"Aren't there always."
He grins, "Yeah, you’re right. Looks like I’ll be working them on my own since you’re so whipped. I’m fixing to school you and Jax on how to operate without a wingman.”
“Yeah, good luck with that, bud.”
“Don’t you miss it, man? All the random pussy?”
I laugh, "Not even a little bit. I'll admit I thought I might, but Brooke is all I need.”
He shakes his head at me like I'm insane, "Whatever, more for me. Just for the record, Brooke is good people not to mention she’s fuckin cool as hell.” He laughs and looks toward the open door where we hear her voice issuing orders inside. “That first day she came, did you ever it picture something like this?”
“Nope, but hell if I could have or would change it.”
With that he and I go back inside to herd everyone and Toby to the vehicles. After we’re all buckled in I turn back to Gabby, “You sure you’ve got all of Toby’s food and treats?”
She looks right in my eye, nods her head once and says, “Yes, let’s go.”
I reverse with Luke right behind me with Cassie and Michael riding with him. We get to the entrance to our neighborhood, “Wait, Toby’s toys. We have to go back for his toys, Dylan.” I heave a sigh, make a U-turn, and drive the five damn blocks to get Toby’s toys. Once again I pull away from the house and try to get this vacation underway because I’m not really sure right now when a vacation actually starts. Is it when you wake up or when you leave town? Three blocks later my phone rings. I hit the hands-free and answer, “What now?”
“Cassie forgot something, but won’t say what it is, only that it’s private.”
“Ask her if it’s important.”
Cassie’s voice comes over the phone next, “Dylan, we have to go back. It very necessary if you know what I mean.”
No, I don’t know, nor do I want to know, I think.
“Cass….” I begin.
“Okay, let me put it this way. You won’t be very happy with me if I don’t go back and get this other bag that’s been in my room for the last week.” Somehow that whole sentence came out all in one whole breath. Amazing actually if you think about it.
Then it hits me, oh yeah, The. Bag.
“Alright, turn around and let her run in and get it. Double check the doors and alarms and catch up to us on the road.”
Brooke is giggling the whole time, which apparently becomes infectious if the laughing from the back seat is anything to go by. Turns out we make decent time getting there. Four hours later we arrive at the cabin, and it’s still before noon. Not bad. A lot different than the last few years when I could just hop in my car or truck and leave.
Brooke is the first one out once I get the truck stopped. She heads straight for the front door like a kid who doesn’t have the responsibility of helping haul shit in. “Hey, you.” I can’t help but smile as she takes everything just like she did the first time she was here. She turns back to me with her sexy little “I have a secret” smile, and I know she remembers our little rendezvous. Goddamn, I love the woman.
Luke pulls up beside me, and all of us pitch in to get everything unloaded. All of us are ready to pick up the ski boat I rented for the week, which I’m thinking of just buying for future trips. For now the kids are reclaiming rooms. They didn’t get to come last year because of the wreck.
Luke and I head to the boat dealer’s, and we are not disappointed in what we picked. As soon as we see it we’re immediately talking about a new paint job. It has room for nine with two 250-horsepower Mercury motors on the back. Two kids on Christmas morning who just got the toy they wanted and can’t wait to play. After making sure all the toys, I ordered and life jackets are inside we make quick work on hooking her up so we can get the rest of the family.
Brooke miraculously has sandwiches and drinks packed ready to put in the mini-fridge built under the driver’s seat of the boat. She’s even managed to make sure everyone is dressed in swimsuits. In the master bedroom, she has a pair of my board shorts laying on the bed, and God love the woman, she’s even unpacked my bag and put everything way.
Everyone is anxious to get out on the water. Luke, of course, is the first one up. After he’s in the water I push him the wakeboard, then clip the tow rope to the high tow bar installed just for wakeboarding. The show off finds his groove easily and goes right into spins and jumps, and I have to admit he’s damn good. I tow him until he signals he’s ready to come in. Before I can ask who’s next Brooke is already jumping over and asking for the skis.
Anxious much?
“You sure about this, babe? You said it'd been a few years.”
“Shut up and drive, Monroe.”
