Charming Fiona

by Jessica Prince

  “Son,” my father spoke, drawing my gaze to him. He cleared his throat uncomfortably. “Look, about what happened at the party—”

  “Dad,” I interrupted. “It’s not necessary. Water under the bridge and all that.”

  “Yes… well, good. That’s good.” He pulled at the neck of his shirt as if the material was squeezing too tight for comfort. “So, is it true? Fiona’s moved in here?”

  “That’s right.” My chest swelled with pride at knowing she was all mine and under my roof. For good.

  “Good. I’m glad. You two make a great couple.” To most people, that wouldn’t have seemed like much, but hearing my dad say that meant everything to me.

  Dad clapped me on the shoulder and headed off to the kitchen. When it was just the two of us, Grayson asked, “You good?”

  I was. No matter what happened, no matter what was said later, I had my brother and my woman at my back. “I’m great.”

  The front door pushed open and Calvin came walking through with Evelyn on heels, calling out, “Hello! We’re here, we’re here. Sorry for being late.”

  I took their coats and hung them by the door. “You aren’t late at all,” I replied, kissing Evelyn’s cheek and shaking Calvin’s hand. “Fee’s just about finished with dinner, and my family only just arrived. And just a heads-up, Nana’s feeling feisty this evening.”

  Evelyn’s giggle sounded much like her daughter’s. Calvin chortled and patted me on the back as they started past. “Isn’t she always?”

  “You can say that again,” Grayson grumbled under his breath as we followed behind them.

  When we cleared the front hall and headed into the living area, I stopped and watched as Fiona greeted her mom and dad with excitement. Everyone was drawn to her, huddled around the bar that separated the kitchen and living area, wanting that light of hers to shine down on them. And as I stood silently, several feet away, I watched it happen. I watched the love of my life pour her beautiful bright light out onto everyone she cared about. And when her eyes found mine and she winked, I felt it pour over me as well.

  Oh yeah. I was more than good.

  Fiona

  So far, dinner was going smoothly. With the exception of Nana periodically spouting off something that wasn’t appropriate for mixed company, there hadn’t been the slightest bit of tension. We’d made it through the main course and had just set on the chocolate cake I made for dessert when Grayson asked, “So, Deac, how’s the bar?”

  My lungs seized for a second, but when I looked to the head of the table and saw that Deacon was as calm as could be, I started to relax. “It’s great. Actually, I’m starting construction next week to put in a stage. Once a week, The Black Sheep will host an open mic night.”

  The fork in my hand clattered to the plate and my head shot up. “You are?” I asked on a surprised whisper.

  “That’s an amazing idea,” my dad exclaimed.

  Deacon gave me a tiny wink before looking down the table at my father. “Thanks, Calvin, but it was all your daughter’s idea.”

  Tears stung the inside of my nose, but I refused to let them fall. He’d listened to what I had to say. Despite the huge fight, he’d really listened. And he’d taken action because he thought it was a good idea. My God, I loved this man. Smiling brightly down the table, I mouthed those very words to him, and when he winked, I swooned a bit.

  “Like a karaoke bar?” Nolan asked derisively, shattering the blissfully happy moment. “Is that really the kind of reputation you want for your bar?”

  “Nolan,” Cybil bit out warningly, but it was too late. The mood in the room went stagnant.

  “No, Dad. Not like a karaoke bar. It’s open mic. I’ll audition local musicians, and if they’re any good, they’ll get a spot in the lineup. I haven’t worked out all the logistics yet, but it was a brilliant idea Fiona came up with to increase revenue. We’re even toying with the idea of hosting small private concerts every few months.”

  Nolan watched his son quietly for several seconds. “So you’re having an issue with money? Is that why you’re doing this?”

  Uh-oh.

  “Dad, not cool,” Grayson growled.

  “What? I was only asking a question. I worry. I just want my son to be stable and secure for the future.”

  “And who says he isn’t?” Grayson retorted.

  “Nolan, this is neither the time nor the place,” Cybil chided.

  “As a father, am I not allowed to be concerned for my own son’s well-being?”

