Against Me (Cedar Tree Book 3)

by Freya Barker

  I kiss my way up her body and remove the hoodie tangled around her arms and head. Her short hair is stuck to her flushed face and her eyes are heavy and thick with the remnants of her climax. My Katie.

  "You're delicious," I tell her, my mouth covering her lips. "Your flavor is changing, richer and a tad spicier with pregnancy. I like it."

  Her mouth twitches under mine as she mumbles, "That's a good thing, 'cause the way you like my pussy, it'd be a long fucking nine months otherwise."

  "Not just your pussy, little one..." I pull back and find her bright green eyes darkening with renewed interest. "You liked me playing with your ass."

  It's a statement, not so much a question, since the results were obvious from the way she ground herself into my fingers. Holy shit, I had a hard time not coming right there and then. When she started coming, the muscle contractions on my fingers just about cut off all circulation and all I could think about was plunging my cock in. There is no way I'm going to let her deny she loved having me there, so I hold her chin and tell her again, forcing her to look at me.

  "You enjoyed my fingers in your ass, didn't you?"

  She nods, a slight blush tingeing her cheeks. "I did. It felt amazing," she admits.

  "Fuck, baby. I want you so much. You have no idea how much I want to have my cock buried there, feeling your ass tighten around me as you come." My heart is pounding in my chest and my control is hanging on by a thread.

  And then she asks, "did you happen to get lube?" and I almost roll off the bed groaning.

  "Katie, babe. I'm barely hanging on here, sweets. I'm prepared―been prepared for–" I don't get a chance to say more, which is a good thing because how do explain away buying a bottle of lube 'just in case'? Well I did, but thank fuck Katie is keeping my mouth occupied so I don't have to say another word. Enough talking. My hand finds its way over to my nightstand and pulls out the brand-new purchase and a condom, tucking both under the pillow, ready for grabs. Her eyes have followed my every move and have darkened even more. Her hands come up to pull my head down and she attacks my mouth with lips and tongue. My little hellcat. She twists her fingers in the short strands and the pinch almost brings tears to my eyes, but only stirs up my need for her. My hips nestled between her legs I grind my cock against her heat; the evidence of her earlier release soaking through the thin barrier of my boxers. Perhaps the only thing holding me back from shooting my load here and now. Grabbing both of her arms I stretch them over her head and hold them down with one hand while the other plumps one of her ripe breasts. The arch of her back pushes the pert nipple in my palm and my lips go in search of its mate. Down the generous slope of her chest to the hard little peak that feels like heaven on my tongue. Her moans and mumbled encouragements tell me she is more than ready for me, but I take my time tasting and teasing her twitching body. When I suddenly sit back on my heels, needing to regain some control, a soft whimper leaves her lips and she watches me from between heavy lidded eyes as I shove down my boxers and kick them off. My dick, hard and seeping pre-cum from the crown sits hot against my stomach, and when Katie bites her bottom lip I spring into action. Grabbing a bunch of pillows, I shove them under her lower back, lifting her hips up high.

  "You don't want me on my stomach?" she asks, confused.

  "I need to see your face, Yázhí. Your arms are stronger than your legs, hold behind your knees and pull back."

  In this position with her ass high and legs high and pulled way back, her luscious pussy is on full display and my hips are perfectly lined up with the dark rose of her puckered hole just below. I quickly roll on the condom, snatch up the tube and flip off the cap, squirting the cool lube liberally around her anus, and then more on my fingers. Sitting back on my heels, I watch my middle finger disappear without problem inside her and I twist and turn, stretching her tissues as I do. Flicking my eyes to her I see her mouth as fallen open as she is lightly panting with the invasion, her eyes glittering from between her eyelids, never leaving mine.

  "That feel good, little one?"

  "MmmHmm," she groans as I pump my finger a few times and add a second, pulling and stretching as I go.

  "Ahhh... Caleb. I need more... That feels so good...,” she moans out.

  With my left thumb I start playing with her clit, rubbing it lightly.

  "Adding one more finger, babe. Don't fight me, just push back on me."

