweaty lock of hair behind her ears as I kiss her lips gently. “I love you,” I say and feel the weight of it lift off my chest. I’ve been dying to say it since the moment I saw her but I didn’t want to scare her away. She smiles up at me and I see the tears in her eyes as I begin to slowly move inside of her.
“I love you too, Van.”
“Marry me.”
Her eyes widen a little but she doesn’t look scared as she searches my face for any trace of a joke. “Are you serious?”
“I’ll never lie to you.” I slowly slide out and then make my way back inside, taking my time making love to her. “Marry me, Tia. This is forever for me and I won’t live without you.”
“Yes,” she blurts out and for a moment I think she’s shocked both of us.
I close my eyes and touch my forehead to hers, thanking my lucky stars that I found her and that she wants me.
“You’ve made me so happy,” I say as I move faster. “Tell me you love me again. I need to hear you say it a thousand times before I’ll know it’s real.”
She smiles up at me as I reach down and pull the rope at her ankles, setting her free.
“Wrap your legs around me. I need to feel you everywhere.”
“I love you, Van,” she moans, and I thrust harder and push us both to the edge.
When she cums again I finally give myself over to the need and finish with her. The heat of my release bathes her womb and I nearly black out from the intensity of it. Knowing she loves me and that she’s going to be my wife is almost too much for my heart to hold, but somehow I do.
It’s a while later as I’m lying on my back playing with her hair that I feel Tia’s stomach growl. I laugh and think about how little I have here in my cabin because I’m always in the main kitchen with her.
“I should feed you,” I say, and she sits up on top of me and looks down.
We both stare at the ring I slipped on her finger after the last time we made love. It’s a simple gold band with a round diamond in the middle. I got it the first day I saw her and I knew I wouldn’t stop until I made her mine.
“I think you want to go show this off to the camp.”
I try to hide my smug smile but it’s no use. “It would be an added bonus to feeding you. But we’re only going long enough to stock up on food and then we’re coming straight back to bed.”
“Deal,” she agrees as we jump up and quickly put on whatever clothes are nearby.
We hold hands as we walk out of the cabin and I can’t help but play with her ring. I love having it there and knowing that she’s mine. I can’t wait to get one of my own too. Do men wear engagement rings?
“You’ve got a few weeks before school starts,” Tia reminds me and I squeeze her hand. “What are we going to do until then?”
I look over at her and raise an eyebrow. “I think we can come up with something.”
She smacks my chest playfully as we reach the kitchen. “You know what I mean.”
“Luckily my first few classes are all online and then when I have to do my labs and clinicals I get to go into town. We could get an apartment there if you’d rather live away from the camp.”
I would hate to leave Camp Hardwood because it’s my home, but I’ll go anywhere as long as Tia is with me.
“Van.” She tugs my arm and I come up short. “We don’t have to leave here, do we?”
Dread fills her eyes and I step closer to her to cup her cheek.
“We don’t have to go anywhere, darling girl. I just wanted you to know we can if you ever want to.”
“I don’t,” she says firmly and I nod in agreement.
“Then this is home.”
“Home,” she repeats and I lean down to kiss her.
I hear a throat clearing nearby and I look up to see Piper standing on the porch of the kitchen. Tia blushes as she cuddles into my chest and I take her by the hand again and we make our way over to Piper.
“Good morning, you two love birds,” she says as we all enter the kitchen. “You’re late.”
“She’s off today.” I jump in before Tia can comment.
“I made you breakfast burritos yesterday, they’re in the fridge,” Tia says, walking over and grabbing the handle.
Just as her hand goes up, Piper lets out a squeal and rushes over next to her. “Tia, what the—” She turns to look at me with wide eyes and Tia’s face turns about ten shades of crimson. “Did you get engaged?”
“She did,” I confirm, and I can feel my smile stretching from ear to ear.
Piper whistles as she looks down at the ring. “I knew it.”
“You knew it?” Tia asks when her friend pulls her in for a hug.
“The way he looks at you? Are you kidding me? It was only a matter of days.” Piper looks over at me and beams. “Congratulations. Just make sure you take care of her.”
“I plan on it,” I agree.
“Good. Or I’ll have to kick your ass.”
I don’t mention that she couldn’t hurt a fly, and decide to just nod and bite my lip to keep from laughing.
“This is the best news. We should eat to celebrate,” she says, but as she turns to take a step I see a slash of pain in her eyes.
“Piper?” I call out, rushing forward just as she tries to make a grab for the chair next to her and nearly falls over.
