25. Paxton
That evening, I settled my palms on either side of Hana, caging her against the countertop. I’d patiently waited for hours—which had seemed like years—to get her alone.
My mother had gone to her bedroom, which was good because I had to touch Hana right now. I was desperate to love her—to reconfirm our love for each other.
She stilled, a sponge in her hand, as I ran my nose along the side of her neck. “It’s time.”
She tossed the sponge on the counter and whirled, throwing herself against my chest. Her arms wrapped around my neck as her legs worked their way up my thighs until her center was poised over mine.
“Fuck, Han. Fuck.”
I didn’t have any other words. That’s what she did to me—what I sought to do to her.
“We have some fantastic, caring friends, Pax, but I’ve been needy for you all day, and it was pure torture waiting for them to leave. I mean, Naomi might have raised a glass to me if I’d said I needed a quickie in the pantry, because I really, really considered it. But I wasn’t sure five minutes with your dick would be enough.”
I chuckled darkly against her neck, loving her dirty talk and dirty thoughts—especially since they mirrored my own. “Well, now you’re mine for the night.”
She shivered and pressed herself closer. All the wonderfully depraved things I craved to do to her rushed back to the forefront of my mind. Nothing was going to keep me from her now.
The doorbell rang.
“Ignore it,” I said.
Hana was too busy licking and sucking on my neck to answer.
The bell rang again.
I ignored it as I carried her toward the back stairs and up the steps. But when the doorbell rang a third time, Hana sighed.
“Mood killer.”
I grumbled, but I couldn’t disagree.
I set her down, letting her slide along my body, giving my dick a much appreciated massage on the way. We walked hand-in-hand to the door, and I opened it to find my father and two older brothers on the front step.
“Took you long enough,” grumped my oldest brother, Devon.
Hana and I shared a look and a frustrated sigh. “Why are you here?” I asked.
“Um…Mom said you wanted Dad to come so you could beat in his face and ask him why he was such a douche,” explained Hugo, my middle brother.
That’s when I noticed how they were gripping Dad’s arms, to ensure he couldn’t get away.
“No one’s resorting to violence,” Dad said between clenched teeth. He tried, and failed, to get loose from Devon and Hugo.
Oooh, that must be driving him crazy, to be overpowered by his sons, forced to face his wrongdoings in front of the whole family.
“Nope.” I closed the door in their faces and locked it. I turned to Hana and smiled. “Race you up the stairs.”
“Paxton.”
I growled.
“That wasn’t nice.”
“I don’t care,” I said. “My father doesn’t deserve the title, and my brothers interrupted something far more important than Dad’s half-assed apology.”
“We can hear you,” Devon called.
“It’s hot out here, and there are mosquitoes,” Hugo added.
“Not my problem, you bunch of lying assholes!”
“Hey, don’t call me an asshole,” Hugo yelled. “I held Dad in his seat! Dude’s old but strong.”
“Well, Mom kind of was an asshole, too,” Devon argued. “I mean, she did go along with Dad all these years?—”
Mom gasped from behind me, her face stricken.
I glanced back at her. “Mom’s not an asshole,” I yelled through the door.
“Nowhere near as big an asshole as Dad for cheating on her,” Hugo replied.
“Yeah, Dad’s the worst,” Hugo spat. “Really lousy role modeling.”
“I can hear you,” Dad said.
“That’s the point,” Hugo said.
“You have to let them in before they start brawling on the porch,” Hana whispered.
“No, I don’t, and this is entertaining.”
“Pax.”
“What?”
Hana sighed as she shook her head. “Your brothers are absolutely bonkers.”
I crossed my arms over my chest and leaned against the wall. “All true.”
“And they’re literally all of our family.”
I stared at her, my dreams of spending the night balls-deep inside her crashing into terrible puffs of smoke. “Not all. There’s still Aiki.”
Hana raised an eyebrow. Mom hovered, wringing her hands but not interfering. I had to appreciate her restraint because part of me did want to punch my father.
I sighed as my attention returned to Hana. “You want me to open the door.”
She shook her head. “You need to open the door.”
She wasn’t wrong, but that didn’t mean I liked her pointing it out. “Is this what married life is going to be? You as my conscience?”
“You’re getting married?” Hugo gushed. He slapped his palm against the glass. “Show me the ring. Our baby bro’s getting married!”
“When’s it going to be?” Devon asked. “Are we invited? We better be! We did you a solid bringing this asshole out here for you to pound on.”
