Into the Blackness (Blackness Series Book 4) (38 page)

I nuzzle into her neck biting and kissing away the hurt as I pound into her. Her nails draw blood on my back as I pull her ear lobe into my mouth, nibbling and caressing.

“Nicky,” she pleads for release.

I pull her legs around my hips and give her what she desires. My pelvis rocks against her clit while my dick rubs her sweet spot deep inside. My balls are dripping with her come, slapping against her tight ass. I drive forward bottoming out against the womb that holds my child sending her into her final earth shattering orgasm as I fill her with my come.

I stroke myself inside her sliding in and out slowly until she catches her breath. Finally, her legs and arms drop from around my body as exhaustion takes over. That’s right. You wanted it and I gave it to you.

I kiss her deeply, reveling in the flavor of her pussy and her mouth mixing in mine. My dick twitches as she flicks her tongue over mine drinking from me.

“You want it again?” I growl against her mouth.

“Yes.”

So I give it to her again. I slam into her until she begs me to stop. Until she can’t take another orgasm…then I give her another.

I plod into the kitchen, hair still wet from my quick post-coital shower. Kellerman eyes me from the breakfast bar and holds up his fist. I pound it before dropping onto the stool next to him. Shanny slides a bowl of soup in front of me with a shit-eating grin plastered on her face.

“Anyone ever tell you you’re a pain in the ass?” I ask before spooning delicious winter squash soup in my mouth.

“Pain in the dick is what I’m usually referred to,” she answers with a shrug.

“That too.”

“Where’s Kat?” Shanny asks hoisting Johnny higher on her chest.

“Passed out.”

“Then you did your job well. I’m gonna go lay him down.”

Kellerman climbs to his feet to place a gentle kiss on Johnny’s head then another on his fiancée’s lips. He watches them meander away before joining me at the bar again. Beer in hand, he clinks it against mine before shooting me a wicked smile.

“Never turn down your woman…especially when she’s pregnant,” he instructs knowingly.

“Noted.”

“Your boys are down playin’ video games like they’re goin’ outta style.”

“They do that.”

“I made a call to a guy I work with. He’s friends with a coach at the local high school. Pulled some strings and thinks he can get Jake and Cole on the team after winter break.”

“Thanks, man. Wait ’til you see ’em on the court. Magic.”

“How long do you think it’ll take you guys to finish up here?” he asks curiously, not put out.

“I’m not sure. We were tryin’ to finesse our way in, but there’s so much heat on us now I don’t see that workin’. Once Kat’s back on her feet I think we’ll have to go at it old school.”

“No school like the old school.”

We sit in silence a bit longer while I eat my soup.

“How’s Shanny holdin’ up with the Cara stuff?”

“You know her. She’s a steel trap for shit like this. Not bein’ able to get Cara here because of the storm is makin’ her tense. Other than that she’s good. She’ll dive into it with Cara like she does everything else.”

“How are you holdin’ up?”

“We havin’ a girl moment?”

“Yeah,” I answer in a chuckle as I throw the last of my beer down my throat.

“I’m good, man. Seein’ Kat in the hospital was a little too close to home for me, but other than that I’m good.”

“Prepare to get your eyes on Cara. It’s rough.”

“I figured,” he huffs draining his beer.

I climb off of my stool and grab us two more beers before returning to my spot with another bowl of soup and half a loaf of homemade bread.

“I’m gonna say this one more time because I wanna get it off my chest. I’m sorry for not keepin’ Shanny safe last year. I wanted to more than I can tell you. I didn’t read the situation well enough and that’s on me. I know what you went through in the hospital waiting for her to wake up from the coma and I hate myself even more now. I never wanted anything bad to happen to her.”

“Cooper, I was a dick. You saved her life. You wrapped your hands around her head and saved her life from that bullet. I was jealous and scared and bein’ a little bitch. You have a connection to her that I’ll never get and I took that shit personally. You have a nickname for her that her fuckin’ dad gave her. Every time I’d hear you say it I wanted to bludgeon you. It’s irrational caveman shit. I can see that now. She loves you and that’s good for her. I know you wanted her. I also respect that you never made that move. You fell in love with a girl and she came back to life right in front of your eyes. I never considered the struggle that would be for you.

“I didn’t give a shit at the end of the day. I was too fucked up to think about anyone but her. You’ve spent a year bein’ a good friend for her. Supporting her and gettin’ through shit after everything. Don’t carry that guilt anymore. It’s not yours to carry. You saved her life. You’ve done right by her since then. Now that damn nickname makes me fuckin’ happy instead of homicidal. We’re good, Cooper.”

“You’re a better man than I am,” I mutter.

“Nah, I’m just growin’ up. I’ve got everything I never thought I’d get. Puts shit in perspective. You’ve got that with Kat now. It’ll mellow your shit out and make you a fuckin’ idiot. It’s a balance at the end of the day.”

“What’re you two talkin’ about?” Shanny’s voice rings into the kitchen.

“You,” we both answer honestly.

“Boring!” she yells causing us all to laugh loud and hard.

“What’s boring?” Kat questions striding in the room glowing. Sweats, no make-up, hair piled on her head and a pair of my socks on her feet…fucking perfection.

“These clowns,” Shanny informs her friend.

“Hey, gorgeous,” Kellerman purrs pressing a kiss to her cheek.

I don’t growl (try not to growl).

“Hey,” she responds beaming a smile at him.

I pull her between my legs pressing a long kiss to her pillowy lips.

“Sunshine,” I murmur into her mouth.

“Nicky,” she says through a grin.

“You want some soup, Kat?” Shanny asks.

