by K. C. Lynn
“I am, especially for my cousin. She and I are very close and I haven’t seen her for quite some time.”
“Isn’t Peace Hills the abandoned church?” Jaxson asks.
“It is but my uncle plans to fix it up. His goal is to have it functioning by spring. He and my cousin have big plans for that place, especially the youth in this town,” she says, her excitement palpable.
“Well, I think it’s great,” Julia says. “I’ll help any way I can, at least until Annabelle is born…”
Everyone stops mid bite, all eyes shooting to her.
“What did you just say?” Kayla asks.
A beautiful smile transforms her face. Reaching over, she grabs Jaxson’s hand. “Jax and I found out we’re having a girl and we’ve decided to name her Annabelle, after my mother. Annabelle Margaret,” she says.
Loud squeals penetrate the air as all of us girls push out of our seats and run over to hug her. “Oh my gosh, this is so excitin’,” I say, my heart exploding with happiness.
Grams does nothing but blubber, her reaction making my own throat feel tight.
Eventually, she moves to Jaxson, cupping his face between her well-worn hands. “You did good, I’m so proud of you.” She plants a million kisses on his face, acting as if he purposely made it a girl.
“I can’t wait to babysit,” Anna says as we all take our seats again.
Sawyer watches Jaxson from across the table, amusement dancing in his eyes.
“What the hell are you looking at?” Jaxson asks.
“You’re having a girl and she’s going to grow up to be hot, just like Julia.”
Everyone finds the comment funny, except Jaxson. His eyes narrow into an icy glare. If looks could kill, Sawyer would be ten feet under by now.
Cooper reaches over and slaps him on the back. “Don’t worry, buddy, just send her to school sporting a mullet and you’ll never have to worry about any guy going near her.”
“Cooper!” Kayla gasps, slapping his shoulder.
I shake my head but can’t hide my smile.
As more jokes get tossed around, my eyes move to every single person at the table, a feeling of contentment settling over my heart. For the first time since my mama passed away, I realize I’ve found more than really good friends, I’ve found a family.
When my gaze lands on the man next to me, I know without a doubt that I am exactly where I’m meant to be.
Sawyer
Once we finish dinner, us guys stand from the table, deciding to head upstairs to Jaxson’s office while the girls talk nursery colors.
Jaxson claps Logan on the shoulder. “You come too.”
“Jaxson!” Both Anna and Julia warn nervously.
“What? I’m being nice and including him.”
By the look Anna shoots him, she’s doubtful.
“It’s fine, Anna,” Logan tells her, pushing to his feet.
“See, it’s fine,” Jaxson says.
Anna glares at him, pointing her finger. “Be nice!”
“I’m always nice.”
I smirk at the lie and follow out after him, all the others trailing behind me except for Mac, he stays with Grace.
Cooper is close to my side as we climb the stairs, his questioning gaze burning into the side of my face. It’s been this way all night and I have no doubt it’s because of the address Jaxson has asked for. I hate that I even had to put him in the position but one way or another, I’m getting that damn address.
As we enter the office, Jaxson grasps Logan’s shoulders and pushes him into a chair. “Have a seat, Logan, let’s get to know each other better.”
Logan rests back in the chair, looking nothing but relaxed.
Jaxson walks around his desk and enters some numbers on a pin pad. The sound of a lock releases and that’s when he pulls out his gun, sitting it on the desk in front of the kid.
Logan peers up at him, unimpressed. “Save your little scare tactics. They aren’t necessary.”
The kid has some balls; I’ll give him that. Or he’s stupid. I haven’t decided yet.
“My gun isn’t scary, Logan. You know what’s scary?” Jaxson asks but doesn’t give him a chance to respond. “Me and all the different ways I’ve been trained to kill, and I have…many times.”
“Don’t you think I know that?” he snaps, his eyes narrowing. “I’m fucking thankful every day that you’re trained for that shit, otherwise Anna wouldn’t be here right now. I’m serious, you can save your breath. I’m not the bad guy. I’m the one who loves her and will do everything in my power to make sure no one ever hurts her again!”
