Chapter Thirty-One #2
“This is why I want to stay,” she says, fingers sifting through my hair. “I want to raise our family here. I want our children growing up with their uncles and grandfather close by. I want to erase the bad memories of this town and create beautiful ones…with you.”
Every word conveys exactly what I want too, it’s all I’ve ever wanted. For my family to be in one place. There is only one more thing that would make this perfect…
“Marry me,” I say without hesitation, quickly pushing on before she can deny me again.
“Marry me because I love you and I want to spend my life with you. I want you to walk around this town with my last name, wearing my ring, and carrying my babies. I want every person to look at you and know you’re mine. ”
Tears fall down her cheeks as she rests her hand on the side of my face. “I’ve always been yours,” she whispers, eyes sincere.
“Then say it.” My fingers grip her hips. “Tell me you’ll marry me.”
I wait with an imprisoned breath, praying she finally says what I’ve been wanting to hear—what I feel like I’ve been waiting my whole life for her to say.
“Yes,” she rushes out quietly, another smile spreading across her lips. “Yes, I will marry you.”
The air releases from my chest in one swift motion, relief flooding me. “It’s about fucking time.”
Her laughter drifts through the air but is effectively cut off when I climb to my feet and claim her mouth, the taste of her seeping into my heated blood and rushing through my system like the sweetest drug.
“I love you so much,” she cries as I lift her off her feet.
“I love you too, baby.”
She wraps her legs around my waist, her hot center coming in direct contact with my growing cock.
Groaning, I slip my hands under her skirt, cupping her ass to bring her closer. “I want you so fucking bad right now. It makes me hard to know my baby is growing inside this beautiful body of yours.”
“Then take me,” she breathes, granting me permission. “Right here.”
A growl works its way up my throat as I walk a few steps into the bathroom, kicking the door shut behind us before setting her down on the counter. Her sharp breath fans across my face, her need fueling the potent one I have roaring in my veins.
Her hands are eager and frantic, removing my shirt before mine slip up her skirt to tear her satin panties from her hips.
My fingers delve through her wet heat, testing her readiness, and finding her fucking soaked.
Her head drops back on a fiery moan, my greedy lips consuming the exposed skin on her neck, tasting, biting…
marking, all while she fumbles with my belt.
The moment my cock is released, I waste no time lining up to her entrance, but like always I pause, waiting for permission.
Now more than ever before.
Her soft gaze holds mine, hands framing my face. “I want you, Justice. I always want you.”
It was all I needed to hear before sliding right into fucking heaven.
Slow.
Deep.
Mine.
My head swims with pleasure, warmth exploding through every cell of my body.
“I love feeling you inside of me,” she moans, wrapping her arms around my neck, bringing us skin to skin, the scent of her shampoo filling my senses. “It’s always so good. So right.”
“Yeah, baby. We’re fucking perfect together.”
Every drive of my hips is slow and precise, just like they have been the last few nights I’ve taken her. She’s with me every second, our bodies moving together, creating a raging inferno, our heated breaths fogging up the mirror.
It’s always like this between us, the need, the urgency; it’s always there, consuming us both. It could set this whole fucking place up in flames. I will never get enough of it, never have enough of her. Even more so now that I know she’s going to give me another baby.
“We’re going to have lots of kids, Ryanne,” I tell her, the words coming out on a growl. “I want you constantly pregnant.” The thought drives me fucking wild, pushing my cock deeper.
“I want that, too,” she admits breathlessly. “I want a big family.”
Grasping her hair, I pull her head back gently, needing to look into her pretty face, my lips hovering only an inch from hers. “Forever.”
“Forever,” she repeats back.
I pick up speed, my fingers gripping her hips while hers bite into my shoulders. It sends a trickle of heat to lick down my spine.
“Justice.” My name floating past her lips like warm silk is the only warning I get before she’s coming apart, her face soft and sweet as pleasure takes over.
I claim her mouth once more, inhaling her cries, and let them take me with her, my cock driving in one last time before I empty myself in her warm body.
She drops her forehead on my shoulder, our damp skin colliding, hearts pounding against the other as we fight to catch our breaths.
My head turns, lips pressing to her temple. “I promise to make you happy, Ryanne. I’ll take good care of our family.”
She leans back, bringing her warm eyes before mine and frames my face between her slender hands. “You already do.” Leaning in, she presses her smiling lips to mine in the briefest contact. “Come on, let’s clean up and tell the others.”
Within minutes we’re walking across the yard, hand in hand. Hannah’s laughter greets us, drifting through the air as Braxten tosses her above his head and catches her. Thankfully, the fucker finally went and put some clothes on.
The sound of her laughter carries a promise for the future. A future I will never take for granted as long as I live.
All eyes swing to us at our approach, their smiles fading.
“Time to go?” Hannah asks sadly, clinging to my brother.
“Actually, there’s been a change of plans.” I look at each one of them as they all remain silent. “Ryanne and I have decided to stay.”
Their excitement explodes through the air; Hannah’s being the loudest of all as she hugs Braxten’s neck.
“Well now, that’s great news, son. Really great news,” my dad says, coming over to pull me in for a hard hug before doing the same with Ryanne.
