I nod. “I think so.”
Jacob wraps his arm around my shoulders, protective even with my grandpa here. “Ready?” he says and I nod.
“I was born ready for you, Jacob West.” I smile and hold my fists up in a mock fighting stance and he rolls his eyes.
Grandpa turns and takes one last look at the prison, then breathes a deep sigh. “I’m never going back in there again. Some of those guys stink.”
Jacob laughs, nodding. “Some of them?”
As we walk towards the truck, Babka is standing next to the truck and we hang back as Grandpa’s strides quicken and he practically breaks into a run, grabbing her, planting his lips on hers and lifting her off the ground.
Her arms dart around his neck, her feet dangling a foot off the ground as they break their kiss and cling to each other and my heart clenches in my chest.
Jacob bobs his head in their direction and we move forward as Grandpa puts her down, his hands still on her cheeks, looking at her like he’s scared she’s not real.
She leans sideways, eyeing us, and shouts, “Are you coming? We’ve got a fucking wedding to get to!”
I laugh, and so does Grandpa, and as we get to the truck he lands a hard smack on her ass.
“Watch it,” she mutters. “It’s you we’ve been waiting for, you know.”
“Don’t you bust my balls. I’m still the man around here.”
“Well, better show me that tonight. I’ve been waiting a long fucking time.”
As I walk down the aisle on Grandpa’s arm, I’m glad I waited. Jacob wanted to get married right away, and then when we found out I was pregnant a few days later, he almost insisted, but we adulted and talked about it, and I explained why I wanted to wait.
And reluctantly, he agreed, on a few conditions.
First, that I had the biggest engagement ring in the world, so nobody could possibly miss it on my finger. Second, that whenever I was out of the house I had a reminder of him between my legs. And on my stomach. And in my mouth.
And third, that once Grandpa got out of prison, we would be married that day. No more waiting.
“You look beautiful, sweetheart,” Grandpa says, and I smile at him, then nod towards Jacob, who’s staring daggers at one of my cousins’ husbands in the front row as he looks my way.
Grandpa laughs, shaking his head, but doesn’t say any more.
“I’m marrying you, Jacob West,” I whisper when I get up close to him. “You can stop threatening to murder every man who looks my way.”
“It’s the way he’s looking at you that bothers me,” he says. “I’m going to say something.”
“No you’re not,” I tell him through gritted teeth. “The ceremony is about to start.”
He grumbles, but takes my arm possessively and I allow him that much. As we say our vows, I feel him starting to relax, and I’m pretty sure he knows that this is it. After today, I’m bound to him forever.
Not that I wasn’t already.
I’ve been bound to Jacob West since the moment I walked into the kitchen dressed in nothing but my bra and panties. I don’t think I’ll ever forget the embarrassment, or the zing of lightning that hit me from some unseen cloud. I would have given myself to him that day, if he’d asked, and I’ll give myself to him every day from now on.
More than once, if he has his way.
I don’t think there’s a moment when he’s around me that he isn’t hard and ready for me, but that’s just Jacob.
When the priest finally says you may kiss the bride I feel the proof of that readiness as he presses himself to me. I don’t think they mean this kind of kiss, but I’ll take it. The rest of the church fades into the background, the scent of rose petals strewn on the floor is just a dream, the cheers and sniffles are just white noise.
Right now, it’s just Jacob and me.
“Well, Mrs. West, are you ready to go home?” he whispers in my ear. “I want to start my wedding night.”
I laugh. “We can’t. The reception…” The game has already begun. We aren’t having a reception, everything was thrown together so fast, but we just wanted to be married and get our life started.
“I’m not fucking waiting,” he says, taking on his character. “I need these tits in my mouth. I need this pussy around my cock.”
