Climbing Out (23 page)

“Deanna,” Grady said, his tone holding that familiar warning.

“This is great and all, but I'm bored,” Jason sighed. He flung the knife just as a boom echoed in the house and a loud crash of glass breaking filled the room, all of it happening in seconds.

I went crashing to the floor when a large form tackled me.

Dazed and confused, I looked up at Grady where he stood above me. If he was there, then who in the fuck was on me?

Blinking, I turned my head to see Pick staring back.

“You all right, Hell Mouth?” he asked. I nodded.

“No time for sleepin', you two. We gotta do a quick clean-up. I'm sure one of your neighbours has called the cops by now, darlin’,” Grady said and reached a hand down, and as Pick got off me, I placed my hand in it and he pulled me up to stand.

I looked over to Jason, wondering why he wasn't saying anything, only to find my answer.

“Dammit, Grady, you killed him,” I snapped and stomped my foot.

He chuckled, grabbed me and wrapped his arms around me. “There was no way that fucker was going to wreck what we've got.”

I gave him an eye roll. “Well, I know that, but you could have let me do it.”

“Next time, darlin'. You were just lucky that knife didn't plant in your head.” He gestured with his chin. I looked over my shoulder to see a knife in the wall behind where I had been standing.

Fuck me. I could have died if they hadn't been there.

“Thank you,” I muttered and glanced to Pick, who was now wrapping a dead Jason up in some plastic. Where he got it from, I didn't know, and I didn't care. “Both of you, thanks.”

“It's what families do for each other,” Pick said.

“Ain't that right.” Grady smiled. I grinned back up at him.

“I love you,” I said.

His eyes transformed in front of me; they became hooded and heated. His smile widened into a shit-eatin’ grin.

“We choose some funny moments to tell each other.”

I laughed. “I know, but I love it—this, you and every moment we have, no matter the situation—as long as we're together.”

“Fuck yeah.” He gave my body a squeeze. “As long as we're together.”

“Now get your sweet arse to helping Pick. I hear some sirens on the way,” I told him with a wink.

“Bossy, bitch.”

Grinning, I said, “And you love it.”

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One Month Later

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Deanna

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E
xcitement and nerves swirled through my body. I felt all girly and shit, wanting to squeal, clap or jump up and down. My man was on his way home, and I had a surprise for him. Two, actually. One, I wasn't sure how he'd react to...okay, I wasn't sure how he'd react to either of the surprises, which was why I was so fuckin' nervous as well.

Everything had settled down after that night, after the cops left believing our story. We told them Grady had been drunk—which he acted out fuckin' superbly—and had fallen through the window, and once they saw he was no threat to me, they left. Pick ended up bringing around Travis's car. They loaded up Jason, and as far as I knew, they found a special place to get rid of the body—a place I was told no one would find. I didn't want to know where exactly, because I didn't care.

I was free.

It was as if a weight had been lifted from me. No, it would never help the grief I still felt for the loss of the Drakes, but it did ease it enough I knew my life would now be lighter.

Also that night, Grady had gotten a call waking us in the middle of night; it had been Killer. Stoke had pulled through his operation and was on his way to mending. Things couldn't be better—well, unless Grady liked his surprises, then things could get even better.

I heard the front door open from where I stood in the kitchen.

“What in the goddamn hell is that?” Grady yelled.

I grinned. He'd found my first surprise.

Heavy footstep pounded and I looked to the doorway. He came in wearing his usual jeans, tee and biker vest over the top. He started straight for me.

“Deanna Drake, what is that fuckin'
thing
in the living room in a playpen?”

I backed up. He stopped at one end of the kitchen bench, and I was at the other end smiling like a fool.

“That, babe, would be your surprise.”

A tiny yip came from the living room.

“What is it?” he growled. “No, don't fuckin' tell me. It ain't staying. It's damn ugly, woman, and I don't want Swan gettin' attached to something that isn't staying around.”

With my hands on my hips, I glared. “It fuckin' is staying, arsehole. Swan is going to love it, just like I do, and I know you will...eventually.”

“No, I won't,” he yelled, and then calmed enough to ask, “Where is Swan?”

“She's at Zara's. Drake and Ruby love her. We'll go get her soon. Plus, I told them I wanted to surprise you with Oscar.”

“What's Oscar? That
thing
?”

“He is not a thing. He's a Pomeranian and cute as a button.”

“Fuck. Do you hear yourself?
Cute as a button?
My woman doesn't say that shit. He's changing you already.”

“Well, it's time I did, and besides, I got him for a good reason.”

“What? To use as a fuckin' mop? It's that damned fluffy enough.”

I giggled. “No, smartarse, I thought...”

“What, darlin'?” he prompted when I paused.

“I...he, um. I thought...that, well...he'd be good practice. I mean, he's a puppy, and he’ll have needs and shit, so I thought we could have a bit of practice for when the time came when we'd... um, maybe have a baby.”

Holy shit. That was harder than I thought it would be.

I glanced up to see Grady's eyes were wide.

Maybe it wasn't a good surprise after all. Goddamn it, I shouldn't have gone off the pill. I only missed that morning’s, so I could do a catch up. We'd just have to not have sex for twenty-four hours...or some shit like that.

I jumped when I felt a hand caress my face. With his fingers under my chin, Grady turned my head to look up at him.

