by B. B. Hamel
And the way she’s staring at me suggests that everyone in the city knows about what happened with my family.
“It’s my honeymoon,” I say, a little awkwardly.
“Yes. Your honeymoon. So you really married that… man?” she asks, arching her eyebrows. A chill runs down my spine instantly, and I can feel her serious judgment rolling off her in waves.
“Yes, Gavin and I got married.”
Her eyes stray to my stomach. “And the child?”
“Joanie is walking and talking,” I say with a slight smile. I want to get away from here so badly that it almost hurts.
“Very good,” Patricia says, but she doesn’t sound like she thinks anything about this is good. “Well.”
“Well,” I say, looking away. “Have a nice vacation.”
I go to turn back toward the water, but she doesn’t leave. She lingers for a moment before speaking up again.
“I need to say this to you, Sadie. You had a lovely family. Your parents are so disappointed in you, everyone is so disappointed. To get pregnant by that man, and then to leave your family like that… it’s s disgrace. You should feel embarrassed.”
I turn back toward her, completely shocked. I can’t believe she’d speak to me that way. I know she thinks all those things, but to have her actually come out and say it is another thing. I don’t know what gives her the confidence to be such an awful person so openly. Her face is set and she’s clearly angry, and she doesn’t even have the story right. I didn’t leave my family, they kicked me out.
“Thanks for your opinion,” I say, and start to leave the water. I don’t bother trying to change this woman’s mind.
“Your poor parents,” she says, warming up to the moment. “They’re devastated. So devastated. To run off like that? Cut yourself off from them? Shameful. Layla is so ashamed to have known you.” Patricia shakes her head but she’s clearly enjoying this.
I pause and for a second, I want to yell at her. I want to scream at her. I want to explain what my family made me go through, how they abandoned me at the first sign of trouble, how they tried to force me into a loveless marriage that I didn’t want. I wish I could explain how I’m so much better off and happier now with someone that cares about me in a way I never expected.
Instead, I turn away from her and walk away as fast as I can. I’m not going to give this shrew the satisfaction of seeing my get upset. That’s what she wants, of course. For some reason, she wants to punish me for something that has absolutely nothing to do with her, maybe because she can go home and brag about it to all her rich country club friends. Well, they can all go to hell.
I can feel her judging eyes on my back as I walk away. I don’t turn and I don’t get upset. I hurry back toward the chairs and Gavin looks up as I approach.
“Hey,” he says, noticing my expression. “Are you okay? Who was that in the water?”
“Nobody,” I say, grabbing my things. “I’ll be back at the room.”
“Wait, what happened?”
But I don’t bother answering. I grab my stuff and hurry away. I don’t want Patricia Vanderhoot to see me cry. I won’t give her that little victory.
I manage to hold back my tears until I get into the room. I shut the bathroom door, turn on the shower, and then cry my eyes out.
I haven’t felt sad about this since I left my family over a year ago. But suddenly it all comes rushing back. That bitch had no right to talk to me that way and doesn’t know a damn thing about my life, but I hate that she thinks she knows everything. People have been talking about me, saying horrible things about me, and I can’t help but feel upset. Even if they are all a bunch of misinformed, shallow assholes, I still hate that I’m seen as this stupid floozy that threw her life away.
I hear Gavin come back into the room a few minutes after I arrive, but he doesn’t bother me. I cry until I’m done crying, and then I wash my face. I slowly come out of the bathroom to find him reading a book in a chair in the corner. He stands when I emerge.
“Come here,” he says.
I walk over to him. He throws his big arms around me and pulls me close. He doesn’t say anything at first, just hugs me tight. I appreciate that a lot, and I let myself start to feel better in his embrace. I love this man so much it almost hurts. He seems to just know when I need space and when I need to be hugged.
“Okay,” he says finally. “What happened?”
I take a deep breath. “That woman was Patricia Vanderhoot. You know that name?”
He nods. “I’ve heard it before. Old money family.”
