Chapter 8 #2
Carol nodded, “I know. That’s understandable.
We don’t hate you. Ridge never has. He has always understood, letting you choose to hate him, so that you didn’t place the real blame on your father.
You were probably taught to love your family.
To accept what they gave you. To go along with it because you had to.
You aren’t that boy anymore. You don’t have to worry about someone hurting you.
Not here. Ridge forgave you, as do we. You are family now Creed. Our family. We protect our own.”
I watched as if something broke inside of Creed, and he leaned against Carol, sobs pouring from his body.
Tears leapt to my eyes, and I cried with my brother. I could feel arms come around me, and I saw it was Liam. Ridge was crouched in front of Creed, his hand on my brother’s back.
Carol held Creed tightly, and Patrick had his hand on Creed’s back with Ridge.
I could hear Ridge say, “I never needed to forgive you Creed. I never had a reason to hate you, and I knew eventually Kresslee would be mine. I never gave up on us.”
I watched as Creed looked at Ridge, “I never wanted to get in between you and Kresslee. I was so angry with dad, with everyone that I couldn’t see her being happy.
Our dad fucked with my head so much that I knew I wasn’t ever meant for anything more, and I was jealous that Kresslee had found her future. ”
Ridge stayed silent, and I pulled myself out of Liam’s arms, going to my brother, “Why didn’t you ever say anything?”
Creed looked away from me, “Because I knew I was being a jerk to keep you away from Ridge. I made that choice to hate him, to blame him for my problems, even though I knew full well it was all because of dad. Grandma never wanted me to blame dad, even though we all knew it was because of him we had the problems we had. No normal man would treat his children the way he did. I just chose to hate Ridge instead. I’m sorry. ”
Ridge shook his head, “Creed, you were protecting yourself. I told you before, I’m not angry.”
Creed sighed, “You’re too good.”
Ridge chuckled, “I hope so.”
Creed looked over at me, “I’m sorry for keeping you apart. I really am.”
I reached out, touching Creed’s cheek, “I think what you did wasn’t selfish.
You were protecting yourself, and while I hated being away from Ridge, we both grew up knowing we still wanted the other.
We were able to have the careers we wanted; we were able to go to school, to grow up.
I am glad I got to grow up with you at my side, and now I get you both.
I love you, Creed. You are the best twin anyone could ever hope for. ”
Creed stared at me, then slowly smiled, “I love you Kresslee.”
I hugged him, “No more of letting dad hang over us. He doesn’t have a say in our lives. Not in yours or mine. I won’t let him.”
Creed slowly nodded, “Okay.”
I let go of my brother, and Ridge hugged him next.
Creed hugged Ridge back, then hugged Carol, Patrick, and Liam.
Creed rubbed the back of his neck, “I’m so embarrassed.”
Carol winked at him, “No need to be embarrassed. You just had to work through some of your old trauma. Nothing that families can’t help with.”
Creed chuckled, and Ridge said, “Let’s eat. No more drama for tonight at least.”
Ridge helped Creed to a seat at the dining room table, then he came back toward me.
He leaned in, cupping my face before he kissed me quickly.
I smiled against his lips, then he led me to the table and went to the kitchen to bring over the food we had made.
He set it on the table in the middle and handed out the plates.
We served ourselves, then talked, while joking and laughing with each other. Even Creed joined in.
It was the first time in years that I had seen Creed smile so much.
It made me happy to see him finally free from the ghosts that haunted our past. It had been much too long. Creed never really had much reason to smile but knowing it was because he finally let everything go was something else.
And it was all because of Ridge and his family. I would be forever grateful to Ridge for bringing my brother and me together and for ending our sadness and heartbreak.
After we finished eating, we sat out on the patio, which was heated, and Liam sat down beside Ridge and me.
I could see why Ridge was as good-looking as he was.
Liam looked the same, just older, with more silver in his hair.
They had different-colored eyes, but that was it. Liam had blue eyes, where Ridge had dark brown eyes.
Liam looked over at me, “I’m glad you are here. Ridge has been in love with you for so long.”
I smiled at him, “I have been too.”
Liam winked at me, “He picked a beautiful one. You be good to him, okay?”
I nodded, “I have no problem with that. I waited for years to be with him. I won’t waste it now.”
Liam smiled, “Good.”
Ridge put his arm around me, kissing my temple. “Don’t worry dad. She is the best woman I know.”
Liam let out a sigh, “I love it. I just worry.”
Ridge pulled me in tighter, “I know dad.”
I looked up at Ridge, who smiled down at me, “My mom didn’t want me. She gave up her rights after I was born. My dad raised me alone.”
Carol snorted, and Ridge chuckled, “Well, alone, with my grandparents help.”
Carol lifted a brow, “You are dang right.”
Patrick laughed, pulling Carol in for a hug.
Creed watched us from the couch, and I smiled over at him, knowing our quiet life was finally over. We had a family that loved us and accepted our flaws.
I started to fall asleep on Ridge’s chest, his fingers playing with my hair, and Liam stood up, “Come on. It’s been a long day for everyone. We will see you all soon.”
