by Rhea Regale
“Goddamn bastard.” Braden spun around and slammed his fist on the countertop. Summer whimpered, grabbing his arm.
“Stop.” She spun him around and shoved him back into the counter. His eyes flashed. “Stop, Bray. I’m yours.”
“Are you?” He stabbed a finger at the door. “That fuckin’ bastard ain’t tuggin’ at your heartstrings even a bit?”
Summer blinked up at him then took a step back. The wicked storm lashing through his eyes, the rose in his cheeks, the hard set of his expression painted him a fierce and beautiful man, both dangerous and compelling. His anger was potent, electric, and so much more than her own. For a brief moment, she believed that anger directed at her until the storm broke over his eyes, but for a second, and she caught a glimpse of fear.
“Braden?” she asked.
“What or who’s to say he won’t leave again, Summer?” Braden let out a sharp breath and ran a hand over his face. He looked up at the ceiling and shook his head. “Baby, I don’t want to lose you. Not to him.”
Summer sighed, wrapping her arms around his waist. She held him tight, pressing her ear over the hard thump of his heart. “You’re not gonna lose me, Bray. I love you.”
“You still love him, too.”
Slowly his arms came around her. She tried to argue his claim, but there was a helluva lot of truth behind his words.
“I know, Summer. I’ve always known.” He pressed his lips to the top of her head. “We’ve built so much together. I don’t want him comin’ back and tearin’ it all apart.”
“He will never tear apart what you and I have.” Summer closed her eyes, trying to ignore the quiet voice whispering a warning in her mind. “Never.”
Chapter Eleven
Carter wiped his forehead with the dirt-smudged T-shirt he had balled up in his fist and joined his cousins in the kitchen. Brody spread out numerous Styrofoam containers across the counter, the sumptuous aromas of grilled meats, fries, and other unidentifiable foods filling the rather stale house.
“Got beer,” Craig said, sliding a large case on the kitchen table. Mandy Pearson, Brody and Craig’s shared fiancée, lifted her arms. Plastic bags dangled and Carter quickly relieved her of the items.
“While my boys were busy raidin’ Martin’s kitchen and Jake’s liquor store, I figured I’d help stock up on necessities,” Mandy said. Carter smiled, fingering through one bag with boxes of plastic ware and cups, paper plates, and napkins. Another bag was filled with junk food. Carter’s mouth watered. Having spent so many months overseas, he didn’t have access to these spoils, and couldn’t wait to indulge. Mandy’s small hand came down on his shoulder. When he looked over at her, he was met with a sincere, and quite captivating, smile. Mandy sure had turned into a stunning young woman. “Nice to have you home.”
“Thanks,” Carter said. Saying it was nice to be back would be a fat lie. Nothing was right yet, and the burning memory of Summer’s mouth and Braden’s hopeful look from earlier mocked him. “Thanks for thinking about the little things.”
“I’m a detail-oriented woman,” Mandy said. She motioned to his chest. “Lot of them look new.”
Carter glanced down and shrugged.
“’Cause they are.” Landon came up alongside Carter and leaned against the back of a chair with his elbows. Carter raised a brow. “That’s all I know.”
“If that ain’t some blatant lie.” Mandy snorted. “I caught that look you gave him, Casanova Carter. You don’t want me to know, I’m fine with that. Ain’t none of my business.”
“Oh hell,” Carter groaned, rolling his eyes to the ceiling. He let out a sharp breath and winced. “You serious? That Casanova title’s still holding to us?”
Mandy flashed him a smile and nodded as Craig slipped an arm around her shoulders and tugged her close. “Holdin’ strong as sin in hell.”
“We’ve no hope of livin’ down our reckless years,” Landon said, a half grin playing along his pursed lips.
“This one causin’ problems?” Craig asked. Carter shook his head and ran a curious glance over his younger cousin, then an equally curious one over Brody. One question burned at him since learning of the engagement.
“None at all.” Carter narrowed his eyes. “How’s everyone taking the news of you three?”
Mandy’s cheeks flushed and she laughed, rolling out from under Craig’s arm. She waved away his question and went to sidle up alongside Brody, who gladly greeted her with a shameless kiss. Craig slipped his hands in his pockets.
