Brendon (26 page)

“Yes, ma’am. I’m tryin’ to anyway.”

“You’re a handsome fellow.”

Brendon couldn’t help it, he blushed. And he couldn’t help but think that made Cheyenne’s grandmother very, very happy.

chapter
THIRTY-TWO

W
hen they pulled into the hotel, the sun had already gone down, leaving them surrounded by inky blackness. Brendon parked under the portico and asked her to stay in the truck while he went and checked them in.

Cheyenne didn’t argue, her mind still reeling from how wonderful the afternoon had been.

After spending an hour talking in her grandmother’s room, Grams had requested they join her for dinner. Brendon had been the one to agree instantly and then he’d assisted Grams into the wheelchair and pushed her down to the cafeteria. Grams had been putty in his gentlemanly hands.

While they ate, Grams briefly told them about the other residents. Although it was clear she knew who they were, Cheyenne got the impression her grandmother hadn’t made many friends during her time there. That in itself made Cheyenne long to get her home, and it also made her think about ways to keep her grandmother social during that time. She made a mental note to talk to Lorrie, since she knew everyone in town and would likely have some suggestions.

After dinner, they’d taken a walk through the courtyard before escorting Grams back to her room. It wasn’t that they were ready to leave, but Cheyenne sensed her grandmother was tired. Not long after that, Brendon had held her hand as he led her out of the building, asking her when she thought she’d be moving her grandmother home. Cheyenne was grateful for his support. Leaving her grandmother there was so hard, even if she knew it was the best thing for now. Only a few more weeks and then she’d be able to bring her home, where she belonged.

The door to the truck opened and Brendon hopped in before turning the engine over and pulling forward. He drove around to the back of the building and parked. Once they were out and Brendon had their bags over his shoulders, he pulled off his cap and put it on her head before handing her his aviator sunglasses.

“What’s this for?”

“There are quite a few people inside. It’s the best we’ve got for the moment.”

Cheyenne smiled and put his sunglasses on her face, then linked her arm with his and allowed him to lead her inside. The glasses made it nearly impossible to see where she was going until they stepped inside the well-lit hotel lobby. They managed to avoid sideways looks by taking the stairs rather than waiting for the elevator. Luckily their room was on the second floor and not the seventh.

Once inside, Brendon shut and locked the door, deposited their bags on the floor and grabbed Cheyenne, lifting her off her feet and crushing his mouth to hers.

“You look pretty damn sexy in those glasses,” he told her when he put her back on her feet and backed her up until her legs hit the bed.

“You think?”

“Oh, yeah,” he growled, pressing his mouth to hers and then leaning over her until she was on her back on the bed, his big body looming above her. “And I want to see what you look like in only that.”

Cheyenne didn’t argue when he began stripping her out of her clothes. Her disappointment came when she realized he wasn’t getting undressed. When she questioned him as to why, he told her he wanted to feast on her for a little while.

Who was she to argue with a man who knew what he wanted?

“Oh, God!” Cheyenne cried out when Brendon’s tongue found her clit, circling furiously while he held her thighs open.

Fisting her hand in his hair, Cheyenne held him to her, thrusting her hips upward, grinding against his wicked mouth. She was hovering on the brink almost instantly, but then again, she’d been cooped up with him for hours in the truck and she’d had plenty of time to think about what they’d be doing when they were finally alone in the hotel room.

Not that she’d thought they’d get right to it quite this quickly, but she certainly didn’t have a problem with that.

“Play with your tits,” he instructed.

Cheyenne cupped her breasts, squeezing and kneading them while he resumed his position over her pussy, licking her, fucking her with his tongue.

It was incredible.

Her back bowed, her body straining to make sense of the overwhelming sensation.

“So fucking pretty,” he growled, lifting his head.

Releasing one of her breasts, she forced his head back down between her legs. “Don’t stop,” she ordered.

His chuckle vibrated against her clit, sending shards of pleasure splintering through her. “Yes, ma’am.”

Her orgasm took her by surprise, causing her to squeeze Brendon’s head between her thighs as she cried out. He slowed his ministrations, allowing her to come down from the sensual high before he thrust one finger inside her, fucking her slowly as he joined her on the bed.

