Chapter 8 Questions, Answers, and Christmas Spankings #2
“I want to know something you haven’t shared with anyone. Something that will just be between us.”
“Why would you want that?” she asks, sounding hesitant at best and scared to death at worst.
“Because I want to get closer to you. I think I’ve made that pretty clear.”
“Are you willing to give me the same information?” she asks, an eyebrow raised in challenge.
“Sure. I have nothing to hide.”
“Then, you first.”
“Hm …” I hum while debating what I could share that might have the biggest impact on her. I want her to know all of me.
“My old man used to beat the crap out of me when I was a kid because I tried to keep him from hitting my mom. That’s how I got this scar on my forehead.
He knocked me out, and my head hit the gravel and some got embedded.
A scar was left behind. It’s a constant reminder for me to never be like the bastard who provided his sperm to make me,” I respond and shrug as if those scars don’t run bone deep.
“It’s not like I would have ever forgotten anyway. ”
She winces, as if she can feel the pain that caused me. “How old were you?” she asks quietly. I could remind her I only agreed to one question. Still, I don’t really want to deny her anything, so I answer. “Nine.”
“Where is he now?” she practically growls.
“I have no idea.”
“Is he still alive?”
“I don’t know that either, but I figure he is. People like him are cockroaches. They’ll probably survive the end of the world. You can’t get rid of a plague.”
“I’m sorry you had to live through that, Wyatt,” she whispers, holding her head down as if she’s afraid to look into my eyes.
“It made me into the man I am today,” I answer simply. “I hate it for my mom. She’s the one who had to live through it. It aged her before her time. He may not have killed her directly, but broken hearts can eventually kill you.”
Her head comes up in shock. “Your mother died?”
“Yeah.”
Her hand reaches out to grab mine. “I’m so sorry, Wyatt.”
I give her hand a squeeze, letting her touch ground me.
I don’t let her go either. I love the feel of her softer, smaller hand safe in mine.
I can’t remember ever holding hands with a woman before.
Well, I mean, my mom, but not a woman that I’m hoping to crawl between the legs of.
Shit. I’ve never been this hungry for a woman either.
“It’s okay, honey. It happened a while ago.”
“Doesn’t make it hurt any less,” she points out—rightfully so.
“This is true. Now, isn’t it your turn to give me a fact about you that no one knows?”
“I have a sister …”
“Not to be a stickler for the details, Gwen, but I’m pretty sure I’m not the only one who knows you have a sister.”
Her face looks troubled, but she rolls her eyes. “I wasn’t finished, smartass.”
I burst out laughing once again. Again, noticing it’s something I do a lot around this woman. I see her lips jerk slightly as if she’s fighting her smile. Her eyes are alight with laughter though. God, I want more time with this woman. “I think I’m in love with you.”
If she rolled her eyes any harder, they’d pop out and coast across the room. “You’re so full of it.”
“I’m hoping you’ll be full of me soon,” I purr. Her mouth drops open, her eyes round, and I can tell she’s speechless. “Close your mouth, Gwen. Before I take that as an invitation.”
“God, you’re horrible.”
“No, I’m bad. Eventually, I’ll show you just how bad I can be. For now, continue the story about your sister.”
She exhales, letting me know she’s not happy.
“Cora—my sister—has always been kind of a bitch, at least to me. To everyone else, she’s perfection.”
“What does that mean exactly?” I ask.
“Well, I mean, she seems perfect. She has a doctor husband, six kids, looks like she’s nineteen instead of thirty-three—”
“I doubt that’s possible after six kids, honey.”
“Oh, it is. Her husband is a plastic surgeon.”
“Everything?” I cock my eyebrow up in question. I’d like to think that we’re so in sync that she knows what I’m thinking. Maybe we’re more alike than I was hoping. Either way, she addresses the mostly unspoken question between us.
“Yeah, trust me, everything on her is tight—even what you can’t see.”
