Kaleb (26 page)

“I
had no idea, I swear. Not until a couple of weeks ago.” Kaleb whispered before
planting a kiss on her cheek. “If I had known, I would’ve told you, Zoey. You
know that.”

Ok,
so maybe she did know that. But it was easier to be mad at him. It was easier
to be mad at all men at the moment.
Especially the cheating
bastard laughing it up like a fucking hyena across the room.

When
Kaleb went motionless, his hands tightening on her shoulders, Zoey realized he
just figured out that Jason was there.

“Well,
I’ll be damned.” Braydon’s deep baritone reverberated through the bar, causing
the gentle rumble of voices to go eerily silent. When Zoey turned in her chair,
she realized all of the Walker brothers, as well as Gage, were standing
directly behind her, but they weren’t looking at her. Instead, their attention
was focused on the two people directly responsible for Zoey’s now pissed off
mood.

The
only consolation – Jason wasn’t smiling anymore.

“If it isn’t the lying, cheating bastard
in the flesh.”
Brendon added, apparently looking to
start shit as he took a menacing step forward, his big, powerful body prepared
to pounce.

Aside
from the one step Brendon took, no one else was moving closer to Jason,
although the fear that flashed across his too handsome face said otherwise.

“Oh, and if it isn’t Tiffany Folsom.”
Braydon tacked on, smiling, but looking none too happy. “I have to say, I’m
surprised he kept you around this long.”

And
that’s what started it all.

♂♀

“It’s
Tiffany Tribbons, thank you very much.” Her nasally, whiny voice penetrated the
air and made Brendon and Braydon chuckle, though Kaleb wasn’t sure what the
hell was funny. “And we’re still together because he only kicks the trash to
the curb.”

Zoey
flew out of her chair, although Kaleb easily pulled her back, holding her
firmly in place. Kaleb knew that all hell was about to break loose and should
Jason Tribbons get any bright ideas about throwing insults, he wasn’t so sure
any of them would be able to hold back. That was the one thing about the
brothers – they were a protective bunch, and every one of them had grown
protective of Zoey over the years.

“Well,
that’s funny.” Brendon said, taking a step closer to their table, Sawyer right
by his side, probably to hold him back if necessary. “From what I remember,
Jason tucked his tail between his legs and ran out of town
with
the
trash. Ain’t that right, Jason?”

When
Jason didn’t say anything, not even attempting to defend the woman who had
declared
herself
to be his wife, clearly the mother of
his child, it was obvious where this was going to lead.

“
Oh,
and look.” Tiffany said in a fake sweet voice, “little
Zoey Stranford is hooking up with a Walker. Or are you hooking up with
all
of them these days?”

“If
you’ve got the cream of the crop,” Zoey offered, not moving from her position
in front of Kaleb, “what does it matter who I’m with?”

“Oh,
honey, Jason was smart enough to leave your ass long ago. He told me what a
bore you were in bed.”

Zoey
smiled, and Kaleb knew there was a storm brewing. With a nod of his head, Kaleb
acknowledged Jason before speaking. “You might want to take her home.”

“Fuck
you, Kaleb Walker.” Tiffany screamed. “I can go anywhere and do anything I
want.”

Zoey
glanced up at Kaleb and grinned. “It’s true. She can. She’s particularly fond
of doing married men.”

Apparently
Tiffany took offense to that statement because she came around the table,
walking right up to Zoey. Kaleb didn’t budge and neither did Zoey. Had he not
been leaning against her back, he wouldn’t have known she was gearing up for a
fight. But he knew her well. She wasn’t about to throw the first punch, but she
damn sure wasn’t going to take any shit off of anyone.

“Why
don’t you take your sweet
self back
home, lie down
like a comatose woman and let them have their wicked way with you? I hear
you’re good at that.”

“Yeah?
That’s what I’m good at, huh?” Zoey laughed without mirth. “Ever think that
maybe I just didn’t know he was there and that’s why I didn’t move?”

That
statement garnered a round of laughter from the other patrons in the bar, but
still, Jason didn’t move. Tiffany, on the other hand, looked pissed. At least
one of them was going to stand up for the other. Obviously Jason wasn’t
interested in defending his wife because he was still seated, nursing a beer
and trying to pretend the whole thing wasn’t happening.

“Honey,
he’s the best I’ve ever had.” Tiffany glared at Zoey.

Once
again Zoey glanced up at Kaleb then back at Tiffany. “Well, that’s saying
something.
Considering you’ve had half the town.”

Another round of laughter.

The
instant Tiffany reached for Zoey, Kaleb intervened, stepping in front of her
and successfully blocking the hand that would have bitch slapped her.
Thankfully Gage was right there, holding Zoey back because the woman had just
come unhinged.

“Tribbons.”
This time Travis spoke up, and when he did the entire bar got quiet. They all
knew Travis generally didn’t intervene, and he wasn’t much on talking either,
so when he did, people tended to listened. “Take her home. And don’t bring her
back here tonight.”

Kaleb
watched as Jason stood, glancing around as though one of them were going to
jump him at any minute. It wasn’t until he was at the door, the rest of them
watching them walk away that it happened.

Out
of nowhere, Jake – Anderson Croft’s friend that Zane had had words with
previously – pounced on Zane’s back, effectively tackling him to the floor.
Unfortunately for Jake, he wasn’t fast enough because Zane went down, but not
entirely. Before anyone knew what happened, Zane was on him, and Sawyer and
Travis were trying to pull him off. Then three more joined the melee and a free
for all broke loose.

Grabbing
Zoey by the hand, Kaleb dragged her through the short, narrow hallway that led
to the back door. Six of his brother’s together was more than enough to handle
the brawl and Kaleb wouldn’t put it past Tiffany to do a sneak attack while
they were all preoccupied, so getting Zoey out of the fray seemed the most
logical option.