“On the front, the news has digested well. Pretty sure there’re those traditionalists who are up in arms behind closed doors. Eh, we ain’t the first. Travis has himself a nice little setup with Lexi and Brent.”
“Our Trav?” Carter gaped.
“Our Trav. You haven’t met Brent. Came to town shortly after you took off. He owns the body shop. Damn good at what he does.” Craig motioned to the living room. “You missed the weddin’ by a few hours. They’re busy honeymoonin’ up at Trav’s, otherwise they’d be down here.”
Three of his cousins were involved in unconventional relationships, and the townsfolk didn’t seem to mind. Whether it was because of their name and their influence on the town, or people were turning unseeing eyes, he didn’t know. However, it eased his concerns over the roiling emotions for Summer and Braden. Maybe he wasn’t as fucked-up as he thought.
The front door creaked open and slammed shut. Carter leaned back and caught Rylan crossing the living room, his boots clicking on the wooden floor. Dressed in casual clothes—jeans, shirt, hair falling over his eyes—he looked as ruffled as Carter felt when Summer climbed out of the truck to go to Braden.
Rylan went through the hand-shaking, shoulder-clapping motions of greeting, saving Carter for last. Carter caught the unease in his expression before his cousin packed it behind a wall of cool contentment.
“Sorry I’m late. Had to finish up last minute things at the office. Did y’all start anythin’?”
“The food just arrived,” Brody said. Rylan looked back at him and nodded. “We can eat and talk, then start workin’ on things here.”
“Plan,” Carter agreed.
An hour later after a productive planning and a quiet side conversation with Rylan about transferring assets, Carter sat back on his heels in the bathroom, wrench in one hand, rag in the other, sweat lining his face. He still couldn’t get the damn faucet to run in the shower. All he wanted was a working shower so he didn’t have to use Colt’s twice a day.
On the upside, the bathroom was clean, as was his old room. He had fixed the screen door, started pulling up the wooden planks on the front porch, and visited the old greenhouse that had fallen into shambles after years of neglect. So had his truck, sitting in the garage covered in dust and cobwebs. He had asked Rylan to see if Brent would pick it up and try to get it running again.
There was a knock on door. Carter jerked, the startling sound jumpstarting a bout of anxiety he quickly swallowed back.
“Yeah,” he said. The door hinges squeaked. He straightened up and turned.
Braden filled the doorway. Those gray eyes coasted over his naked chest, searing his skin in their path. His cock swelled as the familiar scent of Braden’s cologne touched his nostrils. His fingers itched to dive into the soft strands of sandy-blond hair falling against his cheeks and brushing along the nape of his neck.
“Didn’t realize there was a party goin’ on. Couldn’t leave once Landon opened the door,” Braden said. His voice poured down Carter’s body, a soft current rousing any sleeping nerves along his flesh. His nipples hardened. Braden stepped into the bathroom, closing the door behind him. “I don’t appreciate you comin’ along and tryin’ your hand at Summer’s heart again. There ain’t nothin’ left that can handle you all over.”
Carter lifted his chin, lowering the wrench to the counter along the sink. He blotted his face with the rag and tossed it down. “I’ve already told you I wanted her back. I also thought she deserved to kno
w why I left.”
“And why was that?” Braden stepped closer. His very presence threatened to steal Carter’s breath, and leave him lacking in composure. “You can tell one lover, but not the other?”
“I only told her part of the reason.”
“So you lied to her?”
Carter groaned. “Bray, lighten up. I couldn’t tell her everything.”
“What’s your game plan, Carter? Sweet talk her? Sweet talk me? Get us to trust you, let you in so we can watch your ass as you bolt out of town again?” Braden scowled. “It ain’t gonna work.”
Carter unfurled his fingers from the fists they had become. The heavy thud of his heart rattled his chest. “I’m not one for games. Never was. You should know that.”
“I don’t know shit about you anymore ‘cause the Carter I thought I knew wouldn’t run with his tail between his legs like a fuckin’ coward.”
Braden crowded closer to Carter. Carter moved back according to Braden’s advance, each step hardening his cock more and more until he thought he’d burst out through the zipper of his jeans. Oh, he remembered just how much Braden loved playing the dominant lover, until Carter switched the roles when he least expected.
