Marrying the Marine-epub (20 page)

As Sandella stood behind Braylon shaking like a leaf, she noticed a spider tattoo on Bud’s abdomen. He and the ugly creature had the same god-awful green eyes. “If it’s okay with you, I’m going to button my pants first.”

“It’s not okay with me. Turn…your ass…around. Now,” Braylon warned through clenched teeth.

With his hands behind his back, Bud slowly pivoted toward the wall. Braylon rushed up behind him and slapped the silver cuffs on his wrists. “I almost got away with it.”

“But you didn’t, son,” a firm voice stated from behind. 

BRAYLON WHIRLED
to find Forest standing in the doorway pointing a gun at Braylon’s chest. Keeping his weapon aimed at Forest’s forehead, Braylon ordered, “Put the gun down, Forest.”

Releasing a throaty grunt, Forest’s face twisted. He then swiped the gun toward his son. “I warned you to stay out of trouble, Bud. Ever since you got fired from the police department, you’ve been nothing but a headache.” His vivid green eyes darkened to a color resembling mushed peas.

Braylon stood in front of Sandella using his body as a protective shield. So Bud was an ex-cop? And Forest had been protecting him? “Put your gun down, Forest.”

Forest continued, “The last time you went and done this, I told you that if you did it again, I wasn’t going to have your back.” Sweat gathered like a row of tiny raindrops on his forehead. “And I meant every god damn word...son.”

Poooowww!
Forest fired a bullet straight into Bud’s skull and his brains splattered against the wall.

Braylon’s finger squeezed the trigger firing off a round of hot lead into Forest’s chest. Forest’s gun tumbled from his loosened grip, and he plummeted to the floor. “Sorry for your troubles,” he choked out, blood slipping from the crack of his lips, then shut his eyes for good.

B
raylon’s feet moved across the carpet with urgency as he hastened toward the kitchen inside the cottage. His eyes expanded when he noticed the time on the clock. It was four fifteen in the afternoon. 
Shit! I overslept
. Shaking his head, he swiped a heavy hand down his frowning face.

Last night’s horrible events involving Forest and his son had worn him out, and had caused him to sleep as if he were hibernating. And now he was late picking up Sandella from the hospital. Hours late!

Just as he snatched his keys from the counter, the doorbell rang. When he plied the door open, joy gripped his heart and relief flooded through his veins. Sandella along with her father and brothers stood before him, smiling like they’d won the lottery.

“You did it, goddamnit!” Kane hooted, then rolled his wheelchair over the threshold. Sandella and her brothers followed. With his hands on his thighs, Kane tilted his head back and chuckled heartily. “You said you were going to find my Sugar’s killer, and you got his psycho ass!” He slapped his thigh. “Now I can finally rest in peace. And so can my Sugar.”

The light in Kane’s eyes quickly faded to darkness. Then his bottom lip quivered. He continued. “Thank you for what you’ve done. My boys and I, and Sandy, are forever indebted to you, and I…” his voice trailed off as he choked on a sob.

Sandella patted her father’s shoulder. “It’s okay, Dad. Get it out.” She transferred her eyes to Braylon. “We are so thankful for what you did for us.” She batted her eyelashes and a single tear rolled down her face.

God, I love this woman.
  “Please don’t mention it. I was just doing my job.”

Chandler sniffed. “No. You went way above the call of duty. We can never repay you for what you did for us.”

“Thank you,” Aric said with tears in his eyes. 

Before Braylon could part his lips to reply, Drew threw his arms around him and burst into tears. “He’s finally gone pay for killing my momma!”

Braylon patted Drew’s back.  “Yes…he’s going to jail for the rest of his life.” There wasn’t a set of dry eyes in the room, including Braylon’s.

After everyone regained their composure, Sandella and her family sat chatting about the awful events until Kane finally said he was ready to go home. He thanked Braylon so many times he couldn’t count the number even if he wanted. Right before the Summers men left, Kane reminded Braylon that he had his blessing to date Sandella. The fact that Kane had given him his blessing twice sent him to grinning.

Standing in the doorway gripping the frame, he watched in delight as Kane’s truck backed out of the driveway. Happy to have brought Sandella and the men in her family closure, he shut the door. He plopped down on the couch next to her. “How are you feeling?”

