After a long shower and doing my hair and makeup I head over to Braden’s. When I pull up, I see his mom’s car is in the driveway and it makes me smile. I love the connection he has with his family. He may have grown up without a father like me, but the way he is with his mom and Kallie is admirable.
I walk up to the door and it’s cracked open, so I let myself in. I can hear music playing and laughing, so I follow the sounds and it leads me to the kitchen. I am rooted in place when I see Braden dancing with his mom. They laugh as he dips her back. My heart swells watching them, the love they have for one another. I’ve never had that before, and it truly is amazing to see.
Braden looks over and notices me standing there and a huge smile spreads across his face. He looks down to his mom and kisses her cheek, stepping aside and holding his hand out to me. I can feel myself blush as I take the few steps to him. He wraps his arms around me and starts to slowly move to the music. He bends down and kisses me quickly before looking into my eyes. “Damn, I’ve missed you,” he says, pulling me closer.
“You kids are just beautiful together. As much as I’d love to stay, I am meeting some friends for dinner,” his mom says.
Braden never once lets go of me as he says, “Thanks for the talk Mom. Have fun. I love you.”
My heart starts pounding in my chest when he tells her he loves her. Almost like I wish I was hearing those words from him and that’s when I realize, I love him. I am completely and utterly in love with this man. I didn’t think it was possible, but here it is.
When the song ends, he slowly brings his lips to mine and kisses me with everything he has. My entire body takes notice and I kiss him back with all the love I feel for him, even if I’m not willing to say it, maybe this way he will know.
He rests his forehead on mine, and I smile up at him. “I missed you,” I say, feeling overwhelmed with feeling in this moment.
“Baby, believe me, I know. We have so much to catch up on, but first, I need you,” he says and lifts me up.
I wrap my legs around him and he sits me on the counter. He lets his hands wander up my legs and I’m so thankful in this moment that I decided to wear a dress. Especially when he gets to the top of my panties and pulls them down my legs, letting them fall to the floor. He slams his mouth to mine as his fingers begin a slow tease of my already wet pussy. The more he rubs me, the wetter with need I get.
He breaks the kiss and nips a path down to my breasts that are begging to be touched. When he nips my nipples and I scream out.
“Braden, I need you right now,” I moan, gripping onto his hair.
He doesn’t say a word, just pulls away long enough to get his pants and boxers off. He rolls on a condom that I have no idea where it came from and I could care less right now. The need I have for him to be inside me is gripping me, taking over.
Grabbing my hips and pulling me to the edge of the counter, he pushes my dress up, exposing my dripping pussy to him.
“Fuck, I can see how wet you are,” he says right before he slams into me.
I throw my head back, hitting it on the cabinet, moaning, “Oh my God, Braden.”
He digs his fingers into my hips as he slams into me. My body is burning, my breasts are heavy, and my pussy is gripping tight to his generous cock. I needed this, this rough, fast fuck. Not only because I’ve missed his touch so much, but because of everything that happened over at Blake’s. I just needed to let go and this is definitely the way.
“Fuck McKinley, I can’t believe how much I missed you. How much I missed being inside this sweet pussy. You feel so good,” he growls.
My hands are fisted in his hair, holding on while he fucks me senseless, right here on his kitchen counter. I can feel my release building and I won’t last much longer, not with the force he is using.
“I’m so close Braden, oh God, it feels so good.”
“Fuck yes, I’m right there with you baby,” he says, grabbing tightly onto my ass. I reach down to my clit and circle it and his eyes snap up to mine. “Holy shit, keep touching yourself. Oh my God, that is so fucking hot.”
I bite my bottom lip and nod my head, as I begin to rub my clit. My orgasm is so close, my body is tightening, and I feel that all too familiar tingle. I rub my clit a bit harder, just as he slams into me and my release crashes over me.
“Braden, fuck, oh yes.”
