NIX (Daring the Kane Brothers)

by Kelly Gendron

  I don’t know if it was the slight rasp beneath his words or of it was from the Clark Kent glass removal maneuver, but something gets my fingers working on my tee shirt. I drop it to the ground. My breasts lift in wait of his touch.

  “Everything, Payton.” He pushes a hand into the front pocket of his jeans as if prepared to wait all day if needed. Of course, that’s not the case.

  I’ve dreamed about this day, even missing red light changes and my turn in line at the bank daydreaming about Nickel Kane. I knew early on this was going to be a problem, and I tried to ignore the feelings I had for him, sexual and the betraying ones, but there was no stopping it.

  I slip my fingers into my shorts and slide them down past my thighs. Intent and silent, he watches me step out of them and push them to the side.

  “Thank you.” The desire in his eyes captures any further hesitation I may be harboring, quickly relinquishing it, leaving nothing else in the room but him and me.

  “You’re welcome.” Confidence heightening, I lift my chin, then move back to the bed. As smoothly as possible, I position myself on top of my plush comforter. “Your turn?”

  A sexy smile tugs on his lips as he walks over to the end of the bed. He pulls my legs apart and kneels between them. He’s a perfect fit. “Lift your legs.” Eager, willing, and dripping, I obey the master before me. He places his hands on my thighs and starts to push me open. He glances down. “So wet.” He bites his bottom lip. “Oh, yeah.” He continues to spread me open wider. “Look at you.” Firm hands squeeze my legs, each time adding more pressure, causing my pussy to pulsate harder. “You’re so pink and ready. It’s making me fucking hard.” His eyes flash to mine, and just when I think my legs can’t spread any farther, he forces them wider.

  “Oh, God! Touch me.” Exposed and aching for attention, I arch my back. “I’m ready,” I say in a needy voice I barely comprehend. I try to push my legs together, but his strong hold keeps them apart.

  “I like you like this. You feel that?” He adds more pressure to my shaking thighs. “Your pussy is wide open for me.”

  “Yes!” The restraint, the confined state, the power, and the control he has over my helpless body … I can’t explain it, but it’s got me so hot for him.

  “I know what you want.”

  “Then give it to me!” I lift my hips, attempting to get closer to him.

  He smiles down at me as if he’s happy with himself for torturing me. “I’m going to move my hands.” He grips my thighs hard. “But when I do, you must keep your legs just like they are. I mean it. You try to press them together, and I’ll stop. Do you understand?”

  “Yes. Yes! I understand! Just do it, do something!” I need him inside me.

  He chuckles at my aggravation, which only irritates me more. “Okay, here we go.” His hands move to the center of me.

  “Oh my God!” The son of a bitch manages to spread me open even more with a single finger. Keeping one of my swollen lips pulled to the side, he pushes his other finger deep inside me. My legs instantly pull together.

  “What did I say?” He nudges my thigh with his elbow. “That’s the only chance you’re getting. Do it again, and I stop.”

  “Just fuck me!” What is he doing? My hips begin to move with his probing finger. “Oh, Nix.” I exhale one long, shaky breath. “That feels … oh, yeah.” His lips hit my fat, swollen, super-sensitive clitoris, and my hips jump up. I press my pussy into his face. “Oh, no!”

  After a minute of tantalizing my clit, he leans back and looks up at me. “Oh, yeah. That’s it, sweetheart. Now that you’ve got what you want.” He pulls me wider apart and fingers me harder. “Give it to me. Come for me.” He gathers my clit back into his mouth and begins to nibble gently on it.

  I’m done. I grip the sheets and scream!

  I’m not sure how long the blinding, overpowering, and erotic sensation lasted, but when it was done, when I was finally allowed to bring my trembling legs back together, Nix bends forward and kisses me through the last few moans of my orgasm.

  “Thank you.” He drops a kiss on my cheek, then my forehead, finishing upon my quivering lips.

  “Thank you.” I smile. “That was amazing.”

  “Sweetheart, that was just a little sampling of what is yet to come but …” He brushes the strands of hairs from my forehead. “Unfortunately, I have to go.”

  “What?” No! He can’t leave!

  “Yeah. I gotta get Becca early.”

