11. Carmine
Carmine
The evening has been hectic as hell. Far more so than I ever remember with my own girls. However, they didn’t live with the instability that Noa’s kids obviously have. They always knew where home was and what was happening in the world around them.
We got home well after dinnertime, but thankfully, Becky had prepared sandwiches and fruit, which were waiting in the fridge for consumption. After the girls were bathed, Noa took them to bed and read them a story before passing out right there on the mattress the two are sharing for the night.
Joey had some homework, so he’s sitting at the counter island in the kitchen working on it while I make us a snack. He’ll have to go to bed soon, and I want to spend a few minutes with him before then.
“Need any help?” I slide a bottle of water towards him, but he shakes his head. “Need to talk about anything?” I’ve noticed all evening that something has plagued his mind.
“She’s not our mom,” he shares.
Shocked, I gently close the fridge door and wait for more. It’s not what I was expecting, but I keep quiet because it’s clear he’s got more to say. Grabbing a bag of chips from the cupboard, I pour some into a bowl and place it in front of Joey as he gathers his thoughts.
Reaching for a chip, he pops one into his mouth, chews, and swallows before looking up at me with a guarded expression. “Noa has always protected us. Put us first. She took the beatings meant for Mom. Stood up to Dad when he would come at me.”
Christ, this kid is too old for his young age.
“Sounds like she did what any sister or mother would do.” My admiration for her grows with every word he speaks.
“Yeah, I guess.” His head drops, and I hear him sniffling.
“When Mom died having Emma, Noa was over every day. She would make bottles so we could help feed the baby, but Dad, he didn’t care.
So Noa got a lawyer, started taking videos and pictures, she reported everything, and we saw Social Services a lot.
By the time Emma was eight months old, Noa had custody of us. ”
“You sound like you feel some guilt, Joey.” The heavy set of his shoulders is a dead giveaway.
“I made Dad mad, and he hurt Mom because of it.” Shit. That’s too much for the boy to carry by himself. “She’s dead because of me.”
Rounding the counter, I sit next to him and turn his chair to face me, so he sees how serious I am.
“Men are supposed to protect the women and children they love. At all costs. Weak men attack those who are smaller, and there’s nothing anyone can do to stop it.
That’s how I know that whatever you did, his attacking your mom was not your fault. ”
“You don’t know what I did, though.”
“Doesn’t matter. You are not responsible for the actions of grown adults.
” I can see my words start to sink in, but he’s not entirely convinced.
“One day you’ll understand better, but right now it’s difficult because you only see the wrongs happening around you, and the one person who’s trying to help keeps getting knocked down too. ”
“How do I fix it?” Joey’s light eyes meet mine for the first time.
“You trust someone who wants the same things as you—to protect your mom and sisters.” Spotting Noa in the kitchen entrance, I stay silent to see if he understands what I’m saying.
“Like you?” He doesn’t sound nearly as skeptical as I’d anticipated.
“Yes, like me.”
“She loves you, you know,” he says.
My brow rises at Noa, and she covers her face.
“That’s what I want.”
“Do you love her?” His tone hardens, sounding like the protective brother.
Meeting Noa’s eyes, I answer him honestly. “I do. More than I ever thought I could possibly love another after my wife died.”
Joey sits up straighter. “Your wife died?”
“She did. When my daughters, CJ, Odette, and Aura, were young girls. I thought she was the love of my life, and in the time I had her with me, she was. But your sister…mom…” I correct and notice Noa’s face has gone slightly pale.
“She’s made me think about love again, and when I first met her, I knew she could be my second great love. ”
“And us?”
Brushing my hand across the top of his head, I cup his nape and ensure he’s got his eyes on me. “Whether she’s your mom or your sister, it doesn’t matter. She sees you as hers, and I see you as mine, if you’ll let me.”
“I don’t know.”
