Knead: Contemporary Romance (Creamy's Bakery Book 1) (8 page)

Chapter Fourteen

Beth

I don't know if JR fell asleep in there, but I'm washing dishes when I hear my phone beep. I pull it from my purse and see a text from Mason.

Shit
.

My head shoots up to see if JR is standing there watching me. Thankfully, he's not, but if he finds out who Mason is or that he's interested in me, who knows what he'll do to either of us.

I just get the messages deleted when JR's hand lands on my shoulder. “What are you doing, baby?”

I jump almost out of my skin and my heart is pounding. “Just checking my phone. Nothing important.”

“Anything interesting?” he says.

Looking down, I see the top message is from Amy asking if I am coming down this weekend. I haven't responded to her yet because I don't know what will happen after
 tonight, 
but I wave the phone in JR's general direction. “Just my sister. I'll call her
 tomorrow.” 

Instead of watching the screen, he's watching me, looking for the tics he said I had in the past. He always knew when I was lying. God, I hope I've outgrown those. I slide my phone in back pocket then hook both thumbs around my belt loops. “Do you have a hotel or you heading back
 tonight?” 

He laughs. “When did you become such a prude? I gave you some time to get used to this, but my patience is wearing thin. I need you, baby. It's been too long. I want to see you...feel you.”

I'm no longer whispering and any confidence I was forcing into my voice is long gone. Now, I'm scared. “You know nothing can happen between you and me, right. I understand you want to be in Isla’s life, and that's great, but we aren’t getting back together.”

He holds his arms out wide. “I'm standing right here. We are together, baby. There's no more fighting it. This is happening.” He takes a deep breath and blows it out slowly. “How about we have a drink first and then we both can relax a little bit.”

And just like that, he's in his charming mode. His mood swings have always been scary, but now I have to worry about Isla being on the wrong side of one.

“JR, let's be reasonable. It's been a long time. I'm not ready to just start seeing you again.”

His thumb brushes my cheek, wiping away a tear I didn't even realize had fallen. “Let's have a couple beers and see what happens.”

“Nothing is going to happen.”

“Just get the beers.” I do as I'm told, hoping that maybe he's beginning to see reason. He’s sitting on the sofa with one knee up and facing me as I hand him a beer. As soon as I sit down, his fingers walk up my shoulder and he clasps them around my neck. “You're even more beautiful than you used to be.”

“Thank you.” I try to sound genuine, but I know he can hear the disgust in my voice.

“So tell me about yourself. What are you doing these days?”

“Just trying to keep Isla safe and happy. That’s all I've ever done, JR. I hope you know that.”

He scoots forward, placing his free hand on my thigh. “I know, baby. I was going through a bad time. My head wasn't on straight. I understand why you had to leave, but that's not me anymore. I've cleaned up. I've got a good job. We can be a family again.”

“Isla and I,” I say, shaking my head, “will never be your family, JR. You and Isla can have a relationship, and eventually, she'll be able to spend more time with you. But right now, we have to get to know each other first. If you care about her as much as it seems you do, you'll want her safe and happy.”

“I would never hurt her, baby. You know that.”

“No, I don't know that, actually.” I pull away from his arm, but his grip only tightens around my neck.

“See that.” Looking him straight in the eye, I grit my teeth. “You haven't changed that much. If you can hurt me, why would I believe you wouldn't hurt her?”

His eyes narrow. “She's my flesh and blood. She's sweet and innocent.”

“And I'm not? If that's true, why do you even want me back?”

“Because Isla is my daughter.” He digs his fingers into my leg. “And as long as you have custody of her, I will be in your life…
Closely
in your life.”

I shudder as a chill runs down my spine. “You can't do this to me anymore, JR,” I say quietly. “You can't hurt me. I won't allow it the way I used to.”

An evil smile spreads across his face. “You won't allow it? Just what are you gonna do, baby? Call the police like you did last time? Maybe try to disappear. I hate to burst your bubble, but you didn't run away from me. I let you go. At the time, I really didn't need your drama. I had other shit going on that I needed to take care of. But that's all taken care of, and now, I'm back.”

JR takes a long pull from his beer, chugging at least half the can before resting it on his knee. “Have a drink, baby. Relax. You’ll have more fun that way.”

We are not having any fun
 tonight
, 
I think but keep my mouth shut. Instead, I pop the top and take a drink just to calm my nerves.

The moments tick by as we sit in silence. JR stares at me while I look everywhere but at him.

“Go get us a couple more beers.”

