Chaos (29 page)

As they lounged comfortably after dinner, the entertainment
began. Shane claimed a dance with Alyssa before handing her over to their son.

“Do you believe this is happening to us, Kid?” she asked as
he awkwardly swayed with her.

“Kind of unreal,” he agreed. “I check as soon as I wake up
to make sure it’s not all a dream.” He hesitated, nervously chewing on his lip.
“I wouldn’t have killed him. I knew they were gonna do me when I didn’t but I
still wasn’t gonna shoot. I was gonna run. I almost shit when he was there in
the alley.”

“Flynn.” She hugged him tightly. “I came to the hospital
that night. Brett called me and I had to see him. I didn’t know you were there
and Shane didn’t tell me much about what happened. Later, I read the article
and, I’m ashamed to admit this but, I thought you were the one who pulled the
trigger.”

“Did you think he was the one too?”

“No. It said you died from gunshot wounds to your back.
Shane would never do that. Not even after a guy shot him first.”

“I should have run before we ever got there. It’s my fault
he got clipped.”

“Shane said you told him what they wanted you to do and
asked him for help. If a different guy from that gang had been in the alley
that night, he wouldn’t have bothered to speak. He just would have killed him.
Flynn, I wish we could turn back time and neither of you had been hurt but I
believe you being there saved him for me. If you had run and he had died I’m
not sure I could have handled losing both of you. I felt like part of me died
too the day I read about you. Miraculously, I got that back when I got you
back. Neither of us blames you for Shane’s injury. Please don’t blame yourself
either. I’m going to remember it as the event that brought us all together.”

“But…” He was close to tears so Alyssa led him to a quiet
spot away from the activity.

Wrapping her arms around him, she whispered, “Sh, it’s okay
now. It’s over and none of us is ever going back to those lives.” She held him
as he cried like the scared little boy he was. “You are never going to be alone
again. Neither of us is. We have that wonderful man who loves us and wants to
take care of us. We just have to learn to let him. We need to trust him like he
trusts us.”

“But you don’t need anyone to take care of you.” Flynn
swiped his face, staring at her.

“Yes, I do. I’ve never admitted it before, not even to
myself but I need that so much. I’ve spent my life, hiding behind my camera and
my ‘I don’t give a damn about anyone’ attitude. I’m not sure I even knew it
until Shane wormed his way past the wall I’d built around myself. I may not
need exactly the same kind of attention that you do but I still need it. I need
him to love me. I need him to put up with all my bullshit. I need to have him
with me to show me where we can go together. I want to share this life that he
made me realize I’d been hiding from. I don’t want to wake up alone anymore. I
don’t want to even consider my life without him in it. And, I’m willing to bet
that you don’t want to either.”

“I guess not.”

“We don’t have to go tomorrow,” she said suddenly.

“What?”

“We can just go home to our new house and take it from
there. It can be just the three of us. We can start right away, learning about
each other and how to do this family stuff.”

“But what about Charlie? Don’t you want her?”

“I do, Flynn but right now, I’m more concerned with you.
When I told Shane about her, I didn’t know about you. I don’t want to risk taking
anything away from you. She’ll be all right without us. We don’t have to go get
her.”

“But you said those people can’t take her back and she’s
gonna be stuck in one of those homes.”

“They’ll take care of her there. Some other family will take
her in no time.”

“When I first started calling, asking about you and he said
he’d help me get out, I made him tell me about those places. He even went to
see one, so he really knew.” Flynn looked at her steadily. “It sounded bad and
if I’d ended up in that place, I would have taken off. I don’t think she should
have to live there either.”

“Are you sure? I don’t want to force her on you. I want you
to think about it before you answer.”

“So this is where you two got to.” Shane approached, very
aware of the serious expressions on their faces. “I was afraid you’d both had
second thoughts and run out on me.”

“We were just having a little chat,” Alyssa supplied.

“Mom wants to know if I mind if you get me a sister. She
said we don’t have to and that I can keep you to myself if I want to.”

Shane hid his surprise. He had been worried about the same
thing. “She’s right, Flynn. You can have that if you want.”

“Don’t you want her either?”

