Against Me (Cedar Tree Book 3)

by Freya Barker

  "You molesting that dog, little one? Should I be jealous?"

  "Perv, that almost brought my coffee back up. Knock it off." I elbow him in the ribs for emphasis.

  "Enjoying the display of domestic bliss – dog and all – but let's get this wrapped up so I can get back to the office?" Joe says with a hint of bite to his voice, raising the eyebrows of both Gus and Caleb.

  Alrighty then. I just smile, thinking little horrible thoughts to myself, about a certain someone who might want to get his own shit in order so he can enjoy his own version of 'domestic bliss', or maybe not. After all, he did fuck over my new friend. Great, now all three are looking at me strangely. Must be the smile that took on a hint of evil I guess.

  "I may know where to find him," Caleb says from beside me, causing all eyes at the table to snap his way. "Malachi. I think I know where he is, and it would make perfect sense now."

  "Where?" Gus wants to know, but Caleb shakes his head.

  "Sorry, boss, not gonna share, but I'll find him and bring him in."

  "What the fuck, Caleb?" Gus pushes up off the table, ready to go a round. The tension that's been swirling around these two almost to a boiling point.

  "Whoa, easy there, Gus. Give the man a chance to explain," Joe tries to settle the waters.

  I stay out of it, sensing I might be the source of a lot of this new friction between them. Besides, the low growl coming from Blue is enough to have me focus all my energy on keeping him calm in the face of all this negative energy.

  Caleb takes a deep breath, obviously trying to settle himself before he responds. "It's obvious as you pointed out, that they're trying to use those closest to me to get to Malachi. I tell you where he is, it only makes you and yours more vulnerable."

  His eyes are on Gus while he talks and I can see the anger slide out of Gus's glare with every word spoken.

  "Right. See your point; don't like it, though. You go off on your own, no back up. What if we're wrong about Malachi? Things can go to hell in a hand basket. Then what?"

  "If I can suggest something," Joe interjects, "there are some safety measures that can be put in place. It isn't that complicated and will allow us to find him if he doesn't check in with one of us within a certain time frame. Your Neil can work his magic with a tracker and a burner phone."

  Gus nods, thinking over the possibilities while Caleb sits stoically his hand clasped over mine in my lap. I know we'll talk later and I can fire off all the questions I'm saving up for his ass ‘cause I'm just a little bit fired up myself, but not about to throw down in front of the guys. He better give me that.

  "So you'll never be further then two hours away from here?"

  "That's as much as you're gonna get out of me, babe."

  I grumble my displeasure at not getting a more specific answer and turn away, but a strong arms wraps around me and pulls me into a much bigger, harder body.

  We're lying in bed after a frickin' amazing dinner of Navajo fry bread tacos Caleb put on. Gus and Joe had left after hammering out some details that gave Gus relative peace of mind over the plans to 'extract' Malachi. Neil was to plant a tracker on Caleb's body or clothes in a few places and provide him with a burner phone, so there would be no chance of a trace on his own cell. He'd come here tomorrow morning, park his truck right up by the front door so he could get in and out without anyone having a good visual from outside.

  After Caleb was hooked up, he would leave in Neil's truck, leaving Neil here with me. It's not likely they'd be tracking Neil. At least that's the gamble. Caleb says it's not too far, but he has some hiking to do so it'll take him a good five hours total at best. That is gonna kill me. The wait will be brutal, but he promised to try and check in every couple of hours, and not to panic unless I hadn't hear from him for seven hours. Seven fucking hours. Brutal. Which is exactly why I'm trying to get him to be a bit more specific. Not budging though... Ass. So I pout, and his response is to throw me over his shoulder and dump me on the bed. Guess he hopes he can sex the sass out of me. Good luck.

  "Stop pouting."

  "Not pouting."

  "You're sticking out that bottom lip so far, it's throwing shadows on the wall, babe."

  "Fuck off, Caleb," I slap his arm, but have a hard time containing my chuckle.

  Snuggling a little further back, I let the comfort of his arms lull me, until Caleb's low voice rumbles in my neck.

