Chapter 18 Rosco
ROSCO
Axel has been sleeping peacefully on my shoulder. His tiny body rising and falling with each breath. I’m amazed at how small he is. I’m stiff from holding the same position for so long but too afraid to move for fear of waking or hurting him.
“Relax,” Bo says with a chuckle. I look up to see all eyes are on me.
My brothers, Rachel’s brothers, and Kelvin have been discussing the best ways to keep Rachel and the twins safe from Reginald Vena.
I’ve only been half paying attention, too worried about the little man on my shoulder.
“He’s tougher than he looks. He is a Robertson after all. ”
Forcing myself to relax, I manage to smile at the men in the room. “He is a Robertson,” I agree, patting his tiny back. Marley enters the room, carrying a tray of food. She places it on the coffee table in the center of the room.
“Rachel made you guys some snacks,” Marley says while leaning over to kiss first Markus and then Luke. “How are my boys?” She starts to raise up, but Luke grabs the back of her neck with his free hand, pulling her down for a deeper kiss.
Seeing them so happy causes a pang of longing in me.
I need to see Rachel, to touch her, to make sure she is coping well with everything.
I might not be able to keep her, but I can comfort her in her time of need.
But first, I’ve got to lay Axel down without waking him.
I consider asking Marley for help, but she’s already headed back into the kitchen.
Bo looks up when I begin to ease out of my seat.
He’s always had the uncanny ability to read my mind.
Most of the time, I find it annoying, but right now, I’m thankful.
He comes over, and gentler than a man his size should be able capable of, he lifts Axel off my shoulder and cradles him against his chest. Now that I’m free to move, I stretch my back while still seated.
“That sounds great to us,” Ricky says, catching my attention, “but I doubt Rachel will be okay with it. Maybe if Rosco suggests it, she’ll be more receptive.
” My eyebrow raises at that comment. Truth be told, whatever they’re wanting Rachel to agree to is less likely to happen if I ask her.
Arguing is our thing. At least it had been until today.
“What is it you’re wanting me to con Rachel into?” I ask. All the men chuckle.
“I knew you weren’t paying attention,” Enos accuses and receives my glare for his comment. “Your mind hasn’t been on the conversation since Rachel left the room.”
“I was caring for Axel,” I defend, feeling guilty, because Enos isn’t wrong. My mind has been on Rachel and little else. “Now, what’s up?”
“We think we should be home schooled for the rest of the year,” Nicky answers. “Rachel won’t like it because it’s our senior year, and she wants us to do all the normal stuff.” When we all continue to stare at him, he continues “You know prom, senior skip day, graduation…” The rest nod.
“You can’t do those things if you’re on home schooled?” Bo asks quizzically.
“No, dumbass, they can’t.” Luke leans over but can’t reach him with the baby in his arms. He looks at Nicky. “Smack the back of his head for me.” Nicky’s face turns beet red as he looks from Luke to Bo and back again. “I’m serious. Whack him good.”
“He’s not gonna whack my head,” Bo says with an eyeroll. Then to the boys, “I’m sorry if I sounded like an idiot. I just didn’t know.”
“It’s fine,” Nicky answers, still blushing. He’s the most sensitive of the twins.
“For the record,” Ricky adds, “I would’ve whacked your head.” We all burst into laughter, knowing he would’ve. Nicky shoves him.
Laughter drifts out from the kitchen and catches my attention.
The sounds of the women talking and laughing as they move around my kitchen preparing our meal is comforting.
I’ve never had a woman here before, not even my sisters-in-law.
It should feel intrusive to have them in my personal space, but it doesn’t. I like it. A lot…maybe too much.
My kitchen is a room that rarely gets used. More often than not, I eat at one of my brother’s homes or grab take out from Baby Girl’s. I’m sure they couldn’t find anything worth salvaging. Thus the reason for the guys carrying in bags and bags of groceries.
