Savor (Cottonwood Falls, Book 5)

by Aliyah Burke

  Unused to being summarily dismissed as this woman had done, Piers stomped to his room. If that’s how she wanted to be, fine. He didn’t need her.

  Chapter Six

  London smiled abstractedly as her friends joked and laughed on either side of her. Kendria slanted her gaze in her direction and raised one eyebrow.

  “What’s wrong?” she mouthed.

  Shaking her head, London gave a small smile, not wanting to go over that right now. Thankfully, Kendria let it go and just gave her a tiny nod before focusing back on the conversation flowing around them. It had been three weeks since she’d walked out from Piers’ living room and their relationship. If I can call it that. She really shouldn’t. They’d been having sex and talking, but it wasn’t about dating or furthering their relationship.

  Damn it all.

  She shuddered slightly and licked her lips. She missed him. All of him. The warmth of his arms around her, how it was to be against his chest, the scent of his skin. The rasp of his stubble along her body.

  “London and I will go get that.”

  Kendria’s words snapped her mind back from the Piers road it was skipping down. “Huh?”

  Kendria stood and beckoned her. London pushed up from her chair and walked along with the jazz singer. “What are we getting?”

  “Away from the group so you will tell me what the hell is going on with you. You were in the doldrums over Christmas, and you completely skipped the New Year’s party. What gives?”

  She tucked some hair behind her ear then readjusted her Captain America skull cap. “Just tired is all.”

  “You know there’s a test for that.”

  “Shut it.”

  Kendria laughed, only to sober. “I’m worried. What’s going on? Does this have to do with your hunky man, Piers?”

  “He’s not my man.” Even saying those words hurt.

  “Right. He watches you like a dying man staring at the one thing which could save his life. What happened? You two were having a thing.”

  “Who told you that?”

  Kendria snorted. “Really? You grew up in this town. You really think the fact you spend the night at one another’s houses goes unnoticed by the general masses around here?”

  “Damn.”

  Kendria put in the order for five more coffees. London hunched down in her coat and scowled at the bitter wind swirling. “Is there a reason we can’t eat inside?”

  “People are nosy inside. We eat outside. It’s our thing.”

  “Our thing needs to be done in warmer weather.”

  “You wouldn’t complain if you had a man to snuggle up against.”

  “Is that an offer to share Vance?” she quipped, reaching for three of the cups.

  “Vance says yes.” The man in discussion spoke as he reached in front of Kendria to pick up the last of the coffees.

  London experienced a pain of longing when the couple shared a long, passionate kiss.

  “Cold, standing, waiting to get back to my seat,” she drolled.

  Kendria wrapped her arms around the man who’d stolen her heart and waved London on.

  “I’ll just get these back and let the two of you reunite then.”

  She handed out the coffees back at the table and tried again to join in the conversation. She enjoyed the women, but her mind continually drifted back to Piers. When her cell rang, she answered without checking the screen first.

  “Yes?”

  “What’s for dinner, sister dearest?”

  Brows furrowed, she cocked her head to the side. “Card?”

  “I’m hungry.”

  “Where are you?” She tugged on her hat once more.

  “Don’t you think you should wear like a pink hat with the pom pom on top like other girls instead of a Captain America one?”

  She jerked her head and stared across the street. Balancing on the curb stood her brother, waving at her. She hung up and called, “Card! I’ll be right back, ladies.” London slipped from the seating area and hastened across the street to hug her brother. “What are you doing here?”

  He wrapped his arms around her and kissed her cheek. “I’m hungry. We’re on a three day in Atlanta, so I came here.”

  “You do know they serve food in Atlanta, right?”

  He tapped a gloved finger on her nose. “I know. But my sister is here, and she cooks a mean meal.” He gripped her shoulders. “You’ve lost weight. Bags under your eyes, but it’s damn good to see you, Lonny.”

  Tears pricked her eyes at the mention of her childhood name. It had been so long since he’d called her that. He canted his head to the side.