He helped his parents off the couch, waving to us before Carol walked over to me, hugged me, and then kissed my cheek.
“We are thrilled you are with Ridge. He is the best man there is.”
“One of the best, grandma. Creed is pretty great too.” Ridge said, and Creed snorted, making me laugh.
Carol smiled over at him, “You are absolutely right.”
Creed’s cheeks went pink, and he gave Carol a soft smile. “Thanks.”
Patrick helped Creed into the house and into his room while Ridge stayed on the couch with me.
I looked over at him, “You don’t want to go inside yet?”
He shook his head, “Not yet.”
He got off the couch, lit a fire in the small fire pit in front of us, and then turned on the lights in the house, leaving only the fairy lights on the patio and the fire to illuminate it.
The mountains looked amazing at night, and the stars shone above us. Ridge’s house was high enough above the valley that you could see it without the lights from the city interfering.
He walked over to me, then shocked me when he sank to one knee in front of me.
I sat up straight, “Ridge?”
He smiled at me, reaching for my hand with both of his, “Kresslee, my love. The woman I waited for my entire life. You are my everything. My every hope, dream, and wish. I love you more than I thought it was possible. Marry me. Make my dreams come true. Please be mine. My wife.”
He pulled out a box, opening it as I gasped when I saw the ring nestled inside.
The base of the ring resembled vines, with little blue aquamarine stones embedded in them, and a large pear-shaped blue aquamarine stone at its center.
It suited me. I loved it. I looked at Ridge, who waited as I stared down at him.
I was speechless.
I finally snapped out of the shock I was in before nodding.
“Yes, Ridge! Yes, I will marry you.”
He stood, taking my mouth in a kiss, and I wrapped my arms around his neck as he lifted me from my feet with one of his strong arms.
We heard clapping from inside the house, and I pulled back from the kiss to see everyone standing in the kitchen, Carol with her hands to her mouth, tears streaming down her cheeks.
I laughed as they all rushed out, Creed taking his time with his crutches.
Carol hugged me tightly, then hugged Ridge, who laughed as his dad and grandpa hugged him at the same time.
Creed hobbled over to me and said, “Congratulations.”
I hugged my brother, “Thank you. You better walk me down the aisle.”
He kissed my cheek, “I wouldn’t miss it.”
He let Ridge hug me, then Ridge put the ring on my finger.
Carol leaned in, “He bought that after he graduated from college.”
I looked over at him, “You did?”
Ridge nodded, “I did. I told you that I made all my choices with you in mind.”
I jumped into his arms, kissing him.
Carol cleared her throat, “Now it’s really time for us to leave.”
Ridge chuckled against my lips, then watched as everyone really left.
He pulled back from me, lifting his hand, running his thumb over my bottom lip.
“I love you.”
I smiled, “I love you too,”
He kissed me once more, taking me back over to the couch, sitting in front of the fire.
It felt good on my skin, and Ridge put me in his lap, gently moving my hair off my neck and slowly kissing down it, making me shiver.
Ridge’s cock hardened under me, making me start to wiggle my hips, and Ridge groaned, “It’s been too long since I have been inside you.”
I moaned, “I know. I need you.”
He looked over his shoulder, seeing the house dark, and he said, “Be quiet, and we can do this here.”
I nodded, and Ridge gently pushed my leggings off my legs, taking my panties with them, and shifting me on his lap.
I heard his belt jingle, then I felt his cock start to rub against me.
I bit my lip to keep from moaning. I felt Ridge get his cock into position, and then he was pulling me down, his cock impaling me deep.
I squeaked a little from how deep he was, and Ridge bit my shoulder from behind.
The noises he made against me made my eyes want to roll back into my head.
Ridge started to lift my hips, and I leaned forward a tiny bit, digging my nails into Ridge’s legs.
He grunted against me, lifting me up and down, slowly, hitting something inside me that made me whimper softly.
Ridge’s hand came down on my butt, giving me a soft spank, “Keep quiet. I don’t want anyone to hear it.”
I nodded, biting my lip as the sting made my blood sing.
Ridge lifted me over, and over, his cock rubbing that place inside me that made me see stars.
I let him use me, feeling the orgasm build inside me as Ridge’s fingers tightened on my hips, as his thrusts got deeper, harder, faster, as if he wanted to chase his orgasm too.
He was grunting against my shoulder, burying his sounds there, as I bit my lip so hard, I tasted copper.
Finally, Ridge hit that place inside me that made me fall over the edge of my orgasm, and my fingers dug into Ridge’s legs so hard he grunted.
“Fuck, leave marks on me babe.”
He let out a soft groan as I felt his cock kick inside me, flooding me with his cum.
I leaned back against him, my body worn out.
Ridge kissed my neck once more, then lifted my left hand, kissing the back of it.
“I love seeing this on your finger. I want to see this and only this on you.”
I nodded against him, and Ridge lifted me in his arms, still buried deep inside me, and walked us slowly to his room.
After shutting us inside, Ridge pulled out of me, then got us undressed quickly.
As soon as we were naked, he was back on me, and I let him use me how he wanted.