by Sadie Jacks
She nodded. Grabbed them against her chest. “Yeah. I feel like Cassandra Humphrey tit punched me repeatedly again.”
I growled. “Where is this bitch so I can kill her?”
She chuckled. “Probably on her third husband with eight kids. That’s punishment enough.” Her eyes twinkled. “For her husbands and kids.”
“What kind of chocolate do you want?”
“Yes.”
I laughed. “Alright. I’ll see what we can make happen. Your ring’s ready, too. It’s a day of new beginnings.”
She stuffed her feet into a pair of sneakers. Stomped a couple times. When she looked up at me, her smile was breathtaking. “Yeah it is, hero. Let’s go make today our bitch.”
We got in the car. I made the first stop at the closest convenience store. I ran in, grabbed up one of each kind of chocolate bar they had in stock. The clerk looked at me, gave me a sad smile. “Good luck.”
I nodded. “I’m going to need it.”
I dumped the bag of chocolate in her lap. “Take your pick. Start devouring.”
She leaned up, gave me a kiss. “My hero.” She pawed through the bag. Her mossy green eyes lit with joy as she yanked a Nutrageous from the depths. “Thank you goddess and all the saints.” She unwrapped it, bit off a delicate bite.
Her moan had me squirming in my seat. “Damn, woman. Keep it on lock down over there. We’re going to see a nice old woman. We don’t need to kill her with the sight of my erection.”
She took another bite, moaned even louder. It ended on a laugh.
I joined her even as I prayed Ms. Goldie wouldn’t notice it.
We rocked up to the storefront. Ms. Goldie was waiting just inside the door. I helped Willow out of the car, ushered her up to the door.
Ms. Goldie opened the door, waved us in. “Good. You’re prompt. I like that about you, Mr. Penn.”
“I aim to please, Ms. Goldie.”
She smiled, moved to the first display case. My Grams’ ring box was sitting on the black velvet cloth. “Here it is. I got it all shined up for you, as well.”
Willow lifted her left hand, pulled the temporary ring off. “We need to buy this from you. We accidentally damaged it. I’m so sorry.”
Ms. Goldie chuckled. “Dear, that is low grade silver. It’s meant to bend and give.” She waved her hand, took the ring from Willow. She forced it down a long tube that got bigger at the bottom. When she pulled it back up, it was perfectly round again. “Good as new.”
Willow chuckled. “Well, then, thank you for the loan.”
Ms. Goldie nodded. “Of course.” She dropped the temporary ring into the big glass bowl she’d gotten it from a couple days ago. “Now to the main event.” She turned to the ring box on the cloth. She opened it up.
Willow inhaled sharply and put her hands over her mouth. I saw tears gather in her eyes. “Ms. Goldie, it’s phenomenal.”
Ms. Goldie’s smile stretched wide. “Yes, dear. But that’s largely to Mr. Cartier. I just added some metal, grinded it down, buffed it out, and cleaned it.” She looked up at me. “Mr. Penn.”
I grabbed the engagement ring. My heart was pounding again, just like it had the night I asked her to marry me the first time. Just as I opened my mouth, music started to play. Clair de Lune by Debussy.
Willow sucked in a breath as she looked up at me. A single tear tracked down her cheek.
“Willow, will yo—”
“Yes, Ryker Penn, a thousand times yes.”
Ms. Goldie threw polyester rose petals in the air as I slid the ring onto Willow’s left ring finger.
I put my hands on Willow’s cheeks and brought my mouth to hers. Her lips quivered under mine before she leaned into it. Into me. Into us.
The bright flash of her camera phone pulsed against my eyelids.“That was beautifully done, Mr. Penn.” Ms. Goldie paused. “Now, help an old woman out, and gather those rose petals up. I’m not bending down to clean those up.”
Willow and I burst into laughter as we bent and gathered the fake rose petals. Once we got them all cleaned up, I paid the bill. “Could you send that picture to me, please?”
Ms. Goldie smiled and nodded. She opened her phone, tapped some keys. I felt the buzz of the message on my phone in my pocket and on my watch.
