“I know, Ben. We need to see you, too. We’ll be there as quick as we can. I love you. Give everybody else my love.”
“I will.”
By the time he got back to the bedroom, Kara was sound asleep, and she was lying crosswise across the entire bed. He loved that. She was such a sound sleeper, it was easy enough to crawl in and pick her up, draping her delectable form over him before pulling up the covers. She snuggled into him like a warm kitten. He found it easy to focus on the moment and the woman and fall soundly asleep.
Chapter 15
Ben’s hands gripped the steering wheel of the truck tightly. As he made his way to the parking area of the Sitka airport, he thought about the news they had heard from the doctors that morning. Timothy made it through the night, and everyone was breathing a little more easily. The doctors had gone so far as to say that they expected him to wake up in the next twenty-four to forty-eight hours. They weren’t sure about brain damage, because he had been deprived of oxygen for so long before being revived, but they were just going to have to cross that bridge when they got to it.
Ben was also really worried about Sully, who had found their brother in a pool of blood, and had called 9-1-1. So far, Sully seemed to be keeping it together, but Ben was happy Quinn would be here soon. All of the Shotbrook brothers seemed to open up to the oldest, and Sully was no exception. Quinn might not realize it, but even Timothy had talked to Quinn the most. Unfortunately, Tim was just confused and had chosen some very bad friends. Another thing they had learned when they had gone as a family with Timothy to some of his counseling sessions was that he suffered from depression and was using recreational drugs to self-medicate. After being released from juvenile detention, Ben knew that Timothy had been going to counseling and taking the medications he needed. But since this suicide attempt, Ben learned that all of Tim’s self-care efforts had stopped. They even told Ben that they found heroin in Tim’s system, so he was back to his old habits.
The sign at baggage claim said that the plane still hadn’t landed, so he went to go grab a cup of coffee. He made a quick call to his Auntie, who said that everything was still the same, so he headed back toward the baggage carousel. He saw the bags from Juneau coming off the conveyer belt, and looked around for Quinn, knowing he would be easy to spot. But it was Kara and her white-gold hair that captured his attention. He could do nothing but stare. She was so beautiful. Then, as if she could sense him, she turned to look at him. She wiggled out of Quinn’s clasp and weaved through the other passengers until she was in his arms. He hugged her tight.
“Oh, Ben,” she breathed over and over into the crook of his neck. She held onto him as if her life depended on it. He felt like his did. They had just talked while they made their connection in Juneau, so she knew that Timothy’s status was better, but that didn’t seem to matter. She made him feel like he was the only thing, the only person who mattered. She always did that. She always made him feel a little more whole.
“Kara, I’ve needed you here in my arms.”
“I’m here, I’ll always be here when you need me,” she said as she trailed kisses from the shell of his ear down the side of his face, ending with the sweetest kiss on his lips. He looked up and saw Quinn standing behind her, and for the first time since that awful call from Sully, he felt the world shift right again on its axis. Quinn put his hand on his shoulder and squeezed.
“Let’s get going, shall we?” Ben saw that Quinn had the luggage, and he led them outdoors to the truck. Kara waited at the passenger side for Ben to open the door for her, and when she was situated, she smiled over at him and tilted her head for a kiss. She made him smile, it was so nice to have rituals that happened no matter what the circumstances. He gave her a long and lingering kiss, then made his way around to the driver’s side. Kara sidled into the middle of the cab where she belonged. When everyone was settled, Quinn asked for an update.
“It’s worse than any of us realized, and now Sully is blaming himself. Apparently, Tim hadn’t seen his counselor for the last nine months. He’d been off his anti-depressants and we just found out this morning from the doctor that there was heroin in his system.” Ben appreciated the feel of Kara’s hand on his leg, and was unsurprised to see her gripping Quinn’s hand in her other.
“Everything was going so well! I just don’t understand it.”
