by Freya Barker
“Like a fuckin’ dream.”
His lips move against my belly, his tongue licking leisurely at my skin until my knees buckle from need.
“Honey, please.”
He lifts his head and those expressive gray eyes regard me carefully.
“You want me?”
“God, yes.” I almost laugh at his question.
He stands up, his skin brushing mine, sending tingles down to my toes. Then he kisses me deeply, one of his hands tangling in my hair. The slight sting only turns me on more as I tug his towel free, and slide my hands over the tight globes of his ass. I can feel the hard heat of his erection press into my stomach.
He groans down my throat and I’ve never felt both this vulnerable and this powerful at the same time.
“Lie down on the bed, Sugar,” he orders, turning to pull the covers down. “The first time I wanna look in your face when you come.”
This man has seen me at my worst already, so there is not a trace of self-consciousness when I do as he asks and climb into bed, knowing he’s watching my every move.
He waits until I scoot up the bed, tucking a pillow under my head. Then he reaches for my ankles, spreads my legs and wedges his shoulders between them.
Lordy, the man knows what he’s doing.
The tight stream of air he blows from the inside of my thighs to their apex sends a hard shiver down my limbs. But when he uses his thumbs to spread me open, drags his tongue lazily through my slick heat, and then brushes it over my clit, I almost launch off the mattress.
I don’t know how long he plays with me like that, long easy strokes, then hard little flicks. Driving me to the edge and then easing off again. My fists are clenched in the sheets, my hips undulating on the mattress, seeking more, until I finally plead.
“Brick, fuck me already.”
His deep chuckle vibrates against my sensitive flesh. Then he lifts his face, his glistening lips smiling at me.
“At your service,” he teases, grabbing the string of condoms and ripping one off, handing it to me.
He goes up on his knees, planting them in the mattress on either side of my hips. The blunt tip of his cock weeping as I tear the foil between my teeth. Then I reach for him, my hand not quite closing around the hot steel.
“You do too much of that and this’ll be over before we get started,” he warns, and I grin up at him. “Two years, Sugar, that’s a lot of load to blow.”
My hands shake as I roll the rubber down his length, reeling at the fact he’s withheld for that long.
Then he takes over, holding himself at the base as he slides down and drops his hips in the cradle of mine. I hold his eyes as he poises his cock at my entrance, and buries himself to the root.
“Okay?”
“Honey, I’m sure it didn’t fail your notice I ain’t made of glass.” I cup his face with my hands and pull him close for a hard kiss. “Don’t hold back on my account.”
His eyes darken and his nostrils flare.
“Spread wide for me,” he growls, hooking his hands behind my knees and opening my legs wide. “Yeah,” he whispers, looking down between us where his cock gently rocks in and out of my body. “Brace, baby.”
I raise my arms and place my hands against the headboard.
“Please.”
That’s all he needs to power inside me, balls slapping against my ass, and the pace punishing. It’s hard, it’s raw, it’s filled with exposed need and hunger, and it’s the single most mind-blowing sexual experience of my life.
When his heavy body, slick with sweat, collapses on mine, I welcome his weight. I can take it. I’ll take anything this man loads on me.
“Jesus, Lisa, I think you’ve done killed me,” he mumbles out of breath, his face buried in the crook of my shoulder.
“We’re gonna need to work on your stamina,” I tease, chuckling underneath him.
I feel his lips brushing the tender skin of my neck before they find their way to my ear.
“You’re perfect,” he whispers. “The reality beats every fantasy I’ve had of you.”
CHAPTER 13
Brick
HOLY SHIT.
I can’t move.
I’m boneless, watching from the bed as Lisa shrugs into her clothes to tend to Finn, who woke up crying. Not even the enticing jiggle of her ass can spur a reaction from any part of my body.
Waking up to her hand and mouth moving on my morning woody had been another fantasy realized. I didn’t think I’d have anything left to give, especially after we had round two after Finn’s middle of the night feeding, but Lisa surprised me. In a very good way.
