He inhales deeply, dropping his cheek to mine. “You’re in so much trouble,” he rasps. “So much trouble, but it’s gonna have to wait, because it’s been too long since I had you. So, baby, turn around and jump on me. Let me take you to bed.”
I spin in his arms, my eyes flying to his, my breath hitching at the desire in his.
We haven’t touched more than we did five seconds ago in weeks, and when the reverend said you may kiss the bride, he turned me around, blocked me from view and barely grazed his breath across my mouth, so technically, we haven’t even sealed our marriage yet.
He’s holding it in, waiting to get me alone so he can take.
The thing about Big Man, about my man, though, is he takes just as much as he gives, and it just so happens I want it all.
I jump, wrapping my legs around him with ease.
His hands come down, sliding under my ass cheeks and he starts walking forward.
Not once does he take his eyes off mine, walking me blindly to the cabin a few spaces over and through the door, but he doesn’t even attempt a bedroom.
He spins so fast, leaving the door hanging wide open and plants my back against the wall.
His hips cage me in, so his hands are free, and both trail slowly up my ribs and chest, until his thumbs meet my lips.
He glares at my mouth, angry lines forming between his brows, and his body moves closer, no space for air left between us. His head lowers and tilts, but when he’s a hair’s space away, his eyes flash to mine.
“You’re mine.”
“Yeah, Big Man. I am.”
“Show me.”
I don’t hesitate.
I drop my lips to his, and he pushes back just as hard, just as punishing.
His hands slide up my thighs, taking my dress with them, until he can slide his fingers under the strap of my thong. He grips my ass tight, grinding me against him.
My hands fist his hair and I tug. Suddenly my back is off the wall and we’re moving.
In the next second, I’m dropped on to the fresh sheets he had put on the bed.
He doesn’t wait, climbing between my legs in the same second.
His tie brushes against my throat, so I yank.
He growls but does as he’s directed and gives his mouth to me.
Blindly, I tug at his clothes as he does mine, and somehow, I’m completely naked while I’ve only managed to kick his shoes off him and remove his jacket.
I shove on his chest, and with a growl he listens, standing before me.
I move to the edge of the bed, standing on the foot of the mattress so he has to look up at me.
His hands wrap around my ass, pinching as he follows my mouth, catching my bottom lip between his teeth.
His eyes are heated, open and barred with mine.
He runs his tongue across my lips as I work open the button of his shirt, my eyes move to his when I uncover the gold chain hanging from his neck, his key dangling from it.
I lift it, reading the inscription on the cooled metal.
Family runs deeper than blood.
“Your Brayshaw item.” My eyes move to his. “You’ve never worn it like this. Why now?”
“I didn’t understand it before, now I do.” His hand comes up to cover mine. “This is my key to this world, to you, to our future.” His grip tightens in promise. “Never again will a door stand in my way when you’re on the other side of it.”
“The key to the kingdom,” I whisper.
“To our kingdom.”
My body warms, and I nod, let go of the necklace and slip my fingers under the collar of his dress shirt. I slowly trail my hands across his skin, forcing the expensive material from his body.
My body. He’s mine.
He holds my eyes hostage as I undo his belt next, and his slacks fall to his knees. He gives a little shake, helping them down and his boxers fall.
He slaps the back of my thighs, so I jump, wrapping my legs around his torso, and slowly, he lets my body slide down, until his dick is settled against my ass cheeks, pushing. Ready.
I pull my hips back and it slides up, right where I want it. My hold on his neck tightens, and I use that to lift, aligning him with my opening and he pushes in.
His eyes shift between mine, not missing a second as he fills me.
He drops to his knees, so my ass is on the edge of the bed, his dick inside me, and he uses his hold on my hips to roll me how he wants it, he’s moving back and forth in slow, full motions.
After a moment though, his hand slides up my back until he’s fisting my hair.
He tugs, tipping my head back and dropping his to my chest.
