Chapter Six
Cotton
The low rumble of my bike faded as I turned off the engine. I swung my leg over the seat and headed for the front door. If I’d known Surge would pull this shit, I’d have warned Lavinia. Now I had to tell her she was married to me, and I had no idea how she’d take it. I opened the door and stepped inside. The hinges creaked, the sound echoing in the quiet house. I frowned and shut the door behind me. Something didn’t feel right.
“Lavinia?” I called out.
Sunlight filtered through the curtains, casting the room in a warm glow. I didn’t see her anywhere, and I didn’t hear her either. I went to the kitchen and looked around. The house was too damn quiet. I’d gotten used to hearing her moving around, humming to herself, or talking to the baby. The stillness made the hair on the back of my neck stand on end.
“Lavinia?” I called out again, a little louder this time.
I went down the hall and checked the rooms, my heart beating faster with each step. I’d be damned if I let anything happen to her. If someone had taken her from me, I’d burn the world down to get her back. I checked the bedroom, but the bed was made, and I didn’t see any sign of her. I went back to the living room and stared at the front door.
Where the hell had she gone?
My wife for all of two seconds and I’d lost her. I still couldn’t believe Surge had married me to Lavinia, without my permission or hers. I mean, I probably should have anticipated something like that. Wasn’t the first time he’d done it. But she deserved a choice. Now, I had no idea how she’d react to the news.
What if she didn’t want to be married to me?
I went back to the kitchen and checked the back door. Locked. I turned and looked around the room again. The coffee cup on the table had been rinsed out, and the stove was cold. I didn’t see anything out of place or any sign of a struggle. If she’d left, she’d done it on her own. I just didn’t understand why.
I went back to the living room and stood in the middle of the floor, my hands on my hips. Where would she go? She didn’t know anyone in town. Maybe she’d gone to the clubhouse, and I’d somehow missed her? I’d been gone a while. Would she leave the house to look for me?
I’d ask the guys and see if anyone had seen her.
I checked the house again, calling her name. My heart raced, and I felt my pulse thudding in my temple. The faster I moved from one room to the next, the more the tension grew inside me. I’d never wanted to see her more than I did right now.
“Lavinia? Where are you?”
Nothing. With a growl, I stalked back to the front door and flung it open. I stepped outside and scanned the area around the clubhouse. The guys were usually milling around, swapping stories, or working on their bikes. Right now, they were conspicuously absent.
I started to head for the clubhouse when I spotted her. Faith was talking with her. I saw Lavinia smile and heard her soft laugh. My shoulders relaxed, and a small smile tugged at my lips. I definitely owed Faith for making Lavinia feel welcome. I’d started to worry she’d never feel at home here.
Faith said something to make her laugh again, and I felt a wave of relief. Making friends with the other old ladies would help her settle in quicker and feel like she belonged. They would be a great support system for her.
I leaned against the doorframe and watched them a moment longer. I knew the second Lavinia spotted me. Her cheeks flushed a pretty pink, and she gave me a shy smile.
I walked over and stopped a few feet away. “Hey, Lavinia. I didn’t mean to interrupt your girl time.”
“It’s okay. I was just walking her home anyway,” Faith said. She gave Lavinia a quick hug. “I’ll see you later. If you need anything, you know where to find me.”
“Thank you,” Lavinia said.
Faith left, and I stared down at my wife. Fuck. My wife . Damn Surge to hell for his meddling. I didn’t know if I wanted to kill him, or if I owed him a favor. Maybe both.
I held out my hand to Lavinia. “Come on, Lavinia. Let’s go inside.”
She slid her hand into mine, and I tugged her toward the front door. I hadn’t intended to hold her hand, but now that I was, I didn’t want to let go. I liked seeing her small hand in mine.
I shut the door behind us and turned the lock. She sat on the couch and patted the cushion next to her. I sat down and turned to face her.
“There’s something I need to tell you, and I’m not sure how you’ll take it.” Better to get it over with, right? Like ripping off a bandage.
“Is something wrong?” she asked.
I shook my head. “No. This isn’t about me. It’s about us.”
She clasped her hands in her lap. “Okay.”
“You know Surge is our hacker. He’s good with computers and all that shit. The asshole married us.”
She stared at me. “He… We’re married?”
“Yeah. We are. I’m sorry, Lavinia. I’d have given you a choice. You didn’t deserve to have someone make that decision for you. It doesn’t mean things have to change. We can keep sleeping in separate rooms and still take things slow. It’s just a piece of paper.”
“Why would you do that?”
“Because I don’t want you to feel pressured to do something you aren’t ready for.”
