Forbidden Miles (The Miles Family Series Book 2)

by Claire Kingsley

  I was desperately hoping this ring would show Cooper what Chase and I meant to each other. Why we were willing to be together despite his months-long temper tantrum. This wasn’t a fling, an experiment, or some kind of fantasy fulfillment. This was real. Chase and I were getting married. Cooper had to get on board now.

  I stood in the doorway of the tasting room, our plan falling to pieces before my eyes. Because my family—every last one of them—were here. I was coming in to work, although we obviously didn’t have any customers. I’d had no idea they’d all be here. And unless I was going to slip the ring off my finger and hide it, chances were one of them was going to notice.

  For a second, I thought about ducking outside to text Chase. He was at his shop, getting caught up on work. I knew he’d come over here if I asked. But my mom caught sight of me.

  “Hi, sweetie,” she said. “Impromptu Miles tasting. Want to help?”

  “Um, sure.”

  I went behind the bar and helped her get glasses for everyone. Someone had already put out snacks—a few plates of crackers and cheeses.

  Leo sat on the end, looking like he wanted to be here about as much as I did. His hair obscured his face and he was thumbing through something on his phone. He barely looked up when I set a glass in front of him.

  Zoe had more color in her cheeks than I’d seen in a while, and she smiled at Roland. Instead of work clothes, he was actually wearing a t-shirt and jeans. That seemed like progress for Roland. Zoe was loosening him up again. He kissed her forehead and I noticed his hand straying to her belly. She wasn’t big yet, but you could tell she had a baby in there. And the way Roland looked at her was awfully cute.

  I set a glass down for Zoe—she might have a sip, although I wasn’t sure—and Cooper grabbed me from behind. I held still for his bear hug, but before I could say anything, he let go and wandered around to the other side of the bar.

  Mom opened a bottle of white and poured. “This is one of our spring releases. I’ve really been looking forward to adding this to our offering. It’s so light and refreshing.”

  I took my glass and went through the motions, not really looking at the wine. Swirled it. Brought it to my nose. But I wasn’t thinking about the intricacies of flavor as I sipped. I was thinking about Cooper. And Chase. And the ring on my finger that so far, no one had noticed.

  Then I met Leo’s eyes. He was staring at me, his glass untouched. He knew. He’d seen it. He raised his eyebrows and opened his mouth, like he was going to say something.

  I blurted it out. “I’m going to marry Chase.”

  Everyone went silent, the sound of their voices disappearing in an instant. For what felt like an eternity, my family all stared at me.

  Mom was the first to break the shocked silence. “Honey, what did you just say?”

  “Chase asked me to marry him.” I held up my hand, showing my ring. “I said yes.”

  Zoe’s face broke into a wide smile and tears shone in her eyes. For a second, I thought all my fears about telling them were unfounded. They were going to be happy for me. And maybe Cooper would finally stop being an idiot.

  I was wrong.

  “You’re kidding, right?” Roland asked, setting his wine glass down. Zoe smacked his arm. “Ow, what was that for?”

  “Brynn, you’re not even finished with school,” Leo said.

  Mom put a hand to her chest. “Oh honey, this is unexpected.”

  “Did he get you pregnant?” Cooper asked, his voice sharp.

  My mouth dropped open. He had to be kidding me. “What? No, I’m not pregnant. God, Cooper, really? That’s the first thing you have to say?”

  “Why else would you be getting married this fast?” he asked.

  “Because we love each other. Is that so hard to believe?”

  “Brynncess, you can’t do this. You’re way too young to get married. You need to finish school and grow up before you even think about tying yourself to some guy for the rest of your life.”

  “Some guy? We’re talking about Chase, not some guy.”

  “I swear to god, I’m going to fucking kill him.”

  “Cooper,” Mom said.

  “No, this has gone too far.” Cooper started pacing around the room, his wine still in his hand. “He can’t marry her. Jesus. She’s twenty years old. What the hell is he thinking?”

  “I’m twenty-one, genius. And Roland and Zoe got married at nineteen.”

