I finish blowing out the candles as she is pulling her boots on her feet. I love seeing her in a pair of cowgirl boots. I smile and hold out my hand for her to take mine. "Come on, birthday girl. Mims and Pops are probably waiting."
Kinzleigh
I feel like I went to sleep and woke up in the middle of a fairytale. I look around at everything he's done as he helps me down out of the house, our house. The house, our tree, and the solitude of it being in the middle of nature with nothing or no one to bother you makes it as if I'm living a dream and he really is my real life prince.
The lights are making everything look magical as the darkness takes over. The white twinkling lights against the onyx backdrop is beautiful. "I still can't believe you did all of this," I say as we walk towards the horses standing close to the lights eating grass. "This is by far the best birthday a girl could ever have, even in her dreams."
He places his arm around me, pulling me to his side. He kisses my temple. "That makes me happy, baby. There is nothing I wouldn't do for you. Are you hungry?"
"I could eat," I say. We walk up to Hendrix and Divinity, and part.
"Stay close to me, okay?"
He should know better. It's been forever since we've ridden together. I won't let his protectiveness stop me from riding uninhibited. I want to feel the wind in my hair. "Sure."
"Kinzleigh...promise me."
Is he for real right now? I sneak my left hand behind my back and cross my fingers. I know Breyson, and he will make me ride with him if I don't. Men...you can't live with them and you can't live without them. Holding up my right hand, I say, "Scouts honor."
He's going to be pissed when he finds out, but if he hasn't figured out my loophole by now that's not my problem. My promise is void; I don't care how elementary and childish it is. "Good."
I turn, placing my hands on the horn and the back of the saddle, and then insert my left foot in the stirrup. I pull myself up and throw my leg over, adjusting myself in the saddle. Breyson looks at me as if he can tell I'm up to something, but he doesn't say anything.
Once he mounts Hendrix he pulls on the reigns for him to turn towards the wooded path in the opposite direction. I do the same and ride up beside him. We both ride together at a walk. I can't stand it anymore. Divinity is faster than Hendrix and I miss our races horseback.
I pat Divinity above her front leg on the side he can't see. A huge grin is spreading across my face as the adrenaline begins pumping through my body with each beat of my heart. "Race you to the barn," I shout, challenging him and heel Divinity to take off.
"Kinzleigh, dammit." I can hear him commanding Hendrix behind me. I bend forward, letting the wind roll off my back.
It's hard to see in front of me, but I can see the outline of the trees and hear her hoofs trampling against the ground. I can hear Hendrix, but it's muted, so I must be a good stretch ahead. There is no other feeling like this. It releases every amount of stress that you have stored.
I can see the light of the barn as she comes into the pasture. I peek behind me and no longer see Breyson. I'm going to win. My heart is beating so fast it's hard to breathe slow and steady. The constant high speed keeps my adrenaline spiking every time I think it's starting to decrease.
I tighten my hold on the reigns as the front of the barn gets close and I dig my boots into the stirrups, preparing for an abrupt halt. I pull back on the reigns and she stops. I still don't hear Breyson. I get off of Divinity as quickly as I can and run her to her stall, leading her inside. I'll unsaddle her later.
Instead of going back out the front I decide to go out the back of the barn to miss Breyson. "Bye girl. I'll be back in a little while."
I run out the back and round the barn, passing between the barn and the building that stores the tractors and equipment. There is no light, but I know that it's an open space. I look from side to side, but keep running.
In a split second I'm caught off guard with something grabbing me from behind, causing me to scream. A hand goes over my mouth, hushing me. I can't see anything from the lack of light. I get shoved front first against the side of the barn and the furious voice starts whispering next to my ear. "You want adrenaline, baby?"
His voice starts to calm me, but then I hear a zipper, and my nerves start going wild. I can hear the anger and worry in his voice. "You want to find out what that does to me? Spread your legs and put your palms on the wall."
I do as he says. Normally, I would argue and he would let me, but he has his boundaries. That boundary is my safety or what's best for me, and I just crossed it. I knew what I was doing and I knew he would be mad. He's been working on this ranch since he was a kid. He's told me some of the scary woods stories. I am just hard headed and chose to ignore them. Instead of causing a fight he's going to fuck me selfishly so he can touch me, but still show me he's mad. I know him well enough to know what’s coming.
He pulls my dress up and slides my panties down to my thighs. His voice is seething. He doesn't like riding at night, because of animals in the woods. Being so far in the country and having so much open land brings them out, especially with cattle.
He runs his finger through my folds, causing me to close my eyes. I try to turn my head, but he keeps it still. He's stern, but not hurting me. "First, I lose sight of you and every possible scenario begins playing in my head. Everything is black around me and I'm worried if you're okay. There are no rules in the woods, Kinzleigh. Animals don't have emotions. Everything is instinct. When they get hungry they eat. They were created to prey."
He still has one hand over my mouth. He cups his hand over my mound with the other, pulling me back to give him better access. I know what he's getting ready to do, and I want him to.
He releases his hold on me down below and aligns himself at my entrance. He rubs his head in circles, lubricating it. "Do you not remember how easy it is to be taken from me? One mishap and everything between us vanishes. You want me to play out a scenario?"
