by Ella Goode
“Come on. Let’s go,” I say in as nice of a way as possible.
“Stop ordering me around. Like I said, I’m not on the clock right now. My hours are from 10 to 4 and anything that goes on the rest of my day are my choices,” Summer snaps.
Someone laughs, which causes Summer to whip around in the booth and glare in the offender’s direction until the laughter morphs into a cough. Her defense confuses me. Does she hate me or not? “Anyway,” she continues, “since it’s after hours, I’ll eat ice cream where I want, when I want, with whom I want.”
With whom? Like hell. I drag the table out from between the two bench seats. Summer releases a yelp and raises her arms out of the way. The chief lunges toward me while Colby dances toward the door.
“Dammit,” the chief curses as I throw Summer over my shoulder. There are other shouts and maybe even cries of dismay as I stride through the restaurant.
Summer’s pounding my back and telling me to put her down.
“Get the door, Colb,” I order.
“Don’t you touch the handle,” yells Summer.
“He has ice cream at home,” the boy replies, trying to cajole his sister into compliance.
“I don’t care if he has a whole creamery there. I want down.” She gives her legs a kick and narrowly misses my nuts. In the end, Colby doesn’t have to choose which of us to listen to because Colten appears in the threshold.
“You,” he sneers. “Since when are you brave enough to show your face in town?”
“Don’t worry. I’m leaving.” I jerk my head to let Colby know to go on ahead. He steps around the realtor but lingers, not wanting to leave without his sister and me.
“Good. We don’t need you ruining the appetite of everyone here.”
Summer gasps. “What’d you say?” She tries to crane her head around my back to see who is talking.
“Oh my God, Summer. I didn’t realize that was you. Your butt looks different from here. Bigger—“ I growl menacingly. Colten clears his throat. “I mean, it looks good. Really g-good,” Colten stammers.
“You’re a jerk,” Colby says and kicks Colten in the shin.
“Why, you little shit.” The man starts after the boy. I grab him by the collar, and Summer seizes the opportunity to slide off my shoulder. Still holding on to Colten, I try to corral my woman, but she evades me. To my surprise, instead of heading back into the restaurant and seeking shelter behind the chief, Summer kicks Colten’s other shin. He’s lucky I’m hanging on to this collar because he buckles under the blow.
“My ass is just the right size,” she hisses at him.
“He won’t be looking at it again anyway.” I toss the man aside, not caring that he stumbles and falls off the side of the steps into some bushes.
“Help me, you asshole,” he cries.
I ignore him. “I have ice cream at home,” I repeat to Summer. “And it’s free.”
She puts her hands on her hips. “Then what was that crack about paying for all my services before?”
I rub the top of my head roughly. “I don’t know. I’m bad at words.”
Colby tugs at my shirt. “Say you love her. She’ll stay if you say that.”
Summer turns beet red. “Hush up,” she says to her brother. “Fine. Let’s just go home and eat ice cream. It’s not like I can go back into the diner now anyway. I don’t think I can ever show my face there again.”
“How come?” Colby asks.
I want to know, too.
“Because, honey, the whole thing with him”—she throws a hand toward Colten, who is still struggling to climb out of the bushes—“and him”—the other hand is pointed at my chest—“is going to feed the gossips longer than any meal that Len can whip up.”
“He was like a knight defending your honor!” Colby declares. “Ain’t that right, Kale?”
I nod vigorously.
“Oh, Colby, honey, you’re a sweetheart.”
“No, I’m not,” he scowls and ducks out of the way of her comforting hand.
“Summer actually defended my honor,” I remind the boy. She stood up for me. I don’t remember anyone doing that except Tina, and she’s bound to do so since we’re blood. Maybe she has some warm feelings for me. She likes being in my bed and doesn’t mind my scars. She’s willing to stand up for me in front of the townspeople. That might not be love, but it’s enough for me. Hell, it’s the whole world to me. I think it’s time to go home and have that ice cream. I ruffle the top of Colby’s hair.