“Quinn, I hate to put this on you, but Sully won’t talk, and you can tell he’s just beating himself up something fierce. I’m really hoping that you can get him to open up. All of us boys usually ended up telling you everything.” Ben had to keep his eyes on the road, so he had to wait for his brother’s decision.
“Ben, that’s just not true. Timothy didn’t open up. It seemed like I never got through, and now this proves it.”
“Quinn, we were in those same damn appointments with Tim’s drug counselor.” Ben felt like hitting his head on the steering wheel. When Quinn didn’t respond, Kara spoke up.
“Quinn, if you insist on not seeing reason, on not believing what the professionals told you, does that mean your mom is also at fault? That she should have read the warning signs and she should have done a better job?” There was silence in the truck. Finally, Quinn spoke up.
“You know I would never want Mama to think that, Kara.”
“You can’t have it both ways. You can’t continue to say that despite what the experts tell you, it is your fault, but then not want your mom to feel exactly the same way. You have to put this behind you and focus on what can be done here and now.”
Ben couldn’t stop the grin that stretched across his face. “Kara Johansen, you are the best fucking thing that has ever happened to me.”
“I’m going to take that to mean you agree with her,” Quinn said dryly as Ben stopped at a light. He looked over at his brother, who was looking between him and Kara.
“Mama’s coped by leaning on the people at church. I haven’t heard her beating herself up too often, but Auntie Dot has told me she has, sometimes. So, I imagine Kara is exactly right, that every time you beat yourself up, it stirs up the same shit for Mama. Personally, I don’t think either of you deserve it,” he said as he looked his big brother dead in the eye right before the light turned green.
They rode the rest of the way to the hospital in silence, Kara holding onto both of them. Ben and his family were always going to make it. He and Quinn would have eventually settled their differences, but probably wouldn’t have grown this close. They probably would have become very good friends, but with Kara, everything changed. She gave the world color, and had ensured the best possible future for him and Quinn. Ben felt so blessed, and now he just wanted God to grant one more miracle for his little brother.
* * * *
It was pretty much as Kara expected at the hospital—tired and worried Shotbrooks huddled in the uncomfortable waiting area. She ended up talking Dorothy and Rosemary into going to the cafeteria with her. She wouldn’t have been able get them leave Timothy’s floor, if they hadn’t so badly wanted to ask her about the status of her relationship with Quinn and Ben. They were seated in a booth in a far-off corner of the cafeteria, and the food looked really good. All three women were hungry, but Kara asked how much time they had before they needed to be back.
“Levi’s going to text me if Timothy wakes up while I’m down here, so we can take our time,” Rosemary assured her. Kara’s expression must have shown her confusion, so Rosemary explained further. “It doesn’t happen often. When was the last time, Dot?” Rosemary Shotbrook looked over at her sister.
“It was that Christine was going to get pregnant.”
“That’s right. And it suddenly came to me that Timothy is going to be fine. I saw him a year from now. I know exactly where he’ll be and what he’ll be doing. So he will be waking up any time now.”
“She called me as soon as it happened,” Dorothy said, looking over at Kara as if to ensure she wasn’t going to make fun of her sister. Kara smiled at both women.
“I get premonitions when I just know things. I don’t know how, and it’s not anything I’ve ever shared with the minister at church. But our mama had the sight, too, and when she told her preacher, she was kicked out of church. She told me to keep quiet, and I always have except with family.”
“She knew about you,” Dorothy said.
Kara put down her forkful of mashed potatoes. “You knew I was coming up here with Quinn?”
“No, I told Dorothy when I took Sully to band camp in Denali that Quinn and Ben would meet and fall in love with a blonde woman from the lower forty-eight. I made her promise to check you out and call me.” Kara sat there and stared at the woman who was most likely going to be her mother-in-law.
“You have got to be kidding me.”
“Nope. I knew a week before that our grandfather was going to die. I knew before Randy and Selma that they were going to have a little girl and name her Alice. It doesn’t happen often, but when it does, it’s always right.”
