Risk (Desired Affliction Book 3)

by C. A. Harms

  I followed her into the cute little grocery store and we grabbed the flour. As we passed the aisle with the pickles, I eyed them a little too long. “Do you want some?”

  I smiled over at her. “Since we’re here, do you mind if I grab a few things?”

  “Nope get what you want, sweetie,” she smiled knowingly.

  I grabbed a jar of dill pickles and a can of Cheez Whiz. I snatched up a bag of Doritos and ranch dressing. As I sat them down on the counter Kate laughed. “So is that what my niece or nephew is causing you to crave?” she asked and I nodded.

  Just then, we heard a small voice speak up. “Wow, Brock is gonna be a daddy?”

  I watched as Kate’s entire demeanor changed. She squared her shoulders and her lips were pressed firmly together. “No, actually Adam’s gonna be a daddy. This is Natalie, Adam’s girlfriend,” she stated sternly. “Natalie…this is Breann.”

  Oh shit…Breann.

  The Breann, the girl who could have been the mother of Adam’s children. She was cute with shoulder length blonde hair, gorgeous eyes—a beautiful shade of blue—and she had an amazing smile.

  I smiled at her and she returned the gesture. “Congratulations.”

  “Thanks.” I said in return.

  I watched as she scanned the items and Kate handed her the cash. “I could have paid for mine.” I handed Kate money and she brushed it away. “No way, just feeding our little bean. Put your money away.”

  Kate turned back to face Breann. I had never known Kate to be so forward until now. “So, Breann, how are things with you and Nate?”

  Breann appeared uncomfortable as she stuttered, “They’re, um, good, thanks.”

  “Ah, that’s great. It looks like everything worked out for the best then.” Kate plastered on a fake smile. “Have a great day.”

  I followed behind Kate and held back my smile. Once we were in the Tahoe, Kate and I both started laughing.

  “Oh my God, I feel like such an adolescent but that girl just makes my blood boil,” she confessed.

  Kate is so soft spoken and sweet, but I could sense the hate she had for Breann.

  Once we made it home, the boys were just getting back from what looked like a mud bath. Adam was covered from head to toe and I couldn’t help but laugh.

  Once he removed his helmet, he walked in my direction, keeping a small amount of space between us. “Hey baby.” He bent down and kissed me softly. “Where’d you go?”

  Kate hollered over her shoulder, answering the question as she walked toward the house. “I took her to the store with me. We got the baby bean some snacks, and guess who she got to meet?”

  She said nothing more as she climbed the stairs and went inside. Adam watched me closely with a curious expression. “First off, baby bean?” I pointed toward my belly and he laughed. “Oh okay.”

  Brock walked up behind Adam just in time to hear the rest of the conversation.

  “She took you to the grocery store,” Adam began again. “Who’d you meet there?”

  “Uh, I guess that…” I started to reply but stopped suddenly when Brock placed his arm over Adam’s shoulder.

  “Well, brother if they went to Mason’s Market then your new girl got to meet your old girl.” He was such a cocky ass. “Breann works there.”

  Brock released his hold on Adam’s shoulder and his eyes found mine once again. He watched me for moment before speaking. “She didn’t spout off anything out of line, did she?”

  I shook my head, “No.”

  “Good,” he added but he didn’t look any more relaxed at the idea of me meeting the girl he was once in love with.

  Adam ran his hand through his hair and I felt uneasy about this whole thing.

  “Adam, are you still in love with her?” the question left my mouth before I had a chance to stop it.

  His face fell and he took a step closer. He refrained from touching me because he was so dirty. But I could see the intensity in his stare. “Hell no, she’s my past. That shit is dead and gone. It’s just you, Natalie, it will only ever be you.” He held my stare for a few seconds longer before kissing me softly. “I love you, baby,” he assured me. “My heart is completely yours. You own me.”

  “You own me too,” I told him without hesitation.

  He winked at me as he took a step back. “Go feed my baby…I gotta get cleaned up.”

