Nolan (6 page)
Mrs. Cole laid them on her lap and said
nothing for several minutes. He let her think. Joey knew it was a great deal to
hand someone. When she finally looked at him, Joey knew that he’d messed up and
that all of this was in vain.
“You never answered me, Joseph. What does
this boy…and his aunt want from me? I’m assuming they know that there is money
to be had if this is true.” He shook his head. “They don’t want my money? Or
David’s? I understand his current wife has plenty enough to allow him to have
numerous affairs and vacations to wherever he wants. Perhaps if you enlighten
me on what it is they do want, we can move on from there.”
“They don’t know I’m here.” She nodded and
picked up the little bell on the tray. When the butler appeared just after the
bell was set down, Joey stood up. “I’m sorry to have wasted your time.”
“Do sit down, Joseph. I dislike having a
man…any man…assuming that he knows my mind. I’m very old and very good at
getting things done as well. You’ll see that in a moment.” She turned to the
butler. “Call Jenkins and tell him to get his ass here now. And tell him to
bring what he needs to clear up a paternity suit.”
The butler looked shocked for all of a second
before telling her he would make the call. Joey could only imagine what was
going through his head at that moment, and leaned back in his chair and looked
at the very wealthy and slick woman.
“David is not going to be happy with you.”
She snorted. “I’m sitting here wondering if you might have known about this all
along. I hope not. But I need to know.”
“You don’t need to know jack shit.” He
laughed at her and she smiled. “No. I didn’t know. Had I known any of this I
might have taken some sort of action. I guess…David has been somewhat of a
problem child of late. I know that his wife—I have no idea what her name is—is looking
for ways to get out of this marriage. There was a pre-nup that she wanted him
to sign, but I’m reasonably sure that like with Shelby, he made himself come
out on top of that as well.” She sipped her tea and leaned back in her seat.
“Tell me, young man. This boy, is he…is he doing all right now? I mean, I know
he has lost his mother, but other than his grief, is he well?”
“Not really.” She nodded and looked sad. “He
and his aunt are currently staying with my brother and his wife. One of my
other brothers, Nolan, asked me to look into this for the sole reason of making
David acknowledge his son. As for your money, you know my family well enough to
know that we’ve no use for yours or David’s. It’s the…I guess you could call it
the principle of the matter now.”
“Yes, I can see that. And as for the money, I
should have thought before I spoke out of turn. But when you become as jaded as
I have been of late, you think things before asking questions. As for all of
this, I’ll do what I can without…these bills, are there more? Is there
something I can do to help them…? I need to help them. Can you tell me how they
are faring?” Joey nodded and pulled out yet another file. “I’m impressed with
you. I should like for you to come and work for me.”
“I have plenty to do now, but I thank you. If
you do need me, however, my wife and I can help you. But as for full time, I
have a ranch that we’re working and a baby on the way.” She smiled at him and
told him congratulations. “Thank you. Chris and I are extremely happy.”
She was still looking over the file that he’d
given her last as well as looking over the other files when the doctor arrived.
They had moved to the dining room. The table there was large enough to
accommodate the files she’d spread out, as well as the pictures she’d had Kason,
her butler, bring to her of David.
Dr. Jenkins didn’t ask her what it was about,
just took a swab of her mouth and a few hairs, and even a sample of her blood.
When she told him that she wanted it fast, he said that he could have it in
forty-eight hours. Taking the copies of Shane’s bloodwork with him, he was gone
ten minutes after he arrived.
“I would very much like to meet them.” He
said he wasn’t sure that was a good idea until they knew the results. “You know
as well as I do that Shane is David’s. And I’m going to make sure…well, let me
just say to you that David will know that I do not like to be lied to. I
would…can your family handle a few repercussions? He’ll be pissy and want
revenge. Also, it wouldn’t surprise me if he tried for custody now that it’ll
come out. I’d…I’d like to suggest that your brother marry the aunt and adopt
the boy as soon as possible. There’ll be no change on my end should he do this.
