Claiming Abby (The O'Connell Family Book 3)

by C. M. Steele

  Snatching her lips, I kissed her hard and worked her pussy a little deeper. I wanted to come so deep, no birth control was gonna stop me from making our baby. Our chests rubbed together. The light hairs on my chest grazed her nipples. The friction intensified the feeling, and I was close to coming inside of her. She moaned, tilting her head back and revealing her neck. I ran my tongue along her shoulder to under her chin, nibbling on her smooth skin.

  “Abby, I need you to come for me. Fuck, baby, your pussy is so tight. It’s choking my cock and I’m about to come.”

  “Yes, come, Ethan. Oh, God. Ethan, I’m coming,” she cried out, her hands on my shoulders.

  “That’s it, fucking hell. I’m coming, too,” I roared, thrusting my hips with my come jetting into her depths, coating her walls and marking her as mine.

  I laid there with her wrapped up in my arms. She felt so perfect. I didn’t want to let her go, but I had to leave in the morning. I had an afternoon meeting that I couldn’t miss. I really didn’t want to fuck her and leave, but there was no way around it. When I got back, I was going to look at schools for her to go to.

  “You look upset,” she said. “Do you regret this? Was it not good?” The fear in her expression bothered me. Those pretty blue eyes were sad, and it hurt to know that I had to leave her. I couldn’t blow deals that could have ramifications in the future. A future I wanted with her.

  I cupped her cheek, rubbing my thumb along her chin. “Regret, hell no. It was perfect, by the way. It’s just I have to leave in the morning.”

  “Do you really?” she asked, pushing back slightly, but it wasn’t out of anger.

  I hated that I had to go. I really did. A thought popped into my head, but I didn’t know if she would be okay with it and neither would her brothers. It wasn’t going to matter very soon, but I didn’t want to add more stress to my family. With my brother in a coma and the quick trip to the alter coming for my sister and Travis, I didn’t want to start a big fight. “Yes, I have two meetings scheduled for the afternoon.”

  “Oh, okay.”

  “I can fly back again or you could come back with me,” I offered. I didn’t want to see that pout on her face anymore. When she was pissed, it was cute, but when she was two seconds from tears, I wanted to punch myself.

  “No, don’t bother. The wedding is in two weeks. I’ll be back for that,” she said, patting my leg. Grabbing the sheet, she kicked her legs over the edge and got off the bed.

  “Why did you come back to school so soon? I thought you weren’t going back until after the wedding.” The only reason I learned that was I overheard Claire talking to Travis about it. They said she wasn’t herself since she got back and they were blaming me. I knew what they thought, but I wasn’t going use her and walk away. She was mine to keep. After the wedding, everyone will know the truth. There wasn’t going to be a soul who didn’t know that pretty Abigail Williams was going to be my wife.

  She gave me a shrug, looking for her clothes. I didn’t want her to leave, but she looked set on doing it. “The dorms opened up early. I just wanted to get set up. I was planning on going back home next week and staying until the wedding.”

  I hopped off the bed with her bra in my hands. I walked up to her, dangling it. When she reached for it, I pulled my arm back. I needed some reassurance before she covered up my view. “Okay, but you promise to answer when I bombard you with calls?”

  “Give me my bra, Ethan,” she barked.

  “Promise,” I demanded. Holding the bra high and behind me.

  “Yes, I promise. Now can I have my bra?” I handed it to her, which she made quick work of getting on before I got more than a glimpse of her perfectly sculpted and bouncy beauties.

  I slipped on my boxers because thinking about her tits had my cock standing at attention, and I wanted to have a serious conversation with her. “Why are you getting dressed?” I asked, crossing my arms at her.

  “I want to get back to my dorm before it gets any later,” she said, walking away from me. I grabbed her arm gently, spinning her towards me.

  “Stay tonight. I’ll drop you off in the morning,” I asked, almost pleading with her to stay.

  “I’m too sore for more,” she warned me. As much as I was ready for another round, I could let it go. Her comfort was a fuck load more important to me. I didn’t want to lose what little time we had together fighting.

  “And I just want to hold you some more. Please don’t go.” I looked into her beautiful face and she graced me with a small smile.

  “Fine, but I’ve got to go to the bathroom.” She moved around me and sashayed her way to the bathroom.

  “I’ll have this stuff taken away. Do you need anything else?”

  “No.” She closed the door behind her and I ushered our dining cart out to the hallway. I put up the do not disturb sign on the door when he brought our food, and I had no intention of taking it down.

  I took a deep breath then sat back down. It seemed like forever for her to come out of the bathroom, or was it that I was just too anxious to see her again? I knew the moment that she came walking down that hall at her dorm that I was in love with her. There was no way around the feelings that were squeezing my heart. My dad and brother had been madly in love and warned me about it, but I didn’t listen. I was probably in love with her from the first moment we met and I couldn’t get enough. I was risking an ass whooping for approaching her, but I did it anyway. Damn, how was I going to go the next two weeks without seeing her? I was going to have to steal a picture to look at every day and night.