“I’d love some, but I doubt I’ll keep it down. I believe morning sickness has descended.”

“Shitty. You wanna try some crackers and ginger ale?”

“I can get it.”

“
Pfft
.” Shanny waves Kat away.

“Dad!” Cole shouts from the basement door.

“Yeah?” I yell back.

“You comin’ down?” he asks peering into the room. His soft blues sparkling in the light as his blond hair falls into his eyes.

“You up for some gaming?” I ask Kellerman.

“Yup,” he replies, picking up his beer and padding to his woman.

He drops a kiss on her lips as she drives her long fingers into his surfer-styled blond hair. Not to be out done, I capture Kat in a searing kiss of my own and force myself to pull away when a moan trickles from her lips.

“Jesus it’s like a porn studio in here,” Cole huffs.

“You’ll get this someday, bud,” Kellerman says through a wicked grin.

“I get that shit now. Just don’t like seein’ the parentals goin’ at it.”

Kellerman and I laugh as we make our way to my son and fall into the teenage lair of gaming and potato chips that they’ve smuggled in the house. It’s a perfect man cave.

Nick

Shane and I lead Cara into my family room where Kat, Shanny, Kellerman and Jake are waiting. We’ll introduce the boys in a little while. Explaining the situation to them was a lot for the boys to take in. Cara needs to feel comfortable before we add them into the equation.

We’ve discovered Cara has more trouble with women than men. I think the night we found her she was so exhausted she just accepted Kat because she was there and being soft with Cara. Apparently, it was a woman and a man that tortured her in the dungeon. Cara wasn’t in the same place for the decade she’s been gone. She was moved around a few times. We haven’t gotten the details on what she’s endured at this point. She’s been tight lipped with the psych team. She’ll talk eventually and when she does she’ll have the strongest support system in the world to unload on. Until then, I don’t need to know details to know what a horror story her life has been.

Cara pulls up to a halt as we enter the room. Her eyes scan Shanny’s face with shock and confusion at the similarities gazing back at her. We showed Cara pictures to prepare her for this, but in the flesh it’s even more staggering.

Shanny offers a small kind smile but remains seated, clutching Kellerman’s hand. It’s taking every ounce of self-control my best friend has to not engage right now. Kellerman is soft and stoic as Cara peruses him. I want to sweep this girl to my side and hold her like the family that she is, but I don’t. She’s not there yet.

Cara moves her gaze to Kat and a small smile plays at her lips. Kat beams back at her, but stays seated next to Jake, waiting for Cara to make the move. Then it happens. Cara strides away from us right toward Jake. When Jake realizes her trajectory, he jumps off the couch and engulfs her in his arms as she flings herself into his chest.

“Hey, sweetheart,” Jake murmurs into her auburn hair.

She’s wearing Jake’s hoodie, which I’ve been told she only takes off in order to shower or wash it. Cara’s gained some weight, making her look closer to her seventeen than the original fourteen I thought she was. She makes no move to pull out of Jake’s arms as he brushes his hands up and down her back.

“You wanna sit down with me?” Jake asks tenderly, pulling back to look into Cara’s face.

She nods.

Jake sits on the couch and Cara curls into a tiny ball at his side as he sweeps his arm around most of her slight frame. I finally turn my gaze to Shanny to find her face a collage of emotions running from hurt to pride. Kellerman is still stoic, though there is a caveman bubbling beneath the surface toward the girl. Protective and enraged for the terror Cara’s endured. Kat has tears rolling down her cheeks as she witnesses her son being the kind of man you pray your children become. It doesn’t matter how Jake came to be hers. She’s proud. I know how much pride she has because my heart’s soaring with it. I lock my eyes with my son and do everything I can to let him know how in awe of him I am. After a few beats he breaks our eye contact to peer down at Cara with the slightest ghost of a smile playing at the corner of his mouth.

Shane and I take the chairs at the end of the room and wait to see what Cara’s going to do. Psych said to let her make the moves. So we wait.

“Sweetheart,” Jake encourages.

“I’m sorry,” she immediately apologizes, uncurling from his side backing into Kat who pulls her in tight.

Jake schools his features even though that movement has distressed and frustrated him.

“Nothing to be sorry for,” Jake whispers.

Cara avoids looking at him and studies her hands instead.

“Cara,” Shanny starts causing Cara to jump a little. “I’m really happy to get to meet you.”

“Shane said we have the same mother,” Cara offers blankly.

“That’s right.”

“She was evil,” Cara grumbles.

“Yes.”

“Are you evil like her?”

The question tears at everyone in the room who knows Shanny is nothing like her monster of a mother. Shanny’s mother hated her from the time she was born and culminated that hate by giving my Uncle Vito the information he used to execute the hit that killed her father and almost Shanny. Cara doesn’t know those details so I don’t blame her for asking, but it’s still excruciating.

“No, but I don’t expect you to believe that just because I say it. Trust takes a long time to earn and I’ll do my best to show you that you can trust me. And I promise you right now, Cara, you can trust me. I’ll keep you safe and I’ll make sure anyone and everyone that’s ever hurt you pays,” Shanny finishes in a tone promising the things only Shannon Kelly can.

Cara’s features soften at the tone and posture that would make most people uncomfortable. Kat rubs Cara’s hand in comfort and she flinches. Kat stops and looks at me with remorse in her face. She just wants to help.

“I’m gonna live with you now.” The tone in Cara’s voice makes it sound like a death sentence.

“Not if you don’t want to. It’s up to you. I’ll let you live wherever you feel the most comfortable. If you’re unsure where that is, I’ll work with you to help you figure that out. I’m not here to make your life harder. I’m here to make it better in any way that I can.”