But as far as the courts go, it will go better for them all.”
Joey told her he’d talk to them. “As far as
you meeting them…I’ll have to talk to them. As I said, Nolan asked me to look
into this and I said that I would.” She asked him again why. “Because of David’s
treatment of the mother, Shane has lost everything. I do realize that he’s
never had much so it wasn’t much of a hardship on him concerning the material
things. But his mother did suffer at David’s hands. They were left without any
kind of support, nor did they even have a home until Rylee, Shelby’s sister,
mustered out of the service to come home and work while caring for them. Sometimes
as many as three jobs at a time just to make the rent. And there were plenty of
times when there simply wasn’t any food.”
“He wants revenge.” Joey nodded. “Good. I
like a man that will go the extra mile to make things right for his family. And
you coming here…that makes me think you like this Rylee as well.”
“Yes, ma’am. She’s going to…she and Nolan
have some things to work out, but I think in the end, it will.” She asked if
Rylee was human. “Yes she is, for now. How did you know?”
“I told you, I know your grandmother. And
there is a pistol if I ever met one.” Joey asked if she meant Katie Bentley. “Oh
my, the stories I could tell you about her in her younger days. And Howie? That
man…well, that is for another time. But you should ask them about the cruise
that our families took together. That will give you a whole new view into your
grandparents.”
Joey left with the promise of getting in
touch with her in a few days. And she told him that if she got the results back
sooner, which she said she would, she’d let him know. Joey had a feeling things
were going to be just peachy around the Cole household in a few days.
I just left Mrs. Cole’s home. And she is a
believer. It took her about five minutes to have her doctor come in and get a
sample from her.
Nolan thanked him again, but Joey could hear the frustration in his voice.
What’s
going on? Something happened?
Yes. I have to…I’m going to take Rylee over
to the shelter today. Mom mentioned the charity thing and she said that I
should take her.
Sounded reasonable, but not enough to frustrate him on it.
I didn’t think to
ask her to this thing, and she’s sort of put out that she needs to use my money
to buy a dress.
Put out or pissed?
He told him both.
Good.
You should have told her about it. Not to say that you haven’t had a lot on
your mind, but you need to be more open with her. Have you…have you bonded
yet?”
It was a personal question, he knew that, but
he also knew that things were moving much faster than Nolan was moving right
now. Joey understood that he wanted to help her understand things, but if David
Cole came for them, they had to all be ready.
Are you going to try and tell me how to do
this too?
Joey wasn’t sure what to say to Nolan, so he didn’t say anything. His temper of
late was touchy, and it seemed to take very little to set him off.
I’m
sorry. I have…this isn’t going well here. I have to get a house, and I don’t
have the funds right now. And please don’t tell me you can give them to me. I’d
like to do this on my own.
Nolan, what’s wrong?”
He’d asked him that
before, and had, in the past, gotten either a nasty answer or none at all. He
was expecting them both right now.
I want to help you.
I’ve been…stupid.
Joey wasn’t sure he
could have disagreed with him so kept his mouth shut.
I don’t know what to
do. I’m not even sure I know what’s wrong with me. Maybe…maybe I’m just…I don’t
know. Joey, I’m afraid.
Of what?
He wanted to reach out to his brother
and look into his head. He could now, thanks to the magic that he’d gotten from
Chris. But he was afraid to. He wasn’t sure what he’d find when he looked.
What
are you afraid of, Nolan? Tell me.
I’m such a disappointment.
Before he could
speak, shock making him speechless, Nolan said he had to go.
I’m going to
the shelter today so that I can show Rylee what you guys have done. Later.
The connection wasn’t just closed, but seemed
to be slammed shut. He tried twice to reach Nolan but until he was sure, he
wouldn’t hurt him by forcing his way in. He was going to talk to Chris first.
He reached for his grandda, knowing that if
anyone could help him it would he him. Grandda, of course, had plenty to say,
but very little of it was going to be helpful.