Okay then.
Damn the woman pops right up and wastes no time swinging side to side behind the boat. The Gabby and Michael cheer her on and clap whenever she jumps wakes or swings wide right and left. When I told her about renting the boat she was excited to get back on skis. Apparently this is something she and Alex did with Adam and some other friends during high school. Another time, that knowledge would make me jealous. But I’ve gotten to know Shriller over the last few months, and he’s pretty a solid guy. I’m also totally secure in my relationship with Brooke.
Finally, she signals and drops in the water. After circling back and helping her on board, Luke and I rig up the tube for Cassie to ride with Gabby. Every time I circle them back to hit their wake the squeal loud enough that I’m pretty sure they hear it on the other side of the lake. I finally call a halt, because neither one looks like they’re ready to come in. Michael is going to be next up, and he’s decided he wants to ski. It’ll be his first time, so I’m going to find a cover with calmer water and out of the traffic of other boats.
Once the girls are back on board, Brooke breaks out sandwiches and bottles of water and Gatorade. I scarf two sandwiches while steering the boat around. Everyone picks out their favorite lake houses, most of which makes ours look like a small cottage. Luke and I also decide that before we leave, we’re buying jet skis, because damn, they’re way too cool, and I think they’d be perfect for even the kids to play on outside our place.
Finally, I spot the perfect cove big enough to pull a skier. The water is flat here, and Michael shouldn’t have any problems. “You ready for this, little bro?”
I can tell he’s pulling out all the stops to show how brave he is right now. I grab the skis and fit his foot, then just before he jumps over; Brooke stops him, “Glasses, honey.” He hands them back to her and disappears.
Luke throws the rope over while we drift. When he’s ready, I float the first ski to him and then the second when he motions for it. I start the motor and drift forward. Brooke and Luke lean over the back of the boat calling out instructions for him. “Keep your skis straight out in front.” “Pull the rope like you’re the one dragging the boat.” “Just lean back like you’re trying to lie down.”
“Okay, got it. I’m ready, Dylan.”
“You got this, bro,” I call. I throttle forward feeding the rope through his hands until he gets a good hold on the handle. “Ready?”
“He said, yes, Dylan,” Luke calls.
Okay, Michael, you got this.
I push the throttle forward while keeping my eyes on my brother. “Oh, my God, he’s up. He’s up.” Brooke yells.
I smile big with pride.
Luke yells encouragement at Michael while I pull him around the cove until his arms tire. I circle back slowly to pick him up while Luke leans over and grabs his skis. Excitement from his accomplishment written is written all over Michael’s face. Cassie and Gabby are squealing their congratulations. I help him up the ladder. “First try, not bad.”
“Okay, Dylan it’s your turn,” Luke calls. He walks to the driver’s seat.
“I’m pulling him,” Brooke says.
“No way, I’m pulling him.”
“You drive?” I have to ask. She somehow failed to mention she can pull a skier.
&
nbsp; She looks at me like I’ve lost my damn mind, “Please, if it weren't for my driving Adam would never have learned trick skiing. None of our friends had my touch on the throttle.”
Luke studies her for a second, “Holy shit. And are sure you don’t have a sister? It wouldn’t be weird at all if you did and I dated her would it?”
That gets him a second pop upside the back of his damn head from me and an eye roll from Brooke.
“Okay, okay, we’ll both pull him. You get him up, and I’ll take over once we hit the big water, deal?” Luke surrenders. “What’s your trick today?”
I look over at him and answer with a shit-eating grin, “Wakeboard. I’m fixing to school you, little brother.”
I grab the board and jump over. Wakeboarding is something that Jackson and I did during the summers on Lake Eufaula in Oklahoma. Luke hooks the rope back to the high tow bar used for wakeboarding while Brooke pushes me the board. Adrenaline is zipping through me.
I love this shit.