  “Come on,” he said. “I’m freezing my ass off here.”

  “Let me just say goodbye to the ladies.” They did that swiftly, and she walked back to his car with him, arm in arm. “Thanks for coming, Card.”

  “I’ve missed you.”

  “Ditto.” She reached over the console and kissed his cheek. “Drive, James.”

  “Usually, it’s ‘Fly, Cardiff’. But I’ll take it.” He started the engine. “I’ve come bearing gifts, from Mr. Hawkins, as well.”

  “Your boss is so sweet.”

  “He loves you, for some reason, not sure why.”

  She punched him in the arm, and he just laughed. Once they were back at her place, while Cardiff showered and got settled in the guest room, London began making them some dinner. Picking some of her brother’s favorites.

  ***

  “Are you sure?” Piers asked his attorney.

  “Yes, I’m staring at the results right now.” Shuffling papers. “Are you okay?”

  “Sure thing. Not much choice.” He glanced at his watch, rage simmering in his veins. “I have to go.”

  “Call if you need me to do anything more.”

  “Sure.” He ended the call and stepped from his SUV before striding up to the school’s front door.

  It always surprised him to be able to walk right in when at the other school he’d had to be buzzed inside. He waved to the principal as he took brisk steps to the room he sought. Pausing outside the door, he stared in the small window.

  London sat at her desk while a tall, black man spoke to the class. His hair was cut close to his head, and his slacks and pressed shirt presented a good look. The entire class sat enraptured by whatever the man spoke about. He allowed his gaze to drift back to London. Her hair had been captured tight on the top of her head in some bun, one he longed to take down and thread his fingers through.

  He shoved back those thoughts and rapped on the glass. Her dark eyes snapped to the door, and she pushed to her feet when she recognized him. With a quick glance to the room, she approached and slipped out the door.

  “Something I can do for you, Mr. Cuyper?”

  So many responses filled his tongue. He ran a hungry look over her, head to foot. “You’re hot as fuck, London. I hate this distance, and I want you back in my life. No, don’t say anything; that’s not why I’m here.”

  She frowned. “What happened?”

  He gave into the need to touch her and caressed her cheek. “So intuitive. I got some news today I have to go to Atlanta to deal with. I won’t be back by the time school lets out. Would you take care of Javier until I get back tonight?”

  She crossed her arms, bringing his attention to her firm breasts, covered by her pearlescent blue silk shirt. “This isn’t a whim?”

  “No. I just found out I’m not Javier’s biological father, and I know his grandmother is going to try and grab him. I have to get to my lawyer’s office.”

  “She can’t just take him from you,” she hissed. “You’ve been his father for as long as he knows.” She touched his arm. “Do what you must. But go in and tell him, so I am not the one to break it to him.”

  Ignoring the riding need to kiss her, he nodded and waited for her to step in the room. On her heels, he paused to glance about the room as she went back to her desk with a smile for the man talking.

  “Javier,”
she said. “Your father would like a word with you in the hall, please.”

  His son rose and went to his side. Out in the hall, Piers crouched down so he was eye to eye with his boy. “I have to go out of town, Javier.”

  Sadness filled his expression. “Like you used to?”

  “No, nothing like that. I have to get to Atlanta and meet some men to discuss a few things. I won’t be able to pick you up after school today, but I spoke with Ms. Rhymes, and she is going to watch you until I get home.”

  “Really?” His grin nearly split his face. “That’s awesome. I’ll be able to talk to Mr. Rhymes more, then.”

  “That’s who’s talking?”

  “It’s her brother. He’s a pilot and telling us about where he’s been.”

  The jealousy, which had been growing ever since he saw the man, settled instantly. “Okay, you ask all the questions you want. I’ll be back just as soon as I can.”

  “Love you, Papá.”

  He hugged his boy. Blood or not, this was his son. Nothing would ever change that, and he would fight to the death to keep him. “Love you, too, Javier. I’ll be back as soon as I can. Go on, get back to class.”

