Draked Up: Book 5 of Colson Brothers Series (13 page)

“Good, then it’s settled. We leave at four. Did you guys pack overnight bags?”

They tripped over themselves jumping off the swings to show auntie Salina what Mommy made them pack. I think my face cracked I was so happy.

Red flicked a tear off my cheek. “Those better be happy tears.”

“For once, yeah, they are. I feel guilty though.”

“Guilty? For what?”

“Spencer should be here.”

“Then bring him here. Have him come visit for Christmas. Summers suck, you should go see him that time of year, but Christmas, or around then, is nice. Invite the parents too. Maybe they’ll like it and move here.” She elbowed me knowing she’s dreaming.

“Your optimism is almost sickening.”

She laughed like a real friend would and smacked the back of my shoulder, “Here comes your Colson. I’m gonna go find mine.”

I looked over and sure enough Drake is headed my way. Red said something to him on her way past that earned her a weird look. I’m sure I don’t want to know.

He smiled focusing back on me as he took my hands in his. “Well?”

“If you ask me when we’re getting married again I’m going to punch you in the nose.” I always say that, but of course I never would. He’s too damn gorgeous to mar with a puffy nose. I doubt I could hit him hard enough to leave a bruise. The man is a brute.

“Well, at least I got you thinking about it. No, I mean about tonight. Did Salina tell you about her niece’s birthday party?”

“Yup, the girls are ready to go now.” I nodded to where things are being unpacked and repacked by the fancy Cadillac Crossover.

“Good. We haven’t had quality alone time in what seems like forever.” He draped his arm around my shoulders and turned us to slowly walk towards the, truck? Car? What do you call this thing?

“Should I take them to the party? Or let Salina?”

“Salina can take them in your car. I rode separate, remember?” Drake likes to ride to the club. Not every single time, but if we’re planning to hang out for a while he prefers to take his bike. This way the guys can drool over his old 70-something Harley. He told me what it was, but once he launched into details my mind wandered, making me promptly forget.

“No way, I hate your seat. I’m never doing that again.”

“Which is why Wingnut is putting a new seat on for me. You’re cramping my style woman.” He teased sneaking a feel of my left boob before the girls saw our approach and turned their attention on us.

I stopped in the middle of the living room and listened to the deafening silence. “It’s too quiet.” With two little girls in the house most of the time it’s only quiet when we’re sleeping.

“Weird how that happens. When I was on leave a few years ago the same thing happened to me. I bought this house and rebuilt the bike to keep from drowning in the quiet.”

“Why did you buy such a big house? Did you want a family back then?”

He turned on the stereo to something soft and jazzy. It’s amazing how well he reads me. I hope we never lose this silent communication between us. “No, a family hadn’t crossed my mind. I’m just a big guy, figured I should have a big house.”

I chuckled at his logic, “Makes sense.”

“You look nervous.” He took my hand and sat me on the couch to get my shoes off.

“Maybe a little. I’m not sure what to do anymore. I don’t want to disappoint you. Then in the back of my mind I keep shoving away the fear of an unwanted flashback freaking me out.” I have to be honest with him from the start if this is going to work. Celeste told me that a few times over the past weeks during our sessions. Holding back is not going to help me get past my fears.

“We have all night. One step at a time. I’ll be watching you very closely sweetheart, if you start to get lost on me, I’ll reel you back in. All you have to do is trust me, and try to relax.” He set my shoes aside and joined me to take his boots off.

“Make sure your phone is on in case the girls need us.” Us. I said us. It’s always been me. Interesting.

“Already done. I’m going to set one in the kitchen and one in the bedroom.” He declared taking my hand so I’d stand with him.

“Why both places?”

“So I can hear from any room in the house.”

I’m confused, and told him so with a look.

“Do you have any idea how many fantasies a guy can have in three weeks? I’ve mentally fucked you all over this house. Now I plan to indulge in those fantasies.” He warned playfully. “Starting in the bedroom. I want you sprawled out with need on those crazy soft white sheets.”

I’m giggling uncontrollably. So much for sultry and sexy. Poor Drake is stuck with giddy and giggly.

He doesn’t seem to mind as he sits on the bed and pulls me between his knees as if we’re going to chat, except he picked up the hem of my shirt. “How are you feeling?” His tone tells me he means my leftover injuries from the accident.

“Just the usual sore shoulder and right here where my liver took a hit. Everything else is okay. I think a good stretch will do me good.” I flirted.

He bounced his eyebrows, “I do love to work up a good sweat.” He pulled my shirt slowly up over my head. My shoulder is still stiff, and only moves a certain way, so it was a slow removal process.

