by Gemma Weir
“I don’t want you to go out with wet hair. Cora is my sister and she’ll be your sister soon too. She loves to play with Bonnie’s hair and she wants to get to know you. Please give her a chance and do this because I want you to.”
My gut reaction is to pull away, to deny his words and curl back into my protective ball where I’m an island barricaded against hurt, but his grip on me tightens and his lips press against my neck. “I want you to try, for me, please.”
It’s the please that gets me. “I’ll try.”
“Good girl,” he whispers, pressing a heated kiss against the pulse point in my neck.
“Alice, come sit over here,” Cora calls, and I reluctantly leave Granger’s embrace and make my way to where his sister is grinning gleefully.
Cora chatters almost constantly, even while the hair dryer is on and I can barely hear a word she says. I try my best to engage, but my self-conditioning to just stay quiet and not get involved is so ingrained in me now that I forget and stay silent, until Granger catches my eye, mouthing the word ‘please’ at me. The words I speak sound foreign coming from my mouth, but I force them out anyway, answering each question with more than a one-word answer. By the time my hair is dry and so smooth it feels almost weightless, I’m exhausted.
When Granger appears in front of me, his smile soft and sweet, I sigh past my malaise and lean into his touch when he palms my cheek. “You want Bonnie to braid it, or have you had enough?” His voice is so quiet for only me to hear.
“It’s fine loose.”
He nods knowingly and I’m grateful that somehow my man understands me already even after such a short amount of time. My man. When did I start thinking about him as mine? Before I have a chance to process the thought, the living room is full of Barnett’s and I’m too overwhelmed to think.
“Lets roll, beers to drink, funnel cake to eat and ladies to make swoon,” one of the brothers, Penn I think, announces.
“Come on, honey, let’s go,” Granger smiles, pushing up to his feet and grabbing my hand to urge me to follow. I hadn’t noticed my jacket, but he carefully turns me, helping me into it, before turning me again and zipping it closed, pulling my hair from the collar. “Do you have a hat? It’s gonna be cold tonight, you need gloves too.”`
“I’ll be fine,” I try to assure him.
“No you won’t. Where are they?”
“My hat is in my RV, my gloves are in here,” I say pulling them from my pockets.
“Stay here,” he orders and marches off to his bedroom, returning a minute later with a grey knit beanie. Pulling it onto my head, he positions it into place, then takes my gloves from me and slides them onto my hands.
For a moment, I wonder if his family will think it’s odd for him to be looking after me like this, but when I glance around I notice that Huck is on his knees, kissing Cora’s pregnant belly while he helps her slide her feet into fur lined boots and Beau is teasing Bonnie who looks so tiny against his enormous frame.
Is this what these brothers do? They find their woman and then dote on her with love and affection? I’d assumed this was just Granger pandering to me, doing and saying whatever he had to, to get me to stay, but could I be wrong? Is this care and attention a family trait and Granger is just giving me what I need?
“Ask me,” Granger says, his warm fingers turning my face away from his family to look at him, his brow furrowed.
“What?”
“I can hear you thinking, don’t break the rules so early on or I’ll have to think of a way to punish you. So ask me whatever you need to ask to slow that brain of yours.”
How does he know? How could he possibly know what I’m thinking? “Do they do for Cora and Bonnie what you want to do for me? Are you guys only attracted to broken, messed up women?”
His smile is blinding. “No, honey. We’re jealous, protective, obsessed, maybe a little crazy, but we don’t seek out women that need our brand of insanity. In fact, Bonnie ran so hard from Beau once he tried to claim her, she even tried dating someone else and threatening him with a shotgun. I’m not sorry that you need me though. Cora’s so independent that Huck had to knock her up to find a place in her life. I’m glad you’re softer, because I need you to need me, it turns me on to be the one to help and care for you.”
Grabbing my hand, he discreetly places it over the hard bulge in his jeans. “You’re always hard.” I roll my eyes.