Pulling his head down, Cheyenne crushed her mouth to his, tasting herself on his lips. His moan made her body tingle, the way he penetrated her had her climbing higher once again. She wanted to feel his naked body against hers, but he still had all of his clothes on.

“Too many clothes,” she muttered against his mouth. “Please, Bren.”

Breaking the kiss and backing away from her as though it was the hardest thing he’d ever had to do, Cheyenne propped herself up to watch as he shed his clothes. When he was naked—so gloriously naked—Brendon took his thick, heavy erection in hand and began stroking. Cheyenne couldn’t tear her gaze away.

When he took a step closer, she halted him by raising her hand. “Keep doin’ that. I wanna watch.”

Brendon’s brief nod barely registered before her attention returned to where he continued to slowly stroke himself. The man was beautiful, that was all there was to it. Long and lean, lined with rippling muscle. She would never tire of watching him.

Never.

Forcing her eyes up to meet his, Cheyenne smiled and crooked her finger, calling him forward.

He joined her on the bed once again, his cock bobbing in front of him until she grabbed him, swiping her thumb over the glistening tip. When he hovered over her, she shook her head.

Brendon’s eyes widened, confusion flashing there briefly, but then Cheyenne said, “I wanna ride you.”

In a flash, Brendon was on his back and he had pulled her atop him, making her laugh from the sudden movement. He smiled up at her, and again, his entire face was transformed from handsome to otherworldly.

“Ride my cock, Chey,” he instructed, his hands gripping her hips.

Cheyenne leaned forward, his cock nestling against her slick folds as she kissed him, sliding up and down, his thick erection stroking her clit so perfectly.

“Ah, that’s it, Chey. Make yourself come for me, baby.”

She continued to grind against him without taking him inside her body until tingles erupted along her spine. When she’d worked herself up to the breaking point, she pulled away, purposely holding herself back. Aligning the swollen head with her entrance, Cheyenne lowered herself onto him.

“Oh, fuck,” Brendon said on a moan. “You look so fucking hot ridin’ my dick.”

Cheyenne’s entire body sparked with pleasure at those words. She loved when he was vocal, when he filled the silence with dirty words. It was sexy as hell.

“Mmm. Your pussy’s so wet.”

Cheyenne focused on lifting and lowering, impaling herself on his cock while she watched the ever-changing expressions on his face. She knew in that moment that whatever it was that this man wanted, she was willing to give it to him. Anything at all.

BRENDON WATCHED THE
sexiest woman in the world as she rode his dick so sweetly. He watched the point where their bodies were joined, gliding his thumb lightly over her clit with every downstroke. He would never get enough of her. Not in a million years.

And he needed her to know that, to understand just what he felt for her.

It was possible he could’ve picked a better time to talk, but he didn’t think so.

Gripping her hips, he held on to her when she lowered herself on him, taking his dick deep inside her. Her eyes climbed up his body slowly before meeting his.

Without words, he changed their position so that she was flat on the bed on her stomach, while he kneeled between her thighs. Lifting her hips, he guided himself back inside her and then wrapped his arms around her torso and helped her up so that her back was against his chest.

Keeping her still, Brendon thrust his hips forward slowly, burying himself inside her while he held her to him. Teasing her nipples with his fingers, Brendon’s lips found her ear.

“I want to do this for the rest of my life, Chey. I want to spend fifty percent of my time buried inside your sweet pussy and the other fifty showing you how much you mean to me.”

Cheyenne’s hand came back, cupping the back of his head, her fingers twining into his hair as she turned her face sideways, nuzzling against his mouth.

“I want that, too,” she replied, rocking against him.

“I want to spend every single night with you in my bed,” he told her, hoping she’d understand where he was going with this.

Her body clenched around him, the pleasure brutal and sweet, causing him to pump his hips, filling her so completely.

“I want to wake up to you every single morning,” he whispered against her ear.

“Yes,” Cheyenne moaned.

“I want to go out on the road with you, Chey. I want to encourage you to chase your dreams. No matter what, I want to be with you.”

Cheyenne stilled, his cock lodged deep inside her. He felt her small body shake, his arms still wrapped around her.

“What about
your
dreams?” she asked, her breath so soft, he hardly heard her.

“You are my dreams, Chey. You’re everything I never thought I’d have. You’re the brightest light in my darkest days.”