A heavy silence settles over the room, the two of them locked in a hard stare.
“Okay, time to break this up,” I say, deciding it’s time to intervene. “Sorry, Jaxson, but I like the kid. Knowing he loves her and is protecting her is good enough for me, and it should be for you, too.”
Jaxson returns his attention back to Logan, his expression a little less threatening. “You really love her?”
Logan nods, no hesitation.
“Fine, but just so you know, I have your fucking door rigged,” he adds, pointing his finger at him. “I will be alerted if anyone goes in or out of that room tonight. If you want to keep your dick intact, you will keep your hands to yourself.”
He grunts. “You don’t need to worry about that.”
The answer appeases Jaxson enough that he finally backs off.
“Now that we have that settled,” Cooper says, his attention shifting to me. “Let’s move on to another topic. Like where the three of you are going on Tuesday.”
“What do you want to know?” I ask, facing him head on.
“I want to know that I didn’t make a mistake giving Jaxson that address. I want your word, Sawyer, that you’re not going to do something stupid.”
“I have it under control.”
“Do you?”
“Look, my biggest priority is getting back what belongs to her.”
And to beat the fuck out of the guy, but I decide to keep that part to myself.
“That’s the only reason why I’m giving you the address,” he says. “That girl has been through enough, and I’m sure I don’t even know the half of it. But I’m warning you, Sawyer, if you lose control like you did with Miguel, or worse, I won’t be able to get you off the hook so easily again.”
“I said I can handle it!”
“Jaxson and I will be there,” Cade says, inserting himself into the conversation. “We won’t let him go too far.”
“Too far?” Coop repeats. “Well that makes me feel so much fucking better.”
“Sometimes people have to pay for what they’ve done,” he says, his expression hard. He understands that better than anyone.
“Well, this is enough heavy shit for me, boys,” I say, clapping Logan on the shoulder. “I’m taking my woman home.” I shake Jaxson’s hand then do the same with Cade. “You okay to take Mac or do you want Grace and me to do it?”
He waves me off. “I got him. I promised to stop and get him some junk food to hide in his room.”
I’m not surprised he roped Cade in, he’s been trying to do the same with me but no way am I getting in shit from my Cupcake.
I walk up to Cooper next, and extend him the same handshake as the others. “Thanks, Coop. You did the right thing.”
“Don’t make me regret it.”
My response is a single nod before I walk out. The plan is not to kill him, death would be too good for him, but I do plan to make him suffer. He will pay for what he’s done.
The sound of Grace’s sweet laugh washes over me as I reach the bottom of the stairs, fueling the warmth within my chest that I always get when it comes to her. When I make it to the kitchen, I see she’s laughing over something Mac says, her smile lighting up the whole damn room. I lean against the wall, arms crossed over my chest and watch her, wondering how anyone could hurt someone as kind as her.
Feeling the weight of my stare, she looks
over at me, her pretty whiskey eyes punching me in the chest. She watches me with that smile of hers, a smile I will ensure she has for the rest of her life.
“Everythin’ okay?” she asks, her soft twang snapping me out of my thoughts.
“Yeah, Cupcake, I’m good. You ready to go?”
“Sure am.” Her attention shifts to Mac. “You gonna come with us?”
“Nah. You go on,” he declines. “Cade said he would take me.”
I bite back a chuckle, knowing what a sneaky bastard he’s being.
“All right, if you’re sure.” Leaning over, she gives him a peck on the cheek. “We’ll come by tomorrow and check on you.”
“Sounds good, darlin’. I’ll see you then.”
We start our goodbyes to everyone else. I make sure to mess Anna’s hair before pulling her in for a hug. “Don’t worry, kid. We only roughed him up a little bit.”
Her body stiffens. “Oh god.”
“I’m kidding, he’s fine. You picked a good one,” I tell her.
She smiles up at me, her arms hugging me tight. “Thanks. So did you.”
She doesn’t have to tell me, I already know.