He kisses my breastbone and picks up speed.
My ankles lock behind his back and he groans, pushing off the floor and sliding me across the mattress so he can settle on top of me better.
He rolls his hips, pulling my nipple between his teeth.
“Mmm,” a deep moan leaves me, and his mouth comes back to mine. Biting, nipping, sucking.
His elbows plant beside my head, and I feel him, twitching, growing impossibly harder, reaching impossibly deeper.
My body starts to shake, so he shifts us so he’s sitting beneath me. He grips my shoulders, pushing me down, and I welcome every last bit of him.
His body shudders beneath me, taking my cum with it.
I clench around him as he twitches inside me.
We finish together, eyes open and locked on one another’s.
We sit like that for a few minutes, catching our breaths, soaking up the skin to skin contact we’ve been desperate for.
He’s slow to fall to his back, the pillows at the head of the bed allowing him to reach up and brush the hair that’s fallen in my eyes behind me. His fingers run along my shoulders, causing a shiver to spread through me.
His smile is so soft, his eyes unblinking as his knuckles slide down my arm until he reaches my hand, my ring.
The ring the doctor gave me that day in the hospital, the one he pulled from Captain’s pocket after surgery.
Turned out Maddoc bought it for me, but the day he found out we were married, he left it sitting on Cap’s dash. Captain saved it for him, for us.
He knew.
He pulls the ring to his lips, kissing the tip of the crown, then the two diamonds beside it – a representation of us all.
“My queen,” he whispers.
My heart hammers in my chest and my lips part.
I lock my finger around his and with shaky hands, move them to my stomach, flattening it against my skin. “Our prince.”
His temples pinch and ever so slowly his eyes move to the contact.
He stares for a long moment, then slowly places his left hand beside his right.
It’s just a guess, but after everything, it feels right. A boy – both Graven and Brayshaw blood.
Maddoc gives a small nod, the corner of his mouth lifting as his fingers span out. “Our prince,” he says, and his eyes come back to mine. “This is for real? Me and you, we did this?”
A small chuckle escapes me, and I nod, but it quickly turns into me shaking my head. “I don’t know how to do this, Big Man. At all.”
“Me either, baby,” he admits, pushing into a sitting position so we’re chest to chest, my legs now wrapped around his back. “But we’re not alone. Cap will help us, Royce and Maybell, too. My dad maybe, if we let him. Either way, baby, we’ll be good. We’ll figure it out, together, ‘cause it’s me and you, baby.”
He kisses me softly, but it quickly turns hungry and he tears away, dropping onto his back. He folds his hands behind his head, his eyes taunting and my favorite smirk in place. “Now.” He licks his full lips. “Show me how good you can be.”
I lean forward, biting into his bottom lip, allowing my teeth to scrape across the soft flesh until it tears free. “With pleasure, husband.”
We never made it down to the fire the morning after we got married at the Brayshaw cabin. We stayed there for the rest of the
weekend, and then when Monday came and it was time to go back to school, we weren’t ready.
We needed time, so time we took.
Captain headed straight home to see Zoey, and Royce went with him, but he called us a couple days later to let us know him and Mac were taking a drive up the coast and he’d be back soon. We knew it meant he was up to no good, but he deserved some fuck off time, so we left it alone. For now.
Me and Raven ended up in Stockton, in her old trailer park. After a day of going through the place, she decided there was nothing worth saving. One call to our contractor and eight hours later, Raven watched the only home she ever knew get dragged off the grounds.
She didn’t bat a lash.
A few hours after that, she had a new modular home brought in to take its spot, and then she signed it and the lot over to a woman she introduced me to at the nearby foodbank. The woman promised it would serve families in need, and Raven chose to believe her, and then she filled their shelves with a promise to keep it coming.
We sat back and watched as light poles were installed in the trailer park, then tested out the swings of the new jungle gym she picked out, the kids from the park right there with us.
