Zeke (The Powers That Be, Book 2)

by Harper Bentley

  “And you’re only a year apart?” I looked up at him in shock.

  “Yep.”

  “That’s at least two kids in diapers a year for at least four years!”

  He laughed. “Mom runs a daycare now and is still changing poopy diapers.”

  “Holy crap,” I whispered.

  He put his arm around me and squeezed me closer to him then put his face to the side of my head. “Cute.”

  I wrapped my arm around his waist and still couldn’t believe that I was dating him. I’d known him for almost two months and had held strong to my convictions, but somehow along the way he’d made his way into my heart.

  Funny thing is, I absolutely didn’t mind one bit.

  ~*~*~*~

  On my knees on Zeke’s bed, my hands against the wall, he was behind driving up inside me hard.

  “Oh, my God,” I breathed.

  One of his hands was at my breast where he rolled my nipple between his thumb and finger before moving to the other, his other hand between my legs making me so hot, I was about to go to pieces.

  We’d gone directly to his house when we got back to Seattle and he’d assured me that Ryker had gone to a wrestling tournament and that Gable was staying at his girlfriend’s.

  I was a bit afraid to be in a house where three men lived thinking it’d be messy if not smelly, but it was surprisingly clean and actually smelled great. I’d looked around to see pictures of him and his brothers on the walls along with some Seattle skyline ones and the furnishing looked fairly new.

  “Shocked?” he’d asked when we got inside.

  “Well, yeah, to tell the truth,” I said with a chuckle.

  “Mom. She comes over every weekend.”

  I frowned looking up at him. “And cleans?”

  He barked out a laugh. “Hell no. She puts our asses to work. She’s just the supervisor. If the job’s not to her specifications, we do it again until she’s happy. And, believe me, Suzanne Powers is not an easy woman to please.”

  This made me smile. He had a good mom. Then it made me a little sad thinking about the lack of a mom in my own life.

  “You want something to drink?” he asked, pulling me by the hand into the kitchen.

  “What do you have?” I replied with a grin.

  He left me standing at the bar and went to the fridge opening it. “Orange juice, Gatorade, water, fuckin’ nasty prune juice that Ryke uses to make weight sometimes and milk.” He turned and gave me his half grin letting me know he was messing with me. “Beer, wine coolers that must be Scout’s, and all kinds of shit to make you a mixed drink.”

  “Beer is fine,” I said as I stared at the girly calendar that was being held to the refrigerator by a magnet. Some chick in a blinding yellow bikini was stretched out over an older model black car.

  He pulled out two bottles, popping the tops then walked over handing mine to me.

  “You lived here the whole four years?” I inquired then took a drink.

  “Last two. Had to stay in the dorm freshman year then Gable did the next. After that, the previous tenants moved out, so Mom and Dad let us move in. They lost some good rent money but they own four other properties, so they make do.”

  I nodded as I continued looking around the kitchen as I leaned a hip against the bar. I loved the robin’s egg blue walls and the light oak cabinets. Then my eyes lit on the appliances. Convection oven.

  “I’m way jealous of your oven,” I told him before I took a drink.

  “Believe me, there’s no need to be. We only went out once. What’s in my wallet just wasn’t in her range.”

  I looked at him and blinked. I may even have blinked again. “Did you… did you just make an oven joke?”

  He chuckled. “Guess so.”

  I smiled at him. “Stop. You’re kiln me.”

  He looked at me as a grin slowly formed on his beautiful face. “Woman after my own fucking heart,” he muttered then his mouth was on mine and it was heaven. His hands were on either side of me on the bar keeping me there but I definitely wasn’t going anywhere. He pulled back and looked down at me, narrowing his eyes. His hand came up and held my chin as he ran his thumb over my bottom lip and as he watched it, he mumbled, “Gorgeous… sweet… cute… funny… intelligent.” His eyes moved up to mine, the gold flecks glowing as he looked at me. “Fuckin’ hit the jackpot with you.”

  I frowned now. I was no prize and I told him this. “I’ve had three guys cheat on me, Zeke. I’m no prize. I—I don’t think I’m, uh, very good.”

