Molly's Man (Haven, Texas Book 4)

by Laylah Roberts

  “Bossy bastard.”

  He drew her close, hugging her tightly. “It will be all right, baby. I’m here. I love you.”

  She leaned back, wiping at her streaming eyes. “Sorry. I’m so sorry. I just never thought . . . I mean, I’d resigned myself to dying and . . .”

  And now the doctor had told her that her cancer was very treatable. He’d given her hope. Real hope.

  “It’s so hard to wrap my head around.” She rested her elbows on her knees and placed her head in her hands. “Did he really say what I think he did?”

  “Yes, baby. It was real. He wants to be fairly aggressive because of your family history, that’s why he recommended a partial mastectomy and radiation. But he’s optimistic, baby.”

  She could live. She could stay with him.

  “I want him to take them,” she said suddenly. “Both of them.”

  “What?”

  She swallowed and straightened, staring at him. They were in the park outside the oncologist’s office. It was quiet and peaceful.

  Jake sat beside her, sliding his arm around her, and suddenly she felt a lot calmer. He’d been her rock this past week. Organizing their flights back home. Settling her into his place. Arranging this appointment. He’d been there for her through everything. Would he be all right with this?

  “Would you be okay if I told him I want them both gone? I want to make sure I have the best chance of making sure it never comes back.”

  There was silence. “Jake? Have you got anything to say?”

  “Thank fucking God.”

  She stared over at him in shock. “What?”

  “I don’t want to lose you, baby. If this gives us the best chance of getting rid of that shit in your body, then let’s do it. But you’ll need some sort of counseling. I want you to be sure.”

  “All right, I will. I want to do whatever gives me the most chance of living a full life.”

  “Don’t do this just for me.”

  She smiled and patted his face. “I’m not. Or not just for you. Mostly, I’m doing it for me. I’ll have the counseling, but my mind won’t change. This is what I want.”

  15

  Molly smiled at her friends as they dug into the cupcakes Lila had brought with her.

  “Oh, my God, these are so good,” Lila mumbled around a mouthful of crumbs.

  “I hate you,” Laken told her. “Like seriously hate you.”

  “What? Me? How could you hate me? I’m the sweet, lovable one of the group.”

  “You are?” Savannah asked with a grin as Laken snorted. “What are the rest of us?”

  Lila pointed at her. “You’re the slightly crazy, incredibly brave one.” She pointed at Laken. “She’s snarky and so amazingly creative.”

  “And me?” Molly asked.

  “You’re smart and the voice of reason. Anyone want the last cupcake?”

  They all waved at her, and she dived in.

  “The reason I hate you is because you can eat and eat and never gain a pound,” Laken complained.

  “I’ve had this crazy appetite lately, and when I’m not eating I feel nauseous. It’s so weird.”

  All three women stared at her.

  “What?” Lila asked, licking a smudge of pink icing from her finger. “Have I got something on my face?”

  Molly looked over at the other two. “She really has no clue?”

  Laken grinned, and Savannah’s eyes danced.

  “What?” Lila asked, her voice growing louder. “What is it? Tell me now.”

  “And you’re the quiet, sweet one?” Laken asked dryly.

  Lila pointed a finger at her. “I never said quiet. Tell me what I’m missing. Now.”

  “Um, well, when was the last time you had your period?” Molly asked gently.

  Lila waved a hand through the air. “I dunno, they’ve never been all that regular, so I don’t pay much attention.”

  “Maybe you should start,” Savannah advised her. “Especially if you’re having unprotected sex.”

  “What are you talking about?”

  “Lila, have you thought about the possibility you could be pregnant?” Molly asked gently.

  Lila’s mouth opened. Closed. Opened again. She looked so shocked that Molly stared over at the other two women. “Is this not welcome news?”

  Laken frowned. “I don’t know. I think she’s too shocked to even know.”

  “I’m pregnant?” Lila’s hand moved to her tummy.

  “Well, there’s no way of knowing until you take a test,” Molly pointed out.