“You’re a solid defender,” I tell him. “And you’re right. I was defending Summer’s honor.”
“In what way?”
“In every way a man can defend the honor of the woman he loves.”
A smile splits Colby’s face in half while Summer’s jaw drops. I press my lips together and hustle the stunned Summer and the gleeful Colby into my truck so that I can take my family home.
26
Summer
The car ride home is fairly silent. I lick my dry lips, knowing I should say something but not sure if I should do it in front of Colby. He said he loves me. Those words keep going through my mind. I‘m starting to think the reason he made those comments earlier is because he was scared.
I know he’d been on edge since the chief tried to show up the other day. His mood seemed to shift after that. Then he all but lost it when I left the house. I was kind of hoping he would follow us. He was scared I was going to leave him, so being a stupid man, he panicked and pushed me away first.
I wish I could stay mad at him, but I know that it’s taken him a lot to open up. I need to remember that while Kale is older than me, he’s still new to this whole dating thing too. Hell, he’s new to being around people and socializing on a regular basis. The rest of my anger melts away when I think about how many years he’s spent here all alone. Thinking that no one would ever love him.
“So does this mean we get to live in the castle forever if you guys are in love? Wait, you're supposed to get married, right? I don’t want to wear a suit. Do I have to wear a suit, Kale?”
“You don’t have to wear a suit if you don’t want to.”
I jerk my head up to look at Kale.
“Cool.”
Kale gives me a shrug.
“You’re supposed to ask a girl to marry you. Not just assume they’re going to,” I huff.
“Don’t do it, Kale. She might say no. Just do what you did at the diner.”
“You two are impossible.” I bite my lip to keep from smiling. It’s adorable how much they are getting along. I love that Colby has a male figure to look up to. And knowing that Kale will provide a safe and happy home for Colby is all I can ask for.
“But you love us,” Colby says from the backseat. Kale glances over at me. I do love them.
“We’re home.” Kale pulls up to the front of the house. Every time he says home my stomach gets a flutter inside it. “Let me.” He gets out of the car, coming around the other side and opening the door for me before taking my hand.
“Thanks.” Colby gets out too, running to the door and punching in the code for it to open. “I remember not too long ago you weren’t even going to let me in this door.” His hand that’s holding mine tightens. “Now you won't let me leave.” This time I do smile at him.
“You had your chance to run then. Too late now.” I laugh as he pulls me inside, slamming the door shut behind us.
“I’ll get the ice cream.” Colby takes off running leaving us alone for the first time since our fight earlier.
“I was an asshole.” Kale stops walking. I turn to face him. “I saw you before you even stepped foot on my doorstep.” He lifts his hand, cupping my jaw as his finger brushes against my hand. I lean into his touch. “I drove down to the store where you were working and I watched you. You were smiling and laughing. Lighting up the entire room only the way you can. You looked so fucking beautiful that it was hard to look away from you. Then I got pissed.”
“Why?” I step closer t
o him, wanting to touch him. Needing him to tell me what got him so upset. I place my hands on his chest. He closes his eyes for a moment.
“I wanted you for myself, but I didn't think I could have you.”
“So you decided to be a jerk instead?”
“I thought you would quit. Then I started getting worried that you really would quit.” He must have been driving himself crazy. It actually makes sense. He would do something jerkish and then it would be followed with him moving us to a better part of the house. “I also thought if I let you in I might not be able to let you go. My life had been so dark for so long that once I got a glimpse of your light, I knew I’d never be able to live without it again.”
I run my hands up his chest. “I kinda like that you want to keep me. Keep us.” It is nice. Kale was willing to fight to get us back. As annoyed as I’ve been at him, it means the world to me.
“That’s good because you’re staying. You’re my family now.”
“Because you love me?”
“Yeah, I love you.”
I pull him down toward me as I rise to my tiptoes, meeting him halfway. “I love you too, Kale. All of you. Even when you’re being grumpy. It’s adorable.”
