by Alexa Riley
All I need with me is Rex. I love Rex.
My lips spread into a smile and I hit the brakes…but I’m on too steep of a decline now and it doesn’t stop. The skidding sound screams in my ears. A sixteen-wheeler comes flying around the bend.
It all happens in the blink of an eye.
Chapter Fourteen
Rex
There’s a god-awful sickness in my gut as I slow the truck to take another turn, just in case Clara is on the other side. To get this far so fast, she would have to be flying down the goddamn mountain at breakneck pace. I’m sweating through my shirt, praying under my breath for a miracle. She wouldn’t even be on this damn mountain if it wasn’t for me. If she’s hurt, if I’m going to go stark raving mad. At her. At life. At anyone in the vicinity.
I can’t even consider something worse happening. Please. Please, dammit. Don’t take her away from me when I just found her. Yes, what we have might be forbidden to some. I’m her step-uncle and a good damn deal older. But there’s never been a bond more undeniable. It’s one that people won’t understand, but it’s ours. She’s wiggled her way into my soul and she’s not budging until my maker takes me.
How could I have said those shitty things to her? She looked ready to burst into tears and I just walked away, hoping she would understand. I should have held her in my arms and talked to her until we found a solution to our problem. What I wouldn’t give to go back in time and wipe her tears away and say sorry. Tell her I love her and I’m never letting go, no matter the kind of judgment we receive.
She’s worth every damn second of it and more.
If she believes I’m worth it, too, then I’ll spend my life grateful. Spend it making her happy and being her provider in all things. If holding my hand in stores and calling me Daddy around strangers makes her happy, everyone can kiss my ass. She’s the one I’m living for. Not them.
When I turn the corner and see her bicycle bent in half, beneath the wheel of a semi-truck, I don’t believe it. No. No. No. It can’t be real. God wouldn’t be this cruel. Ice forms a layer on top of my heart, freezing it into a black ball in my chest. Acid spears up from the pit of my stomach and I slam on the brakes, roaring inside the cabin of my truck.
“Clara!” I stumble out of the truck, the ground blurring around me. “No. No!”
I’ve been holding the plastic bag of contact lenses in my fist since leaving the cabin and it’s still there, useless at my side. She never got to wear them…she never got to walk around without fear of tripping or running into things. I failed. I lost her. I failed. She’s gone. Jesus, she must have been so scared in those final seconds. And I wasn’t here to save her. It was my job.
I double over and bellow at the asphalt road, my voice choking off when I see her black rubber skid marks. I might as well have died with her. Can’t breathe…need to rage. Need to kill.
I’m going to murder whoever took my Clara.
Deadly purpose cuts through the misery and I stand, lunging for the truck driver who appears to be speaking—to me—but I can’t hear anything over the cymbals crashing in my head. “Where is she? Where is she?” I grab him by the collar and I’m in the process of jerking his face down to connect with my knee…when I feel a familiar light touch on my arm. Clara’s spirit come to say goodbye?
I let go of the truck driver and turn. There she is. Beautiful as I left her in the passenger side of my truck. “Ah, girl.” I swallow hard. “Always knew you’d make a perfect angel,” I manage, reaching out to touch her…and I find her solid. Solid? “Clara?”
“Uncle Rex, I’m fine. I’ve been telling you…” She swipes at her wet eyes and I see scratches and blood all down her arms. “You wouldn’t listen. I’m okay.”
“You’re here,” I breathe, not ready to believe what my mind is telling me. If she’s gone, I would go crazy, after all. It could be a trick. “Your bike…”
“I jumped off at the last second. It bit the dust. I didn’t.” She glances down at her arms. “Well I wiped out, but that’s nothing new—”
She doesn’t get the rest out because I’m pulling her into my arms, trying to absorb her goodness into my body. I’m still so fucking cold, but as my sanity slowly returns, so does the heat. I’m holding Clara. She’s okay. She’s alive. I didn’t lose her. My life is still flashing in front of my eyes, though. Christ. I lived without her on this earth for a full minute and it was the longest sixty seconds of my life. Never again. “I love you,” I growl into her hair. “I love you and that means you have to stop getting hurt. Can’t take it, girl. You’re my fucking world now.”
