Afire (Siren Publishing Classic)

by Grace Jameson

  “You sure are collecting a lot of strays,” Will murmured to his old friend as he looked around the table. “You’ve been alone long enough. You look happy.”

  * * * *

  Solly’s wide eyes flicked back and forth between the warm cinnamon-scented peach pie and the vanilla ice cream. Flick, flick, flick, flick. Which one? Will laughed at the obvious thought on Solly’s face and reassured him he could have some of each. A giggling Solly slapped his thighs and bounced impatiently in his chair.

  Jenny was dishing out the peach pie when they saw a cloud of dust come down the laneway. City folk, Cal thought. No one who lived on a farm would drive down a farm lane that fast.

  “The cattle are in the barn. Horses are corralled,” Eddie said without looking up from his dessert, correctly guessing Cal was concerned a loose animal might get hit.

  A shadow cast over the doorway, and Solly stopped, fork midway to his mouth. Panic flitted across his face, and Cal saw him shift closer to Will. The man placed an arm on the back of his chair in unspoken support and stared at the door.

  Everyone at the table stopped as the kitchen door opened. A tall, thin woman dressed in a revealing top, short shorts, and cowboy boots stepped into the room, followed by a stout man sporting tats and an intimidating frown.

  “Amanda,” Jenny said curtly, giving her a sharp nod.

  The woman ignored her and sauntered toward Solly. Wiggling her red-tipped fingers at the teen, she cooed, “Hiya, baby. Did you miss me?”

  Cal stood up abruptly and blocked her path, crossing his arms over his chest. “I take it you’re the mother. And I use that word loosely.” He rolled his eyes when she visibly shuddered at the word. “Well, since you’ve walked into my house like you own the place, perhaps you would do me the courtesy of introducing yourself.”

  Amanda looked at him coyly. “I’m Amanda Sullivan. Very nice to meet you.” She gave him a thorough once-over.

  Cal grimaced. “What is it you want, Miss Sullivan?”

  “Well, Solly of course.”

  “No!” Jenny, Will, and Cal talked over top of each other.

  “She wasn’t asking permission, buddy. Up, Solly, let’s go,” Dennis barked.

  “No. He’s staying here.”

  “Get your ass over here, Solly. Now,” Dennis demanded.

  A quiet keening silenced the room. Jenny looked over to see Solly rocking in his chair, hitting his fists against his head. Her eyes pricked with tears as Will tried to soothe him, and she poked Dennis’s chest with her finger. “I will never let him go with you. And if you ever talk to him like that again, I swear to God, I will kick your balls up to your throat.”

  Amanda’s face twisted in hatred, all trace of civility gone. “Listen, you little bitch. Solly’s coming with us, or I’m calling the cops.”

  “That’d be me,” Liam’s muffled voice said around a big mouthful of pie. He swallowed loudly, stood up, and pulled his identification from his jeans. “What’s the problem?”

  “What’s the problem?!” she screeched. “They won’t let Solly leave. That’s kidnapping.”

  Liam shook his head. “Solly’s nineteen. Legally he’s an adult. He can go where he wants.”

  She waved at him wildly. “Look at him. He’s stupid. He can’t take care of himself.”

  “Something you didn’t seem to care about when you dumped him in town with a note. He is vulnerable, and it’s unconscionable that you left him to the mercy of whoever found him. If I could, I’d charge you with abandonment.” Liam turned to Dennis. “I noticed some suspicious bruises on Solly the day you guys left him in town. I looked him over. I took pictures of his injuries and got a formal statement about how you’ve been hurting him. You’re under arrest for multiple counts of assault and assault with a weapon. This is the part where you probably want to shut up,” he advised a seething Dennis.

  “He’s still my son, and he’s coming with me.”

  “Your claim to motherhood seems to wax and wane with the tide. I still have your note, Amanda, so I don’t understand what you’re really doing here,” Jenny said, trying to figure out Amanda’s angle.

  “Money,” came the sure answer. They all turned to Cal who explained. “They want his disability check. It’s the beginning of the month, and they’re relying on his disability check. You should know I cancelled it.”

  “What?!” Amanda shrieked. “You had no right!”

  “Your note gave me every right. Jenny and I can afford anything he needs, and he’s welcome to stay here as long as he wants or needs.”

  Amanda whirled on Jenny. “Billy Bubba can’t get you pregnant? You need to play house with a retard? You’re not his mother.”

  “That’s easily solved,” came Cal’s calm response. “I’ve already spoken to my lawyer about his legal rights. If he wants to adopt us as his family, we’d be honored. It’s a relatively easy process with an adult child.”

  “You motherfu—” Dennis’s tirade was cut short by Liam’s hard glare.

  “Maybe we should ask Solly what he wants. He’s an adult, and this is about him,” Liam reminded everyone. Turning to the pale teen, Liam blocked his view of the others so he could only focus on him and asked, “Solly, do you want to go with Amanda? Or do you want to stay here with Cal and Jenny?”

  “And Grandpa?” Solly asked anxiously, gripping Will’s hand. Will choked audibly and his eyes misted. He hugged the boy to him and ruffled his hair.