After that, I took her to the beach.
She’d never been, and the weather was getting warmer so getting her to leave was hard, but we missed Royce and Captain, I know she’s ready to see Victoria, too.
Splitting up like this wasn’t something we liked to do, and the only reason we all agreed was because we promised to keep our tradition going. So every night the four of us were apart, no matter where we were, we all took an hour to sit on Skype, had dinner together. It helped, but we’re ready to be home, and they’re tired of us being away.
On top of all of that, our town is ready for us.
Donley is gone, handled by the council members – I’ll find out what that means for sure at the next meeting – and everyone is waiting for the new town leaders to take their place.
Raven sits up in her seat, letting go of my hand as we roll to a stop in front of the Brayshaw mansion.
Her face smooths out, her eyes shooting wide. “The flowers,” she whispers.
“What?”
“Did he tell you?” she asks.
My brows snap together. “Tell me what, baby?”
She pushes open her door, stepping out of the SUV. Slowly she walks toward them, and then her eyes cut to the right, forcing mine to follow.
A playset.
“She’s here,” Raven whispers, a broken laugh leaving her.
Her eyes fly to mine, but then suddenly the door is thrown open and Royce runs out. With no warning, he lifts her, spinning her around and she laughs, hugging him back.
“Yo,” I shout with a smile, walking toward them. “Easy on the merchandise.”
Royce steps back, his eyes going wide when they fall to her tiny belly. It’s hardly a bump, more a little pudge but on her frame, it’s a noticeable change.
“You were only gone for a month.”
“Apparently you start to grow the fourth month. Maddoc will have to carry me into summer school by the time the year is over.”
Royce laughs then steps to me for a hug.
“Any chance you’re gonna tell us why you took a quick trip out of town?”
“Told you. I got a heart to break, gotta get even. Had to set some things in motion.” He grins, waggling his eyebrows. “Besides, I was only gone for a week. How much damage could I have possibly done?”
I smirk, shaking my head as he quickly moves back to the door. “Right.”
Royce smiles wide. “Come on.”
With tight eyes, we follow behind him.
Raven grows more and more apprehensive with each step taken, and my muscles begin to constrict.
When we reach the top of the stairs, she jolts to a complete stop.
But then Cap steps from the room across from his, his face lighting up. His eyes are clear, his body relaxed. There’s a weightlessness to him I’ve never witnessed and it all clicks.
He comes to me first, and I nod, giving him a hug before moving aside.
He turns to Raven.
“Cap...”
He smiles, grabs her hand and nods his head, dragging her along, but when she reaches the door, she pulls away, slipping to the opposite side, facing me now.
I take a step forward so I can peek inside and a smile breaks free.
Blonde curls perfectly placed on the top of her head, little Zoey sits on the floor, a small, stuffed train in one hand, sippy cup in the other. Our dad sitting across from her with a stuffed animal of his own in his hand, and damn if it doesn’t settle something inside me even more than my time away with Raven did.
My eyes roam around the room, taking in the white walls and the mural painted across them. Purple flowers, different shapes and sizes.
My stare slices to Raven’s hair, and the fresh purple stripes she had put in while we were away.
Cap steps in the room which causes Zoey’s head to snap our way, her little curls bouncing forward and hitting against her cheek.
She pushes to her feet and slowly walks toward us, pausing when she reaches Cap’s leg and wrapping her little hand around it.
Our dad stands behind them.
“Can you say hi, Zoey.”
Zoey hides one eye behind his pant leg, lifting her hand to wave, but then she spots Raven and her eyes light up. She runs to the door, stopping right in front of her.
“Hi!”
Raven swallows. “Hi,” she breathes.
“I waited fuh you.” Zoey smiles.
Raven’s brows drop, but she smiles. “You did?” she asks quietly.
Zoey nods, spins on her heels and runs back in her room. She grabs something from the little desk, hiding it behind her and runs back.
