I glance over to Sofia when we’re done. “You don’t have to look so smug.”
From behind her half-empty flute glass, she asks, “Don’t I?”
Gabriel exhales. Secretly he wishes he were a Cipher. I guess we all do in the dark reaches of our psyches. But no one here besides Sofia Sol would be truly happy in that nomad life. I know my cousins too well. And my brother wants to be singing in front of millions, maybe even playing the Super Bowl one day. He doesn’t want to live under the radar.
Andy, leaning back in his chair, puts his sunglasses on to ward off the bright sunlight. “Don’t know about you but I got maybe an hour of sleep. Who’s our waiter?” He motions for a menu and asks, “So, what are we up to? How ‘bout some jet-skiing?”
Oh my God do we all say yes to that brilliant idea.
A little over an hour later we’re whizzing along clear blue water in a speedboat, out to where they dock the jet skis far from swimmers and surfers. And where the waves won’t hinder us.
Emma, Sofia and I have our hair pulled back, but despite our best efforts some is flying free. Emma raises her arms and screams, “This is what I came for! Give it to me!”
Tobias shouts, “Freedom!!!” which makes everyone hoot and holler, Sofia looking pretty proud of herself.
Hot, delicious sunbeams warm my skin even with the wind. There’s not a cloud in the sky anywhere I look. My heart is light with a sense of possibility, and this feeling has good company. Every time Tobias smiles at me, all that storminess and those troubled shadows are gone. He’s even more handsome now that he’s happy.
“Are you good at this?” I call to him.
“I’m good at everything!”
My brother laughs and shouts over the wind, “Oh, you fit right in with that attitude, Tobias.”
Ben leans back in the waterproof seat, sun glinting off his shades as he looks over and asks, “You ever been on a horse?”
Tobias answers, “Nah.”
“Then you’re not that cool.” Ben juts his chin, suppressing a smile.
Sofia laughs and calls out, “Tobias has ridden something you never have, Ben!”
“Don’t even say it, Soph,” he crosses his arms. “Don’t!”
“He’s ridden a Hannah,” she triumphantly announces.
“Sofia!” Emma and I shout, but Gabriel and Ethan start laughing like you do when something is so wrong you can’t help but crack up.
Tobias pulls me onto his lap. “Sofia, if you know what’s good for you, you’ll leave this subject alone.” He takes off his sunglasses to warn her with his eyes, but there’s amusement in them. “You broke someone’s hand. I’m not treating you like a girl anymore.”
“Fair enough!” she smirks, throwing up her arms and turning to watch the jet skis come into view. “I’m gonna ride the hell out of those things!”
I smile to Tobias, “I’m so excited about this,” one arm around his neck as I sit across his lap.
He gently pulls my head down to whisper in my ear, “I can’t wait to ride you again.”
I whisper back, “I’m way more fun than a horse.”
He groans like this flirtation is too much for him and he wishes we were alone.
As the boat slows and idles up to the dock the guide says, “Okay, everyone watch your step as you climb out. We’re in the middle of a large coral reef that wards off most sharks; the big ones can’t get in, so stay inside this area. You see the buoys? Those are stationed along the coral’s edge. Be careful. The reef is sharp so if you fall in, keep your legs tucked or you might slice your feet. Got it?”
Everyone nods and we pile out. The view is breathtaking, so blue, with only a line in the distance to differentiate where the ocean ends and the sky begins.
We’ve all ridden before so everyone grabs a ski of their own and with challenges shouted out, a race begins.
But only Gabriel, Ethan and Sofia stick with it, the rest of us changing course to just enjoy the Atlantic splashing under our engines, the warm wind removing all of the stress from the past few days.
Emma and I weave around each other, screaming as our wakes soak each other as much as we safely can.
Ben’s coasting along, head turning left and right to soak in the beauty.
Tobias and Andy are laughing about guy stuff, because Andy got the bigger jet ski and he’s comparing it to his penis size, Tobias shouting, “You wish!”
I turn the handlebars and motion to Tobias to veer off with me. “Emma, I’ll see you later.”