“I didn’t say that and I doubt that Alyssa did either.”
Shane crouched in front of him. “It would be great to have her with us, since
I’m sure she’s even more precious than your mom described. It’s just that I
don’t want to do anything to jeopardize our relationship. It’s still new and
very fragile. You’re too important to me. I don’t want us to rush into
something that might hurt you.”

Flynn shifted his gaze between them. “I kinda liked the idea
of a little sister. When my m— My other mom bailed and he hooked up with that
woman, I was into it when they told me they were having a kid. When he shipped
me off to his parents, I didn’t miss either of them but, sometimes, I wondered
what the kid was like. Nobody ever told me what it was.”

“Flynn.” Alyssa was crying now as she pulled him back to
her.

“Dad?” Flynn peeked at Shane.

“I think she hates the way you were treated as much as I
do.” Shane hoped he guessed the correct meaning to her tears.

“Does this mean I get the fairy princess as my sister or
not?”

“Yes.” Alyssa laughed through her tears as Shane wrapped his
arms around both of them.

“Good.” Flynn squirmed. “Jeez, would ya stop slobbering on
me already? I think I liked it better when you busted my ass all the time.”

“Get used to it,” Shane teased. “One of the reasons I came
to find you was because your grandmother wants a dance.”

“Dad,” Flynn groaned.

“Part of being a kid. Deal with it. And please watch what
you say around her,” Shane reminded him, knowing his mother was only partly
teasing when she corrected all of them.

“Whatever.” Flynn rolled his eyes dramatically, accepting
that he couldn’t get out of it and not dreading it nearly as much as he
pretended.

After everyone had their turn dancing with the bride, Shane
reclaimed her. Holding her hand over his heart, he looked lovingly into her
eyes. When he couldn’t resist any longer, he slowly lowered his head and
captured her lips for a lingering kiss. Neither knew how much time had passed
until Danny placed a hand on each of their backs.

“Forgive the interruption, kids but the music stopped quite
some time ago.”

“Oh,” Shane commented as he ran his thumb along Alyssa’s
lower lip.

“Yes and I think the remaining staff might like to finish up
and go home. Can I suggest you let us say good night and get out of here?”

“Shane.” Alyssa’s mind started to function again. “Stop
doing that!”

“You don’t mean that.” He grinned. “But Dad’s right. We
should go. I’m ready to make love to my wife.”

“Shane!”

Danny just laughed. “Frankly, Alyssa, I’m surprised he’s
managed to wait this long. Then again, the way you were dancing could be
considered foreplay.”

“You’re as shameless as he is.”

“Yep,” Danny admitted. “How else could I ever have kept that
woman happy enough to put up with me all these years?” He nodded toward Rose.
“Besides, I understand my son’s need to make that statement out loud and who
better to make it to than his father? Come say your goodbyes and then go enjoy
each other. And, Alyssa, I suspect you’ll find that making love to your husband
is even more pleasurable than it was when he was merely your cousin’s brand new
brother-in-law.” She gasped. “Don’t look so shocked. It was blatantly obvious
what you two had been up to the day after Jordan’s wedding. I’m very happy that
both of you had the sense to see that it was more than just sex.”

“You could tell that then?” Shane was amazed.

“Sure. You both had a look about you.” He shrugged. “I’m
sure your parents will be pleased as well, Alyssa. Especially since I assured
your father that my son wouldn’t let anything hurt you.” He laughed at their
expressions again. “Would you please just get out of here now before a
sentimental old man makes an even bigger fool of himself?”

“Thank you, Danny.” Alyssa kissed his cheek. “Now I know
where he gets it. Rose and I are both very lucky women. Kiley too.”

* * * * *

“McKade, what the hell are you doing?” Alyssa shrieked when
he swept her off her feet and carried her through the doorway.

“What do you think I’m doing,” he countered as she continued
to laugh and struggle against him. “Shut up, Mrs. McKade and let me do this
right. Nothing else about us has been anywhere close to traditional. Don’t you
think maybe we should give it a try?”

Alyssa went still. “Mrs. McKade. Wow.”

“Yeah.” He looked into her eyes. “Sounds good, don’t you
think? Or are you keeping Campini?” he asked somewhat tentatively.