I fold my arms behind my head and listen to her moving about the other room with the baby. I should probably get up and hop in the shower, and maybe give the clubhouse a call. See how things are there.
Groaning as I swing my legs over the edge of the bed, I note on the bedside alarm clock it’s already almost nine. Been years since I’ve slept this late. Then again, it’s been years since I had three explosive orgasms in a relatively short time span.
It’s not until I’m standing under the hot spray I realize I’m not feeling an ounce of guilt.
Later, with Finn asleep on my shoulder and Lisa in the bathroom, I quickly dial Ouray.
“Morning. Quiet night?” he asks, and I almost laugh. Hardly, but I’m not about to share that with him.
“Yup. Gonna run an errand and then head up there. What’s the verdict?”
“Motherfuckers. Greene pulled a high range transmitter from the light fixture over the kitchen island and another from behind the TV stand. One in my office in the clubhouse.”
“Sonofabitch. He take them all down?”
“Leaving the one in the office up. Don’t wanna alert them and Greene thinks they can use that to their advantage.”
“And the house?” I’m not taking Lisa back there if someone is listening in.
“They’re gone. Taken to the shed at the back of the clubhouse, along with an audio jammer. They’ll still be able to pick up the signal but will hear mostly static.”
“No cameras?”
“No. Still, doesn’t mean there aren’t eyes on the compound. On you. If that company is involved, they’re not new to surveillance. Gonna put some security measures in place. Club meeting at three.”
“In your office?”
“Smart-ass,” he fires back. “No, your garage.”
“Fine by me.”
I’m about to hang up when Ouray starts talking again.
“You may wanna prepare Lisa she won’t be going anywhere by herself in the near future.”
“That’ll go over like a lead balloon.”
“Until the FBI can figure out what the fuck is going on, that’s the way it’s gonna be.”
“No need to convince me, Chief.”
“Convince you of what?” Lisa asks, coming out of the bathroom.
“That’s my cue,” Ouray says with a chuckle before hanging up.
Asshole.
As expected, Lisa isn’t happy. Not about the bugs found in the house or the restriction on her movements, but she’s not stupid or reckless, and would never do anything that might endanger the kids.
When we pull into the dealership, after grabbing a bite to eat, she’s almost smiling again. Her SUV is cleaned, holds a full tank and complimentary floor mats, and by the time she gets behind the wheel, she’s beaming. I check on Finn over my shoulder, who is awake and blowing bubbles in his seat, before I start the truck and ease off the lot, sticking close behind Lisa.
I lose sight of her for a minute when a light turns red for me on a left turn up the mountain, but the moment it turns green I speed across the intersection, releasing a relieved breath when I spot her SUV two cars ahead of me. The two cars turn off into the last subdivision and I’m able to catch up with her.
Lisa called her friend earlier to see how the kids were doing. They were having a late breakfast and Yuma would take them up on the slope behind thei
r house to go sledding after.
Lissie said they were planning to stop by at the clubhouse later anyway—I assume because of the club meeting Ouray called—so would just bring the kids back at that time.
We have to stop at the gate to the compound, which hasn’t been guarded in the past two years. Shilah is chatting with Lisa, admiring her new wheels, and waves both of us through before closing the gate behind us. I’m guessing one of Ouray’s new safety measures.
“What do you want to do with your Toyota?” I ask when she gets out of the Explorer.
“Maybe I can sell it.”
“Don’t think you’re gonna get much for it.”
“Then what do you suggest?” she asks, looking at me with a raised eyebrow.
I shrug. “Have the boys work on it after school. We’ve got two boys almost old enough to get their learner’s permit.”
I run an apprentice program for some of the older kids after school at the garage. An opportunity for them to learn a trade while staying out of trouble. Every so often, I’ll pick up an old car—or someone donates one—and have the boys take it apart, fix what needs fixing, and put it back together.
