by D. A. Young
***
She moaned into the pillow, slowly awakening as Graham, beard grazing her skin deliciously, pressed kisses along her shoulders and neck. Annabelle could feel him behind her, positioning himself at her entrance, and she threw her leg back over his thigh to accommodate him. With a yawn, she drowsily asked, “Again, Mr. Carlton?”
Breathing in her perfumed skin, Graham bit her shoulder as he sank into his second home as she sighed her approval. Gritting his teeth at just how exquisite Annabelle’s tight sheath conformed to his dick and bathed him in her silken heat was one out of a thousand reminders of how blessed he was that she’d chosen him. Graham reached over her to lace their fingers together, his vice a sleepy rasp in her ear, “And again and again. Can you really blame me, baby? You’re my greatest strength, but making love to you will forever be my weakness, Doc.”
The buzzing of his phone interrupted her response, and Graham bit back a curse. No good came from a call at three in the morning.
“You should probably get that,” Annabelle mumbled but deliberately tightened her muscles around him.
“Sorry, baby, I’ll be quick about it.” With regret, Graham slid from her body and left the bed to retrieve his phone from his workout room.
Fear clutched at his chest when he saw Wade’s number.
Dear God, please don’t let anything have happened to Eliza, Camille, or the baby…
***
At last, he would be coming face-to-face Davis Fowler, Graham thought dispassionately as he listened to Wade’s explanation.
“Baker caught him breaking in by the side garden gate. Neighbor’s dog on the other side of the wall started barking. Concerned, they peered out and saw a small flashlight as if someone wasn’t trying to bring attract attention to themselves. They called 9-1-1, and Baker was able to apprehend him. He didn’t try to resist but said he would only speak to you and me,” Wade finished heavily. “So, how do you want to play this? I could do this by the book, but then every sordid detail of what transpired with those bastards and the hell Edith and Annabelle endured will become public knowledge.”
They, including Rory, would be gossip fodder for years to come is what Wade wasn’t saying.
“I’d like to keep this under wraps for now until I talk to Annabelle and Edith,” Graham finally said. “I want to talk to him.”
The two men walked over to the black Buick LaCrosse that Baker was watching. At their approach, he left, leaving Wade and Graham alone with the intruder.
“Sheriff, Mr. Carlton,” Thomas Gaines nodded curtly at them. “I’m sorry that I disturbed your evenings with your family, but I been kind of going through something with my own family, so I’m sure you’ll understand after what I show you.”
“Where is he?” Graham coolly inquired.
Thomas tilted his head back. “In the trunk. When we’re done here, you’ll tell my baby girl her troubles are finally over, right?”
“I heard about the other day and planned to come pay you a visit,” Graham’s voice lowered to a menacing pitch. “You upset her greatly with your rejection.”
“Dammit, I was only trying to protect her!” Thomas pounded the dashboard with his cuffed wrists. “Don’t you understand that I had to do what was necessary to get her away from the store or he would have seen her on the store’s camera system!”
“Is that the only reason?!” Graham fired back. “You sure you’re not really pissed and feeling resentful because you and your wife’s cash cow left the pasture?”
Thomas’s shoulders sagged in defeat, and his eyes were bleak with despair. “We did a terrible, greedy thing accepting Brenton’s money for the store, but I truly thought Annabelle loved Davis. I wasn’t even aware that they were having problems until she came to me and her mama and said she was leaving. Even then, I thought it was a lover’s quarrel and they would work it out in time. Samantha was convinced of it, which was why she called Davis. She asked him to consider doing something romantic for his fiancée. Samantha also wanted to ensure he was aware that he would never find another woman as perfect as Annabelle if she left him.”
“Your wife has no idea what she set in motion for Annabelle with that phone call!” Graham seethed as he kicked the car door, making Thomas jump from the force.
“Let’s all calm down.” Wade’s warning was directed toward Graham. “Baker! Can you please uncuff Mr. Gaines for me so he can pop his trunk?”
They moved to the back of the Buick and waited. “I’ve been where you’re at over some bullshit deception, Graham, but you need to remember that Thomas is a victim too.”