  Liam smiled. “I think we have an answer.”

  Chapter 8

  Cal fingered the velvet box under his pillow nervously. Beautiful sunrise? Check. Spectacular ring? Check. The most amazing woman as his wife? God, he hoped so. He twirled a strand of her silky hair around his finger and watched her sleep. His heart overflowed. She had brought so much joy to his life, hell, so much life to his life. He couldn’t remember his life before she moved in, and he didn’t want to imagine it if she left.

  He recalled the trip to the city he, Will, and his shadow, Solly, made last week. It had started over breakfast when Jenny said she needed to buy Solly some clothes.

  Will had snorted and looked at her with disdain. “You’re going to go all girly, aren’t you? Get him matching stuff? Make sure all the colors go together? Pfft. He needs to look like a real man.”

  A wide-eyed Solly nodded excitedly, liking the sound of that. Tugging on Jenny’s sleeve, he asked in his thick speech. “Can I have those, Jenny? The real man clothes?”

  Will sat smugly, his arms folded over his chest, when Solly looked at Jenny so earnestly. Cal saved her from responding. “How about if Will and I take you into the city and you can pick out your own clothes, Solly?”

  The teen bounced in his chair. “Can I have a hat?” he asked thickly, pointing to the John Deere cap on Will’s head. “Real men wear a hat,” he pronounced seriously.

  Jenny laughed and promised he could have a real man’s hat as long as the real men also did the barbequing when they got home that night.

  The ride to the city was almost an hour, but it felt longer for all the nagging Will and Solly did. Will kept asking if he was shopping for anything else while they were at the mall, and Solly kept up a running list of clothes he wanted. It seemed Solly had seen a lot of westerns, if the request for chaps was anything to go by.

  Cal admitted he’d been thinking about getting Jenny a ring, and Will replied, “Well, no time like the present.” Cal had no idea what to look for, but Solly had gone right for the diamond ring show case. He leaned his sticky hands on the glass counter, oblivious to the wincing staff, and stared in awe at the sparkling jewels.

  He began to slap the counter and said loudly, “Look. Look. Look,” pointing excitedly at a white gold band embedded with small diamonds. A large oval-cut yellow diamond was encircled by smaller white diamonds, giving it an incredible sparkle. Cal immediately smiled, and Will laughed in surprise when he saw it.

  “It’s perfect,” Cal breathed.

  Will nodded. “It’s
sunny, just like her. It’s a great choice. Good job, Solly!” he said to the teen, who preened, then thunked his head against Will’s shoulder.

  Cal smiled at the memory, recalling how pleased Solly was with Will’s praise.

  Brought back sharply to the present, his heart turned over when Jenny stirred. Her eyes fluttered open, and she smiled sleepily at him. She leaned in for a quick kiss, but he cupped her neck, his thumb rubbing her cheek. He looked at her intensely, declaring quietly but firmly, “I love you so much. I’m so lucky you’re in my life. I want it all, Jenny. Will you marry me?”

  He heard her quick intake of breath, then watched as tears dripped down her cheeks. “Yes. I love you, too, Cal. I would love to marry you.” She’d barely finished her sentence when he swooped in for a passionate kiss. Reluctantly ending the kiss, Cal reached under the pillow and opened the box to her gaze.

  Jenny started to shake and covered her hands over her mouth. “Oh, my God. Oh, Cal. It’s so beautiful.” She held out a quaking hand and watched him slip the ring on her finger. Cal lifted her hand to his lips and kissed her fingers.

  She grabbed his head and pulled him down for a heart-felt kiss. Cal rolled her to her back and smoothed her hair from her face. “I want to make love to you, Jenny. Nothing fancy. Just loving you.” She was openly sniffling in joy and leaned up again for a kiss.

  He held her gaze intently while he ran his rough hand along her silky thigh. “So beautiful,” he whispered, staring at her. Her hips lifted slowly against his wandering touch, and she bit her lip when his thumb brushed her clit. He kept up a circling rhythm on her sensitive bud and felt her vagina grow even hotter. Her honey coated his fingers, and he murmured his approval at her growing excitement. His cock bobbed against her gently-rounded stomach, leaving a trail of pre-come on her tummy. Jenny arched against him as he slipped two fingers in her heated channel, eliciting a long, low moan. He stroked her G-Spot with his fingertips, causing her to writhe sensually against him.

  Jenny was moaning almost continuously now. “Oh, God, Cal. Oooh!” He slid his fingers from her body, and, moving over her, slid his thick, hard cock into her tight pussy, all the while staring into her eyes. They both gasped at the intensity of the sensations and moved slowly together, awed at the incredible intimacy of the moment. Cal kept whispering “I love you,” kissing her swollen lips, her eyes, her temples. A sudden clamping of her hot inner muscles let him know the end was near.

  “Oh! Uhnn, ohhh. Harder, Cal…”

  “Look at me, Jenny. Let me see your eyes. I want to see the look in your eyes when you come.” Her eyes widened as a powerful climax washed over her, and she let out a loud groan. Cal thrust harder, her spasming muscles milking his cock. “Feel what you do to me. Watch what you do to me,” he commanded, as he came, shouting her name.

