The only consolation – Jason wasn’t smiling anymore.
“If it isn’t the lying, cheating bastard in the flesh.” Brendon added, apparently looking to start shit as he took a menacing step forward, his big, powerful body prepared to pounce.
Aside from the one step Brendon took, no one else was moving closer to Jason, although the fear that flashed across his too handsome face said otherwise.
“Oh, and if it isn’t Tiffany Folsom.” Braydon tacked on, smiling, but looking none too happy. “I have to say, I’m surprised he kept you around this long.”
And that’s what started it all.
Chapter Nineteen
♂♀
“It’s Tiffany Tribbons, thank you very much.” Her nasally, whiny voice penetrated the air and made Brendon and Braydon chuckle, though Kaleb wasn’t sure what the hell was funny. “And we’re still together because he only kicks the trash to the curb.”
Zoey flew out of her chair, although Kaleb easily pulled her back, holding her firmly in place. Kaleb knew that all hell was about to break loose and should Jason Tribbons get any bright ideas about throwing insults, he wasn’t so sure any of them would be able to hold back. That was the one thing about the brothers – they were a protective bunch, and every one of them had grown protective of Zoey over the years.
“Well, that’s funny.” Brendon said, taking a step closer to their table, Sawyer right by his side, probably to hold him back if necessary. “From what I remember, Jason tucked his tail between his legs and ran out of town with the trash. Ain’t that right, Jason?”
When Jason didn’t say anything, not even attempting to defend the woman who had declared herself to be his wife, clearly the mother of his child, it was obvious where this was going to lead.
“Oh, and look.” Tiffany said in a fake sweet voice, “little Zoey Stranford is hooking up with a Walker. Or are you hooking up with all of them these days?”
“If you’ve got the cream of the crop,” Zoey offered, not moving from her position in front of Kaleb, “what does it matter who I’m with?”
“Oh, honey, Jason was smart enough to leave your ass long ago. He told me what a bore you were in bed.”
Zoey smiled, and Kaleb knew there was a storm brewing. With a nod of his head, Kaleb acknowledged Jason before speaking. “You might want to take her home.”
“Fuck you, Kaleb Walker.” Tiffany screamed. “I can go anywhere and do anything I want.”
Zoey glanced up at Kaleb and grinned. “It’s true. She can. She’s particularly fond of doing married men.”
Apparently Tiffany took offense to that statement because she came around the table, walking right up to Zoey. Kaleb didn’t budge and neither did Zoey. Had he not been leaning against her back, he wouldn’t have known she was gearing up for a fight. But he knew her well. She wasn’t about to throw the first punch, but she damn sure wasn’t going to take any shit off of anyone.
“Why don’t you take your sweet self back home, lie down like a comatose woman and let them have their wicked way with you? I hear you’re good at that.”
“Yeah? That’s what I’m good at, huh?” Zoey laughed without mirth. “Ever think that maybe I just didn’t know he was there and that’s why I didn’t move?”
That statement garnered a round of laughter from the other patrons in the bar, but still, Jason didn’t move. Tiffany, on the other hand, looked pissed. At least one of them was going to stand up for the other. Obviously Jason wasn’t interested in defending his wife because he was still seated, nursing a beer and trying to pretend the whole thing wasn’t happening.
“Honey, he’s the best I’ve ever had.” Tiffany glared at Zoey.
Once again Zoey glanced up at Kaleb then back at Tiffany. “Well, that’s saying something. Considering you’ve had half the town.”
Another round of laughter.
The instant Tiffany reached for Zoey, Kaleb intervened, stepping in front of her and successfully blocking the hand that would have bitch slapped her. Thankfully Gage was right there, holding Zoey back because the woman had just come unhinged.
“Tribbons.” This time Travis spoke up, and when he did the entire bar got quiet. They all knew Travis generally didn’t intervene, and he wasn’t much on talking either, so when he did, people tended to listened. “Take her home. And don’t bring her back here tonight.”
