Page 24 of Mama & Pops

“Which is where you’re going to trust me to have your back. I will never take over unless I feel you’re being too careless with your safety, or I think you need it. Then, in private, we can hash it out. But I want you to understand, from this point on it’s me and you. We have each other’s back. We are united.”

God, what he was saying appealed to me. Not only did the relationship he described appeal to me, but also, wasn’t this how a mother and father should be? United in the eyes of the children so they couldn’t play one of us off the other? I knew in my heart we were better together than we ever were separately.

After giving it thought, I nodded my head slowly. Only then did Mike let up on his grip around my neck. “I like the sound of that.” I didn’t look away from him. And though he eased his grip, he didn’t let me go.

With a grunt of approval, Mike bent his knees and wrapped his arms around me, lifting me so I had to wrap my legs around his waist to hang on.

He carried me to a nearby door and opened it, taking us inside. He locked the door before kissing me again. I knew the room was being used as an office at this point. It was unfinished and smelled of sawdust, drywall, and paint. The desk in the middle of the room was littered with papers and notebooks that Mike brushed away with one swipe of his arm.

Setting me on my feet, Mike whipped my shirt over my head before moving to my jeans. His movements were swift and jerky in his haste. I unfastened my bra and reached for his shirt, tugging it from his jeans, running my hands up his hair-dusted torso as I pulled the material from his body.

While he shoved my jeans and panties over my hips, I leaned in to take one of his nipples between my teeth, nipping at the bit of flesh. He barked out a sharp yell before he pulled away to lift me to the top of the desk. Shoving my legs apart, Mike unfastened his own jeans and pulled out his cock.

The next thing I knew, Mike had shoved himself inside me and began a brutal ride. He slammed into me with explosive force. Our flesh slapped together loudly in the small room. With each of his thrusts, my body shook, forcing the breath from my lungs. I clung to his shoulders, trying to ground myself until he shrugged off my grip and grabbed my throat again. This time, I wrapped my hands around his thick wrist. Only thing is, I wasn’t sure if I was simply holding on to him, or making sure he didn’t abandon this aggressive, dominant position. My entire body was consumed in a firestorm of lust and need. His cock filled my quivering pussy, stretching and burning even as he pounded inside me with bruising force.

Mike’s body was a work of art as he moved over me. Muscles played under his skin, heavy and strong. A man able to protect his family.

With a cry, I went limp beneath him. I laid my arms out to my sides and let my legs fall wide open. That seemed to be exactly what Mike wanted because he snarled loudly before fucking me even harder. Faster.

“Gonna come with me, woman. I’m gonna put my cum deep inside your pussy and you’re gonna take it from me. Now. Fuckin’ come on my cock, Josephine. Now!”

I did. God, I did! My body fragmented into a sensory explosion the likes of which I could never have been prepared for. Each time Mike took me seemed to be better than the last. Each time he took me, I fell for him that much more. He was a force to be reckoned with, but beneath his gruff exterior he had a soft side. He slipped up on you when you weren’t expecting it and completely took you over. At least, that’s what he did for me. The thing was, I surrendered willingly. And I knew I’d never regret it, and never look back.

Chapter Nine

Pops

Weeks turned into months. Months to a couple of years. Gracie had her baby and took in Liam as a second son. Liam took the role of big brother to little Abraham very seriously. Colonel Gill and the lawyer, Mama’s half-brother Ian McGregor, had gotten Alex a sweet deal. I had no idea how they’d managed it, but I’m sure bullying and threatening were involved. Alex got sixteen months plus four years’ probation for shooting up the airport. Well, that and community service. Which, surprisingly, he took to with gusto. Kid thrived on helping people. He’d joined us only a week ago and was still trying to adjust to his new life. But he was good for not only his own son, but Liam too.

Mama and I sat on the porch of the big clubhouse, watching as a couple of the guys worked on their bikes in front of the garage.

“Five bucks says Brutal’s gettin’ ready to kick somethin’,” Mama muttered to me, never taking her eyes from the group.

“Nah. It’ll be Mo.” I took a pull from the beer I’d been nursing for the last fifteen minutes. The sun beat down on the group, likely making them sweat even though it had started out as a crisp, fall morning.

“Motherfuck!” Mo fell back on his ass and threw the wrench he’d been using at the bike. Unfortunately, his aim was too high and it sailed over the seat and hit Brutal in the back of the head. The other man stumbled forward with a sharp yelp, only to turn and throw the wrench he’d been using at Mo.

Aaaand the fight was on.

Without looking at me, Mama held out her beer in my direction and we clinked the glasses together before taking another pull.

“Tie?” I continued to watch the kids wrestling. Boys will be boys after all.

“Sure.”

That was the moment Gracie stepped outside the small house she and Alex had been given. Abraham stayed with them, of course, but so did Liam. Did my heart good to see the kid find a sense of belonging I wasn’t sure he’d had with just him and his father. Even though he’d lived here longer than me and Mama, it had taken the kid a couple months after his father left to relax and actually act like a kid.

“What on earth?” Gracie stopped, her hands going to her cheeks as she frantically scanned the crowd gathering to egg on the fight. “Alex?” When she didn’t see him anywhere, she ran forward. “Alex!”

The big black man poked his head out from the shed near where the men were working outside and his gaze settled on Gracie and the boys. He raised his hand to his ear, like he was trying to hear whatever she wanted to say to him.

Gracie visibly relaxed but there was still tension in her body as she made sure she had a hand on each child, preventing them from running into the fray. She looked seconds away from bursting into tears. No doubt the fighting distressed her, given her background. The girl had known nothing but violence for a long time because of her relationship with Alex.

Alex gave her a crisp nod before hurrying over to the fight. I glanced at Mama who’d sat forward in her chair just that little bit, watching intently while trying to prevent herself from jumping up and going to the guys.

When Alex reached the group, he inserted himself between Brutal and Mo, shoving the two men apart. “That’s enough!” His voice carried easily over the entire area, clear and strong. “No fightin’ in front of the kids.”

Mo and Brutal were winded and looked ready to do murder, but to each other. Not Alex.