December (The Oliver Brothers Book 1)

by Watson, Q. M.

  “That’s so fucking sick,” July sneers, wiping her eyes with the backs of her hands. “Why the hell do you want to be tied to something that turns your stomach? You had to deceive, plot, and scheme to get me in your sadistic clutches again. I think you love being in misery. I think you love me, even when I make your stomach turn. I think that’s what you love about me. I think you’re so desperate to be with me, you’d conjure any ploy to have me in your arms. Despite the horrid things you say and do, you want me, Jarvis. And there’s no way around that.” She laughs hysterically. “Who is easy now, Desperate One?”

  His mismatched eyes seem to both go utterly black in the darkness of night. The animosity is rolling off him in lethal waves. He stares at July like he doesn’t know whether to end her world or kiss her. “You have me all figured out, don’t you?”

  “Better than you think I do,” she answers.

  “But here’s the thing, July, you’re as desperate as me. You declare you hate me, yet you crave my tongue in your mouth and my dick in your pussy. You desire me and every wrong, fucked-up thing I am.” His striking and malevolent smile broadens. “We’re a perfect match, sunshine, don’t you see?”

  July’s eyes go bleak. “I’m leaving.”

  As soon as she turns her back to him, Jarvis quickly jolts out of his chair. He’s on his feet in a flash, running behind her. He grabs her wrists, halting her steps, and yanks her around to face him. He sinks his hands into her hair and seals his lips over hers as if he needs to kiss her to stay alive. She instantly weakens, melting under him like soft butter. This scene before me looks like love, a desperate and reckless kind of love. The kind of love people yearn for. The sort of love people pray to get over.

  He grunts and pulls back, his lips bloody.

  Did July bite him?

  She slaps him hard enough to make us all wince. “Don’t fucking touch me.”

  He bares a bloody smile at her. “You will beg for my touch later, sunshine.”

  July narrows her eyes and gives him a look of complete disgust and turns sharply on her heel. May, January, and I begin to follow her, but she turns to us and shakes her head. “I want to be alone. Please.”

  “Okay,” May says in an understanding tone.

  “Whatever you need,” January murmurs quietly.

  “Do you want me to punch his face in?” I ask, concerned.

  “No,” July says, scowling at Jarvis. “I just need time to get my head together.”

  We watch her storm off. I walk to Jarvis and shove him with everything inside of me. He loses his footing, stumbling backward, and straightens himself. He glares at me with those uncanny mismatched irises.

  “If you hurt her more than you have, you won’t have a voice to sing with when I’m done with you.”

  He steps into my personal space, towering over me. “This isn’t your fight, December. If you keep playing with fire, then you’re fated to get burned. You should be more cautious around me.” He moves closer until his lips are almost pressed to mine. “My flame is scorching. Perhaps you want a taste.”

  Jarvis bends down, capturing my mouth with his too quickly for me to protest. His tongue forces its way past my lips. Jarvis is kissing me.

  And I lose my mind.

  My fist is swift and deadly acute when it connects with his jaw. He stumbles backward and falls on his ass, laughing. He licks his lips, savoring whatever little kiss he took. “I understand why Danny is addicted. Your lips are sweet, and your punches are painful. I’d marry you if he didn’t.”

  I step forward, ready to strike him again, but Danny steps in front of me, facing his brother. “Why do you provoke her, Jarvis? You’ve had your fun. Now go apologize to July. She’s a good woman. She doesn’t need your shit.”

  He pushes to his feet. “You don’t know shit about her, Danny. She isn’t as good as everyone thinks.”

  “Neither are you,” Danny responds with a clenched jaw. “I don’t want any more trouble out of you while we’re here. This is the last night. Let’s learn how to behave ourselves.”

  Jarvis glares at his brother, growling.

  Danny growls back. “I’m not in the mood to play with you, Jarvis, not after you forced your tongue down December’s throat. I’m trying my best not to snap your neck as it is.”

  “Whatever,” Jarvis mutters, stomping off in July’s direction.

  “I think this party is officially over,” Gray says, taking January’s hand. He looks at her and raises his brows. “How about we hit the sack? I’ve wanted to try something since I saw you in that dress…”

  “Let’s go,” she says, pulling him toward their cabin. “Later, family.”