Kaleb watched as Jason stood, glancing around as though one of them were going to jump him at any minute. It wasn’t until he was at the door, the rest of them watching them walk away that it happened.
Out of nowhere, Jake – Anderson Croft’s friend that Zane had had words with previously – pounced on Zane’s back, effectively tackling him to the floor. Unfortunately for Jake, he wasn’t fast enough because Zane went down, but not entirely. Before anyone knew what happened, Zane was on him, and Sawyer and Travis were trying to pull him off. Then three more joined the melee and a free for all broke loose.
Grabbing Zoey by the hand, Kaleb dragged her through the short, narrow hallway that led to the back door. Six of his brother’s together was more than enough to handle the brawl and Kaleb wouldn’t put it past Tiffany to do a sneak attack while they were all preoccupied, so getting Zoey out of the fray seemed the most logical option.
He didn’t let her pull away when she would have tried; instead, he led her to his truck, ignoring her verbal and physical protests. “Just get in.”
Obviously irritated, Zoey glared up at him, but she stopped arguing. With a dramatic huff, she finally did as he instructed, climbing in through the driver’s door and crawling across the seat.
“Middle.” He told her when she would have moved over to the passenger side of the truck. Call him crazy, but Kaleb wanted to keep her close.
Another deep exhale, then Zoey finally settled into the seat, making a gigantic deal out of buckling her seat belt. Kaleb smiled to himself before starting the truck.
“Where are we going?” She asked as he pulled out of the parking lot.
“For a drive.” Instead of going back toward his house, he took off on one of the back roads. Zoey needed some time to cool off, and Kaleb wasn’t interested in fighting with her anymore tonight. And he had just the thing to take her mind off of what just happened.
♀♂
“Just take me home.” Zoey was still angry, but she was calming down some. She truly didn’t want to go home, not particularly interested in spending time alone, but she wasn’t prepared to give in to Kaleb’s high handedness.
Yet she had a difficult time putting any effort in to arguing with him. Maybe it was the distinct scent of Kaleb that overwhelmed her senses, or the fact that she didn’t have to look at Jason’s face anymore. Or his wife.
Ugghh. The thought still pissed her off. She was so worked up after that little bitch Tiffany mouthed off, she couldn’t even speak.
“Why are you fidgeting?” Kaleb asked as they drove down the back road. Zoey recognized where they were going because it was one of the secluded spots they had frequented as teenagers. Just outside of their small town, the abandoned barn had definitely seen better days, but even after all of the partying they’d done there over the years, it was still standing.
“I’m not fidgeting.” She lied, stilling her hands as she said the words.
“Baby, if you need something to do with your hands, I’ve got a suggestion.”
Zoey’s entire body stilled with that comment as a burst of adrenaline laced passion shot through her bloodstream, making her pussy clench and a chill run across her skin. She squeezed her hands together, ignoring the urge to reach over and touch him. It was tempting, so very tempting.
“Touch me, Zoey.” Kaleb insisted, his eyes never leaving the road. When she didn’t move, he reached over and took her hand, placing it along the hard ridge of his erection. “Feel what you do to me.”
Zoey’s mouth hung open at his audacity, but she didn’t move her hand. Testing him, she began brushing her hand back and forth along the stee
ly length of him.
“Take my cock out, baby. I want you to stroke me.” Kaleb glanced over at her, the intention in those penetrating blue eyes evident. “Now, Zoey.”
Zoey gave in sooner than she expected, turning slightly so she could use both hands to free him from the denim confines before using her left hand to stroke him slowly. She wasn’t in a hurry and sitting at this angle, she could watch the muscles in his jaw as they tensed.
“Awww, fuck, baby.” Kaleb growled, and the vibrations were like a lightning bolt straight to her clit.
Maybe it was because of Tiffany’s insults, or the thought that Jason had actually shared some of their most intimate moments in such a nasty way, but Zoey needed Kaleb’s encouragement. Even if she didn’t believe the cruel words Tiffany said, Zoey’s ego had taken a direct hit nonetheless.
