“I don’t want to hurt you, Gray.” He took her hand and placed it on his swollen shaft through his pants. She gave it a light squeeze. He was tighter than usual, so big she couldn’t wait. “I want you inside me, please, Gray.”
“You never have to beg me, my love. I’ll give you exactly what you want and more.” He released her leg and stepped back. She watched as he undid his pants and lowered the zipper. Her mouth watered as his cock came into view. Long and thick, it strained toward her as if it couldn’t wait either. Grayson allowed his pants and boxers to fall down his thighs and grabbed the backs of hers. One amazing thrust, and he ground into her pussy. She screamed in delight and wrapped her arms around his neck.
“Yes, yes, Gray, all of it!”
They rocked together rough and hard, and Tonya couldn’t get enough. The sensations his drive caused felt like too much to handle, but she didn’t care. Don’t ever stop! He pounded deep, and his shaft expanded wider than she remembered it being, stretching her walls. Each time he drove inside, his pelvis banged against her clit, and the friction took her to higher heights. She arched her hips and pumped hard with him, giving as much as she got. Grayson squeezed her legs then moved to her hips. He held her still so she couldn’t move.
“Grayson,” she pleaded.
He drove in deeper, pounding so hard she thought she’d faint. An orgasm began to build in her core. Grayson flattened his body with hers and drove his fingers into her hair. The pins that held it up scattered, and he wound the locks in his hold. Tonya put her head back. She luxuriated in the savagery of his lovemaking. His lips touched her throat, and he nipped the skin.
All strength left her, and she clutched at the sleeves of his shirt. He moved his hips in a circular motion, and that did it. Her orgasm erupted, bringing another scream to her lips. She sagged on his chest, her forehead bumping his shoulder. Grayson pumped into her a few more times and then held himself still, buried to the hilt. Warm liquid flooded her channel, and he groaned in satisfaction.
After a few moments, he pulled out, and they both sighed. Grayson raised her off the dresser to carry her to the bed. He laid her down and removed her dress and shoes. She wore no bra. When he was done with her, he discarded his own clothing and climbed on the bed beside her.
He kissed her cheek. “I’m sorry, baby.”
“Why?”
“I was too rough. All I could think about was sealing the deal, as if making love to you tonight meant you and I were permanent. I let my insecurities get in the way, and I promise I’m going to work on that.”
Tonya grinned. “Wow, that was insecurities? Mm, I might need you insecure often.”
He frowned, and she chuckled.
“Kidding. You’re something else. You know that, Gray? I’ve never met a man like you, and I realize I always loved you in a way, from the beginning. I don’t know why I was too blind to see it then. I guarantee you I’m not now. I know I love you, and I know you’re the man for me. I don’t want another. I’ve got hang-ups too. You already know that, but if we work together, we can always overcome them. I don’t think I’ve ever been this happy.”
He stroked her cheek. “Neither have I. I’m with you all the way, Tonya.”
She fingered a spot on his shoulder, loving the feel of his skin as it glistened from his exertions. “So, what do you think? Wanna go again?”
His gaze glittered. “Without question.”
Grayson rolled her to her belly and began kissing his way down her back. Tonya scratched at the sheets and tried seeing him over her shoulder. “What are you doing, Gray?”
He didn’t answer, but reached down to slide his fingertips along her thighs. When he dipped between them and worked his way higher, she arched her back, pushing her ass in the air. He licked her cheek and then sucked the skin into his mouth. At the same time, his finger reached her wetness and threaded inside. She caught her breath. One finger became two and then three. Before she knew it, he had all four pumping in and out of her pussy. She reared back on his hand, moaning for more. He pulled out and began stroking her clit. Her teeth chattered, but then he flipped on top of her. She felt his cock hard against her ass. He rubbed it up and down the slit between her cheeks before thrusting lower and entering her pussy. Rather than pump right away, he pushed his shaft to the hilt and lay flat on her. They laced their fingers together, their bodies tight and still.
Tonya shut her eyes. Gray kissed and nibbled her lips. She sniffed.
“Why are you crying, my love?”
“I don’t know.”