  A swift kiss on the cheek, and his son went back in the room. Piers stuck his head back in and gave a small wave of acknowledgement to London. He was confident his son was in good hands. London would be great with him. Was all day long.

  He jogged outside and slid behind the wheel of his car before heading to Atlanta and what could very well be the biggest battle of his life.

  ***

  The door swung open, putting Piers face to face with the man who’d spoken to his son’s class today. London’s brother no longer wore the business casual attire but had dressed in torn jeans and a sweatshirt.

  “Yes?”

  “I’m here to see London and pick up my son.”

  “Right.” There was a faint British accent to the man’s tone. “You’re little Javi’s dad.” He stepped back. “Come on in. I believe he’s in the living room.”

  “London there?”

  “No, she’s in her room getting a few things.”

  “I need a word with her, first.”

  “I’m sure you do.” The man shut the door on the cold and waved him on. “I’ll keep an eye on him.”

  Piers stuck his head in the doorway to the living room just to lay eyes on his boy before pivoting on his heel and heading to London’s bedroom.

  “Any reason I should be worried you know the way to my sister’s bedroom?”

  “None I can think of.” Piers walked on, not wanting to engage him.

  At her door, he paused before opening it and slipping inside. She had her back to him, in nothing but a bra and boy shorts. Lust slammed him, and he gulped. She just didn’t know how hot she was to him. Every day of the week, he looked forward to staring at her and figuring out the fastest way to disrobe her.

  “London,” he said in a low tone.

  She gasped and spun to face him, arms up to cover what the good Lord had blessed her with.

  “Hands down,” he ordered, moving across the pale rose-colored carpet to kiss her. “I want to stare at you.”

  “Stop, Piers,” she said when he was two steps away. “Your son is out there.”

  “Being watched by your brother.”

  He closed the rest of the distance and covered her mouth with his. Her whimper of surrender was like the bell at the derby, setting the entire field out. He sank his hands in her hair, anchoring her to him.

  He released her hair to slide down her nude body to the single item covering her pussy. He yanked it off with one powerful jerk. Then, pushed two fingers deep inside her, capturing her gasp with his mouth. She came hard over his thrusting digits. Her grip on his arms boarded on painful, but he wouldn’t change it for the world. This woman was his.

  “Piers,” she moaned.

  “I’ve spent the day fighting to keep my son, and that’s a battle which is just beginning. I’m not giving up on us either, London. I want you in my life. The mother to my son. The mother to all our children.” He flexed his fingers, hitting her g-spot. Her legs trembled, and she counted on him to hold her up. “My ex-mother-in-law is a bitch and will no doubt be back. She will be mean to you, but I want you to be part of Javier’s life with me. I want him to come to you when he can’t come to me.”

  She tried to move away from him, but he refused to let her. He mirrored her until she was backed against the wall by her bed. He rubbed her clit with the heel of his hand. “I want to share your bed at night and kiss you goodbye as you head to school in the morning.”

  “This isn’t… Oh, Jesus fucking holy hell… I can’t, oh God, don’t stop, please don’t stop.”

  “I don’t have any plans on stopping.” He nipped her earlobe before lowering his head to take her nipple in his mouth. “Not for a while.”

  Her hands removed his pants without hesitation, and soon, he was buried deep inside her wet pussy. Their coupling was fast and intense against the wall until he covered her womb with his seed. Then, he carried her to the bed and proceeded to make long, slow love to her.

  “I love you, London Rhymes.”

  In and out, he stroked, their fingers intertwined over her head. She stared up at him in the light. “I have principles, you know.”

  “I love you.”

  Her muscles gripped his cock. “I know,” she whispered, wriggling her arms to free them. When he allowed her loose, she wrapped them around his neck. “I love you, too.”

  “I can’t tell you how long I’ve waited to hear that.”