“The only thing that man is a victim of is his own fucking circumstances, Wade.” Graham icily disputed.
“Normally, I’d agree, except, in this case, Fowler broke into his home and terrorized them at gunpoint for two months. Every day, Thomas left for work while Samantha’s been held prisoner in their home. If he attempted to alert any authorities, Fowler threatened to kill her. He saw Annabelle on social media and demanded that they find a way to get her over there.” Wade handed Graham a pair of plastic gloves then slipped on a pair himself. “He grew increasingly violent toward Samantha because he wasn’t getting the results he wanted fast enough. Graham, he planned to leave Baymoor, but not without Annabelle by his side. Christ, can you even imagine if he found out about Rory?!”
The trunk popped open, and Wade used his glove hand to lift it and unwrap the plastic that Davis Fowler’s lifeless body was wrapped in. The two men whistled in admiration of the gruesome scene before them. It wasn’t the way that Graham hoped they would meet, and he was extremely disappointed that he hadn’t been the one to inflict the deep vicious stab wounds all over Fowler’s face and neck. The one that thing that eased Graham’s disappointment about Fowler’s death was that the man’s eyes were frozen with the realization that he was dying and there was no way to prevent the ruthless savagery inflicted on him that he deserved. Graham pointed to the side of his neck. “That’s the death blow. Carotid artery. All of this is overkill and the extent of their rage. He was bleeding out while they were still hacking away. Even after he was gone, they continued. I’m not mad at the method but I feel fucking cheated!”
“As far as I’m concerned, this was self-defense, and I can even see temporary insanity. I want to find out from Thomas what he was planning to do here.” Wade regarded his friend gravely. “You should consider that maybe you just weren’t meant to carry the burden of having to eventually admit to your little girl that you were the one who killed her biological father?”
When Wade left, Graham took a closer look at the body, still profoundly disappointed that he wasn’t the one to send him into the afterlife. Davis’s fist was curled, and Graham pried it open. He studied his discovery for long moments before shaking his head at their cluelessness and muttered, “Fucking rookies. Next time, just tape a note with your signed confession on your victim’s forehead.”
Chapter Twenty-Eight
“My father was going to put the body into the tree house?” Annabelle scoffed. “But why?”
“That’s what I said, darlin’. I think he was just overwhelmed. I would have just sawed him into pieces and put him in a vat of lye,” Graham shrugged. “I wouldn’t have bothered with killing him first either.”
“Too much work,” Darby argued. “Max has pigs that he’s not making earn their keep; I would have gone that route myself. Starve the pigs then feed them the body. Problem solved.”
“As a vet, I have to protest the animal cruelty. And by that, I’m talking about the atrocious meal you would’ve tried to feed them. Even in death, he’s too much to stomach,” Annabelle shuddered.
“Pliers, a dull razor, and an extended stay at a safe house would do it for me,” Tuck, Darby’s righthand man suggested as he slammed the door of the Sullivan Securities ‘cleaning’ van.
“Bruh, if that wasn’t a confirmed bachelor statement…” Graham told him while Annabelle moved closer to Graham but kept her wary gaze loc
ked on Tuck.
“Don’t pay Tuck any mind, Ms. Annabelle. He just hasn’t met the right woman ready to make him change it all up and ready to hurry home like me and Graham.” Darby bent down and kissed Annabelle’s cheek. “It was a real pleasure to meet you in person. Welcome back.”
He and Graham exchanged a bear hug and clapped each other on the backs. “Don’t worry about this. We’ll make this bastard disappear forever.”
Annabelle didn’t wait for the van to start before she threw herself into Graham’s arms with an ecstatic scream. He caught her and spun Annabelle around as she threw a fist into the air then simultaneously laughing and crying. Her nightmare with Davis was finally over! She was free! Free to never have to look over her shoulder unless she chose to and wonder if he or someone from his family was watching her. Free to bring Rory and Edith home.
Graham slid her down until they were face to face. “Hey, Doc.”
“It’s really over, isn’t it?”
“He’ll never bother you again, love.”