  Cooper gestured wildly at them, sloshing wine onto the floor. “And got divorced.”

  “And now they’re married and having a baby,” I said. “What did their age when they got married the first time have to do with anything?”

  “She was too young, just like you. Do you think they’re normal? Most people fuck it up forever and don’t recover.”

  “At least I’m willing to take a chance,” I said. “Do you think I haven’t thought this through? I’m not stupid, Cooper. I grew up in the same house with the same parents as you. I know what can go wrong.”

  “Hey,” Roland barked at me, and Mom crossed her arms. “Watch it.”

  “I’m sorry, Mom. I know it wasn’t your fault.”

  “You should know better,” Cooper said.

  “Chase isn’t Dad.” I was yelling now, but I didn’t care. “He’s a good guy, and you know it. You know him. And me being young doesn’t change anything. I know what I want for my future, and Chase is part of that. He’s not going to screw me over and he’s not going to hold me back. He loves me and supports me. We’re really great together. But you wouldn’t know anything about that because you’ve been acting like a child.”

  “I’m acting like a child?” Cooper asked, still walking and flailing his arms. “You’re rushing into marriage, and we’re supposed to applaud you for your maturity?”

  “Are they really rushing, though?” Zoe asked. “It’s not like they started out as strangers. She’s known Chase literally her entire life.”

  “But why make what could be a permanent mistake?” Cooper asked. “She already said she isn’t pregnant. Why get married?”

  “Would it be better if he’d knocked her up?” Zoe asked. “Isn’t being in love and committed to each other a good enough reason to get married? Quite honestly, I can’t think of a better one.”

  Cooper pointed at her. “You’re not helping. That ba—”

  “You better shut your mouth, Coop, because if you even imply that the only reason I’m on her side is because pregnancy is making me irrational, I’m going to punch you in the balls.”

  He closed his mouth, scrunching his face like that was exactly what he was about to say. “Still not helping.”

  Leo spoke without looking up. “Brynn, is this because of Dad?”

  I sighed and put my glass down. “You think I want to marry Chase because I have daddy issues?”

  “I’m not trying to be an asshole here,” Leo said. “But I think it’s a fair question.”

  I glanced at my mom. I’d kept most of my feelings about Dad to myself. I didn’t want to make this harder on her than it already was. She met my eyes, her expression full of concern. She was thinking the same thing as Leo. I’d lost my dad, so I was trying to replace him with another man.

  Squaring my shoulders, I took a deep breath. “It’s not like I had a good relationship with Dad. He was hardly ever around. He was barely a dad to me at all.”

  Mom’s eyes were clouded with guilt. “Oh, honey.”

  “No, you don’t understand. I didn’t lack anything. I’ve always had so many good men in my life, it never bothered me that Dad wasn’t the greatest. I had my brothers, and Ben. We all did. I’m not getting married because Dad left. I want to marry Chase because I love him. I’ve loved him for most of my life. And he loves me just as much, and do you know what that is? It’s magic. It’s what so many people long for, and some never find. Maybe I found it young, but that doesn’t make it wrong.”

  “Brynncess—”

  “Stop, Cooper. Just stop. What
gives any of you the right to think you know what’s best for me? I’m more than ready to commit my life to him. I’d do it tomorrow if I could. I’m going to marry him, and you can all either accept it or stay out of our way.”

  I walked out, ignoring the voices calling my name. Maybe it was childish to pout, but I was sick of taking the high road—of constantly trying to prove I was mature. Right now, I wanted to have a good old-fashioned tantrum.

  I understood them being concerned that this was fast. But did they have to gang up on me like that? Did they have to assume we were too young and stupid to realize what we were doing?

  When I got back to the cottage, I sprawled out on the couch and buried my face in a pillow. This sucked. I’d dealt with Cooper’s stubbornness for months and I’d put so much hope into the idea that this would fix things. This would make them understand.

  Clearly I’d been wrong. And right now, I just wanted this day to be over.

  Twenty

  Chase

  Brynn answered so fast when I knocked, I wondered if she’d been waiting at the door for me. She grabbed my shirt and pulled me inside, shutting it behind me.