He continues to pump in and out of me a few more times before he moans out my name, tossing his head back. When he’s done, he pulls me to him, and we hold onto each other while we recover. After a few minutes, he pulls back and kisses me before resting his head on my chest.
“I can’t do this again,” he says.
My heart drops into my stomach and I feel tears sting my eyes. What the fuck?
“Why?” I whisper, not trusting my voice to give away my emotions.
“Because being away from you for just these few days was too much. Next time the girls are here, they will know we are together.” He picks up his head and kisses my lips before searching my eyes. “What’s wrong?”
I shake my head feeling foolish for the way my thoughts just went. “I just misunderstood what you meant by that. I thought this was it for us,” I admit, closing my eyes.
He gets back in his clothes and pulls my panties up my legs, before lifting me off the counter and carrying me to the deck. Sitting down he holds me on his lap and kisses my temple.
“McKinley, maybe I haven’t made myself very clear over the last few months.” He turns me around and kisses my lips sweetly before tucking my hair behind my ears. “I’m in this for the long run. I’ve never in my life felt such a connection to someone before, never. I didn’t think it was possible to feel this way, but here I am feeling something I didn’t even know existed.” I smile and he kisses my lips again. “McKinley, I love you.”
A tear escapes my eye and Braden quickly brushes it away. I’m so taken back, so surprised that this man that I didn’t even think I’d ever have a chance with loves me.
“I love you too, Braden. I love you so much,” I manage to say through my tears.
“Why are you crying baby?” he asks, holding me closer to him.
“I just didn’t think you felt the same as me. I thought maybe it was all too good to be true,” I admit.
“Look at me.” I lift my head and he once again wipes away my tears. “I never thought I’d date again. I never thought I’d trust again, and I definitely never thought I’d love again. It’s you, McKinley. You are the reason I am happier than I’ve ever been in my life. You are the first thought I have when I wake up and the last thought I have when I fall asleep. My heart belongs to you.”
A few more tears fall from his words and I kiss his sweet lips. “I need to tell you something,” I say with my heart in my throat. He nods his head and I continue, “I’m ashamed of things I’ve done in the past and this is the hardest thing to say, especially to you, but I want to be completely honest with you. I never had enough money back home. I had a bad reputation and for good reason. I slept around a lot. No one wanted to hire me, so I didn’t work at just a bar, it was a strip club.” I swallow the bile down and talk through the tears running down my face. “I’ve sold myself many times to pay rent, pay bills, and even pay for modeling pictures. I’m so sorry and I completely understand if this changes how you feel, but you deserve to know.” I’m a sobbing mess now. The fear of him being disgusted with me is real and I don’t know how I’d survive without him.
“Oh, McKinley. Thank you for being honest with me. I can’t imagine how difficult that was, but baby it doesn’t change a thing. It makes me want to go to your hometown and beat the shit out of everyone, but nothing else. I know you and I love you. Don’t ever question that again,” he says, holding me so close, I feel like we are almost one.
After sitting outside for a while, he decides that we will just order pizza, since it’s gotten so late. Over dinner, he tells me what he did with the girls and how hard it was to let them go. It makes m
e so sad for him, yet so hopeful that soon they will be here with him for good. I have no doubt that he will get those girls.
“So, Blake told me today that his dad wants to meet me,” I tell him watching his reaction.
“He’s your dad too McKinley. I think it’s great and about fucking time.”
I smile at him because he’s right it is about fucking time. “He wants to have dinner tomorrow at Blake’s. I’m nervous and excited and I’d really like you to be there with me. If you’re free.”
He chuckles and leans over the table pressing his lips to mine. “When it comes to you, I’m always free. I wouldn’t want to be anywhere else than right there with you.”
After a night of showing each other how much we love each other, waking up today and going to work was not what I wanted to do. Thankfully, I had left work clothes at his place and was able to sleep just a bit longer. The day is dragging and I’m not sure if that’s a good thing or a bad thing. The more I think about it, the more nervous I get for dinner tonight.
