Tristan (The Kendall Family #1)

by Randi Everheart

  Now Tristan and Victoria sat nude in the room’s hot tub, the jets on a gentle cycle, the room’s ceiling fan whirring softly, and dim lamps filling the room with a soft glow. Everything felt so peaceful, especially after the long, awful day. Wine helped lull them into relaxation.

  Sitting between his legs, Victoria had been leaning into the comforting embrace of Tristan’s arms, head against his shoulder. Now she lifted herself to his lap, feeling a soft cock against her pussy. Sex wasn’t really on her mind, or hadn’t been, but she couldn’t help sliding against him, the closeness of death inspiring a desire to reaffirm life. Her new position partially lifted her tits from the foaming water, attracting Tristan’s attention. One of his hands gently caressed her there, without his usual sexual touch, but her nipples hardened anyway. He brushed against a nipple and kissed the nape of her neck from behind. She responded by pushing against his penis, which had doubled in size.

  “Tristan,” she whispered, “are you up for some gentle lovemaking?”

  In response, he pulled her up so that her moist folds brushed his bulging cock’s head, which smoothly slipped inside, pleasantly filling her.

  “I’ve never been so happy to be inside you again,” he murmured. “I love you more than anything.”

  “If tonight has shown me anything,” she whispered, “it’s that life is too short. I love you, Tristan, and I’ll do anything to stay by your side.”

  She squeezed his hand and took over, slowly sliding along him and trying not to slosh water over the tub’s edges. She needed calmness anyway. After a few minutes, the longing to see his eyes and feel his lips on hers inspired her to turn around. Their hands locked together, their tongues entwined, they stared deep into each other’s half-closed eyes. She rode him slowly and evenly, keeping the physical sensations low and simmering. They orgasmed softly and together, murmuring sweet somethings and snuggling.

  * * *

  Days later, the police raid on Clarksburg Motorsports made the news, as did the arrest of five employees found to be part of the operation. That wasn’t the only business searched, as Rick squealed like a pig to the feds, naming people and other businesses up and down the East Coast, and as far west as Texas, as part of a plea deal to save his ass. The size of the operation surprised Tristan when he heard these details from Ryan. Rick had just been a small part of it, but he’d been in contact with other business owners in the operation, sometimes making the connection while discreetly prying to learn the origins of stolen parts and bikes. Other times, such men contacted him. Some were eager participants, but others had been blackmailed like him. And now they were talking, too, their lives crashing and burning.

  The authorities charged Rick with a litany of federal crimes that meant he was headed to jail for a long time. For that reason, he offered to testify against not only Derek, but those for whom Derek worked. The feds wanted much bigger criminals. Derek also turned informant; he’d killed dozens over the past decade and had only his freedom and life to lose. Turning on organized crime bosses had its pitfalls. Both men were headed for the federal witness protection program instead of jail thanks to their cooperation.

  The FBI investigated Rick’s wife, Mindy, and discovered she’d known nothing about the operation. Or the affair with Jane. But Derek revealed to the feds that, as part of keeping leverage on Rick, they’d been spying on her, too, and she was also having an affair. Rick was only half-surprised. The problems in their marriage ran deep. Both affairs ended, and with Rick headed for a new life in the witness protection program, Mindy and the kids were, too, though they clearly had a tough road to save their marriage and family.

  One consequence of Rick’s troubles and rapid disappearance into a new life was that he wanted to sell CMS and the restaurant quickly. Even the house was going up for auction. When Tristan learned of this from Ryan, he had an idea, which he talked over with family, who agreed to keep his surprise a secret for Victoria.

  By the time he was ready to reveal it, Tristan’s one-month suspension from racing was ending. The fist fight causing it had damaged his reputation, but his kidnapping and subsequent role in breaking up a stolen bike ring had made headlines. It made his peers and sponsors forgive and mostly forget. Lucrative new deals were offered despite his announcement of retirement. His racing team hadn’t been happy, but they reached a deal that he’d finish out the season. One sports network even wanted him to become a racing commentator, though that meant travel and so he’d turned the offer down. That went a long way toward convincing Victoria that he was really staying, but he had something far better in the works.

  The time had come to tell her his secret plans. He choose to do so at Sunrise Meadow, a field beneath the peak of Sugarloaf Mountain where the Kendall siblings had often played as kids, or made love to a boyfriend or girlfriend, or arranged a party or informal gathering. The clearing was a short horseback ride from Sugarloaf Stables. Riding horses his sister Kris had prepared, Tristan led Victoria here for a lunch he’d made himself in a show of being able to provide for her like a man ought to do. While the sandwich bread was a bit soggy because he hadn’t patted dry the sliced pickles in them, and he’d over-toasted the buns, the gesture wasn’t lost upon her. After eating, kissing, and snuggling for a while, Tristan took her for a short walk and then turned her to face him.

  “I know we promised not to keep secrets anymore,” he began, “but I have a few surprises.”

  She cuddled up. “If the surprises are good enough, maybe I’ll forgive you.”

  He kissed her. “With the new sponsor deals and my earnings, I had enough to buy CMS. It’s already mine.”