She bit her lip and looked away. It wasn’t enough to hide the flash of hurt in her eyes.
“Do we have to keep separate rooms?” Her voice was so soft I almost didn’t hear it.
“You want to share a room?” I asked.
She nodded, but she still wouldn’t look at me. I reached out and took her hand.
She finally looked at me. “If we’re married, then I want to share a room like a real married couple. Unless you don’t want me in there with you.”
I leaned forward and cupped her cheek. “I’d love to have you in my bed. I just didn’t want to make you feel like you had to be there. I know you’ve been hurt, and I want to make sure I don’t do anything to add to that.”
She leaned into my touch. “I know you’re nothing like Tyler. You’d never hurt me.”
I’d do my best not to. I couldn’t claim I’d be perfect, but I’d damn sure try.
“Why don’t we take it easy today? I’ll make us a late lunch or early dinner. Whatever you want to call it. You can pick a movie, and we’ll watch it together.”
Her eyes lit up. “I’d like that, but I already had lunch.”
She held out a container and I saw chicken inside.
“Good. Then I’ll work on dinner. It will need to thaw anyway. I’ll just put this in the fridge for now.”
She got up and went to the TV. Lavinia opened the cabinet with the DVDs and started looking through them. I went to the kitchen. I’d stocked the fridge and freezer, so I had plenty of meat to choose from. I grabbed some steaks and set them in the sink to thaw and put her chicken away.
When I went back into the living room, she’d put in a movie and was curled up on the couch with a blanket. I sat down beside her and patted my thigh.
“Come on, Lavinia. We’ll cuddle up and watch the movie. You look tired, and I don’t want you to overdo it.”
She unfolded the blanket and scooted closer. I stretched out, and she settled against my chest. I wrapped my arm around her and tucked the blanket around us. When I had her right where I wanted, I kissed the top of her head and told her to start the movie.
By the time the credits rolled, I felt more relaxed than I had in years.
Whatever she’d picked, it had been lighthearted and made her laugh. I liked that sound and wanted to hear more of it. I’d do whatever it took to make sure she was happy here. I didn’t know what I’d done to deserve her, but I wasn’t letting her go.
“Your turn,” she said. “Pick something you want to watch.”
I got up and went to the cabinet. There were a lot of movies to choose from. I glanced over my shoulder at my woman. Lavinia. My wife. I still had a hard time wrapping my head around that. I hadn’t expected to find a woman who would tie me down. I’d been careful not to get serious with the women I’d dated. Then again, I hadn’t dated much. It was usually a one-night stand, or at most, someone I saw a handful of times. Until Roe. I’d lived like a monk since the incident with her.
I ended up picking one of my favorite action movies. She didn’t seem to mind, even though I knew it wasn’t her usual thing. I sat back down, and she cuddled up to me again, letting me wrap my arm around her. We were quiet as we watched the movie, but I noticed her eyes were starting to droop.
“Hey, baby. Why don’t you go lie down and take a nap?”
Lavinia blinked at me. “You sure you don’t mind?”
“I don’t mind at all. I’ll finish my movie, then I’ll come check on you.” I kissed the top of her head. “Get some rest. You need it.”
She got up and stretched, and I did my best to ignore the way her shirt slid up and gave me a peek at her stomach. I’d be a liar if I said I didn’t want her. I just knew I had to wait until she was ready.
I finished the movie, then went into the kitchen. I got out some potatoes to bake in the microwave, then grabbed the stuff to make a salad. When I had everything ready, I went to check on Lavinia. She was sound asleep in the middle of our bed. I smiled and backed out of the room.
When the potatoes were almost done, I went outside and started the grill. Once I had the coals lit, I stepped back inside. I didn’t hear Lavinia come into the kitchen. I shut the door and turned to find her watching me.
“Hey, baby. You sleep good?” I asked.
“Yes. I didn’t mean to take such a long nap.”
“You needed it. Don’t worry about it. I’ve got the grill heating up. I was going to go out and start the steaks.”
“Tell me what to do, and I’ll help.”
“You sure?”
She nodded.
“All right. I’m going to get the steaks on the grill. If you want to make a salad or something to go with them, that would be good. I already got everything out.” I kissed her forehead. “You don’t have to, though. I don’t mind.”
“I know, but I want to help. I don’t feel right letting you do everything.”
I smiled as I stepped back outside. I liked that she wanted to contribute. I’d just have to make sure she didn’t overdo it. I went back in and washed my hands. Then pulled the potatoes out of the microwave and set them on a plate. Lavinia had chopped some lettuce and other veggies for the salads. I grabbed some plates and silverware, but Lavinia took them from me. “I’ll set the table,” she said.