  Chapter Twenty

  Adam

  I loved seeing Natalie with my family. Hell, I think they’d barely spoken to me since we got here, but they hadn’t left her side. My mom catered to her like she was a fragile doll and my dad seemed to be in awe of her. Kate had always loved Natalie so that was no surprise.

  Keith sat down in the recliner next to me as I continued to watch my girl look through old baby albums.

  “So you ready to be a dad, Adam?” he asked.

  I turned to face Keith and smiled, “Yeah, I am.”

  “Good, Natalie needs you. She’s good for you, hell, I see a change in you that I never thought possible. That girl’s exactly what you needed.”

  Normally I would argue with Keith. He and I have butted heads for years, but today I agreed. “Yeah, she’s pretty great and she makes me want to be a better man.”

  We sat silently watching our girls and every once in a while Natalie would look up at me and smile. She was so beautiful.

  It was crazy how I could be so cocky and arrogant daily with everyone I encountered, but the minute I saw those big green eyes looking back at me, I went weak in the knees. I wasn’t lying when I told her she owned me, I was completely hers one hundred percent, and nothing was worth losing her over.

  I excused myself to go down to the barn to help my dad lock up everything and when I came back, Natalie had already gone to bed.

  Making my way upstairs, I entered quietly into our room. I couldn’t help the laughter that escaped me.

  Natalie was lying snuggled up under the covers holding a can of Cheez Whiz. In her other hand was a half-eaten pickle resting against her lips.

  And in that moment a thought occurred.

  I took this as my chance for payback and grabbed my phone, snapping a few pictures to torture her with later.

  After I cleaned up everything, I crawled in bed next to her and pulled her close. She smelled of dill pickles and canned cheese, but I didn’t care. I pulled her against my chest.

  She belonged with me, safe and happy.

  I felt her tug against my arm and I gripped her a little tighter against me. “Where you sneaking off to?” I asked.

  “I have to pee. Let go, you big goof, or I’m gonna pee my pants.” She rushed from the bed and I watched her tight little ass until she entered the bathroom.

  Once she made her way back to bed, I crawled over on top of her and brushed her hair from her face. Looking down into her gorgeous eyes, I couldn’t keep from smiling like a fool.

  “So what do you think of the family?”

  Natalie smiled almost instantly at the mention of my crazy family. “They’re pretty great, actually. You knew I loved Kate, that was a given. Your mom is a sweetheart and your dad has been so nice to me. Brock tries to be all hard ass but I think somewhere in there he’s kind.”

  I laughed. “Brock’s more of a whore than me.”

  She glared and shoved against my chest. “Adam!”

  Shit…“Sorry, baby, sorry. I mean I used to be, before you.”

  “Not helping.” She arched her brow.

  She absolutely hated when I mentioned my whorish past. She knew about it, but she didn’t like being reminded of it.

  I had to recover so I brought my mouth down to hers and began kissing her slowly and gently. She soon forgot my comment. We became lost in one another as our tongues rolled together.

  Natalie had done something, she had changed me.

  I wanted the life, the big house, kids and a beautiful wife. She had my mind full of all kinds of things and I felt in debt to this gorgeous girl for helping me wake up.
r />   I lifted the hem of her shirt to expose her sweet little baby bump and continued until her hand stopped me. I pulled back looking at her.

  “What?” I asked wondering why she stopped me.

  “Adam, we can’t have sex in your parents’ house,” she said with widened eyes.

  “You’re joking right? Babe, they know we have sex, um,” I pointed toward her stomach for reference.

  “I know, Adam, but don’t you feel wrong?” Aw, she was so cute.

  I grinded my erection against her and kissed her neck. “Actually, it feels pretty right to me. You’ll just have to keep it down. No yelling out my name, okay?”

  She smiled up at me. “You’re the one who moans my name, so you need to keep it down.”

  I grinned as I brought my lips back to hers. She was right I did moan, loudly. In all honesty though, it was her damn fault, she was amazing.

