Cocky Love: Emma Cocker (Cocker Brothers of Atlanta Book 11)

by Faleena Hopkins

How big are my problems really?

  Where do I want to go from here?

  I get to choose.

  What kind of woman do I want to be?

  Am I her already?

  How do I handle my father and still stay me? While loving him, and honoring his feelings…

  But more importantly, my own.

  Sloshing my way out of the warm water, I smooth down wet hair and wave to Tanner working on the patio. “I’m going to call Hannah!”

  He nods without breaking his side of the phone conversation. “I want spotless reputations in every position. Have Carla double-check references with that background-check company I texted to you. Also, how are we on teachers? Have you contacted the local principals to find which ones are the best? I want to personally interview the final candidates when I return. Throw in a few wild cards, too, in case I see potential in them their boss didn’t.” He pauses to gruffly mutter, “Because I’m not going to be anonymous anymore, Dan. It just makes things more difficult.” I kiss the top of his head as he grumbles, “No, it has nothing to do with Emma softening me. I’m hard as ever.”

  It’s so warm out, my skin is almost dry by the time I reach the nightstand. Unplugging my fully charged phone I dial Hannah and reach for a towel to sit on, curling up in the chair by the sliding glass door in the bedroom.

  “Hey, you busy?” I smile.

  “Not anymore. Still in love?”

  “So much in love, yes. How was the BBQ?”

  “Drama,” she mutters. “Gabriel and Ben. It was bad.”

  “Oh no! What happened?” I pick at my nails while she tells it all to me. When she’s done I sigh, “I’m glad I didn’t see that. How painful for everyone.”

  “Grandpa was appalled and disgusted with them.”

  We sit in silence, both knowing what I’m thinking. “God, and after my blowout at the fundraiser, too, huh? What’s happening to us?”

  “We’re growing up? I don’t know.”

  “I should have been there.”

  Hannah’s voice gets firm. “No, you needed this time alone together. Remember how Tobias and I were in Florida on our own for months? We did that to cement our foundation, our bond, before rejoining the Cocker chaos.”

  A small laugh escapes me, “That sounds funny.”

  In her voice a grin comes through. “It sounds like a horror film.” Mimicking a deep male announcer she says, “Chaos of the Cockers. Coming to a theater near you.”

  Deepening my voice I join her. “This time they’re serious.” We laugh, but it fades until we’re lost in our own thoughts. “I feel like it’s time to come home.”

  “Emma, please do me one favor?”

  “Anything.”

  “Buy a house near me. I mean, by your brother, too, but Ethan’s not as important as I am.”

  “Not nearly as important.”

  “Kaya might be.”

  “And I do like Charlie.”

  “But your brother is a pain in the ass.”

  “Such a pain.”

  She laughs, but shifts quickly back to serious again. “I mean it, live near me. I don’t like driving to West Midtown anymore.”

  “Ah, you miss me.”

  “It’s totally the drive.”

  “There’s no traffic in the ocean.”

  “So jealous. I’m hanging up now. House near me. Done and done.”

  I stretch my back, voice strained as I say, “You forget he lives in San Francisco.”

  After a beat of silence Hannah snaps, “You are not moving to California!”

  I gasp, flicking a glance to Tanner through the window. “That’s not what I meant. Are you crazy? I’m not leaving the family. I would die if I was away from all of you.”

  She interrupts, exhaling, “Oh good.”

  “But I can’t expect him to ditch his home, can I? He’s got this amazing loft south of Market Street right by where he leases his offices. His sister and nephew live across the Golden Gate in San Rafael. I mean, he’s got a whole life there.”

  Appalled, she asks, “What are you going to do?”

  Staring at him through the glass I tuck my feet under me. “I haven’t thought about it yet. Thanks for making me want to vomit.”

  “Anytime.”

  “Jerk.”

  “Pigface.”

  “I’m hanging up now…squid-breath.”

  She laughs, “Okay bye, poopoo armpits.”

  The line goes dead and I sit by myself with my thoughts, watching Tanner work. Those sunglasses we bought together are so sexy, but the firm line of his lips as he listens to whoever is on the other end of the line, makes me ache a little. Such a serious, powerful man I’ve fallen in love with. I’m going to miss him so much if we have a long-distance relationship.

