Falling Sweetly (Starling Falls #2)

by Aidan Willows

  “Oh, I’ll be nice.” Jake kissed and nibbled his way down my body, before parting my thighs wider. “Let me show you just how nice I can be.” His eyes gleamed as he buried his face between my thighs, and attacked my pussy with long, rough swipes of his tongue.

  “Oh, God, yes.” My hands sank back into his hair as he continued to lick, suck and nibble me into an orgasm so intense, I think I might have actually seen stars for a moment.

  As I rode out the waves of my orgasms, Jake slowly slid his fingers from the clenching muscles of my channel. He kissed me softly as my breathing slowly returned to normal.

  “Wow,” I breathed out under my breath.

  “That was just the start,” Jake promised, the bright blue of his eyes darkened with arousal as he rubbed his thick cock against my folds. “I hope you’re feeling limber, gorgeous.”

  My eye widened at his wicked grin. “You ready for me?” he asked, before gently biting an earlobe.

  “Yes,” I said eagerly, encouraging him to thrust into me by grinding against him. The wide head of Jake’s cock breached my narrow opening. I braced in anticipation, my arms winding around his waist to keep him close.

  “Niki! Happy Birthday, girl! Where are y- Oh my God, NO! My eyes! MY EYES!” a horrified familiar voice yelled, causing me to start.

  Jake rolled off me in surprise and landed on the floor. I quickly pulled the woollen throw that was draped over the sofa over my body and threw a large pillow in Jake’s direction, which he used to cover his crotch.

  “THAT’S SOMETHING I CAN’T UNSEE,” Addie screeched as she rushed into the kitchen, bumping into a wall, her hands covering her eyes.

  “I’m scarred for life, I tell you, FOR LIFE! What’s wrong with you people? Are bedrooms no longer exciting enough?” Addie continued to yell from the kitchen as she opened and shut several cupboards.

  “Adelaide, what on earth are you yelling about?” Debbie asked as she walked into the living room followed by Liya and the rest of the Jamesons’ and Mitch.

  Blood rushed to my face, as I made sure that all the important parts of me were covered with the throw.

  “Oh, I see.” Debbie bit back a smile as she turned to the rest of the brood. “I think we may have interrupted something.”

  “What are all of you doing here?” I asked, pulling the throw up higher on my chest, wishing it was bigger.

  “It’s your birthday, little bug!” Liya said cheerfully, holding up what I assumed was a birthday cake on a covered cake plate. “When Jake said that your plans at the cabin got cancelled you, said we could do our Abbott Birthday Brunch today instead of tomorrow. I sent you a text last night, remember?”

  Oh, right. Our parents had always insisted on making a big deal out of all of our birthdays, and it was a tradition we had continued with after we’d lost them.

  “We sort of lost track of time,” I murmured, as Jake smirked.

  “Should we let you guys finish and come back later?” Josh asked, with a sly grin and chuckle.

  “No, it’s fine!” I said, mortified.

  At the same time, Jake growled, “Yes. Go away.”

  “Hey, chef boy, Abbott Birthday Brunches have been a tradition since forever, so get your arse up and get dressed cos I’m not going anywhere,” Liya griped, walking past the couch and into the kitchen with the box.

  Caleb shrugged at us and followed after her, his hand filled with various sized bags.

  “We’ll set up brunch in the dining room,” Debbie said with a wide grin. “Why don’t you both go get dressed?”

  “Or not.” Josh grinned suggestively. “I’m enjoying the view.”

  “I swear to God, Josh…” Jake let the threat hang in the air as he glared as his laughing twin, who merely shrugged, winked at me and then walked away.

  The rest of the Jamesons walked past, their expressions showing varying states of amusement. Mitch was the last to follow them into the kitchen. He said nothing, but looked Jake up and down suggestively before shooting me an approving thumbs up.

  Mitch let out a quiet wolf whistle and winked at Jake. To my surprise, Jake’s face flushed. “Get out of here,” he said amiably to Mitch as he rolled his eyes. Mitch grinned and sauntered into the kitchen.

  I exchanged an exasperated look with Jake.