My chest catches her sob. “I love you, too. I was turning around to come home. I’m sorry. I’m sorry—”
Moved by the revelation that this incredible girl loves me, too, I catch her chin and lift it. “You’re sorry, who?”
Awe transforms her expression, a new sparkle shining in her eye. “I’m sorry, Daddy,” she murmurs. “I won’t scare you again.”
Something clicks in place inside me. Something so unshakable, I have no problem meeting the truck driver’s eyes and daring him to comment. “Come on, girl.” I lay a possessive kiss on her mouth, letting my tongue taste her nice and deep. “Let’s get you home. We’ve got plans to make.”
Her hand slides into mine. “What plans are we making?”
“The kind that gets a ring on your finger.” I lift her knuckles to my mouth and kiss them, leading her to my truck. “And you in my life forever.”
Epilogue
Clara
A couple of weeks later…
I stare up at the house that I used to call home knowing my mother and stepfather are inside. I glance over at Rex. He gives my hand a little squeeze, reminding me he’s here with me.
“You don’t have to go in, Clara. I can get whatever you need.”
I bite my lip, debating it. The last few weeks have been wonderful, but I know I need to face them. They got home today from vacation and are already blowing up my phone wondering where I am. I have to tell them I’m moving out and that I’m going to be with Rex.
I know things are going to be bad and I don’t want my stepfather to be mean to Rex. I think I’m more worried about that than what he might say to me.
I push the new pink glasses Rex got me back up the bridge of my nose. He smiles then leans over and kisses me. I’ve been doing so much better now that I have them.
“You go in and get what you need. I’ll talk to them.” His words leave no room for argument, so I simply nod.
He hops out of the truck and makes his away over to my side. He unbuckles me then lifts me by my hips and places me on the ground.
He leans down and gives me another kiss. “Say it.”
“I love you, Daddy,” I answer, giggling. It’s my favorite thing to say and every time it makes him smile.
He leans against his truck as I go in the front door and shout a hello into the living room. No one is in there, and the place is quiet so I go straight up to my room. When I get there, I grab my bag out of the closet and go over to my dresser. I open the drawers and begin filling my bag with the things I know I don’t want to leave behind.
Looking around the room, I see the bed covered in stuffed animals and I’m going to have to decide which ones to take with me. Just as I’m walking over to pick a few out, my door creaks.
“Where have you been?” my stepfather asks as he walks into my room. His face is red and little sweaty. “Your mother has been worried sick.”
“Where is she? I need to talk to the two of you,” I say, trying to remember that I’m here to make peace. I want this to go well so that I can still have a relationship with them when it’s over.
“She went to the store. She’ll be back later.” He looks me up and down as he takes a step closer. “What are you wearing, Clara? You can’t really be walking around in public like that.”
His words hurt. I’m wearing a tank top and a skirt. I don’t have on a bra or panties, but everything is covered. R
ex said I looked nice.
“You really are just a little girl with daddy issues. Desperate for attention. I should have snuck in here at night like I wanted to. I should have given you what you’ve been begging for. You waved that little pussy around all over the place. Hell, every man I brought over here asked for a turn.”
My eyes are wide with shock at his admission.
“Yeah, they offered me good money, too. I knew that sweet cherry of yours was tight and wet, but I turned them down. I did it to protect you.”
I look down at his pants and see his belt buckle is undone. Was he jerking off when I got home? His erection is tenting the front of his pants, and as he gets closer I trip over my feet and fall back on the bed trying to get away from it.
My legs fall open as my skirt flies up and his eyes dart to my bare pussy. I try to close my legs, but he grabs both my ankles so hard that I cry out.
