CHAPTER EIGHTEEN
Catalina
THREE DAYS LATER, I stood at the entrance of Silas’s closet (if you could call it a closet) and was on the precipice of a major panic attack.
“Baby, why the fuck are you staring at the closet?” Silas demanded, walking into his room after getting Nova to the school bus.
“We’re having dinner with Barb and Zim tomorrow,” I said, sliding hangers to the side with a slap.
Zim’s wife had decided she had to meet me and Nova immediately, so she was flying down tonight and spending a week here while Zim finished out the case.
“I’m aware.”
I glanced over my shoulder with a frustrated huff. “I have nothing to wear!” I turned back to the closet. “Neither does Nova.”
“So, we’ll go shopping.”
“I don’t have the bud—”
“I’m payin’.”
I sighed. “I didn’t just say all that for you to pay, Silas.”
“Baby?”
“Hm?” I shoved more hangers aside.
I felt his hands on my hips and he turned me to face him. “What’s this really about?”
I frowned. “What do you mean?”
He tugged me closer. “Well, I know this can’t possibly have anything to do with the fact that I’m gonna shell out some money for you to buy a few things that you fuckin’ deserve. Because my woman, the one who’s currently wearin’ my ring, would understand that my money is her money and it’s my fuckin’ prerogative to provide for her.”
I rolled my eyes, gripping his cut. “No, it’s not that, smarty pants. I got a call from the insurance adjuster today and they’ve cleared my claim, so I’ll be getting a check any day, which means I’ll be able to pay you back.”
“That’s one.”
“Silas, stop. You’re the one putting the biggest chunk of the down payment into the house, not to mention, paying for all the reno, so—”
“That’s two.” He cocked his head. “Try again.”
I wrinkled my nose, suddenly annoyed that he knew me so well. “I’m meeting your parents.”
“Come again?”
“I’m essentially meeting your parents for the first time. Well, your surrogate mom since I’ve already met your surrogate dad.” I met his eyes. “What if she doesn’t like me? What if I clam up like I do when I’m nervous? What if she decides I’m all wrong for you? She sounds like a total badass. What if I’m not enough?”
“Jesus,” he breathed out. “That’s fuckin’ three.”
I narrowed my eyes. “Nope, you don’t get to do that.”
“Do what?”
“Take my real fears and make them about my mother.”
“Okay, I’ll give you that one. But that’s the only one.” He sighed. “Barb is gonna love you and I know this because you’re wholly loveable. You are perfect just the way you are, and I fuckin’ love you, which means Barb will fuckin’ love you.” He cupped my cheek. “Zim has already given you the stamp of approval, beautiful, and believe me when I say, Barb will probably love you even more.”
I licked my lips. “Do you really think so?”
“I really think so.”
“But if she doesn’t?”
“Babe, she will.”
“But if she doesn’t?” I pressed.
“It won’t make a difference,” he said, giving me a little squeeze. “You’re mine. I’m keeping you.”
I nodded. “Okay. I’d like to be kept.”
He waggled his eyebrows. “Yeah?”
I shivered. “You did promise you’d teach me some… ah… kinkier things. I’d really like that to happen sooner than later.”
“Fuck me,” he breathed out.
“Nova’s at school and I’ve got thirty minutes before I have to jump in the shower, so… yeah, I’d love to fuck you.” I slid my hand into his hair. “But can you do kinky in thirty minutes, because I’d like to have trouble walking afterwards.”
His eyes darkened. “Yeah?”
“Absolutely.” He kissed me. “I want you stripped and bent over that chair in ten seconds.”
I bit my lip and nodded, pulling away from him. I did as he instructed while he opened his bureau drawer and rummaged through it. “Face the wall, beautiful.”
“How did you know I wasn’t?”
He chuckled turning toward me. “I know you.”
I faced the wall. “Well, as long it’s not because you have eyes in the back of your head, because I may find you a little less sexy if that’s the case.”
His palm landed on my bare bottom and I squeaked from the surprise, particularly because I liked it. He rubbed the sting away as he kissed me between my shoulder blades.