He took my hands in his instead of going after my bra next and pulled me close enough to sink his face right down in the valley of the girls. His tongue made me giggle again.

“What are you doing?” I raked my fingers through his hair after taking the ponytail holder out and tossing it to the floor.

He leaned back looking at me with playful blue eyes that have darkened now with need. I haven’t seen them quite like this since before the accident. “I’ve been wanting to do that since the first time I saw you.”

“Oh really?”

“Oh yeah.” He reached around to my back and unfastened my bra before helping it to the floor. “I think about you all the time. It’s distracting to say the least.”

“You fantasize about sex with me, that’s different than just thinking about someone.” I argued helping him out of his t-shirt.

“I do a good bit of both.” He stood and kicked out of his jeans leaving his boxers on. I slid out of my jeans and climbed on the bed where he joined me a good old fashion make-out position.

I paused to take in the view and the feel of his body melded against mine. Underwear to underwear I feel young and frisky. My hands are wandering his body memorizing every dip and curve of muscle. For a warrior he has surprisingly soft skin.

He lowered his head to touch his nose to mine, “I want to hold you like this every night for the rest of my life.”

“I want you to hold me like this every night for the rest of my life.” I lifted my lips and stole a kiss from his. “We’ll get married soon, I promise.”

That was all he needed to send him in search of more. A lingering kiss that led to heavy petting and panting, was soon followed by a need for each other that successfully blocked out the rest of the world. Finally it’s just the two of us. No interruptions, no sneaking around.

Flashbacks long forgotten I all but clawed this man to get him inside me. For once it feels right. It feels better than good. I arched up taking him as far as I could as I dug my fingernails into his hips.

He lifted up and looked down into my eyes. His eyes are lost in lust as he asks breathlessly, “Ready?”

I nodded. Finally, there’s nothing between us preventing the last phase of a bond that started with one look from him. A look I thought would hold me for many lonely nights.

His mouth came down to take possession of mine as his body moved to claim me completely. A few perfect strokes had me clamping and exploding as he slid in, out, almost too far, back in, slow. Oh God I love the way he feels.

I finally forced myself to capture his face and tell him to give himself to me. My words made him buck and lose his grip on barely contained self-control. “Oh SHIT!!” The echoes of the explosion raked his body making mine wrap around him to comfort and ease his fall.

11

“What’s this all about?” I walked into the bar thinking I’d hang out, maybe see if Red was cooking something I could fix Drake and the kids one night. They’re outside burning off pent up energy from school on the playground. With the entire club fenced in and under armed guard, I don’t worry about leaving them outside. Besides, the guys can see them from the garage, and know to keep one eye open for a wandering kid. The guys on guard tend to walk over and join recess. I make them put their guns away first.

Not that I really have to tell them to put the guns away, but it makes me feel like a better parent for vocalizing it. An affiliate of the club known for helping abused children stops in twice a week to check up on the girls.

Even though Daniel is dead the girls have had an underlying fear that one of their father’s goons will come after them. I’m not sure why they think this, but the club for abused children President told me it’s possible Daniel threatened them with his goons enough times it put a deep-rooted sense of fear in the girls.

Everything is a work in progress these days, but it’s work heading in the right direction. No more of this one step forward two steps back crap. I have a real family now. Real friends, not the ones I was forced to befriend due to my status as Daniel’s wife and mother of his children.

My new friends and family might be a little crazy, and look a little scary, but I can’t imagine my life without these wonderful people. People that are up to something…

Red handed me a glass of champagne, “This is your bachelorette party. Joe and Wrangler dragged Drake off about an hour ago. They’re going for a day ride to celebrate his bachelor party.” She explained. “Goat wanted strippers, but Drake wasn’t interested and told them to keep their party. They decided a ride was more up his alley.”

“They decided correctly.” I tapped my glass to hers. “We haven’t set a date yet though. I don’t even have a ring.” I showed her my finger as proof. Drake’s grandfather’s masonry ring is on a chain around my neck.

“We’ll find you some rings. You’re getting married here on Sunday after church. The real church, not that church.” She thumbed to the conference room where the guys meet in private.

“We are?? Do I get a say in this?”

Salina walked up and touched her glass to mine, “Nope. I already bought the girl’s dresses.”

I almost choked, “Oh my God. Where do I find a dress in a week??”

“I have one you can borrow.” Every married woman in the bar offered. That made us all laugh getting the party started. My girls came in to join the festivities when they got thirsty. I made another mental note to memorize this day. I’ve never had an all girl’s party thrown in my honor. Daniel had scoffed at my so-called friends when they’d bring it up. Therefore I had made a thousand excuses not to ever go to one. His wrath was not worth any party.