“Am I hurting you?”
“No. It feels good. So good.”
“Then take it all. I promise you as long as you want.”
“Make love to me, Gray. Slow and easy.”
“Like this?” he asked, and pumped gently in and out of her from behind. Each time his pelvis met her ass, she couldn’t help moaning. Another orgasm was on the horizon, but she wanted to hold it. She wanted to feel him inside of her, possessing her, one with her, forever.
“Yes, don’t stop.” She arched higher, pushing her ass against him. He curved over her body, and she looked back, watching their bodies come together. The sight took her to the edge, but she held on. “Let’s do it all night long.”
“Mm, sounds like a plan.” He pulled his cock almost all the way out and then eased it back in. A shudder rocked her to the center of her being. “Get ready, baby, because I’m not climbing off this sexy body of yours until you can’t take anymore.”
“Oh, Gray, I’m yours!”
* * * *
Tonya gathered the last items she needed from Walgreen’s, paid for them, and left the store. She tossed the bag in the passenger seat of the car her husband had bought her and frowned. Her stomach growled. Sure, she could go home and grab something. They kept the refrigerator stocked, but right about now, she craved a cheeseburger. No, fries. Lawd, if I gain any more weight!
The drive-thru at McDonald’s was packed, so she pulled into a parking spot and walked into the restaurant. A wonderful scent of French fries wafted over her, and she breathed it in. Before she could take two steps, a gasp to her right drew her attention. She glanced over and stopped cold.
“Letreece!”
Her ex-friend sneered, dressed in, of all things, the uniform of a McDonald’s worker. Tonya took her time surveying the woman from head to toe and lingered on the swollen belly. Letreece laid a hand over her stomach as if she thought it would hide the pregnancy.
“What are you doing here?” Letreece snapped. “I thought you would have gone back to Los Angeles by now.”
Tonya held up a hand and wiggled her fingers to show off the diamond ring and wedding band. “Oh, that’s right, you disappeared before I could confront you about the crap you pulled pretending you were me to ruin my relationship with Roman.”
“Looks like you got him anyway.”
“No, bitch,” Tonya corrected her. “I married Grayson, and we’re very happy. But don’t get your hopes up. Roman and Abby are in counseling working on their marriage.”
Letreece glared. She gripped the broom she’d been pushing when Tonya walked in. “Why should I care about Roman or any of you? You think you’re better than me? Well, my baby daddy is a big shot too. He’s got money, and he treats me right. We’re getting married.”
Tonya rolled her eyes. “Good for you.”
She started to walk away when a man with his pants halfway to his knees but held up by a belt approached. “Letreece! Where’s my food, girl? I told you I gotta get to work. I can’t lose another job with you ‘bout to drop my baby. Now, come on. I ain’t got all day.”
Letreece’s gaze met Tonya’s, and Tonya could see her hoping the exchange had somehow not been overheard. Tonya flicked an eyebrow skyward and snorted. “Have a nice life, Letreece. I’m sure it will be exactly what you deserve.”
She left the woman fuming, bought her food, and left the restaurant. By the time, she got home, she had eaten most of the fries a
nd rolled the bag into a ball. The garage door opened before she could press the button inside her car, and she spotted her husband. As usual, a flutter of excitement came over her, but she bit her lip with nerves. He wouldn’t miss the smell of the fries or the evidence of the bag.
She parked and stepped out of the car. “Hey, baby, what are you doing home?”
He tugged her close and kissed her lips. “I have a couple of hours. Besides, you said you were getting the test. I couldn’t wait.”
“I told you it’s better to get the first pee in the morning. I already missed that.”
He opened her hand and relieved her of the McDonald’s bag. “You also said if you missed your first period already, that isn’t necessary.”
“Goodness, spare me a man who listens to everything I say.”
He gave her butt a gentle spank. “Stop trying to hide from me.”
“I’m not hiding.”
“You’re having cravings, Tonya.”
“I was hungry.”
“You told me you hate fast food.”