  Victoria stood speechless for a moment. “Wow, you do know how to keep a secret. Maybe I should be worried. What else are you hiding?”

  “I’m an open book to you, honey.”

  A slow smile lit her eyes. “I guess you really are staying.”

  He smiled. “Of course. You didn’t believe me?”

  “No. I mean, I did. I just…” Suddenly she threw her arms around his neck and laughed. “This is great! That was worth it!”

  “I’m majority owner,” he added, “but wanted my whole family in it, since we own everything jointly already. It’s one of our properties now. I’m renaming it Kendall Motorsports. Since Rick wanted to unload it fast, I got an unbelievable deal I couldn’t pass up. Riley’s going to come work for me, selling Harleys and doing some bike tours. I’ll probably lead some tours, too.”

  “That sounds like a great idea. Maybe I can come on some of them.”

  “Of course. But I have bigger plans for you. I was also hoping you’ll help me run KMS.”

  She gasped. “What? Wow. Yeah, of course! What would I do?”

  “Whatever you want.”

  “Did you buy the restaurant, too?”

  “Of course.”

  “My God, Tristan! This is wonderful! I’m so excited. What are you going to do at KMS? Do you have any idea how to run a business like that?”

  “Sort of. My sister Kris has an MBA so she knows a ton about running businesses. She got that to help with all of our properties. Riley knows someone who used to manage a bike shop, and we have a few employees to replace anyway, so things are moving along.”

  “This is so awesome!”

  “There’s more.”

  She laughed. “Not sure I can handle more.”

  “I’m pretty sure we can handle anything, after all we’ve been through.”

  That was something he’d been thinking about since the kidnapping. He’d always admired Quinn and Riley in particular for their strength in so many situations, but he’d never felt like that. Never felt like a real man, whatever that meant. But the kidnapping had changed him. For the better. Instead of it causing a demon of apprehension about danger lurking around every corner, he felt stronger and more comfortable in his own skin. He’d come out on top, and while he had help, he’d handled himself pretty well, and he longer thought that needing the help of his family meant he wa
s weak. Needing help only made him strong. He loved them. He loved Victoria. And he now knew more than ever exactly what he wanted.

  With a calm smile, he revealed more of the new life he envisioned. “I bought Rick’s house at auction. It has a pool, hot tub, four-car garage, five acres, and is over four thousand square feet. It’s very modern, too. I finalized that deal yesterday.”

  After gaping like a landed fish for a moment, Victoria said half-seriously, “Really, I’m getting concerned about your ability to keep huge secrets from me.”

  He laughed. “That’s the last one.”

  “It had better be!” She laughed and then added with a pout, “You’re not going to live with me? That’s an awfully big house for just one guy.”

  “I was actually hoping you would come live with me there. You know, as my wife.”

  Victoria’s mouth popped open and before she managed to shut it, Tristan got down on one knee and produced a diamond engagement ring from nowhere. He slid it onto her finger.

  “Will you marry me, Victoria?”

  Unable to speak through her tears, Victoria nodded and collapsed into his arms, where she kissed him longer and more deeply than she ever had.

  Acknowledgments

  Special thanks to Gwen Ellery for her invaluable support.

  Edited by Josephine Henke

  Cover design by Robin Ludwig Design Inc., http://www.gobookcoverdesign.com/

  About The Author

  Randi Everheart is an avid author of romance, due in no small part to being a diehard romantic. After all, Randi once wrote a song for the object of a crush and penned a fifty page love letter for another! The same spirit now flows into these stories—hopefully to win your heart!

  Randi has a Bachelors of Music in classical guitar but has always been more of a rocker, having released several albums under another name. Tendonitis in both arms ended career plans in music, leading to a new career as a software developer. Today Randi co-owns a software consulting firm and lives in the Maryland suburbs north of D.C., is married, and loves spending time with son Ryan when not writing, playing guitar or golf, or writing smut.

  Connect with me online

  http://www.RandiEverheart.com

  http://twitter.com/RandiEverheart

  http://facebook.com/RandiEverheart

  If you enjoyed Tristan, please help others enjoy the book, too. I would appreciate it very much!

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  Other Randi Everheart Books

  THE KENDALL FAMILY SERIES

  Beneath the shadow of Sugarloaf Mountain, the Kendalls run a bed-and-breakfast, stables, and winery, but the simple rural life is anything but calm when love—find trouble—finds them.

  Volume 1: Tristan

  Volume 2: Connor (Spring 2015)

  Volume 3: Riley

  Volume 4: Kris

  Volume 5: Quinn

  Volume 6: Chloe

  Connor (Vol. 2) Excerpt

  Sophia Turner yelped on hearing something crash downstairs. Her eyes darted to the open bedroom door. Only blackness visible beyond it. In the dim light of her room, the laptop on her thighs bathed her face in soft glow that reflected off the windows. Outside, the mostly flat, rural landscape of Comus, Maryland seemed eerie in dusk’s golden light, the sun dipping below nearby Sugarloaf Mountain. The house was somehow darker than outside, or maybe that was just her imagination. As far as she knew, she was alone in the two-story house. Had someone broken in? Had she locked all the doors? Her ears strained for other sounds but heard nothing.