  “We can move towns, you know,” he said seriously. “Pack a couple of bags, take the cat and the fishes, get in the car and just drive. We could escape all those lunatics forever. I hear Alaska is nice at this time of year. That should be far enough, right?”

  I tilted my head to the side, and pretended to be considering his offer, but the raised voices from the kitchen made me giggle manically.

  “Adelaide, put the vodka down!” Debbie said loudly, before there were sounds of a struggle, as if she was trying to wrestle the bottle away from her niece.

  “I just saw my brother’s naked ass! I need this!”

  * * * * *

  We walked into the dining room twenty minutes later. Jake had insisted on taking a shower together, in which his favourite areas of my body had been cleaned extensively.

  Debbie looked at our entwined hands and sighed happily before directing us to sit down. Raising a champagne glass of orange juice, she looked at me warmly. “Happy Birthday, cutie. I hope this year brings you everything you wish for and more.”

  Liya placed a bowl of scrambled eggs on the table, hugged me and kissed my temple. “Happy Birthday, little bug. I love you.”

  “Thank you,” I murmured, trying not to tear up.

  Jake took one of my hands and brought it to his mouth, “Love you, gorgeous,” he said quietly. I beamed at him, and pressed a quick peck on his cheek.

  Looking around the table I felt completely overwhelmed by the amount of love being shown by the amazing people I’d been blessed to have in my life. “Thank you, all…. Let’s eat?”

  “You don’t have to tell me twice,” Josh said, reaching for a plate of potato hash.

  * * * * *

  “Who wants the last slice of bacon?” Debbie asked, placing the plate in the middle of the table.

  “I do,” Jake said immediately, as Liya put her hand up and said, “Mine.” They glared at each other across the table.

  Caleb who was nearest to the plate, speared the slice onto his fork, and looked between his fiancée and brother.

  Jake glared at Caleb as he gave the last slice of bacon to Liya, who took a huge bite while staring at him tauntingly.

  “Seriously, Caleb? C’mon, man. Bros before…” Jake stopped abruptly.

  “Bros before what, Jacob?” Liya asked him in an icy tone.

  “Uh… bros before lovely, respectable young women you intend on marrying,” Jake said, taking a large gulp of coffee.

  Smiling, I took an untouched slice of bacon from my plate and placed it on his. Jake looked down at his plate, and then pulled me into him, kissing me hard in front of everyone.

  “Aw yuck. I don’t want to have to see that,” Liya complained, and Addie made a noise of agreement. “Caleb, make it stop.”

  “How do you suggest I do that?” Caleb said amused.

  Jake pulled away from me as a cherry muffin hit him on the side of his head.

  “I’m happy for you and all, but stop mauling my sister in front of me,” Liya said with a frown.

  “Hypocrite,” Jake shot back. “You and Caleb literally got cautioned by the Sheriff for getting half naked in the woods during our last picnic.”

  “That was different!” Liya protested. “I wasn’t the one being grossed out then,” she said, which made most of the Jamesons laugh, and Jake and I rolled our eyes.

  “Is it time for cake yet?” Addie asked, pushing away her empty plate.

  “Sure.” Liya stood and went to the kitchen to get the cake.

  Caleb who was sitting in front of me whispered hastily, “She was up all night baking. Be nice.” He glanced around the table and gave a warning look to the rest of his family and Mitch, who exchanged concerne
d looks.

  As Liya placed the covered cake in front of me, I tried not to show my anxiety at what I would find under the cover.

  After our mother passed away, every year on my birthday, Liya had insisted on making me a cake like our mama used to, but Liya had varying degrees of success with her attempts at baking.

  Past experience had taught me that; best case scenario, the cake would be dry and tasteless, or worst case scenario, the cake would cause me to spend most of the day in the bathroom.

  I forced a smile as I pulled the cover off the cake. I managed to keep my features neutral when an odd smell filled the room. The lopsided round cake had been iced hastily on the top, but the edges had been left bare and expose the burnt sides.

  “Oh, my.” Debbie peered curiously at cake. “What flavour is it supposed to be, sweetie?” she asked Liya.

