Again, shit.
“I can’t hear you.”
“It’s Fury’s pussy!” My thighs trembled so hard I thought I was going to collapse. “Yes! Baby, this is Fury’s pussy.”
“Yeah,” he said, pumping faster as his deep strokes took my breath. “Say that shit, Kodi, baby. Say it!”
“This … is … Fuuurreees—” The rest died in my throat as my release seized my body and my speech.
“Hell fuckin yeah, it is.” He pumped even faster, the sound of our bodies connecting echoing throughout the room. When his release came, he cussed and gripped my ass so hard I knew I was going to have a bruise. But that was okay, Fury would kiss that bruise later. He would run me a hot bath, put on that cream he kept in the nightstand drawer at home—but always remembered to pack when we went away—then continue to pamper me for the rest of the night.
And I would love every second of it, just like I loved this man.
An hour later, I almost jumped out of my skin as I left the room we occupied on the top floor.
There were only two other rooms up here. Mo and Kendra were sharing one and Fabian’s personal security was in the other. After all that had gone down with August and Atlas, Fabian had tightened security everywhere we went. Apparently, in his effort to get back at Fabian for being a deadbeat in his eyes, Atlas had been talking to all of the Ryders’ rival clubs. Not to mention one of the best plugs in this region. Fabian hadn’t given me all the details on how he was working to fix the mess. He just emphasized our need to be more diligent when it came to security until things were quiet again.
So, seeing my father standing near the top of the stairs was a shock. He looked good in his khaki pants and yellow polo shirt. Today was the rehearsal dinner and everyone was asked to wear something yellow to go with the wedding colors. Daddy looked handsome and distinguished, his gray hair and beard glistening against his honey complexion.
“Hey there, Sunshine,” he said, dropping a hand onto the white newel post. “I was just coming up to talk to you.”
While Cade thought he was the only one who could have a nickname for me, my daddy had given me one of his own. As bold as Cade was, he never questioned Daddy about it either. I often wondered if the fact that he’d been calling me Sunshine for as long as I could remember, had anything to do with how yellow came to be my favorite color.
“Hi, Daddy,” I said, walking away from the door toward him. Thinking back to what Fabian and I were just doing in that room before our shower, had me praying this was Daddy’s first trip up here today. I would’ve been mortified if he’d been on the other side of that door while I was screaming like my life was in danger.
“You look so beautiful.” He opened his arms, and I practically fell into them, loving the feel of his strength surrounding me.
There was nothing like a hug from my daddy. This was where I first knew safety and security. Mama’s hugs were the epitome of comfort and peace. While Cade’s embrace personified protection. It was funny that in Fabian’s arms, I found all these same things rolled into one.
“Thank you,” I said, and stepped back when the hug ended. I thought he would move to walk us down the stairs, but he remained still. “Is everything okay?”
He nodded, blinked a few times, then cleared his throat. “Yeah. Yeah. Everything is just fine.” He sighed. “I just wanted to come up here and tell you that I’m proud of you, Sunshine. I’m really proud.”
His words squeezed my heart so tight I couldn’t help but put a hand to my chest. The first week or so after I announced I was married, he had barely spoken to me. I knew he was still processing the news, so I was giving him space to do so. Then, when all that stuff happened at his house, I was positive the bulk of his anger was directed at me. Atlas and the guys working for him had killed the guard at the gate and three more on their way to the main house. They weren’t the brightest bunch, so they hadn’t anticipated the cameras or the security team guarding the perimeter because that’s where they ran into trouble. At any rate, that entire scene was because Atlas had it out for Fabian. And I was now married to Fabian. I thought Daddy blamed me, but a few days later he showed up at my house to tell me that wasn’t the case.
Still, the entire situation fractured something in our relationship and while the tension had slowly dissipated in these past months, I was afraid we would never get back to where we were.
“You always knew what you wanted,” he said. “Always made your own decisions even when you knew others would disagree with them.”
I swallowed the nerves and emotion and locked my gaze on his. “That’s what you taught me.”
“You’re right.” He dragged a hand down the back of his head. “Fury’s not the man I would’ve picked for you, but it wasn’t my place to pick. And he’s taking good care of you. Building that new house. I’ve been over there to see the progress. He’s gonna have security tighter than Fort Knox on that property. That plus those bad ass dogs, I guess will keep you safe enough.”
I chuckled because Daddy really did enjoy Larry, Moe and Curly. We’d hosted Thanksgiving at our house for both sides of our family and while Mo had a love/hate relationship with Moe, our beautiful chestnut brindle—mainly because she didn’t like sharing a name with a dog—Daddy loved all three of them and was trying to get Mama to let him have one.
“We’re going to be fine.” I assured him. “And Fabian really is the best man for me. He’s theonlyman for me.”
I would never go into the details of why I was so adamant about that fact, but I knew that I was beyond blessed to have the man who saw beyond the wealthy daughter and successful entrepreneur, to the woman that dwelled within. Nobody else would’ve ever seen those tainted pieces that I did my best to hide. The pieces that for far too long I was ashamed to admit I had, even to my brother who had his own gray areas to navigate. Fabian recognized them and wasn’t startled or afraid to let them free. No, I wouldn’t be running the street shooting everybody that pissed me off, but I would continue working with my side clients. And, in the next few months, Skola and I would begin working on a new marijuana strain similar to what I was doing at the Full Circle centers, but with a more potent effect. This wouldbe a unique strain offered only by the Platinum Ryders via the dispensaries we planned to open.
And on the nights when Fabian wanted to unwind with a long ride, I would be right beside him on the canary yellow Isis that he’d given me for my birthday.
“I’m glad you found him, then. Or he found you.” Daddy smiled. “Now, let’s get down here before your mother and Lorraine drive your staff crazy with all their commands.” He stepped aside and offered his arm.
I slipped mine through his and we made our way down the steps to get this long-awaited weekend started.
“I’d like to make a toast.”
The thirty or so people sitting around the tables draped in soft butter yellow tablecloths and adorned with sparkling silverware, fine China, and lavish centerpieces stuffed with maroon, yellow and white roses, raised their glasses.