Graham knew the exact moment her adrenaline crashed as the truth sank in. Her face crumpled, and he carried her into the inn and up to their suite where a shaking Annabelle fell apart. He stayed with her through all of it. The tears of joy, of relief, of rage as she ranted and cursed her parents, Fowler, and herself. After her tears dried, Graham laced her into a pair of gloves he’d ordered just for this occasion and let her go. The profanity spewing from her mouth as she attacked the punching bag with everything she was would blister the ears of truckers and sailors alike.
Twice in an hour, Forenzo, Eliza, and Georgie came by to check on them, and Annabelle was still going at the bag ferociously, no sign of stopping in sight.
“I’m worried about her,” Georgina told Chelsea and Kenya who came by as soon as they heard the news.
“Don’t be; this has been years in the making,” Chelsea responded.
“I didn’t know Mr. and Mrs. Gaines punk-asses had it in them,” was Kenya’s feedback. “Praise God. Now, she can finally move forward with her life.”
***
All Annabelle wanted to do was sleep, but Graham insisted she soak in the bath he’d drawn for her. She stood still as he peeled her sweat-drenched clothing from her body and piled her hair into a bun. She stared down at his bald head while he removed her panties and marveled at how perfectly formed it was. Not many men could pull of a bald head, but like everything else he did, Graham did it with minimal effort.
“Into the water you go, Doc.”
She allowed him to guide her into his quartz tub that easily fit three people and leaned her head back on the edge as the hot bath soothed her aching muscles. Annabelle was exhausted, but her soul felt infinitely lighter.
Annabelle tilted her head back as Graham pressed a kiss to her forehead then moved to her lips. The upside-down kiss invigorated her senses, redirected the ache her body was experiencing, and elevated Annabelle into a boneless state of blissful contentment.
They broke apart and Annabelle smiled up at him dreamily. “Thank you for this, babe. You always know just what I need.”
“That’s my job, Doc. While you finish up in here, I’m going to turn the bed down for you.”
Annabelle caught his hand. “Don’t leave me just yet. I want you to join me…please.”
Graham stripped, stepped into the tub, and sat down opposite of Annabelle. He recognized the interest smoldering in his baby’s eyes. It was confirmed when she crawled over to him and settled her thighs over his, her slick pussy on his dick and breasts swaying invitingly in his face. “Baby, this can wait until after you’ve gotten some rest. It’s been a long day.”
Annabelle’s jaw locked stubbornly as she brushed her nipple against his lips, tempting Graham, who flicked his tongue against the plump, tight, little bud. Annabelle’s nails dug into his shoulders. “No, Sir. You owe me a raincheck from this morning. I’m reclaiming my time now.”
Her hand captured him under the water, and with her forehead pressed to his, Annabelle lifted up to rub the swollen mushroomed head of his shaft at her opening, tormenting them both, before easing him into her.
Graham suctioned her nipple into his mouth and laved it as Annabelle rode him mercilessly. Not once did he try to take over, sensing that she needed to be the aggressor and in control. After all, this was her world, and he was only privileged to be a part of it.
Later in bed, Annabelle lay on top of him as Graham ran his fingers up and down her spine. “I’m going to call Dr. Klaus in the morning, Graham. I know that taking my aggression out on the bag isn’t enough. I don’t expect things to be easy, but I’m just asking you to bear with me.”
“Anything in life worth having is also worth the wait, Doc.” Graham wrapped his arms around her and flipped them over until she was lying beneath him, staring up at him apprehensively. “The best is yet to come.”
***
Wade and Eliza’s wedding was an intimate affair that took place in the banquet room of the Cashmere Inn. The bride and groom chose to go with a white and cream theme in varying textures. They utilized the services of their family friends Noelle and Avery Sullivan’s event planning company On A Whim to make their dreams come true.
