by Jenny Penn
Not that there was anything she really could do.
Elaine was a bubble of joy, and Heather was so screwed because she didn’t have the coldness in her to pop Alex’s mom’s happiness, much less Taylor’s, with any kind of remainder that she and Alex were not actually engaged, as if anybody cared about that technicality.
Her dad certainly didn’t seem to. He came in laughing and chatting with Alex, both men wearing big grins and talking like old friends. Trailing behind them were Konor and GD, which explained where the two of them had disappeared to all day. She should have known.
All four of them sauntered up to drop a quick kisses on her cheek before turning to greet Alex’s parents with a welcome that assured Heather she’d been wrong. Alex hadn’t planned this moment. They all had. She was fighting a hopeless battle and didn’t have any allies left in the line
That was just what Alex’s look said as he crowded into the booth beside Taylor, trapping Heather’s son between him and his mother while her dad joined his father on the other side. Konor and GD pulled up another table along with some chairs, packing themselves onto the end and joining the conversation, and still they were all chatting away like one, big, noisy family.
Who was she to destroy the illusion?
Heather didn’t even bother to try. Instead she took everybody’s drink orders and kept herself busy in the kitchen prepping their plates. She had no excuse, though, to avoid joining them for the meal, given the bakery was completely empty. It wasn’t as bad as she feared.
It was worse.
It was damn near perfection. It was a glimmer of what the future could be—full of happy family chaos, and for a moment, Heather found herself buying into the illusions as she started to help Elaine with the wedding plans, but before she could lose all sense, a customer came in to check and see if she had any pastries left. They were sold out, but the interruption bought her enough time to remember that this was all just a fantasy, one created by Alex to get her to forget about last night.
It was shocking just how well his plan worked, too, how easily her mind turned traitor. Of course it was easier to believe than to fight. Blind acceptance meant not having to worry, and why should she worry? It was possible Alex was telling the truth, that Gwen had crawled uninvited into his bed.
Possible, just not probable.
Then again if any woman was desperate and easy enough to do it, it would be Gwen…or, maybe, Heather, because just look how fast Alex had her willing to suspend all logic. How desperate and easy did that make her?
Heather didn’t know.
She didn’t know what she thought. She didn’t know what she felt. She didn’t even know what the hell she wanted to do. So, instead of making any decision, she focused on clearing the dinner plates off the table.
Alex shocked her by getting up to help. Elaine didn’t appear surprised as she beamed up at her son as she assured Heather that she’d raised her boy right. Alex, of course, agreed, giving his mom a tender smile before turning that heart-melting look on Heather. She felt her knees weaken as he promised that he didn’t need a woman to take care of him, but he was more than ready to take care of a woman.
It might have been a line, but it was the best damn one she’d heard in a long time. Matched with the feral glint that sharpened his smile and flashed in his gaze, it took on a wicked intent that had Heather’s stomach knotting with excitement as she turned to lead the way into the kitchen, all too conscious of his larger frame crowding behind her as he tailgated right through the double doors. She rushed forward, trying to escape the intoxicating pull of heated scent.
Heather wouldn’t allow all lust to humble her so easily, but the volatile mix of emotions that Alex inspired in her wasn’t simple or easy. She knew eventually it would give in to the need Alex and Konor inspired in her. It was just too great, too addictive to resist. That didn’t mean she wouldn’t go down fighting. Intent on making sure Alex understood that fact, Heather dropped her load of dishes into the sink and turned on him.
“I cannot believe you had the audacity to manipulate your parents and use my own family to try to pressure me into pretending last night didn’t happen,” Heather lit right into him, balling her fist on her hips and glaring up at Alex as she managed to mask any hint of her true desires beneath a sharp tone.
Alex blinked in naked confusion, appearing honestly shocked by her accusation as he repeated her question. “Pressure you into pretending? Shit, sweetness, I don’t want you to pretend last night didn’t happen. I want you to apologize for it.”