  A panting Cal tried to roll off Jenny, but she clutched him to her body, her legs wrapped tightly around his waist to hold him place. He chuckled weakly at her powerful grip. “Not going to let me go, huh?” he asked, dropping a kiss on her nose.

  “Never,” she whispered forcefully.

  She rolled her hips, felt the echoing spasm of his cock, and gave a knowing smile at his shudder. Cal rolled beside her and pulled her into his arms, stroking her arm lovingly. He turned to tell her again how much he loved her, but saw she’d drifted into a contented sleep, a smile spread across her beautiful face. Cal closed his eyes and dozed off. Life could go on without them for a few minutes. This time was precious, and he was going to wring every moment out of it.

  Epilogue

  “You are invited to a sunset Thanksgiving dinner at The Old Stables on October 4th.”

  Jenny ran a trembling finger over the russet embossing. She had waited for this day for so long, she couldn’t believe it was finally here. Warm lips nuzzled her neck, and she rested her head against Cal as he held her tenderly.

  “Not too late to elope,” he murmured hopefully.

  She chuckled and turned her face to kiss his jaw. She slipped her trusting hand into his stronger, weathered one and followed him outside to their waiting guests. The lawn in front of the stone house was crowded with their family and friends chatting amongst themselves. Picnic tables were clustered together, each covered in a gingery table cloth and decorated with centerpieces of sunflowers in hollowed-out pumpkins. Chocolate brown votive candles dotted each place setting.

  Absorbed in their conversations and Becky’s delicious hors d’œuvres, none of the guests had noticed Jenny and Cal disappear inside half an hour earlier to change their clothes. Their reappearance in wedding finery rendered the gathering into a stunned silence.

  Jenny was radiant in a strapless tea-length white wedding dress with a snug bodice and A-line skirt that flattered her curvy figure. Gold embroidery wove through the snowy satin and lace fabric, accentuating her blonde hair and brown eyes. She held a bouquet of delphiniums, calla lilies, gerbera daisies, and roses in an array of yellows, apricots, and oranges that highlighted the golden threads even more. Cal took her breath away in a chocolate brown suit that complemented her outfit.

  Cal looked at his bride lovingly then gave their guests an explanation. “Jenny and I are getting married tonight. We both wanted a very simple wedding, and we couldn’t think of a better place to start our married lives than in a place we’ve made a home. Jenny and I agreed that we didn’t want wedding presents. We have everything we need. We just wanted each of you here to celebrate with us.”

  His arm slipped around her waist, and he pulled her to his side. Watching her beautiful face, he said to the crowd, “Thanksgiving is Jenny’s favorite holiday, so it seemed the perfect time. And we had other news we wanted to celebrate. Solly formally adopted us this week.”

  The group erupted. Becky squealed, and she and Nate rushed toward Jenny to give her a bone-crushing hug. Over her parents’ shoulders and saw a chagrined Tim giving Tony and Eddie money. Great. A pool. Bastards. Tim shrugged at her glare, making no secret that he’d bet she was pregnant. He laughed harder when she flicked him the finger behind their parents’ backs.

  Will gave Cal a suspiciously watery smile and held out his hand in congratulation. “I’m so proud of you, son,” he said gutturally. Cal stared at the hand then pulled Will into a fierce, back-slapping hug.

  Solly bounced right behind Will and yelled excitedly, “Will’s my grandpa! Will’s my grandpa!” Will’s eyes filled at the truth of Solly’s words.

  Fatima stared in amazement at the unfolding scene, lost in her thoughts when warm, male fingers moved her hair from her face. “I’d love to see you with a family. Beautiful and round with a baby,” Gabriel breathed heatedly in her ear. Fatima blushed furiously as his fingers lightly skimmed her quivering belly.

  Solly couldn’t contain himself and was wiggling with excitement. With a nod from Jenny, he grabbed a hidden bag from behind a flowering bush. He ran from one guest to another, eagerly thrusting, disposable cameras into their hands. Finished, he slapped his thighs then thunked his head joyfully on Will’s shoulder, a wide, lopsided grin on his sweet face.

  As the first hues of sunset colored the sun-capped mountains, Cal and Jenny walked to the Justice of the Peace, who’d been waiting quietly in the background. Cal was sure the Justice was saying something important, something he should be listening to, but he was utterly captivated by the extraordinary woman in front of him. He cupped her face and stared at her in awe. “The One,” he murmured before kissing her to the amusement of everyone else. The Justice tried to get his attention but eventually recognized a lost cause when he saw one. He pronounced them married, but Cal and Jenny were caught up in their kiss and the knowledge that their lives together had finally begun.

  THE END

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  ABOUT THE AUTHOR

  Grace Jameson has lost herself in the joy of storytelling since childhood, once completing the entire Nancy Drew series in a summer. While she waits impatient
ly for Mr. Right to stop and ask for directions, Grace decided to write her own tales of happily-ever-after. When not writing, Grace is a graduate student and social service worker in Canada.

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