Stand By Me

by Blu, Cora

  “Jonathan...Ah, yes, yes,” Kenya cried out and he listened for that gulp of air she takes after her climax burned down through her body.

  She gulped.

  He laughed loving the sound of her exhaustion. “We're not done. Cross your ankles, make her tight. Now ease your fingers back where I had them.” He paused to wipe the sweat beading on his temple. “Like that, feel me inside you, pumping in and out, my thighs slapping your ass; I know you're biting your lip trying not to scream. Don't look back, that's my thumbs digging into the dips on either side of your hips. You feel that, my thighs scrubbing up and down behind you, can you? Slow it down.”

  “Oh...” she uttered under her breath.

  “Hold still; let me run my tongue up the smooth skin of your spine, making your ass pump into me. You're sexier than you know, Kenya. You make my heart sweat just knowing you belong to me. Pull your hair over your shoulders; I can't see your neck...hell, your beautiful woman.”

  “Let me hear you scream my name to the ceiling, Kenya. Let me know...let me hear how much you dream about me at night, holler for me, Kenya. I'm the only man that can make you feel this way.” Her voice echoed around the bathroom and he closed his eyes as it came through the phone. He throbbed behind every rasping breath she fed him over the line.

  “Ohh!” Kenya screamed. Not gripping the head of his cock through his jeans to stroke off the tension she'd built had his eyes crossing. Hell his boy had stretched up under the waistband of his jeans, precum leaking over the head, like a teenager.

  “Now lay your head on my chest feel the warm rain on your back, me rubbing your spine trailing down to where I'm still deep inside, but you don't move, just lay there breathing under my chin until you slowly fall asleep, the rain running down between your cheeks rinsing my seed from between your thighs. As the clouds open and the lightning starts I carry your sated body across the roof to the door and down the stairs to a warm bath and curl my arms around your body. In the bed, your soft breathing is all I need to pass out and go to sleep.”

  The cool tile felt good beneath his forehead pressed to the wall. He took a hurried glance at the clock above him on the wall. They had one minute. “Kenya, babe, are you okay?”

  She sniffed and her voice came out soft and feminine, something he hadn’t noticed until faced with male voices 24/7. Kenya said, “You're my world, Jonathan. I swear to you I'm gonna get you out. I don't wanna cry and have you worry, but honey...I miss you so much. I never understood the place you hold in my day until you weren’t there to hold me at the end of each day.” He could hear the tears in her words. Balling his fingers, he pounded a fist to the cement block wall cursing under his breath. “Mo Ru'n...stay strong. You stay strong for our child and I'll stay strong for you. We'll get through this and next time I'll tell you what I think about when I'm lifting weights in the yard.”

  He tried to lighten the mood, but he could hear her soft curses and it broke his heart to hear his woman in pain and from his cell there was nothing he could do to stop the hurt.

  “Ta' mo chro'i istigh ionat,” Kenya said through tears and he returned the expression seconds before the line went dead. Jonathan hung up the phone, stood for a moment absorbing the love of his wife then shoved his hands in his pockets and walked to the door. Hearing her pain took the stiffness out of his arousal enough for him to walk without castrating himself. Raising his palms up, he held out his hands for the handcuffs. The click of the lock rang through his head and he let himself be led back to his cell fighting not to struggle against the feeling of never seeing his wife again. No matter how bad things were, Kenya was by his side. Getting out of prison was the only thing that mattered now.

  Chapter Fourteen

  Sophie sat with Calder on the plane as they headed back to Ireland. The jazz club she worked in for ten years came through for her, supplying her with the name of the manager for the club Kenya celebrated in for her promotion. She picked up the remote, set the DVD in the little drawer, and waited for the picture to fill the screen on the portable CD player. She couldn't wipe the grin from her face when the young group singing started. She leaned forward watching Jonathan swirl Kenya into his arms as the sweet song began. Calder grouped her to his chest his large hands closing around her waist, his fingers pressing into her flesh massaging absently.

  “Aye, he's a good man, Sophie. Ye should be proud of him. I'm only his uncle and me heart loves him like me own boy.”