  She barely let me take my coat off before she was twining her arms around my waist and burying her face in my chest.

  I gently wrapped my arms around her, hoping I didn’t smell too terrible. I was dirty from working all day. “Hi, baby.”

  She said something, but it was muffled by my shirt.

  “You okay?”

  “Mm-hmm.” She nuzzled her face against my chest, so I held her tighter. I wasn’t sure what she was up to, but I wasn’t complaining.

  I ran my hands down her hair and eased her over to the couch. She didn’t let go, just melted into my lap as I sat. I scooted back so she could tuck herself around me and just held her for a moment, enjoying the feel of her. She was warm, and she smelled so good. I took a deep breath, my brain lighting up at the hit of her scent. She was the most potent drug I’d ever taken, and I had no intention of giving her up.

  She nestled tighter against me and I couldn’t help but laugh. She was so fucking adorable. Was this some kind of post-engagement clingy phase? If it was, I hoped she never got over it.

  I’d stopped being surprised by my reactions to Brynn months ago. Everything was different with her, and that was a good thing. But wanting a girl to be clingy? That struck a chord. Don’t date a clinger was rule number four. Clingy girls meant trouble. That’s what we’d told ourselves, at least.

  But if Brynn wanted to cling to me like this for the rest of my life… sign me up. I fucking loved it.

  Running my fingers through her silky hair, I kissed her head. “What’s going on?”

  She took a deep breath, sliding her cheek along the side of my neck, but didn’t answer. Her hands slipped beneath my shirt and she pressed herself against me, like she was trying to get closer.

  Something was wrong. I didn’t know what it was, and I wasn’t sure if I was supposed to ask or wait for her to tell me. I was still figuring out all this boyfriend—now fiancé—stuff. But I could sense that something was bothering her.

  However, the way she was moving in my lap was making it hard to concentrate on anything else. She shifted so she was straddling me, and I instinctively moved my hands to cup her round ass-cheeks. I breathed her in again while she nuzzled against me, her face in my neck. Fuck, she felt good.

  She rubbed against my erection, and I groaned, deep in my throat. I held her tighter as she peppered kisses up the side of my throat.

  “Baby, I should get cleaned up. I’m all dirty.”

  “I like you dirty.” She pulled my shirt up over my head and tossed it to the side.

  Her touch spoke of desperation. Of need. She didn’t just want sex. She needed me right now. I could feel it. I didn’t know why, but I’d give her everything.

  I held the back of her neck and went in for a kiss. My tongue lapped against her lower lip and slid into her mouth. She clung to me like she couldn’t get enough. Like she needed to be closer. I pulled off her shirt to feel more of her soft skin. Ran my hands over her beautiful body while I kissed her.

  She reached between us to unfasten my pants. This was moving fast; she obviously didn’t need me to give her a warm-up. I shifted my hips so I could take them off.

  “I need you to fuck me,” she breathed in my ear.

  I groaned, my dick achingly hard. “Then take your fucking panties off.”

  The couch was too limiting for what I wanted to do to her. Those primal instincts she’d awakened were kicking into high gear. I needed to possess her. Consume her. Own her and give her everything in return.

  She took off her bra and panties, letting them drop to the floor. I grabbed her, hoisting her over my shoulder like a goddamn cave man, and took her to the bedroom.

  I tossed her onto the bed and took a second to look at her. The soft line of her neck. Her tits with those sweet pink nipples. The slope of her stomach to her hips. Those legs that wrapped around me perfectly. God, she was gorgeous.

  She lay on her back, biting her lower lip, and tipped her legs open. I got out a condom and quickly slipped it on. I needed to be inside her, and I needed it now.

  I climbed on top of her and thrust inside. She was already so wet, I slid in easily. She clung to me, holding me tight, shifting her hips to draw me in deeper. I growled into her neck, reveling in the sweetness of being inside her.

  “Fuck me, Chase. Please. Fuck me hard.”