“That’s right. She said some things to me… about being ashamed. And how I embarrassed my family. Awful things.”
His face gets tight. “She did what?”
“I don’t want to make a thing of it, Gavin. She doesn’t know the real story.”
“But she said those things to you?” he asks. “The bitch said you should be ashamed?”
“Yes,” I say softly. “She’s an awful, awful woman, still stuck in her awful little world. I cried and now I want to let it go.”
His face is hard but he nods slowly. “Okay,” he says. “If that’s what you want.”
“Come on. Let’s sit out on the porch.”
“Fine. Sure.” He seems distant, but he follows me outside.
We spend the rest of the day sitting in the shade. He’s strange at first, clearly still thinking about the Vanderhoots, but slowly he comes around, and it’s a nice afternoon of talking and laughing, and by the time we head inside and he strips off my bathing suit to kiss every inch of my body, I’ve already forgotten all about that stupid moment on the beach.
But Gavin doesn’t forget.
The next night, after a day at the beach without the Vanderhoots mercifully, we go to dinner at the resort’s restaurant. It’s a beautiful restaurant, basically a five star place, and we dress up in nice clothes. All the other couples are there, and as we’re seated, I spot the Vanderhoots sitting on the other side of the room. They don’t spare us a glance.
The meal is nice, at least at first. Gavin seems like he’s in a really good mood, chatting and laughing. We order expensive wine and we’re enjoying ourselves.
At least until the first course. Gavin eats, but his mood slowly darkens. I can’t tell what’s going on with him. He was talkative and happy just a few minutes ago, but he gets quiet and withdrawn all of a sudden. I have a bad feeling in the center of my chest, but I don’t know what’s going to happen.
“What’s the matter?” I finally ask him once the first course is taken away.
“Nothing,” he says, but the glance he throws toward the Vanderhoots confirms my greatest fear.
“Gavin.” I stare at him, a little hard. “Tell me.”
He looks at me for a second and smiles softly. “I’m sorry about this,” he says, and then he stands.
“What are you doing?” I ask him, but of course I know.
“I’ll be right back.”
I watch with horror as he walks over toward the Vanderhoots.
I get up, my heart hammering in my chest. I don’t know what the hell he’s going to do, but I’m already mortified. Patricia Vanderhoot can see him coming, and as he approaches, her husband Linus turns toward Gavin. Linus is my father’s age, a fairly fat man with gray hair and a gray beard, with brown eyes and a wrinkled, jowly face. He grunts as Gavin approaches and I stare with horror as Gavin smiles at them.
“How are you doing tonight, folks?” he asks.
Linus speaks up. “We aren’t interested in whatever you have to say, Mr. Waller,” he says.
“You know me, good,” Gavin says, smiling. “So what I have to say won’t be a surprise.”
Linus Vanderhoot frowns at him. “What do you want? We’re trying to enjoy our meal.”
“Yesterday, your wife was a bitch to my wife. Isn’t that right, Mrs. Vanderhoot?” Gavin grins at her, and Patricia looks absolutely mortified. People are staring openly at Gavin, but he doesn’t se
em to mind. Patricia Vanderhoot, however, clearly can feel the attention, and it’s destroying her.
I should stop this. I should step in and pull Gavin away. But the look on that shrew bitch’s face stops me.
“How dare you talk to her that way,” Linus says.
“Don’t bother trying to stand, you fat slob,” Gavin says as Linus struggles a bit to stand. “You’ll just embarrass yourself.”
Linus manages to get out of his chair and face Gavin.
“Gavin,” I say. “Please.” But I don’t move to stop anything. My heart is racing and I’m so excited.