Willow and I headed back out to the car. After I got us moving again, I watched as she kept looking at her hand, turning it this way and that. Every once in a while she would sigh. Cuddle her hand to her chest. Then she would start it all over again.
“You don’t like it, do you?” I teased.
She laughed. “Sorry, I’m probably being a freak. But…it’s so fucking pretty, Ryker. I can’t even!”
She grabbed my right hand as we headed to the realtor’s office. “And now we’re going to get the keys to our new home. Best. Day. EVER!” She tipped her head back and screamed the last word. Kicked her feet.
I laughed. “Just don’t stomp on your chocolate.”
She squealed, pulled her feet up. “Right. Gotta save the chocolate.”
We pulled up at the realtor’s office. I was glad New Trenadie was still so small. It made running errands like this pretty easy. I jogged around the car, got Willow. We walked into the office.
I blinked when I saw the owners. “Mr. and Mrs. Ambright?”
“Ryker Penn,” Mr. Ambright said. “Considering you’re buying our-slash-your house, I think you can call me Charles.”
I nodded. I put my hand out for him to shake. “Charles, then.” The older man was one of the few I respected. He was also Foster’s dad. His hair was no longer the shocking blonde of his son’s but a shiny silver that was thick enough to look like a pelt. His long trim body was encased in jeans and a long sleeved shirt with three buttons at the neck. It was the most dressed down I’d ever seen him in my twenty years of knowing the man.
“Ryker, you remember my wife, Anna.” He put his hand at his wife’s back, pulled her into the greeting. Almost as tall as her husband, Anna was slender. Too slender in my opinion. But her brown eyes and brown hair softened the harsh lines of her face. Made her into a glamorous woman in anyone’s opinion.
“Of course.” I reached out, shook her hand. “This is Willow, my fiancée. Willow, these are Foster’s parents.” I felt her hand jerk in mine.
Charles and Anna shook hands with Willow.
Scott came out. “Oh, good, you all know each other. That should make this very fast, indeed.” He waved us back to a conference room. He had a pile of papers for each couple to sign. Once we got done, we passed it to the next person. A veritable roundtable of signatures.
We were done in about an hour. Charles and Anna handed us four sets of keys.
“Here you go. I hope you like it as much as we did,” Anna said with a smile.
I grabbed up the keys. They filled both hands. “I’m sure we will. Thanks for selling it.” I handed off two sets of keys to Willow. Reached out, shook Charles’ and Anna’s hands again. “We’ll have to have you out once we get settled.”
Charles laughed. “We’d love to. There are some fussy bits with the pool, give me a shout if you need some help with them.” He put his arm around his wife and they left.
I turned to Scott. “Anything else you need from us?”
He smiled. “Just some names of any family members who might be looking to buy a house.”
I laughed. “I’ll be sure to send them your way. You played fair down the line. I’ll send your info out to anyone looking.” I shook his hand and Willow and I left.
I got her in the front seat, threw the collection of keys in the cupholders. I grabbed her face and kissed her. I was so fucking happy. My heart was about to explode. Everything I never knew I wanted was right here in my arms. That we were getting a great new house and taking down her parents was some serious icing on my fucking cake.
Someone honked as they drove by. “GET A ROOM!”
Willow and I both started to laugh. I kissed her one more time before I shut her door
and walked around to the driver’s side. I slid behind the wheel. “Want to go visit our new home?”
“YES!”
I pulled away from the curb and got us headed towards home.
**
Later that night
Willow slid her hair to the side. “Can you zip me up, please?” She gave me her back. A long line of black fabric went from her ass cheeks to the nape of her neck.
“And you’re sure you can’t find something else to wear?” I asked for what had to be the thousandth time. I understood what she was going for, but fuck, most of her body was on display.
She chuckled softly. “I promise you can rip it off me as soon as we’re done tonight.” She stepped into her heels. The top of her head was even with my chin.
“I just want you to know that I’m going to be taking down names tonight. Any man who looks at you too long is going to die. And for every man who looks at you too long, I’m going to fuck you and not let you come.” I smacked a kiss to her lips before I pulled away.
