by Alta Hensley
I turned off the highway and followed the familiar road to Old Pier. Makayla was still fast asleep. At my suggestion, she had curled up under my heavy jacket and ultimately floated off to sleep. Rest was something we both needed desperately. But not nearly as much as we needed each other. We needed the reconnection, the healing time, and the time to figure out what would happen next. I needed to make sure that Makayla felt safe again. That she knew that what occurred in Georgia would never happen again. Her nightmare was over and would never haunt her again. That would forever be my life’s mission from this point on. The poor girl had been through enough.
After hours of driving, we had finally reached the restaurant that sat near the lake house. It had been a long trip home, so I’d decided to stop at the nearby restaurant, before continuing on to the house. Not to mention that we needed some level of normalcy and to see normal people who had no idea the hell we had just experienced. We needed to be a part of ordinary life almost as badly as we needed air.
I smiled at Makayla as I pondered how to wake her. Very softly, I whispered her name and kissed her warm cheek. Makayla began to stir, a moan mixing with a soft sigh. I brushed my lips against hers, feeling the loving beginnings of a smile. I pulled back enough to watch Makayla’s eyes gradually flutter awake. The smile disappeared for a short moment, but returned when she looked up into my eyes. It had been a while since I saw it, felt it, but I could see the connection was still there. The overpowering bond that would always hold us together. The love that united us always. We just needed this time at the lake to remind us of it and to wash all the ugly of the last couple of days away.
“Are we there yet?” she asked huskily while rubbing her eyes.
“We are.” I pointed at the beginning of a sunset, dipping beneath the sparkling water of the lake. “The sun’s about to set.”
Makayla’s smile widened and her eyes brightened as she sat up all the way to take in the scenery. The horizon illuminated a gold that seemed magical against the tranquil water.
I freed her seat belt and tapped the armrest between us. “Come closer to me,” I softly commanded as I enclosed her under my arm, snuggling her close. Makayla nuzzled her head against my right arm with a soft sigh.
She lifted her face as though she read my mind. As though she could hear how badly I wanted to kiss her. Her lips parted, inviting my mouth, beckoning my touch. She positioned her body closer to me, pressing tight against my strength. I gave a passionate kiss, a kiss like the times before The Iron Colt Brotherhood gripped our souls and attempted to shred them to pieces. A kiss that reminded me of why, why we were meant to be regardless of all the elements that fought to keep us apart. I tightened my hold, pulling her into my arms to keep her from slipping away. Our love felt whole again, strong again with the backdrop of the lake in the distance, but I didn’t trust anything I was feeling. We needed to figure out how to keep this feeling always. My hope was that this time back at the house would do just that.
We sat in silence until the entire sky changed from a copper flame to a dark ember. We held each other, occasionally kissing, stroking, and relishing our love. Alone in the parking lot, the simple moment gave us hope.
Makayla
At the Pier Point Restaurant, we had a table with an expansive view of the lake. The lights of the houseboats sparkled against the nighttime sheen of the water, which was illuminated by the early moonlight. Although the restaurant was crowded, I felt nearly alone since the other diners were lost in their own conversations. It was the most romantic place I had ever been with a man who had captured my heart.
I took in the scenery while fumbling with my napkin. I was nervous and didn’t know how to hide that blatant fact from Alec. He sat across a small table from me, and all I could think about was what would happen now.
“You seem awfully quiet,” he started, after the waiter had poured our wine, leaving the bottle behind.
I took a sip of the wine. It left a trail of red fingering down the crystal. The bold flavor helped ease the tightness forming in my throat. “So do you.”
“It seems we’ve both been this way since leaving the plantation house.” Alec reclined back in his chair and rubbed his thumb against the edge of the glass. “I think we really need this lake to get back to normal.”
I looked off toward the illumination on the water, trying to fight back the tears threatening to escape my eyes. “Normal? I’m not sure I even know what that is.”
“Then it’s my job to help you find that… if you allow me to. I want to.”
“I want that, too. I love you, Alec.” The words still felt right to say even when not under duress thinking the man was about to die. That was a good sign.
A smile washed over his breathtakingly handsome face. “So what do you feel is going to be our main issue? Do you think you can move on from all this? And do you feel I have a place in that picture?”
I took a ragged breath to attempt to steady my composure “I can’t imagine my life without you in it. Without you by my side from this moment on.”
“Do you want to move back to New Orleans with me?” he asked, keeping his gaze locked on me. “I love the lake house, but I really do need to be closer to Spiked Roses. I’m not ready to retire from my involvement with that place yet. I enjoy it.” He chuckled. “I might be old, but not that old. Retirement is not in my near future yet.”
“Yes. I want that,” I almost whispered. “I had been so excited with the thought of moving and living in New Orleans before… well before all this happened.”
“What about your father? He seemed all right with us, though I don’t think he really understands the level of what ‘us’ really is. What if he objects?” Alec leaned toward me, reaching for my hand. “I’m old enough to be your father, and that harsh reality is going to become very obvious when we thrust ourselves into day to day life.”