“Taking care of you, being the one to slow your busy mind, watching your eyes settle when they land on me, that’s got me harder than I’ve ever been in my entire life. The more you need me, the hotter that gets me.”
His words are a confession, even as he smiles while he says them to me and I can’t help but smile back. Maybe me being needy and pathetic isn’t so bad if it’s his kink? His lips silence my thoughts and I lose myself in his kiss, on the way his fingers tug at my hair, the hint of pain keeping me present and in the moment.
When he pulls away and I open my eyes, we’re alone in the living room. I had no idea everyone else had left. “Come on,” he chuckles, dropping his arm over my shoulder and pulling me outside.
The small town of Rockhead Point has been transformed into a winter wonderland. Booths, food stalls and carnival rides fill the town square and there are people everywhere. Twinkly lights seem to cover every tree, streetlamp and anything else they could be twined around and it’s beautiful.
Bay pulls the huge SUV in front of the garage and we all pile out. For some reason I expect everyone to stay together like some weird, Montana brady bunch, but Penn, Bay, Cody and Teddy wave the rest of us goodbye and disappear into the crowd, and then it’s just the couples left as we head into the crowded festival.
“Drinks, food or rides first?” Granger asks.
“Rides,” I say, barely able to hold back my enthusiasm, even as I try to hide it from him. Does he even like carnival rides? Do I sound like a kid? Surely he wouldn’t have suggested the rides as an option if he didn’t enjoy them.
Granger pulls me to a stop, waving his family away as he drags me out of the flow of people, pinning me against a store front. “Tell me.”
Shaking my head, I try to pull away from him, but his grip tightens until I’m completely restrained in his arms, unable to run, to hide from him and his ability to read my mind. “It’s nothing.”
“We’re not moving from this spot until you tell me,” he says sternly.
“It’s stupid.”
“You’re breaking the rules again, honey. I wonder what I can do to enforce them? Maybe my fingers in your pussy, or your ass with no release would be an incentive to talk to me. I can’t soothe those doubts if you don’t open your pretty little mouth.”
Closing my eyes, I block him out.
“Open your eyes, Alice.”
My eyes snap open, shocked by the angry tone of his voice. This is the first time I’ve heard him sound angry, and the idea that it’s aimed at me makes me want to tell him every thought I’ve ever had rather than feel his displeasure. “I was worried you were only offering to go on the rides for me, that you didn’t actually want to and would think I was childish for enjoying them,” I blurt.
His expression instantly softens, his tense muscles relaxing around me as his hold on me relaxes and instead of a restraint his arms become and embrace. “I love carnival rides. When I was a kid, I’d save all my chore money for when the county fair came to town, then I’d buy enough tickets to ride every ride three times.”
I find myself smiling at the memory with him, my anxiety assuaged with his confession.
“Thank you for telling me, honey. I think I should reward you for talking to me, I know this is hard for you.”
“You basically had to force it from me,” I admit, hating that I’m this way.
“But you told me and you let me fix it, I felt the moment you felt better, when you relaxed and leaned into me. I bet if I was to slide my fingers through your folds, you’d be wet for me, I think you get hot when I look aft
er you. I think you need to rely on me to solve all your problems, just as much as I want to solve them. That’s why you’re mine, because we’re perfect for each other.”
14
Granger
Her pupils dilate and her breathing quickens as I stare down at her. She might think she’s hiding, but every single one of her emotions is written across her face. In moments like this when her guard is down, she’s so easy to read. She wants to be cared for, coddled, protected and I’m so fucking glad; because now that her barrier of stoic indifference is gone, she’s just a scared, needy woman who longs to be loved.
I love Bonnie for her fight and Cora for her sassy independence, but I knew my woman would be different. I didn’t know until I saw Alice that I need to be needed, and she needs me.
My dick actually gets harder every time I think about how the ravaged look in her eyes calms when I hold her close, when I take the time to settle her anxious thoughts. I think she thought I’d run a mile when she told me she’s needy, clingy and dependent, but all it did was make my cock swell, and my need to claim her in every way possible surged to life even more persistently than before.