“That’s it.” Kaleb whispered harshly, using one hand to guide her along the velvet covered the length of him. “Your hand feels so good on me.”
His groan filled the truck and had her squirming in her seat. Was she actually stroking his cock while they were driving down the road? Kaleb was still paying attention to the road, but his sporadic groans confirmed that she was doing something right.
“Slow.” He demanded. “Don’t rush it, Zoey. I’m not ready to come yet.”
Zoey slowed her movements, paying attention to the soft, smooth shaft beneath her fingers, and the way Kaleb squeezed her hand tightly, still stroking, but now painfully slow. Zoey had the sudden urge to make him lose control.
A few minutes passed before Kaleb steered the truck down the bumpy, dirt path that led to the old, abandoned barn. When he pulled the truck behind it, he turned the headlights off. The interior of the truck was lit by the blue lights in the dash, enough that Zoey could see what they were doing.
“Take off your jeans.” Kaleb unhooked both of their seatbelts and then maneuvered to the middle seat, forcing Zoey to move over to the passenger side. The sudden need to be filled by him, to hold him close and feel him buried deep inside was so overwhelming, she was frantically working to remove one boot and her jeans.
“Come here.” Kaleb’s words were terse, urgent with his own need as he pushed his own jeans down past his hips.
As soon as she had her jeans down, she threw her leg over his, straddling his hips.
“Lift your leg.”
Kaleb helped lift her right leg as he guided his cock between them, sliding the wide head through her slick folds. There was no foreplay, no teasing, just a quick, hard thrust of his hips that resulted in him being buried to the hilt inside of her.
“Don’t move.” He warned, but Zoey was on the edge already, her body working to accommodate his cock as he pushed deeper.
“Kaleb.” Zoey needed more of him.
When he pulled her body against his, crushing his mouth to hers, the events of the last few minutes disappeared, and the only thing left was the intensity of her feelings for this man.
“Damn, baby, you’re so fucking tight.” Kaleb groaned, his mouth still pressed to hers. “I could stay just like this forever.”
Forever. Zoey liked the idea of that, but right now, her body had other ideas. She began to move, riding him slowly, taking him as deep as possible before reversing.
“I’m not going to last, baby. I’m warning you now.”
Zoey liked the confident way he spoke and the way he lifted her hips, holding her still as he began to thrust upward, controlling her movements.
“Fuck.” A brief pause, followed by a tortured groan before Kaleb spoke again, “I’m going to fuck you hard and fast.”
“Fuck me, Kaleb.” Zoey locked her eyes with his, her hands lacing into his hair as he began to move inside of her. The tight space didn’t allow for much movement by either of them, but Kaleb began pushing up as Zoey began pressing down, their bodies rocking, thrusting.
“Oh, God!” Zoey threw her head back, her orgasm surprising her with its intensity, blasting through her with a devastating rush.
“That’s it, Zoey. Come for me.”
As she came, Kaleb did too, their bodies molded together, their mouths fusing as one, neither of them letting go.
A few minutes passed before either of them moved. With her head resting on his shoulder, Kaleb ran his fingers through her hair and Zoey soaked up the feel of him. The sweet scent of sex permeated the cab of the truck, but she was too content to move, too relaxed to let go of him. If only they could stay just like that forever.
There was that word again.
♂♀
Kaleb sensed the moment Zoey started thinking too much. His cock was still deep inside of her, and yes, he was getting hard again. Just the feel of her tight, warm body wrapped around him was enough to get him geared up for round two. Unfortunately, one round in the truck was enough for him. Now he wanted to get her back to his place where he could take it slower next time.
It wasn’t that he didn’t want to take her as many ways as possible right there in his truck, it was that he wanted more from her than just a quick fuck – although they’d already done just that. For the life of him, Kaleb couldn’t understand it, but he wanted even more from her. He wanted her ultimate pleasure and the cab of his truck wasn’t the best place for that.