He seemed calm now. “You mean, you want to have a kid with me?”

“Um...yes?”

He grinned so wide his molars were showing. “First things first,” he said, and I raised my eyebrow at him.

He got down on one knee.

My heart wanted out. I was sure it would have crawled outta my mouth if I wasn't clenching my teeth together so hard. Tears filled my eyes. Was this really happening?

“Deanna Drake, the moment you came into my life, it changed. I love how you fight back. I love that you don't take shit and that you know when to be sweet, sexy, mean and bitchy. But most of all, I love
you
, every fuckin' way you are—and yeah, even when you're moody. I want to know if you'd be willing to put up with me and the way I am. Will you marry me?”

“Damn you for making me cry, but it's a yes. Hell yes, I'm more than willing to put up with you and your demanding ways.” I smiled. His eyes softened as he pulled out a gold ring with a beautiful princess-cut diamond out of his club-vest and slid it on my finger.

As he stood, my tee came up and off, and thrown to the side. He kissed me hard, sweet and long.

Coming up for breath, I asked, “W-what are we doing? We have to go get Swan and introduce her to Oscar.”

“Later, I’ll let those two meet, but right now, we gotta get down to business,” he said and kissed my shoulder. His hands reached around to unclasp my bra. He pulled it from my shoulders, threw it to where my tee was on the floor and then palmed my breasts.

“What business?”

“Making a baby. I want this to happen as soon as fuckin' possible. I cannot wait to fill you with my seed and for it to stay there to make a miracle.”

Well, hell. When he said it like that, how could I resist?

I ripped his tee over his head and dropped it to the floor. My hands went to his jeans. Popping the button, I slid down the fly and gripped his hard cock tucked inside, making him hiss.

My jean shorts were undone and pushed down my legs with my underwear.

“Spread 'em,” Grady growled. I did; I moved my feet apart enough he could run a finger over my folds. With ease—because I was so fuckin' turned on and wet—his finger slipped inside, and then pulled out to rub against my clit.

“Shit,” I uttered. My head fell forward to his chest as I gripped his dick harder and ran my hand up and down his length.

“Step outta your pants, darlin',” he ordered.

After I did just that, he wrapped a hand around each of my thighs and picked me up to sit on the kitchen bench, my hand falling free of his boxers—not that it bothered me, because I knew what was coming next. I watched as he rid himself of the rest of his clothes.

He stood back, his cock at full attention and his eyes on me. He licked his lips and then grinned. “Put your feet up on the edge of the bench, knees wide for me.”

“Grady,” I warned. I didn’t want to play games; I wanted him now.

“Deanna, do it.” He glared.

With an eye roll, I brought my legs up and parted them far apart so the most intimate part of me was on display.

“Beautiful,” he hissed. “Fuck, please play with yourself,” he asked and wrapped his large palm around his dick and started to stroke it.

I ran my hand over my breast, down my belly and outlined my folds with a finger. His heated, hungry eyes ate it all up.

Dipping one finger into my hole, my head fell back and I moaned, only it turned into a gasp when my hand was pushed to the side and Grady's mouth was on my pussy, licking and tonguing me all over.

“Jesus. Fuck, that feels good, Grady,” I hissed when he gripped my hips tightly and drove his tongue straight into me over and over.

“Oh, hell. I'm gonna—”

“Not yet,” he growled. He stood with his cock in his hand and stepped forward. He lined his dick up and slowly entered me, and his thumb slid over my clit. There was no way I could have held off. My walls gripped him tighter as I came around his entering dick.

“Darlin', Christ,” he snarled. He reached for me, and with a hand on each arm, he pulled me up. I wrapped my arms around his neck as his folded around my waist. Our lips met and as we kissed; the taste of myself on his mouth was something erotic. Grady slid back and forth in an agonizingly slow motion, and I loved every fuckin' second of it.

His lips left mine, and I met his warm gaze. “Are you ready?”

“Yes.”

“Fuck, woman, I'm gonna come any second. We're about to make something special.”

I gripped his arse and smiled. “May not happen the first time.”

“Fuck that,” he growled. “It will with my swimmers.” He grinned. “Christ,” he hissed as he moved his hand from my hip to in-between our bodies, and with one flick on my clit, a moan left my lips as I came once again. With a grunt and then a groan, Grady pumped his seed into me.

He pulled back and looked at me. I knew I was smiling like a fool; I liked the thought of having him inside of me. Even though we'd done it many times, this time was exceptional.

It was something else.

It was us.

“We're in this together,” Grady said.

“Together.” I nodded and reached my hand up to touch his cheek. “I can't wait.”

“Me neither. Even if you do drive me nuts, it'll all be worth it.” He smiled. I gave him a light slap on his cheek.

His eyes widened. “You wanna play rough? Give me a minute and we'll play it my way.”

I laughed. “We can't. We have to get Swan.”

“Bullshit. She won't mind waiting,” he said as he slowly slid his cock out of me.

“We have to check on the dog.”

“He can wait,” he said with a hard thrust back inside. “We're busy.”

“Grady,” I snapped and then rolled my eyes. I knew there was no way he would listen. I felt his dick harden even more within me.

I guess Swan and the dog could wait just a little bit longer.

The End

Blue and Clarinda's story coming soon.