  “Want me to run out and grab one for you?” Savannah asked.

  Lila’s eyes widened. “Hell, no. You can’t buy a test here. Before I even get a chance to take it, the whole town will believe you’re pregnant. I have to go to Freestown and get one.”

  “We could go now,” Molly suggested.

  Lila looked over at her. “No, today is about you. Not me. I’ll go tomorrow.”

  Molly was twelve weeks post operation. She’d been through hell and back. The surgery had affected her more than she’d thought it would. Not just the physical side of it, but emotionally and mentally. There had been times when she’d gone to some dark places. But through it all, Jake had been there for her. And so had her friends. And Alison, her therapist had been a rock. A week ago, she’d had a checkup with the surgeon, and he was pleased with the progress she’d made. He’d given her the go-ahead to resume most activities provided she rested if she got tired and didn’t push herself too far.

  She’d expected Jake to rush her home, rip off her clothes and fuck her. Hard and fast. She’d thought he’d want to jump back into play. She knew she did.

  Instead, he’d made slow, sweet love to her. Which was nice, but it wasn’t what she wanted. What she needed.

  “Molly? You okay?” Savannah asked.

  She smiled brightly. “Of course I am.”

  “Uh-uh, honey, you put any more syrup on that smile and your teeth will rot,” Laken said dryly.

  “What does that mean?”

  “We can all see something’s wrong. You’ve been drifting off into your head a lot lately,” Lila told her. “Is it the boobs?”

  Laken checked her over. “Those are good boobs; the doc did a good job.”

  Savannah sighed. “So perky.”

  Molly rolled her eyes. “Guys, you don’t have to keep trying to convince me that my breasts look great. I’m fine. I don’t miss my old breasts or anything. They were just boobs.”

  She’d thought she might feel weird about her fake breasts, but, in truth, it was a relief to have them gone.

  “She’s doing it again,” Laken said.

  Molly blushed. “Sorry.” Her friends had been complimenting her new breasts every chance they got, trying to keep her in a positive mood. She loved them for it, but they had to stop.

  “Honestly, guys, I’m fine about my breasts. I really am.”

  “So, if it’s not that, what is it?” Laken asked.

  “Is it Jake? Are things okay?” Savannah gave her a worried look.

  “Lila, we’re not waiting for tomorrow,” Molly said. “Come on, let’s go to Freestown.”

  The others looked at each other.

  “She’s changing the subject,” Lila said.

  “It’s definitely Jake then,” Laken added.

  “Things are fine,” she said firmly.

  “Is Jake okay with you going out? I kind of got the impression he wanted you to stay here,” Laken told her.

  “You still tire easily,” Savannah pointed out.

  “I feel great. I’m not tired, not sore, and not sick. Jake is just being overprotective. You know how he is. But I need to get out of the house. I’m feeling cooped up. Do I look sick to you?”

  “Nope,” Laken said. “You look amazing.”

  “Thank you. I feel fantastic. Only Jake doesn’t seem to realize that. He’s still treating me like I’m sick. Like I’m an invalid. And he’s got all of you treating me t
hat way as well. I need some way of making him see I’m not fragile. I need him to see me as his sub, not his patient.”

  The girls all glanced at each other.

  “You sure you’re up for playing?” Laken asked.

  “Yes I am. I’ve hinted and I’ve asked but I’ve now reached the point of smacking him over the head. I need a way of showing him I’m not an invalid.”

  “To remind him that you’re a brat just needing to be spanked,” Laken added with a grin.”

  “I want to be spanked. I miss it.” She sighed.

  Lila grinned. “Well, you’ve come to the right girls. If we can’t get you spanked, then no one can.”

  Savannah raised her eyebrows. “Are you all thinking the same thing as me? Dare we do it again? Will Saxon even let us in?”

  Molly sat up straighter. “We’re going to Saxon’s?” Was she ready for that?

  “We’re gonna try.” Laken grinned. “You up for it?"

  What the hell was she thinking?

  Jake stormed his way across the parking lot. In his periphery, he was aware of a man approaching from the left.