I catch her just before she hits the ground and she clutches her stomach. Her face goes completely white and her eyes roll back.
“Call 911!” I yell as I pick Piper up and run to the emergency Jeep parked next to the office.
I feel Tia right behind me and when we get to the Jeep she jumps in the back seat with Piper.
“It’s going to be okay,” Tia says. I stomp on the gas and glance back to her in the rearview mirror.
“Tia?” I hear softly from the back, and I see Piper open her eyes and a bit of color reappears on her cheeks.
I breathe a quick sigh of relief but don’t slow down as I make my way to the hospital.
“I’m here. Just relax and we’ll be at the hospital in a second.”
“I had some spotting this morning. The baby book said it was normal.”
Baby book? Holy shit, Piper really was pregnant? Thoughts race through my mind and I don’t know what to do other than drive.
“Shh. Just relax and breathe. It’s all going to be okay.”
Tia looks up in the rearview mirror at the same time I do and our eyes lock in a question we’re both too afraid to ask.
Will it be okay?
Epilogue
Tia
Five years later…
“You really do everything with love,” Honey says to me as she airplane feeds our daughter. She’s too old to be fed like that, but I keep that comment to myself. It’s adorable and our youngest always giggles when she does it.
Honey and Ford are the grandparents of the century. They can’t get enough of our little girls. It warms me that our daughters have a family that fights over who gets to spend more time with them. It’s something so foreign to me, growing up the way I did. I’ve made my roots here and this is my forever home and family.
“What?” I say as I tie a perfect bow on the basket I’ve made. I packed up a late lunch for me to take out to Van in the barn. He didn’t eat enough when he stopped by for lunch and eating me doesn't count. I don’t care what he says. He’s too worried about hanging out with us and playing with our girls to eat a proper meal. He’s been busy out in the barn this week and now he’s dealing with someone who needs him to tend to their horse. Van normally only tends to our own animals, but the next closest veterinarian clinic is over two hours away so it isn't uncommon for people to stop in and ask a question or have him take a look. It’s hard for Van to say no when he thinks an animal might need help. Even if he’s as busy as he is.
“The basket looks like it belongs on a display. I can only imagine what’s inside of it.”
Thankfully everyone is used to me blushing. They think it’s the norm, but really I’m blushing because this basket isn't only stuffed with food for my husband—it might have a few other things for us to play with too. Van and I have been married for almost five years and there’s never a dull moment when it comes to our lovemaking. I know there never will be because he’s always finding new inner desires I didn't know were there. He really is the other half of my soul. How else could he read me so well and know things about me I didn’t?
“You know I’ll make you one anytime you want,” I tell Honey.
Sometimes I do it for her and Ford as a thank you. They’re always so eager to watch our girls when Van and I need a night with just the two of us. Like the nights when he wants to make me scream his name and it’s better if no one is within a mile of our place. I just don’t put the little extras in theirs like I do with the ones Vans and I use.
“I know, sweetheart.” She comes over and gives me a kiss. “Tell my son I said hi and I’m ready for another baby around here.” I roll my eyes.
“So, the usual.”
“Yep.” She winks at me before sitting back down with our girls again.
I give them both a kiss and think that I wouldn’t mind a third either. The girls are getting more independent and Van’s finished school. We have the time and he’s brought it up a few times himself. I just always have this small fear if I have too many kids that one might not get the attention it deserves. I know that’s my inner battle at play because it really is a village around here. It might be called Camp Hardwood, but everyone is family and this is home.
I take my basket out to the Gator for the short ride over to the barn. When I get there I see a truck I don’t recognize parked outside. This must be the person who called, but I wonder why they don’t have a trailer hitched up if they wanted Van to take a look at their horse. For some reason the hairs on the back of my neck stand up. Not because I’m scared but because of something else I can’t place.
I step out of the Gator and grab my basket. The barn doors are open wide for me to enter and I freeze when I see my husband standing with a woman who is maybe ten years older than me. Not that it matters because she’s all legs with long blond hair. Without having seen much of her or knowing her, I can already tell she’s a professional show horse rider. What has me taking a step back is the fact that my husband has her by the wrist. Her hand is suspended between the two of them and I can’t see his face. I can only see her blue eyes widen in shock.
I drop the basket in my hand and almost trip over it in the process.
“Darling girl. Be careful,” Van says as he throws the woman’s wrist away like it’s on fire.
He’s half running to me even though I already caught my balance.