She nods and jumps a wave, yelling, “Woohoooo!!!!”
Away from the pack, he and I ride side-by-side, wind whisking my hair tie away. Tobias slows his engine and I follow his lead. “Stay in Boca with me for a while. We can rent a place.”
Taken aback, I blink up to the sun and feel its comforting heat as I imagine going along with the plan that’s already set in place…leaving with my family the day after tomorrow, back to Atlanta. Sofia said over breakfast that she needs to get back home, too.
Even the thought of being away from Tobias is terrible. I meet his eyes and say, “I’d love to.”
His eyebrows rise. “Yeah?”
“Mmhmm. You think I’m done with you yet?”
He laughs low and rumbly, making my gaze drop to admire his naked chest. I remember how that laugh felt when I was pressed against him. I can’t wait to feel it again.
“You know what, beautiful?” He pauses. “I may be saying this too soon, but I hope you’re never done with me.”
He dips his head like a cowboy saying goodbye, and revs the engine, tearing off into the fucking sunset.
I shout after him, “Oh, you’re so smooth, aren’t you?!”
He laughs and raises his fist high, gorgeous back muscles rippling with power.
Training For Greatness -Hannah
Two months later.
Stretching on our bed, the light comforter warm and soft, I glance around and see I’m alone. Lying still a moment I listen for it and smile — the familiar sound of my boyfriend training in the backyard. I throw my feet off our bed, brush my teeth, and stroll into the humid Florida breeze, wrapping a silk robe around my body along the way.
Tobias’s large back is to me as he punishes the kick bag with practiced sequences he uses to keep his reflexes sharp. He varies it but right now he’s doing a skilled right hook, jab, cross, left hook, right hook, uppercut, round house kick finish. Sweat is springing from his body with each powerful blow, his muscles glistening in the sun. He never holds back or plays light. Every hit aims for knockout. He’s told me this is important because you don’t want your body to be trained to do anything less.
He’s taken over Sofia’s training role, and I’m getting pretty good. But we usually end up abandoning practice to attack each other in a less abusive way. Well, I guess that depends on how you look at it. Ahem.
Leaning against the back porch’s beam I stay quiet and watch him for a long time, feeling my body react to his talent, how strong he is, and how good he looks when he’s doing what he loves. When he stops and gives the bag a respectful tap as though it’s a person and not an inanimate object, I smile a little. I love that ritual. He does it every time and there’s something magical about it.
He has other rituals I’ve come to learn. When he makes a protein shake he stirs it the exact same number of times, eleven, without fail. Even if some powder hasn’t dissolved and is still sticking to the sides of the glass.
When he wakes up he drops to the ground and does fifty-five pushups. Before the final one he claps and then springs up to standing like some sort of acrobat.
He’s fought one pro fight since we rented this cottage. It was in Fort Lauderdale and when Andy brought him a flask to celebrate, he informed me he only drank it if he won. If he didn’t win, he’d save it for the next time. He’d been doing this for years, and Andy had known the ritual, but had just become a part of it during the last fight when they began to work together, and when we met.
&
nbsp; I love these little things about him, and I can’t wait to learn more.
Tobias’s dark blue eyes lock on me and his smile is instantaneous. “How long you been standin’ there, babe?”
“Hours.”
He laughs and shakes his head, sweat spraying out from his raven-black hair. “You’re a beautiful liar.” Glancing to his shimmering chest he shoots a sexy gaze at me from under his heavy brow. “You like what you see?”
“Your nipples are erect.”
Chuckling he nods and touches them, the muscles on his arms flexing. So sexy. “Yeah, guess I like to punch things.”
My fingers float down the front of my robe as he gets closer and I let the silk open to reveal my naked body. No panties. Nothing but me on display for his lustful gaze to drink in. “I’ve got something you can beat up a little.”
Tobias pulls me to him. “I love you, Hannah.”
My lips part as my heart races. We haven’t said those three words to each other yet. I didn’t expect it to be now, so he’s taken my breath away. He kisses me and our tongues touch. But I pull away because I’ve been dying to say this to him and I can’t wait.