  Tightly grouped together and with firm pressure I push through the already loosened ring of muscle before finding my fingers finally sliding in further quite easily.

  The sight of her splayed out in front of me, is almost too much and I quickly use my left hand to squirt some lube on my cock, making sure it is nice and slick.

  Moving my hips in closer, I slowly pull out my fingers and hear Katie complain at the loss. And before the muscle ring has a chance to fully tighten itself again, I carefully line myself up and work my way into that dark, hot and very tight hole.

  "Fuuuuuuuck yesssss." The feeling is indescribable and I have to pause to control the impulse to pound myself balls deep into her.

  "Baby, you ok?"

  "So good, but Caleb? You gotta move."

  No patience with my cautious moves, Katie bites out, "harder" a few times until I'm pumping so hard you can hear the sound of flesh slapping together.

  The hitches in Katie's breath tell me she's close and I slip two fingers in her pussy and push down on her clit. The tight muscle contractions of her orgasm around my cock jumpstart my own and I power myself inside the tight channel, once, twice, three times more before my eye almost roll out of my head with the force of my climax. Just as she finishes yelling my name, I bellow out hers when my release bursts free and I allow myself to slide out and slump down on her body.

  When I open my eyes, I find her studying me intently.

  "Does it feel as decadently unbelievable to you as it does to me?" she wants to know and I chuckle.

  "I think I actually blacked out for a moment. Never experienced anything quite like that in my life," I admit, noticing a small smile form on her lips.

  I lift myself off her body and head to the bathroom to dispose of the condom and get something to clean us up.

  After I quickly wash up and rinse a washcloth with warm water, I head back to find Katie rolled over on her side.

  "You sore, little one?"

  "A little, but a good sore," she snickers, "like after a good work out."

  "Roll back for a minute so I can clean you up."

  "I can do that," a small voice of protest comes from the pillow where she is hiding her face, but I'm ignoring it.

  "Well aware of that," I say as I firmly roll her on her back and proceed to wipe any remaining lube from between her butt cheeks and around her vaginal area, "but in this case, it is my pleasure to take care of you. And you're gonna let me."

  "It's a tad embarrassing," she huffs.

  "Nothing embarrassing between us," I lean into her, touching my nose to hers, "not a thing. Not ever. You and I? We can and have and will share the most intimate moments together, and I will treasure every one of them. There is no shame in that. I've never wanted to share with anyone what I share with you."

  A tap on her nose before I toss the washcloth in a corner and pull her up on my chest, where she plants a wet kiss before settling in with her arm around my waist.

  Why today it was important for me to lay claim to all of her―to imprint myself on every possible part of her. I don't know. Maybe it has to do with her meeting Mal, or maybe it’s the lack of control we have of this fucking case we find ourselves in the middle of. No idea. All I know is that part of me that had never quite wanted to settle down, this inner 'caveman' as Katie calls it, suddenly seems to have quieted down.

  I press a kiss to her hair when she snuggles deeper in my arms, mumbling, "So glad you were my first..."

  For a long time I lie awake with the implication of those innocent words settling into my heart, and my awareness.

  CHAPTER
TWENTY-NINE

  "More coffee?"

  Caleb is waving the pot in front of me, since I obviously missed the first time he's asked. My eyes have been glued to Blue who's been sleeping quite peacefully in the massive dog bed beside the couch since we brought him home this morning. The vet said he did fine through the night and although would need to be watched and finish his round of antibiotics, he should be well on the road to recovery. I haven't been able to move away from his side though and Caleb is chuckling at my obsessive fussing.

  "Stop laughing at me. The vet said we had to keep an eye on him, so that's what I'm doing," I pout.

  Setting the pot on the table, he drops on the couch beside me putting his chin on my shoulder to have a look at Blue himself.

  "Not exactly laughing at you, little one. Just enjoying this new side of you―this protective, nurturing side. Figure I'll be seeing a lot more of that."

  He slides his hand over my as yet unchanged belly meaningfully. Ah yes. Would it be pregnancy hormones already?