  "Want to keep you safe, little one. You gotta let me try to keep you safe."

  I'm instantly sobered by the serious tone I detect in his voice, and completely alert to what he says. He’s not just talking about me. Turning around to face him, I find his troubled eyes and stroke my hand over his bristly jaw.

  "Honey, I'm sorry. I..." His mouth covering mine cuts off the rest of what I want to say and my mind turn blank. When he lets me up for air, all he says is, "nothing to be sorry about."

  "Well, actually. If I could've finished my thought there, I probably would've had something really sensible to add to that, but I'm afraid you kissed all the words right out of me. Except maybe I love you."

  "Second time you tell me that and in case you're afraid you'll wear it out? Not a fucking chance. I'll never tire of hearing those words out of that mouth."

  That mouth is receiving quite the workout right this minute and again all coherent thought disappears.

  She drives me to distraction and soothes me emotionally, can challenge and match me intellectually, and fuck if there is another in existence who sets me on fire like she does.

  "Love you too, Yázhí."

  I kiss her nose, when she suddenly pulls back and says enthusiastically, "Perfect! This is actually the perfect moment I've been waiting for."

  Not a clue what she's referring to I'm surprised when she pulls her wheelchair over and lifts herself in, only to come around the bed to my side.

  "You've gotta sit up or stand up, Caleb. I can't do it with you laying back."

  Confused, I do as she asks, and stand up as she wheels her chair back along the wall―a good 5 feet away from where I'm standing. She puts the breaks on and braces herself on the armrests, pushing herself up. I'm as excited as I am terrified and battle the urge to run and swipe her off her feet before something happens, but the determined grimace on her face has me rooted in my spot; hands clenched at my sides. She wants to show me this. It's important to her.

  Slowly she straightens up on her legs, moving one arm from the chair behind her to the wall beside her and her eyes come up to meet mine. A slow grin stretches over her face as she tentatively moves one foot forward, letting go of the chair with her other hand and sticking it out to her side for balance. My heart almost stops when her knees seem to want to buckle, but she raises her chin, pushes her shoulders down and simply keeps moving forward, tiny little steps at a time.

  I can't help myself, when she is just a step or two away from me I take one big one forward with my arms out and catch her around her waist, lift her up and land with her on the bed.

  "Fucking hell, Katie. That's un-fucking-believable! How? When?"

  Laughing through her obvious exertion, Katie hugs me tight.

  "Saturday, at my session with Kendra... something clicked," she pants, "she took off the harness and had me practice without. Been doing it since. Twice this week already. I can do better with the parallel bars. I didn't think it was gonna be this hard without them," she laughs at herself. "But I did it. I wanted to be able to show you myself. Alone."

  "So fucking proud of you, little one. Never doubted you, I honestly didn't, and it wouldn't have made even a hint of a difference in how I feel about you, but I am so fucking happy to see you battle so hard for something and win. You win, sweets."

  The smile she throws me is brighter than the sun at noon and just like that I need inside her.

  "Need you, Katie," I tell her right before I take her smiling mouth hungrily. I can fucking taste the positive energy on her tongue. I need it―need her to fill me with it so I have the balls to l
eave her tomorrow. I touch the connection of our lips with my fingers before tracing them down her jaw and neck. Shifting myself slightly off her without ever losing contact with her mouth, my hand follows the contours of her body, finally coming to rest on the soft swell of her stomach where I let the heat penetrate my palm. Glorious. Fucking glorious.

  I treasure every inch of her as I slowly kiss and nip my way down to that warm spot on her stomach. She looks down at me, smile still on her face, but her eyes now darker; deeper. Her hand slides through my short hair.

  "Where are you going?" she asks huskily.

  "Shhh. I have one stop to make before I reach my destination," I mumble with my lips against her skin and my eyes fixed on hers. Her belly button is a brief distraction that almost has her giggling. A tad ticklish I find out. My lips finally replace where my hand has been resting, and just for a moment I put my cheek to that gentle rise and close my eyes, hoping.