She stuck her tongue out at him and headed into the house. Really, she wasn’t mad. They were still in their honeymoon stage, and Grayson’s attentiveness thrilled her to her toes. She loved how he listened to her and gave her what she wanted. Despite the wonder that was her husband, she found herself hiding because she was afraid if he saw every flaw, he wouldn’t want her. Grayson never stopped proving his love just by being himself, and she loved him more and more every day.
They headed into the bathroom, and she tore open the pregnancy test. Letreece couldn’t be blessed with a baby and not her. Not after all that woman had done to try to destroy her life. Grayson and Tonya had wanted to have a baby right away, and they’d been trying for six months. Today was the day they would know, and this was the first time she had many of the symptoms pointing to pregnancy.
She read the directions and went through the motions. Moments later, they stood together waiting. Grayson enfolded her in his embrace from behind, and she held onto his hand, her breath coming in short bursts.
“If it—”
“Shh,” he said gently. “This is it, baby. I know it.”
“One line, not pregnant,” she told him. “Two lines, pregnant.”
He nodded. His hold tightened.
One line came into view, and Tonya’s heart sank. She dropped her chin to her chest. “No.”
Grayson jiggled her. “Look closer, baby.” His voice shook, and she broke away from him to snatch up the little stick. Two clear pink lines appeared in the window. She screamed and jumped up and down.
“Gray, we’re pregnant! We’re pregnant!”
Her husband let out a whoop of excitement and scooped her up in his arms. “Thank you, baby. Thank you so much!”
She laughed, wrapping her arms around his neck. “Silly, you had something to do with it.”
He captured her lips in a searing kiss that left her weak, and she was glad he held her. “You’re perfect.”
“You are,” she countered. “I wish Aunt Linn could be here to see our baby, but I know she’s watching over us from heaven.”
Grayson agreed. “I’m satisfied that she saw us married. She believed we would be okay, and she even came around in the end to accepting Abby. Especially when she started making a real effort to work things out with Roman.”
“I’m glad for them, and ecstatic for us!”
They stared at the stick some more, Tonya unable to wipe the grin off her face. Soon they would have to shop for baby things and set up the nursery. A sweet little baby she’d made with Grayson would be born in about seven and a half months by her calculations. Their lives would change, but it would be so much better than the wonder it already was.
What she had gone through in the past had been hard and painful, but she discovered one day as Grayson’s wife more than made up for it. What would life as the mother of his child be like? She looked forward to seeing it and loving her new family. The future spread out before her, and she would never be alone again.
The End
Time After Time
Dahlia Rose
Chapter One
The Friday night crowd was in rare form at the Lucky Sixes Bar in Tombstone, Arizona. Stasia Copeland blew back a tendril of her straight hair that stuck to the side of her damp face. The air conditioning needed to be bumped up and Al was probably in the back watching TV instead of doing inventory or, more importantly, fixing the fucking air conditioner. God, she couldn’t wait until the end of the night. She’d go back to her apartment and turn the A/C all the way up to snowflakes and then walk around in her panties and bra until her nipples were so hard they could cut diamonds. Stasia grinned at her inner thought while she made the four boilermakers that had been ordered.
“Hey, sweet cheeks, hurry up with those drinks,” the leader of the pack of assholes yelled. “You’re losing tips unless you want to ride something later to gain them back.”
His friends guffawed at the joke and Stasia pasted a smile on her face. She took the drinks over and set them on the bar.
“Here you go, boys,” she said.
“What about my other offer?” Big and dumb leaned over the bar like he thought he could charm her with alcohol breath and the stench of sweat.
Stasia leaned forward and made her voice loud enough so everyone in the bar could hear her. “I thought we tried that last night and we found out that you have no bang for your buck. No woman can work with a baby carrot.”
His friends laughed and his face turned red. “Fuck you. You’re lucky I don’t come over this bar and show you for real.”
Stasia stepped back and got into her fighting stance. You couldn’t work late nights at a bar and not know how to defend yourself.
She called him forward. “Come over the bar if you feel lucky. When I’m finished kicking your ass, I will tap dance on your balls until you’re singing soprano.”