  “Jake,” Duncan said in a low voice as he walked alongside him. “Take it you got the same message as me.”

  Jake just grunted. He didn’t much care what message Duncan got. He only knew the one he got. Or it wasn’t so much of a message as all it had included was a photo. Of his woman at Saxons. Without him. Two more men approached from the right.

  “I’m gonna fucking kill him this time, Jake,” Logan told him. “I don’t care what you say. Look the other way if you need to, but he’s a dead man.”

  “I’m not going to be able to look the other way when I’m killing him myself,” Jake snarled back.

  “Oh, no, you’re not taking this away from me. I dream of getting my hands around that man’s neck.”

  “Different now that it’s your woman in there, isn’t it?” Colin added in his usually cheerful voice. What right did he have to sound so happy? Lila was in there as well as Laken, Savannah, and Molly.

  Molly. His Molly. In the fucking club without him. Without his protection. She didn’t even have a collar for fucks sake. He stormed through the door, vaguely aware of the bouncer taking a step back and talking into his earpiece.

  “I think we all need to calm down,” Duncan cautioned. “Maybe take a few deep breaths before we head in there.”

  Jake turned to glare at his deputy. “What?”

  “How the hell can you be so calm?” Logan added. “Are you fine with Laken being in there without you?”

  Duncan sighed. “No, I’m not, and she’s earned herself a long hard session over my knee.”

  “When Gavin finds out, Lila won’t sit for a week. Mind you, sometimes I think she breaks the rules just to earn the punishment.”

  Of course she did. These women were trouble. But he’d thought they’d have kept Molly out of it. They knew she was still recovering. She had no business being out at night, let alone here without his protection.

  Why hadn’t he gotten her a collar?

  Because he didn’t want her to feel pressured, to think he expected anything of her. She needed time to recover. He’d kept their lovemaking to just that, soft, sweet love.

  And, yeah, there were times when he’d wanted nothing more than to order her to strip and tie her up and take her hard and fast. To turn her ass pink, plug it, then fuck her tight pussy. He wanted all of that.

  But then he’d remembered everything she’d been through. The recovery, the fear and pain, and he’d always remembered she was doing it for him. For them. And if she needed time to recover without him going all Dom on her then, by God, he would give her that time.

  “Jake, stop.” Duncan reached out and grabbed his arm as he reached the dungeon doors. The bouncer hadn’t tried to stop them, even though Colin and Logan weren’t members and Jake no doubt had a face like a thundercloud.

  “Get your hand off me,” Jake snarled.

  “Not until you calm down and think for a minute.”

  “About what?”

  “About why she’s here.”

  “They’re here because they’re brats and like to cause trouble,” Logan said in a low voice. “And Saxon let them in because he’s an asshole. A dead one.”

  “What he said,” Jake added. “I just can’t believe they bought Molly with them when she’s still recovering.”

  “Didn’t she get a good report from the doctor?” Colin asked.

  “Yes, but that doesn’t mean she’s up to going out. She shouldn’t be here.”

  “Not alone, no,” Duncan said. “And they’re all owed punishment for that. But what if this is her way of saying she’s ready for more?”

  “She’s still recovering,” he said stubbornly.

  “She looks pretty recovered to me,” a deep voice sounded from behind them.

  Jake turned around to find Saxon standing there, a smirk on his face.

  “You! I’m going to kill you.” Logan stepped forward, his hands raised as though he were really going to strangle Saxon.

  Duncan slid between them. He reached out and put his hands on Logan’s chest to stop him from moving forward. Duncan was a muscular, fit guy but he was straining to hold Logan back.

  “Jake, little bit of help here?” Duncan asked.

  Jake crossed his arms over his chest, still scowling at Saxon. “What fucking game are you playing now?”

  Saxon raised his eyebrows. “Who me? I don’t know what you’re talking about.”

  “You seem to keep letting our women into your club on their own,” Colin pointed out, his voice had grown cooler. “Wasn’t that long ago you let in Laken, Lila and Savannah.”