“You’ve still got your apron on,” he says, smiling down at me. Before I can say anything his mouth comes down on mine for a long, sweet kiss. “And you brought my favorite.” He gives my bottom lip a nibble and I’m too shocked to stop him. “Okay, second favorite. We all know you’re my favorite thing to eat. But your butterscotch brownies are second and I can taste them on you.”
The woman clears her throat and it shakes me back to reality. Van can always take me to someplace else where I forget about everything but him.
“I told you to get lost,” he tells the woman without looking her way.
“But—”
Van’s eyes are cold as he snaps his gaze to her. “I don’t know what the fuck you’re up to, but you came to our house and tried to touch me when it’s perfectly clear I’m married.”
“I didn’t know. I thought—”
“I bet my life I mentioned my wife five times since you got here.”
I believe him. At times it makes me blush how much he goes on and on about me. He’s just so proud and happy to have me he can’t help himself but tell anyone who will listen. It’s no secret in town Van is married because Honey made the wedding a three-day event! She wanted everyone to know she had a daughter now and I’d never felt more loved since I became a Cyprus.
“I think I’ll find another vet.” The woman lifts her chin while somehow looking down at me before she stomps off in her flashy cowgirl boots that are all show and no work.
I hate to break it to the woman but Van’s into kitchen aprons and me laid out naked on our bed. That’s what gets him going, not anything fancy.
“I told you to do that before you got out of your truck,” Van mutters, shaking his head.
He knew she was up to no good the second she got here. The Cyprus family is loaded and some people try to sink their fingers into it. They never get anywhere but sometimes people get brave.
“You and that apron.” He switches the subject back to me and all his focus is directed solely on his wife. It never gets old thinking of myself as that.
“You had her by the wrist,” I point out. I know I’m going to get fucked extra hard over the comment.
Van reaches down to pick up my basket and I lick my lips when I see a few of the toys I packed have gotten tossed to the top.
“I was stopping her from touching me. I don’t know what the fuck she was doing,” he steams. “You know that apron does shit to me and I didn’t get enough of you at lunch. You know I need more.”
My nipples tighten at the thought. When it comes to Van, he can have it all. There’s no part of me that doesn’t belong to him.
“Maybe I’m not giving any up. I just caught you with another woman in here.”
Van lets out a humorless laugh. “That was nothing. You just saw what I have to deal with all the time. All those lifeguards are always trying to hang around your kitchen and get whatever treat they can.” His playfulness drops from his face and now I’m the one fighting a real laugh.
I’m really not jealous. I know I’m the only woman for Van. We are two halves of a whole, but still it gets us both worked up when someone tries to sneak in and grab our attention from each other. It’s always going to be a losing battle for them. For us it just makes sex that day a little more intense and I can tell from the glint in his eyes I’m not going to be walking out of this barn on my own two feet.
He’s going to slay me with orgasms but it doesn’t matter. I might not be able to walk out but my husband will carry me. We’re about to have one of our summer sneakouts in the barn and maybe this one will end up with us havin
g a little boy.
I don’t have any doubts because Van always gives me what I need. If a baby boy is what I want, it’s what I’ll get.
Epilogue
Van
Ten years later…
“Did you pack your bug spray?” I ask as I check the pack for the millionth time.
“Yes, Dad,” Ariel says, and I can hear her eye roll.
“I’m just making sure.” I place her sleeping bag next to it but don’t make a move to pick it up.
“Come on, Dad, I’m going to be late.” Ariel tugs at my arm and I look over to see Tia giving me a look.
“What?” I ask her and she raises an eyebrow telling me to stop. “Fine,” I grunt, turning to face Ariel. “We’ll go, but first I want a kiss and a hug. And don’t rush it, because I’m not going to see you for ten whole days and I need it to last.”
She beams up at me and throws herself in my arms as I scoop her up and swing her around.
It’s our oldest daughter’s first sleep-away camp and I think I’m having the hardest time out of everyone. Tia seems nervous but she’s putting on a braver face than I am. I’m just obsessively checking her bags and stalling.
“It’s totally fine that you didn't want to spend your summer at Camp Hardwood,” I tease.
“Dad, we live there, it doesn’t count.” She looks up at me with dark eyes just like her mother. “Besides, this is girl scout camp, so no boys allowed.”
“Why do you think I agreed to it?” I say as I kiss her on the top of her head.
She shakes her head as Tia comes over and they have a quick snuggle. Her sister and brother already told her goodbye this morning before we left. Tia and I wanted this time alone to say goodbye thinking it would be easier on her if we weren’t all there. But in reality it’s hard on me no matter who is here to see it.