  “Oh.” How can you argue with a man who’s putting his child first?

  “But I want to see you again. Soon.” His finger draws a line down from my forehead to my lips. “How does Tuesday sound? Dinner at my house?”

  “That sounds great.” Hope quickly replaces my disappointment as he gets up from the bed.

  He concentrates on buttoning his flannel. “Becca will be there as well, of course, single dad and all.” He looks down at me. “Is that cool?”

  “Will she be okay with it?”

  “She likes you, so yeah.” He bends down and kisses me.

  I know it’s a goodbye kiss, and my heart sinks a little into my belly, but what did I expect to happen? He’d spend the night? We’d have breakfast and spend the next day in bed together? He has responsibilities. He has a six-year-old who depends on him.

  I palm the sides of his face and stare into his green eyes. “Alright, I’ll see you Tuesday.”

  CHAPTER SIXTEEN

  “Nix!” Ma slaps me on the hand. “Those are for Becca’s class tomorrow.”

  “They’re not going to miss a cookie, Ma.” I pop one of her famous snickerdoodles into my mouth. “Where is my kid, anyway?” I glance around the empty kitchen.

  “Your father has her out in the garage, helping him with something. They’ll be in soon.” She picks up the plate of cookies and starts to stack them in a container. “Have you talked to Stone lately?”

  “No, what’s up with him? Steele called asking if I’ve talked to him recently too. Is he okay? Or … is he, ah …” I’m not sure why, but we all try to keep Ma from the fact that Stone is an addict. Although she’s fully aware of it. In fact, she’s the one who dropped his ass off at Uncle Rowdy’s a few years back for his last intervention. I hope he’s not in need of another because the last one took a toll on him and us. I wasn’t sure the five of us were going to withstand Stone’s battle, but we did, and our brotherly bond came out stronger for it.

  Strategically placing each cookie into the same plastic container I think she might’ve used for my cookies when I was in school, Ma keeps her eyes lowered. “Last time I saw him, he seemed okay. Crash talked to him today, said Stone’s coming to town in a few weeks. He asked to stay with him. Crash said yes, of course, but he and Maggie will be gone. They’re going to visit her sister for a week or two. Now that he has Jaggs who can manage his shop, Crash can finally take a vacation. I’m glad he’s getting away. That Maggie is so good for him.”

  “Yeah, I always liked her.”

  Ma smiles. “I’m sure everything is fine with Stone, but while he’s in town, I want you and Token to check on him a few times, okay?”

  I set my hand on her shoulder. “Sure, Ma. No problem. Glad to hear he’s coming home. I’m sure he’s okay.”

  “Yes, just like all my boys. I want you all to be healthy and happy.” She looks up at me with a glint of mischief in her eye.

  I glance at the door, wishing Becca would show up soon. “What about Crash? Can you believe he’s—”

  “Nice try!” She pokes me in the chest. “Don’t deflect, Nickel. Your brother is managing with what’s going on in his life. I want to talk about you and this girl. Payton? Is that her name?”

  “Yeah.” I slump back against the counter. There’s no fighting Ma when she gets that look in her eyes.

  “Becca really seems to like her.”

  “Yeah.” I rub my chin, recapping the night before. Hell, how did I walk away from her beautiful naked body last night? “She’s coming
over Tuesday for dinner. Becca will be there.”

  Ma’s eyebrows lift as she snaps the cookie container closed. “It’s that serious?”

  “I want it to be. I think,” I add for good measure.

  “Well, you better know for sure. You can’t go introducing Becca to a woman you’re not sure about. She’s a child. She’s—”

  “Ma.” I touch her shoulder again. “It’s going to be fine.”

  “It better be.” She sighs. “I know it’s been hard for you since Lexi left.”

  “We manage.”

  “You do more than manage. You’re a great dad. I couldn’t be more proud of you, and I’m glad you’re thinking about dating again and not doing that other stuff.” She waves a hand in the air. “Becca will eventually hear about all the sleeping around you’ve been doing—”

  “Ma, stop!” Ears burning with embarrassment, I shake my head.

  “What? You don’t think I hear what my boys are doing? I was in the grocery store a few weeks ago and overheard two woman talking about you, and believe me, it’s hard enough to hear how good your son is in bed by one woman, let alone two, who are talking about it like it’s the best new place to go work out.”