I unlocked the doors but didn’t bid them enter because my casa was not their casa. Maybe I shouldn’t have been angry at Devon and Hugo, but I was, because they’d helped Mom and Dad keep Hana’s accident and injury from me.
“Pax asked me earlier today,” Hana said. Her shy smile beamed, making me feel ten feet tall as Devon held her hand, staring starry-eyed at the ring.
“It’s beautiful,” Mom said, still behind us. “Paxton did such a good job.”
“Always knew you were going to marry her,” Dad said. He looked like he’d stepped in horse manure, but he could deal.
“Yeah, I am. Despite you.”
“It wasn’t that I didn’t want you happy, Paxton,” my father began, trying to bluster his way out of the situation.
I stared at him, and he deflated. “What will it take to get you to leave?” I asked.
“That’s no way to talk to your brothers,” Hugo said.
“Some brothers you proved to be—you backed Dad when he asked you not to tell me about Hana’s accident.”
Devon had the decency to look ashamed. “We didn’t know Dad was a cheater and a liar,” he said. “He said you were too wrapped up in Hana, and…we agreed. That’s on us, and I feel bad about it, but look! You two figured it out despite our meddling, so it’s clearly fate.”
“We should have told you,” Hugo said. “I’m sorry we didn’t.”
“Yeah, scout’s honor,” Devon said, crossing his heart with his index finger.
“Again, what’s it going to take to get you to leave?”
“Paxton,” Mom chastised. I ignored her.
“We thought we’d take you to dinner,” Devon said with a sigh.
“Don’t want to go.”
“Then close your door so you’re not air-conditioning the neighborhood. Invite us to sit so we can hash this out,” Dad said.
I shook my head. Unbelievable. “Why? You lied. I found out. Then, when that didn’t work, you tried to make sure I wouldn’t ask Hana to come to Houston. I couldn’t understand why you came to that game, talking that nonsense about Hana. But it’s all come out now, hasn’t it? You finally had to come clean that we might be related. Thank God it’s that bonehead Aiki instead. So really, I’m not impressed with any of it, and I wish you weren’t related to me at all.”
Dad swallowed. “I’m sorry, Paxton. I didn’t think it would come to this.”
“That’s because you’re a lying, scheming?—”
Hana slid her palm against mine and leaned against my side.
I took a deep breath. “Close the damn door,” I muttered. Hugo did so.
We all stared at each other.
“Want something to drink?” Hana asked.
“I could use something,” Hugo said. He shot Dad a cranky glance. “We had to chase him across the damn state.”
“He did a runner,” Devon said cheerfully. “Shows you what we’ve had to overcome in the personal-fortitude department.” He rubbed his hands together. “I heard Houston has good beer. I hope you have some of the local stuff.” Devon owned a brewpub in our hometown and had been getting more serious about both beer and cider.
“I just want to sit quietly and not listen to Dad try to explain why he thought having an affair, especially with Mei Sato, was a good idea.” Devon grimaced. “No offense, Hana, but your mother wasn’t the nicest of women.”
“None taken,” Hana said. “She and I didn’t get along. You guys got way luckier than me in the mom department.”
My mother smiled at Hana, doing an expert job at ignoring my father, who was sending out help me! vibes. I was pretty proud of her resolve. After making him the center of her world for over thirty years, Mom was showing her strength, and I had lots of faith that Dad would rue the day he’d met Mei Sato—and not just because he’d fathered Aiki.
“Rosemary—” Dad began.
“Drinks are a good idea,” Mom said. “I’ll help you.”
Hana squeezed my hand before she and Mom headed to the kitchen, which left me with the three men I’d looked up to my whole life.
I realized, as I studied them, that neither of my brothers nor my father was infallible. They were human. Monstrously so. But they weren’t bad people, particularly my brothers. Weak, scared, pathetic at times—sure. But I was, too. Especially during the funk after Hana and I parted.
“Before you say something else that’s absolutely true but a little mean, I want you to know I’ve already told Dad all of the mean things. I’ve called him lots of names for you and for Mom,” Devon continued. “And I’m particularly pissed off that he’s the reason we’re related to that fuckup.” His face was earnest as he gestured toward Dad.
“Hey! I didn’t know!” Dad protested.
“You guessed, and like a jerk, you picked the good kid instead of the one who acts more like you,” Hugo said. “I mean, he’s probably exactly what Dad deserves in a son, really. He got really lucky in Dev and me. And Paxton’s exceptional. So, Dad totally deserves Aiki.”