  Sliding the door open, a warm breeze tickles my skin. “Mr. Hamilton!” He glances up, eyebrows high and curious. “Where are we going to live?”

  He stands up. “I have to call you back.”

  Chapter 37

  TANNER

  Dawn’s light slicing through a gap in the curtains wakes me. I turn my head to watch Emma sleeping, parted lips beckoning for my kiss. I make a tent of the blanket and burrow between her legs to lick her into consciousness. She moans as I taste the salty sweetness of her pussy, running my nails ever-so-slowly up and down her thighs while I lick.

  Her fingers tangle in my hair as I listen to her moans for guidance, shifting from one side of her hardening clit to the other, tickling it, stroking it with my tongue, sucking a few times before I give it little circles just to tease her. Those moans always show the way.

  Three weeks ago when I first went down on my sweet Emma, she was tense. I could tell she’d been with less patient partners. If I could write a manual I’d tell the men of the world to take their time, enjoy it, listen to what she loves and give her more of that. It’s not a speech or a performance—it’s a conversation.

  Give and take.

  Moan and listen.

  Simple.

  Emma murmurs, “Tanner, you’re so good, keep going.”

  I slip a finger inside her, making her writhe as I move it slowly in and out.

  “More. I want you now. That finger’s not enough.”

  I rise up and flip her over, entering her from behind as she sighs and stretches her ass up.

  “I love it when you do that,” I growl, rubbing it. She gasps as I rub my thumb over her anus.

  “What are you doing?”

  “Shhhh, relax,” I murmur as I keep it up, slowly thrusting my cock in, filling her. Emma rises on all fours and begins to enjoy both, even though she’s not sure if it’s too dirty. “We’re going to be doing everything together, Cocky Love, you ready for this?”

  Whipping her hair back she eyes me over shoulder and nods. “So ready. Stick your thumb in a little.”

  Smirking at her courage I do as she asks. Her frown is instant while she decides how she feels about it. “Not bad.”

  We both crack up, and I drop the action and focus on fucking her into submission. She responds with a fiery heat of movement, pussy clenching in bursts on purpose. “You’ve been working on your muscles,” I moan. She nods and I tell her, “So fucking tight. I’m going to hold off as long as I can… so don’t do that too much.”

  Emma of course takes this as a challenge to squeeze my cock senseless. My mind goes numb as my core tries to fight the hunger.

  I groan, eyes rolling back and I pound her pussy harder.

  Her moans change pitch and I know she’s close.

  That just drives me nuts and I struggle to hold back the orgasm.

  “Don’t want to cum yet,” I growl, but my hips aren’t listening.

  Primal and guttural I roar as the pulses quicken in my heart, throbbing mounting in my thighs until the surge overtakes us both.

  Emma cries out with pleasure, slamming her hand on the wall and fucking me back, hammering our hips together so that I dive into the hilt every single time.

&nb
sp; I shout, “Fuckin’ hell! Oh my God!” cock unleashing everything I’ve got. She whimpers as I pound inside her, then collapse, gathering her sweet body into my arms. “That was amazing,” I gasp.

  She nods, “Mmhmm,” unable to speak, pussy palpitating around my length. “You’re still so hard.”

  “I’m still so turned on. I feel like a twenty-one-year-old. Can’t stop my erection around you.” Lowering my voice I confess, “You make me feel like a hero.”

  “You are one, that’s why,” she whispers, simply and without a smile. As if it’s just a fact.

  “I wasn’t always.”

  “Doesn’t matter, Tanner,” she whispers, hugging me back, “You are one now.”

  With muffin crumbs on her lips Emma asks, “You sure you won’t miss San Francisco?”

  “I’ve been there my whole life. Time for a change, don’t you think?”

  “You can work remotely?”

  Lifting the paper cup of coffee, “Haven’t you been watching me do just that?” I take a sip.

  She pulls her knees to her chest, making me glance down to her white shorts as she asks, “Jennifer said it’s okay for you to move away?”