  He came deep inside her once more before pulling out and kissing his way down her body. With her legs clutched around his ears, he feasted on her as he’d missed doing for so long.

  Chapter Seven

  “What happens now?” London asked Piers as they both sat on her bed.

  “My attorney is handling it all. He is confident it will be in my favor since my name is on the birth certificate and I’ve been providing for him all these years.”

  London reached over and took his large hand in hers. “Why would she do this?”

  “She’s a spiteful bitch.” He exhaled and scrubbed a hand over his stubble. “She wants more money. I gave her daughter more than ample money to live on, and she’s since spent that, I guess she figures if she has Javier, I will give her more.”

  “I’m so sorry you’re going through this.”

  He tugged on her until she fell into him with a small squeal.

  “Stop it, Piers, we don’t want to wake Javier.”

  “I just fucked you earlier tonight when he was awake, and he didn’t know any difference.”

  “My brother knew.”

  “Your brother is on his way back to Atlanta.”

  She curled up to him and rested her hand on his chest. “So, what happens now?”

  “You stop running from us, that’s what.” He kissed the top of her head. “I figure a few nights of me leaving your house in a state of exhaustion would get the message across.”

  “You wouldn’t.” He lifted his brows, and she laughed. “Okay, so you would. But you better not.”

  “Tomorrow night, you and I are going out on a date. I have Mr. Clark watching Javier.”

  “Are you sure?”

  “Yes. You and me, time for this town to accept its newest couple.”

  “Are you sure about this?”

  “Yes,” he answered immediately. “Aren’t you?”

  “No.”

  He tensed.

  “Not because of anything other than I’ve never been in a serious relationship before, Piers. You’ve been married.”

  “You know I married her because she was pregnant. Ours wasn’t a real marriage.”

  Words that didn’t make her feel better. “I don’t care. You were married. I don’t know what to expect.”

  “Sex,” he uttered.

  She popped him in the arm. “Be serious.”

  “There’s no
script for this, London. I wasn’t the best husband, but I didn’t give a damn about her. I cared about Javier, but she was always an afterthought. Even so, I honored my vows. I’m in love with you, London Rhymes. You’ll never been an afterthought for me. Yes, we’ll have issues, because let’s face it, I’m right all the time, and you like to think you are.”

  She twisted his nipple until he yelped.

  “I’ll get clamps if that’s what you want me to do to you, baby.”

  “Piers,” she said, shaking her head.

  “We have to talk, communicate. I don’t know what else to tell you. Trust.”

  She sat back and crossed her legs, using the blanket to wrap up in. “How can you be sure about us?”

  “I just am.” He raked a hand through his hair and hopped off the bed to shove into a pair of sweats, she’d drawn off him prior when she’d given him one hell of a blow job. He’d brought over a bag of clothing to keep at her place. Bending at the waist, he pulled his shirt and tossed it in her direction.

  She put it on and scooted to the headboard, using the bedding to cover her lower body. Piers joined her again.

  “Why are you doubting this? And I don’t want to hear because you’ve never been in a serious relationship before.”

  She crossed her arms. “Things could be rough if they didn’t work out. I teach your son.”

  “Stop thinking that way.”

  “It’s a possibility.”

  “I have no doubt there will be tough times.” He sobered. “We’re human, and I’m prone to be an ass. I admit it. We’ll argue, fight. But, at the end of the day, London, all that matters is that I love you and you love me. We can work it out.” He tugged her in close to him and brushed his lips along her temple. “There’s no perfect relationship.”

  “What about Javier?”

  “In what aspect?”

  “Don’t you think you should find out if he’s okay with this?”

  “No need. I know he is. He told me a long time ago he was okay if I wanted to date you.”

  She chewed on her lower lip.

  “So,” he said, sliding her down to lay flat on her back. “You’ve been vetted and approved by my son. We both know I definitely approve of you. My mother-in-law will not, and in court, she’ll try to start shit. I don’t care. I want you at my side. In my life. In my bed.”