Raven looks to Captain with a small frown but slowly lowers to her knees, sitting back on her feet in front of Zoey.
Zoey smiles wide and brings a small crown from around her back, placing it on Raven’s head.
It starts to slip, so Raven quickly catches it, holding it there. She smiles at Zoey.
Zoey reaches out and touches the purple of Raven’s hair and Raven pulls her lips in.
“You know,” Zoey says. “I like puple.”
A small laugh leaves Raven. “Yeah.” She nods. “I did know that, Zoey.”
Zoey smiles and runs back to Captain, who lifts her when she puts her arms up, and the two move farther in her room, Royce right behind them.
Raven, still on the floor, brings her eyes to me.
The crown slides down a little more but stays rooted in her hair.
I bend at the knees, running my fingers over the same strand of hair Zoey did.
She smirks, shrugging a shoulder. “A crooked crown is still a crown, right?”
A laugh flies from me and she stands, pulling me with her.
“Get in there. Play with your niece and your brothers,” she whispers against my lips.
“What will you be doing?”
“Handling some business, then waiting for you in my new bed downstairs.”
“Our bed.”
She laughs and pushes me into the room. “Go.”
I go with ease.
I make my way down the stairs and out the front door.
Victoria had said she wasn’t comfortable officially moving in here without me, even though I’d secretly asked Rolland to also get a room ready for her, so she decided to stay at the girls’ Bray house until I got back. I called as we were pulling in, but Maybell said she was in the shower, and she’d let her know to head this way when she got out.
I can’t wait to do absolutely nothing other than kick back with everyone tonight, but first things first.
I smirk as Bass pulls up in the old school muscle car he scored after Leo smashed his other one in. “You thinking ‘bout souping that baby up?”
“Eventually, yeah.” He grins, leans against his car, and crosses one foot over the othe
r.
I hold out an envelope, and slowly he takes it and tears it open.
His eyes fly to mine. “Fuck you doin’, Rae?”
“You don’t belong here, Bass.”
He smacks the paper against his thigh.
“You’re not a hands man, or security, or anything else that you could be here. You can never lead this place, but you don’t belong behind anyone either.”
“You banishing me, Mrs. Brayshaw?” he teases, but he can’t hide the unease in his tone.
“If I have to get you to go, yeah.”
He licks his lips, looks to the check again, then back to me. “This is a lot of money.”
“It’s every single cent of Donley Graven’s money.”
His brows jump.
“I talked to Victoria about it weeks ago, she wants none of it. Left it in my hands, and I want it in yours,” I tell him. “Take it, Bishop. Go, head over to Southern Cali, find a kingdom in need of a king, and become one. You’ve got it in you.”
He looks out across the orchard, and after a moment, blows out a long hard breath. His eyes come back to mine and a slow smirk stretches across his lips.
“I think I know just the place.”
“It’s the rich bitch who only dates rich boys, right?”
He busts up laughing but doesn’t answer, moving forward for a hug instead.
He pulls back just as quick, eyeing me. “Thank you, Raven.”
“Get out of my town, Bishop,” I tease, adding, “But come back if you ever need a Brayshaw at your back.”
“How ‘bout at my side?”
I wink, making him laugh.
He walks backward to his door, not taking his eyes off me. He smirks. “Later, Raven Carver.”
“See ya, Bass Bishop.”
With one more deep breath and one more look at the check, he slides in, backs out and then he’s gone, and so is the weight of the blood money he took with him.
A heavy sigh leaves me and not a second later, Maddoc’s chest hits my back. I smile, leaning my head against it.
“Couldn’t stay away, Big Man?”
“Never.”
I laugh, turning my head so he can meet my lips.
Heavy footsteps and loud laughter float from the door, and we turn just in time to see Royce run down the steps. Rolland walks out behind him, Zoey in his arms but he quickly puts her on her feet.
Reign of Brayshaw (Brayshaw High #3) Page 30