I snort, caught off guard as I take a drink of my beer. The result has the foam going up my nose, strangling me. I cough a few times before finally getting it under control.
“Are you okay?” she asks.
“Yeah, just didn’t expect you to go there.”
She laughs, shaking her head. “Anyway, our whole life she went on and on about how she never wanted kids, how they’re annoying, whiny, and take entirely too much of your time.”
“Okay,” I respond, still studying her. I’m not wanting to make her nervous, I’m just enthralled by her.
I want to learn every damn thing I can about her.
“She must have gotten over the kid thing, though, right? I mean, I’m no expert, but I’d say six kids is evidence of something.
Well, other than the woman hates birth control and loves taking dick. ”
“Wyatt!” she laughs.
“I've got to tell you I’m kind of hoping that last part runs in the family.”
“I thought we were trying to have a serious conversation,” she huffs.
“We are. I’m also being deadly serious. I don’t think I’ve made a secret of the fact that I want you in every fucking way you can think of.”
“Wyatt—”
“That said, I did get distracted. I can’t help it. I just want you. I meant what I said, though. I want to know everything about you. This includes your sister. So, finish and I’ll try to control my hunger for you.”
“I don’t think I want to tell you now,” she grumbles.
“Either tell me or I’ll spank your ass. You pick.”
“You wouldn’t dare.”
“There’s a lot I’d dare where you’re concerned, Gwen. You don’t want to test me.”
“I think I want to go home,” she complains.
“Fine, let’s go. I’ll show you what bad girls get for teasing.”
“Teasing?” she squeaks. “I’m not teasing.”
“What’s it going to be? You going to tell me more about your sister, or am I taking you home, bending you over the sofa and spanking your ass red until your pussy drips for me?”
“Wyatt!!!”
“Gwen,” I growl, the sound predatory and more than just a mere warning. I’m barely holding on here.
“She doesn’t like kids. They have a live-in nanny. Actually, two now after she had the twins. Anyway, each time she gets pregnant, she calls to tell me. Which is cool. I mean, that’s what families are supposed to do, right? Share good news?”
“Yeah, I guess,” I murmur, seeing that Gwen is getting all worked up.
“Exactly, but Cora mostly called me to let me know she was pregnant again and felt so horrible that I can’t even find a man to be interested in me and maybe I should give up the dream of having a house full of kids.”
“So, what you’re saying is your sister is a bitch?”
“Pretty much. Although it’s not just her. My brother-in-law is a piece of work, too. I try not to get around him too much. He keeps slapping my ass and trying to act like it’s a joke, but in private he does everything he can to touch me.”
“Why the fuck haven’t you told anyone?”
“Who would I tell? My sister would never believe me. She’s just as vile as he is. My mother is clueless. Thankfully, I don’t have to see them often. Unfortunately, holidays mean more family time. So, that’s on tap pretty soon.”
“Good,” I grumble.
“Good? Have you heard anything I’ve said?” she gasps.
“Yeah, I heard all of it. I’m thinking these people need to be put in their place, and I’m thinking that’s my job.”
“Huh?” she asks, looking at me adorably confused.
“I’m going to dinner with you. When do you go?”
“Friday?” she says, phrasing it as if it’s a question.
“Good, I’ll pick you up and take you to this dinner, and if your fuckwad brother-in-law tries anything, I’ll put him in his place.”
“Um, I’m not sure this is a good idea,” she whispers.
“Well, I think it is,” I grin. “Do you want to trade information again? This is fun.”
“I think I’m a little tired from sharing,” she whispers, looking pale.
I reach over and hold her hand once more. “Okay, honey. We’ll just eat, then.”
“Okay,” she agrees, looking a little thunderstruck. Damn, spending time with her is fun as hell.
Gwen doesn’t know her life is forever changed. I can’t wait to show her just how much. Shit, if I could get away with it, I’d move her into my house tonight. I wanted her before having this time with her tonight. Now, I want to lock her down. I feel more alive than I’ve felt in years.
And it’s all because of Gwen.