“You’ve got loads of time for me to show you I’m worthy of your trust. We’ll take it one day at a time.” He nods, and I pull back, gesturing towards Noa so he sees her.
“Mom.” He’s startled and worried about what he told me.
“It’s time for bed. Did you finish your homework?” Watching as she holds out an arm for the boy, he doesn’t hesitate to hug her, and they share a few hushed words before he says goodnight to me and rushes upstairs.
“Mama, what are you doing out of bed?” I thought for sure I would have to collect her from the girls’ room.
Ignoring me, she instead asks, “Are you mad?”
“Why would I be mad?” I counter, so I can get a better sense of what’s going through her mind.
“I lied to you. Said they were mine. Didn’t correct you, them, or myself about being their big sister, and they only call me Mom because Emma does. I’ve been the only mom that sweet angel has ever had.” A sob resonates from her chest.
Pulling Noa into my arms, I wrap her up in me so she can have the freedom to cry if she needs to.
“I’m not mad, mama. I won’t lie, though.
I was a little homicidal at the thought of another man fathering your children before me.
” Tilting her chin, a lone tear slowly glides down her cheek.
“I admire you. You’re so incredibly brave to take on the care of those kids at a time when I bet you were trying to grieve your own loss. ”
“They needed me.” Her eyes close as I brush my lips across hers, loving how soft she is. How easily she submits for me. This woman is everything I’d never known I was looking for in life. “Someone had to take care of them.”
“But who took care of you?” Her lids pop open to stare at me in shock. As if it were never even a thought. “From now on, that’s me. I’ll take care of all five of you.”
“I can’t ask you to do that.”
“You’re not asking, I’m telling you that’s how it’s going to be.
” Licking at the seam of her lips, she opens for me, and I don’t hesitate to sweep my tongue into her mouth while scooping her body up into my arms. “Tonight, I’m going to start with you.
” I’ve been dying to get my mouth and hands on her body since that night we had together.
I didn’t have her nearly long enough, and I’ve spent every night since then regretting it.
“Bossy,” she teases, nipping my lip.
“When you’re being stubborn.” After she protests that she’s too heavy for me to carry, and I ignore her, I kick our door shut gently and place her on her feet at the side of our bed. “You look good in here.” Kissing her cheek, the warmth of her blush makes me grin. “Strip.”
I chuckle at her scandalized gasp as I move to the closet to grab one of the maternity nightgowns I purchased for her. Buttery soft silk in a cream color, one tone lighter than her skin. I’m dying to get it on her.
I frown as I reenter the room. She’s still fully clothed except for the slippers and socks she’d been wearing. “You need help?” I ask. I’ll cut off the clothes if I must.
Shuffling on her feet, Noa bites her lip until she winces. “No one’s seen me naked since, well…you.” Ah, so she’s shy.
Laying the nightie on the bed, I begin to remove my own clothes before silently working on hers. Maintaining eye contact, Noa sucks in a sharp breath as I pull her shirt up and over her head, leaving her in nothing but the plain white bra and leggings that provide support for her belly.
Brushing my lips across hers, my eyes drop to study every inch of exposed skin.
“Stunning.” Hooking my thumbs into the waist of her pants, I catch the cotton of her panties as well and drag both down her body.
I kiss over her belly, licking at the stretchmarks just now making an appearance, and rub my face in the small patch of hair at her pelvis, and inhale deeply.
Glorying in her natural scent and loving how sweet she tastes.
“Lift your foot,” I demand. She does so, steadying herself with her hands on my shoulders.
“Carmine.” A soft gasp escapes as I flick my tongue out to touch her clit. Swollen, needy, begging to be played with. “Please.”
“I love when you beg, mama.”
Getting to my feet, I reach around Noa’s back to unclip her bra. She allows it to fall between us as my mouth waters at the new sight. Her areolas are huge, a darker pink than I remember, and Jesus, they need a good sucking.