After the workout on the water, my arms are spaghetti. Once I’m in, I tell Luke to take us on home and to make the ride worth it. My boy doesn’t disappoint. He stays to his right heading north toward our part of the lake and taking advantage of the small wakes to make sure the girls get a nice, bumpy thrill ride. Brooke and I are sitting all the way against the back holding hands watching my squealing sisters as they bounce up and down in the front of the boat. Michael is sitting in the seat across from Luke with his hands straight up like he’s on some giant rollercoaster. When I look at Luke sitting up on his knees with his baseball hat turned backward I notice how much he looks like a man. When I look over at Brooke she watching me watch my family.
“I know,” she nods and smiles.
She gets it without me having to say it. I’ve missed so much time with them, and it’s time that I’m never going to get back. But that doesn’t mean that from this moment in time I can’t be there for them from now on. Be the man they need me to be. Make sure this family stays just like this, secure and loved. I lift Brooke’s arm and kiss the inside of her wrist, “I love you.”
By the time we get the boat docked, we’re all wiped out. We make final plans to start a fire in the fire pit and simply roast some hotdogs. Cassie and Gabby help Brooke with paper plates, condiments, and bringing the food out while Luke and Michael help me get the fire ready and drag out loungers and chairs. The rest of the evening is lazy from the long day of activity. Eventually, exhaustion settles, and we drift to our beds.
The plan for today is to go into town so the girls can shop. While they do that, Luke and I are going to buy jet skis. In the end, I purchase four and a trailer. After we enjoy them this week, the plan is to take them home and let Luke customize them and the trailer.
Finally, we head back to the main street to meet the girls and grab lunch before hitting our little slice of beach on the lake. The girls are also begging for a boat ride, but we guys are jonesing to get on the jet skis. Over a meal of burgers, it’s decided that Brooke will take the girls, but I had to promise her that tomorrow she gets to ride the jet skis with us. Sunday the plan is for a lazy time on the water. Monday is Brooke’s birthday, and I need to send a text to Jax and Alex as well as find a time to talk with my brothers and sisters about Brooke’s surprise.
My newest purchases are fucking phenomenal. We jet around for a couple of hours before Brooke returns from her boat ride with the girls. After which we lounge on the beach. Brooke is the first to go in because she’s planning to cook dinner tonight. Cassie follows not soon after to help set the table.
“This has been good, Dylan,” Luke says.
“It has. And we’ll do it again. Maybe fall break we can come down depending on your football schedule.”
“Yeah, we’ll see. Coach will probably have us practicing even though schools out, especially if it looks like we’re going to the playoffs again.”
“By the way, Alex will be here tomorrow, but Jax isn’t coming until Monday morning with Brooke’s present. Everyone knows not to breathe a word. As far as she knows Jax isn’t coming, just Alex.”
“Do I still get to put the blindfold on and lead her?”
I look over at Gabby, “Absolutely, Gab. You have the most important job.”
“Shit, man. I can’t wait to see the look on her face. We’ll need a video for that one. And by the way, you’re going to be spending the rest of this year figuring out how to trump this one. You may have played all your cards the first fucking year. You’re in trouble, bro.”
“Don’t worry about me. I can take care of my woman this year and the next twenty years.”
Michael regards me curiously, “Are you going to marry her?”
I freeze at his question. I have no idea how to answer him because I haven’t thought of marrying Brooke. I’ve never considered marriage at all in my future. Shit. Brooke will expect marriage. I know she wants kids. Her dream is to have a big family. And that’s another thing I’ve never considered in my future. Kids. Do I even want to have children? I’ve already got years tied up, especially with Gabby being so young. Maybe this is something that I need to talk to Brooke about because I don’t even know if I can promise those things. First and foremost, I wonder if me being me would eventually fuck everything up, and she leave. But hell, what if I don’t give those things to her, and she leaves anyway?
“Dylan,” Luke prompts.
I look at the three of them, and they are waiting for a decision that will affect all of our lives, and I swear the weight of the question make me feel dizzy. Or maybe that’s sunstroke. Anyway, the best I can come up with is, “We better go in and wash up for supper.” Such a coward. But I can justify it by saying we are still pretty new in the relationship. But she fits in this family like the most important piece. Then there’s that.
The question of the night never really leaves my mind. I know I need to talk to Brooke. There’s no way this can be considered an open-book policy relationship if I’m keeping something like this locked up inside.
