Worked Hard (Eye Candy Handyman Book 2)
Page 5
“Jesus.” All the color drains from my face. I didn’t even think about when she gets older. I was too excited about being a dad to think of the fact that I was once a horny kid and someday she’ll be prey to some asshole just like me. “I’m going to have to lock her up until she’s at least twenty.”
Barbie hits my arm and laughs because she thinks I’m joking. “You’ll do no such thing.”
“We have a lot of years to figure it out. All I know is that I’m not letting some asshole get anywhere near her.”
“You’re an asshole,” Barbie says.
“Exactly.”
She rolls her eyes and glances over at Cybill. “You look good with a baby in your arms. Amanda is going to need a play friend soon. When are you two going to get busy?”
“Well,” Cybill says, looking over at Hunter and smiling. “We were waiting until Amanda was born to tell you guys, but we’re due in six months.”
“Seriously?” I ask Hunter, not believing my ears.
“For real, man.”
I lean over so only he can hear me. “Don’t watch the birth. Trust me. You won’t get that shit out of your mind ever again.”
“I heard you,” Barbie says, smacking me on the back with a thud.
“I’m kidding, of course, baby. Look at the beautiful girl you gave us.”
“I’m so excited for you two,” Barbie tells them and skips over my comment. “Do you know what you’re having?”
“We want it to be a surprise.” Hunter wraps his arm around Cybill and pulls her closer, staring down at Amanda with so much love. “I can’t wait to hold our little baby.”
“Soon enough, love,” Cybill tells him. “For now, we can babysit to practice so you’ll be ready.”
“That’s a great idea. Would you guys mind?” Hunter asks, looking between Barbie and me.
I glance at her and smile because I know as soon as she’s ready, I’m going to knock her ass up again if I have my way. Although the birth freaks me out, there’s nothing like a pregnant woman. The feel of her large belly and my baby growing inside, never mind the horniness. I’ve never had so much sex in my entire life.
“That would be fantastic,” Barbie tells them and looks at me out of the corner of my eye. “We’ll probably use the time to get some sleep.”
“Sleep?” I almost choke on the word as I gape at her.
“What else did you think?”
“I’m putting another baby in you, beautiful. First chance I get.”
I want to have a half-dozen little ones that look just like their mother running around on the beach, giggling with happiness. I’ve never known so much joy as I have experienced in the last nine months, and I know the best is yet to come.
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“I could use something strong to help me sleep, but not enough to knock me out cold.”
“How about a little Cognac to help you relax?”
She nods slowly and sighs. “That sounds perfect.”
I grab two snifters from the cabinet behind me and the bottle of Cognac that I save for special occasions, pouring us each a glass. I push hers in front of her, still letting the island be our barrier to give her a sense of security.
She lifts it to her nose and inhales, closing her eyes as if she’s savoring it. “Why are you being so nice to me?”
I take a small sip, letting the Cognac sit on my tongue for a moment before swallowing it down. “I hate to see someone in trouble. It’s just in my nature to protect someone who can’t protect themselves.”
“So, you’re like a real-life superhero?” She smiles around the snifter, her eyes roaming over my body as she takes a sip.
“Not really. My mom’s husband used to beat the hell out of her when I was little. But once I grew up, I made sure it never happened again.” I place the snifter on the counter, turning it in my hands as I speak. “I can’t stand to see a woman being hit. There’s never a reason for a man to put his hands on a woman in anger, especially someone they claim to love.”
“That had to be awful.”
“I wouldn’t wish it on another human being. No one should lay their hands on someone.”
“I tried to get away from him,” she admits, staring down at her glass instead of looking at me. “I didn’t know he was going to be that way. He was always so nice until we moved here. Then he took my phone and did everything he could to cut me off from the outside world.”
“He’s an asshole. You deserve better than that, Bella. Don’t let any man control you.”
Even with her gaze cast downward, I see a faint smile on her face. “Thanks, Cole. I don’t know how I ended up here.”
“Love makes us do crazy things,” I tell her, but really, I have no fucking clue what I’m talking about. I’ve never been in love. I think growing up with an abusive stepfather ended all grandiose thoughts of relationships and happily-ever-afters for me.
“I thought I loved him until the first time he hit me.” She lifts the snifter in front of her face like it’s a barrier, and it gives her something to hide behind while she confesses to me about their relationship. “I should’ve run then, but I didn’t. He apologized and told me it would never happen again. I believed him.”
“If a man will hit you once, he’ll do it again. That much I know.” Standing here with her feels natural and comfortable, even though the topic of our conversation is anything but easy. I’ve never had a conversation flow with someone else like it does with her. “Actions matter, not words.”
“I know. I was a fool. He made me feel so unimportant and unlovable, Cole. I’ve never felt so ugly in my life.” She covers her face and starts to cry into her palms. Her shoulders begin to shake, and my inside twist with anger that she’s gone through this.
“You’re beautiful, Bella. Don’t let anyone ever make you feel any differently.”
She peers up at me, tears streaming down her rosy cheeks as if I’ve said something foreign. “You think I’m beautiful?”
“I think you’re the most beautiful creature I’ve ever seen.” Every word in that statement is the truth. Even in her sadness, there’s beauty.
“I don’t feel beautiful. I never have,” she whispers, casting her gaze downward again and gripping the snifter tightly in her hands.
I round the island, coming to stand next to her and brush some of her hair over her shoulder before withdrawing my hand. “I don’t lie, Bella. I’m sorry someone made you feel ugly, but you’re the most stunning creature I’ve ever laid eyes on.”
Why am I touching her? I shouldn’t have done that. It was too forward of me after everything she’s gone through tonight.
“I shouldn’t have touched you. I’m sorry. I didn’t mean to be aggressive.”
She gapes at me as her eyes search my face, eventually making their way to my bare chest. “Don’t be sorry. When you look at me, Cole, I feel…” Her voice trails off, and she reaches out, placing her hand on my chest. “I feel beautiful,” she whispers, peering down as her fingertips glide against my skin.
I press my fingertips under her chin and force her to look into my eyes. “If you were mine, I’d make you feel beautiful and loved every day.”
I want her so badly in this moment that I can barely breathe. I’m not sure I’ve ever wanted anyone as much as I want her. It takes everything in me not to lift her into my arms and carry her to the bedroom to ravage her right now.
She blinks slowly and peers into my eyes. “Can we pretend for tonight?” she whispers.
All the air whooshes from my lungs. I’m dumbfounded. Never in a million years did I expect for her to ask me that. Especially after the kind of night she’s had. “You want me to make love to you?”
Her hands slide to my abdomen, flattening against my stomach as she stares up at me. “I want you to make me feel beautiful. Pretend I’m yours tonight. I want to see what
it’s like to feel loved.”
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Acknowledgments
NIX STONE
I want to thank Larry Flynt for fighting for porn. Amber Lynn, Ginger Lynn and Traci Lords, you gave much to my viewing pleasure as a teenager. Keo, for explaining the pleasures of masturbation to me in the 8th grade, may you rest in peace. And of course Falon-for being my real life porn star.
FALON STONE
Thank you to our readers for giving our Eye Candy Handyman series a shot. I hope you’ll read the rest of the series because there’s more SEXY to come. Nix, baby, thanks for always being by my side with a boob grab at the worst times. I still love you though. Your mind is dirty, verging on obscene, but we make an amazing team in love, life, and writing.