“You expect me to apologize.” Heather gaped up at him, shocked to the core by the very suggestion, but Alex didn’t look like he was kidding.
He dumped his load of dishes on top of hers and turned to confront her as Konor came bustling through the kitchen door with the last of the plates. Both Heather and Alex ignored him as they squared off against each other.
Crossing his arms over his chest, Alex gave her a sharp nod. “Yes.”
“For what?”
“I don’t know. How about for jumping to false assumptions?” Alex shot back. “Or what about for physically assaulting me?”
“Yeah? Then why don’t you just throw me in jail along with your other girlfriend?” Unmoved, but nevertheless amazed at Alex’s bold attempt to play the victim, Heather ignored Konor snort as she pinned Alex with a hard look. “I’m sure Gwen and I could find a lot to talk about. Maybe you could arrange it for us to share a cell.”
“I’m sure you would,” Alex agreed without flinching, clearly not intimidated by that threat. “But a sheriff expecting to get re-elected doesn’t arrest his fiancée.”
“We’re not engaged!”
“I got the ring. You want it?”
“Oh God,” Konor groaned, glancing up to the heavens for some sort of divine intervention. None came, and he ended up turning his disgusted look on Alex. “Dude, man, that is no way to propose to a woman.”
“Shut up, Konor,” Alex snapped, clearly not interested in being distracted, but Konor didn’t heed that command.
“You’re supposed to go down on one knee.” Konor matched his action to his words as he lowered himself down before reaching out for her hand. “Take her hand, looked deep into her eyes and say—”
“You are a pain in my ass,” Alex cut in. “So I plan on burying myself in yours. If you want to get hitched first, that’s cool.”
“—you are the light of my life, a gift beyond measure and I would be humbly honored if you would allow me—”
“Bend you in any way I want, I’ll help pay the bills.”
“—the joy of loving you every day for the rest of our lives, I promise—”
“To make you beg, scream and plead.”
“—to do everything in my power to keep you happy.”
“You’re…I…” Heather didn’t know what the hell she was supposed to say to either one of them, not that either appeared to be listening to her even if they were both talking to her.
“Lame,” Alex declared with a snort before casting a twinkling gaze in her direction. “You don’t want a man who is that cheesy, do you, sweetness?”
“But I bet you do want a man who is promising to do more than just ride your ass, right?” Konor leapt back up to his feet and grinned back down at her. “You want the full tour, don’t you, sweetness?”
Heather gaze narrowed on them as she glanced between the two men, recognizing their game now. They weren’t going to let her use logic against them. It didn’t matter how hard she tried. There wasn’t any arguing with crazy.
“You know this argument is pointless,” Alex declared, sounding suspiciously reasonable even if the conclusions he drew were maddeningly nuts. “It’s not like we need to waste time with a proposal. Everybody already knows that we’re engaged. Hell, we’re almost as good as married as far as most of the town is concerned. All that remains is a few stupid formalities.”
“No. It’s not like we’re married—”
&nbs
p; “Of course it is,” Alex cut her off, dismissing her objections once again with an ease that left Heather grinding her teeth in frustration. “There isn’t anything I wouldn’t do for you. Sick or poor, whatever, I’m there and we both know that you’d do the same for me, right?”
“What about fidelity?” Heather roared, letting her irritation run loose as she gave up trying to reason with him. “Huh? What about Gwen?”
“What about her?”
Heather felt like pulling her hair out. The man was being intentionally obtuse and she really should just walk away, but she didn’t have that in her. Something, some invisible bond, kept her bound to him and stuck there arguing with him despite the futility of the effort.
“Remember? I saw you in bed with her….does that ring any bells?” Heather waited by Alex simply shrugged.
“She broke into my house and crawled in bed with me…what do you want me to say?”
“I want you to give me a better lie,” Heather snapped. “And stop treating me like I’m stupid.”
