Traced: Bryton & Roya (Oak Springs Book 4)

by Lucy Rinaldi

  “She'll be in the backyard.” I smile at Kory. I love this man, he's going to be my hero, I can see it now. “It's the place she runs to when things get too much for her.”

  I kiss his cheek and he smiles. “I'll be right back.” With that, I get to my feet and leave the room.

  I follow the long lilac painted hallway to the kitchen and out the back door. Wow! This garden is huge and looks like something out of a magazine. There are so many flowers, hanging baskets, ornaments, even garden furniture. It's beautiful. Jaxson would love it here.

  Callie is sitting on the low wall near the back of the garden where the garden pond is. It looks like she's throwing something inside. Maybe they have fish?

  I walk slowly toward her. I can hear her sniffing back her tears. No one should ever feel the way she does right now. How was she supposed to fight a grown woman, she was seven years old. She yelled for our mother, she tried to save me, she did all she could.

  “Callie?”

  She flinches and wipes her eyes quickly as I take a seat beside her. “I'm sorry, I didn't mean to run out on you. I guess I'm a little in shock.”

  “You have nothing to be sorry for. I understand if I've upset you by keeping my identity a secret all these weeks. But I needed to concentrate on Jaxson and his relationship with Bryton before I could come forward.”

  “You haven't upset me. I understand your son comes first. Just as my children do for me.”

  She hasn't looked at me yet, she's still looking out at the water in front of us. Her hands are wrapped around her knees as if she's trying to protect herself. It's a defensive move to sit that way. But what does she need to defend herself from? Me?

  “Why do you blame yourself for what happened when we were kids, Callie?”

  “Because I couldn't save you.”

  “You were a little girl, Callie.” She sighs to herself. I know she's about to try and justify why she blames herself, but I'm not going to let her do that to herself. “There is no one to blame for what happened. Not mom for leaving me outside while she ran inside to get something. Not you for not being able to stop that woman. You were seven years old, Callie. A baby yourself.

  “I believe everything happens in this life for a reason. If I sat and analyzed everything that happened I'd have to admit that I wouldn't have met Bryton when I did and I wouldn't have Jaxson. And not having my son is something I can't bear to even think about. I refuse to live in the past, and I don't want you to anymore either. And I never, ever want to hear how you believe what that man did to you was your punishment for not stopping that woman from taking me.”

  She sobs to herself and hangs her head.

  “When I was a little girl, I used to dream about having a big sister. A big sister who would love me and play with me. One who would never let anybody hurt me. And now I have three and two big brothers.” I giggle to myself. “I have parents. Something I have never had. But do you know what I find the most amazing about finding you all?”

  “What?” She asks quietly, finally turning to look at me. Her eyes are so red and puffy from crying.

  “Meeting you was the best day of my life.” Her lip quivers. I know she's emotional but I need her to hear how proud of her I am. She is possibly the most selfless person I have ever met in my life.

  “When Aimee told me what you'd been through, what you had sacrificed for your friend, my heart burst with love for you. Every time I look at you, I think to myself, “That's my big sister. My selfless, amazing, perfect big sister, who I have dreamed about my whole life.” And I am so proud of you for who you are, Callie. And I am the luckiest sister in the world to have you.”

  “Oh, Roya.” She wraps her arms around me, pulling me into her. I wrap my arms around her back and hold her close. She has nothing to feel guilty about, nothing to blame herself for. “I love you so much. I am so happy you're home.”

  “I love you, too. More than you know. No more blaming yourself for things you had no control over. Okay?” She laughs while pulling away from me. “Okay?” I ask again while wiping the tears from her eyes with my thumbs.

  “Okay.” She smiles.

  “Now, let's go inside and show everyone that everything is okay” She nods and takes my hand in hers and I lead her inside.

  Fourteen

  Bryton

  “Mommy!” There she is, my beautiful Roya, standing at her door greeting us. After Jaxson and I sorted Roya's surprise, and an extra one that Jaxson wanted to get his mother, we drove back to Roya's place. The second he saw her standing at the door he started squealing and bouncing in is car seat.