He seemed to contemplate what she had just said and then turned away without a word. Yeah, that’s what I thought. She turned away angrily and stopped dead in her tracks. A face, one that she thought she’d never see again in her lifetime, was waiting at the end of the bar. Stasia felt like she was moving in slow motion as she walked over. Bryce McDowell. She’d know his face anywhere. Gone were his boyish good looks; he’d morphed into a ruggedly handsome man. Those icy blue eyes seemed to bore into hers the same way they did when they were kids. Well, when she was a kid and he was heading off to college. But her high school crush on him faded when he started treating her as everyone else did. Seeing him again caused the need to hit her in a wave that almost faltered her steps. Fuck that, she thought angrily and went to him pokerfaced.
“What can I get you?”
“Stasia, you look well.” Bryce’s voice was like the smoothest top shelf whiskey in the bar.
“Again, what can I get you?” she snapped. “Order something or get out.”
“Jack Daniel’s over ice,” he said. She turned to get his drink. “I need your help, Stace.”
That fucking nickname! Stasia slammed the full glass on the table in front of him. “Really? I thought I was trash in the worst form, not good enough to live in Caldwell County. Why would the uppity, high brow McDowells need my help?”
“Kim is missing,” Bryce snapped. “After all the trouble you got her into, you can at least repay the favor by helping me find her.”
Stasia laughed as she poured herself a shot of Patrón. She drank it back without a wince and slammed the glass against the wooden bar.
“I see I’m still getting blamed for Wild Kim. And, no, I didn’t give her that name so don’t glare at me,” Stasia said with a cruel grin. She wanted him to hurt, just like she hurt for twelve years even though hearing Kim was missing sent a sliver of fear through her heart. Was she still living the nightmare from her childhood and it made her run? Still, Bryce being there made Stasia too angry not to strike out. After all these years he was asking her for help. “Every man
in Caldwell that had a flatbed truck can tell you that for themselves. Wait, she liked it bareback in the grass or any alley would do. Why the fuck would I help you or anyone belonging to you, Bryce McDowell? Go back to Caldwell and do your own dirty work. I don’t owe you or anyone anything.”
“You’ve gotten hard, Stace,” Bryce said.
“Don’t call me that. And how would you know, Bryce?” Stasia sneered and took another shot. “I’m a product of my upbringing and the people in that environment and you’re part of that. Go home, Bryce, you’ll find no help here.”
“You have outstanding warrants that I can arrest you for.” Bryce placed his badge on the table. “You have an attempted murder and robbery charges against you. They don’t go away.”
“That was your damn sister and Dani. You know that.” Stasia leaned close until they were almost nose-to-nose and held out her hand. “Put the cuffs on then. I was the youngest and they had learned their craft really well by that time. Well enough to know how to blame it on the sixteen year old.”
“Well, then, help me find Kim and she can tell me the truth, and I have the power to make your record disappear.” Bryce took a swig of his drink.
Stasia drawled, “Well, well, the high and mighty Bryce willing to commit a crime for his family? I’m not surprised.”
“I do what I must. So what will it be?” he asked.
“No, thanks, I like my life.” Stasia spread her hands wide. “This bar, these guys, they are my family. Trash like me stay with our own, right, boys?”
The whole bar hooted and she laughed, even though inside her heart was breaking. She thought the memories would fade and she had let it all go, but seeing Bryce made her feel like that teen again on a Greyhound bus not knowing where she’d go or how she’d survive.
“You know I can turn you into the cops here,” Bryce said coldly.
“Go ahead. Why not? It’s just so easy to restart your life over and over again.” Stasia raised one eyebrow of disdain in his direction. “I learned well how to take care of myself. Having no family and no one who cares can do that to a person. But, anyway, by the time you find where I live I’d be gone and your sister would still be a slut who likes to push daddy’s money up her nose to feel something—anything. You want to know what she said, Bryce? That living in the McDowell house was like living in a sterile prison. Your father made her skin crawl and you were too busy being the small town hotshot to notice. Your mother closed her eyes to it. I hope she did run, so she could feel something other than fear and live without the drugs. If she got away from all of you then she’s free.” She took a deep breath. “Now get out. The drink is free for old times’ sake.”
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