I know she didn’t take it seriously when I said I’m going to keep her, to marry her, but I wasn’t joking. The courthouse is open first thing Tuesday morning and by lunch, I plan to have my ring on her finger and have her last name changed to Barnett. She’s a flight risk, so I’m going to tie her to me in every way legally possible as quickly as I can, and I’ll do whatever it takes to make that happen.
Curling my arm around her shoulder, I pull her back into the stream of people moving around the festival, leaning down to whisper into her ear as we walk. “Do you want your reward with my tongue, my fingers or my dick?”
Her breathing stutters and I smile into her neck. “I don’t want to make you any more sore than you already are, so maybe I should eat you, lick you clean, then get you all wet again, so I can taste you all over again. Maybe I should lick and suck on your nipples until your pussy is creaming for me, I haven’t had enough time to play with your tits yet. I don’t want to neglect them.”
When she stumbles, I tighten my hold on her, keeping her upright. “Are your panties soaked yet, honey? I’m gonna check when we get on the ghost train, I’m gonna finger your wet pussy in the dark and you’ll have till the ride finishes to come all over my hand.”
“Granger,” she whines, her voice breathy.
Smiling, I chuckle. “Come on, honey, let’s go ride some rides.”
Two hours later, we’ve ridden nearly every ride and she’s come on my fingers twice. After the second time, I made her lick my fingers clean and almost came in my fucking jeans. “Food and a drink, a man cannot live on your taste alone,” I announce, dragging her away from the tilt-a-whirl and toward the food stalls.
“Can we have hotdogs?” she asks sweetly.
“Of course, then funnel cakes.”
Her nose wrinkles. “Funnel cakes are gross.”
Clutching my jacket over my heart I turn to her with an outraged expression. “Take that back, funnel cakes are the king of the carnival foods.”
“They’re too sweet, if I’m getting cavities then I want to do it with cotton candy.” She laughs and I realize I’m becoming a little obsessed with making her smile and laugh like this. The way she looks now is so different from the closed off stranger I met yesterday; I need to keep her carefree and grinning like this for the rest of our lives.
“Cotton candy is the brainless cousin of the carnival desert. Funnel cakes are the king, cronuts, hand pies and ice cream the royal court, then cotton candy and snow cones are the poor relatives,” I say decisively.
“No, cotton candy is the queen, funnel cakes are the court jester,” she laughs, shrieking when I dig my fingers into her side and tickle her.
We wait in the line for the hotdog vendor and I hold her close, wanting everyone in town to see us together. Rockhead Point is a small place, so word will spread fast that I’m here with Alice and I want it to. I don’t have any regular hook ups here in town, but I’m happy for the news that I’m taken to spread through to anyone who was hoping to land a Barnett for a husband.
“What do you want on your dog?” I ask her.
“Everything, is there any other way to get it?”
“Nope, there isn’t.” When we get to the front of the line, I order us each a hotdog, handing the guy the money as he passes me the food.
“I can pay,” Alice says.
“So can I,” I tell her, with a stern authority that I’m hoping warns her to stop talking.
“Granger.”
“Honey, you’re my woman, I pay, that’s it, no arguments, nothing to talk about.” Pressing a bruising kiss to her lips, I pull back and hand her a hotdog, warning her with a look not to push me on this.
Her eyes widen and that stubborn streak that’s held her back from engaging with people for years flashes rebelliously in her eyes, but I grab her chin with my free hand and lean down into her. “My woman, I pay,” I say again, and after a moment she nods.
As we eat, I drag her over to the bar tent that’s been set up outside Barney’s bar. “What do you want to drink? There’s beer, or alcoholic hot chocolate and hot cider.”
“Oh, alcoholic hot cider sounds yummy.”
Ordering a beer for me and a hot cider for her, I finish the last bite of my hotdog, just as Barney hands me our drinks.