I can’t imagine what they are cooking that required so many groceries. My kitchen is probably in shock. It’s never had so many people or so much food in it at one time since I’ve lived here. The need to see Rachel is pushing me to move.
“I’ll go talk to Rachel about it,” I inform the room. “You guys want anything to drink? Not sure what I have other than beer, but maybe I can find something for you two.” I gesture to Nicky and Ricky.
“Whatever you have is fine,” Nicky answers.
I rise to my feet and head into the kitchen. I need to get Rachel on board with the boys being homeschooled and bring the guys some beer. Yeah, that’s why I’m heading to the kitchen, but if I’m being honest, I just want to see my woman in my kitchen.
Pausing in the doorway, I watch her cutting up vegetables on a cutting board I didn’t remember I had. She looks even more beautiful in her element, cooking and laughing with her friends. Warmth fills my chest. I need her here more than I need to breathe. I’m so fucked!
Rachel, seeming to feel me watching her, lifts her eyes from her task.
The intense connection that I feel whenever I look at her blazes between us.
Her face softens into a gorgeous smile. She takes me in from head to toes and back again.
Her pupils flare, letting me know she likes what she sees.
When our eyes meet again, I grin and push off the door frame I’ve been leaning on to walk around behind her.
“Something smells delicious, angel,” I murmur, wrapping my arms around her waist. To my delight, she leans into my embrace instead of elbowing my ribs like I’d expected. “What are you fixing for dinner?”
“Roasted chicken, mashed potatoes, steamed broccoli, cauliflower, and baby carrots with cheese sauce, and yeast rolls,” Rachel replies, glancing over her shoulder at me.
“Mmm, sounds scrumptious,” I rumble in her ear. Gooseflesh rises on her arms. “I can’t wait to eat,” I whisper suggestively. She shivers from head to toe.
I have plenty of fantasies of us together. Perhaps once we’ve sent everyone else home for the night, she’ll want to act them out. The room is suddenly too quiet. Lifting my head, I see my sisters-in-law staring at us with delighted grins.
Enos wanders into the kitchen, his eyes raking over the scene. A huge grin forms on his face. “I thought you were coming to get us beers?”
“I was, but I got sidetracked.”
“Yeah, I can see that,” Enos smirks.
“What the hell is smelling so damn good, ladies?” he asks, strolling to the fridge to grab a beer. “You want one?” he throws over his shoulder at me. I nod, not releasing my hold on my angel.
Shelby answers Enos’s question, but I’m not really paying attention. I’m distracted by how hard my dick is getting while my arms are around my woman. I drop a kiss to the side of her neck, inhaling her delicious scent.
“What do you want for dessert?” Rachel whispers back, turning in my arms to face me. She’s pinned between my body and the island. I stare down at her beautiful hazel eyes, getting lost in their depths. I lean next to her ear and lower my voice, because this is for her ears only.
“You,” I answer honestly. “I want to eat your sweet pussy and drink down your essence when you come. You okay with that, angel?” She jerks back, her eyes widening in shock at my bold, crude words. After a moment, she nods, and a smile ghosts over her face.
“I should have admitted I was running from the mob months ago,” she mutters, turning back to her task.
I frown, not sure I heard her correctly. I gently grip her wrist that’s holding the rather large chopping knife to still her movements. I don’t want to get stabbed if I piss her off by pushing too much.
“What was that, angel?” I question her. She looks over her shoulder at me, shaking her head.
“Nothing,” she answers, ignoring me, and she begins cutting the carrots. The only sound is the rhythmic clack of the knife. Three pairs of eyes are on us. I glare at them and get a round of chuckles in return. The room is suddenly empty, leaving us alone.
“Tell me what you meant by that comment,” I demand, easing the knife from her hand and urging her to face me. She turns, looking up at me so sincerely it burns.
“I said,” she begins, her voice stronger and louder, “I should have admitted I was running from the mob months ago.” She crosses her arms over her chest in a defensive position, but it only enhances her breasts, which are very distracting, but I force myself to look at her and stay focused.