“Thanks, baby.” I checked the steaks and decided they were done. After I turned off the grill, I carried the meat inside and set the plate on the counter, dished up the potatoes, and went to the fridge for some butter and sour cream.
We both sat down, and I watched her as she fixed her plate. I wanted to say a lot of things, but I didn’t know where to start. “I don’t believe in coincidences. I think everything happens for a reason, even if it’s something bad. If I could go back and do it all over again, I’d still agree to meet Tyler if it meant I got to get you away from him. As upset as I was when Surge married us, I think it was mostly because I wanted you to be able to have a say. He took that from you.”
“I’m not sorry,” she said. “I think you’re right. Things happen for a reason. I’d never want to go through what I did with Tyler again, but it brought me to you.”
“You’re not mad?”
“No. It might take me a little time to be completely comfortable, but I knew what I was feeling for you wasn’t going away. You’ve been so kind and patient with me. I never thought I’d find a man like you.”
I reached across the table and took her hand. “It’s going to be all right, Lavinia. I swear it. I’ll do everything in my power to make sure you’re happy here.”
“I know you will.”
I nodded and went back to eating. I wanted to say more, but I didn’t want to overwhelm her. I’d need to be careful with how I approached things. If she was willing to share my bed, then I’d keep her there. I’d take what I could get.
When we finished eating, I helped her clear the table then I loaded the dishwasher. “What’s wrong?” I asked, thinking she looked a little off.
“Nothing. I just thought we could get ready for bed. I mean, I know it’s early. Maybe you could lie down with me and watch TV? If you don’t mind.”
I took her hand and led her to my bedroom, then turned down the bed. She bit her lip and looked around. I could tell she was nervous. “You need anything?” I asked.
“I’m good.”
“You can watch whatever you want. I’m fine with anything,” I said.
She turned the TV on while I stripped to my boxers and climbed into bed. I could feel the tension radiating off her. Once she had stripped down to her T-shirt and panties, she climbed under the covers. I turned on my side to face her, reaching out and taking her hand. “You don’t have to do anything you don’t want to.”
“What if… what if I want you to kiss me?”
I leaned in and pressed my lips to hers. At first, I kept it light. I didn’t want to push her too far. She surprised me by sliding her fingers into my hair and holding me in place. I groaned and ran my hand down her side, letting my fingers slide under her shirt and brush her bare breast. She let out a little sigh. I deepened the kiss and ran my tongue along the seam of her lips, wanting to taste her. She parted for me, and I delved inside.
When I finally lifted my head, we were both breathing hard. I hadn’t meant for things to get so intense. I rested my forehead against hers. “You’re going to be the death of me,” I said.
“I thought that was a good kiss.”
“It was, but I don’t want to push you too far. I’m just a man. If you keep kissing me like that, I’m going to want more.”
Wordlessly she sat up so I could help her skim out of her T-shirt. My boxers followed her panties to the floor. She snuggled against me, resting her head on my chest. I wrapped an arm around her and held her close. For the first time since I took her from Tyler, I felt like things were going to be all right. I’d worried it would be difficult for us to have a real relationship, or that it would take a while. But Lavinia kept surprising me.
We lay there in silence, and I wondered what was going through her mind. I’d have to be careful not to scare her off. As much as I wanted to kiss and touch her, I didn’t want to push her into anything she wasn’t ready for.
The longer we lay here, the more I realized I wanted her. Not just in my bed, but in my life. She was a sweet woman, and I wanted to watch her belly grow with my child. And yes, it was mine. Didn’t matter if I’d helped create the baby or not. I’d be the only father they ever had. I wanted to be there when she gave birth and be there for all their firsts.
I could barely make out her features in the dim light, but it felt like she might be watching me.
“Will you kiss me again?”
I leaned in and brushed my lips over hers. Her lips were soft, and I wanted to savor them.
Lavinia’s breath hitched, and she tilted her head back, giving me better access. I brushed my lips against hers once more, then kissed her a little harder. I wanted to pull her into my arms and hold her tight. Instead, I deepened the kiss. She parted her lips, and I swept my tongue inside, tasting her.
I growled at how good she tasted. I’d never get enough. I let my fingers slide into her hair, tilting her head back even more. I felt her hands on my chest. I froze, not sure if she was going to push me away or pull me closer.
I rolled, pressing her into the mattress and bracing myself on one arm. I didn’t want to crush her, and I sure as hell didn’t want to hurt the baby. I kissed her a little harder, a little deeper.
I didn’t want Lavinia to feel pressured. Forcing myself to break the kiss, I stared down into her eyes.