“Hey! That’s not fair.”
I shook my head. Raised a finger. “Doesn’t matter. You could have chosen to wear something else.” I looked her up and down. Bit my tongue to keep from lunging for her. “That silly excuse for a dress either gets burned or put in my side of the closet for later.”
She pouted at me.
I straightened my tie, shot my sleeves.
She snarled. “Fine, then I get to give you BJs for every woman who looks at you. For each one who licks her lips, you don’t get to come.”
My mouth dropped open.
She held a finger up in the air. “Doesn’t matter. You could have chosen to wear something else.”
I burst into laughter, hauled her into my arms. “Your jealousy is hot. Fine. Just make sure you keep an accurate count.” I kissed her.
“You two ready or what?” Tali yelled through the bedroom sliding doors.
Willow sighed against my lips. As she pulled back, she swiped her thumb over the corner of my mouth. “Coming, T.”
I grumbled. “Just not the way I’d prefer at the moment.”
Willow laughed. “Let’s go and get this party started.” She held out a hand for me.
I grabbed it and our jackets. “Let’s go take down some monsters.”
Chapter 38 – Willow
The party was stunning. This year’s theme was Gold. The fiftieth anniversary of the Chase Foundation. I bit back the rage that wanted to fire from my mouth. It wasn’t quite time.
Ryker scooted out of the limo, turned and helped me out. Paparazzo and the media were everywhere. The blinding glare of their flashes caused me to grip Ryker’s hand so I could walk when I couldn’t see where I was going. A long line of party waiters stood between the guests and the cameras.
“Willow Chase! How many years has it been since you’ve been to your parents’ gala?” someone shouted.
“Willow! Who are you wearing?” a shrill female voice asked.
“Willow, where have you been hiding?”
“Ryker, do you have any comment on the police presence at Penn Towers?”
“Willow, where’s your ex-husband?”
I clenched my hand in Ryker’s as the last question landed. These vultures were only interested in eliciting a reaction. I was bound and determined that the only reactions they’d be getting from me was triumph as my parents were frog walked out of here by Jerrod’s team of police.
We finally made it through the doors. We’d planned to all arrive separately so as not to bring any more scrutiny on our group than possible. If I remembered our schedule correctly, Tali and Foster were supposed to be here already.
Momma and Papa never showed up, so Rafe and Mas were coming together. Nik and Turo were arriving with Nico and Jessa. I couldn’t wait to have our whole group here. I wanted this night to be done. But I also wanted to relish it.
I was a mass of conflicting nerves and cramping. Stupid period. At least Jessa had given me a handful of supplements. Calcium lactate. I was waiting for it to kick in.
A suited waiter walked by, champagne on his tray. Even the thought of alcohol in this public space made me want to vomit. I would be getting my soda water and lime and praying my cramps would go away.
I spotted my parents across the ballroom. I raised a hand to my mother, shot her a smile.
Her frown was perfect. Exactly what I wanted when I picked out the dress. Tali had been heartbroken that I hadn’t worn the red and black lace number she’d bought. But I couldn’t pass this one up when we’d all gone shopping with Jessa yesterday.
Store after store. We were down to the last option before we had to go into the City. None of us wanted that.
“Come on, we’ve got to try it. Because if I have to go into the City, you’re all coming with me,” Jessa had snarled.
We all obediently trailed after her through the doors. As soon as my vision acclimated to the darkened interior, I’d seen it. The dress that would be the humiliation on top of the shit cake we were going to serve my parents.
It was black, mostly see through, and the parts that were opaque had probably been designed by a BDSM group. It had more laces than a set of sneakers and was tight enough I had to remember not to breathe too deeply. The neckline was a thick band of material that was very collar-esque.
I walked over to the rack, checked to see if they had my size. Tali had a smile the size of Texas on her face. Jessa looked conflicted and Nik looked like she wanted to buy it for herself.
“Yes. I’ll pay for it just to see the look on your man’s face when you step out of the bathroom,” Tali said. “And I want to see the color drain from your creation donor’s face when she sees you.”