I nod, knowing that's what he wants. "Divinity steps in a deep hole and goes down, pulling you down with her. She loses balance on the way down and falls on her side," he says, as he slams into me as hard as he can. "Breaking your leg in the process."
I won't lie, it hurt, but this is a pain I want. Breyson has always been big for me and today is the first day we've had sex since February. My body will have to readjust and he knows it. This is a pain I need, because it's a pain inflicted by him and not because of him.
He doesn't give my body time to welcome the invasion before he starts thrusting in and out, hard. "A bobcat is ready to eat and hears you scream in distress, drawing his attention."
He finally releases my mouth, only to place both hands on my hips for more control on my body. He lifts me slightly, making his head hit deeper and harder against my walls. I bite my tongue to avoid whining. "You're unarmed, scared, and now slow because of an injury, giving him an advantage." His voice is uneven from the variations of speaking and breathing while slamming inside of me.
With each addition to the story he gets rougher and harder with each thrust, letting his emotions steer him. "You're the smaller of the two, so he goes after you first thinking it'll be an easy kill, and he's successful, because you have no way to protect yourself. You’re the weaker one. He was built to kill and you weren’t."
He slows his pace a little. "I will always have your best interest at heart, baby, but I need you to listen and trust me, because there are times when I know more than you." He stills, emptying himself inside me. I can feel the light pulsations inside.
He moves one hand up my body, underneath my dress, stopping on my breast and pulling me back against him. His lips are right outside my ear. "Don't do that to me again, Kinzleigh. Never leave me deaf and blind when it comes to you, because in one split second..." He pulls out of me, leaving me to deal with his sudden absence. "You're gone. Then Bryce and I are left without you. It may never happen, but we both know how things can turn bad quickly. I can't live with
out you again. Prevention is better than consequence."
He pulls my panties up my legs and lowers my dress back in place. I turn around and he kisses me briefly. "Do you understand now?"
I nod. It's dark, but when I really look at him I can still make out the features on his face. "I'm sorry. I didn't think about anything like that."
"You never do. You do things on a whim and although sometimes it makes me crazy I love that about you, which is why I told you." He smiles. I can see his white teeth.
"How did you get ahead of me?" Now that I'm able to stop and think I'm curious. I would have seen him if he had passed me.
He places his hands on my cheeks. "First rule when trying to be sly: never show your hand. I can read you better than you can read yourself. Plus, you can't outsmart the player that made the rules. I know this land like the back of my hand. There are shortcuts everywhere."
"You knew? Why didn't you say anything?"
"Because I know now that life is too short to bitch and pick fights over petty things. You were stubborn when I met you and you'll be stubborn until the day you die. I will never try to change anything about you. Together, all of your quirks and qualities made me fall in love with you. My job, as your man, in protecting you will be to discretely outsmart you," he says with a cocky grin.
I can't help it. I laugh. Everyone knows I'm stubborn, including myself. If I didn't see the humor in the situation we would constantly fight. I'm a strong willed woman. It takes a certain type of man to be able to handle me. The best part of Breyson is that he's hard when he needs to be hard and soft otherwise, never being an asshole. He can love me for who I am, but put his foot down when I'm taking things too far. He completes me. His qualities and his heart make him irreplaceable. I will never again let him go.
He releases me and pulls up his pants, fastening them. That is one sexy view. He fixes his clothes and releases a low laugh. "Seriously, they are going to think we got mauled by a bear or something. Let's go, beautiful. The boys have to catch up for a while, because I’m not even close to being done with you."
I take his arm in mine and walk beside him this time. Sometimes I just have to be reminded that he's my partner, and that means my place is beside him, not in front of or behind.
Chapter 10
Kinzleigh
We walk through the yard from the barn to the house. The lights are visible through the windows, but everything seems quiet. I have no idea what time it is. I'm starting to feel guilty for leaving Bryce so long.
Breyson takes my left hand in his right, playing with the ring that now takes up occupancy there. "Mims, we're back," he shouts as if someone could really here him. We're outside. Is he scared we're going to sneak up on them and scare them?
We climb up the steps to the deck that is built onto the back patio. He places his hand on the doorknob and looks at me. "Always you and me."
"Forever," I say.
He opens the door and leads me through the kitchen toward the stairs of the finished basement. I thought he said we were eating. Why is he going to the basement? The lights don't even appear to be on.
He starts down the stairs and I pull on his hand to question him. He looks me in the eyes and says two words that hold so much power. "Trust me."
I nod and descend the stairs with him. We reach the door and he opens it with his free hand. I can't see a thing. "Flip the light switch, baby. It's on your side."
I feel up the wall until I reach the switch and flip it up. The lights come one and voices all shout in unison. "Surprise!"
Startled, I almost jump out of my skin as confetti goes flying around the room. My hand goes over my mouth as I take in the room full of people. Everyone we know is standing is here. Pink and black balloons are scattered throughout the room along with presents and I even spot a cake.
I look at Breyson with tears in my eyes. "You did this all for me?"