“It’s true, honey.” Dorothy patted Kara’s hand. Kara stopped staring at Rosemary and looked at Dorothy’s kindly face.
Kara looked at Rosemary Shotbrook and saw the absolute conviction on the woman’s face. “Now, tell me when you’re going to marry my boys, and how is that going to work, anyway? That’s not legal, is it?”
“We haven’t talked about it, and I want to talk to them first about those kinds of details. But I love them with all my heart, and they love me. We want to make a life together.”
“Down in Washington, right?” Dorothy asked.
“In Fate Harbor, that’s where I grew up. We have a lot of triad relationships, and they are accepted pretty well. My parents have had to deal with some bigotry, and so did my brothers and I, but it was pretty minimal.”
“I was happy when they bought that business and decided to go after you. Quinn told me how he had been trying to protect you all these years. I almost took a plane down south to box his ears. That boy is stubborn. But he doesn’t have a malicious bone in his body.” Just then Rosemary’s phone started to vibrate. She looked at it and smiled.
“It’s Levi. Timothy just woke up.” They got up and made their way to the elevators.
* * * *
“You know, I’m fine staying at your mom’s house,” Kara said to Ben for the fourth time. He just stared at her as he used the hotel key to let them into their room. It was beautiful. He’d obviously asked for a suite.
“I told you before, and I’ll tell you again. There’s too much drama over there. I needed some time away. All three of us are going to need our space in order to be good for anyone else.” Ben eased the luggage down into one corner of the room and then he turned toward her.
“Do you think Quinn is going to be here tonight?”
“Not really, I think he’s going to spend the night over there. Sully’s there, and I think he’s going to end up getting him to talk. That kid is holding onto some demons, and if anyone can pull them out, it’s Quinn.”
“God, you men are all the same! You’re all overprotective dominants who take on the weight of the world.” Kara sat down on the end of the bed and looked up at Ben, just happy to be in the same room with him, teasing him.
“Kachawli, I’m the easygoing one, and don’t you ever forget that. The only weight I want on me is you.” The temperature in the room shot up by twenty degrees. Despite his fun words, she remembered how he greeted her at the airport, and his voice on the phone when she had spoken to him from Washington. This man had been through hell. He too had been holding the weight of his family on his shoulders. However, if she was totally honest, this wasn’t about just offering comfort to him. This was about her needing him.
Loving Ben Shotbrook had always come easily, but the last time they had come together on the boat, she started out shy. He was so tender in his seduction that day. She was truly convinced and afraid that she had lost that indefinable part of herself that controlled her passion. He had recognized that and slowly seduced and coaxed that part of her back to life. She wanted to lovingly worship this man, to provide him comfort and care tonight as he deserved, as he had done for her. She stood up and went to him, slowly sliding to her knees before him, never breaking eye contact.
She reached down by touch and unlaced his right boot. As she got it undone, he pulled out his foot. She did the same for the left.
“Kara, you don’t have to—”
“I want to, Ben. Please let me.” He searched her face, clearly satisfied with what he saw as his eyes darkened with desire. “Take off your shirt,” she said as she reached up to work the tab of his jeans. She loved watching as all of that glorious bronze-colored flesh was revealed. It almost distracted her from the task at hand, but this time she didn’t allow it. She wanted to serve, she wanted to give. Slowly she unbuttoned his jeans, and pulled them down, along with his briefs. She had him step out of them along with his socks, leaving him gloriously naked.
His cock was engorged and the tip dribbled with pre-cum. She greedily licked it up, enjoying his groan of pleasure. She enclosed the tip in her mouth, and then worked the length back until he was nestled against the back of her throat. This time, she groaned in pleasure. Oh, to have him inside her made her feel like she was welcoming back a piece of her soul.