  I unbuckle him and set him on his feet outside the car, but he takes off running before I've even really let go of him. I chuckle to myself as I watch her crouch down and catch him in her arms. Her eyes close as she breathes him in as if she thought he'd never come back. Jesus, we've only been gone three hours. I guess I underestimated the bond between mother and son.

  “Did you have fun with Daddy?”

  “Yes,” He nods and mimes zipper his lips with his fingers, causing her to narrow her eyes playfully.

  “What are you two up to?”

  He leans into her, his little hand against his mouth, shielding his mouth so he can whisper to his mother. “It's a secret.” He laughs hysterically when she tickles him before kissing his cheek.

  She gets to her feet while thanking me for taking care of our son. Really? She has no reason to thank me for that.

  “How was he?” She asks.

  “He was fine after a little while. He didn't want to stay at Chase's without you, so I took him to the park for a while.”

  She looks at his little face, he's looking at the two of us with a sweet smile on his face. He knows what's going to happen, I told him just what I want to do. He was beyond excited yet promised not to let the secret out until the time is right.

  Roya looks back to me, she opens her mouth to speak, but I don't give her the chance, I grab her wrist and pull her against me. She laughs as I cup her cheek and pull her in for a kiss. Not a passionate one, I wouldn't do that in front of Jaxson. He's four-years-old, he doesn't need to see his parents making out on the front porch.

  His little giggle makes us smile and pull away from each other. “You love each other.”

  Roya looks at me with nervous eyes, she bites her lower lip. She looks uncomfortable. But I'm not going to lie to my son, I love his mother, always have, always will.

  I wink at her and turn to my son. “That's right, buddy. But,” He laughs loudly, happily when I lift him above my head and swing him around. I pull him against my chest, “We love you the most.” And that is the truth.

  * * *

  Fuck! This is what I can't get enough of, Roya's mouth around my cock. Damn, this girl gives good head. She keeps her hands behind her back, just as I told her to. I want nothing around my cock but her mouth.

  I bite my lower lip as I watch her working my dick. Her lush lips look fuller the further she takes me. Hot damn!

  I slide my fingers into her hair, guiding her up and down my cock. She groans around me sending the vibrations of such right to my chest. My balls tighten. Fuck, I'm not going to last. I can't last like this. It's too fucking good.

  “Jesus, Roya,” My head drops back for a second. I'm feeling so fuckin' good right now.

  After kissing her outside earlier, Jaxson asked Roya if his daddy could stay to put him to bed. She cooked us dinner, allowed me to bathe Jaxson, and then we both put him to bed.

  Jaxson fell asleep quickly, much happier after our day out. I kissed Roya and told her that I would see her tomorrow. She shook her head with a smile on her face and dragged me into her bedroom, where she sank to her knees, released my cock from my jeans, and started sucking me off. Perfect! I shed my t-shirt, throwing it to the floor beside me, as I ordered her to keep her hands behind her back.

  “Baby, I don't wanna come like this. Stand up. Let me undress you.” I try to pull away from her but sucks me deeper, harde
r, faster, “Fuck!” My balls draw up, my breath catches, and I can't help but fuck her face as though I were fucking her tight little pussy.

  My hands tighten in her hair as I hold her head still while shooting my load down the back of her throat. I hold her still for long minutes after I've come. My body shaking, thudding with the pleasure of my release.

  I release myself from her mouth and pull her to her feet by her arms. I pull her into me and kiss her with a passion I didn't know I possessed. She's a hot little thing, moaning into my mouth, her fingers in my hair, almost scalping me as she holds me against her.

  “Get the hell out of these clothes. Now!”

  “Oh god,” She pulls away from me and strips as fast as she can, revealing her hot, hot body. Fuck, she's beautiful! I'm out of the rest of my clothes faster than I can blink.

