Cocky Genius: Ethan Cocker (Cocker Brothers of Atlanta Book 9)

by Faleena Hopkins

  Sniffling, she whispers, “How bad?”

  “Very bad Nessa! Very bad!” It’s like she’s talking to a dog. “Put her on her knees!”

  Ben looks at me and I motion for him to do whatever she says. He makes a face and lowers the crazy-as-shit lawyer to her knees. She doesn’t even fight him.

  Stacy slaps her harder this time. “You want me to love you when you’ve been a bad girl, don’t you?”

  “Yes.”

  “You want me to punish you.”

  “Yes, Mistress.”

  “Lick my hand.”

  Vanessa obeys.

  “Where is Ms. Reed?”

  The submission flashes to rebellion. “I can fuck men, too! I showed you!”

  Ben mutters, “Now what the hell does that mean?”

  But Stacy didn’t like hearing that. Or maybe she did, because she shoves her hand down Vanessa’s silk blouse and pinches her nipple, hissing, “Who did you fuck? Huh, slave? Did you take a man into my Nessa when I wasn’t looking?”

  On a moan Vanessa whispers, “I fucked someone who knows things.”

  Stacy is staring at the woman, then cuts a knowing look to me. “Who built this house?”

  My spine stiffens. “She’s in the secret room! Ben, take this gun. Fucking shoot her in the leg if she tries to leave!”

  “You got it!”

  I take off running to the second wing of my home, feet pounding down the hallway. I burst into an unfurnished bedroom that I left this way on purpose. I wanted it to appear forgotten. There are only three things in it — two priceless works of art to distract thieves into taking them and leaving, plus a cheap nightlight stuck in a socket all by itself.

  Flying down I twist it to the left. The wall gives way to an invisible door that opens with one touch. Stairs are behind it and I run up them, shouting, “Charlie, it’s Ethan! It’s just me! Don’t be scared.” Seeing her in my desk chair, tied up and whimpering, I fall to my knees and rip the cloth sack off her head, gently tearing the tape from her mouth.

  She gasps for air, tears streaming. My fingers are shaking so bad, but I untie her in seconds, and pull her into a desperate hug, rocking her. “I’m here, Princess. I’m here.”

  “Ethan!” she croaks, arms clawing at my head like she can’t believe I’m here and can’t get close enough. “Where am I? How’d you find me? It’s Vanessa! She’s crazy, Ethan! She’s fucking insane!”

  “Shhh, I know,” I whisper in her ear, kissing her head over and over as I continue rocking my traumatized girl. “You’re in my house. This is the secret office I told you about. Funny way for you to find it. But then again you are a living miracle, huh?”

  She laughs through the tears, relief mixed with shock. “You’re so stupid!”

  “I’m not the one who wet myself,” I smile into her eyes.

  Fresh tears of embarrassment flow as she whimpers, “I had to…”

  “Shhh, I don’t care. I’m just trying to make you laugh, Princess. Let’s get you to a bath. Come on.” I lift her off the ground and she holds onto my neck, burying her face against my chest. “How come your pee smells like roses?”

  “Stop it!” she murmurs. “It’s not funny.”

  “It can be funny if you let it be.”

  She looks up at me, beautiful face all twisted. “I love you.”

  Did you feel my heart stop?

  Because it did.

  “I love you, too, Ms. Reed. There’s no doubt in my gut that I love you, too.”

  30

  ETHAN

  A couple of months can fly by, huh? What with the police being called, the media circus that followed, the family circus when they found out, the beginning of the trial… Ben, Charlie, and I have just now finally begun to settle into normal lives again.

  Don’t be disappointed I shut down programming.

  It wasn’t fun, trust me.

  Ben is so over it he’s skipping the Family BBQ tonight so he can find some peace at the farm and remember who the hell he is.

  You wouldn’t have enjoyed the confusion.

  But I had to flip the switch back on today because in my opinion this is where it gets good, and you have to see this.