“You okay?” I asked.
“Yes. That was…” She licked her lips. “Perfect.”
I smiled. “I’m glad you think so. If you want to do this again tomorrow, I wouldn’t mind. Or even later tonight. I’m more than willing to kiss you until your lips are swollen and you can’t think straight.”
Her cheeks pinkened. “I’d like that.”
I’d never tried this hard with a woman before, but something about her made me want to take my time. I’d been honest when I’d said I didn’t mind if we kept things the way they were. The last thing I wanted was for her to feel pressured.
Every breath she took fanned the flames inside me. I felt the warmth of her body near mine, and if I just shifted a little, I could pull her against me. The bed was soft beneath us, and I could feel myself sinking into it.
I settled more of my weight on her. I had enough sense left to avoid putting too much pressure on her. I slipped my fingers into her hair, tilting her head and kissed her harder. Deeper. Her tongue tangled with mine, and I felt her excitement building.
I growled and she whimpered. Her body arched against mine, and I felt her nipples pebble against my chest. My cock hardened, and I couldn’t remember the last time I’d wanted a woman this badly. Maybe never.
I couldn’t stop. I had to have more of her. I let my lips trail down her neck, nipping and sucking. Her breathy moans made my cock ache. I wanted to strip her bare and bury myself inside her. But more kisses would be good enough.
She clutched at my shoulders, and I smiled. I’d kiss her until she couldn’t think straight, but I wanted so much more.
My lips met hers again, and I let myself sink into the kiss. I felt her fingers in my hair, and I groaned. I’d never get enough of her. I let my other hand drift down her body, feeling every curve. She was perfect.
I felt the tension building between us. My heart raced, and I had to fight to keep my hands off her. I wanted to feel her bare skin under my fingertips. To leave no doubt in her mind that she belonged to me.
I kissed her harder, my tongue dueling with hers. I felt her body tremble, and I knew she felt it too. I wanted to spend the rest of my life learning every inch of her.
She moaned into my mouth, and I felt the vibration all the way to my soul. Her hands clutched at my back, pulling me closer. I felt her body arch against mine, and I knew she wanted me as much as I wanted her. I pulled away, resting my forehead against hers.
I slid my hands up her body, my rough, calloused fingers catching on her nipples. I brushed her throat, my thumb skimming her jaw. Her breath caught, and I paused. “Lavinia?”
Her eyes opened, and she smiled. “I’m okay.”
I moved my hands to her face, my fingertips brushing her cheeks. I felt the warmth of her skin and something inside me started to melt. I’d kept a wall around my heart for far too long. Maybe I needed to give her a chance. She’d already gotten to me more than anyone else ever had.
My eyes locked with hers. I hoped she saw the intensity of my feelings, but also my vulnerability. I was trusting her not to destroy what was left of my heart. I kept my touch gentle despite my need. She was precious. Fragile. I didn’t want to hurt her, in any way. I let my thumb drift over her cheekbone.
I poured everything into that touch. My need. My desire. My commitment to see this through. I wanted to be with her. To build a life with her. I hoped she felt the same way.
I leaned down and brushed my lips against hers. I felt her shiver, and I knew this was just the beginning. I wanted to see where this led. My cock ached to be inside her. Wherever we ended up, I’d have no regrets.
“Cotton?”
“Yeah, baby?”
“I want you.”
I smiled. “I want you too. But are you sure? We have all the time in the world.”
“I’m sure,” she said.
“We’ll take this slow. I don’t want to hurt you.”
“Please. Don’t make me wait.”
I kissed her again, telling myself I’d slow down. Except I knew she was right. I wouldn’t be able to stop. I’d wanted her from the moment I saw her. And I could admit I’d been attracted to her. I’d have never acted on it, not while she was seeing someone else. But she was mine now, and I was finally going to have her.
My rough fingers stroked her soft cheeks, the contrast between our textures making me more aware of how different we were. I felt her breath on my lips, warm and sweet. When we broke the kiss, I didn’t move far. The small space between us felt like too much. I wanted to close the distance, but I held back. We needed to take this slow. I didn’t want to scare her.
Her gaze softened, and I saw the determination in her eyes. She was so fragile, yet I could see her fighting for us. It made me want her even more. I’d never met a woman like her before. The way she looked at me made my heart pound.
The moment stretched into what felt like eternity. I didn’t move. Didn’t breathe. I let her take the lead. I’d follow wherever she went. Her breath came faster, and I knew she was getting as worked up as I was. I wanted to hear her scream my name. To feel her nails digging into my back as I made her come. I’d never get enough of her.
