Earning Her Love

by Hazel Gower

  “This is nothing. It’s the least I can do for everyone’s help.”

  “Food. Ohh, heaven. Mia’s cooking.” Locklen came in and got a knife and tried to get some of the meat.

  Catharine smacked her son’s hand. “Go wash your hands and make yourself useful by setting the table.”

  Locklen groaned but did as Catharine told him. Stephanie stirred the gravy while Mia got the roast potatoes out.

  Alex came into the kitchen with Zane in one arm. His other arm wrapped around her waist, and he leaned down, pressing his lips to her head. “Hey, sweetheart, want me to carve?”

  Closing her eyes for a moment, she leaned back against his hard chest and basked in support. She opened her eyes, twisted, and gazed up at him. “Yes, please.”

  “Come here, little guy.” Steph grabbed Zane from Alex and hugged him, kissing both his cheeks before settling him on her hip. “Let’s go wash up, and then show me your special table. I wish I got to eat at the special table with you and Olivia.”

  Mia started putting the plates filled with corn on the cob and other veggies on the table. Locklen was sitting at the table, and Owen was across from him. Catharine come out with two lots of potatoes, ones cooked in the meat juices and another without. Mia was sure she saw drool slip from the guys’ mouth as the bowls were sat in the middle. Mia went and gathered the rest with Catharine’s help.

  The table was full with the Douglas family sitting around it. Mia had always wanted a big family. She’d been an only child, and it could be lonely. She loved how big Alex’s family was and how close they all were. They’d insisted she sit at the head of the table as she’d been the one to make all the food.

  The men didn’t talk much, mostly just grunted and moaned while they were eating. Mia didn’t mind the quiet. She was surprised when Catharine spoke. “Now that you have the help are you going to enroll in university? I know mid-semester starts in a couple of weeks, but I’m sure you could still get into open foundation.”

  Shocked by her question, Mia didn’t respond right away. She’d always wanted to go to uni, but she’d never thought it possible, not with her income and having no help or many people to fall back on to help with Zane. She had Beth, but she couldn’t ask too much of her friend. Going to university would be a lot of time and focus she would need away from Zane and a job. She’d hoped she would be able to go to university once Zane started primary school. Now that she had Alex and his family, could she go to uni? She shook her head. No. Alex and the Douglases had already done so much for her, she couldn’t, and wouldn’t, ask for more of them.

  “No. Next week I’m going to go into work and see if they can start rostering me back on.”

  The whole table fell quiet. The only noise that could be heard was Olivia and Zane chatting to each other at the kids’ table.

  “Why?” It was Steph who broke the silence.

  “Why what?” Mia wondered what Steph meant.

  Stephanie shrugged. “Why are you going back to work?”

  “So I can contribute to the bills and buy Zane the things he needs.”

  “You contribute now. I’d be happy if you went back to university. I can help out more with Zane, and I’m sure Mum and Dad would love to help.” Alex smiled at her and reached over and squeezed her thigh.

  “You already do enough, and I’m sure Catharine and Charles want to enjoy retirement and not have to look after my son.”

  “Our son,” Alex corrected.

  Mia nodded. It was taking some getting used to remembering Alex was Zane’s father now.

  Charles chuckled. “I’ve been retired for over ten years. We had nine years of pre-grandkids time. We traveled a lot then. I don’t want to travel anymore. I want to spend time with grandbabies, and enjoy them.”

  “I’ve been waiting for grandbabies a long time,” Alex’s mother added.

  Mia looked around the table for help but found none.

  “They have your kids, they’re off my back about finding a man and settling down. Barf.” Steph made a gagging noise.

  “I say go to uni. Pop out some more kids in between. The more grandkids you and Lana have, the more we’re left alone.” Locklen winked at Mia.

  “Hear, hear.” Owen raised his glass in agreeance with Locklen.

  Mia felt hot. She was probably as red as a tomato. She and Alex hadn’t even been dating a year and more children was being discussed. She may have gotten knocked up as a teen, but she’d learned her lesson and was on the pill. “I have already put you all out so much. I couldn’t ask more from you all.”

  “Why not?” Locklen asked.

  “Yeah, you can,” Chad piped in.

  “I love the little guy, he’s no problem,” Owen added.

