Battered and Bruised, But not Broken

by Piper Kay

  Not what I was expecting, hell, from the look on Hunter’s face, it wasn’t what he was expecting either. I reach over, pushing his jaw up to close his gaping mouth. “Wow Granny, are you sure about this?”

  “More than sure. I can see you two love each other and when I die, the house goes to you anyway, Elliott,” she says matter-of-factly before taking a bite of her sandwich.

  “Huh?” Clearly, I’m not aware of this.

  “Don’t be so damn naïve, Elliott. Who else am I going to leave it to?”

  “My mom?” I question.

  “As if. You know as well as I do, she doesn’t deserve it. She’s my daughter and I love her, but she chose that piece of shit who fathered you over her own child and that’s something I’ll never forget.” She reaches across the table, placing her hand over mine.

  The tears well in my eyes.

  Hunter reaches over, gently rubbing my back. I don’t need to say anything, Hunter knows about my past and knows what’s right for us, so he answers Granny. “Granny, if you’re sure…then we’d be honored to live here. But under a couple of conditions.”

  She laughs. “Boy, how can you have conditions?”

  “I’m serious, Granny. You took care of Ell when no one else did, you welcomed me into your home and your life, giving me the first real family I’ve ever had. Those are things I’ll never forget.”

  I look at Granny, whose eyes are now as glassy as mine.

  “Okay, Hunter, let’s hear what you have to say,” she tells him.

  “Elliott and I pay all utilities, buy groceries, and do the house and yard work along with taking turns cooking with you.”

  I’ve never been prouder of Hunter than I am in that moment. He loves Granny and respects her as much as I do.

  “You’ve got a deal, son,” she tells him.

  I know how much the word ‘son’ means to Hunter. He swallows hard before nodding.

  Granny still has her hand over mine and reaches across to hold his with her other hand. “Okay, then I need my boys to get cleaned up, go to Hunters’ and bring the rest of his stuff here and get him the hell out of that damn motel. I want both my boys under this roof permanently tonight.” She stands and starts clearing the table.

  I grab her wrist to stop her. “No, Granny, you made lunch, so let us clean up, and then we’ll go get Hunter’s stuff.” I take her into the tightest hug I can give without fear of breaking her.

  Hunter stands, drawing both of us into a group hug.

  As we broke apart she reminded us, “Don’t forget your mom will be here for dinner later.”

  Hunter tensed up, I rubbed the small of his back letting him know that all will be okay.

  We finish cleaning up and then head over to Hunter’s to bring my man home where he belongs.

  Chapter Seventeen

  Hunter

  This is the last thing I thought would happen today. I can’t explain all the things running around in my head now. I’ve been alone for so long, so damn long, and to be accepted for who I am…can you say, mind explosion. Literally, it blows my mind.

  Fuck. Straight up, I love my Ell, I do, and there’s no denying that. To be welcomed into his family, I never saw that coming. I haven’t had that in over ten years. That’s why I toss up walls, making sure no one can hurt me, but Ell, that man chipped away little bits at a time, and he didn’t give up on me. In walks this man, and not only did Ell take the time and have patience with me, he didn’t run. Anyone in their right mind would’ve run as fast as they could, but he didn’t. He steadily chipped away and etched out the mortar in my brick walls, until they burst and crumbled.

  The man owns my heart. Always will.

  “Hey, you…” Elliott snaps me out of my dangerous headspace, and pulls me back into the moment.

  I smile. “Yes?”

  “Where were you? You disappeared on me for a couple minutes.” Elliott runs his soft palm across my cheek, pulling me back to him, and into the moment.

  “Sorry.” I grab his hand, kiss the inside of it, and then return it to my face. “Told you, sometimes I zone out like this.” I love how his tender caresses draw me to him, where everything makes sense again.

  “Glad you’re back. Hunter, I know this is probably overwhelming for you, but has anyone ever told you it’s okay to let yourself be loved?” He presses his lips against mine. “I love you whole-heartedly and unconditionally.”