  Deacon and everyone else remained silent as those three went at each other.

  “Not if your concern is a mask for you trying to tear him down. Jesus, Dad,” Grayson boomed.

  For the first time, I finally saw exactly what Deacon was talking about. It wasn’t that his father wanted to bring him down. Nolan’s concerns were genuine, he was just going about voicing them in a very wrong way. All of a sudden, I saw just how much Deacon and his father were alike. Two strong-willed, stubborn men who weren’t sure how to handle being in the wrong.

  “I’m not tearing him down! In case you forgot, I know a little about running a business. I’m just worried about my child. It’s something you won’t understand until Lola brings your little one into the world. If he’d have just joined us at Bandwidth—”

  “It’s not what he wanted!” Grayson cut in.

  Things were deteriorating quickly. Especially considering the Lockhart men were all hot-headed. I’d promised to have my man’s back, and that was exactly what I intended to do.

  “Nolan.” At the sound of my voice, the argument stopped and everyone turned to look at me. “I understand your concern. I know you’re worried about Deacon because you love him, but have you actually sat down and talked to him about the bar?”

  He blinked. “I…. No.”

  I offered him a gentle smile as I continued. “If there’s one thing I’ve learned after a lifetime around the Lockhart men, it’s that you’re all incredibly strong-willed.”

  “Darling, why do I get the feeling that’s your polite way of calling me stubborn?” he joked.

  Breathing a sigh of relief that I hadn’t pushed him too far—at least yet—I said, “Because I kind of am.” Nana burst into laughter, but I chose to ignore it and kept going. “You built Bandwidth from the ground up, so you know how stressful it is. But what you don’t understand is that Deacon isn’t going to fail. He’s already succeeded.”

  “Fee, it’s fine,” Deacon said in an attempt to stop me.

  “No it’s not,” I told him. “You two have been fighting instead of communicating.” I looked back to Nolan. “What your son’s built is amazing. If you’d just let go of the animosity you have with Deacon for not coming to work for you, you’d be able to see that. I love you and your whole family. You know that. I grew up considering you and Cybil my second parents, but you’re in the wrong here. Be proud that you raised a man strong enough to know what he wants and to work his ass off to get it. He’s that strong because you raised him to be. That’s something you should be celebrating, not worrying over.”

  By the time I finished, the room was so silent you could hear a pin drop. It was as if everyone was holding their breaths, waiting for Nolan’s reaction.

  He stared at me from across the table for so long that I started to grow anxious, fearing I’d crossed a line. But I didn’t regret speaking up. Everything I said was the God’s honest truth, and needed to be said. I’d handle the fallout if it came.

  Then he spoke. “I think, darling, that you may very well be the best thing that’s ever happened to my son.”

  My body sagged and I smiled in relief. “Well I’m glad, because I know for certain that he’s the best thing that’s ever happened to me.”

  Nolan returned my grin.

  We both jumped in our seats when Nana banged her cane on the floor with a loud clack. “Finally! I love these boys, but their heads have been planted so far up their own asses I feared they’d have to be surgica
lly removed. I can’t tell you how relieved I am to know it won’t come to that. I’m too damn old to be dealing with idiots.”

  Chapter Thirty

  Fiona

  My fingers wrapped around the top of the headboard in a death grip as Deacon lay beneath me, holding my hips so tight I’d probably have bruises the next day. The sensation of his tongue and teeth devouring my pussy was almost too much to bear, but when I tried to lift up, he’d jerk me back down, his ministrations relentless.

  One of Deacon’s hands traveled down my quaking thigh, causing the trembles to grow more pronounced as I drew closer and closer to an out-of-this-world orgasm.

  The moment he stopped flicking his tongue against my clit and drove it inside my opening, stars burst behind my eyes. I’d never had a man give me so much pleasure just from going down on me. He feasted like he was positively starving and my body was the only thing that could sustain him.

  His growl sent vibrations through my core, and I sucked in a choked gasp as the pleasure overwhelmed me.

  When I looked down between my spread thighs, the sight of Deacon’s face buried in my pussy caused my entire body to tremble. It was the most beautifully erotic thing I’d ever seen.