“Oh.” She looked uncertain. “Hm.” After a moment, she
decided, “Campini for my photography stuff. McKade for my life.”

Shane broke out in a huge grin. “I mention how much I love
you lately?”

“Nope.” She grinned back.

“Well, I do.” He shifted her in his arms and kissed her.

“Mm, you know this might work better if you put me down.”

“Might but I don’t want to.” He sighed and, after another
kiss, set her on her feet. “Make love with me, Pix.”

“Yes,” she responded breathlessly, the expression on her
face mirroring his.

Shane felt as if someone had punched him in the gut. Just
looking at this incredible woman made his heart hurt. The overwhelming feelings
she inspired made it feel as if it might burst. Slowly, he reached out and
caressed her cheek. As soon as he touched her, Alyssa sighed into the contact.

He stepped closer, his hand cupping the back of her head as
he lowered his for a gentle kiss. It was the sweetest they’d shared and it made
them both shiver. Raising his head, he smiled. “Let me,” he said as piece by
piece he stripped them out of their clothes. “You’re so beautiful.”

“So are you,” Alyssa commented, looking over his body,
appreciation showing clearly in her eyes.

They both moved at the same time, coming together for
another tender kiss. Their hands began to wander, touching and caressing every
bit of each other. Soon, both were breathless.

“Sit down, my Queen,” Shane whispered, urging her to the
edge of the high, old-fashioned bed.

Alyssa did as he asked, watching him intently as he kneeled
at her feet. He parted her thighs and, for a moment, just looked at the
treasure that was revealed. Ever so slowly, he shifted closer until he was a
fraction of an inch from her flesh. He inhaled deeply, savoring the scent of
her arousal. Glancing up at her face, he stuck out his tongue and tasted her.

“Mm, so sweet.” His hands clasped her thighs, opening her
further for his attention. He leaned in and licked between her lips fully,
humming his enjoyment.

“Oh God,” Alyssa gasped.

“Sh. Let me.”

She didn’t protest as he went back to licking her pussy. His
tongue darted into her opening, then retreated to flick her clit. Over and over
again, he alternated his attention.

“Lie back,” he requested, moving her legs over his shoulders
so he could get even closer.

For an eternity, Shane feasted on Alyssa’s pussy, his tongue
and mouth taking her higher and higher. When he added his fingers, sliding them
in and out, back and forth, over and over, it was all she needed. She
shattered, her orgasm sending her nerves spiraling with pleasure.

When she calmed, Shane was still where he had been, gently
lapping up her juices. “Shane,” she whispered, holding out her arms to him.

Instantly Shane joined her on the bed. She moved to the
middle and pulled him to her, kissing him, licking her wetness from his mouth.

“I need you,” she said.

“You have me,” he replied. Moving over her, he kissed her as
he slid his cock home. Nothing had ever felt more right in his life. He was
finally where he belonged, with the woman he would treasure all the days of his
life.

Steadily, Shane thrust his rigid cock into Alyssa’s pussy.
All the while he whispered words of love, words he feared he’d never be welcome
to say. Now, he wasn’t only welcomed he was encouraged with matching words of
her own.

Alyssa was writhing beneath him, urging him to move with
her. Her back arched, pressing her firm breasts against his chest. Shane loved
the feel of her surrounding his shaft, her soft skin against his body. He loved
the little noises she made as her excitement escalated. Even more, he loved the
way she held him tight when her pussy clenched around his cock. As soon as that
happened he knew he wouldn’t be able to hold back. He would have to soar with
her.

Wanting just that, Shane shifted his hips, adjusting the
angle of his cock so it brushed her sweet spot with every thrust. Alyssa
wrapped herself around him and held on with both her arms and her legs.
Although the sex between them had always been incredible this time was
different. It was more. Perhaps being married to the woman he would love forever
was the difference. He didn’t know and really, at the moment, it didn’t matter.
She was the only thing that did. Alyssa and her pleasure. Shane kissed her just
as she cried out, swallowing her orgasmic gasps as his cock erupted deep within
her quivering sheath.

Somehow he managed to shift to his side without crushing
her, not easy since she was still wrapped thoroughly around him. He held her
close and kissed her forehead.