Chapter Sixteen
Liam
I sit at the kitchen table with my laptop open as I draw up a spreadsheet for the restaurant. It’s early morning and the guys and I are awake while Aspyn sleeps in. I can’t imagine how long it’s going to take her to recover from the emotional stress she’s gone through, but I know we all plan to help her relax today while we try to get some projects done around the house.
Sooner or later, I have river rocks I need to carry in from the truck bed, and Jake and Ranger are working on finishing the drywall in the furthest bedroom. I think they’re trying to stay quiet for Aspyn’s sake or else they would probably already be done. The farmhouse is big, but without much furniture or fabric, there’s an awful echo that carries from one end of the house to the next.
“Hey, man. What are you working on?” Ranger pulls back a chair at the dining room table and lowers himself down with a cup of coffee.
“I’m going through that list of things you need for the restaurant. I think I’ve got prices on everything worked out. It’s just the time factor I’m worried about.”
“How so?”
“With the three of us working, we can have the place up and running in eight weeks, assuming we can get the parts we need locally and you’re still able to get a deal from the guy who’s selling the place.”
“The deal is done. I texted him last night, and he got back to me this morning. I’ll sign the paperwork this afternoon. I was thinking we should celebrate tonight. Jake is working on a secret project for Aspyn out in the barn. I figure we can all get in on it and make it extra special for her.”
“Wow, you made quick work of that.”
“Only way to work.” He sips his coffee, and the bedroom door creaks down the hall before a messy-haired girl with thick thighs in a long black t-shirt appears in the hallway.
“My ears were tingling. You guys are talking about me.” Aspyn bites back a smile and slides onto Ranger’s lap, laying her head on his shoulder.
I want to lift her off his lap and set her on mine, but I’m not sure we’re in that place, or if we ever will be. I love Aspyn, I’ve always loved Aspen, but I’m not sure what she feels for me beyond what happened this week.
“We were,” Ranger groans. “The restaurant is yours. Liam is working on the list of things needed for the restaurant. He says eight weeks and we’ll be good to open.”
Her deep brown eyes widen. “ What? Mine? Eight weeks? That’s like tomorrow. Ranger…”
“It wasn’t just me. We all chipped in. You need to start on the menu.”
She kisses Ranger hard, holding his face between her hands and rounds the table to land her soft lips against mine. “I can pay you guys back. I have all that money in the bag. I—”
“No,” I say, pulling her onto my lap. “This is for all of us. Besides, you’ll be paying for it in other ways,” I say with a smile.
A wide grin spreads across her face before she squeals, “Sounds good to me! I’m going to cook brunch. It’s going to be the biggest meal you’ve ever seen. I hope you guys are hungry.” Her eyes meet mine. “Will you come with me? I need to make a list of recipes, ingredients, equipment, waitresses, and—”
“Let’s work on the menu first, sweetheart.” I laugh and stand from the table, wrapping her into my arms. Ranger seems to get the cue and stands as well, sipping his coffee before kissing her forehead. “Call me when it’s time to test the menu. I’m starving!” He disappears down the hall with his coffee cup and Aspyn and I are finally alone.
Why does all this feel normal? It shouldn’t. My best friend just kissed the woman I love. He probably fucked her last night when they were alone. Yet, it doesn’t feel odd. It feels right, like we were all meant to care for her all along.
“How are you feeling after last night? You kind of passed out when you got in bed.” I keep Aspyn held against my chest as we talk. She’s warm, soft, and smells like wildflowers in bloom.
“I passed out immediately in your arms.” She grins. “I don’t remember a thing after that.”
Last night was incredible, even better than sex. Knowing I had her there to keep safe was everything.
She clears her throat before saying, “I hate that Ryan’s paying for Mom and Dad’s problems. He doesn’t deserve that, but I don’t know what to do. This whole thing seems so much bigger than me.”