“I don’t think you’re stupid,” Alex assured her almost instantly. “I think you’re irrational, temperamental, and stubborn.”
“And don’t forget that she’s obnoxious, immodest, and controlling,” Konor tacked on, earning a nod from Alex before he finished the rest of his statement.
“But not stupid.”
“Gee. Thanks. That’s really what I want to hear from my future husband,” Heather muttered shooting Alex a disgusted look.
“See, now, we’re in agreement,” Alex declared cheerfully, totally ignoring her dour expression as he broke into a wide grin. “We are engaged.”
They weren’t, but Heather had tired of arguing that point. Instead, she tried once again to boldly fight fire with fire. “If we are, then I should warn you that I’m going to be banging your best friend on a regular basis.”
“I wouldn’t dream of having it any other way,” Alex assured her with wink, letting Heather know that the bar for crazy was being set very high, but she knew she could outdo him.
“That’s good, because I was worried about….well, given that blow I dealt you last night, I imagine the kids will all be Konor’s, too.”
That taunt had Alex’s expression darkening as Konor hooted with a laugh. “Oh, sweetness, you know I stand ready to service you in whatever ways Alex can’t…or won’t.”
“And I stand ready to prove both your asses wrong,” Alex stated with a confidence that matched the lecherous curl of his lips. “So, from this day forward, I’m making it my mission to get you pregnant.”
“What?” When was she going to learn that she couldn’t out-crazy Alex?
“You heard me.” Raking his gaze down her length with blatant hunger that echoed in the growl that rumbled out of him, Alex took a bold step forward. “In fact, maybe, we should get started on that project right now.”
The husky, sensual promise in the feral sound had Heather prickling with a sense of alarm that set the butterflies filling her stomach to fluttering. As he shifted forward, she was stumbling back, holding out a hand to ward him off.
“No! Wait! Stay back,” Heather ordered, her tone lacking the sharp edge of command. The hint of panic only grew as he backed her slowly into the counter. “I don’t want you to touch me. I know where those fingers have been!”
“And what about my tongue?” Alex purred, taking no insult at her words but turning her comments back on Heather. “You remember where it’s been. Don’t you?”
The wanton heat that thickened his tone curled through her like a sensual lick, teasing all of Heather’s senses as her cunt went soft, swelling with a thick tide of cream that tinted the air and betrayed her desires. Despite her attempts to shake the unwanted rush of longing from her head, it was too late.
Alex was already reaching for her and, God help her, she crumbled right into his arms with one last pathetic denial.
“No…I—”
Alex silenced her last weak defense as he stole her breath and the last of her resistance with his kiss. His mouth was soft but firm, breaking over hers with an insistent demand that was matched by the ruthless invasion of his tongue as he plunged it deep into her mouth and laid claim to her dark, molten recesses and filling her with his own heady taste.
Within seconds he had her mesmerized by the carnal mastery of his tongue as it dueled with her own, igniting a battle that had her wrapping her arms around his neck and clinging to him as she fought for more of his intoxicating kisses.
Over and over their mouths mated, tilting and angling for the best fit as teeth and lips mashed into each other with the ravenous frenzy that matched the hunger exploding between them. She couldn’t get enough. Not enough of his taste or the feel of him, all hard angles and solid planes fitted perfectly against her as he ground her back up against the hard, unrelenting feel of Konor’s warm embrace.
Heather gasped, tearing her mouth free to suck in great gulps of cool air as her blood burned hotter, searing through her veins and fueled by the delicious feel of being caught between Alex and Konor. They felt so good and strong, making her feel so small and weak.
That little hint of vulnerability spiced the desire thickening in the air with a heady, forbidden scent that had her melting between them, unable to defend against the pleasure. Instead, she let it run free, allowing her body to sway and flex as she ground herself between them in wanton demand.