Laying her down onto the bed, Brendon hovered over her, his chest flush against her back, his mouth still brushing her ear. Pumping his hips, he continued to make love to her while he spoke. “You’re everything that’s good for me, Cheyenne. This need . . . I’ve never known anything like this. I’ve never hungered for contact the way I crave yours. I’ve never felt this overwhelming emotion before. Not only do I want you, baby, I
need
you.”

Cheyenne forced him out of her body and rolled over so that they were face-to-face. Brendon didn’t waste a second, pressing back inside her, needing to be joined with her.

Her smooth fingers caressed his cheeks as he leaned into her, grinding his hips against hers as he pressed as deep as he possibly could. “I love you, Cheyenne. That’s all there is to it.”

Tears glistened in her eyes and Brendon felt his own emotions boiling over, but he held them back, desperately wanting to hear her tell him that everything he wanted, she wanted, too.

“I love you, too, Bren.” Her soft voice was soothing, like a salve to his soul. “I want to spend the rest of my life going to sleep with you by my side and waking up with you every morning. But I don’t want to hold you back, I don’t want you to be the only one compromising.”

“It’s no compromise, Cheyenne. This
is
what I want. I can’t imagine my life without you in it. Let me love you, baby. Let me love you forever.”

With his body practically flush with hers, his forearms resting on the bed beside her head, Brendon proceeded to show her. He drove deep, withdrawing slowly, repeating the motion over and over until their rapid breaths were the only sounds in the room. Cheyenne moaned, her hands sliding over his back, her eyes locked with his.

“I want all of that,” she told him. “And I promise, you won’t be making all the sacrifices. I’ll do my part. I’ll do anything, as long as I have you.”

His restraint shattered, emotion flooding him. Brendon buried his face in her neck and continued to fuck her slowly, sweetly, until her nails dug into his back. When her body gripped him tightly, her orgasm rocking her as his name was whispered over and over on her lips, only then did Brendon come, filling her with everything that he was. All his love, all his need.

She was his everything. Today, tomorrow. Forever.

And nothing would ever change that.

EPILOGUE

Three months later

“L
orrie, this is my grandmother, Aileen. Aileen, this is Lorrie Walker,” Cheyenne said when they made their way inside the Walker residence on Sunday evening for dinner.

With Brendon’s help, Cheyenne had managed to get Grams settled into her house nearly a week earlier. Although there were moments when she was still confused, for the most part, things had been going well. They were settling into a routine, getting to know one another’s habits. Cheyenne had interviewed several in-home nurses and narrowed the candidates down to two. She had introduced them both to Grams and had another appointment scheduled on Tuesday for each of them to come back for one more visit. At that time, Cheyenne would make a decision.

Brendon had also moved in, along with Scrap, which was another of the many reasons things were going so well. Grams had taken to Brendon nearly as much as Cheyenne had, and having him around made all the difference.

But most importantly, Cheyenne had come up with a plan for their future, at least regarding her career. Going out on tour was part of her job, but in the past few months, Cheyenne had realized what was most important: family. Brendon had taught her that. And now that she had her grandmother home with her, as well as Brendon, and she couldn’t forget the rest of the Walkers, she had decided to modify her tour schedules. Plans were being made so that Cheyenne would only be gone for short periods of time. No lengthy tours for now. Not until she and Brendon were ready to tackle that. Together.

“It’s a pleasure to meet you, Aileen. And I’m honored you could join us tonight,” Lorrie said, her hand gently resting atop Grams’s.

Cheyenne hugged Lorrie briefly and then pushed Grams’s wheelchair into the living room, where the others were. The attendance tonight far exceeded anything Cheyenne had ever seen. Of course all the brothers were there: Travis, Sawyer, Kaleb, Brendon, Braydon, Ethan, and Zane. Their significant others: Kylie, Gage, Kennedy, Zoey, Jessie, Beau, and V. As well as Lorrie’s brother, Owen; his wife, Deborah; and all five of their kids: Chase, Donovan, Stone, Chelsea, and Reilly.

Jared arrived with his dad, Gerald, who was Curtis’s brother; his mother, Sue Ellen; and Derrick. He joined them in the living room, introducing Cheyenne and Grams to his parents.