  “Ma!” My voice cracks.

  “Oh, stop it. I may be old, but I’m not stupid. I understand you have needs, but you really need to get them from one woman at a time. Think about Becca.”

  “I am.” I hate these talks.

  “But that doesn’t mean to settle down with the first woman you have feelings for either. So back to this Payton? What about her? Is she the real thing?”

  “It’s still early. I’ve only known her for a few weeks, but there’s something about her. I can’t stop thinking about her, and Ma, when she smiles, everything disappears. It’s weird. I thought what me and Lexi had was real, but after raising Becca, I realize there’s more to life than what you feel for your first girlfriend. Like you and Dad, now that I’m older, I get it. You guys raised six kids together, and after everything we put you through, you two made it out okay, and you’re still crazy about each other. There’s so much more to the meaning of love than your first crush. I see that now. And when I look at Payton, I don’t know …” I scratch my head.

  “Oh, honey.” Ma’s eyes glisten as she wraps her arms around me. “You’re finally ready for a relationship, and whoever she ends up being, she’s going to be one lucky girl to have you and Becca in her life.” Ma pulls back, wiping a tear from her eye. “I love ya, kiddo.” She pats my cheek. Yeah, that’s where I get the term of endearment my daughter loves to hear me yell out at her when I drop her off at school.

  “Love you too, Ma.”

  “But there was a little more to you and Lexi than a crush.” She picks up the cookies. “You two had a child together.”

  “Yeah, and she walked out on us. I’ll never forgive her for it.”

  “Now, don’t say things like that. She’s Becca’s mother. You don’t know why she left. What reason she had.” She hands me the cookies.

  “I don’t care.” I take the container. “I’ll never forgive her.”

  “I didn’t raise you like that.” She sets her hands on her hips with a look of disappointment on her face.

  Fuck, it gets me every time. I grimace, feeling like an ass. “I know, Ma.” I feel bad for lying, but it’s the truth. There’s no room for forgiveness anywhere in me for that selfish bitch. I hate the woman for leaving our child. She ditched her one-year-old baby when she needed her most. What kind of person does that? What reason would they have? I don’t think there could ever be one. And now she’s back!

  I wished she’d just go away, but she keeps taunting me. Hell, I had to stop over at Crash’s yesterday ’cause she texted a message to me on his cell. I forgot I used it to reach out to her in the dark web a few weeks back. Worked too. Not soon after, she showed up at my house.

  Bitch left a message, commending the pan-roasted brined pork chop recipe.

  I hate her.

  Becca walks into the kitchen, not missing a beat. She notes Grandma’s scowl and my grimace. “Hey, Dad.” Her left nostril lifts as she toggles back and forth between Ma and me. “What?” She lifts her hands like she’s about to get into trouble.

  “Grandma made you cookies.” I lift the container.

  “I know. I helped her,” she says with a snarky “duh” in her tone.

  “I invited Payton over for dinner, Tuesday.” I smile, glancing at Ma, then Becca.

  “Really?” The hitch in Becca’s voice bringing some hope as she walks toward me. “Is she coming over?”

  “Of course, she’s coming. Who wouldn’t want to have dinner with us?”

  Becca plops down on a barstool at the island. “What are we going to make?”

  “Oh, I don’t know. I hadn’t really thought about it,” Another lie. I’ve been stressing over it since I put out the invite. “Maybe my famous meatloaf?”

  Becca’s eyes roll. She turns to Ma. “Grandma, do you have any ideas?”

  “It’s supposed to be nice out. Why not cook on the grill?”

  “Oh, yeah! We could make some big fat juicy steaks, some veggies, and ohhh, some garlic bread.” She claps her hands together and then points at me. “I love when you put it in tinfoil on the grill. I think Payton would like it too. What do you think, Dad?”

  “Sure, kiddo. That sounds perfect.” I ruffle her hair. “Get your backpack. We’re gonna get going.”

