by Sadie Jacks
Nik looked at me, a ‘what the fuck?’ look on her face.
I smiled. Winked at her too.
She rolled her eyes. “So, if there are no other questions about this part, I need to get going. I’ve got a class to teach.”
“Wait!” I reached out to her. “Before you go,” I looked around the room, noted most of everyone we wanted was already here.
Nik stopped what she was doing. Namely packing her stuff away.
Ryker came up, took my hand. “We’re getting married next weekend. We’d like you all to join us.”
The room erupted into Italian curses and chaos.
Ryker leaned down and whispered against my ear, “Family. Thanks for sharing them with me.” He pressed a kiss to my head.
Chapter 43 – Ryker
Next weekend
“Archie, you look so handsome,” Grams said as she came into the room on Baxter’s arm.
Baxter helped her to a chair. “That’s Ryker, Alda. He’s your grandson.”
My heart ached for a moment. I’d been hoping she would have a good day. A day she’d never forget. I guess it had been a bit of a pipe dream. Dementia didn’t discriminate on stealing memories. It eventually stole them all and it was a greedy bitch.
Grams’ face clouded for a second. Then her green eyes brightened. “I know my own boy, Baxie. Stop fussing. Go away now.” She slapped at the man’s arm. “I need to impart some wisdom on him.”
I nodded at Baxter. He walked back to the door, but didn’t leave. “What’s up, Grams?”
She looked up at me. “I can see that you’re happy. Which is good. But you need to know that marriage is more than just the happy. It’s the boring, the normal, the sad, the horrible.”
I squatted down, took her hand. “I know that, you old bird. I thought you were going to tell me something I didn’t know.”
She laughed, slapped my hand. “Then listen closely.” She crooked her finger so I would lean closer.
I obliged her. “What?”
Her smile was angelic. “You need more than just love. You need devotion. And dedication. You need to put her first, always. She’ll put you first, always. That way you’re both taken care of by the person you love most. On the bad days when you just want to drown her in the pool, remember that the next day you might want to hold her down and have your wicked way with her. Unless you’re into dead bodies, that’s not going to work out too well if you kill her.”
I roared a laugh. “I’ll try to remember that, Grams.”
She cupped my cheek. “You love her like my Archie loved me and she’ll be the happiest woman in all the world. There’s nothing more a girl could ask for.” Her eyes twinkled as she smiled. “Well, that and a horny husband.”
I groaned. Here I had been hoping for some knowledge, some little nugget of advice I could take with me into this new part of my life. And all my Grams had for me was love and fucking.
I tipped my head to the side. She wasn’t wrong, really. And Willow and I were good at both of those things.
Kissing her hand, I got back to my feet. “I’ll try to remember those. Have you been in to see Willow yet?”
Grams smiled. “That is one lucky unicorn, baby. You did well.”
My heart tugged at the approval on this woman’s face. That, more than anything else she could say or do, meant the world to me.
Before I’d had enough time with her, she raised a hand to cover her yawn. She blinked up at me. “Archie, dear, I think I need to rest for a bit.”
Baxter hurried forward as my heart slowly tore to pieces. “Sure, Alda. We’ll get you to bed.”
I helped him get her to her feet. Walked with them to the door. She was staying in one of the guest rooms on the first floor. Baxter and I got her in bed. She was snoring lightly before we got her legs up and the blankets over her.
Baxter looked at me. “Can you hold off for a bit? She should be fine once she wakes up again.”
I nodded. “I’ll go talk to Willow. It should be fine.” I strode out of the room. I bit my lip to keep from screaming at the heavens. This was supposed to be the happiest day of my life. Not one of the saddest as I watched the only other woman I’d ever loved fade right in front of me.
I rushed up the stairs to the master. Thumped a fist on the door. “Willow.”
Tali opened the door, a huge smile on her face. It died a quick death when she saw me. She nodded. Stepped aside.
“Willow,” Tali said, her voice tight.
Willow turned. I sucked in a breath. She was a vision. Her dress was a champagne color that made her skin glow. Tight against her body from breast to knees, it flared out and covered her feet. It sparkled in the late morning sun. “Hero? What’s wrong?”
The other girls left quickly.
I closed the door behind them. “Grams, sh—”
Willow gripped my arm as her eyes widened in horror. “Is she okay?”
I smiled. Nodded. “She’s taking a nap. Baxter thinks she’ll be better after. Are you okay holding off for an hour or two?”
Her expression fell into nothing but love. “Of course, hero. I’m more than okay with that as long as you’re mine by the end of the day.” She pulled me into her arms. “You okay?”
I just stood there, wrapped around her like a vine on a stake. I was, but I wasn’t. I didn’t really have any words. Just a confusing mix of feelings. Thank the goddess, I didn’t deal with feelings too often.
Willow slid her hands down my back, under the hem of my jacket. She fished her fingers under my belt until she found bare skin. With a kiss on my lips, she sank her nails into my flesh.
I inhaled as the sweet pain washed through me. Brought me back to the woman I called savior. I sipped from her lips. Communed with her tongue against mine.