  The moment I sank into her and we began to move together in the perfect rhythm, I knew it wouldn’t take long. Her heels dug into my lower back as she pulled me into her with each thrust. I felt her teeth bite into my shoulder the same moment I felt her tighten around me.

  “Fuck, Natalie,” I moaned as I emptied myself deep inside of her. Our lips crashed together while I tried my hardest to hold myself up on weak, shaky arms.

  ***

  “Adam, you going with Brock?”

  I looked up from the television, finding my sister standing in the doorway.

  “Um, what?” I asked completely lost.

  Kate shook her head and laughed. “Did you hear anything I said to you?”

  I shook my head. “Sorry, my head was somewhere else.”

  Kate walked over toward me and leaned over the arm of the couch. “It wouldn’t have anything to do with the loud moans that poured from your room last night, would it?”

  I smiled and watched her eyes. “Shit, I forgot you were sleeping in the next room.” She stood up shaking her head. “I’ll keep it down next time. What were you saying?”

  “Brock has to go to the Country Club and help set up for this afternoon. I thought maybe you could keep him company and make sure it gets done.”

  At that moment, Natalie entered the room and sat down next to me. I wrapped my arm over her shoulders and pulled her closer. I bent down, kissing her forehead. “You okay?” She nodded and I turned back to face Kate. “We can go along, no problem.”

  “Natalie can stay here,” she said.

  “Nah,” I replied quickly, “I want her with me.”

  Kate rolled her eyes and walked away, hollering over her shoulder just before she exited the room, “He’s leaving in fifteen minutes.”

  ***

  I left Natalie in the clubhouse at the Country Club while Brock and I checked over everything for the party. She was slightly hungry so I ordered her lunch and left her with a kiss.

  “So a dad, huh? Never thought I would see the day after what Breann did to you.” I turned around to face Brock as he unfolded a chair onto the lawn. “She’s a looker though, bro, hell your kid’s gonna be cute at least. One question.” I stared at him waiting for the smartass comment I knew was coming. “What does a hot girl like Natalie see in you, man? She could have had a clean cut guy, but she chose you instead.”

  He chuckled and I busied my hands. This wasn’t the time or the place to tackle my cocky little brother. It was Mom and Dad’s day and I didn’t want to ruin it.

  “You’re right. Nat is hot, but that isn’t all she is. That girl in there,” I pointed toward the clubhouse. “She’s amazing…and sweet, she loves me and yeah sometimes I wonder how I got so lucky. That’s what I am, lucky, she looked past all my shit and saw me. I have a past, Brock, I know that, but Natalie is my new beginning, and that’s all that matters.”

  I needed a break from his cockiness.

  He reminded me too much of myself. Arrogant little bastard thought everyone owed him something. He never stuck with one girl because he was too busy looking for his next hookup. I kept my distance from him for the next hour as we continued to direct the clubhouse staff regarding the party preparations. When I finally felt confident enough that things were well on the way, I went to find Natalie.

  The moment I entered the dining area and saw her at the table, I tensed.

  A fire lit inside of me when I saw who was sitting at the table across from her. My past flashed through my mind threatening to take over my future and all the hate inside of me suddenly resurfaced.

  Chapter Twenty-One

  Natalie

  It took everything I had not to laugh in this guy’s face. What a self-centered ass. I was enjoying my lunch and a book on my Kindle when he just sat down across from me like he owned the place.

  The cheesy lines started right away.

  “Seriously though, what is a pretty girl like you doing here alone? If you were my girl, I wouldn’t let you leave my side.” I smiled as I thought about what a joke he was.

  Okay yeah he was cute in a preppy boy kinda way. Not my type for sure, but cute in his own way.

  I was just about to tell him he was wasting his time when I caught sight of Adam approaching just over the jokester’s shoulder. When I saw the rage within his eyes, my stomach tightened.

  Did he actually think I was enjoying this guy’s company?

  What happened next had my mind spinning.

  “So Nate, fucking Breann behind my back wasn’t enough, huh? Now you’re hitting on the mother of my unborn child, too.”