“There’s nothing you can do, sweetheart. The silver lining is that I think this is good for Ryan. Sure, it’ll be an adjustment, but this’ll give him a chance to do something other than work twenty-four hours a day. It gives him a chance to make a life for himself instead of chasing after your parents’ dreams. He’ll figure it out, and something tells me you’ll see him again.” I drag in a deep breath and let it out slowly. I’m not sure if anything I say will help or not. Probably not, but at least she’ll know I’m here. “We should start with a menu for the restaurant. That’ll keep your mind off things.”
Her face lights and she kisses my cheek softly, leaving behind the scent of perfection. “Let’s do it! I still can’t believe this is happening!”
I don’t want this to end, but I’m not sure what place I have here. Jake and Ranger serve a purpose, but what’s mine… aside from making spreadsheets?
I return to my laptop but all I can think about is the million questions on the tip of my tongue. The biggest is… what’s left for me in Alaska?
Nothing.
I could gather everything in my cabin, move out here, start over, and no one in Alaska would be phased. But here, in this farmhouse, I could finally start a family with a woman I love and two of my best friends.
I glance toward the bare-legged girl whose panties sneak out from beneath her t-shirt as she reaches for the grits in the pantry. “What are you making, sweetheart?”
“My famous cinnamon honey biscuits with spicy shrimp and grits. I want this to be my signature dish at the café. Every table will get biscuits with the cinnamon honey glaze right when they sit down.” She squeals as she pours the grits into a saucepan. “I’m so excited!”
I’m typing up the details of her meal on the menu, but the truth is, I’m distracted. I’ve never seen Aspyn like this before. She smiles and hums as she works and there’s a bounce in her step that hasn’t been there in a long while.
Shrimp and andouille sausage sizzle in a frying pan, filling the house with a warm spiced scent that’s comforting. It reminds me of childhood in some sense, though I’m not sure why. My mom wasn’t the type to cook much. If it could be ordered, she ordered it.
Aspyn runs her hand over the smooth wood countertop, brushing the tips of the shrimp off the counter and into the trash before she grabs a bowl from the cabinet and pours in fresh honey from a round ceramic pot. I can’t say I’ve ever loved watching anything more. She belongs in this space, making art with her food, creating something beautiful. There’s no doubt in my mind when I watch her work that this is her calling.
“You’re making me nervous.” She laughs and rinses fresh berries under the faucet before glancing up at me. “I should’ve showered and put my face together before I started all this.”
Our eyes meet and I stand from my computer, making my way around everything and into the kitchen. “No, you’re perfect. Watching you is like watching a painter. You’re in your element. It’s incredibly beautiful.” I brush a strand of her hair away from her face and lean in to kiss her head. It’s the first time we’ve had any meaningful time alone since I got here, and though I know without a shadow of a doubt how I feel about Aspyn and the connection that we shared in bed the other night, I’m not sure how she feels about me long term and I’m not sure how to bring it up.
Ranger would be straightforward. Jake would’ve made some joke. Unless I’m making her a pie chart of why I think I’d work in this scenario, I’m not sure how to tell her how I feel.
She dips her finger into the honey glaze at the end of the counter, then moves her finger toward my lips. “What do you think? More cinnamon?” The tip of her small finger lands against my tongue, leaving behind a sweet zing that I want more of.
“That’s perfect. Don’t change a thing.”
“Really?” She narrows her brows. “Are you sure? Maybe it needs a little salt?”
“No, it’s perfect. Trust me.” I run my finger into the edge of the bowl and offer a lick.
Her gaze meets mine again as her tongue runs along the tip of my finger and down the length until she is full on sucking my index finger in the kitchen.
Fuck.
A groan slips from my throat without thought, and my cock meets the sound with a hardness that won’t go away despite my best efforts to think of anything but her sweet tongue swirling around the tip of it.
“We haven’t really talked about you staying. I mean, I know Jake and Ranger want to stay, but you have that cabin up in Alaska. What are you thinking?” Her tone is soft and sweet with an edge of need that revs the engine inside of me like nothing else.
I’m thankful she’s brought it up. We’re on the same page.