  I lean into him, and bury my head in his shoulder, while he runs his fingers through my hair, slowly twirling a strand between his fingers. It’s okay to be loved? I’ve never had a question like that pop up in my life, much less think it could become a reality, so it’s hard to trust, but fuck all if I’m not going to give it a try.

  “Let’s do this, Ell.” I take him by the hand, we walk outside, and head to my motel room.

  In front of him, I keep checking my rearview mirrors. Fuck, just knowing he’s behind me makes me grin. He’s so fucking sexy. This is such a good feeling, I can’t even find the words to explain. To know you’re loved, and someone’s by your side…Gawd, I can get used to this.

  As we pull up in the parking lot, to my home, or what was my home, I’m anxious to get upstairs for two reasons. One, to snag my stuff and get out of this shithole. The other, I want to hear him scream my name where no one is around. We might have to tame it down out of respect for Granny, once we get there, but I need to hear him do it again.

  I pull the key out of my pocket, and open the door, then step inside. Ell follows close behind me, and tries to head to the closet that is nothing more than a pole against two small inlets with a metal rod. Before he takes two steps, I wrap my arms around his waist and yank him against me.

  He lets out a soft moan, “Fuck, Hunter.”

  I raise his hair off his shoulder, pulling his golden locks up, then gently trail my tongue along the nape of his neck, licking and peppering him with kisses. With hair in one hand, I gently lower my other to his waistline, trailing my fingers along the material, letting him know I want in his pants, now.

  Ell arches back into me, slightly thrusting his hips forward, then reaches one hand behind us, taking me by the head, as he pulls me into him, letting me know he’s perfectly okay with this.

  He sets my heart and cock on fire when he encourages me like this. That ass belongs to me, and I want to hear him holler my name again.

  “Let me in, baby.” I snake my hands down inside of his skinny jeans, and he immediately takes his free hand and unbuttons them for me.

  Still holding me behind the neck, I slip inside his pants, his free hand intertwines with mine. I love playing with his hair so before I even get to his cock, I twirl it with my fingertips, dragging my fingers up and down his pelvic region, so fucking manly. I want to go down on him. But…not yet.

  I push him forward, crooking my arm around his neck, taking full control. I love that too, because holding him in place gives me full rein, and he kind of likes that, so let’s see.

  I jerk him back with my left arm, licking and biting the back of his neck, as he starts to pump forward.

  Taking his hard cock in my hand, I give him several rough swipes, quick, fast, and to the point. God, he makes my cock throb so hard. He pulls away from me to wiggle out of those sexy jeans.

  “Fuck me, Hunter.” He kicks his shoes halfway across the room, and then shimmies those fuck hot pants down over his hips, little by little.

  I could watch this man undress a million times a day, but something about him doing it specifically for me, teasing and playing. I need to calm my head and dick down. Fuck, he’s hot.

  “Do you want me to touch you?” I ask, already knowing the answer.

  “Oh, yeah baby, I do,” he purrs and I want to eat him alive.

  I glide my fingertips up and down his beautiful ass cheeks, teasing one down the middle.

  “Can I have my way with you, Ell?”

  “Absolutely. Just take me for fuck’s sake.”

  “Only if you pro
mise to holler my name, let me know I’m the one for you,” I answer, digging my fingers into his hip bones.

  “You’re the only one for me.” He turns, kissing me, and I rip his shirt off over his head.

  “I love you, Ell.”

  No more words are needed at this point.

  I yank him around to face me, then pull him up, feeling his legs tighten and cross behind my back.

  As Ell, pushes into me, I stumble and make it to the bed, still remembering our first time. That man had my head spinning that night. Then next, we ended up here. My God, I do love this man, and he loves me. And, somehow, I’m getting a family along with him. I never thought I’d have this in my life. And the fact that it happened was like a smack in the face. I didn’t know whether to run or fall. Elliott, from day one has surprised me in so many ways, and it still confuses me.

  I guide us up on the bed, putting him on his back, then snake up along his body.

  “Kiss me,” I demand.