  “We love having our grandbaby. Zane is an angel,” Catharine said.

  “I shouldn’t even have to add to this, you know I love Zane.” Steph raised her brow.

  Mia looked at Alex to see him watching her. “Sweetheart, he’s my son. I’d do anything for him.”

  Tears slid down her face. Mia’s heart was so full of love she thought it might burst. “I just feel like all I ever do is take from you.”

  “I wouldn’t worry too much about thinking we’re doing too much for you, you’re going to pay us back tenfold when Alex is eighty and you’re only in your sixties.” Everyone groaned around Mia. “I mean my brother did good. He looks after you now, gives you the good life, and then when he’s old and decrypted you’re the one that’s wiping his arse and–”

  “Locklen Douglas. You quit that talk now.”

  “Oh shit. Mum used his full name,” whispered Chad.

  Alex growled and gave a death glare to Locklen.

  Mia couldn’t help herself. She burst out in fits of laughter. Of course Locklen defused the situation. Mia loved this family.

  Alex slipped his hand into hers and intertwined his fingers, bringing them up to kiss her hand. Closing her eyes, she savored his touch. Warmth seeped through her, and she opened her eyes to stare at dark blue ones.

  “You going to go to uni?”

  Mia nodded. “Only if it’s okay with you.”

  Alex leaned in and brushed his lips over hers. “Yes. I’m happy for you to go to university. I want you to do whatever you want. All I want is you to be happy.”

  God, she loved this man. She was going to tell him too. She just wanted the perfect time.

  “Oh, for Christ’s sake, brother, I’ve just eaten.” Locklen moaned. Mia glanced over to see him holding his stomach. “All that mushy shit is going to m—”

  “Locklen, don’t make me give you another warning.” Catharine’s stern voice telling off Locklen had Mia giggling.

  She beamed at Alex. “Looks like I’m going to university.”

  * * * *

  Alex was exhausted. The last couple of weeks had been crazy. Being a dad was demanding, but worth it. He had been so busy he hadn’t shaved his head in weeks. Mia didn’t seem to mind though. She had gotten her cast off and spent her days getting ready for university, making sure all the forms were filled out and her finance was ready to pay for tuition. Gary, her old mechanic, had helped her find a new car...well, it was a twenty-year-old car, but it was in good condition. Mia wouldn’t let Alex buy her a car no matter how much he argued.

  He’d just finished a double shift and was so tired and disturbed by one of his last confrontations tonight he didn’t even shower before changing out of his uniform. He came straight home. He needed to see his woman and baby boy. Going to Zane’s room, Alex opened the door and walked in, just standing there watching the rise and fall of his little chest. He couldn’t believe that this little miracle was his. All children were special.

  Alex didn’t know how long he stood there staring at the perfect little man before him, but he was sure it was a good hour. How could anyone hurt something, someone, so little, so innocent and reliant on them? His stomach churned as the scene from work flashed before him. He inched closer to the bed and tucked th
e covers more securely over Zane.

  “I love you, buddy,” he whispered.

  Suddenly two arms wrapped around his waist, and he jumped out of them ready to defend his kid with his life. He turned to find Mia standing there. He’d been so focused on Zane that he hadn’t even heard her come in.

  Mia slowly raised her hands in the air. Her brows furrowed, and her lips turned down. “You okay?”

  He shook his head and gathered his woman against him before leaning down and nuzzling her neck. “I love you. I love you so God damn much.”

  She gasped and eased back to gaze up at him. Her hand came up, and she gently stroked his cheek. “What happened?”

  Alex moved his face and kissed her hand.

  She sighed. “Let’s get out of here, and you can tell me what happened.”

  Alex didn’t say anything. He picked her up and carried her to their bedroom, sitting her down before the bed. He stripped her clothes and then his own and, still without saying a word, he gathered her up and gently laid her on the bed then lay beside her. Holding her, he stroked her smooth, warm skin and breathed in her scent. He needed her, more than he’d ever needed anyone. She calmed him.