  What my baby wanted, my baby got. I plunged in and out, increasing my pace. Thrusting deeper. Harder. She moaned, digging her fingers into my back. The sharp pinch of her fingernails sent a rush of heat straight to my groin.

  I could have come in her right then. The tension built so fast, my balls tightening, it would have taken almost nothing to pull my trigger and unleash inside her.

  But that wasn’t what she needed. And I never came first.

  Slowing down, I kissed along her neck. Her skin tasted so good. I lapped my tongue against the soft spot behind her ear. Sucked on her neck while she moaned beneath me. I wanted to devour her. I bit her shoulder lightly, nibbling my way to her neck, and she gasped, tilting her head to bare more of her delicate skin to me.

  Her nipples against my chest felt good, but I wanted to taste them. Grasping her tit in my hand, I licked her hard peak. She moaned again, sighing my name. I sucked on her nipple then gently pinched it between my teeth. Her back arched and she cried out, sending a shock wave of heat through my veins.

  Conscious thought fled, replaced by pure carnal instinct. I pulled out and flipped her over, pushing her down flat on the bed. Sinking my hips over her ass, I drove into her from behind.

  “Oh god, yes,” she whimpered.

  Fisting my hand through her hair, I tilted her head back to expose her neck. I sucked on her skin, grazing her with my teeth, while I plowed into her. Hard, swift thrusts, pushing my cock deep inside her hot pussy.

  She was totally in my control. A heady sense of euphoria swept through me. Brynn was mine. She trusted me with her body, and her heart. She was going to fucking marry me—be mine forever.

  I drove into her harder. Pulled back on her hair. She whimpered yes over and over while her pussy clenched around my cock. I was fucking her hard, pinning her down, biting her neck, pulling her hair. She arched her back and every gasp and moan spurred me on.

  “What do you need, baby?”

  “I need to come,” she said, her voice soft and desperate. “And I need you to come inside me.”

  A few more hard thrusts and I pulled out so I could flip her to her back. Staying on my knees, I put her legs over my shoulders and sank my cock in deep.

  Her tits were flushed pink, bouncing as I drove in and out. She was so fucking sexy. I leaned down, squeezing my glutes to drive into her harder. Our mouths crashed together, tongues licking out, messy and wet. The heat in her pussy built. She was close. I could feel it.

  I could feel her. I’d never felt so
close to anyone. Never realized how amazing this could be. Sex with Brynn wasn’t just fun—a way to feel good and get off. It was deep and intense, connecting me to her. Not just to her body. Our spirits mingled as we fucked, like we were two parts of a whole. For this brief, blissful moment, everything was as it should be.

  “I love you so much.”

  She kissed me again, moaning into my mouth. “I love you too.”

  I couldn’t hold back much longer. The pressure in my groin was ready to explode. I moved back, and she took her legs off my shoulders to wrap them around my waist.

  I was deep inside her, but it wasn’t enough. I needed to be closer. She held onto me while I draped myself on top of her, feeling every inch of skin. I buried my face in her neck, growling with every thrust. Her pussy was so hot I could barely stand it.

  Her muscles clenched around my cock and she moaned loudly as she started to come. It was enough to make me lose my fucking mind. I plunged into her hard, feeling the tension hit the breaking point. My balls drew up tight, my back stiffened, and for one heartbeat, my body teetered on the brink.

  Until I came undone.

  White hot waves of pleasure crashed over me as I started to come. My cock pulsed, over and over. I drove into her, releasing all the tension and pressure. All the heat and passion. I gave it all to her.

  When my climax subsided, I stayed inside her, holding her tight. I didn’t want to let go—didn’t want to disconnect. She wrapped her arms around me, her breath warm on my neck. I held her close, my chest filled with so much emotion, I didn’t know what to do with it all.

  I lifted to kiss her softly. Her lips, her cheeks. The soft skin of her throat. I pressed my lips to her, covering her with kisses. I needed her to know how much this meant to me. How much I appreciated her sharing her body with me. How much I fucking loved her.

  Our mouths came together again in a slow, deep kiss. When I pulled away, she touched my face, laying her palm against my hand.