Chapter 15
Chapter 15
IRIS
I ’ve always known the details around my mother’s death are shocking. The autopsy report claims her heart gave up and she died from natural causes. However, after watching the horrific video, I’m plagued with a million questions. Is it possible the medical examiner missed such an obvious cause of death? There had to be bruising and stress fractures or something. The video was kind of grainy, but even I’ve seen a few television shows with strangulation cases and what evidence is left behind in those deaths.
Flashes of the last time I spoke to her rotate through my mind, sending me straight into a panic. It’s taking everything in me not to let the terror win, allowing the sordid details to spin out of control and shove me face first into hysterics. It’s hard to concentrate on anything at the moment, aside from what my guys are doing. They have a way of keeping me rooted and I need their stability more than anything right now.
Kingston sends me a soft glance, looking worried, then punches in some numbers on his cell. “I need details on Jack Kensington.” His stern voice disappears down the hallway as he takes a phone call. I have no idea who he’s talking to, but I’m certain they’ll do whatever he demands.
“Come with me.” Beau grabs my hand, linking our fingers together and leads me out the door. “Deep breath in, exhale slowly,” he murmurs, taking in our surroundings to make sure it’s safe. “Walk next to me and with each step, take a breath. I want you to concentrate on that one thing, nothing else.” Beau’s calm words ground my mind in peace and even though the chaos is swirling just overhead, I find that allowing the fresh air to fill my lungs is more soothing than I’d expect.
He leads me down the beach, not saying a word. His presence alone is enough strength to ease my racing heart. “Thank you,” I whisper as another tear slides down my cheek. I can’t seem to stop crying; it’s like I’m mourning all over again for my mother. She didn’t have a peaceful death as I’d been told, but was killed by the person who should’ve loved her the most. I’m not only crying for her absence, but the brutality, the fear, and the pain she must’ve felt in her last few minutes of life.
My poor mother.
He slides his arm over my shoulders and pulls me in close as we continue to walk away from the beach house. His manly scent hits me and I can’t help but to lean into him and draw another deep inhale. I need him everywhere right now. “I’ve wanted this kind of normal with you for almost ten years. I want to be here for you when your heart hurts. When your world is out of control and even more so when we finally get our happy ever after.”
“That’s the best dream, Beau. I want it, too.”
“I think it’s our reality. Kens, I will do anything for you, just say the word and I’ll handle everything. King and I will erase anything or anyone who threatens your happiness.” I listen to what he’s saying and even more importantly what he’s not. The kind of pressure that puts on me is suffocating and I can’t comprehend what it is I want right now. Hearing what my father has to say for all of this is necessary before I can make a decision that would haunt me forever.
“Not yet. I need to think.”
“I’ll be here when you change your mind.” He tugs me closer to the water, pulling off his shoes one foot at a time and tossing them up the beach. I copy him, doing the same, while never breaking my hold of his hand.
He leads me into the cool, refreshing water, pausing when it hits about mid-calf and then we continue our walk away from the house. A pier just ahead garners my attention, beckoning me closer as the waves slosh around the support columns.
The waves crash louder as we get closer, the both of us slightly unsteady on our feet as the ocean reminds us of its magnitude.
He repositions our hands so that our fingers are intertwined tighter, palms meeting, and begins to rub small circles with his thumb. Just like he did when we were younger.
“I remember you doing that when we were kids. It used to make me act like a dumb schoolgirl with a crush.”
His eyes flash to mine, confusion swirling in his stare as he asks, “Huh?”
“Rubbing my hand like that.” He stops his thumb to acknowledge what I’m referring to before starting up again. “I used to love it.”
“You don’t like it now?”
“I love it more, now.” He smiles at my admission and tugs me against his chest. We collide as the waves cause me to sway and lose my footing a bit.
He stops and grabs my face in both of his palms, positioning me so I align with his. “I used to love this .” He peers into my eyes, while we linger an inch apart, close enough to share the same air. Our souls are communicating so deeply that words could never accomplish such an intensity. After a beat of silently taking each other in, he leans down, kissing me.
Softly.
Slowly.
Purposely. As if there’s nothing else in the world, nor anywhere else we should be.
“I love this more now, too.” His responding smile warms me, making me so happy about where I am.
The dark cloud of my past is still a lingering thought barely out of reach, but I’m not allowing it to steal this moment. Rather than circling the drain of darkness and facing all of the unknowns right now, I choose to distract myself with Beau. It’s easy with him, I’ve always loved his touch. Reaching up, I lace my hands around his neck, and allow him to lift me so my legs wrap around his waist and I’m face to face with him. He holds me effortlessly, walking us a few more steps until my back presses against a column. The pier above amplifies the rush of water all around us, while at the same time shielding our bodies from the watchful eyes above.
Water splashes up the column, soaking the lower half of both of us, making me gasp and break the kiss. “Oh my god, it’s so cold.” The contrast from the coolness of the water and the heat radiating off of his body forces a chill through mine. We both start laughing as a large wave slams into us. His hold on me never falters, even though my back scrapes against the column a little from the current shifting us.
“Ever fucked anyone in the ocean, baby?” His brow lifts at my question before the smirk slides over his face.
“I actually haven’t.” The gleam sparkling in his eyes is full of promises and threats of what’s to come and I can’t wait. My mouth takes his, eagerly deepening our kiss, igniting the fire already burning between us.
Shifting upward on his body, I reach between us to lower his shorts. He uses one hand to hold me in place, while shoving down his waistband with the other before slipping a finger into me. It all happens in one quick delicious motion, making me writhe against his body, owning every insatiable craving I have.
With a past like Beau and Kingston have, it’ll be hard for us to experience any firsts together. I’m going to hold onto this one and ride it like a fucking queen. After all, it’s not all the first’s that count the most, but the lasts. I want to be the last one Beau and Kingston do any of this with.
I move up and down on Beau until I drive him to the point he takes over. His grip on my hips lifts and slams me back down on his dick, never breaking his pace. His passionate kiss catches my sounds as I squirm and moan, my body vibrating with pleasure. Finally, the warmth of his cum is shooting deep inside me, making my eyes roll heavenward at the sensation.
“Fuck, baby. My dick is going to be raw with you around,” he huffs, momentarily out of breath. I know it’s not far from the truth. The past thirty-six hours have been a race of trying to make up for lost time. Sure, I’m sore, but there are some things you seriously want to tough out. Connecting with Beau and Kingston is long overdue and not something I’m willing to push off any longer. If they crave me enough to want to fuck me ten times a day, each… then I’ll welcome it. Hell, at this point I’m the one initiating it.
He guides me as I slide down his body until I’m steady enough to stand on my own. My wet dress sticks to my body, just like his shorts are to his. We both adjust them while making our way to drier sand. His cum coats the inside of my thighs and I can’t be bothered by it. If anything, I want it there, reminding me he’s all mine.
He reaches for my hand again, while strolling back in the direction of the house. His shoulders are less tense, his body relaxed and I can’t help but keep sliding little glances his way. I love this man. We walk in a comfortable silence, both of us caught up in our respective deep thoughts.
Once we make it back to where we tossed our shoes, Beau speaks up. “I’m sorry about your mother.” Coming from him, I know he’s sincere and it warms my chest. Of course he’s thinking of me; he always puts me and Kingston first.
“I am, too.” There’s nothing else to say. I mourn the loss of my mother daily… but now, I feel a lurking depth of sorrow I’ve never experienced on its way. I have to grieve the loss of a father I blindly thought I knew, even though he was not much of a parent… I never imagined he’d be this kind of monster.