The most surprising arrivals, at least in Cheyenne’s opinion, were Jared’s brothers—thirty-two-year-old twins Kaden and Keegan.

It was a full house, and it seemed like the chatter had escalated the noise level a few hundred decibels. No one was sitting down, mostly because there was too much going on. Jessie carried Kate in her arms, taking her around to visit each and every person while Mason clung to Curtis’s neck as he watched everything going on around him.

It was a beautiful gathering, but Cheyenne wasn’t sure what the special occasion was.

“Dinner’s ready,” Lorrie called out. “I could use some help setting the tables.”

Cheyenne smiled. Yep, she’d said tables. Plural.

There were now multiple tables and tonight they’d been set up outside because the weather was surprisingly mild. How they’d managed to sit sixteen or seventeen people around the twelve-person table before in one room, Cheyenne had no idea. It seemed so small now, but she knew they were a close family. Overall, the house was large, but it seemed Lorrie had always wanted her children within reach, so the confined space probably didn’t bother her.

The thought made Cheyenne smile.

In fact, Brendon had informed her that Curtis was working on building an addition to the house—or at least drawing up the plans for one. Another dining area that would be used solely for dinners such as this one. There had to be somewhere around twenty-five people in the house tonight—not counting the kids or the dogs—which explained why they were moving the festivities outside.

When Brendon arrived to help push Grams’s wheelchair out onto the deck, Cheyenne moved to the kitchen and offered to help.

WHEN EVERYONE WAS
seated, Brendon took a moment to glance around at all the faces, some he saw every week, others he didn’t see nearly as often as he would like. They were all family.

The temperature was tolerable, and fans had been set up to help keep the air moving while everyone started filling their plates. Waiting his turn, Brendon looked around the table, taking in all the changes that had happened over the last couple of years.

Travis, Kylie, and Gage were sitting together, Kate next to them in her high chair.

Brendon had always looked up to Travis—they all had. Even when he ran off after high school, apparently getting hitched without telling anyone, Travis had been the guy Brendon wanted to be like. Now, watching him juggle a relationship with two people and a beautiful baby made Brendon wonder whether the guy had superpowers. He certainly wasn’t the same man he used to be, and Brendon knew that Kylie and Gage deserved full credit for that. They’d apparently completed Brendon’s oldest brother, and seeing them together was confirmation that Travis completed them as well.

Then there was Sawyer and Kennedy, the couple who looked so completely in love, it made Brendon nauseous. Okay, not really, but the two love birds certainly didn’t make it easy to look at them. Sawyer was happy, but as far as Brendon was concerned, not many people deserved that happiness as much as Sawyer did. The man had always made them laugh with his antics, and after learning the secret feelings he’d harbored for Ethan, and how all of them had inadvertently leaned on Sawyer, Brendon wondered how he’d managed to keep up such a front. But Sawyer wasn’t the kind to dwell on the negative, and Brendon wanted to believe that Sawyer did what he did because his goal was to keep everyone together. If any of them were like their father, Sawyer was it. Then again, he’d always aspired to be, and that wasn’t a bad thing at all.

Across from Brendon was Braydon and Jessie. He swallowed hard as he watched the two of them. Brendon knew he was the main reason for their slow going, but as he watched the pair now, he was content to see that nothing was holding them back any longer. Those two were meant to be.

Did it mean Brendon was completely at ease being away from his twin every day?

No. Not at all.

That was something he’d shared with Cheyenne and they were working through it. His life was full to overflowing, but his heart still felt as though part of it was missing. Braydon was that piece. When Cheyenne went back on the road, Brendon knew that he’d still feel a part of himself missing where she was concerned and he’d have to deal with that at the time, but for now, they were all spending time together. In fact, Cheyenne was helping to plan Braydon and Jessie’s wedding, along with the other women. And when that day came, Brendon would be right there beside his brother, wishing him all the best.

Of course, there were Ethan and Beau. They’d already started eating, casting sideways glances at one another. Brendon found them the most entertaining because he didn’t think that either of them realized just how much love they each projected for one another. When Brendon looked at them, he saw the pure, unaltered definition of love in its simplest and most complicated form. Those two . . . well, they were meant to be and it showed in every single move they made.