“Fuck, look at that thing. It’s almost as pink as these goddamn stuffed animals you’ve got all over this bed.” He licks his lips as he wrestles with my legs and gets on the bed. “It’s okay, Clara. If you want a daddy so bad, I’ll give you one. Fuck, I might even make myself one, too.” He laughs. “There’s no way I’m pulling out of that sweet little cunt. It’s just begging to get bred.”
I cry out again, and this time when I do, my stepfather is gone. I blink and then watch Rex pull him up by his neck and shake him. Rex squeezes and my stepfather turns purple.
“Don’t kill him!” I shout, and Rex looks down at me.
“You okay, baby?”
“Yeah, Daddy, I’m okay.”
My stepfather looks between the two of us, and Rex tosses him to the ground. He coughs and spits as he tries to catch his breath. Rex stands over him menacingly.
“She’s mine now. You got that?” he growls, and my stepfather crawls back against the wall. “She’s packing her bag and she’s never coming back. I won’t keep her from her mama, but I’ll keep her from a piece of shit like you.”
“Fuck you, Rex! You just want her for yourself!” my stepfather retorts.
“Yeah I do. But I’m lucky enough that she wants me, too.”
My stepfather pushes off the wall and stands up. “Fine, take her. She’s nothing but a horny little slut anyway.”
I gasp as Rex hauls back and busts him in the mouth. Blood rushes out of his nose as he staggers back.
“You ever talk about her like that again and I’ll make sure it’s the last thing you ever say. People come on the crab boat every season and don’t make it back home. Try me.”
The look he gives my stepfather is lethal, but I swear to god I get wet watching it. Seeing Rex defend me and take care of me makes me want him so bad.
My stepfather doesn’t even look back at me as he leaves the room, slamming the door behind him.
“Rex,” I whisper, and he jerks around to look at me.
I’m still sprawled out on the bed with my stuffed animals everywhere as he walks over to me.
“You okay, girl?” he asks, running his hands up my legs. “Did he touch you?”
I reach for him to come on the bed with me, and he does. He climbs up and on top of me, pushing me down into the plush animal pile.
“I hurt,” I say, spreading my legs.
“Where?” he growls, looking me up and down.
“Here.” I reach between us and spread my lips.
Maybe my stepfather was right. Maybe I am just a horny slut. But watching Rex fuck him up has me ready for this dick. I want to thank my man for taking care of me and what better way to do that than to let him have my pussy.
Rex doesn’t hesitate. He unzips his jeans and takes out his fat cock. “I always wanted to fuck you in this room. Guess this is my last chance.”
He brushes the tip of his cock through my wetness before he thrusts all the way inside me. I’m so full as he fucks me hard and I cry out.
“Daddy!” I yell as the headboard of my bed slams against the wall.
The animals under me squeak as he pounds into me, the pink canopy above the bed shaking with the force. It’s raw, hard fucking and he’s claiming me in my parents’ house. He wants my stepfather to hear me calling him Daddy, so he knows who I belong to. I grab the front of his T-shirt and keep crying out over and over to make sure he hears it. All the while my pussy is drenched for it.
“Harder, Daddy! Deep, Daddy!” I whine as Rex makes the whole bedframe shake.
“Nothing like fucking this sweet little cunt on a pile of teddy bears,” he grunts as he ruts into me.
My pussy squeezes him and then I cry out when my orgasm hits me. It’s hard and I can feel myself release onto him.
“Goddamn,” he snarls as he thrusts hard and comes inside me. He roars like a Viking and the sight of him, so possessive and wild, makes me come again.
Heat floods my body and my limbs are wrung out as I lie there, with him still gripping my hips. He leans down and places a soft kiss on my lips before he pulls his cock out and gets off the bed.
“All right, girl. Let’s get you home.”
“Home,” I agree and smile.
He grabs my bag and pulls me off the bed, carrying me out of the house and to my future.