“Okay, I take it back,” I said. “I’d find you sexy even if you had three heads.”
“Will you settle for two?”
I felt the evidence of his erection against my hip and leaned into him. “I’ll take whatever you’re willing to give.”
“How much can you take, Catalina?”
“Whatever you can give me, Shutter.”
He let out a quiet hiss and I smiled. I never called him Shutter. Ever. And I had a feeling he’d know exactly what that meant.
“When you want to get kinky, baby, you use Shutter and I’ll know what you want, yeah?”
I shivered. “Oh, yeah.”
“Anything off limits?”
“Anything, like what?”
He pressed something against my dark tight opening, and I mewed. “Like that.”
“No, nothing’s off limits… Shutter.”
He chuckled, and suddenly, whatever was pressed against me began to vibrate. “Spread your legs, Catalina.”
I did so immediately and he pressed the vibrator deeper in. “You okay?”
“God, yes,” I hissed.
It felt amazing.
His fingers dipped inside of me and I nearly came, but he pulled them out far too quickly for my liking. “You’re soaked.”
“Don’t stop,” I begged.
“I’m not gonna stop, Cat,” he promised, and his fingers were replaced by his cock which pushed me over the edge, and I came.
Hard.
“Beautiful, baby,” Silas whispered. “But now you need to stay put. Got it?”
“If I get more of that, I’ll do whatever you tell me.”
“Ass up higher, honey,” he directed, and I leaned my arms deeper in the chair, my ass in the air. I whimpered when he removed the vibrator, but his fingers went to my clit, and he buried his cock deeper, so my disappointment was very short-lived.
I took every inch until he was buried to his root, his fingers sliding through my folds before working my clit as he rocked into me.
Silas gripped my hips, leaning over me and kissing my back, before warning, “Gonna fuck you hard. Want you to take it but don’t come. I’m gonna make it good for you, but I want you to wait. Got it?”
I whimpered out an affirmative and he didn’t waste any time, slamming into me harder and harder until he came, slapping my bottom twice before sliding his hand to my clit. His dick still buried deep, his hand on my clit, the vibrator was back, and I was screaming his name as I could no longer hold back my orgasm.
Silas caught me as my legs gave out, settling me gently on the bed, and stretching out beside me, giant smile on his face as he kissed me.
“You like to play,” he said.
I bit my lip, blushing. “I like to play,” I confirmed.
“I’m gonna plan for that.”
I stroked his face. “Promise?”
“Promise.” He kissed me again. “Can you walk?”
“I’m pretty sure I can’t.”
“Then I’ve done my job.”
I chuckled. “Yes, but now I want more, and we don’t have time.”
“We will,” he said, kissing me again. “Come on Kinky Boots, let’s get you in the shower.”
“You don’t know anything about Les Mis, but you can throw out Kinky Boots?”
I grinned and he helped me off the bed.
* * *
The night of our dinner with the Zim and his wife, I walked into the barn ten minutes later than I expected. My shift had ended on time, but traffic had been a nightmare, so I only had thirty minutes to shower and change for my meet the parents’ dinner.
“Babe, you’re fine,” Silas said as I stripped and headed into the bathroom.
“I’m not!” I argued, starting the water in the shower. “I hate being late, and,” I waved my hand under the water stream, “the water’s cold.”
“Old pipes, Cat, give them a second.”
I let out a grunt. “If we’re late, she’s going to hate me.”
“Baby, she’s not. What can I do to help?” Silas asked.
“Get Nova ready, please. That’ll help a bunch.” The water finally heated, so I stepped inside.
Before I could fully submerge my face, however, Silas grabbed my hand and pulled me forward, kissing me quickly. “I got Nova. You take care of you, sweetheart. We’ve got plenty of time.”
I nodded, kissing him one more time before rushing through my shower. Less than an hour later, we were five minutes away from the restaurant and right on time.
Apparently, miracles do happen.
“Are you good?” Silas asked once we’d parked.