She licked her lips, and I couldn’t hold back. I leaned down and kissed her again. This time, I let myself go. I poured everything I had into the kiss. I wanted her to understand how much I needed her. How important she was to me. I brushed my thumbs over her skin as I deepened the kiss.
Her lips were soft against mine, as she pressed her body closer, moaning softly. It sent shivers down my spine and my cock twitched, wanting more. With one hand, I gently caressed her cheek while my other hand snaked around her slender waist. I pulled her tight against me, her small curves perfectly fitting against my hard length.
Her tongue traced the seam of my lips, and I couldn’t help but open my mouth to accept her, tasting her sweetness. Our tongues danced together, and I deepened the kiss, exploring every inch of her mouth. She responded eagerly, her lips parting further as she let out small whimpers of pleasure.
My hand slid up her back, and I grabbed a fistful of her hair, pulling her head back gently. Her breath hitched, and her eyes widened, but she didn’t pull away. Instead, she arched her back against me, offering more access to her sensual lips. I took advantage, my tongue delving deeper.
Her fingers dug into my shoulders as she gasped for air, breaking the kiss reluctantly. “Fuck, you taste so good.” I couldn’t believe how much I wanted her. How much I needed her. She smirked at me, her eyes dark with want and need.
She reached down between us and grabbed my cock, gasping at the sight, her eyes widening in amazement. I knew I was slightly bigger than average, but the way she looked at me made me feel like I had the biggest dick in the world.
“This is going to be fun,” she murmured, before taking me into her mouth. I let out a moan as her warm, wet lips wrapped around the head of my cock. She bobbed her head up and down, gradually taking more of me into her mouth. I couldn’t believe the feeling of her soft, hot tongue swirling around the head of my cock.
“Fuck, that feels good.” I reached down to grip her hair, holding her in place as she continued to pleasure me. Her other hand came up to grab my hip, pulling me closer to her. I could feel her lips stretching to accommodate my girth, and it sent shivers down my spine.
When I thought I couldn’t take it anymore, she pulled back, her gaze meeting mine. The look in her eyes was one of desire and anticipation. “Do you want more?” she asked breathily.
“Yes,” I groaned, “I need you.”
She paused. “You aren’t worried?”
“About what?”
“I could have an STD. It’s not like Tyler let me see a doctor, and while the men typically used condoms, Tyler obviously didn’t.”
I shook my head. “Those men might be rapists and assholes, but Tyler isn’t the type of guy to let someone give him an STD. I’m surprised he didn’t use condoms with you. In the Navy, he was super careful, and while he’s different from the man I thought I knew, I don’t think he’d be willing to risk his dick catching something. He probably made sure everyone was clean before they touched you.”
She still didn’t move. “But what if…”
I reached up to place my finger over her lips. “I’m willing to take the risk if you are. We’re married. Don’t wedding vows say for better or worse?”
Her brow furrowed. “That seems a bit too cavalier.”
“Honey, if you have something incurable, do you plan to spend our entire married life not touching each other? Because I’m not going to keep my hands to myself for however many years we have together.”
It seemed I’d finally made my point. Without another word, she stood up and pushed me back onto the bed, and climbed on top of me, her body wrapping around mine. Her small breasts pressed against my chest as she leaned down to capture my lips once more.
Her tongue danced with mine as her hands roamed over my chest and stomach. She reached down between us again, this time taking my cock in her hand and guiding it toward her wet pussy. With a soft moan, she impaled herself on my cock. We both groaned in pleasure as she sank down onto me.
I reached up and grabbed her by the hair, pulling her head back gently as I thrust my hips up to meet her. She met my rhythm eagerly, her body moving in perfect sync with mine. Her small gasps and moans of pleasure only fueled me further.
I reached down and grabbed one of her pert nipples between my thumb and forefinger, giving it a hard tug. She arched her back, crying out in pleasure. “Oh fuck,” she moaned, “Don’t stop.”
I leaned in and bit down on her neck, just hard enough to leave a love bite. She shivered in response, her movements erratic. We moved together like this for what felt like hours, our bodies becoming one in the heat of passion. Just when I thought I was about to come, she slowed her movements, her breath coming in short pants. I stared up at her. My wife. My goddess. “Where did this boldness come from?” I asked. Not that I wanted it to go away. I loved this side of her.
“I don’t know. Is it bad?” she asked.
I shook my head. “No. I love seeing you like this.”
Pleasure flashed in her eyes before she started riding me again. I worked her clit with my thumb, and when she came, her pussy gripped me so tight she pulled every drop of cum from my balls.
It might not have been the romantic first time I’d wanted to give her, but I knew I’d never forget this night for the rest of my life.