String lights hung from clear racks down the walls then were covered by cream chiffon that hung from the ceilings with vines of ivy trailing down them to give the room an airy bohemian-romantic vibe. In lieu of chairs, they used rustic benches covered with cream brocade as seating. At the end of every aisle bench were large, rustic, candlelit lanterns decorated on top by floral arrangements of white roses, baby’s breath, cream peonies, and ivy. For the occasion, Guy Keetoowah-Marquez, Fern’s man, designed branches woven with the designated floral choices and ivy to hang from the ceiling, while Jack Sullivan put together the square, wooden archway that Noelle swathed in cream satin and ivy while cascading roses and peonies tumbled out of refurbished wood box planters on either side.
Eliza wore an empire style, off-white Spanish lace wedding dress that skimmed over her small baby bump and a side fishtail braid with baby white roses and baby’s breath in her hair. The bridesmaids, Georgie, Annabelle, and Fiona, Wade’s sister, wore moss green velvet dresses that flattered their body shapes, and the flower girls, Camille, Sosie, and Paisley wore green and cream polka-dot day dresses with green satin sashes tied around their waists.
“How are you feeling?” Val brought Eliza a cup of spearmint tea. She smiled sympathetically at Eliza’s answering groan. “You’ve got to shake it off, darling. There’s lots of celebrating to be had today.”
“And lots of boot-knocking to be done later,” Georgina side-whispered to Annabelle after making sure Aunt Val was out the way.
“Shameless hussy.” Annabelle ruffled her pixie cut, and Georgina ducked away to answer the knock at the door.
It was Graham, looking like fine wine in his black tux. “Mi familia. Looking beautiful as always.” He licked his lips sexily as he approached Annabelle in her floor-length gown.
“Mr. Carlton,” she greeted him, smoothing the satin lapels of his jacket. “Not sure if my heart can take all of this that you’re serving up. I’m a blessed woman.”
“Indeed, you are.” He winced when she smacked his arm. “Ooof! I’m kidding!” Graham’s hands spanned her waist, and he dropped a kiss on her pouty lips, whispering, “Doc, I’m feelin’ this neckline way too much to not make you an offer I hope you won’t refuse.”
“Wow, that’s some seriously slick wording there, buddy. I’m all ears, though. What’d you once say to me?” Annabelle tapped her chin in contemplation. “Aaah yessss. Make it good for you.”
“Oh, I’m confident I can. Trust in your man, baby.” Graham took her by the hand and led her from the room. “We’ll be right back, y’all!”
“Where are we going?” Annabelle had to rush to keep up with him as he led her down the hall to the front of the church.
“To find a nice corner where I can take advantage of your lowcut nec
kline and the easy access of your dress. Are you enjoying yourself?”
“I am. Told you I’d get everyone’s names right,” she bragged.
“As long as the same rules apply for the bet, you’re a winner in my book.”
“It’s too bad I didn’t get to meet your friend Casey or his wife. Maybe when we go to see Rory I can meet them?”
Graham stopped outside a closed door. “I doubt it. Case said Sid’s ready to pop and is on bedrest. He also said she’s as big as a house and meaner than a rabid dog with fleas and ticks.”
“That’s an…interesting way to describe one’s spouse. I promise to God if you ever describe me in such a manner…”
“Baby, those were his words. I’m simply the messenger,” Graham said innocently while opening the door and they both paused at the sight of an extremely pregnant, stunning black woman getting slap happy with a tall, handsome blonde man who was trying to unsuccessfully dodge her hands.
“How could you say those things about me, Casey Aiden Sullivan?!” she hissed. “I am the mother of your unborn child! You couldn’t possibly know what I’m going through to bring her into this world!
“Ow! Dammit! Stop it, Sid!” Casey ducked and dodged her hands and attempted to wrap his arms around her extended waistline. “I do know what you’re going through! We all do! Including our local barista, the mailman, and random strangers because you never let any of us forget it!”
To Graham, he snarled, “I said that in confidence!” To Annabelle, he flashed a mega-watt smile and oozed southern charm. “Pleased to finally meet you, Ms. Annabelle. I have heard nothing but great things about you. I’m Casey Sullivan and this is my lovely wife, Sid.”
“You said nothing about confidentiality, Sullivan,” Graham defended himself.
At her husband’s outburst, the fight went out of Sidra, and she dropped her arms with a confused look. “I’m really that bad? How come no one’s ever told me?”
