25. Deacon
DEACON
“Idon’t look like that, right?” my brother says to Arden, and I shake my head as I turn to look at the two of them.
“Of course not,” she coos with false reassurance that has him giving her a side-eye and making her grin.
“There’s nothing wrong with the way I look,” I defend, leaning against the counter and trying to hide my smile as she teases him.
Before Arden, my brother had been closed off and alone.
He never had much of a social life after the military and even less when our father passed away.
Seeing him with Arden now feels like I’m seeing Jude get a new lease on life, and it fills me with the kind of joy that resonates on a cellular level.
“We just like seeing you happy,” Arden says brightly, snuggling into Jude’s side as Salem naps in her room.
I wanted to hold her, but Arden told me in no uncertain terms that if I interrupt the baby’s sleep schedule when they’ve finally managed to get a few consecutive hours overnight, she’s revoking my godfather status.
I know she’d never do it, but the threat alone is enough to keep me parked in the kitchen until my little angel wakes up.
“It’s probably too soon, but I think he’s it for me,” I admit, throwing think in there instead of know so it doesn’t seem like I’m completely head over heels for Tanner in such a short time.
It’s only been a few weeks since Tanner straddled me on his couch, but it feels like everything has changed.
Everything is so much better.
He finally let me take him out to a small concert venue where the Tin Can Aficionados were playing. The ska band is one of my favorites, and it was the first of many great nights. We’d added axe throwing, dinner dates, a whiskey tasting, and plenty of nights at his house or mine to the mix too.
It’s incredible. Being with Tanner has forced me to slow down and enjoy the ride, just like Otto told him, but it’s true. So many things I’ve taken for granted I now get to experience through Tanner’s eyes.
Connection.
Sensations.
Multiple orgasms.
It’s exhilarating and I wouldn’t trade it for anything even though I’m dying to get my mouth on him—to have my dick inside him.
Tanner is worth the wait, and I have a feeling when we finally cross that line, it’ll break me into a thousand pieces before putting me back together.
Being with Tanner has already changed me, but reaching that level of intimacy will mark a piece of my soul no one has come close to touching.
“And he’s a single dad; that’s totally hot,” Arden says, drawing Jude’s accusatory gaze.
“Think so?”
“I only need one daddy in my life.” Her expression is wolfish as he narrows his eyes. “So you can blame my sister for making me be in her book club because hot single dads is a thing.”
“We’ll discuss that later,” my brother rasps out with more heat than annoyance, and I feel like I’m interrupting something I definitely don’t want to be around for. “Have you met his kid yet?”
“Uh, kind of. He was at Vetted Paws when I was there to help Sorren so I met him then, but it wasn’t in the capacity of me dating his dad.”
Arden points at me and then looks at Jude with wide eyes. “See? Dating his dad… You can’t tell me that’s not hot.”
“It is pretty hot,” I confirm but my brother ignores me.
“I don’t know if it’s the baby or you that makes me more tired.”
“She’s cute but I suck your—”
“And on that note…” I laugh, rubbing the heels of my hands into my eyes like that will erase the last thirty seconds. “Arden, I love you, but please don’t ever start a sentence like that again.”
“Sorry.” She blushes but she’s already moved closer to Jude on the couch. “I’ll let you know when Salem is up and you can have all the time you want.”
“Great, I’ll see you guys later.”
“Do you know what the worst part is?” Tanner asks as I sit in his kitchen later that night, the questions sounding more rhetorical than anything else.
“What’s that?”
“On top of actually dating in my thirties, I have to basically date these parents and figure out who I can tolerate because apparently my son, through some weird kind of extrovert osmosis from his bonus father, is now friends with everyone.”
“Extrovert osmosis?” I manage to repeat without completely breaking into a smile as Tanner huffs as he stalks around the kitchen.
“He sure as hell doesn’t get it from me or Fallon.” I snort out a laugh and Tanner slams his hands on his hips. “This isn’t funny. I had to listen to this guy talk about his new grill and smoker attachment for an hour and then he wanted to invite me to go golfing.”
“Everyone loves a good smoker.”
“Be serious.” He huffs and I nod solemnly as I stand and move toward him.
“I am. Also, golfing sounds fun.”
“I hate golf,” he grumbles as I cup his face in my hands.
“Know what will make you feel better?” I tease, leaning in to press a kiss to the corner of his mouth.
“Not having to golf or pretend I care about any of the parent gossip?”
“I mean, sure, that too,” I agree, my hand sliding down his chest until I’ve reached his belt, “but I thought sucking your dick would help alleviate some of that stress.” The emphasis on the last word is accompanied by yanking his belt open with enough force that his hips jerk toward me.
“Oh.” He swallows hard, his Adam’s apple bobbing as I flick open the button on his jeans.
“Tanner?”
“Hmm?”
“When I’m down on my knees for you, I’m gonna need you to fuck my mouth.” Eyes wide and hazy with lust, he keeps his gaze on me as I drag the zipper down. “I know you can get wild and you know I can take it.”
“Fuck.”
With one hand braced on the edge of the counter behind him and the other holding the back of his neck, he watches as I lower myself to the floor, taking his jeans and boxers with me until they’re pooled at his ankles.
“Spread your legs, Sweetheart, nice and wide.”
The buckle of his belt clinks as he adjusts for me, his dick hard and bobbing and so damn tempting, I can’t resist sucking the head into my mouth as I grip the base.
Tanner moans, the muscles of his abs clenching as I use my tongue to wet the underside before taking more of him and hollowing out my cheeks.
“Holy shit.”
I hum as I swallow, working him until the head of his dick hits the back of my throat—and then I hold him there before pulling off and doing it again.
Tanner curses, his hips rolling the slightest bit.
And that just won’t do.
Gripping his balls, I squeeze, his body jerking as he cries out, his dick falling from my mouth as I stare up at him. “I told you to fuck my mouth.”
“I feel like I need to work up to that.”
“I think you should do what you’re told,” I taunt, his lips parting and his eyes hooded as he watches me suck my index finger into my mouth.
Without finesse, I release it with a pop before taking his length to the back of my throat, relishing when he moans and threads his fingers in my hair.
Good boy.
With my slick finger, I tease the sensitive skin behind his balls, his hips starting to find a rhythm that has his orgasm building fast. Knowing my time is limited, I press the tip of my finger against the tight ring of muscle of his ass, drawing little circles as he loses control, his hips flying and his fingers tightening.
He roars my name as his release spills down my throat, the head of his dick still buried as far as it’ll go, his face the most exquisite mask of pleasure.
Unable to resist, I breach his hole enough to make him gasp, his knees practically giving out as he releases my hair and grabs the edge of the counter with his other hand.
“Fuck, fuck, fuck.”
Humming in approval, I swallow around him one final time before gently pulling off and standing, my eyes never leaving his as I trace my thumb over his full bottom lip.
“See? You like bein’ told what to do.”
He chuffs out a disbelieving laugh. “You’re out of your mind if you think you weren’t playing my body like a marionette. I never stood a chance.”
“I loved watchin’ you come undone.”
“That right?”
“Perfection, Sweetheart, absolutely delicious perfection.”