  When he felt calm enough to talk he let out his breath slowly and told her what he could. “I went to a domestic disturbance.” He shivered as images of what the assailant had done to the victims flashed through his mind. The shaking worsened at images of the boy who laid on the floor beaten so badly he was unconscious. They didn’t know if he’d wake again. The blood from the woman and child was everywhere. “It was… It wasn’t the worst I’ve been to, but I kept seeing you and Zane, and I almost shot the fucking assailant.” Alex tipped Mia’s chin up and kissed her slowly, gently, savoring it. “Three of us surrounded them, and I, having the highest rank, was charged with trying to talk the attacker down, but for the first time in many years I couldn’t think of anything that wasn’t threatening, like ‘if you don’t stop, I’ll shoot you’ or ‘I’m going to count to two, and if by one you don’t stop, I’ll fucking shoot you’. Derick could see I was struggling, the anger was clear on my face, and he took over.” Alex sighed. “Once the man was cuffed, I may have hit his head and face a couple of times on the door and the roof of the car as I was putting him inside it.” He scrubbed his face.

  “I’m sure he deserved that and more.”

  Alex chuckled, he couldn’t help himself. Of course she didn’t berated him for his behavior in handling the man. Mia was on his side. “The guys are were all shocked. Derick is busting my balls because I’ve become an arsehole. He said I was a dick before, but now I’m just relentless.”

  She giggled and climbed onto him, straddling his chest. “Oh, you’re relentless all right.” She wiggled down him, and her hand circled the base of his length and pumped. He’d turned hard before her hand even touched his cock. “And I happen to like your dick.”

  Groaning as her smooth hands circled his dick, he stared at the beauty settled between his thighs. She was gorgeous with her long hair, big brown eyes, and petite lips that hovered over the tip of his cock. Her hand pumped while her tongue slipped out and circled the head before she came closer and took him deep into her mouth.

  The erotic image before him had his lust skyrocketing and the control he fought to keep in check almost exploding out. Mia’s lips circled his cock, her strawberry blonde locks a halo around her, her big brown eyes hooded. Nothing had ever looked so sexy, so alluring. She took him deep, her warm, wet mouth heaven around him as her tongue helped suck. She hollowed her cheeks and sucked hard as she sank down over him as much she could.

  Not able to hold back, he grabbed her hair, gripping it to guide her. He pushed her down, getting her to take a little more of him each time. Closing his eyes and enjoying the tingling, building passion, he wrapped her hair around his hand and pulled her up, yanking tight, before pushing her down again. She made a choking noise, and Alex pulled her back and snapped his eyes open to help his control.

  “Wow, you’re so damn hot. Come here,” he moaned. Dragging her closer, he smashed his mouth to hers.

  Untangling her hair from his hands, he picked her up and moved them back on the bed, kissing her until she lay beneath him again. Alex knelt between her spread legs and watched his hand trailed down her body and come to rest between her thighs. His fingers parted her folds and pushed into her, and she arched into his touch, panting and moaning.

  “Yes. Oh, Alex. Go deeper. More. Alex, please give me more.”

  Alex loved how responsive Mia was to him. “Be patient, sweetheart, I’ll give you just want you need.” He rubbed her nub with one hand and added another finger, driving them deep. She meowed and twisted down onto him. He felt her body tensing, squeezing and freezing up tight, getting closer as her pleasure built.

  “Oh, I… Please. Alex. Alex…I…need to come. Make me come.”

  Her begging had his lust reaching amazing new highs, and he growled with need as he leaned down, sucking her nipple into his mouth. He switched, doing the same to the other. Needing balance, his hand left her nub and held his weight. Craving to see her come, he added a third finger and pumped faster as he gave a tiny nip to the end of her nipple.

  Mia screeched, her body arching off the bed, and he watched as rapture covered her gorgeous face. Her eyes flashed a darker brown and swirled with bliss, her mouth opened in an ‘o’, and her head fell back. Beneath him her body trembled, and he couldn’t help the smirk he knew covered his face at what he’d done to her. Alex stared at his woman, she was so sexy, so beautiful, with hooded eyes and her body relaxed and satisfied. Bringing his coated fingers to his mouth, his sucked on her essences. God, he loved how wet she was.