  I’m watching my girl sleep. Isn’t she beautiful? The slopes of her shoulder and face are highlighted by the cool glow of the aquarium light that turned on ten minutes ago at exactly ten o’clock. It’s on a timer. During weekends it lights at ten so we can sleep in. Monday through Friday the fish rise with Charlie at six. They’re always awake, but you get the idea.

  She hasn’t officially moved in. I’m going to ask her, today before the BBQ. I wanted you in on the surprise. Also wanted to clue you in on a few things before she wakes up, because after that I won’t be able to talk to you.

  I give all my attention to her.

  Hope you don’t mind.

  Ben finally got a hold of Summer. She never texted him and had no idea what he was talking about. Turns out Vanessa went through the trouble of driving two states over to Summer’s house to steal her phone.

  Why?

  Just to fuck with Ben. Can you believe that?

  She didn’t mean to lure me out of the house. She thought I was at work the whole time, that is until she heard Stacy and I talking. Her lover’s come-hither voice got her out of hiding and she was about to confront us when she was tackled.

  It was Vanessa who referred Stacy to Wyntech in the first place. The two of them were in the closet with everyone they knew. Vanessa had lost her last girlfriend, Summer, to my cousin Ben. So when she heard my name and saw me on the video, she realized we were related. Then Stacy stopped taking her calls. That triggered the mental break down.

  My Charlie was the most hurt because she had believed Vanessa was her friend. But now we understood why she’d given me that sexy look on her way to the bathroom at Whiskey Blue, and had shown interest when I joked about the threesome. She would happily have fucked Charlie, and if she’d nailed me, too, she could tell Stacy something along the lines of, See! We both had sex with him. Won’t you come back to me now? We can put all of this behind us now that we’re even.

  But it didn’t go that way. So she went deeper into darkness and devised the barter idea to convince me to give Stacy up. She thought I wanted both women, but Charlie more. Total fucking nutcase. How she ever thought she’d get away with it, no one knows. It’s impossible to understand crazy.

  The press loved the story, especially the lesbian lovers part. Charlie went on record saying, “This isn’t a gay thing. Plenty of straight people lose their minds over love, too.”

  You think they listened to that?

  Vanessa’s the only one who went to jail. Unfortunately the trial will go on for a long time because the penal system sucks. I don’t think it’s an accident that its name makes you think of dicks.

  I chose not to press charges against the dominatrix, bi-sexual, pool table gyrating, computer hacking intern, because in real life she wouldn’t hurt a fly. Plus, Charlie wanted to hire her at Wyntech before some other company snatched her up and used her powers for evil.

  Ms. Reed sat her new employee down and let her know that I was off limits. Stacy agreed to put her ‘love’ for me on hold, because computers were her greatest passion anyway.

  Just to be safe, I steer clear of her.

  I got my pool table cleaned because she goo’ed it up a little. I gave my comforter and pillows to charity in order to start fresh.

  Charlie has been going to group trauma therapy and has only good things to say about it. She likes the community vibe and even told me it’s helping her get over losing her parents at sixteen. In her family seeing a therapist was weakness. She doesn’t believe that now.

  She and I both decided to tear the secret room out and report the architect to the cops. Don’t ‘fuck and tell’ where the wealthy keep their secrets, buddy. He should have known better, right?

  “How long have you been up,” Charlie whispers.

  Well shit, I g
otta go.

  You’re welcome to stay and watch the end of this chapter of our lives, if you want.

  Pun unintended.

  Or was it?

  “Hey, Princess. How’d you sleep?”

  She stretches and runs a hand through my hair in the process, smiling at me as I lie on my side. “So good. I had the weirdest dream, though, Ethan.”

  “What’s that?”

  “You asked me to move in with you.”

  I smile and climb on top of her. “This whole psychic connection thing we’ve got going on is getting stronger.”

  Her eyes widen with honest surprise. “Were you going to do that?”

  “Later today.”

  “You’re lying!”

  “I’m not.” I run a hand down her nakedness loving the softness of her skin. “And I wish I could have a friend verify, but…I can’t.”

  Her fingers lace into my hair and she says on a big smile, “I love this mop.”

  “Do you?” I begin running the pad of my thumb over her nipple until it becomes taut. “Are you happy with me?”