  "So how about that coffee, little one? Before it gets cold?"

  "Okay fine, but decaf really doesn't put a dent in it, I'll have you know."

  A smiling Caleb gets up and fills my mug. "I know," he says, amusement clear in his voice.

  I'm enjoying the quiet puttering around this morning, still tender both physically and emotionally from last night, but in a very good, albeit exposed way. Not much was said, but so much learned. I could see the change in Caleb right away; the edge of whatever it was he had been hanging on to was gone this morning. The intensity mellowed some. As for me; for the first time since I've been able to think for myself, I have completely surrendered to a feeling. No reservations, no little voices of caution, no self-doubts or questions of any kind, just an odd sense of letting go of yourself and handing it all to another. Knowing they’re as vulnerable to you as you are to them. I always thought it would make you weaker, but it doesn't; it makes you whole.

  The ring of a cell phone shakes me out of my musings.

  "Can you get that, babe? Just got my hands in suds," Caleb calls out from the kitchen and I grab his phone from the coffee table.

  "Hello?"

  "Ah, the lovely Ms. Acker, no? It is a surprise, but a very pleasant one I must say."

  "Mr. Duarte. To what do we owe the pleasure?" I try to maintain my cool, but I have goose bumps all over my skin at the sound of the smarmy thick Mexican accent. Heavy footsteps approaching alert me Caleb has heard and fast clued in.

  "I was hoping to speak with Mr. Whitetail about the whereabouts of his brother, since I had the most interesting conversation with Mr. Flemming just moments ago which has left me with a few questions you perhaps can clear up, now that I have you on the phone."

  Caleb tries to grab the phone from my hand, but pulls back at my hard shake no. Instead, I lift the phone away from my ear a little so he can hear both sides of our conversation.

  "By all means. I will answer whatever I can."

  "It has been brought to my attention that the person responsible for the death of that poor nurse at Larchwood Inns has been caught–"

  A shiver runs down my spine at the cold, arrogant and mildly amused tone of his voice, but I answer evenly, "That is as I understand it."

  "And that any witnesses concede my perceived presence at the facility would have been likely to collect my ailing father, and bring him back to attend a family tragedy?"

  "That would be a very likely assumption," I respond, swallowing hard.

  "Very well. One or two more questions, my dear, and I will be, how does one say, 'Out of your hair'." The almost breathless chuckle is bone chilling, as much as his faux endearments and cold politeness is.

  "It appears I may have an employee who has taken a few too many liberties. One who seems to have made it a habit to be a tad overzealous, resulting in the unfortunate demise of an innocent woman, I hear."

  Caleb's body freezes next to me and I put a calming hand on his knee. Fucking monster doesn't give a rat's ass and I'll bet he knows damn well Caleb is listening.

  "This employee was also instructed to pass on a message from me to you, Ms. Acker. One of a rather urgent nature, but at the insistence of my father, who seems to have taken quite a shine to you. There was to be absolutely no violence involved."

  I can't help the snort that escapes me. No violence. The man ran me off the road and tried to shoot me.

  "Very well. I believe I have my answer. One last question; Was he alone?"

  "No, I couldn't see in the truck very well, but someone else was driving; Guzman was doing the shooting."

  Duarte hadn't mentioned his name yet, but he doesn't deny it either, simply thanks me and asks to speak with Caleb. I hand over the phone, sit back and let the conversation replay in my head while listening to Caleb's monosyllabic responses.

  A knock on the door interrupts and I grab my crutches, which I've opted for in the house. The unmistakable shape of Gus outside the small glass pane in the front door has me unlocking and opening the door right away.

  "Couldn't get through," he says as he steps in.

  "My phone must be out of juice and we've been busy on Caleb's with one Ernesto Duarte, but you probably already guessed that?" I offer quietly, not wanting to disturb Caleb's conversation, indicating my head in his direction on the couch.

  Following my motion, Gus notices Caleb. "I see. Coffee?"

  "Kitchen. Only decaf though."

  Eyebrow raised pointedly, he shrugs off his coat and heads in that direction to grab a cup.