Her hips arched, her ass grinding down over the thick length of Konor’s erection while she cradled Alex’s equally impressive bulge in the warm, aching flesh between her legs but still it wasn’t enough. She needed more. Of their own volition her legs lifted, sliding up the muscle thickened length Alex’s and opening herself wider in a desperate attempt to nestle his cock deeper into the folds of her weeping cunt, needing that bit of hardness and cursing the clothes that got in the way.
Those curses muttered into incoherent murmurs as Konor began to nibble and suck his way down her neck, his hands sliding all the way down to cup her knee, lifting it high and out of the way. Alex took instant advantage, shoving her skirt up and out of the way as he ran his hand up the sensitive skin of her inner thigh.
He didn’t pause or linger over the caress, but boldly cupped the crotch of her sodden panties. With lethal precision, he molded the wet lace to her swollen folds until her panties clung to her skin, providing no protection from the slow, maddening stroke of his fingers.
Heather knew what came next, knew that the heated passion erupting between them wouldn’t be satisfied until all three of them were grunting and sweating their way through a long, rough ride. That’s just what she ached for, just what she would have gone for it Alex’s mother hadn’t walked into the kitchen calling out for Heather and asking about desert.
It was like being doused with cold, sanitizing water. Just the sound of Elaine’s voice washed the crazy away, leaving Heather suddenly aware of just exactly what she was doing…and with who.
Heather could feel the heat flame across her cheeks as humiliation warred with outrage, each vying for control of her response and both driving her into one unified action. Shoving Alex back, Heather quickly escaped from Konor’s hold as she frantically shoved at her skirt as she looked everywhere but at Elaine.
What must that woman think of her? Heather wouldn’t have been shocked if Elaine had shared her opinion right then and there. After all, she just caught Heather going at it with Alex and his best friend, but Elaine played off the moment with an ease that left Heather wondering just how much she knew about Alex and Konor situation.
“Oh, I’m sorry. I didn’t mean to interrupt,” Alex’s mother apologized even as she did just that, physically pushing her son out of the way as she latched onto Heather’s arm and started to pull her away from both men.
“I was curious, honey, if you had a desert ready or if you would like to join Rhett and me for some lemon cake I made earlier today. Ralph has agreed to join us for coffee and Taylor is excited to try the cake, so I was
hoping since Alex doesn’t have to go to work just yet, Konor and Alex and you might be free for a little desert.”
There was no saying ‘no’ to that invitation, especially not when Alex agreed for her.
“Of course we’re free, Mom,” Alex assured his mother, seeming completely unruffled at getting caught in the act.
“That’s great.” Elaine beamed without even bothering to see what Heather had to say. “Because, you know, even if you do decide to wait until next spring for the wedding, there are things that need to be decided as soon as possible.”
It was like the whole family was crazy. Their insanity must have been infectious because Heather found herself getting carried along away with their act as Elaine started to escort her toward the kitchen door.
She paused there only long enough to look back and remind Alex and Konor that the dishes weren’t going to clean themselves, before she swept Heather out into the safety of the dining room with her.
* * * *
“Your mom just cock-blocked us,” Konor muttered as he watched Elaine Krane drag Heather out of the kitchen.
Both women glanced back before disappearing through the swinging doors. With her lips swollen and her eyes wide, Heather’s confusion was easy enough to read. So was the pointed look Alex’s mom shot them. She’d issued an order and in the Krane family, nobody disobeyed Mom.
“That’s what mothers do,” Alex assured him as he dutifully turned alongside Konor and clicked on the water.
Plugging up the empty basin, he allowed it to fill with hot suds as he squeezed the generous amount of dish soap into the streaming swirl coming out of the tap.
“Yeah, I guess,” Konor allowed, though his mom never had. Of course, his mom hadn’t been around as much as Alex’s.
“Soon enough, Taylor will probably be carrying on just the same,” Alex assured him as Konor began to knock the crumbs off the plates and into the trash before handing them over to Alex to scrub.