Epilogue
Rex
Two months later…
It’s been a long fucking day. It’s the first day of king crab season and already I miss Clara. Saying goodbye to her this morning was harder than I thought it would be. As soon as the boat shoved away from the dock, I knew it was a mistake.
I’d been making plans for this to be my last season since the day I knew I wanted her to be mine. I’m a selfish bastard, but I’ve learned to ignore the guilt that comes with my sweet Clara and my needs. I’ve saved up a good nest egg for her and our babies. I’ve got a job—running the port—lined up at the end of the season. It’s still good money, but the main thing is that every night I’ll get to fall in bed with my little sweet thing.
I’m sore to my bones, but my cock twitches with need. It’s only been hours since I’ve had her and already I wish I could fall on top of her and rut until she was full of come. I fucked her every hour before I had to ship out. I thought it would help me last longer than a day. I was wrong.
Thankfully this trip is short, and we caught most of our quota today. I’m on board with a bunch of men, including one greenhorn that’s set to take my place after this week is over. It’s all falling into place, I just need to hang on for a few more days. Then I can get back on land to Clara and keep her by my side.
It was strange that she didn’t seem sad to see me go. Something like insecurity crawls up my chest and I try to tamp it down. She was just as greedy for me as I was for her the days leading up to me shipping out. I don’t like to admit it even to myself, but it bothered me a little she wasn’t more upset that we couldn’t be together for at least a week. I was ready to throw her over my shoulder and carry her on board with me. But a crab boat with a bunch of men that need their dick tended to isn’t the place for my girl. Now I have to lie down at night alone in bed and think about what she’s getting into without me. I’m her daddy because she needs one. Trouble seems to find her, and that’s one of the biggest reasons I didn’t want to leave her. But one last time out on the boat and we’ll be set for a long, long time. I’m doing this for her, I remind myself as I hang up my gear and head to my bunk.
I’m the senior crew on this boat, which means I only have to share my cabin with one other man. Salty is a seasoned crab fisherman who never found the time to quit. He’s an old man by boat standards, but he doesn’t seem to like land. Salty is quiet and keeps to himself and only grunts when you ask him a question. I like bunking with him because he doesn’t snore and leaves my shit alone.
When I make my way to the back of the boat I’m surprised to see Salty standing in the hallway smoking a cigarette. Normally he’d be getting some sleep before the night shift, but here he stands, wide awake.
“Can’t sleep?” I ask as I get close
r. I expect him to grunt at me, but I’m surprised when I see his duffel bag at his feet.
“Too crowded in there. I’m taking the crow's nest,” he grumbles as he stomps out his cigarette and shoulders his bag.
“I didn’t bring any more than usual,” I say, thinking about my own bag that’s smaller than his.
“Ain’t gonna get a wink of sleep,” he mutters, then pushes past me and heads up the stairs.
I shrug. I don’t know what’s got into him, but I’m beat beyond measure and need some shuteye. Maybe since I’m alone for the night, I can jerk off in peace while I dream of my girl’s little pussy.
Opening the door, I flip the light switch then slam the door closed behind me. There on the tiny bunk is Clara, naked with her legs spread.
Anger floods me as I see all of her pink little holes out in the open, ready to be fucked. She’s on a boat full of nasty old men that would take turns fucking her raw. She’s got what’s mine displayed out for anyone to walk in and see. Including Salty.
“What in the fuck are you doing here, Clara? And you better have a good goddamn excuse for letting that old man see what belongs to me.”
She bites her lip but doesn’t make a move to close her legs. Instead she shows me she truly is the devil as her small fingers wiggle down her body and to her pussy. She spreads her cunt for me, showing me how slick she is for it. How ready she is for a deep, hard fucking.
“I missed you,” she whispers, and I fall to my knees in front of her.
“You snuck on my boat and waved your little pussy around, ready to get fucked. I oughta roll you over and wear your ass out.”
I watch as she dips her finger inside her pussy and pulls it out. It’s covered in her juices and, goddamn my soul to hell, I groan as she brings it to her mouth and sucks it clean.