  “Molly and Laken are members. Lila and Savannah are their guests.”

  “They’re not supposed to be here without their Doms,” Duncan pointed out, starting to sweat now.

  “Which is why I texted you all. Besides, if I didn’t let them in they were talking of heading to Dirty Delights, I thought it was better they stay here where they were under my protection. So you see, you owe me.”

  “You’re playing with us,” Jake snarled. “This is just a joke for you.”

  Saxon straightened, his eyes narrowing. “I can assure you that seeing a sub in need is not a joke for me.”

  “What the fuck are you talking about?”

  “It’s obvious Molly isn’t getting what she requires from you.”

  “Jake, remember you’re the sheriff,” Duncan warned.

  Right now, he didn’t give a flying fuck. He completely understood why Logan dreamed of wrapping his hands around Saxon’s neck.

  “Think about why she’s here, Jake. Why would she come here?” Saxon asked him.

  “She followed the others here.”

  “No, I think it’s more like they came to support her,” Saxon told him.

  “Are you saying she came here looking for a Dom?” She has a fucking Dom.

  “I’m saying she came here because she doesn’t know how to ask you for what she needs. So she’s trying to show you. I’ll admit I don’t hold with manipulative behavior—”

  They all gave him looks of disbelief.

  “But she explained that she’s tried to ask, and you’ve ignored her.”

  Saxon’s voice had grown colder. Was he right? Had she asked and he’d ignored her? He remembered her mentioning playing a few times and he’d . . . he’d dismissed her because he’d thought she wasn’t ready. Wasn’t strong enough.

  “Sometimes when I look at her I just see everything I could lose, and I want to wrap her up tightly and keep her safe.”

  “We all feel that way, man,” Logan told him. He’d stopped fighting Duncan, who was looking relieved. “Especially when something bad has happened to your woman. You want to hold them close and protect them from everything. And you do that. But you also gotta learn how to do that without smothering them.”

  Jake was vaguely aware they’d gathered a bit of an audience, but h
e didn’t much care.

  “I’ve been treating her like she’s still ill.” Because he wanted to shield her from everything. But what was the point in fighting to live if you weren’t allowed to do anything? “Well, shit.”

  “And he gets it,” Saxon drawled.

  Jake pointed at him. “I’m still not fucking happy with you.”

  Saxon shrugged. “I consider it my civic duty to help you all figure out the women in your lives.”

  “Can’t wait until you find the one,” Logan snarled at him. “When she brings you to your knees, I’m gonna sell tickets.”

  Saxon’s face closed off. “Never going to happen.”

  Jake headed towards the main dungeon doors.

  “They’re not in there,” Saxon told him.

  Jake turned with a frown. “Then where are they?”

  Saxon smiled. “I put them in the gray room. You didn’t really think I’d let them out into the main dungeon after last time, did you?”

  She was locked in a medieval-looking torture room.

  Molly moved slowly around the space. She thought she’d gotten to the stage where not much shocked her, but that this room existed in Saxons was a bit of an eye-opener.

  “All of the rooms are assigned a color,” Laken explained. “This one is the gray room. Kind of a boring name for a room like this, right?”

  “Ah, ya think?” Savannah’s eyes were wide as she carefully sat on spanking bench. “This room is terrifying. I’m too scared to touch anything in case it zaps me or something.”

  “Nothing is going to zap you. Well, maybe the violet wand. I’m pretty sure there’s one of those in here.” Laken open the doors on a large armoire. “Oh, yes, there’s a violet wand in here. Duncan brings one when we come.”

  “You play in here?” Molly asked.

  Laken grinned. “We’ve tested out all the rooms. Well, except the pink room.”

  “What’s that one?”

  “The orgy room. I managed to peek in once. It has one of those two-way windows. Each of the rooms do so that the dungeon monitors can check in. That room is basically one giant bed.” Laken waved her hand in front of her face as though fanning herself.

  “I don’t know, some parts of this room don’t look so bad.” Lila pulled on the swing suspended in the middle of the room. “I like swinging.”