I wasn’t expecting that, but I smile to put him at ease and to show that it doesn’t bother me, “I’m happy for you both, and you were so lucky adopting. I have a friend or more like a work colleague whose gay. He and his husband have been trying to adopt. Last time I spoke to him, they were thinking about paying a surrogate…I hope they eventually get as lucky as you did.”
Ramon watches me with an unreadable expression on his face while Lily and Sabrina watch me with delight.
“Michael!” Sabrina mumbles.
“Aunt Sabrina!” He moves and gives her a kiss on the cheek before he frowns. “Have you been drinking?”
She groans and drops her head to the table. “I never ever drink during the day. Hell, I might have one glass of wine in a two week period, and then I come here and Lily mentions your grandmother’s cocktail and I’m drunk after half a glass.”
Michael pats her on the back and hollers, “Uncle Lucien, Aunt Sabrina’s drunk.”
She gasps. “You tickle-tackle.”
Laughing, he pats Ramon on the back before he lifts me out of the chair, sits on it, and then places me on his lap.
“How did Sabrina get drunk?” Lucien asks, chuckling as he crouches besides his wife's chair.
Lily’s husband pulls her away from Ramon and cups her face. “What have you been up to wife?”
“Grandma’s cocktails,” Michael drawls, snickering into my shoulder.
“They’ve also been showing me lots of baby pictures of you,” I add to the conversation.
“What?” He looks at his mom. “You promised.”
“I did, Aunt Sabrina didn’t.” Lily laughs. “Don’t worry honey, she left out the naked baby pictures.”
“She’s already seen him naked so what does that matter now?”
“Dad!” Michael hisses while I blush, burying my face into his neck, and then I start laughing.
“I’m sorry, Brooke, that was uncalled for,” Michael’s father apologizes.
“It’s okay, and I guess everyone in this room has seen Michael naked at some point in his life, so I guess we all have something in common.” I smirk.
Sabrina chokes on the coffee she was sipping and Michael lifts me to my feet. “I think we’re going to leave before anything else comes out of that mouth.”
“You’re not leaving yet. I made your favorite, chicken casserole and dumplings,” Lily wiggles her finger at Michael.
“No more embarrassing conversation please,” he begs and wraps me up in his arms, “and you will refrain from talking about me naked around my family.”
I smirk. “I promise…Mickey.”
Chuckling follows from behind us and when Michael’s eyes narrow, I know he’s going to pay me back for that last comment.
50
Michael
“Mickey,” she laughs smacking my ass as I carry her over my shoulder to the barn.
“I love your family and I can’t believe you’ve carried me out of the house like this. What if you’d given them a view of my panties?”
“I kept my hand on your bottom, so no chance of that.” I lightly smack the bottom in question and nearly stumble when she shoves her hand into the back of my jeans.
Her fingers tickle over my skin heating my blood to boiling point. She’d already turned me on in the kitchen. Her teasing with my family and then talking about me naked did it.
Striding into the barn, I slip my hand under her dress and stroke the soft skin of her bottom. The panties she’s wearing are so skimpy they hardly cover her, which I take advantage of by slipping a finger under the material. When I find her ready and wet, my dick jerks hard behind my zipper.
Growling, I put her in front of me and turn her. “Climb,” I hiss between clenched teeth.
She wiggles her ass and starts to climb, which is when I realize my mistake as I glance upwards. “Fuck.”
She giggles. “Are you looking up my dress, Michael McKenzie?”
I quickly follow her up the ladders. “I just might be, Brooke Jordan.”
She giggles as I topple her over in the hay barn. I crawl up her and settle my groin between her legs, rubbing as I cup her face.
“So, how many girls have you brought up here?” She raises a brow, waiting.
I cringe and stay silent.
Brooke laughs. “It’s like that, is it?”
Groaning, I bury my face into her neck and start pressing kisses along her neck and down to her collarbone. I nuzzle her breasts through her dress becoming impatient for skin.
“High school was the last time I had anyone up here,” I confess. “Now, I need skin.” I sit back on my knees and yank her dress up, shoving her bra up her chest to get at her breasts, and then I pounce.
My mouth alternates between her gorgeous breasts, the nipples I swirl with my tongue until they’re as hard as my dick. Brooke’s hand slips between us. She presses it hard against me, causing my breath to catch and my flesh to jerk. Brooke quickly opens my jeans and when I jump into her waiting hand, my eyes cross.
“I need you now…Right now, Michael.”
She tugs my cock toward her entrance and I’m sure I’m going to be coming all over her yellow panties any second. Then her other hand slips to her folds and shoves the material hiding her pussy from my gaze out of the way.
Feeling my release gathering in my balls, I thrust all the way inside her. My legs tremble as she clamps so tightly around my cock. I hold her hips down and grind against her, the tendons in my neck strain as I arch up, my release rushing through me, and I finally spill inside her. The minute I do, she grips my sides and bathes my cock in her release. Her core ripples along my flesh, bringing me out in goose bumps, and with one last jerk, I collapse on top of her, my head dropping to a breast.
“I love you, Brooke,” I groan into her flesh.