  “She was upset but after thinking about it, she called me back last night while you were telling your Mom we’re coming home today.”

  “What’d she say?”

  “She’s considering moving to Atlanta to stay near me. Ryder is going to college in New York, so the flight will be more tolerable for her. Two hours instead of five. Jen thinks she’s dated all the eligible men Marin County has to offer.”

  “That’s amazing!”

  “It is. Of course I told her I didn’t want her there.” A chunk of muffin hits my chest and I wipe it off chuckling. “Okay, I didn’t really say that.”

  Amused, Emma offers, “Maybe she can help at the…wait, what are you going to call your school?”

  “I haven’t decided yet.” I drink the last of the coffee and set the cup down. “Is that something that might interest you?”

  “Working at your school? I’ll help when you need me, but it’s not my calling. You’ll have other people who are supposed to be there. Professionals, like you told me about.”

  “Mmm,” I nod, eyeing the lip she’s biting. “Want me to suck on that for you?”

  Sucking it a little harder just to turn me on, she touches her breasts. “Quickie before the driver gets here?”

  My voice deepens with temptation. “No time.”

  A male ticket agent checks our IDs and drops our luggage on the moving belt. As they’re whisked away Emma informs him, eyes sparkling, “We didn’t have those when we arrived.”

  His bushy brows twitch. “Airline lost your luggage on the way in?”

  Her hands are resting on the counter, fingers wiggling. “We didn’t bring any.”

  Glancing to her naked ring finger, the agent’s eyes flick to me. I imagine how this must look so I offer, “She’s my niece.”

  Emma glances up to me, dismayed, but shifts in an instant to get in on the joke.

  She rises on her toes and licks my bottom lip. “My uncle’s been a very naughty boy, things I’ll never tell Momma.”

  The ticket agent starts typing faster.

  I don’t know how I manage to keep a straight face, but I do.

  Chapter 38

  EMMA

  Cuddling Kaya in my arms I lower us onto the plush easy-chair, part of a set that Ethan bought for this incredible baby room. He takes the other one and waits for me to answer his question.

  “No, I haven’t been over to see Dad yet. Has he talked to you?”

  “Talked? He only grunts now, ever since you crushed him. Especially after what Gabriel pulled at the BBQ.”

  I give him a look. “It wasn’t just Gabriel, Ethan. I’m surprised at you, taking sides.”

  Eric’s deep voice calls up. “Hey, I’m here! Where are you guys?”

  Ethan sticks his head out of the baby room and calls to him, “Upstairs! Kaya’s room. Bring beer!”

  I mutter, “As if,” while Ethan gives me a lopsided grin, ready to mess with our younger brother.

  Bounding footsteps get closer until Eric appears in the doorframe wearing shorts, sneakers, and a loose t-shirt, a drink canister in his famous grip. He nods hello and strolls past Ethan who eyes the cylinder.

  “What the hell is that?”

  “Juice.”

  “That’s not beer.”

  Eric takes the chair he vacated, long legs spread. “It’s spinach, kale, apples, carrots, ginger root, and pineapple juice, plus protein powder.”

  “Disgusting!”

  “When I take the Falcons to the Super Bowl we’ll see how disgusted you are. Eric, get me a ticket! Get me a ticket! Wha wha wha!”

  Ethan smirks, “I could buy your team. Remember that.”

  “Oh don’t worry, I’ll remember you’re a dick.”

  Covering Kaya’s ears I remind them, “Innocent baby ears!”

  My brothers both shut up, looking sheepish. Ethan grabs an ottoman and drags it over so that we’re sitting in a triangle, Eric to my left.

  When we were kids, Eric’s hair was lighter, and his eyes were more clearly green. Not pale like Hannah’s or her twin brothers, or her father. Darker green than that. Puberty shifted him to look more like Dad, which is Grandma Nance’s coloring. From a distance his eyes look brown but get closer and they’re hazel. When the sun hits them, the green shines through. For a while there, as a boy, we all thought he was going to take after Grandpa Michael. Not the case.

  Ethan however, didn’t change at all. His warm brown hair still lightens when he’s out in the sun a long time, since he keeps it pretty long on top. His eyes have always been brown and way too intelligent for their own good.