“Here you go, Granger.”
“Thanks Barney, this is my girl, Alice, she’s new to town.”
“Hello Alice, welcome to Rockhead Point,” Barney says, pushing his hand out for her to shake.
“Nice to meet you,” she says shyly.
The caveman inside of me rears his ugly head at introducing her as mine, so for the next hour I wave to every neighbor, friend and acquaintance and tell every single one of them that the beautiful woman at my side is mine. She stops tensing after about the tenth time and by the time it’s late and the festival is starting to wind down, she’s rolling her eyes, more than aware of the game I’m playing.
“Is there anyone you haven’t told I’m yours?” she snarks.
“Don’t worry, if there is, I’ll track ‘em down.” I wink. My cell beeps and I pull it from my pocket and look down at the message from Beau who’s driving tonight.
Beau: Bonnie and Cora are ready to go. You coming?
Glancing up at Alice, I take in the pink of her cheeks from the cool night air, the way my hat sits too big for her head, her blonde hair flowing just past her shoulders. “You ready to go? Or do you want to go get another drink?”
“I’m ready if you are.”
Me: We’re coming, see you in five.
I take her hand and she doesn’t try to pull free, instead she happily walks beside me as we make our way back to the garage where the SUV is parked.
“I should check on my RV,” she says, when she spots it parked up at the side of the building.
“The engine’s fucked, honey, it’s not going anywhere. You want to grab the rest of your stuff? We can get it now, or come back down for it tomorrow.”
“I’ve got my clothes, what else do I need?” she asks, her brow furrowed like she’s genuinely unsure of the answer.
“Everything else, I want you to feel at home in our room till our wing is finished, then you can decorate it however you want.”
“Why would I decorate your home?” she asks slowly.
“Because it’s gonna be our home.”
She shakes her head slowly, but I yank her into my chest, startling her as I stare down at her intently. “Yes, honey, our home where we live together.” Her lips part to argue, but I don’t want to hear the same protests I heard the other day from her lips. Ducking down, I put my shoulder into her stomach and scoop her into the air, her head dangling down my back. Reaching up, I slap my hand against her ass hard, then march toward the car, opening the back door and depositing her inside, before following her in.
�
��Did you seriously just throw me over your shoulder like a barbarian?” she gasps, a hint of outrage in her eyes.
“I sure as fuck did.”
“Get used to it, Alice, Beau still does it all the time when he can’t win an argument,” Bonnie laughs.
“I spank your ass to make you behave too,” Beau growls quietly, but still loud enough that I hear.
“I like it too much for it to be a punishment,” Bonnie says, leaning across the front seats and pressing a kiss to Beau’s mouth.
The car starts to move and I lean across my girl, grabbing her seatbelt and fixing it in place as she stares slightly open mouthed at my indiscreet brother and his equally enthusiastic young wife. “Their marriage is a little unusual, but it works for them,” I say with a smile, draping my arm across the back of Alice’s shoulders and pulling her into me.
“He spanks her?” she whispers.
“Because it’s a huge turn on for both of them. He’d never hurt her,” I assure her.
“Do you…” She pauses, turning wide eyes at me. “Do you want to do that to me?”
“It’s not something I’ve ever thought about, but we can try it if you want. Your ass would look fucking hot all pink from a spanking then coated in my cum.”
Her eyes somehow widen even further and I stifle a chuckle. “You like that idea?”
“No,” she says too quickly.
“Don’t lie, Alice, never fucking lie to me,” I hiss.
“I don’t…”
“I’d rather hear the truth, even if you don’t think I’ll like it, even if it’s embarrassing, I don’t care, I’ll take it over a lie.”
She swallows thickly, then nods.
The drive home is quiet, Cora falls asleep on Huck’s shoulder and Bonnie and Beau whisper between themselves in the front seat. All my attention is on the quiet, stoic woman at my side. I saw another side of her tonight, the playful, funny woman who is ensnaring my heart more and more at every turn.