I feel her startle under me and I wince. Slowly forcing my head up, I admit, “I didn’t plan on blurting those words out after I’d just gotten off, but they’re true. I do love you. I love your smile. I love your scent. I love your body, and God, I just love you.”
She stays silent and then, after she trails a hand from my ass to my shoulders, she cups my jaw. “I fell in love with you back on Santorini. That’s why I’m here with you because I’m not prepared to give you up.”
I grin. “Thank God.”
After a few more minutes, I slip free and kneel between her thighs. Wincing, I admit, “Well, I had some finesse up here, huh? We didn’t even remove any clothing.”
“It was hot and I think we need to do it again sometime.”
“Umm,” I mumble, distracted as I tug her panties back into place. There’s even a slight tremble in my hand as I do so. It’s so tempting to strip her naked and carry on, but with my family in the house knowing exactly what we’re doing out here, that’s not really an option.
“Michael,” she laughs. “Staring at my body isn’t helping either of us.” She glances at my groin and I smirk in return.
“I can’t help myself with you.” That’s the damn truth as well.
Shoving my junk away, I sit her up and tug her bra back into place and then sigh in disappointment as her dress covers her.
She gives me a wicked grin and going up on her knees, wraps her arms around my neck. “You’re my sexy guy, Michael McKenzie.” Her lips brush a soft kiss against mine, which is only interrupted by the sound of hooves below us.
I put a finger over Brooke’s mouth and she nods when she gets the message to stay silent. We both crawl like children to the edge and peer over.
The horses slow to a trot as the riders bring them into the barn. Rachel dismounts first, followed quickly by Alex who looks to be in a temper.
I focus on Rachel and she appears upset, which makes my heart sink because I’m now faced with the reality of what I thought was going on.
“I’ll take care of the horses,” Alex states, bluntly.
Rachel turns and looks at him. Even from where we’re hiding, I can see the anguish on
Rachel’s face. Without another word, she turns, but at the last minute Alex grabs her wrist and tugs her around. He cups her face with such tenderness before covering her lips. Rachel moans and wraps herself around Alex. I glance at Brooke and we both move away to give them privacy.
I’m shocked, but I don’t know why. I’d had my suspicions, but having them confirmed...well, I was at a loss of what to do. I need to think about how the hell I’m going to be able to support Alex. They are both my cousin’s…and hell!
“We can’t,” Alex says followed with a string of curses. “I’m sorry Rachel.”
“I can’t do this anymore with you. It hurts too much,” Rachel cries and then we hear running feet.
Alex curses and from the sounds below, I’m sure he’s running after her. “We need to get out of here while we can,” I whisper to Brooke.
Quickly scrambling down the ladder, I lead her out the back door and rest against the barn. “That’s what I suspected, but it feels really weird to have it confirmed.”
Brooke stands in front of me and rests lightly in the circle of my arms. “Ramon told me that he and Noah adopted Rachel and her sister Paige, right? Which means that although an adoption is legal, there isn’t any blood between them. Not one drop Michael.”
“It’s just weird.”
“I get that…Come on, let’s go back into your parents house. It’s going to be embarrassing enough without staying away for much longer.”
I grin. “They won’t mind because you make me happy.”
“You make me very happy as well, in more ways than one.”
“God, I love you.” I seal my lips over hers and that’s the last thought I have for a while.
51
Brooke
Snuggled up with Michael under a blanket on his back porch, I can’t help but appreciate the beauty of the view. It overlooks a river with mountains in the distance but despite the view, my mind wanders to everything and nothing. At the forefront, are Rachel and Alex. Their shared kiss had been so full of need and love that it had made me hot to witness it, something I haven’t admitted to Michael. I really feel for them and it might be because I don’t know them, but I long for them to be together. They aren’t related through blood and it was obvious to anyone who witnessed them together this afternoon just how much in love they are.
I don’t think Michael and his family would see it the way I do though, which is sad because my heart breaks for them.
Michael starts to quietly snore against me and I smile down at him, but hearing, “Sis,” my gaze snaps up and I find myself staring into Carrie’s eyes.
I’m so surprised that I don’t move or say anything but I sense Michael has jerked awake and he pulls me to the side of him.
“Haven’t you done enough?” he asks, standing to face her.
I join him and place a hand on his chest, his arm goes around my waist. “I want to know why you've tracked me down here, when you never have before?”
She sighs and as I look closely, I notice the difference in her appearance. Her skin is pasty and her hair isn’t as groomed as usual. Her clothes are rumpled and she’s twitching.
“Are you on drugs?” I blurt the question out. Carrie gasps and Michael quickly looks at me before turning his attention back to my sister.
She shakes her head. “Can I talk to you?” she asks. “Alone.”
I know Michael isn’t going to like this, but I’m curious as to what is going on with her, and maybe she’ll tell me what was going on with her money on Santorini. “We can talk, but I’m not going anywhere with you.”
“You can talk out here, I’ll go and put some fresh coffee on.” He kisses me on the cheek and whispers, “Are you okay with that?”
“I’m fine.” I turn and quickly kiss his lips, watching as he leaves us alone.
Carrie approaches and sits in the chair opposite where I’d been relaxing with Michael.