  Her mother might have come home early, but Sophia would’ve heard a car pull up or a door shut. But then again, she’d been engrossed in Facebook updates. One, from a recent ‘friend’ named Jess, had suggested Sophia was in for a special surprise this first day back from college for the summer, but Sophia hardly knew the girl. Why would Jess arrange something for her? She hadn’t talked to the girl since high school and they’d never been friends. Sophia had only accepted the friend request months ago to be nice.

  She closed the laptop and glanced around for a weapon, spying a small volleyball trophy. The gun chest was downstairs, an intruder likely between her and it. Biting her lip, she took the statue and quietly padded to the door in her socks. There she paused, caught between wanting to hear nothing and hoping for something to suggest she was being silly. But she heard nothing.

  She gingerly stepped into the hall and tiptoed down the stairs, which creaked alarmingly, giving away her position. At the bottom, she saw the front door still closed, the deadbolt turned in the locked position. Still no sound. Down the hall she went, peeking into the kitchen. And there stood the cat, looking nonchalant beside a ceramic dish that lay in three pieces on the linoleum floor.

  “Minx!” Sophia scolded, relaxing. She flipped on the light as the cat perked up and pranced over. “I’m not home two hours and you’re already causing trouble.” She scooped up the white Turkish Angora and kissed her pet’s forehead, not in the mood to clean up. Her mother wasn’t supposed to be back from vacation with her new beau for a week, so the mess could be left for now.

  Sophia frowned at the thought, for she’d never had a boyfriend, despite trying. She’d found most boys pretty unromantic. They didn’t seem to know that sending her a picture of their cock turned her off. Sometimes she felt like she knew what every local guy’s tool looked like despite having never seen one in person. How had that come to be the staple of modern dating? Whatever happened to asking a girl out? Or chivalry? Or coming to her rescue? Guys sexting her were the ones she increasingly felt in need of rescuing from.

  That reminded her of Seth, her friendly neighborhood stalker. He’d been a lonely, downtrodden kid in high school, so she’d befriended him only to realize he’d taken that as something more. When he wouldn’t take no for an answer, one thing had led to another and eventually to a restraining order. She hadn’t seen any sign of him in a long time, thankfully, and hadn’t really given him a second thought until now. He’d never done anything too foolish.

  She put the cat and trophy on the counter and grabbed a premade pizza from the freezer, then popped it into the microwave. Then she reached into the fridge for a beer. Her sophomore year as a photography major at Syracuse University in New York had just wrapped up and she looked forward to a quiet summer of practicing what she’d learned. Sugarloaf Mountain had inspired her to take up the camera. Now she gazed at it through the back door, rays of the sun setting behind it burning orange like her long, wavy hair.

  As she stood sipping the beer and waiting for the microwave, two pieces of the shattered bowl behind her clinked together. She turned with a smile, thinking the cat was pawing at them. Too late, she realized a floorboard had also creaked. The beer fell from her hand, spraying foam across the floor, as two men in black pants, shirts, and ski masks grabbed her while a third, smaller, one raised pepper spray.

  “Don’t move!” the latter yelled in a high voice like a boy’s.

  “Let go of me!” Sophia screamed, struggling.

  One nuzzled her neck from behind. “Never, Sophia. I’ll never let you go, now that I got you!”

  She recognized that voice and asked in disbelief, “Seth?”

  “That’s right, baby. You came home to me at last.”

  “Oh, my God. You can’t be serious!”

  “I love you, Sophia.”

  “No, you don’t! You don’t even k
now me!”

  “Oh, but I’ve been watching you for forever. I know everything about you.”

  Trying to get away, she asked, “Then why can’t you tell I want nothing to do with you?”

  Sniffing her neck, he asked, “Why don’t you stop fighting it and show me how you feel?”

  A rush of adrenaline tore through her. “How’s this, asshole?” She stomped on his foot.

  “Ow! Bitch!” He suddenly shoved her into the refrigerator, where she cracked her head on the freezer door handle.

  Sophia fell to the floor, the blow rattling her skull and dazing her. She hadn’t felt something like that since she’d fallen as a kid and struck her head. Unaccustomed to the violence, she felt panic surging up. Seth wasn’t kidding about whatever he was doing. This wasn’t the guy she’d known and the uncertainty of how far he’d go made her stomach twist.

  “Don’t be so rough, Seth,” the third attacker pleaded. He was taller than all of them by a head. “Ya gonna hurt her.”

  “Shut up!” Seth snarled. “And don’t tell me what to do.”

  “Where ya gonna do it?” the other one, with the boyish voice, asked. “Her bed?”

  “Do what?” Sophia asked faintly, dreading the answer and starting to rise. She tried to grab a shard of the broken bowl but the boyish one kicked them away.

  Seth leered at her and undid his belt buckle. “Consummate this love, baby.”

  Sophia went cold.

  Seeing her expression, the tall guy put a restraining hand on Seth’s arm. “C’mon, man. This ain’t a good idea. I told you.”

  Seth jerked his arm free and glared. “Touch me again and I’ll fucking kill you.”