You leave him to me. I’ll talk to your
grandmother too. She can do all kinds of things that we menfolk can only think
about. She’ll bring that boy…what did he tell you that makes him think…? Good
heavens, he’s a doctor. How would…? It’s this shelter thing. I knew it. I’ll
talk to him.
Joey was a little nervous now. Pushing the
gas pedal a little harder, he wondered if he’d made a mistake talking to Grandda.
Wondering what else could possibly go wrong, he made his way to Micah’s house
to talk to him.
Rylee looked around the shelter. It was nicer
than their last home and a good deal better equipped. There was a small store
that people could come to and use credits to purchase things like soap and
toothpaste. The credits were earned by doing chores around the building, from
sweeping to washing down the bathrooms.
“I thought it would give them some worth. And
there is a list where they can sign up to take turns running the store, too. I
even offered to have potential job seekers use it as a sort of part-time job to
put on resumes.” He frowned and she waited for the put down, as she’d begun to
call them. “My mom suggested that we put in the extras like laundry items. I
was just going to give them to them, but she said that it gave them something
that would be theirs, paying for items that they needed.”
“This thing? Is it a family project then?” He
didn’t answer her, and she stopped him from moving again. “Nolan? What is going
on here? Your mom tells me you have this great plan and what it’s doing for the
community. You tell me that it’s your family’s, and that other than the start
up, you have no part of it. I’m still trying to figure that one out since
everyone but you says it’s yours. And there is the way you keep telling me that
it’s not what you wanted. What is it you wanted? To have your name engraved on
each wall and floor?”
“I started it some time back. And then when
my family found out about it, they sort of barged in.” She knew it was more
than that and asked him again. “I had gotten myself down to being broke. Not
just where I couldn’t pay for all the things here, but I wasn’t going to be able
to pay my rent on my apartment. So they came in and took over.”
“Took over, or you gave up?” He didn’t say anything,
but she knew that she’d touched a nerve by the look on his face. “What have you
done to help them, when this was your project and they’ve helped you out?”
“Nothing.” It sounded defensive, and she felt
her own temper rise up to meet his. “You should know that I’m a big
disappointment to them. Getting myself in a hole that I can’t get myself out
of.”
Rylee hit him. Not hard, but enough to get
his attention. She could tell that his cat was close…it was almost as if she
could touch him, but he needed his head put back in place, and she was going to
do it. Taking his arm, she dragged him over to two men that were standing there
acting like they had nothing to do but hold up the broom that one of them was
holding.
“This man, do you know him?” The bigger of
the two of them shook his head. “He’s the one that started this thing. His
family is helping him out.”
“Yeah, that’s Nolan Bentley. Did you know
that they’re going to have food here? And a place I can shower every day
instead of when I can get me into a station with a sink.” He nodded to Nolan. “I’m
even working today.”
“Good for you.” She moved to the next group
of men and woman. “This is Nolan Bentley. He is the one that purchased this
building and started this project before his family came in and took over.”
“Family is good. You don’t get but one chance
to have a good one. Them helping you, they’s made it so we can have a nice
place. Thank you for getting us a warm dry place to sleep and live again.” The
man standing there shook his hand.
The woman spoke next. “You got us the beds
too, I heard.” Nolan nodded and told her how they’d been stored in a warehouse
that he’d purchased. “A bed. Do you know how long it’s been since I slept in
one? More’n I like to think about. Thank you.”
As they moved deeper into the building, she
could see the doctor’s office as well as a pharmacy. She knew that he’d done
that; his mother couldn’t say enough about the things that had been in place
before they’d come to help him. She stopped by the day care and looked inside
at the two people in there setting it up, as well as a handicapped young man
playing with the paints.
“He came in three days ago. That’s what came
up when Shane was in my office. There were some problems about him wanting to
paint all day and there is this schedule to follow. I had to intervene on his
part. The boy’s mother and father had kicked him out when it was too hard for
them to care for him.” She asked him who had let him come here now. “I did,
like I said. The offices that we passed, there are going to be doctors in all
the time. A dentist friend of mine is also going to make visits here. We’re
even going to have someone come in for the kids that need help.”