  He took a step back and I knew this wasn’t a good thing, his eyes now dark as he stared down at me. “You fuckin’ kidding me right now?” he bit out, his voice low and dangerous.

  “What?” I was not ready for that reaction.

  Then I jumped a foot in the air when he yelled, “You fuckin’ kidding, Scarlett?”

  And now I was kind of scared. I didn’t really know him, I mean, not really, and here I was at his house all alone in a part of Seattle that I wasn’t familiar with. Shit.

  He slammed his beer bottle down on the bar making me jump again, his eyes staring daggers at me. Then he started pacing. What in the world?

  “You’re scaring me, Zeke,” I whispered, my eyes moving around as I tried to find the quickest escape route.

  He stopped moving and turned back to me, his face going softer when I guess he saw that I was a little terrified right now. “Babe.” He took a step toward me but stopped when he saw me flinch then his hands went to his hips. “Fuckin’ kill ‘em,” I heard him mutter as he shook his head. Then his eyes landed on mine and I saw his jaws jumping. “Had fuckin’ everything right there and threw it away.”

  I was so confused. What had I thrown away?

  “Telling you right now, Scarlett, I’m pissed.”

  Well, no shit. I set my beer down and pushed away from the bar. “Maybe you should take me home now,” I said quietly not wanting to upset him more than he already was.

  “Babe, look at me.”

  I bit my lips but moved my eyes to his and now I was just a little pissed off. “I want to go home, Zeke.”

  “Not pissed at you, Scarlett. I’m pissed at those fuckin’ assholes who had you, had everything, and they fucked up.”

  Huh? My brow came down as I tried sorting out what he was saying, my eyes focused on the floor.

  “Baby, gimme your eyes.”

  I shot him a snippy look at his bossiness.

  “See, that right there? Love that. You’ve got fight in you, Scarlett, so why you lettin’ these pricks make you think something that’s not true? I mean, honest to God, gotta tell you, my cock’s been hard from the moment I laid eyes on you.”

  I sucked in a breath.

  “Finally had you and now there’s nothing I want more than you in my bed. You’re all I can think about. Wanna fuck you day and night. The others wanted to fuck around on you, that’s on them. Because, babe, gotta tell you, you are a spectacular lay.” I saw the side of his mouth twitch as he watched my eyes get big.

  Then I did the only thing I could at that moment. I stepped to him, taking the collar of his shirt in my hands, jerking his face down to me and crushed my lips to his. He backed me against the wall pressing his body into mine kissing the fool out of me. Then he’d pulled back, given me his half grin and picked me up which made me yelp, wrapping my legs around his waist as he carried me to his bedroom.

  And now he was proving to me that he’d meant what he’d said.

  “Let it go, baby,” he said, driving up so powerfully I cried out. His fingers then did something magical between my legs that made my entire body quiver and I gave him what he wanted and let it go.

  “Zeke!” I screamed as my climax blasted through me, my body locking up for a second before I went boneless, falling back into him.

  He wrapped his arms around me tightly, his right hand going up to grab my left shoulder, his left curling around my waist, and continued slamming inside forcefully. “Love that you give
that to me,” I heard him say low in my ear. His thrusts got quicker, shallower next and I knew he was there. A moment later, he came with a curse and buried himself to the hilt as his arms tightened on me, his face buried in my hair at the side of my neck.

  We stayed that way for a long time, our breaths filling the room before he kissed my shoulder then lifting me up gently, slipped out of me, and turning me, cradled me in his arms, his eyes soft on mine before kissing me deep and long. Then reaching down and pulling the covers back on one side of his bed he laid me there covering me.

  “Be back, baby.” He bent and brushed his lips over mine then went to dispose of the condom.

  I must’ve drifted off because I jolted when he got in bed beside me taking me in his arms, my back to his front, and whispered in my ear, “Spectacular.”

  And I was out.

  *Week Eight—13th Encounter*

  It was official. I was in love. I just hadn’t told Zeke.

  Things between us were great. They were more than great.