“I think I'm done.” I want to remind him that he still needs to drive wherever he's going, but I'll gladly pay for a cab to pick him up if that's what it takes to get him out of my house.

Reluctantly, I get up and go grab him another beer. Avoiding a fight is my best-case scenario. I don't even want to consider what worst-case scenario could be.

Just as I settle down on the couch beside him, JR chugs the beer then stands up, pulling me into his arms.

“Alright. We've played around long enough. Let's get to bed.” JR’s eyes are drooping, but I don’t know if it’s from exhaustion or lust.

“You're gonna stay here
tonight?”

“O
f course. Where else would we go?
” 

I hold back a groan and look around the room. “Um,
well, I guess you can have the bed, and I'll sleep out here.”

“You’ve always had a great sense of humor.” He laughs as his fingers circle my wrist, tightening to the point of discomfort but not quite pain yet. “Let's go.”

My stomach roils as he drags me to my room. Once the door is closed, JR’s mouth covers mine. I don’t even try to fight. I don’t respond, but I don’t fight the inevitable. He’ll just hurt me if I do.

I can get through this. I’ve done it before. I can do it again.

My mind drifts to one of my favorite books. I focus on the story, starting on the first page and retelling it in my head, one scene at a time. When I feel JR pressing into me, I pull out of my daze long enough to ask if he’s wearing a condom.

“What are you so afraid of? We made one beautiful baby. We could do it again.”

No, we can’t.
“I’m not worried about that. I don’t know where you’ve been for the past four years.”

“You know exactly where I’ve been.” JR straightens his arms and holds himself above me. “What about you? Have you been with anyone?”

“No!” I say it as if it was intentional, like I didn’t want to be with anyone else. That’s not the case at all. I just never really found time to date when Isla was a baby, and until I met Mason, I’d never met anyone worth getting a sitter for.

“Then what’s the problem?”

“Please put on a condom, JR.” I don’t want to beg, but I will. I got lucky the first time when Isla was the only thing he gave me. I won’t take that chance again. “Please.”

He stares at me, weighing my request while searching my eyes for sincerity. Finally, he lifts off the bed and digs his wallet out of his jeans. “I don’t know how long this has been in here, but I’ll play along this once.”

I nod in thanks and shut off my mind again, going back to the book narration in my head. I don’t come back to the present until he drops to the bed beside me and rolls over, facing the wall. Within moments, JR is snoring quietly beside me.

I can’t stand to be near him any longer. After slipping out of the bed without waking him, I put on my nightgown and sneak out of the room. A cool glass of water helps center me.

I can’t change what happened in the past. I made those decisions, and I have to own them. But I will change what’s about to happen to my family. Isla and I will not be subjected to JR’s volatile temper or poor life choices. It’s up to me to protect my daughter. My gaze drifts to the block of knives tucked away on a high shelf, and several scenarios play out in my head.

Without hesitating for another second, I grab a long chef’s knife and tuck it under my arm. I’m tempted to go back to my room, but JR is much more likely to use it on me.

Instead, I grab a blanket and pillow from the hall closet and go into Isla’s room. After making a little nest on the ground, I lie down in front of her bedroom door, blocking anyone from entering or exiting. The knife is securely wedged behind her bookshelf but within arm’s reach as I finally relax and let myself fall asleep.

Chapter Fifteen

Carly

I’m startled by the creak of the garage door opening downstairs. This old house has a symphony of sounds it makes throughout the night. In the few months I’ve been living here full time with Max and Noah, I’ve grown accustomed to the noise and I’m almost comforted by the familiarity.

That garage door sound is one of my favorites because it means one or both of the men I’m madly in love with is home. The clock on the dresser reads two thirty. They usually stay until their club closes and then they rush home to me, letting their employees handle the cleanup.

With one hand tucked under the pillow and the other planted firmly on the mattress, I watch the doorway and wait for someone to appear. Seconds later, Max steps inside, his eyes locking on mine in the dimly lit room and a wide grin covering his face.

“You waited up?”

“I heard the garage and was excited to see you.”

My eyes are locked on Max’s hands as he unbuttons his shirt, letting it drop to the floor behind him. Then they move to his belt buckle as he toes off his shoes. With slow and deliberate steps, Max strips out of his clothes, finally slipping into bed beside me  wearing nothing but a sexy grin and a thick erection.

I turn back towards the door and realize we're still missing someone. “Where’s Noah?”

Max kisses my shoulder. “He had to deal with something at the club. He’ll be about fifteen minutes behind me.”

“Okay.”

“I need to take a quick shower, baby. Do you want to join me?”