  "You will hear from me within the next two hours." I hear Caleb say as I take my place next to him on the couch. A low growl from beside me has me look over the armrest to see Blue's head up and eyes open. He looks past me at Gus who slowly approaches.

  "S'Okay, buddy. Just Gus. He's good people," I coo, stroking his fur with my fingertips.

  "The pooch is back. How's he doing?" Gus wants to know, sitting down in the big club chair on the other side of the coffee table.

  "Better," Caleb answers for me, "infection's under control and he should be fine. I'm guessing you're here to warn me about Duarte?"

  "Guess he got to you before I could."

  "Yup. Had some words for Katie first and then wanted to discuss Malachi. Took all of me not to fucking rip his throat out through the phone."

  "Coldest bastard I've every had to deal with, but he loves his family."

  "How's that?" I ask Gus.

  "That plane crash that got us involved? The one that killed his younger brother? Turns out there was originally twice as much meth in that shipment. Looks like it may not have been an accident. Someone set that plane to go down and exactly where it did too. All arranged to point in the direction of Malachi. Only problem is, the only thing they do know from the investigation into the crash is that it wasn't shot down. That would have been a pretty easy tell. And Mal wouldn't have had access to the plane before take off in Mexico, so whoever it was had to be closely connected to Duarte himself. That little bit of insight is what ultimately convinced our friend Ernesto that he is barking up the wrong tree and needs to look closer to home. All I know is I don't want to be Guzman when Duarte gets his hands on him. He's been known to keep his enemies alive for months while killing them."

  Gus takes a sip of his coffee, and with a grimace plunks his mug back on the table before turning to Caleb.

  "This tastes like horse pee. You on a new health kick?" He asks him, making me snicker, which turns both guys' eyes on me. Oops. Little too much of the attention, making me very uncomfortable. Especially since Gus's eyes have that calculating gleam when he moves them between Caleb and I.

  Thank God, Caleb breaks the tension, by ignoring Gus completely and moving right along.

  "Duarte basically wanted Katie to confirm Guzman's insubordination to him, but the son of a bitch is not ready yet to let go of Mal. He may be a family man, but he's an even bigger businessman. He doesn't want to lose the gateway for his drugs into t
he states. He thinks Mal and the Klesh is it. Wouldn't listen when I said Mal was out unless I promise him we'll deliver Guzman. He seems to think a trap with Malachi as the bait will draw Guzman out from under whatever rock he is hiding to salvage his hide and his stash. Duarte wants his drugs back and he wants his pound of flesh, and he wants us to deliver."

  Caleb leans his head back against the couch and closes his eyes.

  "Okay," Gus says after a minute of silence, "here's what we do."

  The rest of the afternoon is spent plotting and planning, and when five o'clock rolls around Gus gets up and slides his phone, which has been in constant use the past few hours, in his back pocket.

  "All set. I'm heading home, and Neil is on his way to the diner to pick up some grub and Malachi with his gear. They'll be here within the next forty-five minutes with extra hardware. Joe's gonna keep an eye out on access routes with as little fanfare as possible. Don't want to draw any attention, and you two keep your phones charged at all times. I'll be in touch."

  And with that Katie and I are alone again. Well, and the dog, which has been sleeping on and off all afternoon barely moving.

  "You think he needs to go out?" I ask her.

  "Probably not a bad idea, seeing as the last time he did anything must've been at the vet's."

  Grumpy and a little wobbly, Blue lets himself be guided out the sliding doors and off the back deck where he stands nose in the air, his ears perked and attentive, before ambling off to the nearest sagebrush. Sniffing around for a minute he goes to lift his leg, but thinks better of it at the last minute, opting instead to sag through his haunches. Too much weight to carry on his front for now, I guess, but I can't resist teasing.

  "Anyone tell you you piss like a girl?"

  The ice blue glare in my direction tells me the mutt is not amused at my interference, turning his head back to look straight ahead as he continues to void what is a load of fucking epic proportions. When Katie sticks her head out to see if he's ok I tell her, "Your dog's a fucking camel."