He ignores me. “You people are all the same,” he says, loudly enough for the whole room to hear it. “You think you can say and do whatever you want when people don’t conform to your rules. Truth is, Sadie is a good person, and her family is slime and scum, much like you two. They turned their back on Sadie at the first sign of trouble. You should be embarrassed, Mrs. Vanderhoot. You’re disgraceful and rude, and if either of you ever speak to my wife or my family again, I will personally destroy you. My wife has more class in her pinky than you two do in your entire estate.” Gavin steps closer to Linus Vanderhoot. “Do you understand?” His grin is wicked and inviting.
Gavin stares down Linus, and for a second I think they might actually fight. But that’s absurd, because Linus is old and out of shape, and Gavin looks like a Greek god.
“Leave us alone,” Linus finally says.
“Gladly.” Gavin grins again. “Have a nice meal, you fucking scum.” He turns and walks away.
I stare, totally shocked and appalled. I hurry to follow him as he leaves the restaurant. My heart is racing so fast I feel like I might fall over, and I’ve never felt this excited before.
I didn’t know I wanted a man like Gavin. I didn’t think I wanted a man that would stand up like that for me in a room full of people. The old me would have been mortified, but the new me appreciates him standing up for me like that.
“Gavin!” I say.
He whirls on me, anger in his face. “Fuck those people,” he says.
“I agree,” I say softly. “But you just made a scene.”
“Fuck making a scene,” he says. “Fuck everyone in there.” He takes my hands and pulls me close. “You’re the only thing I care about. Do you get that? Nobody talks down to you Sadie. Absolutely nobody.”
I stare into his eyes and I realize that it doesn’t matter. Everything Patricia said yesterday in the ocean, all the dirty things people have said about me over this last year, it doesn’t matter.
I have the man I need. I have my family. I know what I’m worth and what’s important to me.
I suddenly feel a weight lift off my shoulders. I pull Gavin close and kiss him tight, feeling light and free.
“Come on,” I say. “Let’s get out of here.”
He smiles at me. “What did you have in mind?”
“I don’t know,” I say. “We have three more days. Let’s just travel the islands and explore.”
“Okay,” he says. “Sounds good to me. Fuck this snooty place.”
“Fuck them all,” I agree, and he laughs.
We kiss again, slowly and deeply, before going back to the room, packing our bags, and leaving the resort.
As we travel the islands, just the two of us, being with real people and doing real things, I feel better than I ever have. I don’t need the approval of rich people anymore. I don’t need to live in their world.
For the first time since everything happened, I feel like I’ve truly left all of that before. There’s only Gavin and Joanie. My baggage is gone, and I can finally live my life.
Small Town Daddy: A Dark Romance
Prologue: Mia
I hear a twig snap and I know he’s coming to fuck me.
I take a deep breath and can smell wildflowers all around me. Sunlight filters in through the trees as I walk faster, looking over my shoulder. I can’t see him, but I can hear him, getting closer and closer. I know what he wants from me, and my heart beats faster in my chest.
It’s half fear, half excitement. It’s exactly what I want. Ahead, I can see a break in the trees and the meadow is there with its thousands of flowers and its thick, lush green grass. I hurry my pace, wanting to get there before he catches me.
I hear another twig and picture his cocky smirk, his muscular chest. I’m dripping wet even though I know I shouldn’t be. He shouldn’t have me, not when it’s so dangerous to let him. But he fought for me, and now there’s only one thing left.
I break through the trees in front of me, and the meadow opens up. It’s a wild medley of blue and green and yellow, twisting and beautiful. I smile to myself and slow my pace, wanting him to catch up to me now.
I hear him brush through the trees just a second behind me. I half turn toward him, smiling, and he comes toward me.
He smirks as he catches my wrist. “Running away?” he asks.
I shake my head. “More like leading you here.”
“You’re the spider, and this is your web.”
I laugh a little. “That must make you my fly.”
“So you think.” He pulls me toward him, pressing his body against mine. “You thought you caught a fly in your web. But really, you invited a wolf to dinner.”
I bite my lip and look away from him. My heart is pounding in my chest and I’m dripping wet. I can’t believe how much I need this, and yet I know it’s the last thing I should really want. If I let this happen, this meadow, this whole forest could be bulldozed and paved over. That would hurt worse than anything I could imagine.