  Right now I wish they weren’t trained on me.

  “Emma is dating an older man.”

  Eric’s eyes flicker. “Why do you think I’m here?”

  Staring at them I groan, “I thought we were going spend time with Kaya together!”

  Both heads shake at the same time.

  “This is an intervention?”

  Both nod.

  Eric growls, “You and grandfather time!”

  “He’s not even fifteen years older than me!”

  “Geezer!”

  “Gah,” I groan, lifting Kaya and walking out of the room. “I can’t take this anymore.”

  Following, my brothers try another tactic. “What about Andy?” Ethan asks.

  Eric says, “Yeah, Hannah told us you guys were hooking up. He’s a nice guy.”

  I flick a look over my shoulder before I start down the double-wide staircase. “Eric, when did you ever meet Andy?”

  “At one of Tobias’s fights!”

  “Oh yeah,” I sigh. “Well, if you knew me at all you’d realize we probably wouldn’t have made it to the altar much less to forever, like Mom and Dad will. You really think I would’ve been happy with a nice guy?”

  Eric jumps the final stairs and lands in front of me. “Aha, so you admit Tanner’s not nice!”

  “He’s not nice, no,” I maneuver around him. Since I have our niece in my arms Eric doesn’t fight me. He can’t. His only choice is to move, as I inform him, “Tanner’s powerful, honorable, and wonderful. That’s what he is.”

  They follow me into the game room as Ethan demands to know, “What’s so wonderful about this guy that would make you hurt Dad?!”

  “Here, take your daughter so you’ll watch your volume.” I hand her over and as her wide eyes lock on her daddy with a big smile, Ethan melts and holds her against his chest. “You calm now? Good.” I throw my fists on my hips. “Give me some credit. Do you really think I’d cause this much chaos over just anybody? Tanner is not what you’d call nice, but to me he is kind and strong and protective and caring and powerful and fair. He’s a man. Andy was still a boy, and he let me lead all the time. And yes, maybe that’s how things started with us in Florida, but it never cha
nged. He was like a puppy dog doing whatever I told him to. I need more! Someone to watch over me, not me over him. Someone who helps me be stronger in who I am as a woman when I’m feeling weak and want to give up.”

  Ethan frowns and glances to Eric. “There’s a story she’s not telling us.”

  Eric crosses his arms. “Spill it.”

  “Over food,” I grumble, and we all go into Ethan’s immaculate kitchen. Normally I wouldn’t notice but for obvious reasons the pots drying on a spotless countertop make me think of our father. The three of us owe our tidiness to Dad, who cleans up after every meal so it’s always ready for the next feast. A pang twists. I stubbornly ignore it.

  Eric takes Kaya so Ethan can make sandwiches for us.

  “Don’t hold her like a football! She’s a baby!”

  “Sorry,” Eric mutters, resting Kaya on his chest. “Better?”

  Ethan rolls his eyes and pulls out all the fixings while they listen to what happened with Cora, what a wreck it made me, and how Tanner helped me remember who I was. “He wouldn’t let me bail. Every time I felt I couldn’t do it, or tears would come, he’d ask me about the house, and force me to get on with it. Then he made me show him another one. Until finally I was me again. And he didn’t ask for congratulations, bring attention to what he’d done.”

  They glance to each other.

  “And you guys, he wasn’t the one who pursued me. I purposefully drove him crazy so he would take down his walls and give us a shot. But he fought it, because Tanner didn’t want to hurt me.”

  Throwing ham on sourdough bread like he’s dealing out cards, Ethan glowers at me. “He knew he’d hurt you?!”

  “Because of Dad. He knew there’d be trouble and he didn’t want me in the middle!”

  “That worked out real well.” Eric grabs the block of sharp cheddar and cuts off a slice, chowing on it.

  “Give me some.” I hold out my hand and he sets a fresh slice on it. “Then I sent him home saying he had to choose, and he came back to me. And you know what, while he was gone I never stopped missing him. He was exactly the same. We hated being apart. And even though we weren’t talking I didn’t doubt my feelings. They just kept growing. You know what they say!”