  When he turned to look at her, Sophie let her fingers caress his whiskered face tickling the sensitive pads. Brushed her lips over his chiseled jaw then she inhaled the warm masculine scent rising off his skin. Each summer Jonathan went to Ireland to visit Brian. Calder had kept watch over her son ensuring Brian didn't totally corrupt her son. It had given her a sense of peace knowing Calder would watch over him.

  “Yer were always a great uncle to me son. More father than uncle the way ye never left him out when ye did things with Jamie. I love you for being there all those years.”

  “I started out doing it for the love in me heart for ye, Sophie, but the boy was so eager to please Brian, I couldn't let him be corrupted by me brothers greed.”

  The cabin's temperature seemed to rise as they stared longingly into the others eyes. Sophie broke the stare, patting his thigh beside her. She had mixed emotions about Calder accompanying her to the states before her marriage to Brian was annulled, but now that she's free, Sophie couldn't imagine another day without him. And with him by her side she was certain they'd have Jonathan out soon.

  “As a mother I couldn't have wished for a better son. And it's obvious he loves this woman. The way he holds her to his heart says she means more than even he recognizes yet.” She leaned into Calder's lips pressed to her temple, sliding her arms beneath his shoulder to ease in along his chest.

  “Oy, I'd say the shy smile on Kenya's face says your boy's no trying to hide his arousal, most likely poking the poor thing in the rump.” They both leaned closer to the screen then eyed one another. “Yup, see his eyes closing...and biting his lip. Me boy is hard-up for this gal,” Calder teased and Sophie laughed and cuddled back into his chest. They watched the video four more times. Watching her son fall in love was warming to her heart. Kenya adored her little boy and that gave her a sense of peace she didn't know she looked for from the woman taking her son away. She would slam Brian with this evidence then watch him squirm under his lies.

  “I've never seen me son so happy,” Sophie observed happily.

  Calder grinned running his thumb along Sophie's collarbone up to the tender skin of her earlobe. He leaned in whispering over her neck. “Remember when we went skinny dipping after riding out to the edge of the river as teenagers?”

  “You were always so sweaty. Getting you naked and into the river was the only way I'd let you kiss me,” Sophie teased sliding a hand beneath his shirt molding her hand up the fine hairs covering his torso. Calder's face reddened. His eyes darkened. Sophie said nothing when her chair slowly reclined and Calder eased between her thighs.

  “Relax...see if I can remember what you liked about being naked and alone with me, lass,” Calder taunted nudging her blouse up exposing her stomach, his lips covering hers in a kiss warm and sensual.

  Chapter Fifteen

  Sitting beside Jamie in the Jeep, with Marcus and Katherine in the back seat, Kenya kept her eyes on the two Jeeps following close behind. She went over her list of people invited to the party at Glasgow's pony farm. A caravan of Jeeps carried her old and new family together over the beautiful Irish landscape. Holding the party where the people felt comfortable was important if she was to gain their support.

  In the Jeep with her were Jamie, Katherine, and Marcus. And Sophie, Michael, Steve, and Carl followed in the two behind them with more food. Fiona, Salma, and her aunt Karla stayed back at the estate working on the next article for the paper and Karla wanted to meet herself a Nigerian. Fiona promised to give her the inside scoop on the men over there. Karla's husband was
in prison for life and had told her plenty of times to find someone.

  The countryside sat quiet in the ease of the cool afternoon. The subtle glow of the sun straining to make a show behind the slight lift of the field as it stretched along the skyline, called to Kenya taking in the scene as it passed by the window of the jeep in long dry water colored strokes.

  “Kenya,” Katherine got everyone's attention in the Jeep. “Seeing as how no one was invited to the first wedding are you and Jonathan gonna have another one, so your family can be there?” Took that question a long time to be asked.

  She craned her head around to see her mother in the back seat. “After what you taught us growing up about finding the right person so you only walk down once?”

  Katherine said, “That's because I thought at least your father and I would be there.”