  But the scraping of Katie's fingers against my scalp and the hot, sweet smell of her arousal draw me in. One move and I'm down on my knees beside the bed, have Katie pulled to the edge with her legs held over my shoulders. Fuck. She’s a smorgasbord. As self-conscious as she was at first about her body, now she is spread eagled, pulling pillows under her head for a better view, and is licking that damn pouty bottom lip in anticipation. Short dark hair going every which way, full soft breasts falling slightly to the side as she props herself up a little and that sweet soft belly I can't fucking get enough of.

  "Gonna make you come hard on my tongue, baby. You ready? Eyes on me. I need to see you."

  Katie's eyes darken with lust, and she just nods.

  I slowly lower my head and with our eyes connected I proceed to make true on my promise. Teasing her clit with my tongue and playing my fingers through her juices and into her pussy has her on edge and pleading.

  "Make me come, honey... I need to come."

  "Eyes on me, little one. Always."

  Snapping her eyes open, her frustration is clear. I run the flat of my tongue in a few long teasing strokes over her clit, then finally at the same time I slide a soaking wet finger in her small puckered hole, I suck that bundle of nerves deep into my mouth. I can feel her orgasm take over in the pulsing muscles around my finger and Katie's body almost comes off the bed as she screams her release, "Caleb... Ahh!"

  Holy crud. I think I blew a few blood vessels with that orgasm.

  Gasping for breath I squint down to see Caleb's face, shiny with my juices and grinning wide, peeking up from between my legs.

  "Holy crud," I repeat out loud, making him smile only wider as he drops my legs down and climbs up on my body, which is in no shape to move. Nose to nose now, he whispers against my lips, "Taste yourself," before sliding his tongue inside and infusing me with a heady combination of flavors; my own and Caleb's.

  His hands slide up under my arms and he rolls over and pulls me on top of him.

  "I want you to ride me."

  But when he moves my slightly unwilling leg over his hips to straddle him, a frown creases his brow.

  "This may not work. Hang on."

  Sliding out from under me, he leaves me in bed to watch his tight ass flex on his way out the door. Okay then. Not two minutes later he's back with one of the end chairs of the new dining set, his erect cock bouncing with every step. Hmmm. A nice big chair with high armrests, which he proudly puts at the end of the bed.

  "Come here, little one," he pats the mattress.

  When I raise my eyebrow, he just chuckles, reaches over and hauls me off the bed as if I'm no more than a throw pillow.

  "Hey!"

  As usual, my protests fall to deaf ears and by the time he has us situated, him seated with his bare ass on our new dining chair; me straddling him with my legs through the armrests. I can suddenly see the purpose of his maneuvering. He wants something, he's gonna make it happen.

  "Put your hands on the armrests and ride me, baby. Your arms are strong as fuck. I want you to take me."

  How I can be primed and ready so soon after an orgasm that surely left me with a few more dead brain cells than my daily quota. I don't know, but I can feel the wetness seeping out of my pussy. Grabbing the armrests firmly, I push myself up while Caleb positions the crown of his straining cock at my entrance. Slippery and still soft from my orgasm, I don't hesitate; I drop myself onto his red-hot length, eliciting a strangled groan from his lips.

  "Fuuuck, woman. Killing me here."

  The almost pained expression on his face as he fights to gain control gives me a wicked sense of power. I slightly swivel my hips and feel the slight burn of him stretching me. His eyes squint slightly, knowing I'm teasing him.

  "Careful, little one," he growls, grabbing my hips firmly.

  With the strength of my arms and the help of his hands on my hips guiding me, I slowly but thoroughly fuck my man. Every time my body slides down his cock, I feel filled to capacity and spread so wide; I can feel every fucking inch of him inside me. When Caleb changes his grip to clasp my ass cheeks in his big hands, spreading them even wider and using the tips of his fingers to tease our slippery connection, I start to lose control. Panting hard from exertion and so turned on, my mouth is hanging open and I begin to mutter nonsense. Caleb breathes in short grunts as he starts to raise his hips, pounding in me from below, his intense glittering dark hazel eyes never leaving mine.

  "Never had the urge before, but soon I want to take you here," he croaks as he begins fucking my ass with his finger. "I need to have all of you."