My mouth waters. And so does my sex. “No, Jacob. Please,” I murmur, and feel him twitch beside me. That’s our agreed signal, the words that mean playtime has just started. Signing the contract, as it were, and I shiver, flushed with relatives around me. He has my permission to force me, to make me do as he says while I beg for mercy and struggle to get away. What would everyone else here think? Right now I don’t care. I need my husband. I need our special private time. I need to feel wanted, needed, beyond my ability to take for myself.
It’s the wedding present I asked for…as soon as the ceremony is over…Jacob has something planned. I’m not sure what but I’m already soaking wet and ready for whatever is coming.
Walking from the church as daintily as I can while trying to hold my legs together, I wave and say thank you’s to everyone that came on such short notice. Anola, of course, is here, and she can read my thoughts as well as anyone. But with her I don’t mind so much. There isn’t much we haven’t discussed now that it’s all out in the open, and I know she’s happy for me.
Strangely enough, Jacob’s side of the church isn’t completely empty either. There’s Dan, for starters, who has become a good friend to my husband. A little thrill goes through me at the sound of that word in my head. And then there’s that Delight woman, who’s a lot more than just his manager.
A girl might be jealous, except Jacob explained in no uncertain terms that I’m more her type than he is, so he’s the one that should be jealous. Besides, she’s making bedroom eyes at Anola right now. I’m not sure if Anola has noticed, but I do know she’s been finding out a lot about herself since she’s been away from Derrick. And one of those things, is she likes women as much as she likes men. Probably more.
The Da Douche brothers aren’t around anyway. They got busted with ten pounds of cocaine and are serving ten years each. Just desserts, I say, and hopefully the neighborhood can start to heal without them around.
“What’s this?” I ask as Jacob pushes a key into my hand. I meet his eyes and he grins.
“We can’t keep living with your grandparents. Oma… She made me promise they’d have the place to themselves tonight. So I have a little wedding present for you. To go along with my other plans…”
There’s a little flutter in my belly, a bit of apprehension at the thought of moving away. “A house?” I’m excited but I hate thinking I’ll be far from Oma and Thomas. “Is—is it a long way?”
He laughs. “Not far, no. You know the old police chief’s house?”
“What? Really?” I gasp on a laugh. “I’ve always loved that house.”
“I’ll always take care of your family, Maggie, but our family is number one. Thomas is perfectly capable of taking care of business now that he’s home, I’ll support them however they need and we need to concentrate on us. So, there are a few bedrooms. I was thinking we could fill them with one or two kids in each…”
I laugh. “Is there ever going to be a time when I’m not pregnant from now on?”
“Not if I can help it. But, maybe not all the kids need to come from us. A few foster kids would be great. Adopt them if we can.”
“That sounds perfect.”
Breathing deeply, I follow him to his truck knowing our wedding night isn’t going to be like most but that’s fine. I like what we have, what we do even if some people might think it’s sick.
Twisted.
I’ll follow him wherever the road takes us, and trust that he can keep us safe.
Because there’s no force in the world stronger. And I love him for it.
Epilogue 2
Jacob
Ten years later
I go to the window and pull the curtains asid
e quietly, looking out at the neighborhood. Last night we stayed over with Thomas and Oma for their anniversary celebration, and Maggie is still asleep in the bed behind me. Her old bed, in her old bedroom. I wore her out on it, reminding her of the first time, the first time for us both.
Some things have changed a lot in ten years. Some things are still the same.
Thomas and Oma are getting older, sure, but they still have a lot of energy for their age. More, it seems, every time we produce, foster or adopt another great grandchild for them to love. They’re good people and that will never change.
But this neighborhood is different. Some houses have been rebuilt, some renovated, but Oma says it’s just like the old neighborhood. The loss of the Douche brothers was the beginning, Thomas coming home helped, but Dan and I decided to put finances and effort behind bringing the neighborhood back and after a few years, things took off.
As for me, I’ve given up fighting.
Well, almost.
No more bare-fist animal fights. I work out in a gym and I have sparring partners, and I don’t try to kill them. Occasionally I fight in front of a crowd, but it’s not for blood. It’s usually to raise money for one of the many charities I head or work to support.