  Elliott’s tongue slips in and parts my lips. He trickles his tongue around them, winding through the inside of my bottom lip. His warm, wetness teases me, as I try to suck him in harder, but he’s not having it. I’m at this man’s beck and call. I open my mouth for him, but slide my hands under his ass, kneading him, tenderly.

  My cock is going to explode and this isn’t the way I planned for it to go.

  I squirm out of my clothes, removing every bit, not leaving his mouth, until it’s time for my shirt to come off.

  Ell helps me peel it over my head, and smiles at me. “Fuck me, now.”

  Oh, fuckenhell…

  I bury my tongue in his mouth, then ease my way off him, jerking him by the hand.

  We reach the front door, and I click the lock, just to be on the safe side, and pin him from behind. Lowering to my knees, I lick the inside of each of his calves, making my way to his thighs. Trickling my tongue up and down each one, he spreads for me, giving me access. I know where he wants my tongue, but that’s too easy, and I stand back up.

  “Don’t stop, Hunter.”

  I don’t say a word, but slap my bare palm across his ass, loving the way he cringes forward, and the handprint that immediately goes red from it. I lean back down, and lick it, soothing it with my tongue. He pushes back into me, as I run my fingers down, making sure to lick them first before sliding one inside him.

  Ell writhes against me, winding those hips around my touch, and then shoves back, pushing into me, so, I add another.

  “Whose ass is this?” I bite his back.

  “Yours, Hunter. You own every part of me.”

  “And you own me too. Nothing’s impossible now, baby, nothing at all,” I whisper in his ear.

  I’m so glad I managed to grab the lube and box of condoms we left out the other night.

  “Do it for me, Ell.” I flip him around to face me, smiling.

  He reaches down, and grabs the condom, rolling it down my shaft, then covers it in lube, coating his fingers as well.

  He slides his fingers inside, I love watching his eyes roll back in his head as he fingers himself. I’m ready to come right fucking now.

  “Feel good, baby? I could watch you do this all-day long.” Damn.

  “Then watch me.” Ell lets out a little smile, more like a shit eating smirk, he knows he’s driving me insane.

  “You like playing with me, don’t you? Like watching a cat play with a mouse?” I ask him.

  “I like watching the way you get so horny and into the moment, Hunter. There’s nothing wrong with that. It’s like you lose yourself, and it’s hot. I like knowing I’m the one taking you there.” There’s that shit ass grin again. “But…what I love, is knowing you want me, and we can do this family thing. To not see you scared anymore. To know you believe in me and trust me enough to love you.”

  “I do.”

  Damn, I just sounded off like there were wedding bell in the making, but my Ell, I do trust him and love him enough to let him crack through that last layer of bricks around my heart.

  I pick him up in my arms, and move us to the chair. He’s not heavy, but I’m afraid I might drop him because of the way he makes me go weak in the knees.

  We stumble, or I do, to the cheap ass chair, and I sit down on it, pulling him on top of me. Ell wraps his arms around my neck and rides up on me. My dick stays in a permanent state of hard-on anytime he’s near. Hell, he doesn’t even have to be around me for that to happen, just thinking about him does it for me.

  I take him by the hips, raising him just a bit before he slides down on me. I love how tight he is. Fuck, I love everything about him, for that matter.

  He reaches behind himself, spreading for me, allowing me total control. My cock glides in and out of him, and I smile as he bites his bottom lip.

  “Don’t stop, baby,” he moans, his eyes doing that thing they do, but I stop.

  “I fucking love everything about you, Ell. It’s like you’re my soulmate. I sense it in my heart.”

  “I am, but for God’s sake, stop talking. The levels you take me to still mystify me, show me what’s next.”

  And with that…

  I thrust into him, plunging deeper and faster, taking him by the shoulders, I yank him down on top of me, as I do.

  He saddles me like a wild bull gone rogue and curls into my every pump and jab. He sends my dick into overload. The way he tenses and clenches around me blows my fucking mind.