“You look right here, with him,” she tells me, surprising the heck out of me. “I was wrong to cause problems between you both, I’m sorry.”
I want to believe her apology is sincere, but I’m not all sure that it is. “What happened between you and Dad? Neither him nor Mom would say anything before I left.”
She looks away and her hands start to twitch. “Dad decided that he’d have the money from the shares given to me weekly instead of monthly,” she says with anger. “He has all that money and I get a pitiful weekly allowance.”
“That’s Dad’s money, Carrie. It isn’t ours, we didn’t earn it.”
“Did he do the same to you?”
I sigh. She’s always been hung up on money, and I’m not surprised she spends it as quickly as she gets it.
“I get the monthly deposit into my account from the shares I own, as well as my salary for my job,” I stress. “If you get a job you’d have more funds,” I suggest.
“That doesn’t exactly help me now, does it?” she sulks.
“Look you came here, to me, at Michael’s house. If you can’t be civil then you might as well leave,” I snap having enough of her tongue, although I have for a long time now.
“I need some money,” she blurts out. “I can’t manage on my allowance. I’m used to having the full amount.”
“Then I suggest you start living within your means.”
“Brooke, I don’t have anyone else to turn to,” she whines with tears in her eyes.
“Tell me why you need the money?”
“I’ve told you, I’m used to living off more. I have rent, and bills. Things that I wouldn’t have done if I knew Dad was going to cut my money and give it to me weekly.”
“I’m not giving you anything. Be careful what you spend and save up for things. That’s what normal hard working people do.” I’m tired of this conversation and I do feel guilty for not jumping in with both feet to help her, but she doesn’t deserve that, not after the way she’s treated me for years.
“You’re really not going to help me, are you?” She tilts her head to the side and watches me closely. At one time that would make me squirm, but no more.
“No, I’m not.”
Her face twitches and my belly spasms with nerves at what she’s going to do or say next as I press myself into the sofa.
“I think it’s time you left,” Michael says, to my relief. “I’ve given you enough time to talk.”
“You listened in on a private conversation?” she accuses.
“I listened in out of concern for my girlfriend, no other reason. Please leave.”
She stands and nearly jumps out of her skin when a car horn blurs. “My ride.” Without another word, she leaves as quietly as she appeared.
Michael sits beside me. “Are you okay?”
“I’m not sure.” He takes my hand and intertwines our fingers. “I feel guilty for not helping her, but if she is doing drugs then I don’t want to be responsible for her buying more. If she isn’t, and just spending, then I don’t want to help her with that.”
“You did the right thing.” Michael wraps an arm around my shoulders. “Do you want me to find out what she’s up to?”
“I want to say yes, but I don’t want whatever it is to rub off on you, or me for that matter.”
“Did she answer about doing drugs?”
“No.” I pull my lower lip between my teeth. “I think I need to call my dad and let him know about her visit and why.”
“Maybe he knows. After all, didn’t we leave him going through her account?”
“Yeah. I asked before we left but Mom and Dad changed the subject.” I shrug.
“Let’s forget about her for now, okay? Let me take you out to dinner, and then we’ll come home and I’ll make sweet love to you so that you’ll never want to leave me.”
With a slight gasp, I climb onto Michael’s lap and curl into him. “I love you, Michael.” I cup his jaw. “Why would I ever want to leave?”
He doesn’t reply, but pulls me down to meet his mouth.
52
/> Michael
“No need to ask why you look so happy?” Charlotte comments walking into my office.
“I’ve never been happier,” I agree. “She’s told her boss she’s going to work remotely if they’ll still have her. She didn’t want to lose Brooke so she has it her way.”
“So she’s moved in completely, huh?”
It’s been two weeks since I came home with Brooke and I can’t believe how easily she’s fitted into my life, and with my family. It’s as though she’s always been around. My home certainly wouldn’t be the same without her in it.
“She’s living with me, and we’ll go within the next month to close her apartment up and bring her things back here.”
“That’s quick,” she comments, looking sad. “Charlotte, it isn’t quick if you just know…and I know. I’m not letting her go. Thankfully, she loves Lexington and she gets on well with the family. She thinks Aunt Sabrina is a hoot after she witnessed her after a grandma cocktail.”
I laugh at the look of horror on Charlotte’s face. “You should have seen her. She’d only had half a glass apparently. Lucien took her home.”
“I’m really happy for you.” Charlotte says as she moves toward the door.
“Charlotte,” I call. “When are you going after your guy?”
“I’m not sure I am.” Her shoulder’s sag. “I thought about it after we spoke, but what if he loves his fiancée and I ruin that?”
“And what if he’s only going ahead with it because he feels he has to, and not because he wants to? What if he fell in love with you as well because it sounds to me like you weren’t the only one involved that night. Don’t sell yourself short.”
She exhales on a shaky a breath. “I think I’m just scared Michael.” Her face falls and tears start to flow down her cheeks.
Rushing to her, I pull her into my arms and close the door. She holds on to me while she sobs her heart out, which makes me want to have words with this Tanner Jackson.
McKenzie Cousins Box Set 1 Page 27