“You’d better be damn thankful you’ve got family here right now. I was burnin’ to beat you into fodder,” Braden said, his voice rough, low, a cross between threatening and aroused. Carter backed into the wall. Braden stepped right into him, so close Carter could feel his breath, smell the warm scents of horse, hay, and cologne, feel the bulge of his cock against his leg. “I’m still pretty fuckin’ tempted.”
Silence slipped between them, a tactic Carter had always loved to use with both of his lovers in the past. He kept his breaths steady as he summed up Braden’s stance. The man may be pissed as hell at him, but lust and heady desire pulsed far more powerfully.
Braden’s eyes lowered to Carter’s mouth. Carter tamped down a snicker, bunched Braden’s coat over his chest, and spun the man around, pinning him to the wall.
“Tempting is that look in your eyes, your cock in my leg, and knowing your anger comes because you still care,” Carter said in a low, husky tone. He tilted his head, lowering his mouth to Braden’s, and paused close enough he could taste the moisture on his lover’s lips. “You come to me tonight, and I don’t think it has anything to do with brawling.”
“Ain’t ever gonna be like it was, Carter,” Braden murmured, his hands holding to Carter’s waist. His skin sizzled from the small touch.
“No fucking way.” He released the bunched up coat and slid his hand to the back of Braden’s neck. “It’s gonna be better.”
Carter slanted his mouth over Braden’s, taking him in a kiss that left his cockhead wet. Braden’s hands slid along his back, tugging him closer. Carter growled, tilting his hips, pressing his aching cock against Braden’s hip. Raw hunger unfurled with each sweep of his tongue, eliciting old lust and renewing passion.
Leading Braden away from the wall, he grabbed his coat and tugged it down his arms. Braden’s hands left his back long enough for Carter to shove the coat to the floor and tear off the thermal sweatshirt from Braden’s warm flesh. He backed his ass to the sink and lowered his mouth away from Braden’s, following the familiar lines of tendons and muscles along his neck with nibbles and kisses.
“You’ve packed more muscle,” Carter murmured, swirling his tongue in the hollow of Braden’s throat. His hands molded over the defined etch of his abs, up to the deep cuts of his pecs. He lashed his thumbs over Braden’s pebbled nipples and delighted in Braden’s gasp.
“So have you.”
Carter slid lower, trailing his lips along hot flesh, indulging in the familiar taste of Braden’s skin, the hint of salt mixed with masculinity. He followed the valley between Braden’s pecs with his thumbs, skimming underneath the hard muscle with his fingertips. Braden leaned back on the sink as Carter scraped his teeth across his pec and curled his tongue around Braden’s nipple.
“Oh hell Carter,” he whispered, undulating his hips against the air between them. Carter lowered his hands to Braden’s jeans and worked open the belt, slipping his mouth to the other nipple. He bit down lightly and tugged the pearled flesh. A tremor skated along Braden’s arms and his hips arched. “Hell, I’ve missed you.”
“I’ve missed you too,” Carter murmured between his trek of wet kisses down Braden’s stomach. He lowered to his knees, slipping his hands along the firm globes of Braden’s ass, slowly inching his jeans off his hips. The musky scent of arousal permeated his nostrils, making his jaw tight and his mouth water. He cupped the base of Braden’s ass and squeezed hard, eliciting a sharp breath from the man in his grasp.
Carter traced the line of coarse hair trailing down from Braden’s belly button before leaning back. His eyelids were heavy as he pulled them open and gazed at the thick, swollen cock standing erect mere inches from his face. Braden’s bulbous head was glistening with juice, his skin strained along his ridged shaft.
“Your cock’s been fucking my woman,” Carter said, folding his hand around the base of the hot thickness. He thumbed the underside, his breath hitched as he reacquainted himself with the velvety texture that was Braden. He looked up and caught Braden’s smoky gaze. “Yours is the only one I’d allow near Summer.”
“You lost all say the night you ran.”
Braden pressed his hips out. Carter chuckled silently, flicking his tongue out and taking his first taste of Braden’s salty goodness since he left, and groaned. The man tasted like sin, potent and delicious. His stomach clenched, his cock tightening in his jeans. Slowly, he swirled his tongue around Braden’s head, tracing the ridges, milking more juice from his small slit. When he sealed his lips and suckled him to the back of his throat, Braden jerked and a long, low moan filled the bathroom.