  “Mmmhmm.” Her eyes are bright as she nods and opens her legs a little. I wedge my knee under hers to help, my cock lengthening by the second. “I woke up wanting you inside me.”

  Sliding a finger into her slit I groan, “You’re sopping wet, Princess. You want me to fuck you, huh?”

  She moans as I play with her aroused clit. My shaft is hard now as I watch her writhe under my skilled touch. I love discovering what makes her squirm.

  “It feels so good when you touch my pussy.”

  “Mmmm, say it again.”

  “My pussy,” she smiles. “Pussy pussy pussy.”

  “What do you want me to do to it?”

  “Kiss it.”

  Sliding down, I spread her legs more. “Your red hair down here turns me on so much.” I slip my tongue oh-so-slowly up from base to cleft. I give her clit a tiny nibble with only my lips. She moans and twists, her hand resting on my head. My tongue starts working her, following the sounds she makes, giving everything she needs until she’s bucking like she wants me to make her cum. But I don’t let her get off that easily. The fun part is making her wait, teasing her, making her beg for it. I know I’ve got her where I want her when she cries out, “Oh my God! Fuck me!”

  I ram my tongue inside her slick cave and flick her little bean with my fingers. Light strokes across her slipperiness are all it takes because she’s on edge. She moans, her hips rising off the bed. I grab them and lap her up until she trembles. She goes limp on a slew of soft whimpers.

  “I’m so hard for you, Princess,” I groan as I rub the tip of my shaft up and down her pussy before diving in. Charlie gasps as I enter her. The way her tight cave clenches around my cock, I can’t get enough of it. She climbs up my body so that she’s sitting on my lap, riding me, moving in ways that bring out the pleasure for both of us.

  Her head falls back, neck exposed. I come in and lick it, then wrap my jaw around it to massage with my teeth as my hips lose their mind pounding her. I cum inside my girl, giving her everything I’ve got, panting her name and holding her close. Her nails are dug into my back as she whispers in my ear, “I’m pregnant.”

  We lock eyes. “What? You sure?”

  Nodding she grins at me. “Yeah. I’m two months along. It happened in Scotland.”

  “Fuck that! It happened over the Atlantic!” I brush red hair back from her shining face. “Ms. Reed, you’re everything I’ve always wanted.”

  She goes quiet with tears in her eyes. “I’m so lucky I met you.”

  “No shit, right?”

  She hits my chest. “Cocky jerk.”

  “Cocky jerk who loves you very much.”

  Her arms slide around my neck. “That just makes you a cocky genius.”

  “Oh yeah? Only a smart guy would love you, is that it?” I start tickling her.

  Wriggling away she cries out, “You have to be very smart to love this chick!”

  “We’ll see about that!”

  She cracks up, yelping and pushing me back. “Stop it!” But I won’t give up that easily. It’s just not how I’m made.

  And this kid is going to be born into a house filled with laughter, I promise.

  31

  ETHAN

  Georgia decided to smile on our Family BBQ tonight. It’s one of those days where it’s not too hot and no chance of rain. Well, there’s always a chance of rain, but at least for the next hour we can dream.

  Charlie and I are slowly making our way down my grandparents’ hallway when my dad appears at the bottom of the stairs and bellows a fake-angry, “Finally decide to show your face, Ethan?”

  Chuckling I head down the steps and give him a bear hug. “Hey Dad.” We pull away as I tell him. “I was just showing Charlie the pics of you guys growing up.”

  “Ah, she doesn’t want to see those. C’mere you!” he grins at her as she hurries over. Dad spins her around, setting her in front of Max and Caden on their way to the backyard.

  Moving aside they joke, “Watch out, Ethan! Charlie’s going to trade up and get Uncle Jake instead!”

  “Keep walking!” I shout at them.

  “Jake Cocker,” Mom says, appearing at his side. “Should I be worried?”

  Dad looks around before he grabs her ass.

  Charlie is still getting used to us, but she’s got a huge smile on her face.

  Mom whispers, “Did you see that? He had to look around to make sure that Michael wasn’t here to witness, and have another heart attack.”