“An after school program. Your mom told me
about it.” He nodded and leaned against the wall to look at her. “You started
this project, I’m aware of that. But do you think that any of them, your family,
would have done this without your help?”
“I didn’t ask for their help.” She huffed at
him. “Did Micah put you up to this? Tell you to bring me down here and try and
make me see reason?”
“Fuck you. Do I strike you as a person that
can be told what to do?” He laughed and told her no. “Tell me something, Nolan.
What would your father say to you if he could see the way you’re acting right
now?”
“He’d be disappointed in me. Tell me that I’m
a fool for sitting around on my ass and whining about what I’m not doing.” He
turned to look around the massive room. “I’ve been thinking about what he’d say
for a week now. But I’m in over my head in coming back to this. I can’t…they
don’t need me.”
“Really? And why the hell do you think that?”
He didn’t answer her, and she jerked his head around to look at her. “Why do
you think that your family, who would die for you, doesn’t need you?”
“Because I’m whiny and a pain in the ass.”
She told him that she got that. “Are you always such a pain in the ass?”
“Pretty much.” He pulled her to his body, and
she went willingly. To have this man touch her gave her feelings she’d never
had before. “You should know that I’m just as much a disappointment to Shane as
you think you are to your family. He might have been better off in the system
as much as I’m not doing for him.”
The swat to her ass brought her closer to his
body. His cock stretched now, and she could feel it thicken as he held her to
him. When he cupped her ass and brought her as close as she could be without
being naked and him inside of her, she moaned.
“I want you. Right now, I’d like nothing
better than to find us a room with a lock on it and ravish you.” His mouth took
hers. It wasn’t a kiss so much as a claiming. He was making sure she knew that
she was his. “My cat would like to taste you as well. Drink from your wet pussy
until he can mark you as his.”
“Nolan, there is nowhere for us to go, and I
hate to have you satisfy me and not yourself again.” He growled, and her body responded
to the sound. “Help me, please. I’ve only thought of you inside of me for days.
Will you fill me, Nolan? Will your cock fit inside of me?”
This time he jerked her along the long
stretch of the middle of the building. When he opened a door, she could see
that it was some kind of storage room and wasn’t surprised when he nearly
tossed her inside before following her and closing the door. The lock sounding
had her breathing double and her heart rate pounding.
“Take off your clothes. I want to see you
before I eat you.” She wanted to argue with him. The room was small, the only
hard surface was the smallish table that sat in the middle of the room. “If you
don’t take off your clothing my cat is going to make short work of them, and
you’re going to be naked with nothing to put on when we’re done.”
Taking off her blouse, she dropped it on the
floor. The bra was next. Slipping her pants down with her panties, she was
naked in less than ten seconds. And when he told her to sit on the table, she
did so without question.
“I’m going to fuck you after I have my fill.
And when I do I’m going to bite you, mark you. Will you do the same to me?” He
took off his shirt and his belt. She watched him, her pussy heating up so hot
that she wanted to touch herself to see if it was as hot as she thought it was.
Nodding to him, she watched as he pulled open his pants, his cock outlined in
his briefs as he kicked them across the room. “Don’t run from him. If you do,
there is going to be a lot of people seeing you like you are now.”
The cat simply consumed him. She felt the
hairs on her arms dance. The magic or whatever it had been that had changed him
made her think she was in trouble. As the large cat moved toward her, she
opened her legs and let him sniff her. As soon as he licked her from gate to
clit, she knew she was going to really enjoy herself. Lying back on the table,
she felt his breath on her thighs and nearly came when he buried his nose into
her.