  “How did you put it? A wedding ring is placed on your finger for the first time, once. Momma you know if things were different I would have waited, but they weren't. As much as I hated not having everybody there we already made our vows to one another.” She couldn't miss Katherine folding and unfolding her hands in her lap looking out the window. “But, once my husband is home, I'd love it if my mother would help me set up a reception.”

  Katherine crossed her ankles in the tight space and looked at Marcus. “I told you she was gonna ask me to help.” She waved a hand in the air, a warm smile opening her face. “Don't worry about that right now; we need to get my son-in-law home first. Then we have a baby shower to plan. Your aunt, Karla, is gonna flip with such short notice. But we'll take care of everything. I'll call Burton's Banquet hall off I-96 and see if they have the room with the long chandelier available in the spring.”

  Stretching back a hand, Kenya massaged Katherine’s knee as their eyes met. “You already have it reserved don't you, Momma?”

  Marcus preened shaking his head. “Your mother put a deposit on the room after she saw you and Jonathan dance at the jazz club.”

  She had the best mother.

  “Burton's isn't a UAW hall. You can't book these rooms at the last minute and expect to get anything nice. If we want the appetizer table and the fruit table we need the room connected to the patio so we can take pictures out by the fountain.”

  Jamie shot her a look that said he liked her mother.

  “Soon as Jonathan's out we'll talk about a reception,” Kenya said seeing how happy it made Katherine to be included in her life. It made her happy too. Maybe she'd reconsider having a second wedding.

  Marcus winked at her twisting in her seat. He leaned over the seat and held her shoulder.

  “The party you're having now to save your husband...how many people do you anticipate showing up?”

  “We invited everyone that pays rent on the land surrounding Blakemore estates.” She looked over at Jamie for any additional people she wasn't aware of. When he said nothing, she turned back to Marcus. “Daddy, the moment all this is over I want you and Steve to come back to Ireland and play golf with Jonathan. He's an amazing man and I don't want either one of you to think this is normal for Jonathan, to be in trouble with the police.”

  Her father barked out a loud laugh filling the cabin of the Jeep with his hand on Jamie's shoulder over the seat. “Kenya...I've been listening to these people, farmers, fishermen, and herders, talking about your husband. Many are looking forward to this party to get to know you and to support your new family.”

  “Kenya's well liked, but some are suspicious of outsiders regardless. I know once they get to know Kenya's intentions, they'll step forward.”

  Marcus looked between Kenya and Jamie. “You treat my little girl, like family. I like that.”

  “She's stubborn as a mule and that's what Jonathan needs.” Jamie closed a hand over Kenya's. “Aye, I like her.”

  “What he likes, is Julia.”

  “Going straight for the pepper, Jamie?” Marcus teased from the backseat.

  “Aye, I like a little fire, in me woman, Mr. Claiborne.” Kenya smiled then looked down at her itinerary she'd brought to keep track of the testimonies they'll record today. “Aye what's spinning beneath your school girl charm, Kenya Blakemore?”

  Kenya looked up. “Daddy did I mention this is the man that threatened to beat me when I went looking for Jonathan in the mountains?”

  “Don’t beat my daughter, Jamie. I haven’t always been a gentleman and Kenya can shoot a duck out of the air with a rifle.”

  Jamie twisted a look at her father then her, and said eyes tight, “Kenya with a rifle...that scares me.”

  “They don't know, do they, little girl?”

  “That you took us deer and duck hunting as kids...no.”

  “She's gotten away from her roots, but she used to go duck hunting with my brothers and me. Fishing, riding horses, she was my sidekick. Got knocked on her little butt trying to use a shotgun, but she's good with a rifle.”

  “I didn't get away from it Daddy, I grew up and learned having guns and shotguns at the ready wasn't normal for other families. Having your father meeting your date at the door while he's cleaning off his sawed off is not normal when you live in the city.”

  Jamie nearly ran the Jeep off the road and Kenya clutched her seat. “Guns and rifles, Kenya...” Jamie urged eyes wide. He straightened the wheels over the bumpy terrain continuing down the road.

  “I won't be shooting any shotguns, especially with this little one growing inside.”