“I love you, too, Tobias. I’m crazy in love with you.”
His eyes drop to my lips and he smiles the sexiest grin before dipping in and taking possession of me in the deepest kiss. My breasts are crushed into his slippery chest, the sun beating down on us. His fingers hook under the silk that’s hanging on my shoulders and he pulls it off, his hands raking down my naked sides with a firmness that makes me shiver with need.
He drops down and lifts my leg, hooks it around his neck as he dives his tongue into my pussy, groaning, “So wet, babe. You got off on watching me training.”
“Always,” I moan, my eyes closing as he flicks my swollen clit with his hot tongue. My hips arch up so he can penetrate me with it and he needs no better invitation. His grunt of desire rumbles against my throbbing pussy as he licks and sucks and flicks me to a quivering mass of ache. “Oh God!” I whimper, clasping onto his head as I lose control, cumming against his panting lips.
He growls like an animal, rises up and flips me around, hiking my ass in the air as he gives it a good swat and says under his breath, “Mmm Mmm. Can’t wait to fuck you.”
And I can’t wait to be fucked.
I grab onto the porch beam, pulsing with sweet aftershocks as I bend over and offer him the sexiest view. I hear him drop his trunks. I close my eyes and moan as he drives his gorgeous cock into me from behind, slowly thrusting with a precision I’m addicted to. The way he moves his hips, how he fills me and the deep, throaty sounds he makes, all of it is my drug.
My hair swings to the side as I look over my shoulder to watch his face as he fucks me. We lock eyes and he shakes his head at how good this feels. “I love you so much, babe.”
Panting, I whisper, “I love you, too. And I love how good you feel inside me! You’re so hard, Tobias. Oh God, your cock is amazing.”
He grunts, “Fuck!” and winces as he shakes his head, this time harder like he’s going to cum. Something crosses behind his blue eyes as they lock with mine again.
I realize what he’s about to do. And I get so excited that goosebumps whisper across my flesh.
He stretches out his massive chest, holding onto my hips as he grinds his, thrusting his length into me over and over.
I feel his cock expand and throb.
He’s panting heavily.
Asking permission without words.
I moan and nod my head.
He hisses and then roars as he cums inside me for the first time, filling me with everything he’s got to give, keeping us connected like I’ve wanted so badly to be.
Maybe until I said the words, he’d never thought he was worthy of being loved like I love him. Of being part of a team. Trusting someone.
And I know this release means he’s starting to believe.
Tobias collapses onto my back, hugging me from behind. I’ve got one hand on the beam to help me stand, the other arm wrapped around his across my breasts. He gasps, “I’ve never done that before!”
“I know,” I whisper, so happy.
“No, Hannah, I mean with anyone. Never done that. I want to start a family with you. I want you to be my wife.”
My breath catches. I give his arm a squeeze and laugh in disbelief. Not that he’s asking, but that I could be this lucky.
I don’t give a good goddamn that I’ve only known him two months.
I want him. Just him.
And I’ve wanted him to claim me.
You never know what life will bring.
I want whatever happens, to be when we’re together.
“Yes! Are you kidding? Yes! I’d love to marry you.” I gasp as he pulls out of my body and whips me around, crushing my lips with his. He pulls away and I’m shocked. There are tears in his eyes. You’d think they’d be in mine, but no. He’s the one who’s a mess.
His voice is deep and cautious as he demands to know, “You really want to marry me, babe? Really?”
“I want to be your wife, Tobias Kyrkos. I want only you.”
“Oh fuck,” he groans, wiping his eyes and shaking his head. He grabs me and kisses me so hard I start laughing. We break apart, and he laughs with me but his is low and guttural, his face grimacing in disbelief. “Hang on. I mean, come here.”
He lifts me up so fast I yelp and carries me into the kitchen. Setting me down, he starts opening cupboards like a madman. He pushes around some cans, grabs a bag of sugar, and shoves his hand inside it!
Is he going to cover me with that?