He
didn’t let her pull away when she would have tried; instead, he led her to his
truck, ignoring her verbal and physical protests. “Just get in.”

Obviously
irritated, Zoey glared up at him, but she stopped arguing. With a dramatic
huff, she finally did as he instructed, climbing in through the driver’s door
and crawling across the seat.

“Middle.”
He told her when she would have moved over to the passenger side of the truck.
Call him crazy, but Kaleb wanted to keep her close.

Another
deep exhale, then Zoey finally settled into the seat, making a gigantic deal
out of buckling her seat belt. Kaleb smiled to himself before starting the
truck.

“Where
are we going?” She asked as he pulled out of the parking lot.

“For a drive.”
Instead of going back toward his house, he took off on one of the back roads.
Zoey needed some time to cool off, and Kaleb wasn’t interested in fighting with
her anymore tonight. And he had just the thing to take her mind off of what
just happened.

♀♂

“Just
take me home.” Zoey was still angry, but she was calming down some. She truly
didn’t want to go home, not particularly interested in spending time alone, but
she wasn’t prepared to give in to Kaleb’s high handedness.

Yet
she had a difficult time putting any effort in to arguing with him. Maybe it
was the distinct scent of Kaleb that overwhelmed her senses, or the fact that
she didn’t have to look at Jason’s face anymore.
Or his wife.

Ugghh.
The thought still pissed her off. She was so worked up after that little bitch
Tiffany mouthed off, she couldn’t even speak.

“Why
are you fidgeting?” Kaleb asked as they drove down the back road. Zoey
recognized where they were going because it was one of the secluded spots they
had frequented as teenagers. Just outside of their small town, the abandoned
barn had definitely seen better days, but even after all of the partying they’d
done there over the years, it was still standing.

“I’m
not fidgeting.” She lied, stilling her hands as she said the words.

“Baby,
if you need something to do with your hands, I’ve got a suggestion.”

Zoey’s
entire body stilled with that comment as a burst of adrenaline laced passion
shot through her bloodstream, making her pussy clench and a chill run across
her skin. She squeezed her hands together, ignoring the urge to reach over and
touch him. It was tempting, so very tempting.

“Touch
me, Zoey.” Kaleb insisted, his eyes never leaving the road. When she didn’t move,
he reached over and took her hand, placing it along the hard ridge of his
erection. “Feel what you do to me.”

Zoey’s
mouth hung open at his audacity, but she didn’t move her hand. Testing him, she
began brushing her hand back and forth along the steely length of him.

“Take
my cock out, baby. I want you to stroke me.” Kaleb glanced over at her, the
intention in those penetrating blue eyes evident.
“Now,
Zoey.”

Zoey
gave in sooner than she expected, turning slightly so she could use both hands to
free him from the denim confines before using her left hand to stroke him
slowly. She wasn’t in a hurry and sitting at this angle, she could watch the
muscles in his jaw as they tensed.

“Awww, fuck, baby.”
Kaleb growled, and the vibrations were like a lightning bolt straight to her
clit.

Maybe
it was because of Tiffany’s insults, or the thought that Jason had actually
shared some of their most intimate moments in such a nasty way, but Zoey needed
Kaleb’s encouragement. Even if she didn’t believe the cruel words Tiffany said,
Zoey’s ego had taken a direct hit nonetheless.

“That’s
it.” Kaleb whispered harshly, using one hand to guide her along the velvet
covered the length of him. “Your hand feels so good on me.”

His
groan filled the truck and had her squirming in her seat. Was she actually
stroking his cock while they were driving down the road? Kaleb was still paying
attention to the road, but his sporadic groans confirmed that she was doing
something right.

“Slow.”
He demanded. “Don’t rush it, Zoey. I’m not ready to come yet.”

Zoey
slowed her movements, paying attention to the soft, smooth shaft beneath her
fingers, and the way Kaleb squeezed her hand tightly, still stroking, but now
painfully slow. Zoey had the sudden urge to make him lose control.

A
few minutes passed before Kaleb steered the truck down the bumpy, dirt path
that led to the old, abandoned barn. When he pulled the truck behind it, he
turned the headlights off. The interior of the truck was lit by the blue lights
in the dash, enough that Zoey could see what they were doing.

“Take
off your jeans.” Kaleb unhooked both of their seatbelts and then maneuvered to
the middle seat, forcing Zoey to move over to the passenger side. The sudden
need to be filled by him, to hold him close and feel him buried deep inside was
so overwhelming, she was frantically working to remove one boot and her jeans.

“Come
here.” Kaleb’s words were terse, urgent with his own need as he pushed his own
jeans down past his hips.

As
soon as she had her jeans down, she threw her leg over his, straddling his
hips.

“Lift
your leg.”

Kaleb
helped lift her right leg as he guided his cock between them, sliding the wide
head through her slick folds. There was no foreplay, no teasing, just a quick,
hard thrust of his hips that resulted in him being buried to the hilt inside of
her.

“Don’t
move.” He warned, but Zoey was on the edge already, her body working to
accommodate his cock as he pushed deeper.

“Kaleb.”
Zoey needed more of him.

When
he pulled her body against his, crushing his mouth to hers, the events of the
last few minutes disappeared, and the only thing left was the intensity of her
feelings for this man.

“Damn,
baby, you’re so fucking tight.” Kaleb groaned, his mouth still pressed to hers.
“I could stay just like this forever.”

Forever.
Zoey liked the idea of that, but right now, her body had other ideas. She began
to move, riding him slowly, taking him as deep as possible before reversing.

“I’m
not going to last, baby. I’m warning you now.”

Zoey
liked the confident way he spoke and the way he lifted her hips, holding her
still as he began to thrust upward, controlling her movements.