Julia sees us out, she and Grace yakking for another few minutes at the door about their plans Tuesday. It takes every bit of control I possess not to haul Grace over my shoulder and charge out of there.
By the time we make it outside, my body is coiled tight; the need I’ve kept buried all night surfacing.
“That was such a great dinner, wasn’t it?” Grace says, having no idea where my thoughts are. “The news of Jax and Julia’s baby being a girl still has me feeling emotional. They are gonna make great parents. And let’s not forget…”
Everything else she says pretty much falls on deaf ears, my eyes dropping to her ass as I remember what she has on beneath that classy fucking dress. My dick throbs violently, the need to feel her tight, wet—
“What do you think?”
I snap back to reality, having no idea what she just said and right now, I don’t really care. The moment she reaches for my truck door, I grab her hips, my chest crowding her back.
Her sharp breath penetrates the humid air, my stiff cock pressing against her backside, hard enough that she braces her hands on the door.
“I’ll tell you what I think, Cupcake. I think it’s time you pay up for that little stunt you pulled earlier.”
Her breath races, shoulders rising and falling.
My face dips next to hers, lips brushing the shell of her ear. “Here’s what’s going to happen, you’re going to get into the truck and do exactly what I tell you to, understand?”
“Yes.” Her response is breathless, anticipation edging her voice. She wants this as much as I do.
I open the door and help her up, the rise of her dress teasing me with another peek. Groaning, I climb in on my side and start the truck up before looking over at Grace. “Lean back against the door, baby, and bend your knee. I want your legs spread wide for me.”
She follows the order eagerly while I pull away from the house. When I look back at her, she’s already in position, the glow of my dashboard illuminating everything I want.
“Pull up your dress and show me what’s mine.”
Her hands coast up her creamy thighs, moving painstakingly slow until the material is bunched at her hips. My eyes are riveted to the cream lace that barely covers what I know is the sweetest, tightest pussy I’ve ever had the pleasure of fucking.
I wrap a hand around her ankle and drag her closer to me. She braces back on her elbows, her breathing rapid, breasts rising and falling, calling to every primal instinct I posses.
I snake a hand between her legs, running my knuckle along the damp center. “Did you wear this for me tonight, Grace?”
“Yes,” she moans. “Everything I wear is for you.”
“That’s right, baby. Because you’re mine.” I rip one of the straps that’s attached to her panties before moving to the next one.
“God, Sawyer, as hot as this is, I only have one of these things and they aren’t cheap ya know.”
“Don’t worry, Cupcake. I’ll replace it. I’m going to buy you one in every fucking color.”
Her soft giggle trails into a moan when I slip a finger beneath the lace and run it through her slick pussy. Her hips lift, seeking more.
“Always so ready for me,” I growl.
My foot is heavy on the gas, eyes on the road as I stroke her clit, my cock hardening further as my finger moves to her entrance, hovering over the hole, never breaching just teasing.
She grows restless, her body shifting to move closer. “Sawyer, please…”
“It’s not very nice when people tease you, is it, Grace?”
“No, it’s not,” she moans. “Just like it wasn’t nice of you to eat my pies that I worked so hard on.”
I still, my gaze darting over to her; her face is flushed, eyes wild with need but there is no denying the truth of her words.
“Okay, Cupcake, you’re right. I guess we’ll just have to punish each other.” I enter a single finger inside of her, just up to my knuckle, her pussy gripping, begging for more.
She wiggles her hips, seating herself fully on it.
“Fuck, you want it bad.”
“So bad,” she confesses shamelessly, driving me to the brink of insanity.
Thankfully, it’s not long after I pull onto her driveway. I reluctantly withdraw my hand and put the truck in park, leaving it running. “Come here, baby.”
She sits up and crawls over to straddle me, her knees encasing my hips. Our mouths meet in a heated frenzy, the sweet taste of her exploding on my tongue. My hand snakes up her back, unzipping her dress until it’s bunched at her waist. Her heavy tits tumble into my waiting hands, my fingers tormenting her hard nipples.
“Oh god,” the two words rush past her lips on a heavy breath.
