Her Lucky Love (14 page)

Brayden chuckled and kissed her. “Bite as hard as you want, Ally-mine.”

“I need you, Brayden.” She gasped, surprising herself that she could even want to come again.

“Let me get a condom.”

She nodded then staggered to the bed, her legs weak from the orgasms she didn’t know could be so intense.

Ally heard the crinkle of foil then looked over as he wrapped his cock.

“Dear God,” she whispered.

He threw his head back and laughed. “Brayden, Ally-mine. My name is Brayden.”

“Oh, shut up,” she shot back as she blushed. She hadn’t meant to say the first part aloud, but dear God, the man was freaking huge. He was long, but not too long. But, where he really shined was in width. She wasn’t sure he was going to fit. She blushed at the thought of him trying. Oh, it’d be worth it.

He smiled a truly male smile and climbed up so he lay between her legs. “Glad you like it.”

“You’ve been hiding that in your pants all this time? It’s a wonder you haven’t walked with a limp.”

He shook his head and teased her entrance, the wide head probing, throbbing. “I do what I can. Now keep those eyes open, Ally-mine. I want to see you when I take you.”

“Hard, Brayden. I’m not some weak-kneed virgin. I want to feel all of you.”

His eyes darkened, and he entered her in one thrust. He froze when she called out, pleasure and pain wrapping around her in a macabre beauty as he filled her more than she thought possible. They were connected in every way that mattered, more than anything.

“Ally?”

“Move,” she gasped. “You’re mine, Brayden.”

“You’re mine, Ally.” He pulled back then flexed his hips, reaching a demanding rhythm, hitting her G-spot with each thrust, sparks starting behind her eyelids. She opened her eyes, knowing she needed to see him as he came. For a moment she wanted him to take off the condom so she could feel all of him and have him fill her with his cum, but she refrained, knowing there would be time in the future for that.

He pounded into her, and her nails raked down his back as she fought back a scream. Sweat dripped down his face and chest as he rotated his hips and hit her in a new, heated spot. The cords on the side of his neck flexed, and he cursed.

“Come, Ally-mine, come. I can’t hold back much longer.”

She nodded, unable to speak as she let herself go over that peak, and watched the pleasure in his eyes, and he followed her.

“Brayden,” she finally whispered as he leaned on her, their bodies still connected, his cock still throbbing. She inhaled his scent and frowned.

Smoke?

Why did he smell of smoke?

She looked around and froze.

“Oh, fuck,” Brayden said as he pulled out of her. She winced. “We knocked over a fucking candle.” He took a blanket and put out the small flame and fell back laughing, tears running down his cheeks.

She joined him then and forced her body to move so she straddled him. Brayden traced a finger down her face and smiled.

“We set the sheets on fire,” he finally said.

“In more ways than one,” she added.

They kissed and held each other as they lay in the smoke-filled room for a bit more. She knew they’d have to get up soon and deal with the mess and then the feelings that were just as messy within her. But, for now, she’d be content to lie in his arms and know that there might be a future. As scared as she was to admit it, she wanted that future more than anything.

If only things were that easy.

Chapter 9

Brayden watched as Lacy ran through Jackson’s room, Cameron hot on her tail. It’d been almost a week since everything had happened, and the kids had bounced back stronger than ever. It could have been from the fact that they had the Coopers around them now, but Brayden wasn’t sure.

They’d all come to Jackson’s for the weekly Cooper dinner, and Justin was in the kitchen cooking with Abby and Rina. Tyler and Jackson were outside dealing with something Jacks wanted Matt to build later while Matt himself was most likely locked in a closet somewhere with Jordan. They appeared to be trying to start a family considering how often he found them tangled in an embrace meant for behind closed doors.

Though they were all still learning to live together, and danger still lurked, the arrangement seemed to be working. The kids went to school with a set of Cooper eyes on them at all times. It wasn’t the best solution, but it seemed to be working for now. Since all three kids could see through the magic of a gnome, they knew to run to the nearest Cooper if they thought something was wrong. They were never to be alone if they could help it, and by living with Brayden, they at least had some security.