  “We’re out, too,” Miles adds, lifting from his chair. “Let’s have plural quickies before the kiddo comes back.”

  May gives him a daring look. “What makes you think you’re getting laid?”

  He moves to her, wrapping his arms around her as he stares into her eyes. “You’re my wife. I’m your husband. We’re happily married. Your vagina is rightfully and legally mine.”

  Her brown eyes become heavy-lidded and begin to glow. “Just like that, huh?”

  “Just like that,” he whispers against her ear, nuzzling her neck. He suddenly scoops her off her feet, tossing her over his shoulder.

  “Miles.” She laughs in pure delight. “I can walk, caveman.”

  He slaps her ass, and she squeals. “Hush. Me horny. Me need wife now. You serve me well in bed. Put mouth to good use.”

  She smiles. It’s big enough to be seen from the moon. “I love you, idiot husband.”

  Danny and I are the last ones left. We turn to each other and laugh at our silly family. “It’s Sunday,” I tell him as we walk to our cabin.

  “Yeah?” he says, smiling at me. “What does Sunday have in store for me?”

  “Game of Thrones,” I answer, wiggling my brows at him. “But since we missed it and didn’t record it, we can role play it out tonight. You’ll be my mighty warrior, and I’ll be your dragon queen.”

  He smiles slowly at me, his brown eyes radiating. “This is going to be fun.”

  My heart stutters.

  CHAPTER TWENTY-NINE

  THE PRESENT

  All thoughts of role play are gone once my back is pressed to the mattress with Danny on top of me, thrusting deep and slow between my legs. We wear nothing but our glittering gold bands as we tangle in the sheets. Pale silver light pours in from the bedroom windows, casting us in the magnificent glow of the moon.

  My fingers run through his soft hair as I hold him close. I slide my nose down the curve of his ear to whisper, “I love you.”

  He holds himself up on his forearms and stares into my eyes, his hips pumping in a steady rhythm, subtly moving. “I’ve dreamed about this moment, December— you whispering words of affection in my ear while I am deep inside you as you say them.” He pulls halfway out, sliding back in inch by inch, his dark gaze on my face the entire time. His tongue laps at the dent between my collarbone, and he collects the sweat there, tasting me.

  My breath leaves me as I gasp and shudder at the raw feeling of him hard and pulsing between my legs.

  “Look at how beautiful we are, December.”

  I follow his gaze down between my legs at his incredible length gradually penetrating me.

  Danny is right.

  We are beautiful.

  He traces my clit with the pad of his finger.

  Pleasure swells and erupts out of me.

  “Danny.” I groan, coming hard around him.

  “I’m never going to have enough of you like this,” he whispers against the side of my neck, pressing his hips hard to mine, absorbing my fierce quivering. He leans up to watch my face as he touches my glistening arousal that soaks him. He brings his wet, coated fingers to his lips and licks them clean. “I love the taste of you, the taste of us. You’re so fucking sweet.”

  Danny fills me so completely that I can only spread my legs wider to accommodate hi
s girth. I’m unraveling underneath his sleek, powerful body. I offer myself to him. Mind, body, and soul. I’m open and more vulnerable than the night he took my virginity.

  I give him all of me.

  He takes it.

  Danny takes it all from me like I owe him.

  Happiness, trepidation, and excitement bubble inside me and swell into a swirl of overwhelming emotions that spills down my cheeks. I’m weeping tears of joy, tears of pain, tears of surrender. I can’t fight it. I’m not that strong.

  Danny finds my hands and locks our fingers together, pushing consistently into me over and over again until I drown in sensation and am brought back to life, gasping for a breath with his kiss. “I love you, December. There is nothing in this world or the next that can keep me from you.”

  “Danny.” I whimper, desperate, pressing my hips closer to him. I stroke his face with my hands, kissing his beauty mole. Our gazes lock, and in this moment, I know things will never be the same again. I’m his. “If you leave me again, I don’t think I’ll ever recover. I don’t think I’d want to.”