Lowering my head, I capture a nipple between my lips and suck hard. Noa’s back bends as she pushes more into my mouth. My hands circle her back and hold her steady as I move between each breast, which are now nearly double the size from the day I met her.
Picking her up, I lay her on the bed, following her down until she’s flat on her back, with a nipple still captured by my mouth. My hands massage the firm globes while she rubs her pussy up and down my thigh between her legs.
“Oh god, Carmine, please.” She scrapes her nails along my scalp as I proceed down her body, kissing and licking everywhere I can, with her legs spread wide for me to feast on her core.
I bury my face in her sweet cunt, sucking in a sharp breath while brushing my face across all of her, so her scent soaks my beard. With her legs sprawled open, keeping her the way I want, I draw back enough to see her pussy split wide, pulsing with need to be filled up deep.
“I’ll never tire of this sight,” I say, languidly drawing my tongue from bottom to top.
Noa tries to push herself closer to me. “Fucking delicious. I could live off eating this pussy alone. You know that, mama?” She whimpers, and her hands drop to the blanket beneath her, clenching her fists tight.
Lapping at her like a kitten, I take my time slurping up her delectable juices and rimming her tight hole with the tip of my tongue until she starts cursing at me.
“I swear to god, Carmine, if you don’t stop teasing me, I’ll never let you have another taste.” She glares fiercely, and I arch an eyebrow at her threat.
Holding her stare, I latch my lips around her clit and suck while pushing two fingers inside her slippery cunt. Her body is ready to erupt, and I release her pearl, earning me a murderous glare from my woman.
“Not a fan of threats, mama.” Her head drops back, but she doesn’t say anything.
Instead, she pushes herself up, slides a hand between her legs, and rubs her clit herself.
Obviously, she’s familiar with her body because it doesn’t take long before she’s on the cusp of that orgasm I denied.
“Fuck, that’s hot.” I don’t know whether to be pissed and shove her hand away or enjoy the show.
“It could be you,” she whispers, panting, “tasting, teasing, swallowing.” A deep moan escapes her, and I know she’s seconds away. “Giving me what I want.”
This fucking woman. I slap her hand away, bite her clit until she cries out, then suck on it while flicking it with my tongue, savoring her screams as she unravels, gushing on my hand while I massage her inner walls.
Building her orgasm higher until she’s limp and panting, her body vibrating with pleasure.
Gliding up Noa’s body while shoving off my boxers, I slip my cock into her pulsing core and slowly begin to fuck her into another orgasm.
I capture her mouth and fuck her with my tongue in the same rhythm as my cock.
I keep her in place, my hands in her hair, piercing her eyes with my own while controlling our pleasure.
Her legs lift to wrap around my hips, and we groan together as I go deeper, bottoming out in her succulent body.
“Don’t take that from me again,” I hiss as she tightens around me.
“What?” Her little smirk tells me she knows exactly what.
“My fucking orgasms. Those are mine to give and take.”
She pouts. “You didn’t like it?”
Dropping my head to her chest, I pull back and powerfully slam back in, making her breath catch. “I fucking loved it, but those are mine.” My ears nearly ring as my own brutal release races forward, and I groan as I pulse inside her pussy, soaking her in my cum until I can’t breathe either.
A gentle orgasm pulses through her body at the same time, and I don’t know which one brings me more pleasure.
Licking up her throat, she offers her mouth, and I spend so much time making out with her that my dick grows hard again, but when she hisses, I know her body has had enough for tonight.
“Tell me you love me, Noa.” Her eyes water, and she bites her lip.
“I love you, Carmine.”
I take her lips again before helping her into her nightie and tucking her into bed next to me. Holding her close, feeling our baby move for the first time as she falls asleep in my arms.
I don’t know how the hell I lucked out so fucking well, but I’ll never let her go. Never let those kids go. Which means I need to deal with their father. Make sure he understands that Noa and the kids are off limits and the consequences should he seek them out once he’s out of prison.