“Kara…Kachawli, I’ve needed this. I’ve needed you. I’m never letting you go again. You’re my love. You’re my everything,” he said as he slowly started a rhythm in and out of her mouth. He filled her carefully, pleasuring both of them. As he got closer to his peak, Kara felt him try to pull out entirely, but she needed all of him. She clutched his firm buttocks and pushed her nose into his groin. She inhaled the musk of her man as she swallowed down his seed, listening to his cries of pleasure.
She was a little unsteady when he pulled her up from her knees to lift her, carrying her to the bed. She tried to brush his hands away when he began to undress her, but he just continued on.
“No, I can do it, Ben. This night is for you, I want to give to you,” Kara protested. She had watched him supporting everyone at the hospital, and now she wanted to provide care and comfort to him.
“Anytime we’re together, you do give to me.”
“But last time you had to work so hard. I was so unsure of myself and you managed to get me to come out of my shell…” Kara trailed off as she became frustrated. “Oh, let’s just call it out. You made me come and I didn’t think I would be able to. You did that, Ben.” He straddled her with his big naked body, and she watched in wonder as his penis came back to life.
“You listen to me, Kara Johansen. You were just a little confused, and helping reawaken that part of you was one of the best moments of my life.” He looked down at her with such a solemn expression that she had to believe him, and finally she nodded. After she did, he grinned and winked. “But that blow job was phenomenal!”
She giggled and hit him on the chest, and then started to caress the warm muscle. They spent the night shrouded in love and laughter, before falling into a blissful sleep. It ended up being perfect when Quinn’s naked body stretched out behind her, warming her, so that she was lured into dreams of a long and happy future.
* * * *
They had breakfast the next morning in the hotel room.
“Sully felt like he should have known, that he should have seen the signs.” Quinn just shook his head in disbelief. He still felt his brother’s body shuddering in his arms as he sobbed. “God, he’s had his head in his books this first year in law school. I don’t see how he thought he could have seen anything. He kept saying he was Tim’s older brother, and it was his job.” Quinn just stared at the plate of food in front of him. He was surprised when Kara slid into his arms and sat down on his lap.
“You need to eat, baby.” She picked up a forkful of eggs and brought it to his mouth. He automatically ate the food with a smile. He looked over at Ben with a question in his eyes.
“Hey, you took care of Sully, somebody needs to take care of you,” Ben
said with a shrug. Quinn took the fork out of Kara’s hands, and she just rested her head on his chest.
“Anyway, I think I got it through his thick head that he isn’t to blame. I think we agreed that none of us were.”
“Thank God for that.” Ben smiled at him. “I actually got over that when I spoke to Linnette, Tim’s ex-girlfriend. She was positive it was her fault. She was going through hell. When I talked her off the ledge, I ended up not feeling as guilty for relocating to Washington. They’re moving Timothy to the psychiatric ward as soon as he is strong enough. Then he is probably going to a hospital for some psychiatric care. He might be in there as long as three months. I think he really needs it.”
“Oh, I think that will be a godsend,” Kara said as she nestled in even closer to his chest. Quinn couldn’t believe how blessed he had come to feel in just forty-eight hours.
“How much longer do you think we should stay, before heading home?” Quinn asked his brother. “I talked to Mama last night, and she’s already making noise that we needed to get our lives settled down south.” Ben and Kara chuckled.
“That’s sounds like her. Once things are taken care of, no moss grows under that stone.” They ate in silence for a bit. Ben finally answered. “I am home. Wherever both of you are, I’m always home.”
Epilogue
“If I find you lifting one more thing, sweetheart, you’re going to be spanked, and not in a way that you’ll like,” Quinn said as he picked her up and put her onto the sofa. Kara stared up at her husband and attempted to pout, but they both burst out laughing at her failed effort.
“Good, maybe our daughter won’t be able to pout either. Because if she can, she’ll have her dads wrapped around her little finger,” Quinn said as he rubbed the gentle swell of Kara’s belly. They had just learned the baby’s sex, right before Ben had left to go up to Sitka.
Claiming Kara [Fate Harbor 3] (Siren Publishing Ménage Amour) Page 25