  “It’s right there.” She points at the pink sparkly thing I somehow missed on the counter by the door. She picks it up, tosses it over her shoulder, gives Ma a kiss, and starts for the door. “Oh, and we can make sundaes for dessert? Or we could make Grandma’s cheesecake. Gram, send us the recipe, okay?” She snaps her fingers. “The one with strawberries on it.”

  “Okay.” Ma laughs, watching Becca disappear out the front door as she carries on about what games we could play after dessert.

  “I told you she’d be fine with it.” I wink. “She likes Payton.”

  Ma leans in and kisses me on the cheek. “I’ll email you the cheesecake recipe.”

  “I’m going with sundaes. It’s much easier.”

  “But homemade cheesecake is more impressive.”

  “Alright, send me the recipe.”

  CHAPTER SEVENTEEN

  Date night with the dogs, fun. Dinner with Becca, effortless, and notable, Nix made homemade cheesecake. Double dating with Token and Harley? Well, I was a little nervous about it. Not entirely sure why; you’d think getting in good with the daughter would be the stressor, but Becca and I just click. There’s no awkwardness. We laugh a lot just like Harley and me. We click as well, on an adult level. She definitely could be my wine drinking, late-night binge-watching buddy. She’s funny, easygoing, and when she looks at Token and the way he looks back her, it’s hopeful.

  I’m not really sure what’s going on with Nix and me. All I do know is that I want to get back to that place where I was naked on my bed in my apartment with Nix between my legs. The past few times we’ve seen each other, he’s been a perfect gentleman. I respect the gesture but …

  “Oh, hey!” Harley stands with her eyes fixed on the door, waving her arms. “I hope you don’t mind. I invited Jaggs to come out with us. Since Crash’s wife showed up, he’s been ditching her. They’re just friends, but”—she shrugs—“we’re all friends.”

  “I don’t mind.” I smile, negating the double date notion. A night out with a group of friends sounds better to me, anyway.

  I twist around in the barstool, spotting Jaggs. Short purple-black spiked hair, tight black tee, and dark lipstick. I’ve only seen her once at Crash’s shop. She’s a mechanic. You’d never know she had such a fit body under the overalls she was wearing. She must work out.

  “Hi.” I smile.

  “Payton?” She points at me, squinting her left violet eye. She’s a pretty girl in a sexy goth sort of way.

  “Yes, that’s right.”

  Jaggs t
urns to Harley. “Where’re the boys?”

  “Darts.” Harley nods to the back of the bar.

  “Ah.” Jaggs slowly nods. “So”—she glances at our glasses—“what are we all drinking? I got the next round.”

  “No! I’ll get it.” Harley jumps up. “You hang with Payton. Light beer, anything on tap, right?”

  “You know me well.” Jaggs sits on the barstool across from me and watches Harley mosey on over to the bar. “So you and Nix on a date tonight, or is this just a friend thing?”

  “I’m not sure.” I take a sip of my wine.

  She darts a glance to the back of the bar. “Well, you’re the first girl I’ve ever seen him bring out anywhere.”

  “Oh.” I set my wine glass back on the table. “So you didn’t know Lexi?”

  “Who?”

  “Becca’s mom?”

  “Oh, yeah. No. I didn’t know her. She left what, like five years ago?”

  I nod, running my finger along the stem of my glass.

  “Yeah, she’s way before my time, but I don’t think you need to worry about her. She seems totally out of the picture. No one ever talks about her or anything.”

  “Who’s that?” Harley hands a frothy beer to Jaggs.

  “Nix’s baby mama.”

  “Lexi? Yeah, she’s kind of like Stone and Steele’s mom, nobody mentions her.”

  “They have different moms?” I glance at Nix, who’s throwing darts into the board a good distance away from the conversation. Damn, those chinos look great on him. Looking back at the two women, I feel a drop of guilt for participating in gossip about Nix and his family.

  “Yeah, their mom killed herself.” Jaggs lowers her voice. “I heard Stone was locked in the bathroom with her when they found her dead body in a tub full of blood. Stone had a razor in his hand.”

  “Yeah, but”—Harley swats the air—“Stone was only four or five, and nobody knows what happened in there.”

  “Steele does. He was the one who found them.” Jaggs points at Harley. “Psychos gotta come from somewhere.” She gets up, both hands in the air and shoulders lifted. “I’m just sayin’.”