  “It’s a chocolate cake,” Liya said unsurely, chewing on her bottom lip.

  “Oh. Lovely,” Debbie said unconvincingly. “Well, c’mon let’s get those candles lit.”

  Jake leaned over and murmured in my ear, “You’re not actually going to eat that are you?”

  I nodded once, hoping that the cake would taste at least a little better than it looked and smelled.

  At least this doesn’t look like one of her worse attempts.

  Addie proceeded to stab the cake with twenty-five candles of different colours, however none of us missed how hard it was for the candles to be pushed into the surface of the cake. Addie sent me a worried look.

  Alex lit the candles, and I blushed as my new family sang happy birthday out of tune. The awful singing filled me with happiness, and when I saw Liya’s small smile and watery eyes, I knew exactly what she was thinking.

  She was wishing the same thing I was; that our parents could have been there with us. It was the same feeling we had every birthday, but this year the feeling was lined with another emotion - hope.

  The hopefulness that yet another new chapter in our lives was starting for the both of us. This time last year, it had just been the two of us celebrating alone. This year we were surrounded by people who cared for us.

  I blew out the candles and attempted to stick the knife into the cake. I had to use a lot of force to get the knife to the bottom of the cake, and managed to cut a small slice.

  Liya made a face. “Maybe you shouldn’t eat that.”

  “Don’t be silly,” I said, not wanting to hurt her feelings. “Of course I’m going to eat it.”

  By now I had perfected how to fake my responses; a small nibble on the edge of the cake, followed by many mms before the cake would be whisked away under the guise that it would be eaten later.

  I looked around the table. “Anyone else want a slice?”

  “I don’t have much of a sweet tooth,” Alex muttered quickly.

  Addie hesitated before saying, “I changed my mind. It’s too early for cake… maybe later?”

  “I’m allergic to chocolate… and cake.” Josh stared warily at my plate.

  “Umm… we’re trying to watch our sugar intake,” Debbie said clasping Jeremy’s hand. “So none for us, thanks.”

  “Oh, hell no. That smells like something died in it,” Mitch said, sounding disturbed. I kicked his leg under the table and sent him a glare.

  Cowards… smart cowards, but still cowards nonetheless.

  “Oh, goody,” I said, cutting a few other slices and plating them as I looked between Jake and Caleb who looked torn. “That just means more for us.” Both men nodded slowly, trying to look enthusiastic.

  As I cut away a small piece with the fork, I sent a quick prayer up to Cake Gods that this bite wouldn’t kill me. Putting the piece in my mouth I chewed quickly and swallowed, as Jake and Caleb did the same. Liya watched us all nervously.

  Oh God. Why does it taste like charcoal? Why is it fizzing?

  My teeth crunched unpleasantly on something.

  Please let that be an eggshell, and not something else.

  “Mmm, this is great, Angel,” Caleb said through gritted teeth.

  “It’s good, thanks, Liya. Definitely one of your better attempts,” I forced another smile.

  “Yeah,” Jake agreed, gagging a little as he swallowed a bite.

  Liya frowned. “Is it really that bad?” She pulled Caleb’s plate towards her, took a bite and immediately spat it out again.

  “That tastes like dirt!” she exclaimed. “And you guys are eating it? Are you insane?” She grabbed all our plates and the cake before leaving the dining room to dispose of the disaster.

  “Should I get the back-up cake I brought now?” Mitch stage whispered, looking at Debbie. “I thought I should have one ready when she called me last night asking what the difference was between butter and lard.”

  “I heard that, bitch!” Liya yelled from the kitchen, there was a brief pause before she asked, “What kind of cake is it?”

  “Hummingbird,” he called back loudly.

  Liya sighed heavily. “Go get the damn cake!”

  * * * * *

  A couple of hours later when everyone else had gone apart from Addie, I looked down at her present to me, and then back up at her, wondering if she’d lost her damn mind.

  “Are you insane?” I asked in disbelief. “A boudoir shoot? I hope this thing is refundable, because there is no way that’s happening.”