“Adorable?”
“Kiss me already.” His mouth comes down onto mine as he pulls me tighter into him. I moan into his mouth.
“You guys made up.”
Kale grunts but releases me from the kiss. Colby is standing there with a gallon of ice cream. A loud bang has us all turning toward the front door.
“What the hell now?” Kale drops his arms from around me and stomps over to the door.
“See. Adorable.” He’s like a bear with a thorn in his paw.
“Summer.” Chief Dane’s voice sounds from outside. I think Kale forgot to shut the front gate. He jerks open the door.
“You don’t have a warrant.”
“But you did assault Colten.”
“He had it coming. He was talking about my woman's ass. You would have too if he said something about—"
“I’m going to stop you right there,” Dane half growls, sounding a lot like Kale. I walk over to the door.
“See. Then you get where I’m coming from.” Kale steps back and starts to close the door. Dane’s hand comes out, stopping it. I duck under Kale’s arm to stand in front of him. He lets go of the door to wrap his arm around my waist and pull me flush against him. It’s then I see it isn't just Chief Dane that came along. A handful of people from the diner are here too. This town loves gossip.
“I’m fine.”
Dane looks me over while Khloe is full-on smiling.
“I’m guessing you’re not going to need that house?” she asks.
“No,” Kale answers for me his response clipped and to the point.
“Isn't falling in love supposed to make you happy? He’s still an ass,” Len, the owner of the diner asks, looking at his wife Candice.
“I’m happy,” Kale barks. I bite my lip to keep from laughing. Dane’s lips twitch. His wife wraps herself around his arm and leans into him.
“As you can see, I’m fine. It was nice of you all to come and try to save me.”
“We kinda came to check out the pool,” Connie says. A few others nod in agreement.
“Maybe in a few weeks Kale and I will invite everyone over for a barbecue,” I offer. I know this town is full of good people. Kale should be a part of it too. We’ll have to be involved with Colby going to school and one day having kids of our own. Our lack of protection is making me think that will be sooner rather than later. Kale needs to know that he doesn't need to shut himself away all the time.
“No,” Kale says. He pulls me back inside. “They can come back for the wedding,” he says before slamming the door in everyone's face.
I put my hands on my hips. “You still haven't asked me.”
Colby stands there watching us with a giant smile on his face.
“I have it on good authority that I shouldn’t ask you. I think I’ll follow it. It was solid advice.” Before I can respond I’m once again back over his shoulder. “Ice cream time.” He carries me into the kitchen, setting me down on the island. He drops a kiss on me before he helps Colby dish out the ice cream before grabbing the toppings to add to them.
I watch both of them, feeling warm inside and the happiest I have been in a long time. Kale is so sweet, and most of the world will never know that. I don’t think he cares. He only cares what the people in this room think, and I’m okay with that. Because Kale Schulz is my beast inside the castle and he just gave Colby and me our happily ever after.
27
Kale
The light’s bleeding through the gap in the curtains as the sun makes its slow climb into the sky. Summer gives me a sleepy smile as I run my thumb over her pussy, lightly touching the swollen lips and dipping shallowly into her tight channel. “You sore, baby?”
I worked her over good last night. It wasn’t multiple sessions, but one really long one that had my balls aching in the best way possible.
She shakes her head. “No, but go easy on me.”
I stroke her soft legs, running my fingers along the insides of her thighs until they meet at the crease of her pussy. She’s wet already.
“Wish you could see how pretty your pussy is--pink and juicy.” I push both my index fingers inside, dragging the tips along the sensitive front walls to find the small patch of super sensitive skin that makes her toes curl. When I hit it, she releases a low, breathy groan.
“There, baby?”
“Yeah, there.” Her words are slurry. She’s not quite awake, but definitely too aroused to be asleep.