She released a long yawn into the cupped hand covering her mouth.  “Tired. Overwhelmed. I’m still a little shaken.” She ran her hands up and down her arms like she was warding off the cold.

Braylon tilted her chin upward. “I’ll never let a soul hurt you again. And that’s a promise.” He kissed her tender lips. 

“They’re almost finished with clearing the land on the ocean for the bakery,” she said, changing the subject.

“That’s wonderful.”

“I still can’t get over how fast SugarKanes has grown in such a short amount of time.”

“With you in charge, anything is possible, baby.” Braylon wrapped his arms around Sandella pulling her snuggly against his chest. “I love you so much.” He kissed the top of her hair.

“I love you so much.” She shut her eyes and, just as she began drifting off to sleep, the front door cracked open.

“Sandella! Are you okay?” Willa shouted, bursting inside the cottage with no warning.

“Why didn’t you knock first, Willa?” Drake asked, appearing in the doorway.

Willa sucked in a breath.  “Aw, be quiet Drake. You always got to be so formal about everything.”

Sandella sprung from Braylon’s embrace, darted straight into Willa’s open arms, and nestled her head up against her bosom like the child Willa treated her as. “I’m so glad you’re finally home.”

With her chin pressed to the top of Sandella’s head, Willa closed her eyes. “Me too, darling. I’m so happy to be home.”

TWO WEEKS LATER,
wearing a life vest
,
Braylon climbed down from the river dock behind his grandparents’ estate, then lowered himself onto the seat of his brand new Yamaha jet ski. Gripping the handle bars, he peered up at Sandella. “Hop on,” he invited, instantly thinking about how he’d like for her to hop on and ride his dick, too. A big smile developed on his face.

Smiling down at him, she tightened the straps on her orange life vest. “Are you thinking what I think you’re thinking?” she asked, wrapping her arms around his waist.

Braylon started the engine on his new toy. “If you’re thinking that I can’t wait to fuck you, then yeah, that’s what I’m thinking.”

“Is that all you ever think about?” Inhaling his spicy cologne, she looked out at the water, and relished the way her breasts felt mashed into his spine. God, he was so manly.

“For the most part, yeah.”  He rotated the gear and the jet ski skidded across the river.

Cold water kicked up from the depths of the ocean splattering her face. Enjoying the cool breeze nipping at her, she held on tight.
Wheeee! This is so much fun.
Braylon had mentioned he had something to show her, but she had no idea what it was. The craft zipped toward Harbor Island.

Minutes later they came to a complete stop in front of the big white house they’d visited months prior. Braylon climbed off the jet ski, reached for her hand, and pulled her toward him. Making their way toward the breathtaking home, they walked hand in hand.

After they dismounted the dock, Braylon released a sigh, then smiled. “This is what I wanted to show you.” She felt his grip tighten on her hand.

“Why did you want to show me Clyde’s house?”

He reached in his pocket, then dangled a key before her eyes. “This isn’t Clyde’s house anymore. It’s mine.”

Sandella gasped. She smiled. “You bought it?”

He nodded. “Yes. I bought it for us.”

Thinking she’d heard wrong, she touched a hand to her heart.  “For us?” As Braylon reached inside his other pocket, light tremors enveloped her body.
Us. Oh God. Is he about to…

“Yes us,” he reiterated, holding a tiny Tiffany box in his large palm. Shocked, she covered her mouth to swallow the cry of joy threatening to depart from her lungs. He got down on one knee in front of her. Then he peeled open the box. Inside lay a beautiful, sparkling ring. The breathtaking diamond was round, and it was set in platinum, and it looked like it cost a fortune.

Her fingers trembled over her quivering lips as she peered down at him. “Oh, Braylon. What are you doing?”

“I love you so much, baby.” He swallowed. “It’d do my heart some good,” he patted over his heart area, “if you’ll say yes and marry me. I want you to be my wife.”

I can’t believe this.
Sniffing, she nodded. When she placed a gentle hand on the side of his face, he turned his head to kiss the inside of her palm. She felt the weight of tears on her blinking eyelashes. “Yes. I’d love to be your wife.”

A big grin spread across his face. He jumped to his feet, slid the ring on her finger, then slipped his tongue inside her mouth.

“Let’s go see our new house!” He grabbed her hand and they took off running.