“Yeah, I like that idea. A chance to give something back to the club.”
I unlock the door and set Finn’s seat down inside, toss the overnight bag toward the stairs, and turn to catch Lisa in my arms.
“You’ve got things backward,” I tell her. “You don’t owe the club a damn thing.” Then I close my mouth over hers, swallowing her protest.
Nothing stops Finn from launching a complaint, however, he apparently does not appreciate being left on the floor.
“Come on, child,” Lisa mutters, untangling herself from my hold before getting Finn from his car seat. “Let’s get you some lunch, then a nap, and after that you can come keep me company at the clubhouse.”
“You all set for groceries?” I call after her, kicking the door shut and grabbing the overnight bag. “I can run into town.”
“Got all I need to make a vat of chili,” she says when I walk into the kitchen.
She’s by the stove heating water, Finn against her shoulder, trying to stuff her curls into his hungry mouth. I pull the strands from his fist and kiss his little head before walking into the laundry room with the bag.
“What are you doing?” I hear Lisa ask.
“Tossin’ our stuff in the laundry.”
Her head pokes around the door.
“You’re doin’ laundry?”
“You’re feeding the baby, I’ll get a load going.”
“You’re gonna wash my unmentionables?”
I chuckle at the old-fashioned term.
“Sugar, I’ve had my mouth between your legs,” I point out.
“Hush!” She presses his head against her shoulder, covering his ears. “Not in front of the baby.”
That only has me laughing harder.
“Babe, he chews on his toes, that should make it clear he doesn’t have the mental capacity to know what we’re talkin’ about yet.”
She harrumphs and disappears back into the kitchen, but calls out, “If you’re gonna do laundry, you may as well grab the baskets from upstairs.”
Right. Had my eyes open when I walked into that one.
Lisa
“Oh my God, I’m so stuffed.”
Lissie walks into the kitchen, carrying the last of the dirty dinner plates.
Good thing I planned chili for today, it stretches. Add a massive salad and about ten loaves of garlic bread and it feeds close to thirty people.
Ouray apparently called a club meeting, which meant all of the brothers were here, as were Lissie and the kids, Luna and Ahiga, and at the last minute Trunk’s wife, Jaimie, showed up with their kids as well.
Ezrah adores Jaimie, who looked after him before I moved to Durango. I noticed the two of them talking at one of the smaller tables, their heads bent close. As I anticipated, he’d been wildly excited about the new wheels, claiming the entire rear seat for himself. Yet other than that, he’s still quiet like he has been for a while. He’s chewing on something and part of me hopes whatever it is, he’s sharing with Jaimie.
Yeah, I’d prefer he come to me, but since I have a feeling it’s to do with Brick and me, it makes sense he’d unload with someone else.
“I can’t believe the amount of food these guys put away,” Lissie comments, rinsing plates in the sink and stacking them on the counter for me to slide in the industrial dishwasher.
It’s Sunday night, so the boys have the night off from their chores. All the kids made a run for the large screen TV as soon as they were excused from the table.
“Big men, big appetites,” I point out dryly.
“You can say that again.” She giggles and winks at me. “I’m guessing things are good with Brick?”
“Mmhmm.”
“By the way, I meant to ask you; Thanksgiving is Thursday, what are we doing?”
The holidays are big for the club, that’s Momma’s legacy, and so far I’ve done the same she did for years, put on a huge feast for the entire club family. Quite a few of the guys now have families, though, and may want to spend some quality time at home.
“I’ll check with Ouray, but maybe we can do an early meal, maybe around two? After that everyone can do their own thing if they want.”
“I like that. How about we make it a potluck? I don’t think I’d trust anyone but you with the turkey or the sweet potato casserole, but we could split up the rest of the dishes. Why don’t I check with the others?”
I smile at her and load another stack of plates in the dishwasher. Instead of slighted or dismissed, I feel included. Part of a whole.