Ideally, I’d stay and live in this farmhouse forever. I’d stay and raise our children and share her like that’s a completely normal thing to do, but I don’t know where I belong here. Ranger is a big, brooding, man’s man, Jake picks up the emotional work, and then there’s me with my ability to make lists and share useless comic book knowledge.
I brush my hand along the edge of her face and stare down at her, desperate to carry her away and drive into her tight, little pussy and make her mine. “You know I love you, Aspyn, but I’m not sure what I’d give you if I stayed. Ranger and Jake have things covered.”
“Liam… I cuddled up to you all night long and you think so differently than the other guys do. When you talk, you do this thing to my brain that no one else can.”
“How’s that?”
“You make sense of things in a practical way. Yesterday when I was freaking out, that would’ve been so much worse without you there. You knew how to get into my head and flip the switch. Besides that, this isn’t all about me. I love you. I hope I give you something too. I hope I give all of you something.”
“Fuck, Aspyn, of course you do. You’re soft and sweet, and waking up without you now would be hell. When I was without you in Alaska, even for that short time, it was unbearable.”
“Perfect. It sounds like you should stay. I promise I’ll keep your belly full and,” she lands her hand on my hard cock, “the rest of you satisfied too.”
My heart pounds and my palms ache to move over the pebbled nipples poking through the light cotton fabric. I don’t want to make a snap decision on what feels good right now, but if I’m honest with myself, I’ve known what I wanted for years.
I want Aspyn.
I lean into her, kissing her over and over, tasting the sweet honey on her lips. The grits bubble up in a pan behind us as the scent of buttermilk biscuits wafts from the oven. My hand slides over her firm breast, and whatever reserve I was holding back on is gone by the time I reach her thighs.
She turns around and presses her ass into my groin, rubbing against my jeans as she stirs the food and combines the shrimp and grits. “I gotta feed my men.” She spins back and tugs at my belt, loosening the clasp before dragging her hand up and over my shoulder. “Will you let me?”
Fuck.
Yes. Yes, I will.
I pull her t-shirt up and off her curved frame before taking her bare skin in. Her breasts hang low and heavy, and her nipples spike hard into the air with thick, purple areolas surrounding them. Her stomach is soft and round, and her thick thighs move as her hair hangs down over her shoulders.
The oven beeps and she turns around, bending her full, round ass over as she pulls the biscuits from the oven.
If I thought I had reserve left before, it’s gone now. There’s nothing left in that tank.
She sets the biscuits on the potholders near the stove, and I grip her from behind, holding her soft, naked frame against my body.
“You are perfect, sweetheart. Do you know that?” I spin her toward me and lift her chin to meet my lips. “You’re so perfect.”
Her hand moves under my t-shirt and her fingers drive into the hair on my chest as her other hand strokes my cock.
This is the strangest thing that’s ever happened to me. My best friends are two rooms away working and I’m about to fuck the woman we’re all desperately in love with, in the kitchen, over buttermilk biscuits and honey cinnamon glaze.
Apparently, that’s not weird at all.
I cradle my head into the nook of Aspyn’s neck and rub my beard against her skin as I kiss her gently. I run my tongue along the outer edge of her ear as I whisper, “Do you want my cock? Tell me you need it.”
She sucks in a deep breath and hooks her thumb on the thin strip of fabric at the edge of her panties before dragging the fabric down to the floor. “Yeah, I want your cock. I need it bad.”
“Perfect.” I rub my hand over the soft mound, and lift her onto the edge of the island, leaning into her cute, little pussy to taste what excitement she’s made for me.
Her head leans back, and she grinds her hips against my face, rocking her pussy against my beard as blueberries roll off the counter and onto the floor.
I linger in the moment, tasting her sweetness, enjoying her thighs as they squeeze against my face, breathing in her musk as she sighs and squirms for relief. I realize now this is what I’m living for. This is why I get up every day and breathe, so that I can bury myself in this woman’s thick, sweet thighs.