  “Jamie, tell me about your uncle,” Marcus urged a hand on Jamie's shoulder over the seat. “What kind of man is Jonathan’s father to be going after his own flesh and blood?

  “Uncle Brian's a mob boss between his ears.” He gave her a quick glance then back to the road. “Och, seriously, if we had ties to the real mafia, they'd prefer Jonathan over Brian and that's what eats at Brian. Jonathan has a legit profitable financial operation and support from the authorities all around the world that he never exploits. Everything Brian is fighting has connections to Jonathan retaining the rights to the estate. He's not fighting any improvements or surrounding families, just Seamus and Jonathan.” He tossed a look over his shoulder.

  “He's envious of his son's respect. That's a dangerous way to live.”

  “Uncle Brian's always settled things more violently than the rest of the family.” Jamie added. “He carried himself as the powerful head of Blakemore estates when we were little. I think if Aunt Sophie had let Jonathan visit more he'd be as corrupt as Uncle Brian.” Jamie glanced up into the rearview mirror before setting his attention on Kenya. “Kenya here is what's polishing off his rough edges.”

  She looked at the faces in the Jeep's cabin. There was more between Brian and Jonathan's relationship than she knew or maybe less. “Jamie now that I'm here in Ireland I don't understand this whole power play between Jonathan and Brian. West Ireland is mostly empty terrain. There's enough open land for Brian to build a good-sized public pub for the fishermen coming in off the Atlantic and retain the privacy the Inn patrons are looking for when they book a room. The two patrons never have to cross paths. Why is it so important to open it under the estate? He could build a new Las Vegas if he wanted to. Heck he could do like Jonathan and build a bar inside the mountains.”

  He shot a quick look then back to the road. “Because the gardens, the foundation of the castle, and land are owned by the McGhee's and it's worth millions. It's not only in the historical records along with the foundation for the original house, but it shares the river. No one will ever ask for this estate to be cleared away making it and everything on it, and under it, worth millions.”

  “That much Jonathan's told me already.” She set her device on her lap. “There has to be something I'm missing about the worth of his estate.” Tipping her face out she caught Jamie's attention from the road for a second.

  “The McGhee's own stock in the whiskey refinery in exchange for them using a portion of the river to make their whiskey. They also gift the family vault with a select number of the firs
t bottles every year.”

  “That has to be worth...”

  “Millions,” Jamie replied as they came upon the Glasgow's property. Kenya cursed under her breath with that new information. Horses running out over the hill far off being brought down by his field hands caught her attention. Brian would kill all of this natural beauty if he got his greedy hands on the land.

  That's why Brian attempted to bribe her with half a million; it was chump change if he gets he estate. He's anticipating owning stock in the refinery along with the estate's wealth. If he opened a pub, he would never pay for his whiskey. Profit off the top.

  “And Brian knows Jonathan would never abuse that family,” Kenya thought aloud.

  “Then that's another reason he doesn't use his influence to get out of prison. Everyone knows they supply Blakemore estates pub with liquor. If he didn't get out by the law it could bring the law to watch the refinery for illegal dealings, just by association.” Jamie said.

  Kenya added, “Jonathan wars with right and wrong all the time. Brian taught him how to deal with people his way and Sophie and Seamus taught him the legitimate route. I saw that in the mountains with the kids. It angered him to see those kids lose their childhood because their parents were knocking heads over child support. I'd wondered why he didn’t just pay for the kids to go and ease some of the stress from his life. Instead he made them earn it through their behavior and grades in school.”

  Marcus said, “I'm thinking he was teaching them their actions have consequences and if they want to get anywhere they have to work for it, no matter the situation they're in.”

  “And now,” Kenya started. She felt the heat on her face and knew she flushed bragging about her husband. The man had her in a knot with sweaty skin and she loved him to her soul. “The thing I’m most proud of is that he knows if he uses his influence to get out, the schools he financially supports could decide to refuse his help; along with the other countries he's worked hard to ensure that they saw the family in a good light? And as much as I want him home, need him home with us and the wrenching my heart took during that trial, this is too important to not stand proudly by his side.”