Her bottom lip protrudes in a pout. I just want to bite it.
“Yes, I agree, but why did you say that?” I probe, unable to figure out where this conversation is going. She studies me another minute before she rocks my world with her answer.
“If I’d known that’s all it would take for you to get your head out of your ass and notice me, I’d have done it a long fucking time ago,” she sasses.
“I’ve been suffering for months wanting you.
Taking care of the need myself hasn’t been satisfying.
It would’ve been so much better with you, but you’re too damn stubborn. ”
I’m at a loss of how to respond, so I just stare at her trying to get words from my brain to my mouth, but all the blood flow has headed south to my other head. Rachel’s hand pressing on my chin to close my mouth brings me out of my stupor.
“Angel,” I groan, pressing my pelvis into her body. “I’ve been suffering, too. Since the night you walked into Jay’s, I’ve had a hard-on for you.” A satisfied smirk comes over her adorable face before becoming very serious.
“Then why?” she asks, her voice laced with hurt. “Why have you avoided me and acted like I don’t exist?” She deserves to know the truth, but will my answers drive her away? Either way, I owe her the truth. She deserves someone better than me.
“I’m not good enough for you, angel,” I admit, brushing a lock of hair off her forehead and tucking it behind her ear.
Admitting it causes my chest to ache, but I can’t lie to her.
“I can’t ever be what you deserve. You’re an angel.
I’m a demon. There’s no way we could ever work.
” She frowns up at me. It does nothing to detract from her beauty.
It only enhances it, making this all the more difficult.
“I don’t believe that,” she says forcefully.
“But even if I did, opposites attract, so your point has no merit. We could be amazing together if you’d only give me a chance to show you.
” Her hands slide up my chest to my shoulders.
They clasp around the back of my neck, tugging gently to pull me down for a kiss. I can’t resist.
She may have initiated this kiss, but I take control of it.
I spear my tongue into her mouth and devour her.
My hands slide down to cup her luscious ass cheeks, pulling our bodies as close together as possible.
One or both of us groan. I’m so lost in the moment I’m not sure where it comes from, but it feeds the need I have for her.
Her hands roam over the back of my head before they move downward, burning a trail wherever she touches me. Our tongues dance around each other, caressing, teasing, and fueling our desires. My hands are roaming, too.
After squeezing her ass and pressing her belly into my erection, my right hand slides up to cup her breast. Kneading it until I can easily feel her nipple through the fabric. I’m so lost in her, in this moment, that I don’t hear footsteps approaching until it’s too late.
A throat clears and lifts the haze. We break the kiss, breathing heavily.
I release her breast but keep my hands on her waist. Unable to let go, I drop my forehead to hers while our breaths mingle as we fight for control.
Realizing I need her more than life itself is shocking, but holding her feels right.
Rachel’s cheeks are flushed, whether from embarrassment or from the kiss, I don’t know. Still, she makes no effort to pull away from me, which makes me feel ten feet tall.
“Sorry to break up the make out session,” Ricky says with a smirk, “but we are all starving, so could you take this to the bedroom while they get dinner ready? We’d all appreciate it.”
Rachel shoves against my chest. I reluctantly step back and give her room to turn around.
“I…it’s not…we’re not…” Rachel stutters, her face even more flushed than before. Ricky holds up his hand.
“Look, don’t be embarrassed,” he begins. “Nicky and I have known you had the hots for Rosco since the first time we met him. And I’ve seen the way he looks at you, like he wants to devour you.” Now I’m the one about to protest, but he continues, so I keep my mouth shut.
“I know you still think of us as kids, Rachel, but trust me when I tell you, Nicky nor I are inexperienced. We know what it’s like to have needs, desires, and not be able to act on them.
Like I’ve said before, we know you put us first, instead of taking care of your needs.
I’m just glad you guys finally figured it out.
” He picks up a raw carrot and pops it in his mouth. “Now, can we finish dinner?”