“That’s not really fair to Aiki,” I countered. “I mean, he probably figured it out or was told about the affair at some point. Remember when he was little? He used to be fun. One of my best friends.”
“He did,” Dad said. “Figure it out, I mean.”
“And you still ignored him?” Devon asked, lip curled in disgust. “Some man, some father you are.”
“I was worried about losing you boys! Your mother?—”
“You let a kid in need of love suffer.” My stomach heaved.
Hugo pursed his lips. “We were the better option.” He shrugged as if his statement made Dad’s behavior acceptable.
I was really glad we lived over a thousand miles from them now—especially Dad. Being any closer would drive me bonkers. As it was, we’d have to figure out how to juggle my travel schedule and Hana’s new position with NASA we ever wanted to get together.
Did I want that?
Dad looked up at me. His expression was morose. “I was wrong, and I’m really sorry.”
“How sorry?” Hana asked from my side. “Because my brother deserved a lot better than he got from you.” She included Devon and Hugo in her glare. “Any of you. Did you stop to think that maybe, just maybe Aiki wouldn’t have turned to self-loathing and drugs if you’d shown him the kindness and love he deserved?”
I wrapped my arm around her shoulders and kissed Hana’s temple. I really loved her all fired up. That passion was addictive—and hot.
“Do we have to be nice to him?” Devon whined.
“Hana’s right,” Hugo said. “It’s Dad who sucks. Not Aiki.”
“He sucks, too,” Devon said. “He’s in prison.”
“He still our brother,” Hana said, eyes narrowed. “All of us. And you will treat him as such.” She turned on my father. “And you. You’d better start visiting him.” She bit her lip. “I probably should, too. I…I’ve been so mad at him, but now… Well, maybe I can understand him better.”
“We’ll visit, if that’s what you want,” I said.
Hugo sighed. “We’ll all make an effort to rehabilitate Dad’s spawn.”
“Speak for yourself,” Devon said.
As my brothers quibbled and my father appeared lost, my mother filled glasses with ice and I cozied up with my beautiful, brilliant fiancée. She looked over at me, a question in her eyes. Did I really want to give this up? Sure it was messy—even ugly—but it was our family.
I wasn’t sure I wanted more of our crazy, somewhat dysfunctional relatives, and I wasn’t sure I was ready to forgive my father his lies and cowardice. But I wouldn’t write everyone off. That was a knee-jerk reaction. I shouldn’t make those. They tended not to be the smartest choices.
We’d work out our family situation on my terms. Well, mine and Hana’s. She and I would determine what we wanted together.
“I’m sorry,” Dad said again. He turned to Mom, yearning clear in his expression. “I’m so sorry.”
* * *
“That was really awkward,but I think we handled it pretty well,” Hana said as she finally shut the door and flicked the lock. It was late, and I had to be at practice early tomorrow.
“Yeah. We did. Because we’re a good team, Han. Always have been.”
She bit her lush lip and peeked at me from her lashes. “I wanted them to leave sooner.”
“Did you now?” I asked, my tone husky.
Hana tipped her head and looked at me. “Well, what are you waiting for?”
“I don’t?—”
Hana’s fists found her hips. “You promised to worship every inch of my body, Paxton. I expect you to keep your pledges to me. That’s how I’ll stay anxiety-free and trusting.”
The last few words she shrieked because I’d picked her up and sped toward the stairs, which I took two at a time. After shouldering my way into the bedroom where Hana had been staying—and I planned to sleep in from now on, too—I placed her gently in the center of the king-size bed and began to unfasten her sandals. “Too many clothes,” I muttered.
Hana giggled and lifted her hips, allowing me to tug her pants down her legs. Her panties, pretty, silky scraps that I loved nearly as much as I hated them for covering that pretty prize between her legs, followed.
And then I started at the arch of her right foot and kissed my way up, up, up her leg until I rubbed my nose against her pubis. Her sweet little moans and pants had me grinding my hips into the mattress, but I persevered, starting on her other leg, kissing my way over the roadmap of scars up to her center.
This time, Hana gripped my hair and shoved my face right where we both wanted it. Her moan drowned out my groan as I licked and sucked at her clit.
“Paxton!”
I smiled as I worked her over, keeping my touch light enough to make her vibrate and gasp, but not enough friction to send her over into the orgasm we both desperately wanted.
“Paxton,” she growled, tugging at my hair.