  I heard the door open and she walked out, looking a bit nervous and oh so fucking sexy. Walking over to her, I took her hand and escorted her back to the bed. Once she was tucked in, I went off into the bathroom to brush my teeth. After that was done, I climbed in bed behind her, wrapping the covers tightly around us.

  “I’m going to miss you, Ethan,” she whispered against her pillow.

  “I’m going to miss you more,” I whispered in her ear, kissing the shell. She snuggled in close and we fell asleep.

  Chapter 6

  Ethan

  Leaving her had been hard as hell, but I knew it was for the best. Making money and time to spend when she came for the wedding was more important. Hopefully, it was enough time to convince her to stay forever. It was a long shot, but I had to do anything to keep her.

  I landed back home, and I went to my meetings. They were longer than expected, but they had to be done. When I got back to the house, it was after eleven. I crashed on the sofa, too tired to make it to my bedroom, completely jet-lagged and over worked with dreaded negotiations.

  ~~~~

  I woke up the next morning with Sam telling me to take her to the hospital. She must have come home last night. I got up and took a piss before driving her straight to the hospital. I was in such a fucking hurry that I forgot my phone. Damn it, I hadn’t called Abby since I landed and it went to voicemail then. We got to the hospital and I sent her on her way up to stay with Rick. I was going back home to get my phone. There was no way I could wait any longer to call her. She would fucking hate me.

  The minute I got to the house, I searched the cushions for my phone. Finding it, I tried to power it on, but it seemed the battery had died. Shaking my head, I’d let it charge in the car and call her when I got to the hospital. Fuck, she was going to freaking hate me.

  It was the longest thirty minutes of my life as I waited to get to the hospital. When I got there, I had twenty-three percent battery. Good enough to call and let her know what’s going on and to apologize.

  I called and the phone just rang and rang. Three times I called and nothing, so I left her a message. “It’s me. Please call me back. I’m sorry. A lot has happened and I only have now twenty-one percent battery left. Please, I just want to hear your voice.” I felt defeated. The signal was spotty in the hospital and I still had a lot of paperwork to do, so I headed to the office, charging my phone the whole way there.

  T
hree hours and six texts later, still nothing. I was starting to get worried, but I had to go home. Sam was camping out at the hospital again, so I didn’t need to pick her up. I heard Travis mention his sister and that she’d gone back to Texas today. She didn’t tell me when she was heading back, but I didn’t know it would be that soon.

  It took her until I threatened to show up there for her to call me back. “Ethan, I’m sorry, but this isn’t going to work.”

  “What? Why?”

  “Why? Because long distance doesn’t work. I thought about all the reasons you didn’t call me or even text, and the more I thought about them the more upset I got. Needless to say, a simple, ‘I’ll call you in the morning’ would have been more than nothing.”

  “It’s only temporary. I couldn’t help how late we had to work.”

  “Ethan, I have trust issues, and well, even though what we shared was amazing, I can’t do this. Not right now.” She hung up the phone on me, but I wasn’t going to give up. This wasn’t going to be over. First, I wanted to find out what the fuck that bastard did to her. He had to have cheated on her, but there had to be more.

  Chapter 7

  Abby

  It had been a week since Rick had woken up. We all got the call and I learned that they were pushing the wedding back another week. I wanted to see him so much that my heart was pounding out of my chest. He called and left messages during the past week. Calling me every time he got out of work and when he went in. I knew he was trying to prove that he could be loyal, but I was having too hard of a time with the distance. I had a whole year left of school, and that was too long to be apart for. There was no way I could handle the fear. Fucking George. It was his fault I lost myself.

  My mother was in the kitchen cooking dinner for the men on the ranch. A lot of times we had dinner with the hands. Today was one of those days.

  I walked into the kitchen to lend a hand. “Mom, do you need my help?”

  She smiled at me. “I could always use your help, dear, but I’m afraid that you need mine and won’t say so.” That mother’s intuition was no joke. She had me pegged.

  “I don’t want to talk about it right now.” Perhaps tomorrow would be better.

  “So how’s school going? I know you went to set up early. Anything else happen?” She handed me a potato peeler, so I went to work peeling the pile of potatoes she had on the island.

  “No, just the same old thing,” I lied, not wanting to tell her about Ethan.

  “So, Ethan didn’t show up?” she asked, her brow arching. How the hell did she know that?

  “Mom, I’m twenty-one years old,” I informed her. Definitely old enough to have a man over.

  She turned from the stove and came over to the island, leaning on it she said, “Yes, and you’re still getting over your last boyfriend. I’m worried about you. I think Ethan O’Connell is interested in more than just boyfriend status.”

  “It doesn’t matter. I told him I can’t have a relationship with him.”

  “Why? I could see the butterflies you got both times I saw you in his company. Then you moped around here until you left for Michigan. He shows up there and then you come back here looking worse for wear. You haven’t been yourself at all,” she said, patting my hand for a moment before returning to stirring the food.

  “I can’t,” I defeatedly answered.

  My mom just stared at me like she was waiting for me to elaborate, but I didn’t know where to start. Giving up, she asked, “Does this have to do with that boy George you were seeing?”