Her nails sank into me a second time.
I groaned against her mouth as I tried to meld her against me. I got lost in the taste and texture of her. In the place where my soul found its rest. Where my heart knew it was protected. She was my home. The one I’d yearned for all my life.
And I’d met her as she’d run for hers from a monster. We each were monster slayers. In our own ways, in our own times, we healed the broken and jagged pieces of the other.
I didn’t need the Justice of the Peace to tell me Willow was mine. I carried her in my heart, so of course she was mine. But I knew I needed that little piece of paper to proclaim to the world that we belonged to each other.
A loud knock sounded on the door.
“Unless that was a groan of grief and Ryker is crying like a little girl, I think it’s time for the groom-to-be to skedaddle. I promised Momma that there would be no sexy times before the ceremony. Now, if you want me to serve up your ass for dinner, you just let me know. I brought some extra scalpels,” Jessa said from behind us.
Willow laughed as she released my flesh and straightened my clothes. “A little of this, a little of that. Not quite sexy times, not quite crying.”
I turned to see my friend at the door.
“You okay? Can I do anything to help?” Jessa asked.
I shook my head. “Grams needed a nap.”
Jessa’s gaze softened. “I’ll get everything moved back a bit.”
“Thanks, babe. Remind me to treat you really well later,” Willow said, that creepy double innuendo tone in her voice.
Jessa’s laugh was smoky sex. “Girl, I’ve been waiting all day for you to pleasure me. Run away with me.”
I hooked my hands on Willow’s waist. “Find your own damn unicorn.”
They both laughed.
Chapter 44 – Nik
I smiled as one of the best men I knew married one of the strongest women I’d ever met. Grams stood up with Ryker and Baxter and fulfilled her best man duties with a style and panache I could only hope I still had at her age.
Tali and Momma stood with Willow. All three women were radiant in the late afternoon sun. Thankfully the new digs Ryker and Willow had just bought came with a full
y heated patio section off the pool area. The open scenery of their lake and the setting sun were the perfect backdrop.
Turo wiggled beside me. “Ah, an actual smile today. Imagining yourself in a white dress, a young man across from you while you exchange promises?” he asked softly.
I looked at him. “What are we doing, Arturo?” I asked him bluntly but quietly.
He jolted. “I’m asking you a question, cricket.”
I ground my teeth at the nickname. “I’ve asked you repeatedly to stop calling me that.”
His smile was all teeth and potent sexuality. “Then I guess you need to simply get accustomed to it.”
I put my hand on his thigh, felt the muscles bunch into iron. He eased away. Again. I pulled my hand back, put it in my lap. I was done. The man was confusing, stupidly sexy, and strung tighter than a fucking drum. I wanted him to unload some of that stress with me. But I guess I was all alone in the wanting.
We clapped as the officiant announced Ryker and Willow and Mr. and Mrs. Penn. I got up, anything to get away from the man beside me. I moved forward, grabbed Willow into my arms.
Since meeting this crazy group of women, I’d felt more belonging and acceptance than I ever had in my life. I guess it was a good thing Arturo didn’t want to sleep with me. I was keeping the girls.
Him…I could definitely live without.
Chapter 46 – Arturo
I wanted to punch myself in the face as she turned away from me. Again. How could one small, far too young woman make me feel like a teenager?
I said the wrong thing. Every. Single. Time. I’d had more cold showers and solo jack off sessions than I cared to admit. She’d made it so that none of my previous companions did anything for me. Other than turn my stomach.
They were all too soft.
Too…needy.
But Nik. She was strong. Probably stronger than I fully knew. And she didn’t need any man. Hell, I was pretty sure she didn’t need anyone.
And fuck if I didn’t want to be needed for the first time in my life.
Mas was watching me from across the small impromptu aisle. He raised a single brow.
I flipped him off. He’d always told me I was going to find a woman who’d treat me like I treated women. Disposable. Toys. Nothing more than a release.
He’d laugh his damn head off if he found out Nik had given me more than ample opportunity but that I choked each time. I was running scared like a virgin who’d grown up in a nunnery.
My phone buzzed in my pocket. I pulled it out, looked at the screen. I gritted my teeth. We had a bigger problem than my love—fuck, sex—life right now. The cartels had heard about the open pocket left in de Silva’s death.
We were about to become very busy.
And New Trenadie was going to be washed in blood.
**
The Amatucci Siblings are each getting their own story. So make sure you stick around for the next five books.
Nik and Arturo’s book comes out on November 27, 2020.
You can Pre-Order it Here
If you liked Willow and Ryker’s story, could you please go leave a review on GoodReads, Amazon, or BookBub? Reviews are the lifeblood of indie authors like me.
Thanks,
Sadie J
About the Author
Born and raised in Tornado Alley, Sadie Jacks has experience with the BDSM community, reading way too many sexy-times books, and has an unhealthy addiction to Dr. Pepper. given up her beloved Dr. Pepper. She’s trying to get in shape for her 40th birthday…in four years. And yeah, it’s probably going to take that long to do it.
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