I talked to Blake this morning and he said that his dad would be there around seven, so I asked Braden if we could get there around six-thirty. He didn’t even think twice when he said of course. He told me to go home and get ready and he’d pick me up and drive there. I thought that was the best idea considering I might at some point want to run.
Once I get home from work, I take a much-needed shower. I’ve got my hair and makeup done and I’m standing in the closet trying to figure out what to wear. I mean what the fuck do you wear when you’re meeting your father for the first time? I feel this pressure of wanting to make a good first impression yet wanting to tell him what an asshole I think he is. “Ugh.” I need to just pick something and be done because Braden is going to be here soon.
I settle on a black sundress and pair it with simple flip-flops. Looking at myself in the mirror I see an adult with curls in her hair, makeup on her face and, yet I feel like a child. I’ve wanted this my whole life, to find my real dad. I never had expectations of what I thought he would be like, but now with everything that has happened over the last few months, I’m terrified he won’t be anything like Braden is with his girls.
“McKinley?” Braden calls and I snap out of my thoughts, looking behind me. He walks into my room and smiles. “You look beautiful.”
I frown but nod my head as I wrap my arms around him. “Thank you.”
He lifts my chin and searches my eyes. “What’s wrong?”
“I’m just nervous. It isn’t an emotion I’m used to,” I say, giving him a half-smile.
“No, it isn’t. My girl is fearless, but you know what?” I lift my eyebrow and he winks before continuing. “That’s what I’m here for. I’ll be strong when you are weak, I’ll be fearless when you are scared, and I’ll fight when you give up.”
I press my lips to his and the tears I was holding back fall. He is so much more than I deserve, and I will never take that for granted. Breaking the kiss, I finally feel my first real smile. “Thank you for being you.”
“McKinley, you never need to thank me for loving you. It’s something that comes natural, like breathing,” he says, wiping my tears away. “If you are alright, we should really go, otherwise your dad will be there before us.”
When we pull up to Blake’s my heart is pounding in my chest and I take a deep breath. I wasn’t this nervous to just show up at his door, I don’t know why it’s getting the best of me now. I close my eyes briefly, thinking about all the bullshit I had to deal with before I got here. If I could survive that alone, I can handle this with the love and support I now have.
“Let’s go,” I say opening the door.
Thankfully, we made it before he does. Braden and I are sitting out back with Blake and London. The conversation has been steady, but nothing about tonight. Nothing about how strange this whole situation is or how awkward it might be. They are talking about friends, books, TV, the damn weather, but no mention of why we are all here.
I’m wringing my hands together and looking out at the sun reflecting off the pool as it begins to set. This feeling of anger is building up inside of me and I don’t like it. I haven’t felt this way since I left Louisiana. This need to just yell because I’m so damn frustrated. Closing my eyes, I try to get myself to relax, but it’s not working.
“Why the fuck are we talking about everything else but what is actually happening here? I’m about to meet the man who wanted nothing to do with me for the last twenty-nine years and I don’t give a fuck about what you all watched last night,” I yell, getting up and walking toward the pool.
This isn’t me. I’m too invested in all of this. I shouldn’t give a shit what that man thinks of me, but son of a bitch, I do. I’m not the same person I was when I first got here. I’m full of love and dare I say, faith. Everyone has given me a reason to believe that anything is possible. They all live their dreams, and I am starting to, all because of them. A few months ago, I wouldn’t have cared what anyone thought of me, but now it’s just all changed.
“McKinley, I’m sorry. You’re right, I just thought if we talked about other things, it would help relax you,” Blake says, wrapping his arm around me.
“No, Blake. I’m sorry. That was completely uncalled for. This isn’t a big deal to anyone else, hell he raised you, you have no reason to be nervous,” I say, looking up at him.