  And that scared the ever-loving crap out of me because everything was perfect. Nothing’s ever perfect. So, ashamed that I was such a cynic, I bided my time and waited for the other shoe to drop.

  It was the next Saturday morning, I’d stayed Friday night again with Zeke and I was in his kitchen getting a glass of orange juice. I wore the button-down shirt he’d worn to the movies and dinner last night and nothing else. I was bending to put the juice back in the fridge when I felt a presence in the kitchen and upon turning around, I saw Ryker standing there in gray sweatpants that rode low on his hips and that was it. We both froze as we stared at each other.

  “I—I was just getting something to drink…” I stated.

  “See that,” he muttered.

  It was uncanny how much he looked like Zeke. They shared the same brown eyes and hair but where Zeke was a little bit taller and bigger, Ryker was leaner and had more defined cuts to his muscles. I’m sure it had to do with his being a wrestler.

  “Well… I’m just gonna…”

  “Fuck,” I heard Zeke grumble from the living room before he came into the kitchen wearing shorts that rode low and the V on his lower abdomen that disappeared into his shorts was just begging me to lick it… everywhere. “Between you and fuckin’ Gable gonna have to keep her on lockdown.” He eyed Ryker who was grinning back at him now.

  I heard the front door open and someone yelled, “I’m fuckin’ starving! You guys got eggs?” And then Zeke Powers the third walked into the kitchen. Holy hell.

  “Oh, hey,” he said. He looked from me to Zeke then Ryker then back to me again. Then he grinned. “I’m Loch. And you are?”

  I couldn’t help but smile back. “I’m Scarlett. I’m, uh, Zeke’s, uh, I’m with Zeke.”

  His eyes went to Ryker and he raised his brows in surprise. Then he looked at Zeke. “Really.” We all stood there in uncomfortable silence for a moment then Loch broke it looking back at me. “See, Scarlett, Zeke never and I mean never brings women home. As in ever. You’ll have to forgive Ryke and me. We’re just a little in shock right now.” He grinned again.

  Oh, I liked what he said. And I liked Loch. He seemed to be pretty easygoing whereas Gable had been a huge flirt and Ryker, well, he was so intense he kind of scared me.

  “You all done eyeing my woman, we’ll leave you to your breakfast,” Zeke muttered, putting his arm around my shoulders and leading me out of the kitchen.

  Over my shoulder, I looked at Loch and said, “It was nice meeting you!”

  “Likewise,” he answered.

  Zeke’s bedroom was the master and on the other end of the house from the rest of the bedrooms. As we walked down the hallway, he mumbled, “Cute,” then kissed the top of my head.

  When we got in his room, he lay down on his bed putting his hands behind his head, elbows out watching me as I leaned against his dresser and drank my orange juice.

  “Had my way, you’d dress in nothing but my shirts the rest of your life,” he said, his voice all sexy and gravelly.

  I licked my lips as I looked at him lying there. God, so handsome. “Well, it’s longer than some of the dresses I own.”

  His eyes narrowed and I heard him growl, “C’mere.”

  I took one more drink before setting the empty glass on his dresser then going to the bed put a knee on it and crawled to where he was to straddle him. I felt him already hard against me. “Oh! Is this for me?” I asked, giving him what I hoped was a sultry smile.

  “All for you, baby.” He groaned when I ground down on him.

  I leaned down and kissed him, pulling back and smirking. “All for me?”

  “Oh, yeah.” His hands went to my waist as he rolled his hips up, his ab muscles bunching and flexing as he rocked my center against him, then reaching over to his nightstand and opening the drawer, he pulled out a condom.

  And then Zeke Powers proceeded to give me all of himself and then some.

  *Week Nine & ½—14th Encounter*

  It was the Friday before spring break and I was packing. Zeke and I had planned to go snow skiing the next three days, staying at a quaint little bed and breakfast we’d researched online. I was so excited to go I could hardly contain myself.

  Grammy had given me some money, much to my huge protest of course, but she’d insisted so I’d taken it planning to give it to Zeke to help pay for everything.

  But something was nagging at me.