“I have to live my life regardless of what my father says. But he did say he was going to join us at the lake in a couple of days, so I think that is saying something. It might take him a bit to get used to the idea, but when he sees how happy you make me… As for when we go back to New Orleans and Spiked Roses… people will assume you’re my sugar daddy.” The blush on my face began to take over. I pulled my hand away and reached for my wine, taking a large swig.
“There’s some truth to that. I don’t mind being considered your sugar daddy. Let people talk all they want. I do plan on taking care of you and giving you whatever you want. I want you to have the luxury of following your dreams in whatever way that is. Call it what you want. I call it taking care of what is mine.”
I took another deep breath. “I don’t even know what my dreams to be are. I have had such a sheltered life that I didn’t give myself that leeway to plan for a future. The only dream I truly had was to one day feel ordinary.” I paused, shrugged, and took another sip of wine. “I guess I have to find myself somehow. I’ve been lost in a sea of darkness.”
“Well,” he said after a long moment’s silence, “I want you to find yourself as I stand by your side every step of the way.”
I allowed my gaze to move from Alec to the calm surface of the lake. The unfamiliar feeling of hope seemed to ease itself into my tense body.
Alec must have read my body language and guessed my thoughts because he continued, “I know not knowing the future is scary.” He poured each of us some more wine from the bottle. “But we survived something so ugly, that we are definitely going to survive anything that can be thrown our way.”
“I hope so,” I said softly, then paused as our waitress approached and set down our dinner. Alec reached for my hand and squeezed. His eyes connected with mine, silently letting me know we were going to be fine. The waitress was quick and, in moments, gone.
“You know I love you, right?” Alec said, his voice a whispered hush that couldn’t be ignored.
I nodded as I took a bite of my salmon. “I do. But I get nervous that love might not be enough.” I stiffened in my c
hair and reached for my wine with a shaky hand. “The Iron Colt Brotherhood still exists and will always be there… looming in the distance.”
“Never again. We will never be involved with them again. Your father is done. I’m done.” Alec’s voice was deep and hoarse, as if he had to force the words out. He stopped eating, blew out a breath and said, “I know it’s hard to believe. But I need you to know that I am a powerful man even without the brotherhood behind me. There is nothing I won’t do to keep you safe.”
“I know… you proved that to me. You saved me. You saved my father. I owe you everything.” I took a long drink of my wine, trying desperately to clear the lump that remained in the back of my throat. I wondered if the awful memories would ever go away.
Alec shook his head slowly, staring down at his steak dinner. “You don’t owe me a thing.” Alec looked up into my eyes. “I want you, Makayla. I want you in my life. But please don’t agree to this because you feel you owe me.”
“I want you too,” was all I could barely squeak out. The man stole my breath with the way he looked at me. So powerful. So all consuming.
Alec softly touched my hand. His palm was warm, strong, and delivered chills racing up and down my spine. I looked deep within his eyes and saw a stoically confident, determined man. How could I ever resist a man like him? Alec was in my blood.
With a mischievous smile, he asked, “Do you want to get out of here? Let’s go check out the house and make sure it’s the way we left it.”
I glanced at my plate and then his. “We haven’t finished eating yet.”
“All I want right now is to pick you up, toss you over my shoulder, and carry you out of this restaurant. I want you alone, so I can show you just how much I love you.” Alec pushed his chair back, grabbed his wallet and placed a pile of cash on the table.
“We didn’t get the bill yet —”
“Makayla.” Alec reached out his hand and stared down into my eyes. “Either we get out of here right now, or all these people are going to see you as I bend you over this table and fuck you like I desperately want to do. I prefer to fuck you in private,” he said with a wink. “But I’ll leave that decision up to you.”
I took a moment to think about it, playfully acting as if I were actually considering just keeping my seat. Defying him and refusing to leave, just so I could guarantee his threat would come to fruition. But I also wanted him just as badly as he wanted me. So, with a sly smile, I stood up and took his hand.
Chapter Twenty-three
Makayla
I snuggled more deeply into Alec’s arms. He hadn’t let me out of his sight, or the bed, since arriving back at the lake house. I was exhausted and starving, and knew he had to be as well.
“We should go out and get something to eat,” he suggested, as if reading my mind.
The idea of an early dinner sounded great, but I didn’t want to move. I liked it right here in his arms, my body warm, melting as I thought of all the lovemaking we had just shared and no doubt would continue to. Lots of slow, lingering kisses, mixed with passionate gasps and pleas for more. I smiled against his chest. I loved the way we drove each other crazy.
“I’m not hungry,” I lied. I wanted to sit here like this, in his arms, until one of us was forced to move.
“I thought for sure we worked up an appetite. Is it time for another round?” he suggested.
Another smile pulled at my lips. “I’m not sure I can. I think you’ve truly worn me out.”
“Then dinner it is.”
I raised my head to look at him. “Okay, just give me a few minutes to get ready.”
“You’re beautiful just the way you are.”
“I’m naked.”
“Exactly,” he chuckled.
I sighed and collapsed against his muscled chest once more. “Do you want to eat dinner or not?”
“Fine.” He moved free of me, and stood naked at the side of the bed. “We need our energy for later. We will have the entire night ahead of us.”