Drake and a few other guys joined us after a while. We ended up having a huge buffet dinner there that night. One so big it put my girls in food comas. They were out cold all the way home, and right up until we tucked them in.

Rebecca is too heavy for me to carry, so Drake ends up tucking her in first when we carry them to bed. Tonight she woke up and hugged him hard. “I’m glad you’re gonna marry Mommy.”

“Me too baby girl. Me too. I’m especially happy to have two beautiful daughters in the deal.” He kissed the top of her head, wiped her tears, and his, then tucked her in. “Goodnight angel.”

“Night Daddy.”

I almost choked on my own tears and had to rush through kissing Ashley goodnight to make room for Drake to get his goodnight kiss from her. By the time I made it over to Rebecca she was out cold, but I kissed her hair anyway. Thank you sweet girl. She will probably have no idea how much her complete acceptance of Drake means to me. Hell, I didn’t know until it happened how important it was.

We closed their door almost all the way. They like it cracked, so do I. It took me a couple deep breaths to control my emotions. “So. Sunday at one work for you?”

“Damn straight. I want you to think about changing the girl’s names too. Think about it.” He emphasized before I got worked up. “Hyphenate if you don’t want to upset the grandparents.”

“I’ll give it some thought. Keep in mind they’re a little young to make a decision like that, or understand it.”

“Just think about it.” He reminded me before backing me to a dark corner in the kitchen. “I think we missed a spot.” Meaning the counter. He’s on some kind of guy mission to mark his house with my ass prints.

“What if the girls get up for water?”

“I’ll be quick.” He teased. He might be quick in here, but he’ll make up for it in the bedroom shortly afterwards.

Drake has been trying to get me to let the girls take the busses to school, but Ashley’s too young, and if I’m taking one I might as well take the other. Besides, I like our mornings.

Drake complains when I leave until I get back, then he makes it his life goal to keep me in bed until I have to get Ashley from preschool at noon. We come home for a couple hours until it’s time to get Rebecca from her school, which means Ashley has Drake to herself. I’m trying to see what classes I need to take to get a teaching job, so I spend that time on the computer.

Two or three nights a week I work the bar. Drake keeps the girls entertained. I always leave them dinner. About once a week they all come up and eat with me while I’m working. It couldn’t be a more perfect routine.

Technology can be great in many ways. It can also suck in many ways. Like now. My girls told their grandparents Mommy was getting remarried on Tuesday. They told my son on Wednesday, and by Thursday night I’m being beckoned to Rebecca’s room to talk to my son via live video chat.

It still freaks me out how much he looks like Daniel. I forced a smile at the younger version of my nightmare from a previous life. “Hey there. Everything okay?”

“Were you going to invite your only son to your wedding??” He’s mad. Great. That same look his father got, even the same tone. Oh this sucks my left tit.

“I didn’t think you would be interested in coming to a wedding, especially mine.”

“Yeah well, you should have thought.” And there it is. The hint of me. The pout. The guilt trip, the look in his eyes. It seems my son has a little of me in him after all.

“You’re right. I should have thought, and I should have asked. Can you get a ride to the airport if I go find you a flight for Saturday right now?”

He nodded still unsure.

“How long can you stay?”

His adoptive mother, Rita, stuck her head in the picture, “His grades are good, and he’s never taken a sick day. I talked to his teachers and they all said they could prepare workbooks for him to keep pace. If you can have him back the following Saturday at the latest, I’d be grateful.”

“I’m the one who is grateful Rita. Thank you. I’ll have him back in plenty of time.”

“Good, then it’s settled. I have to make some calls, you kids keep it short. Spencer you have to finish your book report tonight, remember?”

He rolled his eyes, “Yeah yeah, I know.”

I kissed Rebecca’s cheek quickly before she shooed me away. “Thanks kid. You done good.”

“You sure about this?” Drake asked when I told him a few minutes later in his office. I have everything moved over to his laptop now, which is spoiling me because it’s fast and works without crashing every hour.

“Very. I finally saw a little of me in the kid. Before all I saw was the evil bastard who knocked me up when he was pretending to let the sex make up for a wicked fight, in which I was to blame of course.”

“If he knew you weren’t on birth control, why did he keep coming back? Or use a condom?”

“I don’t know. I was never in the position to ask. I think he was too drunk to work a condom, or he just didn’t care. I asked once and got backhanded, so I never asked again. He was fucked up in the head, so who knows. I don’t want to think about him anymore. Ever.”