“You have no reason to be nervous either. I told you I’d always have your back and you have Braden and London here too. We are here for you. Dad isn’t going to do anything. He’s going to come and just talk like he’s known you forever,” he says, kissing me on the forehead.
We go back to the table and I apologize to London and Braden for flipping my shit like a child. Of course, Braden pulls me into his arms and reminds me how much he loves me and to remember what he said back at the house.
Just as he lets go, the sliding door opens and a tall older version of Blake walks out, minus the smile he is always wearing. My eyes widen when Blake’s mom, or who I assume is his mom, walks out behind him. What in the actual fuck?
Chapter 16
Braden
* * *
I grab tightly onto McKinley’s hand when her father walks outside, and she squeezes even tighter when Blake’s mom walks out. I look to Blake quickly and he shakes his head. He knows exactly what I was asking without saying, why the fuck is she here too?
“Hey, Blake. Hi London, looking beautiful as always,” Andy, Blake’s dad says, before looking toward me and McKinley.
“Holy shit,” he whispers and comes over pulling McKinley in for a hug. I’m close enough to hear everything and that is intentional. “I would have known you anywhere. You look just like your mama. I’m sorry McKinley, I truly am sorry for everything,” he says, and I let my guard down a bit.
They pull apart and Andy calls over Marie. “This is my wife, Marie.”
I can see in McKinley’s eyes that she is overwhelmed and damn I can’t blame her. This is a lot to take in. She’s not used to having people around her that love her, other than her mom. Coming into this crew of people and add in finding your long-lost dad, that’s more than most people can handle.
“Hi. It’s great to finally meet you both,” McKinley says, and I reach over to grab her hand again. I don’t want her to feel like she is alone in this for even one second.
I watch closely as Blake and his parents talk with McKinley. She is getting more comfortable and the amazing girl I love is starting to show. She’s laughing, joining in the conversation, and even starting to ask questions. I don’t say much, I’m not here for that. I’m here to support her, make sure she’s alright.
After a while, she turns her head and smiles at me. “You alright? You haven’t said much,” she whispers.
I simply lean forward and kiss her cheek. “I’m perfect.”
Before turning her attention back to the others, she gives me a quick kiss and my heart swells. This girl has no idea what she does to me. I never thoug
ht I’d fall in love again; hell, I didn’t think I had a heart left after what Sarah did to me. Yet, here I am, completely and totally in love with McKinley. When I told her I loved her, it was something that flowed out of me. I just handed her my heart. I didn’t think about it or question it. I just gave it to her.
After a few hours, Andy and Marie finally call it a night. Andy told McKinley he’d like to get together again, and I just hope he means it. In all the time I’ve known Blake, I’ve only met his parents a handful of times and this is the longest I’ve been around them. I’ll never crush McKinley’s excitement though; I’ll just be there when she needs me.
Blake and London walk his parents to the door and once they’re inside McKinley turns to look at me. She has a beautiful smile on her face, which makes me smile back.
“That went good, right?” she asks.
“It went amazing,” I tell her, wrapping my arms around her. “How are you feeling?”
She pulls back and kisses my cheek. “I’m good. It went better than I thought it would.”
Before I can even reply, Blake and London come back out and sit down. “Well, I guess we know who the favorite is,” Blake says, jokingly.
“It was a lovely evening. Honestly, that’s the longest I’ve been around your parents,” London chimes in.
“Well, they aren’t the most social people. I’m just lucky that I am so much better than they are,” Blake says, kissing London.
“I’m just glad I finally got to meet him and your mom. They might not want to have any kind of relationship, but at least I can say I know my dad,” McKinley says, and I squeeze her shoulder.
“That’s such a great outlook McKinley,” London says.
We talk for a while about how the night went and even though I’m exhausted, I’ll stay as long as McKinley is enjoying herself.
“McKinley, I was going to email you tomorrow, but I’ll just tell you now. I picked a photo for the cover of my book. It’s going to look amazing, I’m so excited,” London says with a beaming smile.
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