And yet his body against mine, his lips so close, I can’t help it. When he gazes my throat with his mouth, I’m not going to stop him.
“Okay, Mr. Big Bad Wolf,” I say. “What now?”
“You know what now,” he whispers in my ear. “Now I’m going to have you for lunch.”
I feel a shiver run down my spine. His hands are all over my body. Anybody could walk in on us, but I don’t care. He lowers me down into the soft grass, undressing me as he goes, and soon I’m under his touch. I’m not going anywhere and he knows it.
“You’ve been dreaming of this since we first met,” he whispers. “And I’ll give you what you want. I’ll make this wet little pussy come, but first you have to do something for me.”
“What?” I whisper, breathless, begging.
“Say those three little words.” His breath is warm against my ear.
I’m afraid. If I say it, I don’t know what’ll happen to me. But he’s so big, so strong, and so much older than me. I know he knows what he’s doing. It’s obvious what he can make me feel.
“I don’t know,” I say, biting my lip.
He grabs my chin and looks in my eyes, his other hand between my legs. “Am I going to have to make you beg?”
I shake my head. “No, please.”
Pleasure, fires of pleasure, as his fingers do their work. “Say it,” he whispers again, a command that I can’t deny any longer.
He’s too much, too big, too strong. I invited a wolf to lunch and now he’s going to have me for the main course. The problem is, I don’t mind at all. I want him to take me, eat me, destroy me. I want him to dominate me and make me his possession.
So I say the words I’ve been aching to say.
”You’re my Daddy.”
1
Lucas
Explosions rock all around me in abstract color. It’s loud, too loud, and I can’t see anything. Gunfire pops off and I huddle against a wall, my squad strung out and pinned down. One of my friends gets a bullet through the skull right next to me, and I’m screaming, covered in blood, my rifle firing as I run out into the open, begging to be shot, begging to be killed, everything too vivid, everything too real.
I wake up in a cold sweat.
It takes me a minute before I get myself together. The dreams are so damn lifelike and intense. I know it’s a pretty common thing for guys like me to experience, but that doesn’t
make it any fucking easier. The dreams keep me up at night sometimes. All things considered, this was a mild one.
I check the clock and sigh. It’s barely past five in the morning and the sun is just starting to rise. I get up, knowing that sleep is a lost cause at this point, and grab a quick shower. When I’m done, I head downstairs and get breakfast started.
I’m the first one awake, although I know Noah is going to be up any second now. I glance at the baby monitor as I finish brewing the coffee and making eggs for Alice.
“Morning,” my stepmother says, coming into the kitchen as if on cue. “Noah up yet?”
“Morning,” I say, glancing at the monitor again. “Not yet, surprisingly.”
“Lucky. What’s it, almost six?”
I nod and show her the pan. “Eggs?”
“Sure.” She sits down at the kitchen table and I make her a plate. “It’s nice having you home, you know that?”
I grin at her. “You just like it that I cook.”
“Pretty much.” She sips her coffee and picks up the paper.
Alice is in her late sixties, dirty blonde hair, a smile that warms my heart, and more life in her than anyone I’ve ever met. She’s my stepmom, though my dad died a few years ago. When I got back from Syria, I wasn’t sure if I was going to be welcome in her home, but that was stupid of me.
Alice Baker is the best thing in my life. She kept my dad’s last name and always says she won’t marry again, though I’ve been trying to get her out there anyway. Alice deserves to have someone, even if she feels like she’d be betraying me and my dad. The world is a better place with Alice Baker in it, and I’m a fucking lucky man to have her.
As I turn away, intent on making myself a plate and scarfing it down as fast as possible before Noah wakes up, the baby monitor lights up with crying. Alice gives me a little smile. “You want me to get him while you eat?” she asks.
I shake my head. “I got him. You enjoy.”