“What changed your minds?” Braxten asks.
“We wanted to stay close to you guys.” I look down at Ryanne, unsure of how much she wants to announce just yet. At her smile and nod, I relay the rest. “Ryanne is pregnant and has agreed to marry me.”
Another round of cheers sound throughout, my father growing emotional as he pulls Ryanne in for another hug. Braxten places Hannah down on the ground, he and Knox following behind as she races into my arms. “I’m really going to be a big sister?”
“Yeah, what do you think about that?” I ask, even though I already have a pretty good idea.
“I think it’s amazin’. I promise to be the best big sister ever.”
“I have no doubt, baby.”
She reaches for Ryanne next who accepts her eagerly. “Our wish came true, Mama,” her voice is a gentle whisper in Ryanne’s ear.
“I told you, never stop wishing.”
Braxten congratulates me, his fist knocking with mine. “You leave for ten minutes and manage to knock her up and get her to marry you. Now that’s some skill, brother.”
We share a laugh while Ryanne rolls her eyes.
He moves to her next, curling an arm around her shoulders since my father now has Hannah. “If it’s a boy you’re going to name him after me, right?”
She gives him a playful elbow. “Not likely. The last thing we need is any more rumors in this town, Braxten Creed.”
She’s got that right. Though, rumors are nothing my brothers and I aren’t accustom to.
Knox extends his hand to me next, approval on his face. “I’m happy for you, man.”
Taking his offered hand, I pull him in for a hard hug.
“I’m glad you’re staying,” he murmurs for my ears only.
“Me too.”
He directs his attention to Ryanne after, congratulating her as well.
“Thanks,” she whispers, her smile indicating how much his words mean to her.
“This calls for a celebration,” my father says. “Why don’t we head inside for a big breakfast. Hannah J. and I can make our famous chocolate chip pancakes.”
“With whip cream and strawberries,” Hannah adds.
We all agree and are about to head inside when the sound of a car coming down the long gravel driveway stops us short. The vehicle rolls to a stop and a moment later Gwen steps out holding a plate of cookies.
“Gwen,” my father greets her, looking as surprised as the rest of us. Apart from the other night, I am pretty sure she has never been here before, definitely never for any social calls.
“Hello,” she greets us, looking more than a little nervous.
My father hands Hannah off to me and walks over to her.
“I didn’t mean to interrupt,” she says quietly, “but I made these for you and wanted to bring them by.”
“Gingersnaps,” he says, taking the plate from her. “You remembered my favorite.”
“Of course. I’ve never forgotten any of your favorites.” She blushes at the admission, awkward silence filling the space between them. My father shuffles his feet, sharing a smile with her.
“Jesus,” Braxten mutters, leaning in close. “This is fucking brutal to watch. We need to teach Dad some moves.”
I grunt, having no desire to do that. I’m not used to seeing my father like this, and I’m not quite sure how I feel about it.
I respect Gwen, even more now that she helped bring down the founding families, but when it comes to my father we are as protective over him as he is us and the last thing I want is him getting hurt.
“Well,” Gwen says. “I’ll let y’all get back to your day now.” She turns to leave but my father stops her with a hand to her slender shoulder.
“Would you like to stay and celebrate with us?”
“Celebrate?” she asks.
My father gestures over to the group of us. “Ryanne and Justice are getting married and giving me another grandbaby.”
“Oh how wonderful,” she gushes, genuine happiness radiating from her. “Congratulations to you both.”
“Thank you,” Ryanne says with a smile.
“Come and eat with us,” my father insists. “We were just about to make some brunch.”
“My and Papa’s famous pancakes,” Hannah interjects proudly.
“That sounds lovely but…I wouldn’t want to intrude.”
“Nonsense.” My father wraps an arm around her shoulders, giving her no choice but to follow. “We’ll sit out on the porch after and you can hear how good my granddaughter is at singing the blues.”
“Well, I’d like that very much.”
The rest of us follow, all gathering in the kitchen.
It doesn’t take long before the meal is prepared and we’re taking our seats around the table, laughter filling the room while my father’s favorite music plays from the radio.
Hannah sits on his lap with Gwen next to them, hanging on every word they say.
I glance over at my brothers, all three of us sharing a look, a silent exchange in this one moment, and something my father said long ago emerges: “Family is what we make it and whom we make it with. They aren’t always blood or the people who brought us into this world, but they are always loyal, true and love without fault. ”
I’m pulled from the thought when Ryanne reaches for my hand beneath the table, giving it a gentle squeeze before gifting me with her radiant smile.
A feeling of contentment settles over me, stronger and deeper than ever before.
I never thought I’d be lucky enough to have this.
I thought I’d be alone forever until Knox and Braxten came into my life.
Then we figured it would always just be the three of us, fighting to survive in a world that gave up on us, until Thatcher Creed changed it all, taking in what no one else wanted and making us a family.
I didn’t think it could get any better, but then the woman next to me changed it in ways far greater than I could have ever imagined.
She broke through my defenses, turning my world upside down, and made me a father to a little girl I love in ways I never thought I was capable.
A love and devotion I will continue to give them for as long as I live.
*