I laughed. “You’re crazy.”
He bent down and kissed the tip of my nose. “Promise me you won’t move. I have an idea.”
I rolled onto my stomach, propped up on my arms and smiled up at him. “Shall we have dinner in bed?”
“You’re reading my mind.” Alec smiled. “Stay right there. I’ll be right back.”
He kissed me in that slow, sweet way of his, and I nearly forgot all about the growl of hunger in my stomach. I just wanted him to keep kissing me.
Alec was gone long enough to make me want to break my vow of staying put. When he finally returned, he carried a tray laden with a variety of cheese, crackers, and meats.
“Here you go.” He placed down the tray and backed toward the door. “I just have to get one more thing.”
I nibbled on a piece of cheese. He was back in an instant, with a simply wrapped gift in his hands.
Alec sat it on the bed in front of me. “Open it.”
I looked at the box with surprise. Looking up to Alec, I searched his eyes for some hint as to what was inside.
“Open it,” he urged.
I slowly removed the silky white ribbon. I lifted the lid and smiled at the piles of rose petals that acted as tissue paper. “What’s this?”
“You’ll see.”
I dug through the petals, finally finding a citrine ring with the stone in the shape of an oval. I gasped and instantly burst into tears. It was my mother’s. I recognized it. I remembered it from so many years ago.
“How did you get this? Where did you find it?”
He pressed a fingertip to my lips. “Do you like it?”
I placed the ring on my finger and stared with admiration. It fit just like it had fit my mother. I nodded. “It’s so beautiful! But how? This wasn’t in her belongings after she died. I know all of her jewelry by heart. This wasn’t in the collection I have back in Georgia.”
“That’s because she lost it here at the lake one year. It was one of her favorites, and she wore it all the time,” Alec said.
“I remember. She wore it on her middle finger every day. I still have pictures of her with the ring showing.”
“She did,” Alec said with a nod. “But then she lost it. She thought it was when she was swimming, but she was wrong because I found it. When I was downstairs in the basement getting us a bottle of wine, I saw it shining up at me.”
“It had been there all the time?” I asked, wiping away at the tears streaming down my face.
“It was never lost. And now it’s here for you.”
I was like my mother was giving her blessing on this relationship. Her blessing on my choices to move to New Orleans and be with Alec. Like she was looking down and telling me it wasn’t wrong. It wasn’t taboo. That it was what she would have wanted for me all along. She wanted me to be happy, and now that I was… she was giving me her blessing by this gift of one of her most prized and precious possessions.
“I think she would have been happy for us. She would have supported our love, and I think this was her way to let us know that.” I looked at him and smiled. “Do you think I’m crazy for believing that?”
“Not crazy at all. I agree, and I know this ring will make you think of your mother, but I’m hoping it will also remind you of our time at the lake… together.”
I tugged him down onto the bed. Forgetting about the food, I kissed him with the passion that exploded from my heart. “You have given me the best gift.”
He kissed my hand. “One of many… if you will allow it. I love you, Makayla.”
“And I love you. Promise me that we’ll always have this love. Promise me that we won’t lose this.”
“There’s no question in that. I love you. Always will,” he replied in a thick voice.
“What if leaving the lake house changes all of that? What if it changes us? What if all those dark shadows we just escaped find us again?”
“Never. Trust in us. Trust in me to protect you and never allow anythi
ng like that to happen again. I will give you normal. Trust me.” He reached for me, dragging me into his arms, holding me with all his strength.
“I do.” I looked at him hopefully. “But can’t we just stay here at the lake forever to be sure?”
With a warm smile he said, “We will always have the lake house, but we don’t need the lake house to be safe. Not anymore. You have me, and I have you.”
I raised my face to him and he lowered his head, his lips coming down on mine for a long, ravenous kiss. A kiss that made me feel more loved and protected than I even thought possible. I knew that no matter what, Alec was going to make sure I had my happily ever after in what was a dark and terrifying world. And even when we had to leave and face our new reality, I knew we would always have our lake house… our past, our memories, and our home.
The End
Beasts & Bourbon
Chapter One
Cheri
The sunlight of a new day has a way of changing how you once viewed something the night before in the darkness. This could be a good thing when you fall asleep feeling as if the whole world is crumbling down upon you, but then the morning brings new hope and a fresh perspective. Or this could be a bad thing when you meet a man in a bar, think he is the sexiest thing you ever laid eyes on, bring him home for a night of incredible but casual sex, and then look over and realize that the sunlight is not your, or his, friend.
Shit. When would I learn that two margaritas, followed by too many tequila shots, would make any man appear hot in a small Costa Rican dive bar? Sure, he was a tan, lean surfer, still sandy and damp from the salty water of the sea. Sure, he wore a man bun, which for the life of me I could never figure out why I found that attractive, but I did. Sure, he seemed to have the free spirit gypsy soul I found so enticing in a person. The type of man who traveled from one adventure spot to the next, never taking root in any one town for long. And yes, I melted into a pool of goo when he said my name with that thick accent that I simply called ‘European,’ because I never could figure out which country these surfer boys came from. Yes, my panties dropped for men like that.