Carter slid his tongue along the deft vein that reached down to Braden’s sac, and swallowed the man further. He held Braden’s hips steady, forcing the man to stop undulating while he savored each hard suck along his length, his juice imprinting once more in his memory.
“Ain’t no other man had my cock in his mouth. Ain’t no other man ever will,” Braden said, breathing heavily. Carter turned his eyes upward and drank in the sight of Braden’s quick breaths and pleasure-coated expression. He drew his mouth back to his cockhead, gently scraping his teeth along Braden’s shaft. Goose bumps erupted over his lover’s flesh and his own dick jumped at the sight. Fuck, this was a battle of will not to rip out his own cock and jerk off while he sucked Braden to climax.
Carter dipped his head and inhaled the masculine scent of Braden’s skin. “That’s because no other man knows how to fuck your cock with his mouth like I do.”
He leaned in and licked Braden’s heavy sac. The muscles along Braden’s legs twitched, and his fingers dove into Carter’s hair, curling close to his scalp.
“Aww, damn.”
Carter’s nostrils flared and he sucked in one of Braden’s balls, rolling the delicate mass between his tongue and the roof of his mouth. He slid his palm up and down the underside of Braden’s dick, pressing the hard length to his lover’s stomach as he indulged in his sac. Braden’s fingers tightened in his hair, and when he looked up, the slate-gray eyes had turned dusky and dark.
“God I’ve loved the look in your eyes when you go down on me,” Braden murmured. He was gasping for breath now. Carter took Braden’s other ball into his mouth and toyed with the package, taking his time to draw Braden closer to orgasm. The man never could refrain long from exploding during oral play, and it seemed five years didn’t change that. “You’ve always been a feral beast, takin’ what’s yours.”
Carter rubbed his aching cock as Braden’s balls left his mouth with a small smack. He lowered the man’s dick and licked him from hilt to head, then pressed his lips to the base of his shaft and ran the tip of his tongue up and down his length.
“I ain’t in the mood for teasin’, Carter. Holy hell, swallow me, baby. Drink me dry ‘cause I’m
damn close,” Braden said, the gravelly edge in his desperate tone scraping down Carter’s nerves.
Carter rounded his mouth over Braden’s wide head. He took in as much of his length as he could, swallowing him far down his throat with each pump. Braden’s breathing turned into ragged gasps and low moans. Carter slid his hands up Braden’s firm abs, his fingertips reaching for the man’s pebbled nipples. He gave them both a sharp tweak. Braden threw his head back and rocked his hips.
Along Carter’s tongue, he felt the swelling of his lover’s cock a split moment before the fierce rush of salty-sweet cum poured into his mouth. He sucked harder and harder, milking Braden’s every last drop, swallowing down the decadent flavor of his juice, reveling in the heat that skated through his body.
Braden’s cock twitched as the last of his orgasm spilled over Carter’s tongue. Carter sat back on his heels and closed his eyes, savoring the potent taste of Braden’s pleasure. He tried his damnedest to will away the cinching agony from his own unattended cock.
Braden slid down the sink, his jeans pulled back up, and his legs bent on either side of Carter. Carter looked at him, watching his chest rise and fall with each heavy breath. His fingers ached to wind with Braden’s, but he refrained. Braden may have come to him in anger, an anger that masked his passion, but there was still hurt to deal with, and Carter would be doing a lot of begging to earn forgiveness from Braden and Summer.
“You fuckin’ pissed me off when you left,” Braden said.
Carter sighed. “I was stupid.” He shook his head. “I’m not leaving again.”
“If you came back just to suck me off and lift Summer’s hopes then leave, I’ll be the first to shoot your ass as you’re runnin’,” Braden threatened. Despite the hint of a curl at the corner of his mouth, Carter didn’t miss the sincerity of his words flash in his eyes. “I might aim the barrel of my rifle a little higher than your ass, just for safe measures.”
“That’s good to know.” Carter reached over and traced Braden’s jaw. “But I don’t plan on going anywhere now.”