Allison’s dumbass landlord had changed the locks since she’d brought “trouble” to the place. They could have fought it, and Tyler was ready to, but Allison had given in—much to Brayden’s delight. She’d mumbled something about finding another place when necessary, but he didn’t care. She was living with him, and that was all that mattered.

She still worked at the diner and he at his shop, so he couldn’t be around her twenty-four hours a day, but he took what he could.

He loved the woman with every inch of his soul, and he wasn’t going to let her go without a fight.

Lacy ran past again, this time running into a table and almost falling. Brayden reached out to steady her, and she laughed it off before running in the opposite direction.

“Don’t run in the house,” Allison admonished as she came to his side. He wrapped an arm around her waist easily, and she leaned into him.

He held back a relived sigh that she’d come to him almost unconsciously. They’d only really been together for a week, though she’d slept in his bed every night. He wouldn’t have it any other way. Their public displays had gone a bit slower than he’d like. A few touches here, a casual kiss there. But, once he locked the bedroom door, he had her in every way possible—on every piece of furniture he owned. He’d have to find a few new pieces to add to the room so he could see what she tasted like from every angle.

As if she could hear what he was thinking—which could be a possibility considered his cock ached like a son of a bitch—she pulled back, giving him space. He wanted to curse, but he knew it was because of the kids in the room. She still wasn’t comfortable with his love; it was as if she didn’t completely trust it. Though he couldn’t fault her for it, it still pissed him off to no end.

Lacy and Cameron seemed to take their relationship in stride, Lacy especially, as she considered living with him and having him near every day her due. Cameron just enjoyed the fact that he had someone new to play with that would always be there.

Aiden, on the other hand, could pose a problem.

Brayden looked over Allison’s shoulder to her oldest son, who didn’t quite glare, but eyed them thoughtfully. It was past time he and the boy had a talk. Aiden’s feelings, whatever they may be, weren’t his fault. But, Brayden needed to step up and talk to the oldest man in the house, to make sure Aiden knew he wasn’t going anywhere.

Why did the thought of talking to a twelve-year-old scare him more than anything?

Oh, yeah, the kid held his future in his hands. The kid
was
his future. He just needed to make sure Aiden knew that.

He felt more than saw Allison following his gaze then tensing.

“Brayden,” she said as she sighed away from him.

“I’ll take care of it. Aiden and I need to talk anyway.”

“Maybe I shouldn’t be here.”

He leaned down and stole a kiss. She blushed but glared. “Don’t stress. This is a man-to-man talk. I’ve already talked to Cam and Lacy, but this one needs to be done now before we move on. I won’t hurt him.”

She shook her head and grabbed his hand. “I never thought you would.”

Relief filled him at the thought she trusted him at least that little bit. He walked toward Aiden. The boy raised his chin, but it didn’t deter him.

“Hey, Aid, let’s talk.”

Aiden flinched then grumbled, “I don’t know what we have to talk about.”

Fuck
.

Brayden knew he should have talked to Aiden before this but had put it off because he was a coward.

“Come on, we need to,” Brayden said, his voice carefully light.

Aiden looked over at Allison, who gave a nod. “Fine.”

“Okay then. Let’s go out to the backyard.”

Aiden didn’t say anything as they walked past Tyler and Jackson, who were walking in with raised brows. Brayden shook his head, knowing he’d have to talk to his brothers sooner or later.

Preferably later.

He grabbed a couple of jackets on the peg near the back door, knowing that one would be too big for Aiden, but any jacket would do right now. They pulled them on, Brayden struggling not to help Aiden with his. He remembered what it felt like to be a twelve-year-old boy on the verge of being a man—at least in a kid’s eyes. And with what they had to talk about, Brayden wasn’t sure Aiden would want any form of his help anyway.

“What did you want to talk about?” Aiden grumbled, his chin raised.

Brayden let out a breath. This wasn’t going to be easy, but it had to be done. He loved this kid like his own, and Aiden had to realize that.

“I think you know, Aid.”

Aiden kicked a stone, his gaze on something Brayden couldn’t see.

“I don’t know what I think.”

“Then let’s talk about it.” Brayden moved to stand by Aiden, careful to leave space and not touch him.

They stood there for a few moments before Brayden spoke, “I’m sorry everything’s changing so fast for you.”

Aiden shrugged, then stood there in silence.