  “I think it could be good for you. Just turn up, get your clothes off, take a couple of sexy pictures, and you’ll be done.”

  I frowned. “Why on earth would I want to do that?”

  “They make a great present.”

  “You want me to take sexy pictures for your brother?” I raised an eyebrow at her.

  Addie made a face. “No. I meant they’re a great present for yourself.”

  Yep. She definitely has lost her mind.

  From looking at my blank expression, Addie knew that she wasn’t selling the idea to me at all.

  “Would you just try it?” she pleaded. “It’s a female photographer, and you only get as naked as you want. They do your hair and makeup, and it’s honestly an empowering experience.”

  “Does that mean you’ve had them done?” I asked curiously.

  “Of course, I wouldn’t send you to any random studio to get the pictures taken without having tested it myself. And it’s non-refundable.”

  “Addie,” I groaned. “Things are so busy, when am I supposed to find the time to do this?”

  She rolled her eyes. “It’s one afternoon, I know for a fact that you’ve got a day off on Wednesday. Make the appointment soon, before you can chicken out of doing it. I’ll even drive you there myself.”

  “I really hate you sometimes.”

  CHAPTER 31

  Jacob

  “I can’t begin to thank you enough. The restaurant is looking great, Bethany.”

  Bethany Coleman had turned out to be a Godsend. She’d taken her inspiration from the surrounding area, and gone with a neutral nature theme for the restaurant, making the most of all the wooden furniture that was already in the bar, and bringing loads of greens and beiges into the space.

  She’d recommended that the booths be upholstered in a dark green, and the other decorations were minimalistic, but eye catching.

  The overall affect was welcoming and exactly what I wanted.

  “It turned out better than I could have hoped for. It’s such a great space. And I should be thanking you for giving me a chance, Jacob.”

  “Jake,” I corrected. “The only people who call me Jacob are my family when I’m in trouble.”

  She laughed lightly. “In that case, please call me Beth.”

  Beth had wavy black that fell past her shoulders, her skin was shade darker than her brother’s, but she had the same dark almond shaped eyes.

  Beth came across as very reserved. She was nowhere near as abrasive as Tisha, but she wasn’t overtly friendly either.

  She seemed guarded, and it made me wonder what the hell she and Tisha had gone th
rough together in foster care. Their bond was obvious.

  “Well, Beth. When we open, your drinks are on the house.”

  She laughed lightly. “Thank you. If you have any concerns, just let me know. And while I have you, I’ve been meaning to thank you for everything you’ve done for my brother.”

  “He’s a great kid with a lot of potential.”

  Bethany looked oddly relieved. “It’s nice to hear you say that.” She looked down at her watch. “I really have to be getting back to the florist. I just couldn’t resist sneaking up here on my lunch break to see how it’s looking.”

  I held out my hand for her to shake. “I doubt it’ll be the last time you see your designs brought to life. You are seriously talented.”

  “Thanks, could you tell Tisha I’ll call her later.” When I nodded, she smiled politely and left the bar in a hurry.

  Deciding to check up on the work crew, I walked over to the final wall being painted.

  “Hey, feel free to help at any time,” Caleb called as he rolled pale green paint over the newly drywalled surface.

  “Would you quit whining? You’re getting fed after this,” I reminded him.

  Aunt Deb was a natural at being a manager. She had roped Alex, Addie and a few of Caleb’s buddies at the fire station into helping get the restaurant decorated.

  “This is not so bad,” Mikhail Denisov, Caleb’s best friend, said, his Russian accent coming through clearly. Mik had been a frequent visitor in our house for the past couple of years and was considered family by all of us. “I can think of worse ways to spend an afternoon.”

  “Then you need to get some more fun hobbies,” Addie said with raised eyebrows, before walking into the office.

  “I get how you got talked into this,” Andre Washington, Caleb’s Captain at the fire station said to him. “But I don’t understand how I got talked into this.”

  Andre was a giant of a man. He was six foot five, African-American, had eyes that always seemed to be smiling and a neatly trimmed goatee. He was also one of the friendliest men in town, and despite their different personalities, he was one of Nate’s best friends.