  “Maybe,” I muttered under my breath, peeling the potatoes and trying not to cry.

  She tipped my chin. “Sweetheart. Did you love George?”

  “No,” I said, adding a nod to confirm my rejection of that idea.

  “Then why are you holding on to the pain of the breakup? Did he cheat on you?”

  I nodded, tears caught in my throat.

  She went around the counter and wrapped me up in her arms like I was a little girl again. “Sweetheart, there will always be men out there who are some of the vilest people you’ll meet. They have no concern about who they hurt when they do what they want. Did you give him your v-card?”

  “No.”

  She pulled back to look at me with her beautiful smile and said, “Well, then that’s a good thing then. Sweetheart, you shouldn’t make the new boyfriend pay for the mistakes of the last. I’m not telling you to be with Ethan, but I’m telling you not to push him away because you’ve been hurt before. Maybe he’s the one to heal that pain.”

  I knew she was right, but I was afraid of more than him hurting me. I was afraid he’d find the video. My family didn’t know about it, but George sure shared it publicly and it was one of the reasons I went ahead and got my books early.

  “Thanks, Mom.”

  “It’s what I’m here for. Now, if Ethan means that much to you, which I suspect that he does, call him and tell him you’ll work things out after the wedding. Let you have your time to think and then decide if this is worth it.”

  “I will.”

  “Now, go along and wash your face before anyone sees those tears. They’ll be up with their guns if they do.” We both laughed because there was no doubt that they all would.

  I ran up to my bedroom and washed my face before calling Ethan. His phone rang and someone picked up. “Hello,” a pretty young women’s voice answered the phone.

  “I’m looking for Ethan,” I asked despite feeling awkward.

  “He’s sleeping. You can call him in the morning,” she replied.

  I hung up the phone, hating that I wasted time even bothering. He had a replacement there. I excused myself from dinner because I didn’t think I could eat. So, I cried myself to sleep.

  Chapter 8

  Ethan

  I woke up at four in the morning, having finally slept for the first time in days. Since she told me she didn’t want me, I haven’t been able to sleep. It was pure exhaustion that took me out even before dinner.

  God, I missed her so damn much. Why was I waiting? I should go over there and see her again. Even if she didn’t want to see me. What the fuck did that prick do to her that she’s so scared to be with me? That was something I had to find out.

  I grabbed my phone, and again the fucker was dead. I really need to have a charger on me at all times. I’d been in the office until six o’clock, and the instant I got home I crashed on the couch. I had dreams of her all night. They were all wonderful ones which meant this morning felt even worse. I went up to my bedroom and showered, making sure to plug in my phone before jumping in. Abby and I needed to talk.

  The hot water sprayed my body, and it felt so damn good. The only thing that was missing was Abby’s naked body next to mine. God, the thought of her washing me down. Instead of my hand running down my chest, it would be hers. I closed my eyes as I thought about her dropping to her knees to make sure she scrubbed every part of me. “Oh, I missed a spot,” she’d apologize before wrapping her lips around the tip of my cock, gently sucking on my pre-come that greedily wanted to be in her mouth. I continually stroked my cock as I pictured her taking me deeper into her pouty mouth, looking up at me for praise. I pumped harder as I clutched onto her hair, imagining fucking her throat. Growling, I shot hot come all over the shower stall.

  I pressed my forehead against the cool shower tiles and tried to catch my breath. She was mine and I had to win her back somehow. Popping out of the shower after rinsing off my body, I wrapped a towel around my waist and headed out to my bedroom. I had to go into the office and do another day, but I wasn’t feeling it. I felt like I was coming down with a fever. It took a minute to get dressed for the office, when I felt the room spin. My mother warned me.

  When I got downstairs to get some orange juice, my father saw me. “You’re staying home today. I’ll deal with the staff meeting and I’ll meet with your assistant to make sure everything is up to par. You look like shit today. You’re fucking sweating.”


  “I took a hot shower.”

  “Bullshit, Ethan, you look like you’re going to pass out.” My dad called out for my mother. “Babe, we need a thermometer in here.”

  “And that’s what happens when you still live at home,” I grumbled, feeling like shit and really not wanting attention unless it was from Abby. My mother put the back of her hand on my forehead and moved it around to my cheeks.

  “Your father is right. I’ll bring you something to eat in a while, but here, take some Advil to bring down the fever.” She got her trusty bottle of Advil and took two gel caps out for me then handed me a glass of water. “Finish all the water I gave you.”

  I thanked them and went back up to my room, collapsing on the bed. I didn’t need to be sick right now. What I needed was some hope for Abby and me.

  Chapter 9

  Abby

  I decided to give him another call. I shouldn’t jump to conclusions. As much as I hated calling again to have the same chick answer, I had to do it. She didn’t seem upset by me calling, so maybe it was family.

  “Hello,” a woman’s voice said. It sounded like his mother’s, but I only met her once.

  “Um. I’m sorry, but I was looking for Ethan,” I muttered in embarrassment.

  “Hi, Abby. This is his mom. Ethan is sick and currently passed out.”

  “He’s sick?” Worry caught my throat.

  “He’s been working himself to the bone. I should have known last night that he was unwell when he fell asleep right on the sofa as soon as he walked through the door.”