“Aha!” Triumphant, he produces a beautiful wedding ring covered in crystals of white sugar. My mouth drops open as he walks it to me, smirking like he’s the sneakiest guy who ever lived. “I know you don’t cook so where did I hide it?”
Laughing, and slightly offended, I watch him scoop up my left hand and hold the diamond at the tip of my ring finger. He starts to kneel down but I say, “No no. We’re equals.”
His eyes flicker and he straightens up. “Hannah Cocker, will you take my last name?” He pauses, choked up. “Be my wife?”
Now’s my turn to get teary-eyed as I nod. “Yes. I’ll be your wife.”
This ring sliding onto my finger right now is pure magic.
I was so afraid I wouldn’t find someone who loved me for me, and who I loved in return. And all I had to do was go out of my comfort zone, say yes to Sofia Sol’s invitation for a wild adventure, and face my greatest fear.
Oh, and I also had to steal a ring-girl’s card and show her how it’s done…
Passing Torches - Tobias
Holy shit, the Cocker Family is really hard to keep track of.
Since our wedding is a major event — she’s the first cousin to get hitched — the extended family has shown up. That means all her Savannah clan, and the relatives of her aunts, like her Aunt Sarah’s brother Nathan and his family. Her Aunt Drew’s parents. Her Aunt Rachel’s friends Sylvia, Cora, and their families. All sixteen of Hannah’s fucking cousins. We’re getting married on a Saturday so whoever was at college flew in or drove back yesterday. The ones still in high school came, too.
Just scratching the surface with that list.
I keep being introduced to people and there is no fucking way I can remember all their names.
Thank God they keep assuring me I won’t have to.
“You’ll get to know us all in time. Don’t worry.”
I haven’t seen my Hannah since yesterday. She spent the night with Emma, Sofia, and all the other female cousins at Ethan’s house.
They took his place over and he came up to her Uncle Jaxson’s — Ben’s father’s — ranch where there’s a retreat on the property. Room for all us guys so all the dude cousins spent the night there.
It was Me, Andy, Ben, Ethan, Gabriel and Elijah, Max, Caden, Hunter, Eric, Nicholas, Wyatt, and Nate. Ask me if I fucked up their names all night long. You can bet your ass I did, espe
cially because we got drunk. Had a crazy time roaming the ranch at night, playing cards, acting like idiots howling at the moon. It was ridiculous.
Gotta admit, makes me want a big family of my own. I can see why siblings matter now.
They all treated me like I was one of them, which made me relax. Andy fit right in, too. And some had been following my career so that gave me an advantage over being a complete stranger, just showing up with Hannah on my arm.
Truth? I miss my girl.
“Mom, you okay?” I ask her, bending down to where she sits next to Grandma, speaking in broken Greek since she rarely uses the language anymore. But it’s all my Grandma knows so Mom has no choice.
“Yes! What a lovely yard! I love that dolphin fountain over there! So antique!” She points a glossy, red fingernail to the far end of the yard where a weatherworn fountain rests unused for probably ten years.
“Yeah, it’s nice. You all good, Grandma?”
She nods, smiling, her hat protecting her from the bright sun. It’s a gorgeous day in Atlanta. Not too humid. Spring has smiled on us.
I straighten up as Nancy and Michael Cocker approach me, both the upper-class society types you’d see at a country club. I’ve met them before on a previous trip here, so I smile wide and introduce them to my family of two.
Mom looks flushed by the introduction, and I know she feels insecure in their company. Can’t blame her. I used to feel that way around Hannah. But the Cockers treat my mother like she’s on their level and she relaxes and talks about life in Florida with them while I excuse myself.
Ethan’s waving me over. He and Ben are standing to the right of chairs all placed carefully in comfortable rows for the main event. But as I head to them I glance around and catch Justin Cocker watching me, his wife Jaimie chatting with her father who’s standing with them.
Raising my hand to tell Ethan I’ll be right there, I change course. “Mr. Cocker.”
His shark-like eyes narrow and he shakes his head, volume low. “Call me Justin.”
Cocky Senator's Daughter: Hannah Cocker (Cocker Brothers of Atlanta Book 8) Page 18