“No, I'll wait for Noah.” Max nips my bottom lip with his teeth and pulls back.

“God, I'm glad you're awake. You think you’ll be awake when I get out?” My finger traces down the centerline of Max’s taut chest.

“I'll definitely be awake. Don't take too long.”

He kisses me again quickly on the lips then pulls away and hops off the bed. Only a few minutes later, I hear the blessed garage door open, and I can breathe deeply. I feel most content and secure when both of my men are home with me. I’m starting understand why they're anxious about me being gone for a week. But in my heart, I know the short absence might make their hearts grow even fonder.

Truthfully, it'll kill me to be away from them for that long, but it's important to me that I maintain some independence. I don't have much with these alphas constantly trying to dominate me, but I do need to keep a little bit of myself. When Noah's wide frame fills the doorway, I smile broadly. “I'm glad you're home,” I say in a sweet voice.

“You have no idea,” he says with a mix between desire and frustration in his voice.

“Rough night?”

He shakes his head. “Not that bad, but I’ve been counting the minutes until we were home.” Coming over to me, Noah brushes his tongue over my teeth, outlining my mouth before closing in and we are a hot tangle of teeth and tongue. A small growl erupts from him when I sneak my hand over his erection and begin rubbing him through his slacks.

“Let me say hello to Max and get through a quick shower… Then we'll both be right back.” I lay on my pillow and watch him undress. His beautiful tanned body is defined and strong. Before he disappears into the shower with our lover, I imagine his greeting to Max is much the same as his was to me, but since they're both naked, they’re probably having a little more fun. I squeeze my thighs together at the thought of what they're doing, and I'm tempted to get out just to watch. But I want them to have their time alone too.

This relationship isn't just about them loving me, but about my boys loving each other as well. They met in high school when Max's dad married Noah's mom and they've been best friends and occasional lovers ever since. It wasn't until we all met that they even consider the possibility of a long-term polyamorous and bisexual relationship, but we each fill different needs in this triad and I've never been happier than I have been since meeting them.

Once the water finally turns off, I know I'm only seconds from feeling both. I love how they hold me, caress me, worship me. Noah emerges first, walking straight to the left side of the bed and crawling under the covers. Max is right behind him but bookends Noah on my right. I lie on my back with my hands by my hips, allowing them to decide what they want to do
 tonight. 
I'm tired, so calling the shots doesn't appeal to me tonight.

When I feel Noah's lips on my shoulder, I close my eyes and focus on the sensation of his powerful, protective body watching over us, keeping our family safe and happy.

Max pulls down the blanket and lowers his head to my breast, tonguing the already firm nipple before pinching the tip with his lips. The small spike of pain shoots straight to my core. My hips lift off the bed, looking for friction where there's none.

Max smiles against my breast then draws a circle with his tongue. “Is our beautiful Carly ready?”

“Please…” I moan and squirm, anxious to have more contact with their bodies. “I need one of you in me.”

Noah sucks my left breast into his mouth, swirling his tongue as low as he can reach then back up to the tip.

He and Max both lean closer and slide their palms down my stomach, stopping over my hungry mound. I tilt up, trying to capture their fingers, but they anticipate my move and both separate as they trace the crease of my thighs. They're so close. If only one of them would move in an inch, they’ll hit my sensitive nub and I’ll be flying.

As the more dominant man, Noah is more likely to make me beg. I don’t have time to beg. I need relief now. I turn my attention to the right and lift my thigh, hooking my calf around Max’s head, and forcing his face into my center.

This probably looks like some crazy wrestling move, but as I twist him into position, Max laughs and his tongue lands exactly where I want it. “Okay, okay,” he says between laps around my clit. “No more teasing, beautiful.”

“Thank god...”

Max presses my sensitive nub with his flattened tongue then sucks it into his hot mouth. I grunt and turn to Noah. He’s watching Max with an amused smile.

“I need something in my mouth too,” I say to Noah, reaching for his hard cock.

“Don't let me be the one to deny you any of your needs.” Noah walks on his knees until his thick erection is bobbing above my face. Lifting up on my elbow, I point his swollen head directly at my mouth. Without breaking eye contact with Noah, I circle my tongue around his head a few times then poke into his slit.

Noah’s fingers tangle into the back of my hair with a firm but gentle touch, massaging my scalp while I suck in his length as far I can. Max has adjusted his body so his head is resting on my right thigh while he caresses my clit with his smooth tongue. His dick is within Noah's reach and I know exactly what’s coming next.