I nodded but couldn’t quite find my voice.
He kissed me quickly, then we worked in tandem to get Nova from the car, along with a bag full of things we hoped would keep her happy through dinner. She was a good kid, but she was still a kid, and grown-up conversation would more than likely bore her.
“Are you ready to meet my friends?” Silas asked Nova.
She bobbed her head and smiled. “Can I have ice cream?”
“Please,” I prompted.
“Pwease.”
“After your dinner, you absolutely can,” I said.
“Let’s go.” She grinned, taking Silas’s hand, and tugging him toward the restaurant.
I chuckled and tried to keep up as we walked inside.
Silas had done an amazing job with Nova and getting her dressed. She wore the cutest little pair of skinny jeans, bedazzled at the bum, and a short-sleeved pink unicorn shirt the complemented her light blonde hair. We’d gone shopping yesterday after my shift and bought this new outfit, along with a pair of pink sparkly cowboy boots she (obviously) just had to have.
I, on the other hand, wore tall black boots with my new skinny jeans, and a black cardigan over a lacy pink camisole.
We stepped into the foyer and found Zim and a beautiful woman probably in her early sixties, turned toward us. Barb had shoulder-length, honey blonde hair, layered so it softened her face, and she reminded me a bit of Helen Mirren. She was stunning.
The couple smiled brightly, and Barb immediately walked to me, pulling me in for a hug, then Silas as we introduced ourselves.
“Oh, my word,” Barb exclaimed, leaning down. “Is this Nova?”
Nova wrapped her arms around Silas’s leg and buried her face in his thigh. Silas slid his hand to Nova’s hair and slid it behind her shoulders. “Indeed.”
“Hi, Nova,” Barb said. “It’s lovely to meet you.”
“It’s nice to meet you, too,” Nova said to Silas’s leg.
“Zimmerman,” the hostess called.
“That’s us,” Zim said, and we headed to a booth by the window.
A booster seat was provided for Nova and we settled her in the corner next to Silas, with him in the middle, then me on the end. The Zimmermans sat across from us and Barbara was focused on Nova, helping her with the crayons and the kid menu.
“Do you want nuggets or a burger, baby?” I asked Nova.
“Nuggets, pwease.”
“Gosh, Nova, you’re very good at using your manners,” Barb crooned, and Nova beamed under the compliment.
“Fank you, Mrs. Zimmerman.”
“If it’s okay with Silas and Catalina, you can call me Barb, honey.”
“It’s fine with us,” Silas said, and I nodded.
Nova smiled, then went back to her coloring.
“I’m so glad you could come down,” I said to Barb. “I know Silas has missed you.” I glanced at Silas, squeezing his leg. “Not that I want to speak for you, of course.”
Silas chuckled. “You’re fine, baby.”
Barb got a little misty-eyed as she smiled at Silas. “I’m so glad you have this, honey.”
“Thanks, Barb,” he said, sliding an arm around me and giving me a squeeze. “Me, too.”
“I’m real sorry Zim was a moron,” she continued and I nearly spit my soda out.
“True story,” Zim retorted.
Silas smiled. “Water under the bridge, Barb.”
“You’re mine,” she continued. “You have been since the second I laid eyes on you. I’m not letting you go again. Is that okay with you?”
I bit back tears, gripping Silas’s thigh as he cleared his throat and bit out, “Yeah.”
She reached over and squeezed his arm that was currently resting on the table. “I’m gonna spoil your kids like they’re my very own grandkids, because they will be for as long as I live. Okay?”
“Yeah, darlin’,” Silas said.
She nodded, wiping her tears with her napkin, and leaning against her husband. “Glad that’s settled.”
“Where are you staying?” I asked Barb.
“Got the cutest little rental down by the park. I’ve been exploring while Zim works on this case.”
The park she referred to was Forsyth Park and it was pretty famous. Definitely a big tourist attraction. It was one of my favorite places and I know Silas took pictures down there a lot.
“I love it down there,” I said.
“It really is beautiful.”