Sometimes I get choked up thinking about how lucky I am to have this beautiful woman in my bed every night. I stroke her slowly, enjoying the tight clutch of her cunt around my fingers. Soon my cock will be inside of the hot sheath, and my balls tighten in anticipation. She stretches, and the sheet draped across her torso slips down to expose her bouncing tits. I can’t refuse the obvious invitation and lever myself forward to capture one of her nipples in my mouth, rolling the tip in my mouth until it’s stiff and pointed. Her hand comes to curve around the back of my head.
“Screw coffee. This is the best way to wake up.” She laughs a little breathlessly.
I move over to the other nipple and suck until the nib is diamond hard like my aching cock.
“Ready, baby?”
She gives me a soft nod. I take myself in hand and rub the cockhead over her slit, wetting the tip with her cum. The pink inner petals of her cunt part as I slide forward. She exhales slowly as I breach her core. The wet hot suction of her pussy lights the fuse on my control, and I nearly spend before I can drive home.
“You’re tight,” I say through gritted teeth. I’ve fucked Summer a thousand times, but each time I thrust inside of her, it feels new—like she’s never had a man before. No man before me, that’s for sure, and no man after. I’d burn him in my furnace if there was someone who dared lay a hand on her.
A soft palm comes up to cup my cheek. “What’s the fierce expression on your face for?”
I turn my lips into her hand and nuzzle her. “Just thinking about how I’d torch any man who’d touch you.”
She lets out a surprised laugh. “Really? For just touching me?”
I stare down at her, my dark eyes capturing her light ones. “For even thinking about touching you.” I drive forward until the full length of my cock is sheathed. Her eyes widen and her hands fly up to catch my shoulders. “You”—thrust—"belong”—thrust—"to me.” I pound her hard and fast. I use my body to open her wider, spreading her legs until she has no choice but to take everything I have to give her.
I dip my head to take her mouth, stroking her tongue with the same rhythm as my cock takes her cunt. She moans into my mouth, the sound vibrating her frame. Her pointed tits scrape against my chest and her fingers make deep scores in my shoulders.
I keep at it until I feel like I’m about t
o burst, and then flip over onto my back. “You take me,” I order.
A wicked grin spreads across her face. “Can you handle it?”
“Bring it.”
She rises on her knees until I almost pop out, only to slam back down. I bite my lower lip hard enough to draw blood as I fight off the orgasm that’s ready to explode. Sweat beads on my forehead. Staying still and being steady while watching my wife’s smoking hot self wiggle and sway as she rides my cock takes more self-control than I thought I had, but I keep that ember banked because I want to enjoy this moment for as long as I can. This is a fucking miracle. I have no business being loved by a woman as gorgeous and kind and sexy as Summer. I have no right living this perfect life with her by my side, Colby down the hall, and my sculptures sitting in the best museums in the world.
I’ve lived my life as a beast, scarred and angry and, yeah, even fearful that someone might decide I shouldn’t be breathing the same air as them. If Summer hadn’t come along, maybe I would’ve woken up with the mob at my gate and not just the chief checking on Summer’s well-being. Or maybe I would’ve turned into a true monster as I holed up in my castle, shunning all outsiders.
None of that happened. Instead, I’m lying on my back with the best damn orgasm sitting at the base of my spine, ready to rocket down my cock as soon as my beautiful as fuck wife finds her own release. Her tits are bouncing, and her head is thrown back. The long, erotic column of her neck is exposed. I grip her small waist and hold her as I penetrate her deeply, thrusting upward until I swear I can feel her womb.
“We’re making a baby today,” I tell her. “A baby sister for Colby.”
“Yes. Put your baby inside of me,” Summer says. “Fill me up.”
Her words ignite my fuse. Want and need and desire squeeze the air out of my lungs. I’m dizzy with lust. Desperate and barely able to speak, I grit out, “Come for me then. Come for me now.”
She lets out a gasp and her heated cream smothers my cock. I shout as my own release barrels through my shaft and shoots into her heated pussy. Cum jets into her cunt, filling her up just as she commanded. Her tense body grows lax as she slumps onto my chest.