  That morning before class, when I’d walked in, I’d seen Zeke and Sara talking heatedly in a little alcove by the classroom. Sara was the redhead who’d been petting his arm that first day of class, the girl at the party who’d whined his name when I’d been on the phone with him and also the girl he said he’d gone out with a couple months before he’d come into The Nook.

  I’d looked at them for a moment and when Zeke had glanced over to see me, I swear his face blanched. I went into class and he’d followed not long after.

  “Everything okay?” I’d asked when he sat next to me.

  He’d put his arm around my shoulders, pulling me to him and kissing the side of my head, saying into my hair quietly, “Yeah.”

  It didn’t seem he was okay as he nervously tapped his pencil on the table making several people look at him in annoyance before I put my hand on his to stop it. I didn’t want to push and hoped he’d feel comfortable enough to tell me what was going on when he was ready. He’d been distracted the rest of class and when he walked me to Jezebel, he’d given me a preoccupied kiss and walked away.

  He’d called earlier seeming to be in better spirits and told me he’d be by to get me at six so I’d begun packing, not having been sure up to that point if we were still going.

  I was also looking forward to the whole break because on top of going away together, Dad would be home and Zeke could finally get to meet him and I knew they’d get along especially since they were both guy’s guys.

  “Hi, Mrs. O’Rourke,” I heard Zeke in the kitchen when I brought my suitcase into the living room.

  “Come on in, honey,” Grammy said. “You hungry?”

  I heard Zeke chuckle and tell her no, so setting my suitcase by the couch, I went into the kitchen to say hi, a big smile on my face because in that short amount of time, I realized I’d missed him, and my heart fluttered like crazy at how his face lit up at seeing me.

  “Hi, baby,” he said, walking to me and brushing his lips against mine.

  “Hi,” I whispered looking up at him with a smile, so completely happy to see him.

  As he looked back at me, I saw a slight change on his face, just a flicker, as his eyes narrowed for a quick second as his head tilted to the side a margin. And I knew I’d given myself away with just that look.

  I knew he had to have seen that I was in love with him.

  But I felt that was a good thing. I trusted him. I believed in him. And I knew it could only get better from here.

  ~*~*~*~

  We made it to the inn by nine. The drive had
gone okay but our conversation not so much. Whatever was going on, Zeke received several phone calls, some that I knew were his brothers and one was his dad but as for the others, I was clueless. He talked easily with his family but on the other calls he received, his terseness surprised me. I tried not to listen, but when you’re trapped in a vehicle with someone, it’s kind of hard not to. From what I heard, I found out that not only was he angry but someone was a liar and he hoped it didn’t ruin things for him. I wanted so badly to ask him what was going on, but knew it was none of my business. If he wanted to tell me he would.

  When we got there, I squealed in delight because the inn was adorable. It was an old Victorian style house with a wraparound porch and small colored panes of glass surrounding its big window, and I adored it at first sight. Zeke chuckled at my reaction, kissed the side of my head, then after we checked in he carried our bags to the second floor where our room was and upon opening the door, I sucked in a breath.

  “I want to live here,” I whispered, taking in the huge cherry wood canopy bed. It had a rich red duvet and white organza that was bunched and twisted around the rails of wood going from one post to the other at the top to form the canopy. When I saw the organza had firefly lights in it, I squealed again. “It’s beautiful!”

  Zeke smiled at me. “It is. After we get things settled, wanna go down and get a drink?”

  I nodded then proceeded to unpack.

  ~*~*~*~

  We sat at a little table in the bar next door. It was decorated in all kinds of animal hides and heads on the walls giving it a hunting type feel but it just gave me the creeps. We sat beneath a huge bull moose head that I swear was watching every move I made. Ick.

  I wanted to broach the topic of what was going on with him but I was afraid to just jump right in because I knew I probably wouldn’t be very nice about it.

  “So, Zeke, what the fuck’s going on with you and that Sara chick?”

  Yeah. Not the best approach.

  So I left it for now waiting for him to divulge what was up. Which didn’t happen until we were almost home from our trip.