My mouth descends, closing over one peaked tip as my fingers roll and pinch the other, feeling the nub harden further.
She grinds down on my hard cock. Wanting—needing.
As bad as I want to drive up into her right now, I have other plans first. My hands grip her hips, stilling her movements. “Easy, Cupcake, not so fast.”
“Yes, fast. I want fast and hard.”
I groan, her eagerness making my dick weep. “Soon, baby, but first, I’m going to show you something.”
She pulls back, her swollen pink lips wet and parted. “What’s that?”
My eyes hold hers as I take her soft hands in mine and bring them to her chest, molding them over her breasts.
Her eyes flare for a fraction of a second, uncertainty peeking back at me. “I’m not so sure about this.”
“Don’t be nervous. It’s just me. I want you to experience pleasure by your hands.”
Curiosity reflects in her heavy-lidded eyes. She wants it too, she just doesn’t know how but she’s about to learn.
Leaning in, I lick the seam of her lips, coaxing and tasting. She sighs softly and opens for me. My hands curl around hers, encouraging her to squeeze the generous mounds. Her body slightly tenses.
“Relax, baby. Pretend it’s only my hands,” I murmur.
She complies, her expression softening with pleasure. I drag her fingers along her tight little nipples, letting her feel their reaction. A sexy moan spills past her lips, colliding against my mouth.
“Good girl. Now pinch them like I do. Make them hurt.”
She follows the order, her subtle gasp filling the thick air between us.
“Feels good. Doesn’t it?”
“Yes,” she whispers, her eyes closed and voice breathless.
Taking one of her hands, I bring it down between us, pushing it under her dress.
She tenses again.
“Don’t think about it, Grace. Just feel. Give yourself the pleasure you deserve.” My voice is gentle, words coaxing as I slip her hand into her panties, pressing her fingers between her wet folds.
“Oh,”
she cries out, her eyes closing once again as we pass over her clit.
I remove my hand and lift her skirt past her hips, my eyes riveted as her fingers shift beneath the lace. Growling, I shred the panties from her body, leaving nothing hidden to my view. I watch while she continues to tease her slick clit, my cock aching for contact.
I rest my seat back further, removing my shirt first then unbuckle my belt and unzip my pants to free my cock. A small noise escapes her when I start stroking myself, her eyes anchored on my every move and fingers stilling on her pussy.
“You like watching my hand fuck my cock, Grace?”
“Yes,” she whispers.
“From the first day I laid eyes on you, this is what I had to do, to ease the aching need I had for you.”
“Sawyer,” my name falls past her lips on a heated moan, her fingers moving again as she watches me jerk off.
It’s the hottest damn thing I’ve ever seen.
Unable to withhold any longer, I join my free hand with hers, slipping my fingers into her snug hole while she plays with her clit.
A keening cry flees her, echoing around us. The faster I fuck her pussy with my fingers, the faster her own hand moves, her hips bucking, matching my thrusts.
“I’m going to come,” she whimpers.
“Give into it, baby, so I can fill your greedy pussy with my cock.”
The filthy words send her careening over the edge, her cries of pleasure penetrating the stifling air and rushing through my veins. I don’t give her time to recover before I replace my hand with my cock, driving up inside of her tight, wet heat.
She grabs onto my shoulders for support, her head falling back in ecstasy.
My teeth grind as the aftershocks of her orgasm grips me.
“God, I love feeling you inside of me,” she moans.
“Me too, baby. It’s where I’m meant to be.” My fingers tighten on her hips, eyes holding hers. “Do you still want me to fuck you hard and fast, Grace?”
“Yes.”
There’s no hesitation in that word, only need, the same one I have roaring in my veins. It was all I needed to hear. My hips are relentless as I pound up inside of her, fucking her harder than I ever have before.
Her nails bite into my shoulders, tits bouncing enticingly only inches from my face. It isn’t long before I feel her tighten around me again with another orgasm. “Give it to me, baby.” Rearing my hand back, I deliver a sharp slap, hard enough that the sound of it echoes through the air.