  “Oh God, honey,” I panted, grinding myself against his face. “I’m gonna—” My words cut off with a low moan as I came, writhing and squirming, riding his tongue as I exploded.

  I hadn’t even finished when he pushed me down his body. One hand went to his cock and he lined it up with my entrance just a moment before he shifted his hips and filled me.

  “Take yourself there again,” he commanded.

  Putting my hands on his chest, I did as ordered and began moving up and down on his rock-hard erection. His hands came up to cup my breasts, his thumbs dragging across my tight nipples. I dropped my head back as the intensity of his touch sent sparks from my breasts to my clit. I moved faster, harder, riding him with everything I had, desperate for another release.

  “Fee,” he grunted, pinching my nipple and sending bolts of lighting throughout my body. “Eyes on me when you get off.”

  Tilting my head back down, I let my hair drape over my shoulders as I opened my eyes and met his. Digging my nails into his chest, I sucked in a breath at the desire glinting in his gaze as he watched me. “Deacon,” I panted. “God, I love you.” Then I came again, unable to keep my eyes from rolling back in my head.

  He flipped me to my back and took over, pounding into me again and again. Hooking his arm behind my knee, he pushed it toward my chest so he could go so deep there wasn’t a single part of me that his cock didn’t touch.

  I turned my focus to him as I started coming down, lifting my free leg and wrapping it around his hips as he powered in and out.

  “Fuck me, Fiona,” he growled. Sweat glistened on his brow as he stared directly into my eyes. “Love you so much. So goddamn much.” His cock swelled thicker, stretching me so perfectly.

  Deacon pulled almost all the way out and paused for just a second before slamming back inside. He did it again and again, taking me hard but slow at the same time.

  “Christ, baby. You light up for me every fucking time.”

  He wasn’t wrong about that. I couldn’t get enough. Each time was more spectacular, more consuming than the last. I couldn’t get enough of Deacon Lockhart. “Always, Deac. I’ll always light up for you.”

  A feral growl rumbled up his throat. “Goddamn, you’re perfect for me. Fucking. Perfect.” He punctuated those last two words with brutal thrusts. “Never get enough of you. Never stop loving you.”

  I let out a whimper as pleasure washed over me. Happy tears filled my eyes. I couldn’t drag my gaze from his as he buried himself inside me, the muscles in his neck and jaw growing tense right before he groaned out his orgasm between gritted teeth.

  Deacon collapsed on top of me once it left him, releasing my leg so I could wrap my limbs around him and hold on tight. After a few minutes, he pulled out, rolled us to our sides, and brushed the hair from my face.

  “My girl had my back tonight,” he murmured with a gentle smile on his face.

  I returned his grin. “I told you I would.”

  His chuckle shook my body, pressed close to his. “Yeah. I just didn’t know you’d do it so damn well. I think you might have actually gotten through to my old man.”

  Reaching up, I traced the length of his jaw with my fingertips. “Whether I did or not, it doesn’t matter. As long as it’s you and me, everything else is pie.”

  His bright white teeth flashed on a grin. “Pie, huh?”

  “Yep, pie. As in easy as pie.” I was content to just lie there and stare at his beautiful face until I fell asleep. But then I remembered what he said at dinner. “Are you really starting an open mic night?”

  “Yep.”

  “Omigod!” I squealed. Sitting up quickly, I sent my loose hair flying in all directions. “Deacon, this is so great! We need to come up with a marketing campaign,” I started rambling. “I’m thinking we blast this on social media. We’ll put the signup for musicians on the home page of your website. Do you have a newsletter? If not, we need to get on that, like, now. Word of mouth will probably be our biggest draw, so I’m thinking maybe we make up some fliers. Oh, and a banner! The Black Sheep is packed every night, so we’ll put up a banner announcing that open mic night is coming soon, and we’ll include the web address for your site so bands know where to go to sign up for auditions. This is going to be amazing!”

  “Whoa, whoa.” Deacon sat up on a laugh. “Slow down, baby. All this is good, but I barely followed what you just rambled, seeing as you didn’t even take a breath.”

