Page 45 of Riding Free

Sinking my teeth into my bottom lip, I bite down in an effort not to chuckle… I’m so fucking close to bursting out in laughter, because this is the way it’s always been, for decades, but also, I can’t believe that she’s lived here her whole life and never heard rumors or anything.

“A clubwhore. She lives here rent-free, earns a little bit of pocket money, but all her needs are met: food, room and board, and she trades her body freely.”

Silence. Her eyes search mine, almost as if she’s waiting for me to say I’m joking, but I don’t. Instead, I stare at her, tilting my head to the side as I wait for her response. Because she’s got one, and I can sense it building inside her.

“You’re joking. Fucking with me.”

“I’m not,” I state firmly so it sinks in that this is no goddamn joke.

Silence again.

And then she shakes her head. “People warned me, and I ignored them because you make me feel good. I like the way you feel, the way you look at me. I was living in this fairy-tale fantasy world where you saw us and wanted us. Wanted to keep us because it was fate or something.”

“That’s literally what happened,” I interrupt her. I won’t have her turn what we are, what Thea is, into something ugly, because that’s not what it is. “It was fate, designed by God or something, I don’t know, and I don’t care. All I give a fuck about is that you’re here with me now.”

“What about them?” she demands.

“What about them?” I ask back.

Her eyes narrow. She takes another step toward me, tilting her head back so she can look up into my eyes. Tipping my chin, I take her in, flexing my fingers into fists at my sides in an attempt to keep from touching her… at least for the moment.

“Are you partaking in the freeness of them?” she asks. “Since that’s why they’re here, to give themselves freely to you and your friends, are you partaking?”

I know she wants me to say no. I can see her willing me to say no. I don’t, though. I’m not going to lie or pretend anything when it comes to her. This is real, and if I start lying now, it won’t be any longer. It’ll be fake as fuck, and both of us will be living a lie.

“I have,” I state. “A lot over the years. But not since I saw you at that pool. You and Thea are my life now.”

“And what happens when I’m not available?”

I’m instantly filled with anger. It consumes me, and I have to tighten my fists. Not because I want to hit her or anything like that, but because I want to reach out and shake her. Hard.

“Are you trying to force me to predict the future?” I grind out.

She shakes her head once, then her tongue peeks out and slides across her bottom lip. I want to suck on that tongue, and that lip, and every fucking inch of her body. “I want a promise that it won’t ever be the future. It won’t be an option.”

“Keely,” I murmur, lifting my hand.

I cup her cheek and dip my chin, shifting closer to her. I touch my mouth to hers, but only a brush of the lips. I don’t move them, keeping them against hers as I speak. I need to feel her, and I’m not ashamed of that shit.

“Brock,” she exhales.

“Babe,” I whisper against her mouth. “You’re my only option. This family, you are my family, and this is my only option.”

Silence.

But it’s a silence worth keeping because I press my mouth to hers a little harder. Her gasp allows me entrance. I taste her, swirling my tongue around hers, tangling with her own. She lifts her hands, her fingers curling around my biceps, holding on to me.

Her back arches, and I feel her soft tits press against my chest. Wrapping my arms around her back, I press my palms against her there, holding her tightly to me. Nibbling on her bottom lip.

I break the kiss against everything inside me. I want to strip her out of her clothes, lay her down, and eat her until I taste her cum on my tongue.

“You and Thea are my future, Keely. That shit out there, I’ve had it, and it’s fun, but it’s not you.”

She wrinkles her nose, her gaze searching mine. “Can we never talk about them again?”

I snort. “Babe.”

“Seriously, I don’t like the idea of them at all. And what if you’re here and I’m not… what happens?”