Long minutes later, after they toured the empty house, they wound up in the bare family room beside the fireplace. Sandella twined her arms around his neck and stared into his warm gaze. “I’ve been waiting to do something all day.”

His right brow arched.  “What?”

“This.” She reached inside his pants and fisted his cock.

He emitted a deep moan. He put his nose to hers.  “I love it when you touch me.” As she stroked his member it hardened within her velvety grip.  “Oh, that feels good.” Her strong jerking hand seemed to inflame him.

Standing in front of her, he gripped her shoulders, then made her walk backward until her spine touched the wall.  His fingers swiftly undid the buttons of her blouse. Her shirt fell to the floor, then her bra followed.

As she continued to stroke him, he touched a finger to her nipple and repeatedly flicked it.  Her breathing grew labored. She ran a heavy thumb across his engorged head to find it slick with precum. Electricity charged straight to her pulsating clitoris. And every inch of her body tingled.  

He seemed in such a hurry to get inside her as he rolled her pants down her legs. “God, you’re so pretty, so sexy,” he said, stepping from his jeans, leaving them both naked.

She blushed. “I can’t wait to become your wife.” Her eyes misted. “I’m the happiest woman in the world.”

He cupped her neck, pulling it forward. “And I’m the happiest man.” He inhaled deeply before thrashing his tongue into her mouth. As their ravenous mouths nipped and sucked and plied away, their hands explored the warmth of each other’s naked flesh. Her opening was burning with raw primitive need and her knees felt incredibly weak. She could hardly keep her balance.

Indulging in the heated throes of passion, they wildly fell to the floor, never letting go. She wanted to feel like this forever and always.

“Open wide for me, Sandella.” He groaned huskily, looking down at her as she lay on her back. Eager to receive him, she parted her thighs.

He covered her sex with his hot mouth, and nipped her ever so sensitive bud with his sharp teeth. Both pain and pleasure ensued and she winced. As her lids lowered, his deep aroused groans filled her ears.   

With driving force, he thrust his tongue inside of her. She flinched. Bucking against his face, she held on hard to his head. “You make me feel so good, Braylon,” she panted, curling her toes, heat zapping like fierce fire through her blood.  Panting, she dug her nails into his shoulders, then abandoned herself to the overwhelming whirls of pleasant sensations.

“I want you so bad it hurts.” He got on his knees then aligned his back up against the wall. The sight of him sitting upright and holding his massive cock in his fist made her mouth water. Starting beneath the deep groove of his round glorious head, the bulging veins of his cock traveled southward and stopped where his hard spheres began. Massaging it up and down, he grazed her arm with his slick tip. “Hop on,” he instructed.

My pleasure.
She straddled him. She then raised her hips and positioned the opening of her wet sex to his dick.

“Let me just put the head in for a second.” Grasping his shoulders, she nodded.  Still gripping himself, he circled the hard knob of his erection around the circumference of her pussy. Sparks of desire surged through her tensed body. She slammed down hard on him, and started riding him like an experienced bull rider. He groaned.

She slid back to the top, paused, circled, then crashed down hard into his lap. “Oh yeah, baby.” He pecked her neck.  “Ride this dick. Fuck me.” His large hands rummaged aggressively over her sweating back.

She whimpered repeatedly into his mouth as his thickness scraped her G-spot making her eyes roll heavenward. When she arched her neck backward, he caught a nipple in his hot mouth, and feasted. He then cradled her face and began kissing her everywhere—her face, her throat, her closed eyes.

Their breath was ragged. Their gazes locked.

He swiped her fallen bangs behind her ears. “Do you know what this does to me?” he asked, thrusting her harder.

“I think so.”

He cupped her neck and pulled it until their lips lightly touched. “You drive me mad woman.”

Certain she was about to explode, she rocked her hips. “Good.”

A low growl rumbled inside his throat.  His body tensed beneath her. He clenched her hips, rocked, and shot a load of warm semen into her womb. Feeling the strong beats of fluid shooting from the slit of his shaft pushed her over the edge.  Biting her bottom lip, she burst with a thunderous orgasm.

“You were incredible,” he said, his erection softening inside her flooded crevice.

“So were you.” She lay her head on his damp chest, inhaling the strong scent of after-sex lingering in the air.

A long hour later, as Sandella sat on the floor nestled between Braylon’s legs chatting about their future together, his cell chirped. “Hello.”