  Grabbing his face, I pulled him closer, unable to keep the huge shit-eating grin off my face. “That’s okay. I already have a plan. I want to help with this.”

  “Sweetheart, you’re forgetting the little fact that you have a career of your own. This is going to be a ton of work.”

  “I don’t care!” I chirped. “I’ll make it work somehow. It might seem boring as hell to you, but I loved coming to the bar and doing the books for you. I like the idea of us working side by side. And I want to help with this.”

  He examined my face for several seconds, like he was searching for something before pulling back, my hands dropping to my lap. “I hesitate to ask this, since you’re such a fan of calling me a caveman, but have you thought about working at the bar full time?”

  My upper body tipped back in surprise. I knew I loved working at the bar, not just because I was working alongside Deacon but because I actually enjoyed the work. I hadn’t once given thought to leaving behind Prentice Fashion to do it full time. But now that he’d mentioned it, I wasn’t sure I could stop thinking about it.

  When I didn’t reply, his expression turned skeptical. “You’re not about to lay into me for being sexist or misogynistic or some shit like that, are you?”

  “No… I… No. I’m not.”

  “But?” he asked hesitantly.

  “But….” I shook my head to try an organize my thoughts. “I can’t actually think of a but.”

  His back went straight and he leaned in closer. “Is this something you’d actually want? To work with me at a bar? I think you already know this, but it’s not exactly a glamorous job.”

  I looked at him with a vicious glare. “Are you trying to talk me out of it? Because that’s what it’s sounding like. If you don’t want me to work for you—”

  Deacon’s hand came up and clamped over my mouth. “Calm down, crazy. I wasn’t saying that at all. First off, you wouldn’t be working for me. You’d be working with me. We haven’t had this conversation yet, but just so you know, I fully intend on marrying you one day in the very near future. When that happens, what’s mine becomes yours. That means the bar. So if you decide that working there is something you want, it’ll be as my partner, not an employee.”

  I smacked his hand away and my jaw dropped. My eyes bugged out as I began sputtering, “I—you—but….
Are you serious?”

  “You surprised? I remember you telling me that you always wanted what your folks had. You watched your mom work alongside your dad and help him build the company up to what it is today. Is that still what you want?”

  A golf ball–sized lump of emotion formed in my throat. I struggled to swallow it down and croaked past it. “Y-yes.”

  He leaned in farther, so close I had no choice but to fall to the mattress. Deacon hovered over me, his biceps bulging as he held his weight up on his arms. “I want to give you everything you want, baby. If you think working at The Black Sheep will make you happy, then I want you there. I’m not trying to pressure you. I just want you to know how I feel.”

  With a watery smile, I lifted my hand and stroked his cheek. “Stop being so awesome. You’re going to make me cry.”

  He chuckled and bent his elbows to plant a kiss against my lips. “Just think about it, baby. The offer’s on the table indefinitely. There’s plenty of time.”

  I sniffled and batted at my watery eyes. “Okay. I’ll think about it.”

  “Good.” One of his hands snaked between our bodies and down between my legs. “Now, how tired are you?”

  My blood began to heat with arousal even though I’d just come more than once. “You know, I’m suddenly feeling wide awake.”

  “Hmm,” he hummed. His fingers skated through the slickness between my thighs. “Then how about you show me how awesome you think I am?”

  Suddenly, that was exactly what I wanted to do. Licking my lips, I rested my hands on his chest and applied pressure, taking him to his back. I slid between his legs and shimmied down his body, placing wet kisses along his defined abs on my way down.

  “Is this what you want?” I asked playfully, my tongue peeking out to lick at the muscular indentations of his hips.

  “Yeah, baby,” he hissed between gritted teeth. “You know it is.”

  I was so turned on that I was dripping as I hummed and bent my head, opening my mouth to take him as far as I could. Deacon’s grunted curse the instant my lips wrapped around his shaft set my entire body on fire and encouraged me to make this the best blowjob he’d ever have. And that was exactly what I set out to do.