Dan and I expanded the business, strictly legit operations, and it’s been one of the best decisions. We still run commercial construction projects and also lend money now to startups that need cash, and we’ve made an absolute fortune doing it.
And nobody has to have their bones broken for failure to pay up.
“Hey, husband,” Maggie says, yawning, and I turn to look at her, letting my gaze linger on her bare stomach and tits.
God, that’s a sight I’ll never get enough of. I could eat her out right now, if I didn’t know that the kids will be banging on the door at any minute, demanding breakfast.
“Hey, beautiful wife,” I say, returning to the side of the bed and slipping my hand under the covers. I may not have time to give her the attention she deserves, but that doesn’t mean I can’t give her what we both need. “Ready for the day?”
Her breathing changes just a fraction as two fingers slide along her silky slit, her body shifting almost imperceptibly. “I haven’t see—seen Anola and Delight for months. I can’t wait to hear how things are going.”
I smile as I lean forward and kiss her, just as my fingertips slip gently inside her dampening warmth and she whimpers against my lips.
We took a few days off work, both of us, while the two of them are back in the country. They have a fashion empire that takes them both all over the world together, and sometimes we don’t see them for a while, but when we do it’s just like old times.
As for Maggie, her business has taken off. We run a crew of twenty building ponds and the landscaping that goes with them, stocking koi, teaching classes, doing fish rescue. She’s helping people, and helping fish, and there’s not much that she’d love more. We decided to stop having babies after our fifth child was born just a month ago today, even though I would have happily had more. We’ve adopted three and fostered another ten over the years so we live in a constant state of controlled chaos and it’s perfection.
We talk about everything and it’s something I never believed would be a part of my life. Solving problems together without yelling, without fists. Sometimes, we’re still pushing limits in the bedroom too, and so far there hasn’t been anything off limits for either of us.
I don’t think there ever will be, either.
We love each other, and my desire for Maggie will never fade. Ever since I met her, in this very house, I’ve known that she was the one for me.
And she always will be.
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Excerpt…
Her fingers dig into the back of my neck as I hold her tighter, the little box in my hand starting to shake between us.
“I’m getting this ring on your finger Raven. You can protest but eventually, you’re marrying me. If I have to drug you and drag you to the justice of the peace, so be it. I’d prefer you decide what sort of dream wedding you want and just let me write the checks, but either way, this is happening.”
Her tears stop and the sadness in her eyes turns into that flicker of flame I’ve seen so many times before.
“Forced marriage is illegal.” She squints, cinching her lips together staring me down.
“If you think that’s the most illegal thing I’ve done in my life, you’re painfully mistaken little girl, so let’s just put the ring on and get to fucking because my dick is about to have a seizure waiting to get inside you. I’ve had blue balls for too long having you around. Don’t torture me any longer hellcat.”
Stringer is an over-the-top, possessive anti-hero with a hard edge. Raven is a lost beauty, left by tragedy and circumstances in the home of the man she shouldn’t want. Find out how these two fight their way to a happily ever after. Safe, no cheating with a hint of darkness and always a happy ending.
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About Nikolai
Nikolai Andrew has been writing stories as far back as he can remember. His elementary school teachers used to have him stay after class to try to explain some of his more creative work but with a to-die-for smile and wisdom beyond his years, he always managed to charm his way out of trouble. Not much has changed, except he’s now found an outlet for his stories where he can show off a bit of his darkness, a dash of dominance and a sprig of hopeless romantic topped with a whole helping of hot.
When he’s not writing, he’s playing with his many aquariums, searching for rocks, enjoying cheap vodka and making waitresses blush. He’s got a penchant for vintage Playboy’s and Vargas girls and a weakness for giving out spankings and cookies. Drop him a line anytime. He loves to hear from readers. Especially their own ideas on what he should write next.
One Shot (The Anti-Heroes) Page 10