Our eyes lock. "Happy birthday, baby. Not only is it your birthday party, but also our engagement party, because..." He raises our linked hands in the air showing off my ring, and then increases the loudness of his voice. "She said yes!"
Everyone around the room starts clapping and shouting. I scan them briefly, but the one I can't take my eyes off of is Breyson. He looks so happy, and grinning from ear to ear, literally. It squeezes my heart and makes it warm to see him like this, especially over something as simple as me.
"My little sister is getting married, huh?" A voice I haven't heard in so long pulls me out of my love-struck state.
I turn to the direction of the voice. Konnor is standing a few feet in front of me. He looks different, but the same. He looks more like he was pulled out of an alternative rock band than a top ranked football team. "Konnor..." I whisper. "You came."
He smiles and opens his arms. "I wouldn't miss this for the world.”
I look at Breyson and he releases my hand, signaling for me to go to him. Without another thought I take off in a sprint. Once I reach him I jump into his arms, clenching my arms tight around his neck. He twirls me around in his hold, squeezing me just as tight in return.
Konnor never came to California the entire time I was there. I don't think he could. Too much happened to him there. I haven't seen him since before I left with Preston. To be honest, I'm not sure what he's been up to. Since the situation with Presley happened he's been distant, always coming up with an excuse as to why he can't come home for this and that, or that he's working.
I feel like two very important people to me are hurting when they don't have to be. I wish for once Konnor could put the situation with Sophia behind him, because he's missing out on something, or someone perhaps, that I know he wants. If I wasn't so happy and surprised to see him here I would question him, but his presence is the most important thing to me right now.
Konnor and I have always been close, but one thing I've learned as I age is that people have to sort out their own problems. Getting involved in someone else's affairs just drives them further away and it usually doesn't change the outcome. "I've missed you. Please don't stay away from me for so long again."
"I know, baby girl. I've just been sorting my shit. I'm sorry. You'll always be my favorite girl though."
In our little reunion I've forgotten that we're in the middle of a crowd of people. "How long are you staying," I ask as he sets me down.
He looks at me. "Tomorrow night I go back, after I spend the day with you. Anything you want to do, name it, and it's yours."
It's not the answer I wanted, but I'll take it. I notice some new tattoos that weren't present the last time I saw him. He's still standing close enough no one else can hear. "About the ink...I get it. I didn't before, but I do now."
His eyes change for a moment. I can see the hurt in them, but then he clears it, covering it with a smirk. "You got another piece, didn't you?"
I nod, glancing at Breyson from the corner of my eye. "It's fairly large," I state.
"Show me tomorrow?"
"Of course."
Bryce starts crying. Believe it or not I've missed his cry in the short time I've been gone. It reminds me of the amazing little person that I was given. "There's someone I want you to meet," I say, and grab his hand, pulling him towards the cry.
"We'll be right back." I turn and shout to Breyson, who is now talking to Braxton. I pull Konnor through the crowd, stopping when someone congratulates me or tells me happy birthday. I don't want to ignore everyone, but it's been too long since I've seen my only brother. Besides, everyone here knows each other, so they are already mingling.
The basement is completely finished and made as a guest space. There is a large open area filled with a sectional and wall mounted television, and a small kitchen. In the back there is a small hall that leads to a full bathroom and a bedroom big enough for furniture and walking space.
I open the bedroom door and Bryce is in his pack and play in the corner, closest to the door. I turn on the light and walk over to him. "Hey, buddy. Mommy's here."
/> I pick up his pacifier lying beside him and put it in his mouth before picking him up. Unable to help it I kiss his chubby little cheek, holding my beautiful bundle in my arms. "There's someone I want you to meet," I whisper against his small face.
When I turn around Konnor is standing against the doorframe with his arms crossed over his chest and his eyes wide. He looks terrified, and here I thought I was the one scared of babies. It kind of makes me smile seeing the one that's always had it together a little frayed. "You want to hold him?"
He tenses a little. "Uh...that's okay. I can just look."
"Konnor, it's okay. You're not going to hurt him. They are not as fragile as they seem. You can sit if it makes you feel better."
He continues looking at me and runs his hand over his black hair as if he's thinking. He finally walks into the room and takes a seat on the edge of the bed. "Okay, bring me my nephew."
My smile broadens. I walk close enough that I can lay Bryce in his arms. Konnor looks stiff. "Just relax. He can sense when you're uncomfortable."
"Well he would be a smart kid, because I am uncomfortable. My experience with little people is limited." I laugh. I've missed him more than I realized.
I take a seat beside him, rubbing Bryce's head. "The only thing you really have to remember is to support his head and his bottom in unison since he doesn't have that kind of control yet. The rest you learn with time."
"It's weird though," he asks.
"Is what weird?"
"You being a mom, getting married, and us being grown. We're not kids anymore."
He looks up at me. "I know I haven't been around much, but I'll try harder. I've just been dealing with a lot of shit. I'm really glad things are working out for you, though. I was really worried about you, but you finally look happy. Preston's my best friend and I hate to see him hurt, but Breyson's a good guy; better than I thought. I guess the heart has a funny way of getting what it wants."
Lasting Fate Page 17