  Crawling up her smooth, softly-rounded body, he kissed her lips and he ravished her. Aligning the tip of his cock to her pussy, he plunged in, basking at her tight clasp around him. Her orgasm made her so tight it was almost painful. Mia squirmed as he pushed balls deep, her mouth leaving his and her eyes opening wide. Taking a deep breath, he came almost all the way out before he propelled in hard this time. Mia cried out, her legs come around him, and her heels dug into his ass. He pulled out and drove back in. Mia’s scream was deafening as she clutched him.

  Shit, had he hurt her? He needed to let out his frustration and anger from the day. Fuck, he hoped he hadn’t hurt her. He paused, seated to the hilt. “I’m sorry, sweetheart.”

  “Why? That felt amazing. Do it again.”

  His body tensed, and he gritted his teeth, making sure he stayed still so he could talk to her. “I don’t want to hurt you. I’m wound up tight.” He eased out, but she grabbed his shoulders and held onto them.

  “No. You weren’t hurting me. That felt soooo good. Please. I can take it.” She pouted up at him. “I promise if you get too rough, I’ll tell you.”

  Alex hesitated. He was big, and Mia was only a little thing, and she hadn’t that long ago recovered from the crash. He slipped further out so just the tip of his dick sat at her entrance. “I think it’s best if I finish myself and I help you find release again. I’ve never heard you scream like that.”

  “No. No. No. No,” she chanted. She used the heels of her feet, pushing on his arse to ease him back into her, and caught his gaze. “How about a safe word?”

  Alex hesitated, not saying anything.

  “How about cheese? If I say that, we stop.”

  Her pleading gaze had Alex caving. They could do this. He nodded, and Mia lifted off the bed and threw her arms around him and captured his mouth. Sinking his cock deep, he paused, savoring her pussy gripping him tight.

  Mia stopped their kiss, and she panted, “Please, let go. I can handle it.”

  “Fuck. Okay, hold onto the headboard.”

  Mia nodded, and he moved them so she could reach the headboard, and she eased down and gripped it. Alex lifted her hips up and thrust deep. Pulling out, he slammed into her, letting his frustration out. Mia squealed, but did her best to lift her hips to drive him deep. />
  He gritted his teeth and closed his eyes as her pussy clenched his cock in a vise-like grip, driving him insane. Opening his eyes, he stared down at Mia’s bouncing tits and watched his cock disappear inside her. Darting his gaze back up, he stared at her pleasure-filled face.

  “I’m so fucking crazy about you,” he panted as he drove into her like a mad man. He was more than crazy about her, he loved her. She gave him everything he needed and more. “I love you.”

  Her reply was a drawn-out groan.

  Wanting to be deeper, he pulled out and faced her toward the mirrored wardrobes and placed her so she was on all fours. He yanked her arse up in the air and spread her cheeks before driving his dick into her pussy. Mia screamed and thrust herself back against him, sinking him so fucking deep.

  “Yes. Yes. Yes,” she yelled.

  Alex looked up and groaned as he saw their reflection in the mirror. Her hair fell everywhere, and Alex gathered it up and wound it around his hand and yanked. Her arse rose higher, and Alex stared at the mirror, transfixed as he watched himself fuck Mia. Her tits swayed and bounced, and Mia gripped the comforter with one hand while the other held the edge of the bedside drawers. Her eyes were closed, but the look of rapture on her face was unmistakable in the open mouth, heaving chest, and her pushing back against him.

  “Yes. Oh, Alex. Yes. Yes.”

  Alex eased out and rammed back in, tightening his grip on her hair.

  “Fill me up. Give it to me. Harder,” Mia yelled.

  Yanking on her hair, he pulled out and propelled back home.

  “That’s it,” she hissed. She opened her eyes and the dark orbs caught his in the reflection of the mirror. “Alex. Alex. Deeper. Harder.”

  Holy shit, she was becoming so bossy, and he gritted his teeth and chanted over and over in his head, don’t come, don’t come. She was so God damn sexy.

  “Alex. Oh, Alex, come deep inside me.”

  His grunted. Fuck, he loved his name on her lips. Her dirty talk was driving him insane, and he knew he’d give her what she was asking for soon, but he needed her to come first.

  On a growl, he pulled her back so she was on the edge of the bed and he could stand. He lifted her ass and reached around to play with her clit. Mia cried out and arched into him, closing her eyes again and begging for more.