“Look, it’s a puppy,” Nova announced, holding her picture up.
“Let me have a closer look,” Zim said, and put on his readers. “Well, I think that might be the best-looking puppy I’ve ever seen. What do you think, Barb?”
“Amazing,” Barb breathed out and Nova grinned wide.
“I’m gonna make a kitty now.”
“I can’t wait,” Barb said, just as our food arrived.
The rest of dinner was nothing but perfection. I noticed Barb get choked up several times, obviously beyond happy she had Silas back in her life. Nova was falling hard for the older couple and I was pretty much already there.
By the time we had to get Nova home to bed, she was bouncing off the wall from her ice cream sugar high. Which meant, a crash was imminent, so we took her home.
“How ya doin’?” I asked Silas after we’d slid into bed, made love twice, and I was currently drawing circles on his chest with my finger.
“I’m good, KB, how about you?”
I met his eyes. “KB?”
He grinned. “Kinky Boots.”
I rolled my eyes. “Oh, jeez.”
He chuckled, rolling me onto my back and kissing me.
“They really love you,” I said, stroking his cheek.
“Yeah.”
“That’s everything,” I breathed out.
“No,” he corrected. “You’re everything. The rest is just a bonus.” He kissed me. “A beautiful bonus, but it’d mean nothing without you.”
“I love you so hard.”
He kissed me again, then pulled me back onto his chest. “Gotta meet with the boys tomorrow, so we need to sleep.”
“Okay, but KB wants a night alone with you sometime soon. She needs to get freaky.”
He laughed, giving me a gentle squeeze. “I’ll get right on that.”
CHAPTER NINETEEN
Catalina
“OKAY, SWEETNESS, WE just have to grab a few things for Uncle Shutter’s birthday cake and then we’ll get some dinner, okay?” I said, lifting Nova into the cart.
Silas was meeting with Rabbit and Doc to try and figure out who
the mystery man with the scar was, so I was taking this opportunity to shop for him secretly. Because I wasn’t a hero, I’d put in an order with Kennedy for a proper cake, along with several dozen cupcakes, but I wanted Nova to experience the chance to make something as well.
“Can we have chocklit, pwease?” Nova asked.
“Well, since that’s Uncle Shutter’s favorite, absolutely.”
Nova clapped. “Yay.”
Tonight was family night with the club and the plan was to surprise Silas with his cake, along with the new watch I’d bought him right after dinner. I pushed the cart through the store, grabbing everything we’d need for the cake, along with paper products, sandwich fixings, and fresh fruit because Nova seemed to eat her weight in bananas.
We were heading to the checkout when she suddenly grabbed my arm and rasped, “Mama.”
I glanced at her and her little face was ashen. “Baby, what’s wrong?”
She sniffed, closing her eyes tight as she shook her head. “No, Mama, no.”
I heard a little drip of something wet and realized rather quickly that Nova had just wet herself.
“Mama,” she whimpered, crying softly.
I whipped my head around and my gaze fell on a man about ten feet or so from us. He had a closely shaved head, horribly black and yellow teeth… and a scar that went down the side of his face. “Oh, jesus,” I whispered, blocking Nova from the man’s view as I opened the pack of paper towels in my cart and dropped them at my feet, then I called Silas.
“Baby, I’m in the midd—”
“He’s here,” I whispered.
“Who?”
“Oh, god. Honey, the guy,” I hissed. “The one who… you know…?”
“Did he see you?” Silas demanded.
“I don’t know.”
“Where are you?”
“Publix.”
“Do not move,” he ordered.
“I won’t but I need a change of clothes for Nova.”
He didn’t ask why, thank god, and hung up.
“Nova, baby, it’s okay. Shutter’s coming,” I crooned, just as a store manager walked up to us.
“Is there anything I can do to help, ma’am?”
“My… ah… girl’s had an accident. I’m so sorry.”
“No need to apologize.” She waved someone over, then grabbed a plastic shopping bag and we wheeled Nova down the aisle with the diapers where I found a pack of pull ups and tore into it.
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