“Spencer is going to have questions some day.” He took his seat behind the desk and pulled me to sit on his thigh.

“One day at a time Drake.”

“You find a dress?” Wandering hands are at it again. At least they’re hidden behind the giant mahogany desk if the girls wander in.

“I think so. I like the white one, but for some reason it seems wrong for a divorcee with two kids to wear white.”

“Three.”

“What?”

“You have three kids babe.”

“Oh, yeah. It’s an old habit to only acknowledge two of them.” Lame excuse I know, but it’s all I got.

“I think Spencer is hinting he’d like to be acknowledged as number three, if you know what I mean.” He’s already got those big hands under my bra. Trying to make reservations online when a big sexy biker has other plans is nearly impossible.

“I can’t think when you do that. I might accidentally book us a honeymoon to Bangladesh if you keep distracting me.”

He took that as a challenge, slipped his hand down the front of my yoga pants and began making small circles on and around my clit.

“Drake.”

“Bangladesh huh? Sounds nice.” He bit my shoulder as I came as if by his silent command. Maybe it was. Maybe it always is. He seems to know exactly how and when I need it, even when I don’t.

As I descend from the glorious distraction I can feel him hard against my tailbone. “Want to indulge me in a little fantasy of my own?”

“Always.”

I stood and turned around, “You have to be quick. They’ll be off the computer any minute.” I dropped to my knees.

He freed himself so fast I smiled before taking him in my mouth and playing grateful secretary under the boss’s desk.

Sunday was on me faster than I could blink. Spencer is enjoying having sisters so much I barely see the three of them at all. Wedding planning doesn’t help. I don’t have to do much, it seems the girls have all divvied up the chores nicely, but I still feel busy, and a little overwhelmed.

Drake is holding up his tux, “This is the only time you’ll see me in a monkey suit, so you better get pictures.”

“Stop complaining, this was your idea.”

“One you could sound a little more enthusiastic about.” He accused hanging the suit back in the closet.

“I’m sorry. That came out wrong. I’m very happy, just overwhelmed. I want to freeze this moment. This feeling of having all three kids under my roof. A safe roof where they can be themselves, have fun, and be together. I never thought I’d see them together. I honestly believed I would go to my grave with that secret.”

Drake flopped down on the bed making me bounce into him. He caught me easily and set me to straddle his stomach. “This is how it’s supposed to be my little Cherry.” He touched my lower lip.

“It’s all your doing you know. If it wasn’t for your stalker tendencies I’d still be… all fucked up.”

“Now you’re Draked up instead, my beautiful bride.” He teased looking past me to the door. “Here it comes.” He warned me just in time to brace myself.

Ashley jumped on the bed, “Get Daddy!!!” And that was the end of talk time.

My wedding day came and went with a blur. Salina and who knows whom else stayed the night at the house with the kids. I think they invited more kids to join the slumber party, but I was whisked away so fast after the reception all I had time for was a quick round of hugs goodnight. Well, not so quick. I swear the club tripled in size for this event. It occurred tome for a fleeting moment that I’ve never actually seen them all together at once, and I doubt this is
all
of them.

The highlight of my day was standing up in front of God and everyone I love to proclaim my love for Drake. His heartfelt vows brought tears to both our eyes.

The runner up highlight of my day was later that night when my son asked me to dance. I might have hugged him a little too hard when we parted for the night.

Drake carried me into our fancy hotel suite overlooking the fountain in Fountain Hills. We barely fit through the door because he’s as big as my dress. “One of us needs to lose some weight.” He teased pretending to struggle with getting down the short hall to where the room opened up to soft lights, candles, strewn rose petals, all perfectly set before a warm and majestic view of the sunset beyond.

“It’s beautiful.” I looked around as he set me on my feet.

“Yes you are.” He stepped back holding his phone out in front of him.

“What are you doing?”

“Taking pictures for my wallet, so to speak.”

I played along and posed a few times for him. “That was the perfect wedding. I can’t believe there was a pig being roasted while a little pig ran around everywhere.” I laughed remembering Celeste and Wrangler’s pet mini pot-bellied piglet named Bacon Bits running around. Almost everywhere he went a blonde I know now as Kris was chasing him around yelling, “Bitsy!! Come back!!” She was a big blur of pink chasing a little blur of pink.

“I got a couple pictures of you and Spencer dancing too. I’ll email them to you in the morning. Right now I want you out of that dress and into my bed.”

“You’re going to need a map and a jackhammer to get me out of this thing. You know it took three people just to get me in it??” I laughed at the memory of this morning. That was some major primping.