  “Mom!” I laugh.

  Dad slides an arm around her. “When I met you, you didn’t have this sick sense of humor.”

  She kisses his nose, murmuring, “I learned it from you, don’t be so proud.”

  “Oh, I’m very proud.”

  She laughs like they’re alone, like we’re not standing here watching them. My parents are still happy after all these years. I’ve seen them fight plenty of times, but they seem to enjoy battling it out… and making up.

  Mom points between me and Charlie, a sort of lazy index finger floating through the air, Southern style. “You know what I thought of the other day, Charlie? You have a boy’s name like mine.”

  Charlie glances to me. “Ethan thought I was a man, at first. Surprised him to find out I wasn’t.”

  “Really?” Mom smiles knowingly, kissing Dad’s cheek. “Isn’t that interesting, Jake? Leaf doesn’t fall far from the tree.”

  I have no idea what they’re talking about so I ask, “Wait, is there some story you guys never told us when we were kids?”

  They give me this fake-innocence look, shaking their heads, both mumbling, “No, I don’t think so.”

  To be even more mysterious, Mom excuses herself by saying, “Nancy needs help in the kitchen.”

  Charlie gives my hand a firm squeeze.

  “Mom, wait. We have something to tell you guys. But I need to find Emma and Eric first so…meet us by the fountain in about five minutes?”

  They nod, eyes darting between me and Charlie as we excuse ourselves. I call over my shoulder to my mother, “See how I left there? Before you?”

  “You’re hilarious, Ethan,” she dryly says.

  “I win!”

  “Oh stop.”

  As we search for my brother and sister we almost get sucked into the party. The kitchen is swarming with cousins who want to talk. My aunt and uncles and grandparents are mostly outside save for Uncle Jeremy who’s lifting one of two enormous chili pots to carry it to the long buffet-style tables waiting on the grass. “Hey Ethan! Charlie! Good to see you!”

  Below the growing smattering of stars in a clear night sky, rows of twinkle lights hang over the folding tables that are shaped in an L since there are so many of us. It gives us a chance to see more people if we need to call out to a family member and ask a question.

  No need for heat lamps today, so they’re stored under the house where we keep all the party sup
plies.

  “I normally get here early to set up but since this is the first time I’m bringing a date, I’ve been let off the hook.”

  Charlie pulls my hand to stop me from walking.

  “I’m the first person you brought here?”

  I pull her to me. “You’re the first woman I ever said I love you to.”

  “Really?” she whispers.

  “No, I’m fucking with you.” Her eyes go wide and I laugh, “NO! I mean, yes, you are the first. I’m sorry, it was just too easy.”

  “That’s not funny, Ethan!”

  “It so is.” I kiss her, but that can’t last long here.

  People start shouting and clapping and we have to break it up when Uncle Jason yells, “Stick it in!”

  Over the uproar of laughter Grams shouts, “Language!”

  Jason balks, “That wasn’t a swearword, Grams!”

  “It’s the same thing,” she cries out, waving her old hand.

  People go back to what they were doing, some pouring the fresh ginger ale that’s so popular it’s in at least eight pitchers spread throughout. When I was a boy, Uncle Jason hoarded it so Grandma Nance finally gave in and began making more as a preventative.

  Under the mosquito-tents that protect the food from bugs, others are sneaking deviled eggs, bacon-wrapped prawns, cucumber feta toast, any nibble they can snatch without anyone spotting them. I know for a fact they want that corn on the cob but chowing down on one would be way too obvious.

  And everyone’s engaged in easygoing conversation.

  Finding Emma with Gabriel I say to him, “Have to talk to my sister a sec. Where’s Eric?”

  “What am I, his keeper?” Gabriel smirks to me, adding a friendlier, “Hi Charlie.”

  She waves, “Hi. I love your new song.”

  “Tell my mom. She thinks it’s too sappy.”

  “I will. No, I won’t. But I’ll think it.”

  He laughs, “Ethan is rubbing off on you.”

  Spotting my brother by the storage door hauling chairs I call out, “Eric! Meet us at the fountain.” He nods and keeps on with his mission.