“Lisa, do you have a minute?” Jaimie walks in, her eyes on me.
“Let me get out of your hair.”
Lissie turns off the faucet and starts wiping her hands on a towel.
“No need,” Jaimie says before turning back to me. “I just had a talk with Ezrah.”
“I noticed.”
“He was asking about Brick,” she shares, taking a seat at the kitchen table. “Wanting to know if I thought he was a good man.”
I press a hand to my chest and sit down myself before my knees give out on me. My boy, more damaged and confused than any of us. Guilt immediately follows. Should’ve talked to him more, spent less time teaching him and more time listening. Should’ve given more thought to him when I invited Brick and the baby into our home.
He’s only ten, but a lot of his young years he was witness to—and ultimately victim of—the kind of racist evil the world still holds. The last two years here at Arrow’s Edge, he’s starting to learn what he experienced before was the exception, and not the rule, but for a ten-year-old boy, it must be confusing.
I’m at least in part to blame. It was me who made them say Mr. Brick, and Mr. Yuma, a sign of subservience instilled in us living in the Hinckle house but perpetuated by me.
I let Trunk always be just Trunk. Because he’s a brother.
“Oh no,” I groan. “What did you tell him?”
“That I like Brick, I trust him, but he shouldn’t depend on anyone else to tell him how he should feel. I told him to trust his gut. I’m not sure how helpful that was, but I thought I’d let you know.”
“Appreciate it. He’s been quiet and I’ve wondered what was on his mind. Now I know.”
Jaimie reaches over and puts her hand on mine.
“You know, when Ezrah stayed with us, he didn’t trust Trunk and me as a couple. I guess in the beginning our differences were more obvious than our love for each other, but he doesn’t question us now. He’ll start seeing the love between you two as well.”
Love…Lordy.
Just because I feel it doesn’t mean I’ve allowed my thoughts to go there.
“And that man looooves her,” Lissie butts in. “Have you taken a gander at that SUV he got her?”
“You got a new car?” Jaimie asks with a big grin. “That’s awesome. Trunk’ll
be so happy you’re not driving that rust bucket anymore.”
I’ve got love on the brain and the two of them are still yapping about my new ride when Brick walks in, Finn on his hip.
“You almost ready to roll? This one needs a bath and I think the afternoon sledding has worn out Kiara, she fell asleep on the couch.”
“Go,” Lissie urges me. “I’ll finish this off. Get your family home.”
I find myself doing something I hardly ever do; I pull her in a quick embrace. I’m not usually one to show much affection and it means something when I do. For good measure I hug Jaimie too.
Then I grab my purse and follow Brick out of the kitchen.
“What was that all about?” he asks when we walk home.
Ezrah runs ahead with the key, while Brick carries Kiara and I push Finn’s stroller through the snow.
“What?”
“The hugging. That some sisterhood thing I need to know about?”
“Nah. We were just discussing our periods.”
I burst out laughing when his face blanches.
“Right, I didn’t need to know that.”
“You asked,” I tease, but then add on a more serious note. “Do you care about the kids calling you mister?”
“Sort of. Kinda bothers me, if you wanna know the truth. Makes me feel…I dunno, removed, I guess.”
“Any preferences?”
He turns to me with a smile in his eyes.
“Don’t care, as long as it’s not mister or uncle anything.”
“Fair enough,” I say, wheeling the stroller into the house.
Brick closes the door behind us.
“Why don’t you ask the kids?” he suggests.
Kiara stirs when he lays her down on the couch, blinking her eyes open.
“Ask us what?”
CHAPTER 14
Brick
“PAPA, LOOK!”
I dry my hands on a towel and walk into the living room, where Kiara is lying on her stomach on a quilt with Finn.
Calling me ‘Papa’ had been her idea. One Ezrah is not quite on board with, opting to avoid calling me anything at all. Kiara’s logic had been if they called Lisa ‘Nana,’ then I should be ‘Papa.’