I lifted my head, licking my lips. I pushed up her filmy top and pressed kisses into the soft give of her belly before making patterns with my tongue along her hipbones and up her ribs.
“Paxton!” she cried.
“What do you need, love?”
Her eyes were fierce, daring me to defy her. “I want to strip off your clothes and sit on your dick and ride us both into orgasmic bliss.”
“Yes, please,” I said, smiling sweetly. I rolled to my feet and reached for my jeans’ snap.
Hana tutted. “I said I was going to undress you.”
I let my hands fall to my sides, enjoying the thump of arousal that caught me low in the belly. Assertive Hana was awesome.
She pushed my shirt upward, rising on her tiptoes as she bunched the folds at my shoulders. “Off,” she said.
I complied, my movements stuttering as she raked her teeth across the hard little nub of my nipple. “I don’t know how long I can?—”
“You’ll hold on,” Hana said. She rested her cheek against my ribs, her left hand with the engagement ring, splayed across my abdomen. I loved the sparkle of the diamonds. I loved the ritual of the engagement ring that proclaimed to the world that I’d asked Hana to be mine and she’d said yes. I took a breath and released it slowly as I cupped her cheek.
“Need a condom,” I gasped.
“I’m on the pill,” she said.
“And you’re okay with… God, Hana, now I can’t stop thinking about being bare inside you.” I groaned.
“Yes. I want that, too. Nothing between us.” Her beautiful sherry eyes gleamed as she hovered over me.
“Never again. No secrets, No lies. No barriers.”
She kissed her way up to my jaw before heading downward where she swirled her tongue around my belly button as those nimble fingers popped open my jeans. With another quick motion, she unzipped the pants, and they slithered off my hips, piling atop my sneakers. I toed those off before Hana slid her hands under my briefs. She scraped her nails lightly along my hips before shoving the material down my thighs. I hissed as my erection bounced out of its confinement, ruddy and already weeping with excitement.
Hana’s warm breath hit the head, and I shifted my head back to stare up at the ceiling, needing something to ground me as she licked my shaft from root to tip, humming appreciation as if it was the best-tasting treat.
“Hana,” I groaned. She suckled the sensitive tip and raised her eyes to meet mine. I slid my hands into her silky, dark hair. “You are stunning.”
She swallowed a bit more of my length, and my thighs began to quiver. Since yesterday morning, when we’d gotten the genetic results, I’d been desperate to sink inside her, show her how much she meant to me—rub myself all over her so we knew we belonged to each other.
“Hana,” I whispered, cradling her skull gently.
She popped off, and I bit my lip to stifle the groan. She took my hand and tugged me onto the bed where she made short work of our remaining clothes. I slid my hands up her supple back, enjoying her curves, while she crawled over, positioned herself above me, and sheathed herself on my hard dick.
“Gah! Hana! That feels fantastic!”
My hands settled on her hips—as much to ground myself as her. She placed her palms on my pecs and raised herself a few inches before settling back down. Over and over she went, riding us both toward that bliss. I lifted my legs to cradle her butt and give myself more leverage to meet her downstroke.
Soon we were a sweaty, sticky mess of limbs and moans. Hana’s sweet gasps drove me harder, and my thighs trembled with my imminent release. My balls drew up, and I powered into her again and again, even as I reached over and rubbed her clit with my thumb.
She bowed back, mouth open, a silent scream, as she shuddered and milked my turgid shaft. I plowed into her once, twice, before my semen boiled out of my balls and up my erection, into Hana’s welcoming body.
We lay together, her head on my chest, my hands spanning her shoulders and cradling her head. I stared up at the ceiling, unseeing, desperate to catch my breath.
When her cheek bunched, I smiled, loving that she was smiling against my skin, loving that we were still connected. Loving her.
“I’ve always loved you,” I murmured.
“I know.”
“I always will.”
She smiled again and turned her head to kiss me. “I know.”
I lifted my head and peered down at her. “You got anything else to say to that?”
She nodded. Settling her chin on her stacked hands, she said, “I think we should get married next month.”
I grinned so hard my face ached, but it was a small price to pay for this level of happiness. “A June wedding, huh?”
“Yep. I always wanted to be that cliché.”
“You’ll be the most beautiful June bride ever. Let’s do it.”
“Cool. Well, that’s settled.” She shifted her hips and raised her eyebrows. “Think we can go again.”
I rolled us, still joined, until I was over her. I pressed my still semi-hard dick back into her welcoming warmth. “Baby, I keep telling you: anything for you.”