  “I’m not going anywhere,” he vows, shifting my hips at a different angle and thrusting deeper.

  The muscles in my belly clench tightly and my toes curl as I orgasm. I lie under him, panting and holding him tightly in my arms as his movements get brutal. He thrusts into me using the weight of his entire body, his entire strength. With each powerful thrust, my body is shoved up the mattress. I cling to him like ivy crawling up brick.

  He grunts in my ear, filling me with hot, wet heat.

  I kiss his lips and chin.

  He slowly withdraws, causing me to shudder. He lowers his face between my legs.

  I clamp my thighs together, my heart beating out of my chest. “I can’t, Danny. I’m too sensitive.”

  “You can,” he whispers against my knee before grabbing the back of my thighs. He spreads my legs open and props the back of my thighs on his shoulders, latching his hot mouth on me. His tongue slides through the wetness of my folds, swirling. I’m drowning in pleasure again at the first stroke of his tongue. He holds my gaze as he rubs my clit with his tongue until I scream and convulse on top of his ravenous mouth.

  He sinks his teeth into the apex of my thighs.

  I groan incoherently, every nerve in my body trembling.

  He presses a kiss to my lips, grinning like a smug bastard who enjoyed himself too much. “Don’t we taste good, little lady?”

  I lick at his lips and laugh. “We taste delicious. Now feed me, captain. I’m noticing I’m always hungry and sleepy after sex with you.” On cue, I yawn and stretch out. My entire body is sore and aching, but I’ve never felt more alive.

  He gets up and slides on his boxers.

  I ogle his broad shoulders and chiseled body and stunning brown skin, and then I melt into the sheets with prideful glee and lust.

  This man is mine.

  Finally, I have Danny all to myself.

  Danny stares at me with his warm brown eyes, smiling slowly like he can read my mind. “I’m off to salvage some food for my girl. She looks hungry.”

  “Hurry up,” I demand playfully as he turns his back to me. “I’m going to drift off to sleep any minute.”

  He graces me with another smile before he disappears from my view.

  I slip on his deserted T-shirt and wrap myself in sheets while he’s gone. I snuggle into the bed and close my eyes, releasing a heavy sigh.

  Is this how life with Danny is going to be? If so, I can get used to this. This is perfect.

  I hear Chloe’s paws racing toward the bed. She hops on Danny’s side of the mattress and nudges her massive head under my arm. Smiling, I act like I’m asleep.

  She whines and licks at my face.

  “Okay, Chloe. Mama’s up.” I kiss her head, scratching her belly. She lays her entire solid body on top of mine, panting heavily. I can’t stop laughing. “You’re such a big baby.”

  “Because you’ve spoiled her,” Danny chimes in, walking through the door. He has a plate stacked with two peanut butter and jelly sandwiches and carries a beer bottle and a small carton of milk in his other hand. He passes me the plate, and I lift it up high before Chloe tries to snatch the sandwiches away.

  Danny snaps and points to the floor. “Down, Chloe.”

  She frowns but hops down.

  He slides in next to me, handing me the carton of milk.

  “Nice try.” I laugh, shaking my head. “Give me the beer.”

  He makes a mocked disappointed face. “What? You don’t want to be Danny’s good girl and grow up to have strong bones? You should drink your milk, December.”

  “Not happening, captain. You had your chance to make me drink my milk. You didn’t take advantage. I’m an adult now. It’s way too late for that.”

  He smiles, handing me the beer. “The milk is for me, anyway.”

  We cuddle close, eating our sandwiches while we catch up on Game of Thrones. Chloe gives me those famous puppy eyes I always fall for. I glance at Danny. He’s totally absorbed in the TV, so I pat the space beside me, gesturing for Chloe to jump up. She does.

  “Down, Chloe,” Danny orders, not bothering to take his eyes off the screen.

  She hops down.

  “Up, Chloe,” I counter, feeling sorry for her.

  He turns to me and shakes his head, sporting a full milkstache on his upper lip. “You seriously can’t help yourself, can you?”

  “Let her stay.” I pout, kissing his shoulder. “It’s cold on the floor.”

  “Down, Chloe.” She obediently jumps down.

  I frown at him.