  The guy, who I now knew was Nate, spun around in his chair. The moment his eyes connected with Adam his jaw dropped.

  Adam stepped in front of me as I stood. He pointed his thumb in Nate’s direction, “You want this joker?” he asked me, obviously reflecting his anger over the entire situation directly at me. “You like flirting around with other guys the minute I’m not around?”

  “I never…” He interrupted me quickly by spinning around and giving me his back.

  My heart sank immediately at the way he dismissed me. Adam didn’t even give me a chance to defend myself, and I had reached my breaking point at how easily he continued to assume I could replace him.

  “You’re lucky I didn’t knock the piss outta your ass the first time, Nate. But this girl right here,” he motioned over his shoulder to me. “I won’t hesitate to break your fucking nose, man. You better walk away, now.”

  I watched as Nate stood and glared at Adam before turning to leave. I was frozen, staring at Adam’s back with my heart racing.

  I could tell he was attempting to calm down as his shoulders rose and fell with deep breaths.

  I was pissed about the way he talked to me and was trying to calm myself at the same time. Once he turned to face me, my body tensed up once again. “Natalie, I…” it was my turn to interrupt and I took it. I held my finger in front of his face to quiet him and I stared directly into his eyes.

  “I. Don’t. Care!” I said in a voice that didn’t even sound like my own.

  I jerked my purse from the back of the chair and it fell over backwards. I ignored the strange looks that were being shot in my direction from other guests in the dining room. I didn’t care what they thought at that point.

  I stormed to the front of the clubhouse and left him standing there alone.

  I had just made it to the edge of the road when he caught my elbow. “Natalie, please wait.”

  I yanked my arm from his grip. “Fuck you, Adam! You had no right to act like that toward me. For your information, I was not flirting. I was laughing at his idiotic pickup lines. I was just about to tell him he didn’t have a chance when you stormed over. You were completely out of line.” I took in a deep breath. “I understand your issues with Nate, but me, you’re not allowed to treat me like that. I’m not some stupid girl who is gonna let some man talk down to me. If that’s what you are looking for, then I’m not your girl.”

  I glared at him as my chest tightened and my fist balled in anger. The adrenaline was coursing through me
and I had a strong urge to punch him. I couldn’t believe he thought treating me like that would be okay.

  Adam looked down at the ground and ran his hands through his hair. “I’m sorry,” he mumbled. “You’re right, Nat, I was wrong.” His eyes met mine once more. “I saw him with you and I lost it. I know who he is, what he does. I knew he was flirting with you and it hit me. I thought about what I would do if he stole you and I lost it. Damn Nat.” He looked defeated. “I’m so sorry.”

  He stepped forward and I stepped back. I wasn’t sure if I was ready for him to touch me yet. “Don’t.” It was all I could say past my anger. He dropped his hands to his side just as his phone rang from his pocket.

  “Yeah?” His eyes connected with mine once more as he listened to whoever had called him. “No, it’s fine. Everything’s set up and ready. Come on over.” He hung up his phone and shoved it into his pocket once again.

  “Are they all on the way?” I asked and he nodded while watching my eyes. “Let’s go back.” I never waited for him to respond, I just began walking.

  I could hear the gravel from the side of the road as he began to follow behind me. When we got inside, I went straight to the bathroom to freshen up.

  Wow, I look like a mess. I studied my flushed reflection. Adam had me so angry I was on the verge of tears. I needed him to understand being yelled at and talked down to was not something I would accept.

  I found a small corner to hide away as the guests began to arrive. I was no longer angry, but if I was being honest, I was hurt beyond my limit. I just needed to keep my distance from him. I think he knew I needed space because he stayed on the opposite side of the party.

  Every once in a while, I would catch him staring at me and my throat would burn. After a while when my hurt slowly subsided I was silently hoping he would come to me and make it better. I hated the distance, but I did feel at the time of our fight it was necessary; now I just needed to know we were okay.

  Kate had introduced me to a few family members and every time she called me “Adam’s girlfriend” I fought against the urge to cry. I’m sure most of it was hormonal.