  The simultaneous filling of my ass and my pussy is overwhelming and I am teetering on the brink.

  "Oh. God. Don't stop... Fuck. Please―I'm coming."

  "Come for me, Yázhí," he growls.

  "Trying to. Harder! Please..."

  "Grab my neck."

  I do as he says and cock still embedded in me, he stands up with his hands under my ass, and puts me down on the bed. I whimper at the loss of that wicked finger in my backside.

  "Hold your legs open, sweets."

  My ass is almost hanging off the bed, and with one hand firmly gripping my hips, the other pushing my knee open, Caleb starts slamming inside me with such force it knocks the breath out of me.

  "I. Need. You. To. Come." He bites out, releasing my knee and sliding his hand to where we are connected where he squeezes my clit between his fingers. Hard.

  And I burst into a million little pieces.

  CHAPTER TWENTY-THREE

  I hate it.

  Watching Caleb drive off in Neil's truck from the small window in the front door sucks. As in, big hairy donkey balls, especially since I have to stay behind instead of making sure his back is covered. He goes off alone, and I'm safely tucked in a well-secured house with my personal bodyguard.

  Neil showed up this morning and as agreed parked his truck so close; you could almost leap from the door into the cab. Caleb had just come out of the shower and hadn't bothered to get fully dressed since he had no idea where Neil was planning to stick trackers.

  "Please don't tell me I'm interrupting some kind of sex marathon again?" Neil complains, his free hand shielding his eyes. His other hand toting a bag, which he dumps unceremoniously on the couch.

  "Keep your shorts on, kid. Just trying to be helpful, since I don't know where you're gonna put those gadgets of yours."

  I sit back with my cup of coffee and watch while under their constant back and forth barbs and bickering, Neil pulls out a selection of tiny electronic gadgets no bigger than grains of rice. He picks two of them, and sticks them with a dot of glue in Caleb's hairline and armpit. A third tracker is shoved in a hole he pokes in the heel of his boot, which Caleb is none too happy about.

  With Caleb rigged up he motions me into the bedroom.

  "Kid, grab a coffee. I'll be right there," he directs at Neil, who rolls his eyes when he sees where we're headed.

  "Better not fucking dislodge those trackers, man," he calls out as Caleb shuts the door behind us.


  He doesn't say anything to me while he gets dressed, but his eyes never leave me. They speak volumes to me, especially since I can still smell the evidence of our almost frantic activities of last night lingering in the room. We're both remembering the near desperation in our lovemaking. Fucking is probably more apropos. Intense, raw, exposing and absolutely earth shattering. Caleb's roar when he climaxed closely after I lost my mind had my ears still ringing this morning, and my 'nether regions' were definitely a touch tender this morning.

  Slowly stalking towards me, he tilts his head to one side. "What's on your mind, little one?"

  "You need to ask?"

  He shakes his head. "Nah. It's like a movie on a loop in my head; I'm feeling it too."

  "Don't want to, but I've gotta go," he says, sitting on the end of the bed pulling me up by my hands. He wedges my legs between his knees, and wraps his arms around my waist. Tilting his head back, his beautiful smile breaks through, "Love you, Katie-girl. Keep yourself busy and I'll be back before you know it."

  I want to snort at that, but then he puts his cheek against my stomach and I don't want to kill the moment, so instead, I run my fingers through his thick shiny hair and curl myself around him. Just grabbing on to this one moment more.

  "Why didn't you tell me before?"

  This does not make me happy. Not that I was in a good mood to begin with, but hearing from Neil that all inquiries into the woman who adopted me have netted nothing really bites.

  "You guys had all kinds of stuff going on, I had a few sticks in the fire yet and didn't want to give you bad news if there was still a slight chance. Besides, Caleb has some feelers of his own out."

  "What? What do you mean Caleb has feelers out?"

  We're sitting at the big kitchen table with our laptops open, working on tracing as many of the known members Agave cartel as we can, until we find the man who took a shot at me―the man with the burned hand. So far, he’s been elusive.

  My attention now far from the man who might hold a key to this case, I turn my entire body to Neil.