  He shrugs, taking a huge bite out of his sandwich. “She’ll never learn otherwise.”

  As soon as he’s into the TV again, I pat the space beside me once more. “Up, Chloe.”

  “December.” He groans, his brows knitted together.

  “I love you,” I whisper to him, cuddling Chloe close to me.

  Every hard plane is instantly erased from his face. I have him wrapped around my finger. “She loves you too, even if you’re a mean papa.”

  He rubs her head as she sprawls out over both of us. He tears off a piece of his sandwich and offers it to Chloe. She gladly accepts the peace offering. “I’m not that mean.”

  A smile takes over my face.

  Danny’s smile is even bigger. He gives his head a slight shake, his gaze returning to the screen. “My girls own me.”

  I fall asleep snuggled up to Danny with Chloe laid out across us and peanut butter and beer on my tongue. If this is what growing up is, then I’m so into adulthood.

  ***

  I wake with a jolt. Danny gives my shoulder a sharp shake again. I blink and wipe the sleep from my eyes. “What’s wrong?”

  “Screaming.”

  I blink again, my eyes adjusting to the dark. “What?”

  “It’s coming from Jarvis and July’s cabin,” he says, gathering my boots from the floor and slipping them on my feet. I notice that he’s already fully dressed in a T-shirt and jeans and boots.

  “What’s going on?” I ask as he slips my coat on and drags me out of the bed with his hand curled around my arm.

  “Come. We have to hurry. Something’s wrong.”

  My heart is pounding in my chest as we run three cabins down through the thick snow. Screams get louder. A terrifying prickle ripples down my spine. They’re July’s agonized screams.

  This feels wrong.

  What the hell is Jarvis doing to my sister?

  Danny jiggles the knob with no luck. It’s locked. He swiftly lifts up his leg, kicking the knob clean off the door.

  “July!” I yell, running into the darkness of the cabin.

  Danny abruptly grips my arm, pulling me behind him. “Stay back, December.”

  “She’s hurting.”

  “We will get to her, but I need you to stay behind me. Do you understand?”

  “Yes.”

  “Let’s move.”

 
I follow behind him as he makes his way through the darkened corridors to their bedroom. Danny pushes the door open and immediately stops. He tenses, the tension emitting off him like visible smoke. Something is wrong.

  The screaming stops.

  “What is it, Danny?” I ask as I peek around his shoulder.

  I’m instantly filled with rage, uncontrolled and lethal.

  July is naked and tangled in a web of white sheets that are marked with her blood. Scarlet is smeared all over her face. She looks shell-shocked, her eyes wide and vacant. Jarvis is huddled in the corner, shirtless and heaving for breath. His bare chest is stained with blood that covers his palms as he shoves them roughly through his hair, his expression bewildered.

  “What the fuck have you done, Jarvis?” Danny asks quietly, cautiously walking toward July.

  I’m blinded with tears and fury when I shove Jarvis hard against the wall, repeatedly slapping and punching him. He doesn’t block his face or put up a fight. He lets me strike him over and over again. He grunts when I punch hard enough to hear his nose crunch under my fist. More blood drips from his nose and mouth.

  Strong arms lock around me, pressing my fists into a tight hold at my belly.

  “Stop it, December,” Gray orders sternly. “Jarvis has checked out. You’re banging on the door and no one’s home.”

  “I’m going to kill him.” I snarl, crazed and thrashing wildly in his arms and trying my best to get to Jarvis.

  I want to tear his beating heart out.

  Gray’s arms are vice-tight.

  Jarvis’s mismatched eyes are empty like July’s. His face is sickly paled. He looks petrified, his black hair spiked and ruffled with blood, his chest heaving with breaths he can’t seem to catch. He constantly bangs the back of his head violently into the wall, uncaring that he will split his skull right down the middle if he doesn’t stop. He looks like a lost little lamb.

  “I’m going to pin her, Danny,” Gray informs his brother, laying me flat out on the floor. He holds my wrists above my head in one of his large hands and traps my kicking legs between his powerful thighs.

  His honey-colored eyes are sharp and clear and focused as he looks down at me with determined intent. “Calm down, December.”