What had spurred him to take her like this, he had no idea, but he’d been so worked up, he couldn’t resist. Seeing that she had been onboard, he hadn’t been able to resist.
It didn’t take them long to get dressed and resituate themselves, nor did it take long to drive back to his house. For some reason, Kaleb was in a hurry. He could feel Zoey pulling away from him, and he didn’t know if it was what they had just done – though the doubted it – or whether she was still upset over what happened earlier.
Instead of asking, he simply linked his fingers with hers as he drove back to his house, giving her a few minutes of silence.
As he pulled down the drive to his house, he glanced over to see Zoey leaning her head back with her eyes closed. Damn the woman was beautiful. Her long blond hair was disheveled from the impromptu quickie, but she looked a little calmer than she had before.
On the inside, he figured that wasn’t the case. Having known her for so long, Kaleb still couldn’t believe this Zoey. The one who welcomed whatever he suggested, even coming up with some crazy, spontaneous ideas of her own. It only went to prove that he’d assumed she was sweet and innocent when it came to sex games because she wasn’t the promiscuous type.
That’s where he’d gone wrong. First of all, he never should have assumed anything, and secondly, Zoey had obviously never had the outlet that she needed. Or at least that’s what he gathered. Considering the trash talk coming from Tiffany’s mouth, Jason hadn’t been happy with Zoey, but that was most likely because she’d never been satisfied.
He couldn’t have pulled up to his house, but for a second before Zoey was itching to get out, quickly launching herself out through the passenger side door.
Once inside the house, Kaleb locked the front door, not wanting any uninvited guests tonight. Staring at Zoey, he noticed the sudden exhaustion that creased her pretty features.
“Hot tub.” Kaleb said before even thinking about it.
“What?” Zoey asked, looking shocked for a second.
“Let’s get in the hot tub.”
“But...”
Kaleb didn’t let her finish before he took her hand and led her through the house to the back door. Once out on the back deck, he lifted the cover from the tub and then removed it altogether. Messing with the controls for a minute, Kaleb got the lights and the bubbles going and notched up the heat a couple of degrees.
Then while Zoey stood there, apparently waiting for instructions, Kaleb returned to the house and flipped off the outside lights. Not that anyone could see them since the house was surrounded by thick trees on all sides, but he’d rather not take his chances.
Returning to Zoey’s side, Kaleb turned her to face him before leaning down and brushing his mout
h against hers. He let himself get lost in her kiss, pulling her closer when she kissed him back, their tongues dueling while their hands began to wander. His body immediately reached a fever pitch, as though he hadn’t just had her a short time ago.
“I want you naked.” He groaned into the kiss, lifting her t-shirt until he easily pulled it over her head. He didn’t pull away from her for long, only breaking the kiss long enough to remove his shirt, as well.
They continued to grope one another as they took turns removing the other’s clothes until they were both fully naked, neither of them speaking with words, but their eyes told a story all on their own. Unwilling to take his lips from hers, Kaleb lifted her up and over the side before lowering her in the water and climbing in after her.
“Come here.” Kaleb insisted as he got situated in one of the lounge chairs, leaning back, his body fully submerged in the water. He pulled Zoey onto his lap so that she was straddling him and then once again latched his mouth to hers.
Feeling her breasts against his chest, her stomach against his, and the sweet juncture between her legs resting above his dick, Kaleb allowed himself to relax.
Running his fingers through her hair, he pulled her head back and stared down in her eyes. He wanted to tell her exactly what she made him feel, but he knew he couldn’t. Not yet. Although the timing couldn’t have been better, Kaleb knew he had to hold out.
Even after everything that had taken place that day, he had to ensure Zoey trusted him implicitly. Considering he gave her another reason not to, letting on that he knew something about her ex that she didn’t, Kaleb felt as though he needed to prove it to her.
“I want to make love to you, Zoey.” He whispered, still gazing into the warm, blue depths of her eyes. “I want to feel you.”
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