After dinner, we set around the picnic table with board games until once again bedtime calls. Brooke and I undress and climb in, and she immediately fits herself against me, and just as naturally I wrap my body around her smaller one. The most important piece.
Like she senses something is off with me, “What’s wrong, you’re so quiet.”
“I want to make love to you,” I whisper.
"Do you think the kids will hear?”
I have no idea why she’s worried considering we’ve had sex many times with the kids in the same house. But I want to take her somewhere special. I also want to talk to her about what’s bothering me. I sit up and grab my t-shirt off the floor, “Put this on and follow me.”
I slip my shorts on and take her hand to lead her across the deck and to the beach. We follow it along until I find a trail I discovered when I was 15 when a girl I met on the lake showed it to me. It leads to a small pool that’s fed by the lake but nestled in trees and completely hidden.
The moon is only half full, so I lead her carefully over the path and through the trees. There’s just enough moonlight to light our way through the trees and the pool.
Brooke laughs, "What are we doing?"
"Going swimming, you coming?"
I stop beside the pool and strip my shorts. When I look over at Brooke, she’s still standing there still and licking her lips like she needs a tall glass of cold water. That would be me, folks. Brooke puts a hand on her hip, "Dylan Monroe, you are crazy we aren't kids anymore. We are responsible adults."
I laugh, her tone is half kidding, and I know the adrenaline junkie inside of her is dying to go skinny dipping with me in a public place. "Brooke, take your clothes off and run in with me, or go in fully clothed with me carrying your ass in, your choice."
She bites her lip like she's thinking it over and quickly whips her shirt off over her head. We run into the water together. Brooke squeals when her naked body hits the water, it's still a litt
le early in the summer, so the water is still cool. The water is only waist deep leaving her glorious breasts naked and gleaming where the moonbeams shine down on her wet body.
We let our bodies savor the feel of touching before our primal instincts take over, and there’s nothing left but the urge to invade her body as deep as I can. To mark her. To own her. To show her I love her in the most basic way I can, no words necessary to send this message.
I slip my hands and lips through the long tresses of her hair, across her beautiful face, to the sensitive spots along her neck that always cause her to shudder with pleasure. I’ve learned every single one of the secret places on her body that drive her wild.
At my back, her petite fingers tattoo designs on my spine and shoulders, then back to my ass where she uses all her strength to draw me closer, not that she could, but even for her, our bodies can never be close enough. I follow the line of her spine with impatient hands eager to touch her glorious ass. My torso absorbs the trembling of her small body. Finally gripping her thighs I use the aid of the water to lift her enough to slide into the hot, wet depths of my very own personal heaven. We immediately begin a slow rhythm of rocking bodies that carry us to orgasms that shatter us, and we’re both left gasping for air and strength enough to break the deep connection of our bodies though neither of us wants that.
After sharing more some more tender kisses and touches, we finally emerge and dress so we can return to our bed. Tomorrow is another big day on vacation with our family. I have to question all these small thoughts and wonder, can I promise Brooke marriage?
The next day Alex arrives, and we spend another day on the lake laughing, playing, and soaking up the sun. Brooke again chooses to cook in her “sexy kitchen” and I take the time to gather the brood and make sure everything is going to be perfect for Brooke’s birthday tomorrow. And thanks to my dickhead brother, I’m already thinking about how I’m going to top this surprise next year. No pressure.
The next morning I slip out of bed, carefully so I won’t wake Brooke. When I open the door to the bedroom, Gabby is already standing there with a blindfold in hand. Cassie is in the kitchen quietly cutting up fruit with a recipe for almond pancakes. Don’t ask. They’re good and Brooke’s favorite. Enough said. Alex and the boys are hanging the banner I had made that the kids all designed for her. Everything is looking perfect so far. And my baby sister is standing attentively at the door listening for any sign of life on the other side. Finally Jax shows. Brooke has no idea that he is going to be here, but he’s the one responsible for her big surprise present, which she’ll get after she opens all the other presents over breakfast. After breakfast is on the table and places are set, I finally give Gabby the signal to go in and wake her.
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