Cupping her breasts, she tugged at her
nipples as the cat feasted on her. Every time his tongue would touch her clit,
she could feel the roughness of it and rolled her hips up to meet each of his
strokes. Each time she came, which were too many to count, he would lap at her,
taking the cream away almost as quickly as she felt it gush from her body. And
when his tongue entered her, fucking her with sharp, hard strokes, she came
screaming out Nolan’s name and felt the room simply tilt and rock around her.
Then Nolan was there.
~~~
Her body was tone, her breasts red from her
hands. Nolan leaned in, his cock in his hand, and suckled at her nipple, making
the hard little morsel tender before he bit down on it. Her hand at the back
his of his head brought him closer, and he opened his mouth wider and took as
much of her flesh into his mouth as he could before biting her again. Nolan
wanted to eat her too, but the thought of being deep in her body was making him
lightheaded with need.
Her hips moved up to his groin. The heat
there, even before he slid his cock over her, was enough to make him wonder how
hot she was going to be inside. As he soaked his cock with her juices, he slid just
his crown into her and nearly came when she rolled her hips again and her
sheath seemed to suck him in. Nolan rolled his own hips and filled her to the
root of his being. Her nails digging into his arms made him pause and look down
at her.
“Christ, you’re wonderfully full.” He grinned
and leaned in to kiss her. It was difficult not to move, to rock into her as he
tasted her dark mouth. Lifting his head just a little, he rocked forward and
watched her face. It was beautiful, but now, with her so close to the edge of
coming, she was too gorgeous for words.
“My cat loved the way you gave him what he
wanted.” He moved again, taking her closer still as her ankles locked behind
him. “Next time, we’re going to go to the woods behind my brother’s house and
I’m going to run you down before I let him taste you.”
“Fuck me, Nolan, please?” He moved again,
slower than before, and she cried out in frustration. “If you don’t fuck me so
I can come, I’m going to do it myself.” He lifted his body from hers, his cock
still inside of her, his hands holding her hips. Nolan watched her fingers as
they slid down her skin. He was mesmerized by the dance that she showed him,
and he began fucking her harder now. But as soon as her fingers entered her
pussy with his cock, he growled low. She’d been tight before, but now it was as
if she was strangling his cock.
Holding her legs open wider, he pounded her. Her
fingers were sliding over her clit and touching his cock every time he moved in
and out of her. The sensation was amazing, and when she bowed up and screamed,
his own climax nearly took his breath away. As it was, he’d had to hold onto
her so as not to be bucked off. Leaning to her throat, he begged her to come
again and bit her when she screamed out his name. Her mouth, near his shoulder,
sank into his skin even as his own mouth filled with blood as he marked his
mate. They were one, and would be for the rest of their long lives together.
Nolan fucked her slowly. He was still hard,
his cock empty, but the thought of pulling from her body and the idea that he
would have to soon anyway made him want her all the more. As she held him, her
body rising up to greet his made him smile down at her.
“You are pretty good at this. How many people
do you suppose heard us?” He told her he didn’t care. “Yeah, me either really. I’m
guessing that this biting thing, it’s going to be an ongoing sort of happening
with us too?”
“Yes. Does it bother you?” She only smiled at
him as he fucked her harder. “I’d very much like to bite you again while you come.
To hear you saying my name is the biggest turn on I’ve ever experienced.”
“You should know that when your cat was
eating me, I fully expected him to bite me too. Is he going to be a part of our
sex too? I don’t…I won’t have to have him fuck me, will I?” He sat up now and
lifted her so that she was wrapped around him. Turning, he sat on the table
this time and lay back when he was sure that she was safe on top of him. “Oh
Christ, Nolan. You’re so fucking thick.”
“Ride me. And in answer to your question,
yes, he’ll want a part of you too, but not to fuck you. If you let me convert
you, he’ll fuck your…. Holy shit! Yes, again.” She rolled her hips over him,
and when she leaned down and took his nipple into her mouth, he felt his vison
blur for a few seconds while she suckled him as he had her. “No, he won’t fuck
you, but if you keep that up, your ride is going to be short.”