Zane and V were next, the two of them laughing and smiling while Zane rested his hand on V’s protruding belly. The guy was on top of the world these days, just as exuberant as always. After they’d nearly lost Zane a couple of years back, Brendon welcomed Zane and his obnoxious ways. There were some things in life he took for granted without realizing it, but when they were nearly stripped from him, it all came down to one thing: love. When Zane’s life had nearly been stolen from them, things had changed. For everyone. They’d grown closer, and Brendon was forever grateful for the outcome.

Kaleb was piling food on Zoey’s plate while she looked at him as though he were crazy. Brendon liked to think he was. Kaleb had been the one to set the dominoes in motion, and as Brendon looked over at Cheyenne he realized they’d all settled right where they were supposed to be.

The clank of metal on glass brought the conversation to a halt and everyone’s attention turned to Curtis standing at the end of the table.

CURTIS WATCHED AS
all eyes turned to him. Smiling to himself, he fought the overwhelming emotion that encompassed him as he pointedly made eye contact with each of his boys before speaking.

“I know y’all are probably wonderin’ what the special occasion is, so I thought I’d enlighten you,” Curtis explained, reassured by Lorrie’s warm hand on his leg. “Well, today’s not a birthday, an engagement, an anniversary, or anything like that. Today’s just a normal day, one that I’m grateful for as much as all the others. I’m not usually the type to make a speech, but I felt this was necessary because as we all sit here together, I want us to reflect back on everything that’s taken place over the last couple of years. And once that’s done, I want us to look at what’s on the horizon.

“I’m incredibly blessed,” Curtis continued, placing a hand on Lorrie’s shoulder. “Fifty-two years ago, my life was irrevocably altered when this woman agreed to marry me. I was eighteen years old and she was fifteen, which should help you to understand why it wasn’t always a smooth path for the two of us, but with love and tremendous patience—more on her part than mine—we’ve come this far.”

Everyone chuckled and Curtis’s heart swelled.

“Lorrie made me whole, completed me in ways even I didn’t understand, and for the last two years, I’ve watched my boys—each and every one of them—go through the same thing, coming to terms with their happily ever after. Kaleb would easily get the award for the most tenacious. Although the rest of us had seen it coming from a mile away—and I’ll never understand how they didn’t—it took my boy a long time to figure out what was right in front of him.”

“But I got there, didn’t I?” Kaleb asked, laughing as he kissed his pregnant wife on the cheek.

“You did. But sometimes we wondered whether that would ever happen. I’m glad that it did.”

Curtis’s gaze strayed to Zane. He swallowed the lump of emotion that formed in his throat as he looked at his youngest boy. “As for the most ornery, that one goes to you, boy. Never in all my life was I as grateful for your stubborn streak as I was the day we found you in the hospital. You fought when we pleaded for you to and you didn’t leave us. I’m not sure you truly understand the impact you have on our lives, but not a single one of us would be in the place we are today if we’d have lost you.

“And V, you gave him something to live for, even if you didn’t realize it at the time.”

Tears formed in V’s eyes and Curtis had to look away to keep his emotions from bubbling over.

“Of course, the most strong willed easily goes to Travis, and I don’t think anyone would argue with me there.”

“Thanks, Pops,” Travis responded with a grin.

“Don’t thank me yet,” Curtis told him. “I could’ve ripped you a new one when I found out about Kylie. That woman deserved so much more than you gave her, but I respect that neither of you were in the right place at the time.” Looking at Gage, Curtis added, “And there’s no doubt in my mind that they weren’t there yet because you weren’t. Although I don’t understand it most of the time, when I look at the three of you, it just makes sense.”

Gage nodded his head in understanding.

Turning his attention to Ethan, Curtis continued, “And you, son . . . well, you get the award for most guarded.” Curtis pierced Sawyer with a look before glancing back to Ethan. “My love for all my boys was the only thing that kept me together when you were hurt. I know he doesn’t like credit, but Sawyer kept me sane, when otherwise I would’ve been in jail. And that event altered my life in ways I hadn’t expected. Your mother and I sat back and watched you retreat into yourself for years. Although we hated it, we understood, which was why we let you make your own way. If there’s ever any doubt in your mind about your true worth, look to that man right there”—Curtis pointed to Beau—“and you’ll see everything you need to. He’s a superhero.”

Everyone laughed, including Ethan and Beau.