  “Bryton, please” She holds her hand out to me. I'm on her in seconds, my hands on her ass. Lifting her against the wall behind her. Her legs are now wrapped tightly around me, our mouths are fused together, our tongues mating so erotically pre-come is seeping from me like crazy. “Fuck me, baby.”

  I groan into the soft skin of her neck. Jesus, Fuck, she's going to be the death of me. I line my cock up with her pussy and push myself deep inside in one go. She clutches my shoulders tightly while trying not to scream. Fuck, what I wouldn't give to hear her screaming her pleasure right now.

  I grab her ass and pound into her harder, faster, biting her neck as I go. She's gasping, moaning, whimpering, and I'm about to bust my fucking load inside of her. “Come on, beautiful. Let go, my baby. Come with me. Now!”

  “Bryton!” Her body explodes around me at the exact same time I let go and burst inside of her. She clings to me and I to her, our bodies entwined in perfect harmony. My god, I love her so fucking much. I had no idea I could love her more than I did before, but I do, I love her in a way I could never love another. She is my world, my life, my love. Mine!

  * * *

  Roya and I showered together. I washed her long blonde hair and then lathered her beautiful body in soap. All the time she moaned, her head tipped back against my shoulder. I was hard in seconds listening to her like that. So hard that she bent forward, her hands pressed against the tiled wall and asked me to fuck her again. And who the hell was I to turn her down?

  Once we were both sated, washed and dried. She asked me to stay the night. She's never asked me to stay the whole night before, even though I have. But that's usually because we've fallen to sleep together. I'm always gone before Jaxson was up normally. She told me once that she never wanted to upset Jaxson should he see us like that. But something has changed. I don't know what exactly, but something has.

  So here I am lying in bed, wearing nothing but my boxers, next to the most beautiful woman I've ever know. She's wearing a pink silk night slip, wrapped in my arms, her head on my chest sound asleep. This is where she belongs for the rest of her life, in my arms safe and sound. We were meant to be together. Fate brought her back to me, brought Jaxson to me. And I'm going to do everything in my power to prove to the two of them that I am serious about us.

  I'm so serious about keeping my little family together that I'm going to hand in my notice at work. I refuse to leave Roya and Jaxson. I can get another job nearer home. Home. That's what I'm referring to this little town as. Home. And it is home, home with the woman I love and our son. I wasn't expecting this life for myself... well, ever, to be honest. But I have it now and I'm hanging on tightly with both hands.

  “I love you,” I whisper into her hair before I kiss her head. “I will always love you.” And I will until my dying day and even longer.

  Fifteen

  Roya

  I hum a little louder these days. Everything excites me. I have a family. My very own family and I couldn't be happier. I have parents, brothers, sisters, a man who loves me, and my precious little boy. Who, I might add, is still all clear with his health. Bryton and I were so pleased to get that news.

  Having my parents in my life is, as clichéd as it sounds, is amazing. It's the silly things you miss when you're not with those you love. Birthdays, Christmases, any damn moments in your life that you wish you could celebrate with your family. I lay in bed last night and did nothing but smile. I'm going to be the girl who celebrates Christmas with her family, all of them. My baby boy will finally know what it's like to wake up, open his presents with his daddy there with him, then go to grandma's house to visit.

  Things have changed so much for Jaxson and me since we came to this sleepy little town. I have finally found a place to call ours, a place to call home, a place where we can settle and not have to move on. I have a stable job, Jaxson is in school, Bryton is planning on moving here to be with us, and... we're together.

  I'm not quite sure how it happened. We just seem to have slipped into a relationship. Neither one of us wants to lose the other. I've never been very secure in anything when it comes to my life, to be honest. But I feel really secure when I'm with Bryton.

  I'm actually really happy right now. And I haven't had a lot of happiness in my life. But I breathe easier each morning, laugh a little harder with my friends, fall in love a little more each day. I love spending time with my nieces and nephews, and Jaxson loves them all.