“Aiden?”

“Were you friends with us—I mean me, Cam, and Lacy—just to get with my mom?” Aiden asked.

Shocked, Brayden turned to the little boy who’d stolen his heart. “What? How could you say that?”

Aiden shrugged. “Because you never used to talk to Mom the way you do. You never used to kiss her. And I know you sleep in the same bed and everything. You just want her for sex.”

“What do you know about that?” Brayden asked, suddenly feeling like a fish out of water. What did he know about kids? Everything he’d thought he’d known was superficial. He was in some dangerous territory here.

Jesus, what did twelve-year-olds know about sex these days? Maybe he should have had Allison come out with him.

“I know enough,” he growled, his arms above his chest. “I know you and Mom sleep in the same bed. You’ll probably make new babies and leave us alone. Then you’ll take Mom away and hit her like Dad did. I’m not going to let you do that, you know. You don’t get to have Mom. She’s ours. I couldn’t stop Dad when he hit her before, but I’ll stop you.”

Tears ran down Aiden’s cheeks, but Brayden made sure he didn’t point them out. He also stopped himself from doing what he really wanted to do—hug Aiden tight and take away the nightmares.

“Aiden, I’m not going to hit your mom or any of you.” No longer able to resist, Brayden leaned down so they were eye level. “I don’t know everything your dad did, but I’m not like him. You’ve known me all your life, and you know what I could or couldn’t do.”

“Yeah, you say that now. But if my dad can do all that, what says you can’t too?”

“Because I love you guys. I’m not going to hurt you. Hitting is wrong. No matter how angry you and your mom could make me—which wouldn’t be that angry since you guys pretty much rock—I’d never lay a hand on you. I don’t talk with my fists.”

Aiden sniffed and wiped his cheeks. “Whatever.”

“No, not whatever. I love you guys. I want us to be a family. I wasn’t your friend before so I could get in with your mom. I was your friend… no, I
am
your friend because I like you, Cam, and Lacy. You guys stole my heart as much as your mom did. And when your mom lets it happen, I’m going marry her. When I do that, I’ll marry the three of you as well. I want us all together in my big house for more than just protection. I want us together because we mean something together.”

Aiden stared at him a long time before he said anything. “So you’ll be my dad?”

Brayden swallowed hard, determined not to fall on his knees and cry. “If that’s what you want to call me. I’ll be anything you want, but I want to be your family. I want you to have uncles and aunts who love you, and I want you to be okay with the fact that I love your mom.”

“I don’t know.” He shifted from foot to foot, but looked a bit more relaxed.

“Aiden, I don’t know the complete story of what your dad did. I know some of it, but I know there’s more out there. If you ever want to talk about it, I’m here.”

Aiden sniffed again. “Is it bad that I’m happy he’s gone?”

Brayden scratched his chin. “No. Some people might say differently, but in my opinion, if a man could do what he did, then you can be glad he’s not in your life anymore. And I’m not Greg, Aid. I’ll take care of you, and I won’t hit you. I might get mad a couple times if we don’t see eye to eye or if you’re mean to your mom, but I’ll never take my anger out on you. I know you can’t believe me on my word alone since you’ve had trust broken by another, but I’m determined to show you that you can trust me. Okay?”

“You really love my mom?”

A little seed of hope filled him. “With everything I am. Though I love you three just as much—just a bit differently.”

Aiden smiled, and Brayden felt as though he’d won every contest and game out there.

“You’ll take care of her, right? Because I try, but sometimes she still thinks I’m a little kid and won’t let me help.”

Damn, he was about to melt into a puddle of gooey cheesiness right there and love this kid more than anything.

“So are we okay?” he asked.

“Yeah. When are you going to marry Mom?”

Brayden chuckled. “When she lets me. But if I have your blessing, I think that’ll help matters.”

Aiden bit his lip and looked like he was thinking hard before he smiled. “Okay. Just as long as you get flowers. She likes those.”

“Right, thanks for the advice, kid.”

Brayden threw his arm over Aiden’s shoulders, pleased he didn’t flinch like he had in the past few weeks, and walked back to the house where Allison stood on the porch, her arms wrapped around herself and her teeth nibbling on her lip.