  So tight, so ever loving fucking sweet, it’s perfection. The man owns me, he just doesn’t know it. Or maybe he does…

  As I buck up, he hammers back down on me, then throws his head back.

  “Oh God, yes,” he rumbles, as he tosses one hand behind his head, elbow to the sky and I damn near lose it. He’s taming me like a pro.

  “Baby, you’re so fucking amazing, ride me.”

  He shoves back and I claw down his spine, sinking my fingernails into his skin.

  “Baby…oh fuck yes,” I purr, then yank his mouth to mine. Tasting that delicious tang that is pure Elliott.

  “Shit, yes, oh ya, holy fuck…Hun-terrr…” he yells.

  His ass clenches around my cock as we lose it together.

  He yanks back, taking all of me in him, then spurts damn near halfway across the room, some of his beautiful cream hits my face and I lap up every bit of it, as I squirt into his ass, filling him to the brim with my juices.

  Elliott almost falls off my lap, but I gather him from the back of his waist, holding him tightly against me.

  He pants out a breath of relief, as I steady my breathing, long enough to form words again.

  “You’re so incredibly delicious, you know, that right?” I ask him, loving the beads of sweat that drip down his forehead and chest.

  “Well, um, no. I’ve never had anyone tell me that before.” He grins.

  “I’ll make sure to tell you that daily now,” I reassure him.

  “Thank you. Now let’s get your shit and get you out of this shithole, Hunter.”

  I smile and get back to the matter at hand, after taking a few moments to take a look around and remember how I got here. The moment he walked into my life, and us leaving it together.

  “Remind me that I need to call my parole officer and let him know where I’m moving. I already told him about the new job, so that’s square. They have to keep tabs.”

  “I got you, baby, I will.” He smiles at me.

  To know I can wake up with this man every day, in his arms, or him in mine, I’m looking forward to taking the next step with him.

  Chapter Eighteen

  Elliott

  My brain–mouth filter ceases to exist when Hunter touches me. Every time he makes me come, I feel our bond strengthen. God help anyone who tries to hurt me because I know he won’t be forgiving. This man is my rock, my savior, my prince.

  It only takes us fifteen minutes to pack and load his stuff in my car. I’m not sure if I should be happy or sad about that. Happy that it was quick, painless and fit
in my car. But sad because he has so little that represents his life. I hope this is what he wants and he’s not doing it to make me happy.

  After I put the last of what I had in the car, I jog back upstairs to see what’s left and find Hunter standing in the doorway staring inside. My heart skips a beat, fearing he may have changed his mind.

  Placing my hand on his shoulder, I ask, “Hunter, are you sure you want to do this?” I don’t want him to feel like he’s being forced into it.

  He turns to me, smiling like I’ve never seen him smile before. “Yes, my love. I’m more than ready to put this chapter of my life behind me and start a new one, with you. You came in like a whirlwind, didn’t you? I never expected that baby. You took me by surprise.” Wrapping his arm around my waist, he pulls me to him and kisses my temple. “Come on, Ell, let’s go home, baby.”

  Together, to our home.

  I grab the bag he’s holding and take it to the car while he goes to the motel office to check out. The death trap he rides makes me nervous, so I wait for him to pull out first so I can follow him home. To start our new life.

  We take everything in through the basement entrance, for which I’m very happy to have. Even though he doesn’t have much, making several trips up and down the basement stairs would suck. I didn’t have any time before we left to make room in the dresser or closet, so he stacked his stuff along the wall until we can put it away properly. Unfortunately, we must hurry because my mom will be here soon.

  “Hey, babe.”

  “Ya, Ell?”

  “Ugh, my mom’s gonna be here in less than an hour,” I reluctantly remind him.

  “Oh,” his face paled, “we should probably shower.”

  “I’m nervous too, but in all actuality, it doesn’t matter what she thinks.” Somehow, I grew a set knowing I wouldn’t stand for her to belittle or disrespect Hunter or the life we’re building. We’re adults and had Granny not asked us to move in, we would’ve been moving into an apartment together–with or without Rose’s blessing.