Noah's eyes bounce between my lips wrapped around his cock and Max’s mouth, eating out my center. Instinctively, Noah reaches for Max and slowly strokes him, knowing exactly how to touch our man to maximize his pleasure.

When I stroke the boys, it's generally soft and teasing then quickly followed by my tongue. But I've watched them enough to know that's not how they handle each other. Their touch is firm and rough, loving but sometimes on the verge of painful. And they love it. Knowing that everyone in this triumvirate of body parts is being satisfied, I add my hand to Noah's cock and tease his balls. I pull off his cock to just the head and suckle his tip while my climax builds.

Max knows my body better than I do. He knows I’m close and increases his suction to match the short juts of my pelvis into his face. Moaning around Noah's tip causes his grip in my hair to twist a little. Tiny sparks of pain enhance my orgasm as it finally washes over me. Max uses both hands to clutch my ass as he holds me against his mouth, giving me everything I need. He doesn’t release his vacuum suction or wicked tongue until the sensitivity is too much and I tap the side of his head.

With a kiss on each of my inner thighs, Max sits up, forcing Noah to let go of his dick. Max aligns himself with my opening and slides right into my dripping channel. His bare cock is quickly covered in my juice as he thrust in a few times, slowly at first then harder.

An exchange passes between Noah and Max with only their eyes, and I hope they're planning to finish in my favorite position. Noah gently squeezes the back of my neck and pulls out my mouth, leaving me with a pouty face at the loss of his flesh. I turn to Max and he opens his arms to lift me up into them while on his knees. He pulls my body upright so I'm straddling his thighs as he fully impales himself inside of me. A slow grin grows across my face. “Am I getting a treat
 tonight?”

Max laughs. “Maybe, we've got to do everything we can to remind you why you need to come back to us after your trip.”

I roll my eyes. “Nothing in this world would keep me from coming back to you guys, and you know it.”

“Are you saying you don't want the reminder?” he asks, lifting me off the bed while I’m still attached to him and turning around so he's sitting on the edge.

“I'm definitely not saying that,” I say, reaching back for Noah. When I turn, Noah's mouth captures mine, inhaling my breath as if he needs it to survive. I breathe in his, feeling the same way. When he pulls away, he moves to Max’s mouth kissing him hard as his hand glides down Max’s back. Max gasps and I can only assume where Noah's fingers have landed.

Max gently lies back on the bed so I’m straddling him with my feet planted on the edge. Noah moves in behind me and kisses my neck as he slides against my already full opening. His finger slips underneath Max’s length and tugs gently to stretch me out even further.

The pain is sharp, but it just makes my pleasure even more intense as he pulls my already stretched opening and adds a second finger. With Max angled high, his scruffy pubic hair brushes against my clit in a deliciously frustrating way.

It feels so good but doesn't last nearly long enough when Noah has finally stretched me out to his satisfaction, I feel the head of his bare cock poking against my entrance as it aligns with Max’s. The burn of him pushing inside me is like a spark of flame licking up my spine. I moan loudly, throwing my head back and grasping the sheets beneath me. I lift my ass to make it easier for Noah to slide inside. With practiced control, Noah holds my hips as he’s fully seated into me.

Despite the extreme fullness in my gut, I’m growing closer to release with each passing second. I wish we had a mirror so I could see the two cocks rubbing together as they set a rhythm of pounding into me.

Max captures my lips between his and kisses me hard. The first wave of orgasm rocks through me as Noah’s mouth joins Max’s. We’re all tongues and lips and moans as I come hard on these two shafts inside me.  

Max reaches around us both and holds onto Noah’s ass, pulling him even deeper inside me as Max gives in to his release too. My heated core is even warmer with Max’s creamy seed inside me, lubricating Noah further. With three more short thrusts, Noah explodes inside of me too. Filled to capacity, warm fluid pours out of me, pooling in Max’s lap.

A shiver runs up my spine and I start rocking again, trying to bring my men back to full erections.

“You trying for round two, sweetheart?” Noah’s deep voice is like the most powerful aphrodisiac, causing my insides to tremble in all the right ways.

“Mmmhmm.” I push down and tilt, making sure they both stay full seated within me. “Then I want to watch you guys kiss until I fall asleep.”

Max lets out a rumbling laugh that vibrates my inner walls as he becomes fully erect again. “I think we can manage that. Don’t you, babe?”

The loving gaze shared between my men makes my heart expand with happiness.
How did I become so lucky?

Noah reaches out to rake his fingers through Max’s blond hair. Max leans into his palm, closing his eyes as he enjoys the intimate touch. “Always, love. Always.”