Jessa nodded. “I’ll probably want to jump your bones, but yes. You need to get that dress.”
Nik smiled. “If you don’t get it, I will.” Her smile was predatory.
I pulled it from the rack, took it to the sales lady. “I’d like to try this on, please.”
She looked up from her ledger. Smiled. “Of course. Our guests have said that it runs a bit tight. Do you want me to have the next size up ready if you need it?”
I nodded. “Thank you.”
“My pleasure. We’ve been getting rave reviews about it. This way.” She led me to the back of the store, unlocked a room for me. “Give me a shout if you need that next size. I’m Charity.”
“Thanks, Charity.” I closed the door and started stripping. I almost hated that I was on my period more than usual. Nothing like stuffing a big ass into a skin tight dress when you’re feeling bloated and not sexy in the least. Hooray for being a girl. Not.
“I’ve got one to try on, too, babe. Don’t leave me back here by myself,” Jessa called as she went into another room.
I snorted. “You’ll probably be in yours before I’m in mine. So you don’t leave me.”
I got to work stuffing and stretching, plumping and holding my breath. With one final heave, I got the breast straps positioned over my tits. Once the ‘dress’ was in place, it was actually really supportive and comfortable. Too bad it took a bloody war to get in place.
I heaved a breath. Fought to get my panting under control. I probably needed to lay off the chocolate.
A knock sounded. “I’m ready, are you?” Jessa called.
I snorted, opened the door. “Told you you’d be ready befo—” My mouth dropped open as my words cut off mid sentence.
She was a vision. Dark blue, the dress was a stiff kind of material that made sharp angles over her chest while leaving her shoulders bare. It skimmed over her belly and hips before flaring out in a sharp bell. A short train made the dress elegant instead of harsh.
“That’s the reaction I was hoping for. Think Nico will like it?”
I laughed. “Girl, that man would live in blue if he could. Yes, he’s going to love it.” I spread my arms. “What do you think?”
She looked me over from toe to head. She wiped at her mouth dramatically. “I almost
wish I had a dick right now. You looked ravaging.”
I chuckled. “I think you mean ravishing.”
She shook her head. “No, I’m pretty sure Ryker is going to want to ravage you. I’m sticking to ravaging.”
I laughed, hooked my arm through hers and we strode back out to the front of the store. Tali and Nik were playing with shoes.
“Ahem,” I called.
They looked over. Tali squealed like a little girl. “YES! Both of you, YES!”
Nik’s smile was bold. “Damn. I still might have to come back and buy that dress.” She winked at me. “You both look delicious. Neither of your men will be able to keep their hands to themselves.”
Jessa and I shared a look. Then a high five. As one, we turned to Charity and her coworker. “We’ll take them,” we said in unison.
Ryker slid his hand over my hip. “That’s five, cupcake.” He leaned forward, nipped my ear. “Get ready for some intense frustration.”
I chuckled. Damn, I’d forgotten to keep track of the women ogling my man. I’d gotten caught up in the game of cat and mouse we’d just started with my creation donors.
“Well, make sure you spell their names right. I’m sure the police will want a full, accurate accounting.” I batted my lashes at him.
He slid his hand down to my ass. Pinched my hip. “Easy, cupcake. I’m sure there are enough rooms around here that I can begin your torture now and it would relieve some of mine.”
I kissed his chin. “I’ll try to behave.”
He snorted. “Don’t bother. I like seeing you feisty and ballsy. But I should have worn compression shorts under this stupid tux. Being hard most of the evening is not really a comfortable state in well cut pants.”
I pushed my hips to his. My eyes flew wide. “Damn, hero. We might need to find a room.”
He growled as he leaned forward and bit my lower lip.
“Mr. Penn,” a smokey-voiced female said from behind me.
Ryker jolted.
I turned around. Eyed the woman who said my man’s name like a lover would. Ryker wrapped his arms around me from behind.
“Ms. Chastain.”
She blinked a couple times. “I haven’t heard from you in a while. I was beginning to worry.