  I never thought I could be this happy. But I am, I am so happy I feel like I could burst! Life doesn't get any better than this. I could honestly not ask for more. Maybe for Bryton to move in. But I'm not sure that's a little premature.

  At least that's something. And Jaxson won't be without his daddy for too long.

  I opened up this morning for Aimee, she took a trip to Seattle to meet with a supplier. I feel like she's running herself ragged these days. She's been so busy for the past two weeks, driving to and from Seattle. But she says it's for business, for the right kind of materials for the new sexy lingerie line I've come up with.

  It's a little on the kinky side, gothic even. It's a little on the “Risky” side. That's why the line will only be sold online only. This is a small town and Aimee doesn't want to upset any of the locals, even though it's none of their business what we sell here. I respect her wishes, though, she's been good to me since I came here.

  I've kept myself busy all day. I have to take my mind off the fact Bryton isn't home. He left for his job, he couldn't get out of it as much as he tried. His boss told him that he needed to work his two-week notice, then he'd let him out of the contract he signed. Jaxson has been so restless without his father around. Boy doesn't understand that Bryton hasn't left us and that he'll be back very soon. And he will, just five days to go.

  “Excuse me? Could you tell me if you have this set in red?” I look up at the young girl standing at the counter. She's pretty, I think her names Randi, or something like that. She went to school with my sisters. Or so I heard. I've seen her around but I've never actually met her.

  She's tall, dressed like she belongs in Beverly Hills, too much makeup, big hair, airhead kinda girl. But Callie told me that she's harmless.

  “I'm afraid we're out of red in that set. Could I get you something else? We have red in the Luck Lady collection.” One of my more... For the girl who wants to drive her man wild while looking classy at the same time. Silk and lace, always a winner.

  She nods, follows me to the collection, falls in love with it and buys four sets in four different colors. She then tells me she'll be by next week for the black set she originally wanted. Aimee will be pleased.

  The shop has been really busy today. It's not unusual, but I've been on my own all day so I'm pretty damn tired. I just want to get to my mom's, pick up my boy and go home. I want to read to him, put him to bed, then soak in a nice hot bath. My aching feet could certainly use it.

  Yeah, my mom is quite the doting grandmother. With all of her grandchildren. But she has four years to make up for with Jaxson, so she sometimes takes care of him for a couple hours here and there. And as school is out for the next week, she wanted to take care of Jaxson
while I work. He wanted to stay with her and I was extremely grateful.

  There's always one customer that comes in five minutes before closing, which means they'll be here ten minutes after closing, still looking for that special something to make their man crazy. Which also means I'll be stuck here for half an hour after closing cashing up. Great.

  “It's been a long time, Roya.” My head shoots up, my heart rate as well. How on this earth did she find me? “You look surprised to see me.”

  “I am.” I squeak out. She looks just the same as she always has, a mess. I can tell she's tried to clean herself up. Looks like she's bathed and combed her hair, even if it is tied up in a messy bun. Her jeans and shirt look clean enough. “How did you find me?”

  “I read in the paper that the Harper's had found their long lost daughter. I wasn't surprised.”

  “It's been years, Simone, why now? Because I'm finally happy? You took me from my parents and gave me the worst kind of life.” I stand from my chair behind the counter, I won't let myself shrink away from this. This woman destroyed my family, she treated me so badly, but she didn't ruin me. I am who I am because of her.

  “I know what I did, but I was ill, Roya.” I fold my arms around myself and raise my eyebrow. “There is no excuse for what I did. I've been in residential care for eighteen months. It's taken me that long to come to terms with what I did. When I lost my daughter,” She swallows hard, blinking tears from her eyes.

  I don't want to fall for this when she's done it many times before. But something about her right now is telling me to listen, to let her get it out so we can both move on with our lives.

  “Come take a seat.” I offer.

  She nods and follows me towards the leather couches Aimee has set up for people who come in with customers but don't want to buy anything themselves.

  “Go on.” I urge as soon as she's seated.